The Able-Baker-Where's-Charlie Follies. [Operation Crossroads]

Journal Article · · Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; (United States)

OSTI ID:7170199

Moore, M

The present article relates the story of Operation Crossroads, a joint army-navy exercise conducted in the Pacific at the Bikini Atoll. The tests involved 42,000 men, and its ostensible purpose was to evaluate the effects of nuclear weapons on modern naval vessels so that design improvements could be made. The author defends the position that Crossroads was in fact mainly a public relations exercise to which reporters, newsreel cameramen, congressmen, and United Nations observers were invited. The effects of two of the three scheduled tests--Able, Baker (Charlie would have been third)--and the gross underestimation of the radiation impact of the tests on observers, ships, and environment are discussed. 56 refs.

• OSTI ID: 7170199
• Journal Information: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; (United States), Journal Name: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; (United States) Vol. 50:3; ISSN BASIAP; ISSN 0096-5243
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
CROSSROADS PROJECT
ETHICAL ASPECTS
EXPLOSIONS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RISK ASSESSMENT
US DOD
US ORGANIZATIONS