Operation Frigate Bird (May 6th, 1962) - Live Warhead Ballistic Missile Nuclear Test

Frigate Bird was a 600 kiloton yield warhead that was the only operational ballistic missile tested with a live warhead. The ballistic missile was fired from the submarine USS Ethan Allen on May 6th 1962 at around 1:18 pm local time. The location was 1500 nautical miles northeast of Christmas Island and the missile flew around 1000 nautical miles before re - entering the atmosphere 12.5 minutes later, exploring at a designed 11,000 feet. This ballistic missile test being a success was a welcome sign, because it proved the technology would work and so subsequent nuclear tests were cancelled. Had Operation Frigate Bird failed, it would have meant more nuclear tests to see the viability of mutually assured destruction. The submarine launched ballistic missiles is a key component of mutually assured destruction due to the stealth and unpredictability of submarines. Had this very important foundation of international foreign policy failed, it would have led to more tension between nuclear countries.

[@malanis]

While the title of the video and the description correctly describe the Frigate Bird test, this video is not Frigate Bird. This is Swordfish. Swordfish was a