W74
Encyclopedia
The W74 was an experimental American
nuclear artillery shell.
Responding to a 1969 United States Army
request for a replacement for the W48
155 mm artillery shell, the Los Alamos National Laboratory
started development of the W74. However, by mid 1973 the program was discontinued without producing a weapon for general production. The primary reasons for the cancellation of the W74 were the obsolete technology used and high cost. The weapon only employed fission
, had no improvements in accuracy, and had no capability to be further developed as an "enhanced radiation" (neutron)
device; the result was a weapon that did not provide new capabilities, all with a per shell cost of $425,000 (1973).
and terminated two years later.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
nuclear artillery shell.
Responding to a 1969 United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
request for a replacement for the W48
W48
The W48 was an American nuclear artillery shell, fired from a standard 155 mm howitzer e.g. the M114 or M198. It was manufactured starting in 1963, and all units were retired in 1992....
155 mm artillery shell, the Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory, managed and operated by Los Alamos National Security , located in Los Alamos, New Mexico...
started development of the W74. However, by mid 1973 the program was discontinued without producing a weapon for general production. The primary reasons for the cancellation of the W74 were the obsolete technology used and high cost. The weapon only employed fission
Nuclear fission
In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts , often producing free neutrons and photons , and releasing a tremendous amount of energy...
, had no improvements in accuracy, and had no capability to be further developed as an "enhanced radiation" (neutron)
Neutron bomb
A neutron bomb or enhanced radiation weapon or weapon of reinforced radiation is a type of thermonuclear weapon designed specifically to release a large portion of its energy as energetic neutron radiation rather than explosive energy...
device; the result was a weapon that did not provide new capabilities, all with a per shell cost of $425,000 (1973).
W75
The W75 was the 8 inch (203mm) equivalent of the W74. It was viewed by many as being an obsolete system, expensive to deploy and not worth pursuing. Development was started in 1973 at the Livermore LabLawrence Livermore National Laboratory
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , just outside Livermore, California, is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center founded by the University of California in 1952...
and terminated two years later.