In 1946, the United States conducted the first nuclear weapon tests designed to measure nuclear explosion effects on ships, Operation Crossroads. The second shot of this test, BAKER, was designed to test the effects of an underwater nuclear blast on surface ships and submarines.
LSM-60 was modified with a well through the cargo deck and hull, a derrick to lower the bomb through the well, and a large antenna to receive the detonation signal. On 25 July, a standard Mk. 3A "Fat Man" type atomic bomb, nicknamed Helen of Bikini, placed in a watertight casing, was suspended 90 feet below LSM-60 in the lagoon of Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands.[4] At 0835 local time the bomb was detonated, destroying LSM-60 and eight target ships, including USS Saratoga(CV-3).[5] A seaman present claimed that "there was not one identifiable piece of the LSM-60 ever located",[4] however a British naval constructor present reports he saw a 3-inch (7.6 cm) square piece of LSM-60 on the deck of a target ship afterward.[6]
External links
Photo gallery of USS LSM-60 at NavSource Naval History
^ ab"Operation Crossroads". Retrieved 26 December 2006.[dead link]
^"Operation Crossroads 1946". Retrieved 26 December 2006.
^Daniel, R. J. (2003). The End of an Era. Periscope Publishing Ltd. p. 83. ISBN978-1-904381-18-1.
March 02, 2023
world, landing, ship, medium, amphibious, assault, ship, united, states, navy, notable, being, used, float, suspend, fission, bomb, underwater, during, operation, crossroads, baker, test, becoming, first, naval, vessel, deploy, nuclear, weapon, with, modificat. USS LSM 60 was a World War II era landing ship medium LSM amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy It was notable for being used as the float to suspend a fission bomb underwater during the Operation Crossroads BAKER test becoming the first naval vessel to deploy a nuclear weapon 1 LSM 60 with modifications for the Baker Test Bikini AtollHistoryUnited StatesNameUSS LSM 60BuilderBrown Shipbuilding Houston TexasLaid down7 July 1944Launched29 July 1944Commissioned25 August 1944Honors andawards1 battle star World War II FateDestroyed during Operation Crossroads Test Baker 25 July 1946General characteristicsClass and typeLSM 1 class Landing Ship MediumDisplacement520 long tons 528 t light 743 long tons 755 t landing 1 095 long tons 1 113 t full loadLength203 ft 6 in 62 03 m o aBeam34 ft 6 in 10 52 m Draft3 ft 6 in 1 07 m forward 7 ft 8 in 2 34 m aft Fully loaded 6 ft 4 in 1 93 m forward 8 ft 3 in 2 51 m aftPropulsion2 Fairbanks Morse model 38D81 8X10 reversible with hydraulic clutch diesels Direct drive with 1 440 bhp 1 074 kW each 720 rpm twin screwsSpeed13 2 knots 15 2 mph 24 4 km h Range4 900 nmi 9 100 km at 12 kn 22 km h Capacity5 medium or 3 heavy tanks or 6 LVT s or 9 DUKW sTroops2 officers 46 enlistedComplement5 officers 54 enlistedArmament6 20 mm AA gun mountsArmour10 lb STS splinter shield to gun mounts pilot house and conning station Contents 1 World War II Service 2 Operation Crossroads ground zero 3 External links 4 ReferencesWorld War II Service EditLSM 60 s keel was laid on 7 July 1944 and she was launched on 29 July 2 She was commissioned on 25 August LT William W Doar USNR commanding 3 LSM 60 participated in the assault landings at Iwo Jima where she earned one battle star 3 Operation Crossroads ground zero Edit LSM 60 is destroyed as part of the Operation Crossroads BAKER test See also Operation Crossroads In 1946 the United States conducted the first nuclear weapon tests designed to measure nuclear explosion effects on ships Operation Crossroads The second shot of this test BAKER was designed to test the effects of an underwater nuclear blast on surface ships and submarines LSM 60 was modified with a well through the cargo deck and hull a derrick to lower the bomb through the well and a large antenna to receive the detonation signal On 25 July a standard Mk 3A Fat Man type atomic bomb nicknamed Helen of Bikini placed in a watertight casing was suspended 90 feet below LSM 60 in the lagoon of Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands 4 At 0835 local time the bomb was detonated destroying LSM 60 and eight target ships including USS Saratoga CV 3 5 A seaman present claimed that there was not one identifiable piece of the LSM 60 ever located 4 however a British naval constructor present reports he saw a 3 inch 7 6 cm square piece of LSM 60 on the deck of a target ship afterward 6 External links EditPhoto gallery of USS LSM 60 at NavSource Naval HistoryReferences Edit The ill fated USS Indianapolis CA 35 was the first to carry a nuclear weapon LSM 60 Retrieved 26 December 2006 a b NavSource Online Amphibious Photo Archive LSM 60 Retrieved 26 December 2006 a b Operation Crossroads Retrieved 26 December 2006 dead link Operation Crossroads 1946 Retrieved 26 December 2006 Daniel R J 2003 The End of an Era Periscope Publishing Ltd p 83 ISBN 978 1 904381 18 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS LSM 60 amp oldid 1093042236, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
