The Special Atomic Demolition Munition (SADM), also known as the XM129 and XM159 Atomic Demolition Charges,[1] and the B54 bomb[2] was a nuclear man-portable atomic demolition munition (ADM) system fielded by the US military from the 1960s to 1980s but never used in combat.
At the time of the weapon's development, the existing Atomic Demolition Munition (ADM) was the T-4 Atomic Demolition Munition. Its transport required 4 men, each carrying a 40-pound (18 kg) section of the weapon.[2]
Development began in June 1960 and an interim Mark 54 Mod 0 (now called the B54-0) weapon was put into production in April 1963. Production of the B54 Mod 1 SADM began in August 1964. The weapon was 12 inches (305 mm) in diameter, 18 inches (457 mm) long, and weighed 58.5 pounds (26.5 kg). It included the warhead, a fuzing and firing system with a mechanical timer, a ferroelectric firing set and a sealed housing. The body was constructed with aluminum forgings and molded fiberglass, and foam-rubber insulation was used between the warhead and case. Dials were illuminated with a tritium-phosphor paint for easy night reading. A housing for underwater emplacement was provided that included external controls.[2]
The B54 Mod 2 started production in June 1965. The weapon was the same size as previous mods but now weighed 70 pounds (32 kg).[2]
The yield is estimated to be 10 to 1,000 tons of TNT (42 to 4,184 GJ).[3]
Use
Offensive use
ADM employment manuals describe the use of ADMs tactically in both offensive and defensive operations.[4]
In offensive operations, ADMs are described as being useful for improving flank and rear security of a unit, impeding counterattacks and assisting in enemy entrapment.[5]
Engineering and defensive use
ADM employment manuals describe the use of ADMs defensively for combat engineering purposes. Possible targets described include bridges, dams, canals, tunnels, airfields, railroad marshaling yards, ports and industrial plants, and power facilities.[6]
Extensive tables were provided to enable the selection of the correct yield for each particular target. These tables accounted for various employment particulars such as depth of burial, fallout considerations, and minimum safe separation distances between adjacent weapons and personnel.[7]
Suicide attack allegations
A weapon training film for the bomb
On December 27, 2018, the Green Bay Press-Gazette interviewed veteran Mark Bentley, who had trained for the Special Atomic Demolition Munition program to manually place and detonate the SADM. The report stated that he and other soldiers training for the program knew this was a suicide mission because either it would be unrealistic to outrun the timer on the bomb, or that soldiers would be obligated to secure the site before the timer went off.[8]
However, employment manuals specifically describe the firing party and their guard retreating from the emplacement site, at which point security of the device is provided through a combination of passive security measures including concealment, camouflage, and the use of decoys; and by active security measures including booby traps, obstacles such as concertina wire and landmines, and long-range artillery fire.[9] Further, the SADM included a Field Wire Remote Control System (FWRCS), a device that enabled the sending of safe/arm and firing signals to the weapon via a wire for safe remote detonation of the weapon.[10]
^Semiannual Historical Report, Activities for the Period 1 July 1969 - 31 December 1968, Vol I (PDF) (Report). Headquarters Field Command, Defense Atomic Support Agency. p. 260. DASA-69-0492. (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021. Operational Review of the XM-129/XM-159 Atomic Demolition Charge (B54 SADM)
^ abcdHistory of the Mk 54 Weapon (Report). Sandia National Labs. February 1968. from the original on 2021-05-22. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
^Sublette, Carey (12 June 2020). "Complete List of All U.S. Nuclear Weapons". Retrieved 2021-03-24.
^Paul Srubas, Green Bay (Wis.) Press-Gazette (January 7, 2019). "His job was to place atomic bombs. Place them, not drop them. Set the timer. Run like hell". Green Bay Press-Gazette. from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2019 – via Associated Press.
^Bartlett, J G (11 February 1964). Electromagnetic Radiation Susceptibility of the B54-0 (SADM) and the Field Wire Remote Control System (U) (Report). Sandia National Lab. from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
Bibliography
Employment of Atomic Demolition Munitions (ADM) (PDF) (Report). Headquarters, Department of the Army. August 1971. FM 5-26.
History of the Mk 54 Weapon (Report). Sandia National Labs. February 1968. from the original on 2021-05-22. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tactical nuclear weapons.
