the atomic cannon In fable,have you seen it?

May 25, 1953, Nevada in the United States conducted its first atomic artillery fire test. Small mushroom cloud of the flight, means a new tactical nuclear weapons have been born. The first atomic bombs the United States the door for the 280 mm caliber, with a range of 32 kilometers in order to pressure loading. The power of the Hiroshima-type atomic bomb equivalent to a quarter of 4000 made a considerable power of 155-mm artillery shells. That the number of atomic bombs as "A-type 280 mm gun," an atomic battery include: two atomic bombs, four tractors and eight nuclear bombs and delivery truck personnel.

After successful tests of atomic bombs, it was soon transported to the front line of the Cold War - the Rhine region of Germany. At that time, the deployment of U.S. forces stationed in West Germany an atomic artillery battalion, six of atomic artillery, to become NATO against the Warsaw Pact the most important weapon. 280 mm gun has been used to atoms in 1963. With the improvement of nuclear artillery shells from Mk9 to Mk19/W19 gradually smaller, this 280 mm artillery atomic weapons as to prepare sealed up.

The development of nuclear artillery shells, the U.S. Navy is not far behind. As early as 1953, the Navy began to develop for the "Iowa" class 406 millimeters on the nuclear artillery shells, fitted out in 1956 and named "Mk23/W23" nuclear artillery shells. It is the same as the U.S. Army nuclear artillery shells for implosion-type nuclear warheads. However, the equipment of the U.S. nuclear artillery shells ships have been decommissioned in 1955. This, Mk23 nuclear shells has been used in combat until retirement from active service in 1959. Still later, "Iowa" class battleship, some also return to active duty, but is no longer configured nuclear bombs, nuclear attack by the "Tomahawk" cruise missiles to play.

At the same time, the U.S. Army for the development of nuclear artillery shells are also enthusiastic. Initially, the U.S. military focus on the development of 240 millimeters of atomic bombs and nuclear artillery shells corresponding Mk32, then switch to 203 millimeters of the development of nuclear artillery shells fired the howitzer. Corresponding to the type of nuclear artillery shells for the Mk33, to achieve practical application in 1956. Both in the nuclear artillery shells equipped with safety devices and instruction device failure to prevent unauthorized use of, or can be used by terrorist theft of state.

Subsequently, further miniaturization of nuclear artillery shells. 1963 out of the Mk48 nuclear artillery shells loaded with 155-mm self-propelled howitzer M109Al/A2 of, M198 towed howitzers and M114A1 howitzer fired shells 864 millimeters long and weighs only 54 kilograms, equivalent to only half of the Mk33, and its power reduced to 1000 equivalent tons. To the 80's at the end of the 20th century, the U.S. military has deployed about 5,000 nuclear artillery shells. 60's at the end of the 20th century, the early 70s, the U.S. military in order to promote the modernization of nuclear artillery shells and began to develop new types of nuclear artillery shells, that is, started to develop for the 203 mm howitzer used by W75 and 155-mm howitzers for the use of two of the W74 nuclear warhead, but , development stopped in 1973 because of an explosion equivalent to control, radiation enhanced the development of the neutron bomb was developed.

2B1-type 406 millimeters atomic cannon 280 mm Atomic shell AFAP(ahead) and 406 mm Atomic shell MK23

Nuclear artillery shells Mk32

Atomic shell Mk48

W79-type neutron bomb

This is called the neutron bomb W79, 1973 began the development of a successful trial in 1981 and put into use. W79-0 type, there are two used, one fission, neutron bomb first used to do. W79-1-type neutron bomb explosion equivalent to 50% lower, equivalent to 2,000 tons, was originally produced more than 800 hair, some fat, with more than 300 issued to troops. There is also a diameter of 155 mm artillery shells called nuclear W82, the warhead 871 millimeters long and weighs only 43 kilograms. Such shells started to develop in 1976, put into production in 1981, an explosion equivalent of less than 2000 tons, the production made in 2000. Since 1986 the U.S. military will use it as a real equipment.

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