忘却からの帰還〜Atomic Age

M-28及びM-29 Davy Crockett兵器システムは、冷戦時代の米国陸軍のM-388核砲弾を投擲する無反動砲である。この動画は、米国陸軍による、Davy Crockettを用いた戦術実弾演習を解説したものである。



なお、TNT10〜20トン爆弾相当の火力であるため、核爆発として閃光は強力だが

それらしいキノコ雲の形にはならない。

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00:28 July 1962
00:30 These troops forming a special task force were the first in our armies history to engage in a tactical exercise supported by live nuclear firepower
00:40 Every man was required to wear a security badge in the radiological dosimeter.
00:47 Early in July the task force arrived at Nellis Air Force Base, the railhead nearest to the Atomic Energy Commission, Nevada Test Site where the exercise would be carried out
01:14 the mission had been given a high priority and a short get ready schedule in six weeks from the time the selected commanders and troops were alerted.
01:23 They were organized into a mechanized force, given intensive training and moved from their homes station Fort Lewis Washington.
01:31 The troops were transported by commercial and military buses from Nellis Air Force Base to the test site a distance over 100 miles.
01:51 Tracks, guns and tanks as soon as they were unloaded, proceeded to the test side without delay
01:58 The task force was comprised of a mechanized infantry company, a mechanized battalion headquarters, a platoon of tanks, a battery 105 millimeter howitzers and Headquarters Company which included a battalion motor and Davy Crockett troops.
02:14 Arriving at the ATEC Test site, the troops were billeted in a trailer camp located approximately 25 miles from the selected exercise area.
02:30 Here the various troop units were given for their orientation on the nature and scope of the special mission.
02:43 complete preparations have been made for their arrival and occupancy of quarters does obviating the necessity for transporting much impediment to normally required for a field exercise
03:00 Substantial mess halls were provided and fresh cooked food was served upon arrival and, all morning and evening meals.
03:12 The man lost no time on creating equipment.
03:14 The headquarters of the exercise director was located in a similar nearby camp.
03:22 The headquarters consisted of a normal staff, augmented to handle the special requirements of this mission.
03:36 Preparations for the exercise began on schedule.
03:41 man and equipment moved out and reconnoiter the terrain over which they would operate.
03:46 Several dry runs were carried out at critical points to familiarize the man with the time schedule at the overall operation.
03:55 Preventive maintenance activities were begun immediately to assure the effectiveness of all equipment required for the exercise.
04:05 Timing and coordinating a field exercise of this type call for exact pre-planning the functions and movements a each individual unit involved
04:24 this field exercise was not a wargaming maneuver, but rather a pre-designed demonstration at the tactical employment, low-yield nuclear weapons in conjunction with conventional weapons.
04:34 close support weapons were set up in advance, in preparation for registering and firing upon pre-selected target areas, in the first phase of the operation
04:47 the artillery battery was likewise set up in its supporting position and registration rounds were fired under the targets designated, each phase of overall operation.
05:01 Each element of the task force was briefed its particular responsibilities, including the precise safety measures to be taken at each stage at the overall operation.
05:26 The objective of this operation is to demonstrate tactically the infantry and armours current organic low-yield nuclear delivery system, the Davy Crockett
05:30 The tactical situation has been pre designed to illustrate the employment of Davy Crockett in support of an attack.
05:43 The plan of the exercise calls for the Davy Crockett to be fired in the zone of action of the first mechanized battalion 12th Infantry.
05:54 Our forces are disposed as indicated here
05:58 Company A with an attach of platoon of tanks
05;03 Company B simulated
06:07 Company C also simulated, is in reserve
06:17 Other elements actually participating are the mortars, the recoilless rifles
06:22 the light davy crockett launcher, maximum range 2000 meters
06:28 The two heavy Davy Crockett launchers maximum range 4000 meters
06:36 The supporting artillery battery and the battalion headquarters
06:45 The enemy in this sector or the combat zone has been driven back to these positions
06:53 He also holds strong reserves here.
06:58 The battalion has been ordered to secure objectives 1 and 2.
07:06 Company A will attack to seize objective 1
07:11 Company B will attack to seize objective 2
07:18 To assist in breaching the enemy's defenses, One Davy Crockett nuclear round will be detonated here, 26 minutes prior to the attack
07:36 The significance of this operation was recognized throughout our military establishment.
07:39 The representatives from all the services and other interested agencies were invited to observe this historic event, a critical first for the army.
07:47 The president was represented by close personal advisers
07:55 prior to the exercise the observers were oriented on the salient characteristics that the Davy Crockett system, and on the overall scheme of maneuver they would witness.
08:03 the countdown for the firing of the nuclear round was under control of the defense atomic Support Agency
08:11 Safety measures for the exercise were supervised by the chief safety officer
08:20 At H minus five minutes, all troops were ordered to take cover in previously prepared trenches.
08:34 At H minus three minutes, all observers put on high density goggles or turn their backs to the direction of the burst to avoid retinal burn.