(full film)
image of the SADM
Foreign Policy Article on mission types and personnel
special, atomic, demolition, munition, sadm, also, known, xm129, xm159, atomic, demolition, charges, bomb, nuclear, portable, atomic, demolition, munition, system, fielded, military, from, 1960s, 1980s, never, used, combat, sadm, carry, sadm, hard, carrying, c. The Special Atomic Demolition Munition SADM also known as the XM129 and XM159 Atomic Demolition Charges 1 and the B54 bomb 2 was a nuclear man portable atomic demolition munition ADM system fielded by the US military from the 1960s to 1980s but never used in combat SADM in its carry bag SADM hard carrying case A U S Army Special Forces paratrooper conducts a high altitude low opening military freefall jump with an MK 54 SADM A possible test of the XW 54 warhead Contents 1 History and design 2 Use 2 1 Offensive use 2 2 Engineering and defensive use 3 Suicide attack allegations 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory and design EditSee also W54 Special Atomic Demolition Munition At the time of the weapon s development the existing Atomic Demolition Munition ADM was the T 4 Atomic Demolition Munition Its transport required 4 men each carrying a 40 pound 18 kg section of the weapon 2 Development began in June 1960 and an interim Mark 54 Mod 0 now called the B54 0 weapon was put into production in April 1963 Production of the B54 Mod 1 SADM began in August 1964 The weapon was 12 inches 305 mm in diameter 18 inches 457 mm long and weighed 58 5 pounds 26 5 kg It included the warhead a fuzing and firing system with a mechanical timer a ferroelectric firing set and a sealed housing The body was constructed with aluminum forgings and molded fiberglass and foam rubber insulation was used between the warhead and case Dials were illuminated with a tritium phosphor paint for easy night reading A housing for underwater emplacement was provided that included external controls 2 The B54 Mod 2 started production in June 1965 The weapon was the same size as previous mods but now weighed 70 pounds 32 kg 2 The yield is estimated to be 10 to 1 000 tons of TNT 42 to 4 184 GJ 3 Use EditOffensive use Edit ADM employment manuals describe the use of ADMs tactically in both offensive and defensive operations 4 In offensive operations ADMs are described as being useful for improving flank and rear security of a unit impeding counterattacks and assisting in enemy entrapment 5 Engineering and defensive use Edit ADM employment manuals describe the use of ADMs defensively for combat engineering purposes Possible targets described include bridges dams canals tunnels airfields railroad marshaling yards ports and industrial plants and power facilities 6 Extensive tables were provided to enable the selection of the correct yield for each particular target These tables accounted for various employment particulars such as depth of burial fallout considerations and minimum safe separation distances between adjacent weapons and personnel 7 Suicide attack allegations Edit source source source source source source source source source source A weapon training film for the bomb On December 27 2018 the Green Bay Press Gazette interviewed veteran Mark Bentley who had trained for the Special Atomic Demolition Munition program to manually place and detonate the SADM The report stated that he and other soldiers training for the program knew this was a suicide mission because either it would be unrealistic to outrun the timer on the bomb or that soldiers would be obligated to secure the site before the timer went off 8 However employment manuals specifically describe the firing party and their guard retreating from the emplacement site at which point security of the device is provided through a combination of passive security measures including concealment camouflage and the use of decoys and by active security measures including booby traps obstacles such as concertina wire and landmines and long range artillery fire 9 Further the SADM included a Field Wire Remote Control System FWRCS a device that enabled the sending of safe arm and firing signals to the weapon via a wire for safe remote detonation of the weapon 10 See also EditW54 Warhead Medium Atomic Demolition Munition Suitcase nuclear device List of nuclear weaponsReferences Edit Semiannual Historical Report Activities for the Period 1 July 1969 31 December 1968 Vol I PDF Report Headquarters Field Command Defense Atomic Support Agency p 260 DASA 69 0492 Archived PDF from the original on 4 June 2021 Retrieved 4 June 2021 Operational Review of the XM 129 XM 159 Atomic Demolition Charge B54 SADM a b c d History of the Mk 54 Weapon Report Sandia National Labs February 1968 Archived from the original on 2021 05 22 Retrieved 2021 06 04 Sublette Carey 12 June 2020 Complete List of All U S Nuclear Weapons Retrieved 2021 03 24 Employment of Atomic Demolition Munitions ADM Chapter 3 Employment of Atomic Demolition Munitions ADM Page 3 1 Employment of Atomic Demolition Munitions ADM Report Headquarters Department of the Army August 1971 FM 5 26 Employment of Atomic Demolition Munitions ADM Chapter 6 Paul Srubas Green Bay Wis Press Gazette January 7 2019 His job was to place atomic bombs Place them not drop them Set the timer Run like hell Green Bay Press Gazette Archived from the original on September 1 2021 Retrieved January 18 2019 via Associated Press Employment of Atomic Demolition Munitions ADM Pages 3 15 to 3 16 Bartlett J G 11 February 1964 Electromagnetic Radiation Susceptibility of the B54 0 SADM and the Field Wire Remote Control System U Report Sandia National Lab Archived from the original on 25 May 2021 Retrieved 4 June 2021 Bibliography Edit Employment of Atomic Demolition Munitions ADM PDF Report Headquarters Department of the Army August 1971 FM 5 26 History of the Mk 54 Weapon Report Sandia National Labs February 1968 Archived from the original on 2021 05 22 Retrieved 2021 06 04 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tactical nuclear weapons SADM Delivery by Parachutist Swimmer Special Atomic Demolition Munition Film Clip full film image of the SADM Foreign Policy Article on mission types and personnel ADM Web PagePortal Nuclear technology Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Special Atomic Demolition Munition amp oldid 1121907777, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
