Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: pompsander who wrote (765186)	9/12/2007 8:24:01 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Respond to of 769670

Thanks! Very interesting. Had never heard of the "Davy Crockett" ...the US developed a spherical implosion device that was very close to the theoretical limit of nuclear weapons. The Mk-54 Davy Crockett was designed to be fired from the M-388 recoilless rifle. Weighing only 23 kg, the warhead in its casing was 400 mm by 273 mm. It was first tested in October 1958 as part of Operation Hardtack and yielded 10 tons, but later developments increased that to 1 kt. 400 Mk-54 warheads were produced from 1961-65 and the last was withdrawn in 1971. The warhead was also adapted for the Mk-54 SADM (Special Atomic Demolition Munition), a cylinder 40 cm by 60 cm and weighing 68 kg. Fired by a mechanical timer, it had a variable yield from 10 tons up to 1 kt. 300 SADMs were made and they remained in the US arsenal until 1989. The small Davy Crockett could be fired from a M-388 recoilless rifle. Imagine! A nuclear weapon fired from a recoilless rifle.... Upon reflection, that would perhaps be the 'ultimate' weapon for a terrorist --- far better even then a 'suitcase bomb'.... PS --- did you notice the link at the bottom for Gerald Bull's (& Saddam's) aborted natural gas-fired version of a "super gun"? en.wikipedia.org