Atomic demolition munitions
Encyclopedia
Atomic demolition munitions (ADMs), colloquially known as nuclear land mines, are small nuclear explosive devices. ADMs were developed for both military and civilian purposes. As weapons, they were designed to be exploded in the forward battle area, in order to block or channel enemy forces. Non-militarily, they were designed for demolition, mining or earthmoving. However, apart from testing, they have never been used for either purpose.
teams, then detonated on command or by timer to create massive obstructions. By destroying key terrain features or choke points such as bridges, dams, mountain passes, and tunnels, ADMs could block the movement of enemy forces or channel them into pre-planned killing zones.
According to official accounts, the United States
deployed ADMs overseas in Italy
and West Germany
during the Cold War
. Recent scholarship also indicates that the most modern types, SADMs
and MADMs
, were deployed in South Korea
.
The Soviet Union
tested the use of nuclear devices for mining and natural gas extraction on several occasions starting from the mid 1960s, as part of the Nuclear Explosions for the National Economy
program. Tests for similar purposes were carried out in the United States
under Operation Plowshare
, but due to radioactive contamination caused by the tests, no commercial use was made of the technology. With today's greater concerns over the dangers of radiation, it seems unlikely that nuclear devices will ever be used for non-military purposes.
Military uses
Instead of being delivered to the target by missiles, rockets, or artillery shells, ADMs were intended to be emplaced by soldiers. Because of their relatively small size and light weight, ADMs could be emplaced by military engineers or Special ForcesSpecial forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
teams, then detonated on command or by timer to create massive obstructions. By destroying key terrain features or choke points such as bridges, dams, mountain passes, and tunnels, ADMs could block the movement of enemy forces or channel them into pre-planned killing zones.
According to official accounts, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
deployed ADMs overseas in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. Recent scholarship also indicates that the most modern types, SADMs
Special Atomic Demolition Munition
The Special Atomic Demolition Munition was a family of man-portable nuclear weapons fielded by the US military in the 1960s, but never used in actual combat. The US Army planned to use the weapons in Europe in the event of a Soviet invasion...
and MADMs
Medium Atomic Demolition Munition
Medium Atomic Demolition Munition was a tactical nuclear weapon developed by the United States during the Cold War. They were designed to be used as nuclear land mines and for other tactical purposes, with a relatively low explosive yield from a W45 warhead, between 1 and 15 kilotons. Each MADM...
, were deployed in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
Civilian uses
ADMs have never been used commercially, though such devices have been used to put out gas well fires as part of the Soviet test program.The Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
tested the use of nuclear devices for mining and natural gas extraction on several occasions starting from the mid 1960s, as part of the Nuclear Explosions for the National Economy
Nuclear Explosions for the National Economy
Nuclear Explosions for the National Economy , was a Soviet program to investigate peaceful nuclear explosions . It was analogous to the US program Operation Plowshare....
program. Tests for similar purposes were carried out in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
under Operation Plowshare
Operation Plowshare
Project Plowshare was the overall United States term for the development of techniques to use nuclear explosives for peaceful construction purposes...
, but due to radioactive contamination caused by the tests, no commercial use was made of the technology. With today's greater concerns over the dangers of radiation, it seems unlikely that nuclear devices will ever be used for non-military purposes.
List of United States ADMs
- W-7/ADM-B (c.1954-1967)
- T4 ADMT-4 Atomic Demolition MunitionThe T4 Atomic Demolition Munitions were modified versions of the W9 nuclear artillery shells.-History:The T4 was produced in 1957 from recycled W9 fissile components and was in service until 1963, when it was replaced with W30 Tactical Atomic Demolition Munitions and W45 Medium Atomic Demolition...
(1957–1963) Gun-type - W30W30The W30 was an American nuclear warhead used on the RIM-8 Talos surface to air missile and the Tactical Atomic Demolition Munition .The W30 was 22 inches in diameter and 48 inches long, weighing 438, 450, or 490 pounds depending on the version....
/Tactical Atomic Demolition MunitionTactical Atomic Demolition MunitionThe Mk 30 Mod 1 Tactical Atomic Demolitions Munition was a portable atomic bomb, consisting of a Mk 30 warhead installed in a X-113 case. The X-113 was 26 inches in diameter and 70 inches long, and looked like corrugated culvert pipe. The whole system weighed 840 pounds...
(1961–1966) - W31W31The W31 was an American nuclear warhead used for two US missiles and as an atomic demolition munition.The W31 was produced from 1959, with the last versions phased out in 1989....
/ADM (1960–1965) - W45W45The W45 was a multipurpose American nuclear warhead developed in the early 1960s, first built in 1962 and fielded in some applications until 1988. It had a diameter of 11.5 inches , a length of 27 inches and weighed 150 pounds . The yields of different W45 versions were 0.5, 1, 5, 8, 10, and 15...
/Medium Atomic Demolition MunitionMedium Atomic Demolition MunitionMedium Atomic Demolition Munition was a tactical nuclear weapon developed by the United States during the Cold War. They were designed to be used as nuclear land mines and for other tactical purposes, with a relatively low explosive yield from a W45 warhead, between 1 and 15 kilotons. Each MADM...
(1964–1984) - W54W54The W54 was the smallest nuclear warhead deployed by the United States. It was a very compact implosion-type nuclear weapon design, designed for tactical use and had a very low yield for a nuclear weapon.- Development :...
/Special Atomic Demolition MunitionSpecial Atomic Demolition MunitionThe Special Atomic Demolition Munition was a family of man-portable nuclear weapons fielded by the US military in the 1960s, but never used in actual combat. The US Army planned to use the weapons in Europe in the event of a Soviet invasion...
(1965–1989)