Newsgroups: sci.military
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!cbnews!military
From: texbell!letni!digi!digi.lonestar.org!user1 ("USER1")
Subject: Re: Disposition of American Battleships
Organization: SMU
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 90 02:08:58 GMT
Approved: military@att.att.com
Message-ID: <1990Oct18.020858.5946@cbnews.att.com>
Keywords: ships, disposition
References: <1990Oct5.034136.546@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military-request@att.att.com
Lines: 35



From: texbell!letni!digi!digi.lonestar.org!user1 ("USER1")

In article <1990Oct5.034136.546@cbnews.att.com> jfb@ihlpm.att.com (Joseph F Baugher) writes:

>   BB 34      New York		April 1914       Scuttled near Pearl Harbor in
>						  1948, after surviving two
>						   Bikini Atoll nuclear tests

I have heard about the demise of several battleships in this manner.
What did we do, put atomic devices on old ships and set them off?
If so why?  I know it was testing, but how about some detail.

Thanks in advance,

Rick

[mod.note:  In 1946, the US conducted a series of nuclear tests at Bikini
Atoll.  Over 100 warships were included as targets, including 5
battleships, two carriers, 4 cruisers, 16 destroyers, and 8 submarines.
Test Able (16 July 1946) consisted of an atomic bomb, dropped from a B-29,
set to explode above the water's surface.  The ships survived this pretty
well; battleships as close as 500m from the blast stayed afloat with
superstructure and hull damage only.  Test Baker (25 July) had the bomb
set to explode under water, which was much more destructive (but I have
no details).  There was supposed to be a Test Charlie, but if it was
conducted, I again have no information.  - Bill ]

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