6.9 Megatons Hydrogen Bomb Testing Castle Union 1954

Castle Union was one of the nuclear tests conducted by the United States as part of Operation Castle in 1954. This operation was designed to test high-yield thermonuclear weapons and advance the development of deliverable hydrogen bombs. Castle Union played a significant role in understanding the mechanics and effectiveness of dry-fuel designs, which were more practical for military deployment.
Test Date: April 26, 1954
Location: Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands
Yield: 6.9 megatons of TNT (6.9 Mt)
Purpose To evaluate a dry-fuel thermonuclear weapon design using solid fusion fuel.
The Test and Its Results
The Union test produced a massive fireball and a mushroom cloud that reached an altitude of over 45 kilometers (28 miles).
The yield of 6.9 Mt was significant, demonstrating the potential of compact, dry-fuel hydrogen bomb designs.
As with other Castle tests, the explosion resulted in significant fallout, impacting nearby regions and raising concerns about environmental and health consequences.
Historical Context and Legacy
Castle Union was part of the larger Operation Castle series, which included other high-profile tests like Castle Bravo. These tests represented a turning point in the development of thermonuclear weapons, accelerating the nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The success of Union and other Castle tests solidified the feasibility of deployable hydrogen bombs but also underscored the devastating power and ethical implications of these weapons.

[@borntoclimb7116]

0:32 that looks great

[@ssrv4gaminggrounds98]

finally, after a long years seeing the unseen footage of this test. the only aerial footage you see is from the Operation CASTLE US Dept. of Energy Documentary in 1954. more unseen nuke footage ATC, keep it up! 🙌

[@borntoclimb7116]

Good to know

[@Z301B]

first time seeing fireball of castle union

[@dziban303]

Probably not, the segment at 0:25 is pretty widely used

[@justincoughenour4123]

Nice piece of footage! Thank you for letting us see it!

[@robr286]

Ever notice how much better the film quality is of castle bravo vs the other castle tests. Yankee, Romeo and this all look further away and less clear. It always makes me wonder if maybe they decided to step back a few feet after bravo ended up being 3x the expected yield.

[@greatestytcommentator]

YES!

[@nicholasmaude6906]

IIRC the Castle Union shot's fission-yield was 5MT (Mostly from the fast-fission of U-238 in the secondary's Uranium jacket).

[@chrome2infinity938]

So beautiful. If it were possible I would make it my pet. I shall call it Karl.

[@Draxindustries1]

The fast fission of U238 is a major contributor to its yield. 6.9MT, I always thought CU was 7.5MT. Thanks for posting this as I've not seen this high riser before..

[@garysmith9818]

Nice footage ATC! Thanks for posting it.

[@JCMills55]

It makes the W56 1.2 megaton warheads in the Minuteman II sites I worked on seem puny in comparison.

[@P-G-77]

Awesome footage, thanks.

[@marvinherrera6422]

Una versión de esta misma prueba pero con la imagen fija y el mismo fondo musical quedaría mejor aún 💥

[@TSAGamerContent]

First and she is so beautifully devastating. ❤

[@ZMAN_420]

I remember Castle Bravo, my 1st time even hearing about this one.

[@DelightLovesMovies]

Wow it looks so much like Castle Bravo.

[@vap0rland]

come for the devastation, stay for the soothing music

[@Guesswho-x4o]

Excellent

[@alexl7245]

I'd be great if music in background is removed.

[@dkdid925]

Why do airburts look like alien jellyfish and ground burst look like actual bombs?

[@Uaarkson]

6.9 megatons? Nice. 😏

[@provetamin]

awesome 🙌

[@nghiadang2518]

460 hiroshima bomb ☝️☝️☝️

[@atarigonzo6928]

Please change the music. It's really terrible and isn't not fitting the images at all.

[@dziban303]

Or you could shut up and hit the mute button

[@nicholasmaude6906]

It reminds of some of the music used in Christopher Nolan's 2012 film "The Adjustment Bureau".

[@PE9A3p4hUfwv]

Just click the mute button. It's not that hard.

[@willworknow]

What Biden could be walking us into as I write this.