08:42 At H minus two minutes, green star clusters were fired as the final warning before the detonation
08:52 the Round was launched at H minus 17 seconds, to accomplish H hour impact on the desired Ground Zero an range of 2852 meters
09:03 round was set for a lower Height burst.
09:12 It detonated perfectly, releasing its lethal radiation.
09:16 Like any other nuclear weapon, the Davy Crockett gives of three basic effect: heat, blast and nuclear radiation
09:27 by far the most significant effect is the deadly initial nuclear radiation
09:34 The 3000 rad line, criterion for prompt casualties, extended approximately 200 meters
09:48 The 650 rad line criterion for the late casualties extended approximately 350 meters
09:56 Troops located approximately 1600 meters from the detonation, where're well beyond the minimum safe distance
10:05 In comparison thermal effect to expose skin would have been insignificant at any these ranges.
10:12 Second-degree burns would have extended to only a distance about 100 meters
10:17 The crater produced by the blast was militarily insignificant.
10:26 moderate damage to tanks from blast extended to about 20 meters.
10:35 the average winds at the time at the detonation were south-southeast at 25 km/h.
10:43 these caused a rather elongated fallout pattern.
10:49 At one hour after the burst, the one rad per hour contour extended over 1700 meters downwind
10:58 the 10 rad/hour contour extended 700 meters.
11:04 where smaller than 10 rad/hour contour enclosing a hotspot farther downwind.
11:12 An aerial survey radiological intensities was made shortly after the burst, by a monitoring team
11:23 The data obtained by this team combined with ground survey data, establish the pattern of radiation intensities in the area of the operation.
11:35 The battalion commander performed his tactical damage assessment by helicopter, is personal observation combined with the radiological data collected provided the information necessary to complete his estimate on the situation.
11:50 In the event, radiation intensities had prevented him from following his primary plan, he would have had to implement a contingency plan, is information however assured him that his primary plan could be followed.
12:07 This plan called for two platoons accompany A to attack objective 1.
12;12 Along this axis, while the third platoon secured the battalion's right flank by seizing of the penetration
12:20 In his damage assessment flight, the battalion commander observed a previously unreported enemy force in an assembly area here.
12:27 He estimated it to be a reinforced mechanized company.
12:32 This force would menaces right flank during the movement to seize objective 1.
12:43 The battalion commander therefore decided to engage those targeted opportunity, went two nuclear rounds, as soon as he could displace Davy Crockett launchers within range of the target.
12:56 Meanwhile he would contain this enemy forces with artillery, and mortar fire.
13:13 Troops were ordered into their carriers in preparation for the attack, as soon as the battalion commander had determined that his primary plan could be implemented.
13:24 At H+26, with the platoon of tank supporting the effort of company A, the battalion jumped up.
13:40 Artillery and mortar fire supported the advance
13:56 The right platoon of company A, supported by tanks, proceeds the right shoulder of the penetration. Thereby assuring the remainder of the company free movement toward objective 1.
14:07 Artillery and mortar fire on the Target of opportunity, prevented this enemy element from interfering with the advance to objective 1:
14:16 When the right platoon secure the right shoulder, the tanks with this unit were in position to supplement the artillery and morter fire on the target of opportunity.
14:28 When the company minors reached its dismount point all elements of the battalion were able to begin the final phase of the attack.
14:37 Supporting fires lifted and shifted it on call from the company commander
14:56 Tanks moved forward in support of the infantry.
15:02 By this time the light davy crockett, which had been displacing in the rear of the advance was in position to begin adjustment a fire on the target of opportunity
15:26 The heavy system was required to alter its relative displacement because of the radiation intensities, and was therefore somewhat delayed going into position.
15:36 Nevertheless, within 11 minutes of the time objective one was taken, the heavy system was in position and firing its final adjusting round
15:49 Two simulate a nuclear fires were placed on a target of opportunity as planned
15:57 With this action the exercise was considered to be successfully terminated
16:02 Immediately following the exercise, the battalion employed standard unit decontamination procedures to ensure that vehicles in men were freed up the main possible source radiological contamination.
16:24 Radioactive equipment was used to detect contamination exceeding the safety criteria of the exercise.
16:28 No one needed further decontamination and only two vehicles required a washed-out
16:38 On this july day 1962, the army demonstrated its ability to plan and safely conduct the tactical exercise involving the use the low-yield nuclear weapons.
16:48 It was further demonstrated that a battalion has the capability to employ the Davy Crockett tactically, and that the doctrine per such employment is sound.
17:00 the Davy Crockett was not designed to win battles by itself.
17:04 Only when it is integrated with other combat power available to the commanders as was demonstrated today, does this weapon fill the need for which it was designed to give
17:14 the infantry and armor unit commanders simple yet effectively respond to nuclear firepower.

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