Operation Mosaic
Encyclopedia
Operation Mosaic was a series of two atmospheric nuclear tests conducted by Britain
in the Montebello Islands
off the north-west coast
of Australia
in 1956. It was preceded by Operation Totem
(1953) and succeeded by Operation Buffalo
(1956) both conducted in South Australia
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the Montebello Islands
Montebello Islands
The Montebello Islands, also known as the Monte Bello Islands, are an archipelago of around 174 small islands lying north of Barrow Island and off the Pilbara coast of north-western Australia. Montebello is Italian for "beautiful mountain"...
off the north-west coast
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1956. It was preceded by Operation Totem
Operation Totem
Operation Totem was a pair of British atmospheric nuclear tests which took place on 15th October 1953. The only ones conducted at a temporary site in Australia, Emu Field, they followed the Operation Hurricane test of the first British atomic bomb which had taken place at the Montebello Islands a...
(1953) and succeeded by Operation Buffalo
Operation Buffalo
Operation Buffalo may refer to:* The breakout from the Operation Shingle Anzio beachhead by the U.S. VI Corps commencing on 23 May 1944* Four open-air British nuclear tests at Maralinga in South Australia in late 1956...
(1956) both conducted in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
Test: G1
- Time: 16 May 1956 (0350 GMT, 10:50 WAST)
- Location: Trimouille Island in the Montebello Islands, Australia, 20.23 S, 115.55 E
- Test Height and Type: Aluminum tower, 31m
- Yield: 15 kt
Test: G2
- Time: 19 June 1956 (0214 GMT, 10:14 WAST)
- Location: Alpha Island in the Monte Bello Islands, Australia, 20.40 S 115.53 E
- Test Height and Type: Aluminum tower, 31 m
- Yield: 98 kt