Operation Cresset

Cresset
Cresset
Information
Country	United States
Test site	NTS Area 12, Rainier Mesa; NTS Area 19, 20, Pahute Mesa; NTS, Areas 1–4, 6–10, Yucca Flat;
Period	1977–1978
Number of tests	22
Test type	underground shaft, tunnel
Max. yield	150 kilotonnes of TNT (630 TJ)
Test series chronology

Operation Cresset was a group of 22 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1977 and 1978. These tests followed the Operation Fulcrum series and preceded the Operation Quicksilver series.

US Cresset series tests and detonations
Name	Date time (UT)	Local time zone	Location	Elevation + height	Delivery Purpose	Device	Yield	Fallout	Notes
Bobstay	October 26, 1977 14:15:00.08	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3jb 37°00′27″N 116°01′03″W / 37.00759°N 116.01741°W / 37.00759; -116.01741 (Bobstay)	1,180 m (3,870 ft) – 381.3 m (1,251 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		5 kt	I-131 venting detected, 0.000003 Ci (0.00011 GBq)
Hybla Gold	November 1, 1977 18:06:00.07	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U12e.20 37°11′16″N 116°12′50″W / 37.18773°N 116.21384°W / 37.18773; -116.21384 (Hybla Gold)	2,239 m (7,346 ft) – 384.99 m (1,263.1 ft)	tunnel, weapon effect		10 kt	I-131 venting detected, 0	Shot to test the MX missile shallow buried trench basing concept to see if a nearby nuclear fireball would cause the trench to act as a shock tube.
Sandreef	November 9, 1977 22:00:00.075	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U7aq 37°04′20″N 116°03′04″W / 37.07217°N 116.05115°W / 37.07217; -116.05115 (Sandreef)	1,221 m (4,006 ft) – 700.74 m (2,299.0 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		150 kt
Seamount	November 17, 1977 19:30:00.077	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3kp 37°01′14″N 116°01′33″W / 37.02055°N 116.02584°W / 37.02055; -116.02584 (Seamount)	1,186 m (3,891 ft) - 370.09 m (1,214.2 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		10 kt
Rib	December 14, 1977 15:00:00.17	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3jv 37°01′03″N 116°01′07″W / 37.01752°N 116.01864°W / 37.01752; -116.01864 (Rib)	1,184 m (3,885 ft) – 212.84 m (698.3 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		800 t
Farallones	December 14, 1977 15:30:00.07	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3fa 37°08′09″N 116°05′12″W / 37.13573°N 116.08658°W / 37.13573; -116.08658 (Farallones)	1,290 m (4,230 ft) – 668 m (2,192 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		150 kt	Venting detected, 1 Ci (37 GBq)
Campos	February 13, 1978 21:53:00.162	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U9cp 37°07′34″N 116°01′57″W / 37.12607°N 116.03261°W / 37.12607; -116.03261 (Campos)	1,269 m (4,163 ft) – 319.6 m (1,049 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		800 t	Venting detected, 1.3 kCi (48 TBq)
Reblochon	February 23, 1978 17:00:00.164	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2en 37°07′25″N 116°03′53″W / 37.12363°N 116.0647°W / 37.12363; -116.0647 (Reblochon)	1,261 m (4,137 ft) – 658.4 m (2,160 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		120 kt	Venting detected, 36 Ci (1,300 GBq)
Karab	March 16, 1978 15:00:00.07	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U4ah 37°05′06″N 116°04′57″W / 37.08512°N 116.08249°W / 37.08512; -116.08249 (Karab)	1,247 m (4,091 ft) – 331 m (1,086 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		1.5 kt	Venting detected
Iceberg	March 23, 1978 16:30:00.2	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U4g 37°06′07″N 116°03′08″W / 37.10182°N 116.05236°W / 37.10182; -116.05236 (Iceberg)	1,239 m (4,065 ft) – 640.29 m (2,100.7 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		120 kt
