Operation Sailor Hat (500 tons of TNT --> Woohoo!)

[Cassiar]

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v322/intestine/u110434.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v322/intestine/kn10831.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v322/intestine/u110440.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v322/intestine/kn11352.jpg

[Mark Sman]

First off, very cool.

Secondly, why? Not that I require an explanation or an excuse for a cool demostration explosion, just wondering if they came up with one.

[Cassiar]

First off, very cool.

Secondly, why? Not that I require an explanation or an excuse for a cool demostration explosion, just wondering if they came up with one.

I believe they were trying to simulate a nuclear blast. However, in 1965, one could use the real thing.

[uniroad]

It created a big crater :D

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/images/kahoolawe-Crater.jpg

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/images/kahoolawe-Campcra.jpg


Operation Sailor Hat was an underwater and surface high-explosive test program conducted in 1965 by the US Navy Bureau of Ships (BuShips) under the sponsorship of the Defense Atomic Support Agency (DASA).

This program consisted of two series of underwater explosions, three surface explosions at San Clemente Island, California, and three surface explosions at Kaho`olawe Island, respectively. The three 500-ton Trinitrotoluene (TNT) charges were constructed on the beach above the water line on the southwest coast of Kaho`olawe.

The crater resulting from the first detonation was subsequently backfilled and is no longer visible. The second and third detonations were conducted at the same site; the result is the present "Sailor's Hat" crater.

Sailor's Hat crater has formed an aquatic ecosystem which has become habitat for two endemic species of shrimp: Halocaridina rubra and Metabataeus lohena.

- http://www.globalsecurity.org/

[Hellman109]

It looks like they were testing the ship against the blast.

I say this because it's clearly in the blast radius, and if you wanted it safe, tehres plenty of places to go...

[MEGR]

Great pics Cassiar. Again, funny avatar.

[Sayeret]

Did it damage the ship nearby. It seemed to be pretty close when it exploded and I wasn't sure if the ship was being used as a target ship to see how explosives effect ships.

[Bulkowski]

San Clemente has nice waves (I used to live in Irvine, CA), never heard anything about a crater though :|

[FallenAngel]

San Clemente has nice waves (I used to live in Irvine, CA), never heard anything about a crater though :|

I live in Irvine now and you're not thinking of the same San Clemente. They are talking about the Island which is several dozen miles out to sea and is used for Naval gunnery exercises by the USN.

The San Clemente you're probably thinking about is the beach community on the mainland just north of the Dana Point area. And yes, awesome waves :D

[cazorp]

It looks like they were testing the ship against the blast.

I say this because it's clearly in the blast radius, and if you wanted it safe, tehres plenty of places to go...

I'd say the ships there for measuring the blast, and yes - some damage is certain - check B&W picture #4 - you can see the blast-wave passing and smoke (My guess, colour melting from the hull) from the heat-wave..

[cazorp]

EDIT: Double-post

[Pooga]

Heehee, they look like legos! Legos dat go boom!