1975–78 French nuclear tests
| 1975–1978 | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Country | France |
| Test site | Area 1 (southern rim), Fangataufa Atoll; Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll; Muroroa Atoll, Pacific Test Area (CEP); Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll; Zoe and Yvonne Il., Areas 3–4, Moruroa Atoll |
| Period | 1975–1978 |
| Number of tests | 29 |
| Test type | dry surface, underground shaft |
| Max. yield | 64 kilotonnes of TNT (270 TJ) |
| Test series chronology | |
The 1975–1978 nuclear test series was a group of 29 nuclear tests conducted by France in 1975–1978. These tests followed the 1971–1974 French nuclear tests series and preceded the 1979–1980 French nuclear tests series.
| Name | Date time (UT) | Local time zone | Location | Elevation + height | Delivery, Purpose |
Device | Yield | Fallout | References | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achille | 5 June 1975 18:15:?? | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Area 1 (southern rim), Fangataufa Atoll: Terme Sud 22°16′45″S 138°45′35″W / 22.279064°S 138.759830°W | 0 – 623 m (2,044 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
5 kt | ||||
| Hector | 26 November 1975 00:48:?? | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Area 1 (southern rim), Fangataufa Atoll: Echo 22°15′39″S 138°42′35″W / 22.260794°S 138.709748°W | 0 – 585 m (1,919 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
5 kt | ||||
| Patrocle | 3 April 1976 17:07:?? | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Francoise1 21°47′17″S 138°51′52″W / 21.787999°S 138.864542°W | 5 m (16 ft) – 600 m (2,000 ft) | underground shaft, weapons development |
1 kt | ||||
| Ménélas | 11 July 1976 00:30:00.5 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Viviane1 21°51′58″S 138°54′26″W / 21.8662°S 138.90735°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
12 kt | ||||
| Calypso | 22 July 1976 19:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Dora1 21°46′49″S 138°53′04″W / 21.78035°S 138.8844°W | 5 m (16 ft) – 280 m (920 ft) | underground shaft, safety experiment |
no yield | ||||
| Ulysse A | 30 October 1976 22:59:59 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Dahlia1 21°52′28″S 138°51′53″W / 21.87442°S 138.86477°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
1 kt | ||||
| Astyanax | 5 December 1976 23:00:00 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Edith1 21°47′02″S 138°52′12″W / 21.783896°S 138.86997°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
1 kt | ||||
| Ulysse B | 19 February 1977 23:30:00.4 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Dahlia1 21°52′28″S 138°51′53″W / 21.87442°S 138.86477°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
5 kt | ||||
| Nestor | 19 March 1977 23:00:59.9 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Zoe and Yvonne Il., Areas 3–4, Moruroa Atoll: Zoe1 21°52′48″S 138°56′28″W / 21.88009°S 138.94102°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
47 kt | ||||
| Oedipe | 2 April 1977 23:30:00 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Edith2 21°47′03″S 138°52′08″W / 21.78424°S 138.86878°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
1 kt | ||||
| Andromaque | 28 June 1977 18:15:?? | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Dora3 21°46′51″S 138°52′51″W / 21.78093°S 138.88097°W | 5 m (16 ft) – 280 m (920 ft) | underground shaft, safety experiment |
no yield | ||||
| Ajax | 6 July 1977 22:59:58.52 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Francoise2 21°47′24″S 138°51′38″W / 21.79001°S 138.86049°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
20 kt | ||||
| Clytemnestre | 12 July 1977 23:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Dora2 21°46′50″S 138°52′57″W / 21.78068°S 138.88239°W | 5 m (16 ft) – 280 m (920 ft) | underground shaft, safety experiment |
no yield | ||||
| Oreste | 12 November 1977 01:30:00 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Francoise2 21°47′25″S 138°51′36″W / 21.79041°S 138.85999°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
5 kt | ||||
| Enee | 24 November 1977 16:59:59.9 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Zoe and Yvonne Il., Areas 3–4, Moruroa Atoll: Zoe2 21°52′46″S 138°56′21″W / 21.87942°S 138.93915°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
50 kt | ||||
| Laocoon | 17 December 1977 22:00:00 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Francois4 21°47′30″S 138°51′31″W / 21.79177°S 138.85851°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
5 kt | ||||
| Polyphème | 27 February 1978 23:00:00 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Dahlia2 21°52′31″S 138°51′47″W / 21.87528°S 138.86306°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
1 kt | ||||
| Didon | 8 March 1978 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Dindon zone, Moruroa Atoll: Cuve Meknes 21°46′48″S 138°53′33″W / 21.780010°S 138.892539°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | dry surface, safety experiment |
no yield | Safety Test? Not on most references. Location coincident with Denise Blockhouse. | |||
| Pylade | 22 March 1978 17:30:00.5 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Carnelia 21°48′00″S 138°50′56″W / 21.80006°S 138.84901°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
5 kt | ||||
| Hécube | 25 March 1978 17:30:00 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Edith3 21°47′05″S 138°52′04″W / 21.78484°S 138.8679°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
1 kt | ||||
| Xanthos | 1 July 1978 17:00:00 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Simone1 21°52′07″S 138°50′01″W / 21.8687°S 138.8337°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
1 kt | ||||
| Arès | 19 July 1978 18:00:00 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Coucou1 21°53′02″S 138°59′45″W / 21.88399°S 138.99582°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
5 kt | ||||
| Idoménée | 26 July 1978 23:00:00 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Francoise5 21°47′33″S 138°51′27″W / 21.79237°S 138.85747°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
4 kt | ||||
| Schédios | 2 November 1978 18:00:00 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Queen1 21°51′29″S 138°49′08″W / 21.85804°S 138.81897°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
3 kt | ||||
| Aphrodite | 14 November 1978 18:00:?? | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Dora4 21°46′54″S 138°52′39″W / 21.78156°S 138.87758°W | 5 m (16 ft) – 280 m (920 ft) | underground shaft, safety experiment |
no yield | ||||
| Priam | 30 November 1978 17:31:58.48 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Zoe and Yvonne Il., Areas 3–4, Moruroa Atoll: Coucou 21°53′02″S 138°59′31″W / 21.88384°S 138.99195°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
64 kt | ||||
| Dolon | 7 December 1978 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Muroroa Atoll, Pacific Test Area (CEP): Cuve Meknes 21°46′48″S 138°53′33″W / 21.780010°S 138.892539°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | dry surface, safety experiment |
no yield | Safety Test? Not on most references. Location coincident with Denise Blockhouse. | |||
| Étéocle | 17 December 1978 18:04:00 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Camelia2 21°48′04″S 138°50′51″W / 21.80107°S 138.84749°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
5 kt | ||||
| Eumée | 19 December 1978 16:57:01.5 | TAHT (–10 hrs) |
Rim zone, Areas 1–2, Moruroa Atoll: Viviane2 21°51′59″S 138°54′15″W / 21.86642°S 138.90406°W | 5 m (16 ft) + | underground shaft, weapons development |
12 kt |