Topmast	March 23, 1978 16:30:00.114	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U7ay 37°05′56″N 116°01′14″W / 37.09881°N 116.02049°W / 37.09881; -116.02049 (Topmast)	1,282 m (4,206 ft) – 457.81 m (1,502.0 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		less than 20 kt
Backbeach	April 11, 1978 17:45:00.073	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U19x 37°14′00″N 116°22′10″W / 37.23344°N 116.36936°W / 37.23344; -116.36936 (Backbeach)	2,040 m (6,690 ft) – 671.78 m (2,204.0 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		100 kt
Asco	April 25, 1978 14:35:00.162	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U10bc 37°09′16″N 116°02′08″W / 37.15452°N 116.03563°W / 37.15452; -116.03563 (Asco)	1,285 m (4,216 ft) – 183 m (600 ft)	underground shaft, safety experiment		less than 20 kt
Transom	May 10, 1978 15:00:00.07	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U4f 37°05′16″N 116°03′13″W / 37.08773°N 116.0535°W / 37.08773; -116.0535 (Transom)	1,231 m (4,039 ft) – 640 m (2,100 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		no yield		Fizzle? Device destroyed by Quicksilver/Hearts detonation on 1979.
Jackpots	June 1, 1978 17:00:00.075	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3kj 37°01′14″N 116°01′58″W / 37.02062°N 116.03267°W / 37.02062; -116.03267 (Jackpots)	1,186 m (3,891 ft) – 304.22 m (998.1 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		600 t
Satz	July 7, 1978 14:00:00.167	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2dq 37°06′43″N 116°04′41″W / 37.11185°N 116.07796°W / 37.11185; -116.07796 (Satz)	1,263 m (4,144 ft) – 315 m (1,033 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		1.5 kt	Venting detected
Lowball	July 12, 1978 17:00:00.08	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U7av 37°04′43″N 116°02′42″W / 37.07861°N 116.04493°W / 37.07861; -116.04493 (Lowball)	1,225 m (4,019 ft) – 564.88 m (1,853.3 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		99 kt
Panir	August 31, 1978 14:00:00.164	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U19ys 37°16′33″N 116°21′30″W / 37.27587°N 116.35823°W / 37.27587; -116.35823 (Panir)	2,013 m (6,604 ft) – 681 m (2,234 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		140 kt
Diablo Hawk	September 13, 1978 15:15:00.16	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U12n.10a 37°12′32″N 116°12′42″W / 37.20875°N 116.21165°W / 37.20875; -116.21165 (Diablo Hawk)	2,212 m (7,257 ft) – 388 m (1,273 ft)	tunnel, weapon effect	Weapon effect on W87 warhead	8 kt
Cremino - 1	September 27, 1978 16:30:00.165	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U8e 37°10′15″N 116°05′17″W / 37.17096°N 116.08804°W / 37.17096; -116.08804 (Cremino - 1)	1,341 m (4,400 ft) – 210 m (690 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		250 t		Simultaneous, same hole.
Cremino-Caerphilly - 2	September 27, 1978 16:30:00.17	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U8e 37°10′15″N 116°05′17″W / 37.17096°N 116.08804°W / 37.17096; -116.08804 (Cremino-Caerphilly - 2)	1,341 m (4,400 ft) +	underground shaft, weapons development		less than 20 kt		Simultaneous, same hole.
Draughts	September 27, 1978 17:00:00.071	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U7al 37°04′26″N 116°01′15″W / 37.07382°N 116.0207°W / 37.07382; -116.0207 (Draughts)	1,234 m (4,049 ft) – 441.59 m (1,448.8 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		25 kt
Rummy	September 27, 1978 17:20:00.076	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U7au 37°04′47″N 116°03′09″W / 37.07974°N 116.05253°W / 37.07974; -116.05253 (Rummy)	1,226 m (4,022 ft) – 639.78 m (2,099.0 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development		150 kt