Title:
SPECIAL VEHICLES FOR OPERATION SANDSTONE ( OPERATION SANDSTONE NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS 1948, APPENDIX C TO REPORT NO. 10, FINAL REPORT ON PROJECT TX-2-11 )
Subject Terms:
VEHICLES; SANDSTONE OPERATION; TESTING; EQUIPMENT; DIAGRAMS; SAMPLING; SOILS; RECOMMENDATIONS
Document Location:
Location - DOE/NNSA NUCLEAR TESTING ARCHIVE Address - P.O. Box 98521 City - Las Vegas State - NV Zip - 89193-8521 Phone - (702)794-5106 Fax - (702)862-4240 Email - NTA@NV.DOE.GOV
Publication Date:
1948 May 26
Declassification Status:
Declassified
Accession Number:
NV0051221
OpenNet Entry Date:
1994 Aug 26
OpenNet Modified Date:
2003 Sep 18
Description/Abstract:
TWO TANKS (TYPE M-5) WERE MODIFIED AND PROVIDED WITH RADIO CONTROL EQU IPMENT SO THAT THESE TANKS COULD BE DIRECTED BY REMOTE CONTROL TO A DE SIGNATED SPOT AND A SAMPLE OF EARTH PROCURED IN A SCOOP MOUNTED ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONTROL TRANSMITTERS WERE PROVIDED SO THAT THE VEHICLES COULD BE OPERATED FROM A DISTANCE, EITHER FROM A STATIONARY P LATFORM OR FROM A HELICOPTER IN FLIGHT. PERSONNEL FROM ABERDEEN PROVIN G GROUND WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THESE V EHICLES DURING OPERATION SANDSTONE. PRELIMINARY REHEARSALS WERE CONDUC TED AT ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND. FINAL REHEARSALS AND THE ACTUAL EARTH SAMPLING OPERATIONS, WERE CONDUCTED IN ENIWETOK ATOLL. THE SPECIAL TAN KS PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY AND ACCOMPLISHED THE MISSION FOR WHICH THE Y WERE DESIGNED. HOWEVER, THE OPERATION DEMONSTRATED THAT CHANGES IN T HE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLES ARE DESIRABLE. FOR ANY FUTURE OPERATION UNDE R SIMILAR CONDITIONS, A LIGHTER, WIDE-TRACK VEHICLE, SUCH AS THE M-29 "WEAZEL", IS RECOMMENDED. A NON-STALL FEATURE SHOULD BE INCORPORATED I N THE DESIGN OF THE POWER PLANT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE SAMPLING SCO OP BE A DRAG-TYPE SCOOP MOUNTED AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. A SOLID, M ORE CONTRASTING COLOR DESIGN FOR THE VEHICLES SHOULD PROVE ADVANTAGEOU S.