Nuclear Excavation of Entrance Channel to Diego Garcia Atoll

Technical Report · Fri Jun 03 04:00:00 EDT 1960

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1546757· OSTI ID:1546757

This memorandum presents an engineering proposal for the nuclear excavation of an entrance channel to Diego Garcia Atoll, located in the Indian Ocean at 7°17'S., 72°26'E. Briefly, the proposal is to excavate a new channel 400 yards wide through a narrow point in the eastern side of the Atoll by detonating simultaneously two 200 KT nuclear devices emplaced at a depth of 700 feet in the coral reef. Investigations of nuclear excavation by the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, undertaken as part of the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission's Plowshare Program for the peaceful use of nuclear explosives, indicate that such a channel project is entirely feasible and could be carried out with complete safety to human life and minimum damage to Diego Garcia Atoll. The estimated cost is $2,900,000, exclusive of transportation costs from the United States to Diego Garcia and housekeeping support costs at the overseas site. The following sections present data on the excavation dimensions; safety considerations; time schedule; personnel; equipment and supply requirements, and estimated cost.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC); USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 1546757
• Report Number(s): UCRL-ID--124965
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE