U.S. Deployed Nuclear/Thermonuclear Weapons

U.S. DEPLOYED NUCLEAR/THERMONUCLEAR WEAPONS

DESIGNATION* / DIMENSIONS / WEIGHT / YIELD / TYPE/FUSING / NOTES, NUMBER PRODUCED
1 / LITTLE BOY
(MK 1) / 28" X 120" / 8900 LBS. / 15 KT / BOMB
AIRBURST / HIROSHIMA: GUN TYPE HEU. USED 135 LBS. OF U235. DETONATED BY RADAR ALTIMITERS. (“MK 1” WAS NEVER ACTUALLY USED IN REFERENCE TO THIS WEAPON. FIVE ASSEMBLIES WERE MADE, BUT WERE NEVER PUT IN WEAPON
CASINGS OR OTHERWISE USED.) [5] **
2 / FAT MAN / 60.25 " X 128" / 10,300 LBS. / 21 KT / BOMB
AIRBURST / NAGASAKI: IMPLOSION TYPE USING PLUTONIUM. [SEE MK 3
BELOW] TAIL FIN DESIGN MADE IT AERODYNAMICALLY UNSTABLE UNTIL CORRECTIONS MADE. (THE NAGASAKI BOMB WAS THE ONLY “MK 2” BUT THE TERM WAS NEVER USED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE WEAPON.) [1]
3 / MK 3 / 60.25" X 128" / 10,300 LBS. / 21 KT / BOMB
AIRBURST / PRODUCTION FAT MAN (“MODEL 1561”) WITH THREE MODS; 0, 1, 2. IMPROVED TAIL FINS. [120]
4 / MK 4 / 60" X 128" / 10,800; 10,900 LBS. / 1, 3.5, 8, 14, 21, 22, 31 KT / BOMB
AIRBURST / IMPLOSION TYPE. CORE CHANGE VARIED YIELD.
REDESIGNED MK III MOD 1. FIRST "IN FLIGHT INSERTION"
(IFI) WEAPON. FIRST “ASSEMBLY LINE" PRODUCED WEAPON.
USED TYPE C AND D CORES, COMPOSITE Pu-HEU. 3 MODS. SLIGHTLY HEAVIER THAN MK 3 DUE TO DIFFERENT CORES, IFI AND DIFFERING EXPLOSIVE LENSES.
[550]
5 / T-4 / ?? / ?? / SIMILAR TO MK 4, PROBABLY FEWER YIELDS / ADM
TIME DELAY FUSING / ATOMIC DEMOLITION MUNITION USING THE MK 4 NUCLEAR COMPONENTS. CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF WORK NEEDED TO PREPARE A MK 4 AND ITS LIMITED SHELF-LIFE, THIS WAS PROBABLY A PRETTY FUTILE STOP-GAP.
6 / MK 5/B-5 / 43.75" X 129 – 132" / 3025 – 3175 LBS. / 6, 16, 55, 60, 100, 120 KT / BOMB
AIRBURST CONTACT / VARIABLE YIELD. 92 LENS HIGH-EFFICIENCY IMPLOSION TYPE
WEAPON USING TYPE D PIT AND COMPOSITE CORES. FIRST
WEAPON OF REDUCED SIZE AND WEIGHT. USED AS PRIMARY
IN FIRST THERMONUCLEAR WEAPONS. 4 MODS, FIRST WITH
AUTOMATIC IFI (MECHANICAL VICE HAND). ALUMINIUM CASING INSTEAD OF STEEL. [140]
7 / W-5 / 39" OR 44" X 76" / 2405 -2650 LBS; 2600 LBS. / 10 – 45 KT AS REGULUS; SAME AS MK 5 FOR MATADOR / WARHEAD
AIRBURST CONTACT / B-5 MODIFIED AS MATADOR AND REGULUS MISSILE
WARHEADS. FIRST MISSILE WARHEAD. [35 R; 65 M]
8 / MK 6 / 61" X 128" / 7600 – 8500 LBS. / 8, 26, 80, 154, 160 KT / BOMB
AIRBURST CONTACT / IMPROVED HIGH-YIELD LIGHTWEIGHT VERSION OF THE MK 4 WITH 7 MODS. SOME MK-6 MOD Os WERE CONVERTED MK 4Ds. MK 6 MOD 6 WERE CONVERTED MK 18s. 32 OR 69 LENS IMPLOSION SYSTEM DEPENDING ON MOD. BURST ALTITUDE COULD BE CHANGEd IN FLIGHT. [1100]
9 / MK 7 / 30.5" X 183" / 1645 – 1700 LBS. / 8, 19, 22, 30, 31, 61 KT / BOMB
AIRBURST
CONTACT / "THOR", FIRST LIGHTWEIGHT TACTICAL BOMB. 10 MODS. 92 LENS IMPLOSION SYSTEM. FIRST BOMB WITH "PERMISSIVE ACTION LINK" (PAL) SAFETY INTERLOCK, TYPE A. [1700 - 1800]
10 / W-7 / 30 – 30.5" X 54.8 – 56" / 900 – 1100 LBS.
983 LB (BETTY) / 90 TONS; 2-40 KT / WARHEAD
AIRBURST,
CONTACT
HYDROSTAT. / BOAR AIR TO SURFACE ROCKET, CORPORAL AND HONEST
JOHN BALLISTIC MISSILES, BETTY MK 90 DEPTH CHARGE AND
ADM (WITH THE LOW 90 TON YIELD). CORPORAL MISSILE HAD VARIABLE YIELD, 2 – 40 KT. BETTY YIELD WAS 32 KT. 4 MODS.
[225 B; 300 C; 300 HJ; 300 A; 225 MK 90]
11 / MK 8/B-8 / 14.5" X 116 – 132" / 3230 – 3280 LBS / 25 – 30 KT / BOMB
PYROTECH. DELAY / "ELSIE" (FOR LC = "LIGHT CASE") PENETRATOR BOMB FIRST
PENETRATOR BOMB DESIGNED FOR USE AGAINST HARDENED TARGETS. 2 MODS. COULD NOT BE DROPPED AT SUPERSONIC SPEEDS. [40]
12 / MK 9/W-9
T-4 / 11.02" X 54.8" / 803/850 LBS. / 15 KT / WARHEAD
MECH. FUZE;
ADM
TIME DELAY / 280 MM SHELL FOR THE T-124 "ATOMIC ANNIE" CANNON. FIRST U.S. NUCLEAR SHELL. GUN-TYPE HEU MODIFIED FROM THE TX-8. ONE WAS LIVE-TESTED IN NEVADA. THE T-4 VERSION WAS AN ADM BUILT FROM RECYCLED MK 9s. [80]
13 / B -11/MK 11
(“MK 91”) / 14" X 147" / 3210 – 3500 LBS. / 10 – 20 KT / BOMB
PYROTECH.
DELAY / IMPROVED MK 8 GUN TYPE WEAPON. KNOWN AS THE MK 91
PENETRATOR BOMB. [40]
14 / MK 12/B-12 / 22" X 155" / 1100 – 1200 LBS. / 12 OR 14 KT / BOMB
TIMER, CONTACT / DESIGNED FOR HIGH-SPEED CARRY BY SUPERSONIC ATTACK AIRCRAFT (NAVY REQUIREMENT). REPORTED TO BE FIRST WEAPON USING BERYLLIUM TAMPER (REDUCING YIELD). NICKNAMED "BROK". 2 PROTOTYPES, 2 MODS. 92-POINT IMPLOSION SYSTEM. [250]
15 / MK 14/TX-14
(“ALARM CLOCK”) / 61.4" X 222 – 223.5" / 28,954 – 31,000 LBS. / 6.9 MT (CASTLE- UNION TEST) / BOMB
AIRBURST / 1ST DELIVERABLE H-BOMB. USED SOLID 95 % ENRICHED LITHIUM 6 (LI-6) IN FUSION COMPONENT. (SEE MK 17.) CRUDE AND DANGEROUS EARLY H-BOMB, LIMITING PRODUCTION. [5]
16 / MK 15/B-15 / 35" X 136 – 140" / 7600 LBS / 3.8 MT (REDWING- CHEROKEE TEST) / BOMB
AIRBURST, CONTACT,
LAYDOWN / LIGHTWEIGHT H-BOMB DESIGNED FOR HEAVY AND MEDIUM
BOMBERS. HAD PARACHUTE RETARDATION FOR LAYDOWN
OPTION. [1200]
17 / TX 16 / 61.4" X 296.7" / 39,000 – 42,000 LBS. / 6-10 MT / BOMB
AIRBURST / LIQUID FUEL (CYROGENIC) H-BOMB, ONLY DEPLOYED CYRO
WEAPON. 5 WERE BUILT AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WITH-
DRAWN FROM SERVICE AS NEW WEAPONS BECAME AVAIL-
ABLE. WEAPONIZED VERSION OF THE IVY-MIKE TEST DEVICE.
DELIVERY BY B-36 WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY COMPLEX AND DANGEROUS. [5]
18 / MK 17 / 61.4" X 296.7" / 41,400 – 42,000 LBS / 10 - 15 MT / BOMB
AIRBURST, CONTACT (MOD 2 ONLY) / LARGEST H-BOMB DEPLOYED BY US. HEAVIEST US NUCLEAR
WEAPON, COULD ONLY BE CARRIED BY THE B-36. SECOND
LARGEST YIELD OF ANY US WEAPON. 3 MODS. PARACHUTE
RETARDED OPTION. THE FIRST 5 WERE EC-17s (“EC” = EMERGENCY CAPABILITY. i.e., DEPLOYED PROTOTYPES. [5 EC +200 MK 17]
19 / MK 18/B-18 / 60" X 128" / 8600 LBS. / 500 KT (IVY-KING TEST) / BOMB
AIRBURST, CONTACT / "SUPER ORALLOY" BOMB, THUS THE NICKNAME "SOB."
LARGEST PURE FISSION WEAPON. BASED ON THE MK 6 AND 13
DESIGNS. MANY LATER CONVERTED TO LOWER-YIELD MK 6
MOD 6. THE YIELD IS ABOUT THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE FOR A FISSION DEVICE. [90]
20 / MK 19/W-19 / 11.02" X 54" / 600 LBS / 15 – 20 KT / WARHEAD
MECH. TIME-
DELAY FUSE;
AIRBURST / IMPROVED MK 9 ARTILLERY SHELL (T-315) FOR THE 280 MM
ATOMIC CANNON. GUN-TYPE HEU [80]
21 / MK 21/B-21 / 56.2 OR 58.5" X 150" / 15000 – 17700 LBS. / 4 – 5 MT / BOMB
AIRBURST, CONTACT, LAYDOWN / REDESIGNED MK 17 WITH RETARDING PARACHUTE OPTION, OFTEN REFERRED TO IN THE LABS AS THE "SHRIMP TN DEVICE." USED 95% ENRICHED LI-6 FUEL. ALL THREE MODS WERE "DIRTY" BOMBS (ENHANCED RADIATION EFFECTS). MOD 1 CONTACT FUSED. MOD 2 HAD BOOSTED PRIMARY. LATER MODIFIED AS THE MK 36 Y1. [275]
22 / MK 33/W-33 / 16" X 64" / 1500, 1900 LBS. / 15 – 20 KT / WARHEAD MECH. TIME DELAY FUSE,
AIRBURST / 16" NAVAL SHELL FOR IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS. WEAPON
USED THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE W-19 11" SHELL
ADAPTED FOR THE 16" CASING. GUN-TYPE HEU DEVICE. [50]
23 / EC-24 / 61" X 225" / 39,600 LBS / 13.5 MT (CASTLE-YANKEE TEST) / BOMB
AIRBURST / DEPLOYED PROTOTYPE "EMERGENCY CAPABILITY" BOMB
USING ENRICHED LI-6. FREE-FALL ONLY. [10]
24 / MK 24/B-24 / 61.4" X 296" / 41,400 – 42,000 LBS. / 10 – 15 MT / BOMB
AIRBURST / SIMILAR TO MK 17 WITH A DIFFERENT SECONDARY.
PARACHUTE RETARDED. [105]
25 / W 25 / 17.4" X 26.6" / 218 -221 LBS. / 1.5 – 1.7 KT / WARHEAD
TIME DELAY / DEVELOPED FOR THE MB-1GENIE AAM. WARHEAD WAS AN UNBOOSTED COMPOSITE IMPLOSION DEVICE, THE FIRST "SEALED PIT" WEAPON. 2 MODS. HAD "ENVIRONMENTAL SENSOR DEVICE" SAFETIES BUILT IN. [3150]
26 / MK 27/B-27 / 30.2” X 125 -142” / 3150 – 3300 LBS. / 2 MT / BOMB
AIRBURST,
CONTACT / NAVY BOMB ORIGINALLY FOR A-5 VIGILANTE WITH SPECIAL
FUEL TANK ADD-ON FITTINGS FOR THE VIGILANTE'S TUBULAR
BOMB BAY. 3 MODS. [700]
27 / W-27 / 30.25 – 31” X 75” / 2800 LBS. / 2 MT / WARHEAD
AIRBURST,
CONTACT / WARHEAD FOR REGULUS 1 (SSM-N-8) CRUISE MISSILE. [20]
28 / MK 28/B-28 / 20 -22” X 96 – 170” / 1700 – 2320 LBS. / Y1 1.1 - 1.45 MT
Y2 350 KT
Y3 70 KT
Y4 (ABOUT 10 – 15 KT?)
Y5 SAME AS Y1 / BOMB
FREE-FALL OR RETARDED AIRBURST, CONTACT LAYDOWN / MOST NUMEROUS BOMB PRODUCED, SECOND LARGEST
PRODUCTION RUN OVERALL. FIVE DELIVERY VARIANTS – EXTERNAL CARRY (EX), INTERNAL (IN), RETARDED EXTERNAL (RE), FULL-FUSING INTERNAL (FI) AND RETARDED INTERNAL (RI). USED W34 AS PRIMARY. Y4 MOD USED THE FISSION
COMPONENT ONLY. PRODUCED IN 20 MODS AND VARIANTS.
PAL TYPE A ON Y1; Y2 (B); Y3, Y5 (D). [4500]
29 / W-28 / 20” X 60” / 1500 -1725 LBS. / Y1 1.1 MT
Y2 350 KT
Y3 70 KT / WARHEAD
AIRBURST,
CONTACT / VARIANT OF B 28 FOR HOUND DOG (AGM-28) AND MACE (MGM-13) MISSILES. 5 MODS USING PAL A AND B. [900 HD; 100 M]
30 / W -30 / 22” X 48 “ / 438, 450, 490
LBS. / Y1 .3 - .5 KT
Y2 5 KT, 19 KT / WARHEAD,
TACTICAL ADM
AIRBURST,
CONTACT,
TIME DELAY / TALOS SAM/SSM WARHEAD AND XW -30-X1 TACTICAL ATOMIC DEMOLITION MUNITION (TADM) TALOS WARHEAD HAD 1 YIELD (Y1), 3 MODS, TADM 2 YIELDS (Y2). TALOS HAD A LIMITED SURFACE-TO-SURFACE CAPABILITY. [300]
31 / W-31 / 28 – 29”, 30” X 39” / 900 – 945 LBS. / 1, 2, 12, 20, 40 KT / WARHEAD AND ADM
AIRBURST,
CONTACT,
TIMER / ATOMIC DEMOLITION MUNITION (ADM), NIKE HERCULES,
HONEST JOHN MISSILES. BOOSTED FISSION WARHEAD
[2550 NH, HJ; 300 ADM]
32 / W-33 / 8” X 37” / 240 – 243 LBS. / 5 – 10 KT (Y1, Y3, Y4) UP TO 40KT (Y2) / WARHEAD
AIRBURST,
MECH. TIME DELAY / USED IN THE T-317 ATOMIC SHELL FOR THE M-422 8" HOWITZER. GUN – TYPE HEU USING TITANIUM TO REDUCE WEIGHT. 4 YIELDS POSSIBLE USING DIFFERNING HEU INTERNAL ASSEMBLIES. HIG-YIELD VERSION PROBABLY BOOSTED (Y4). 2 MODS. [2000]
33 / MK 34/W-34 / 17” X 32” / 311, 312, 320 LBS. / 10 – 15 KT / WARHEAD,
BOMB
HYDROSTAT.,
LAYDOWN OR CONTACT / MK 101 LULU DEPTH CHARGE; MK 105 HOTPOINT BOMB
(FIRST PARACHUTE RETARDED LAYDOWN WEAPON); MK
45 ASTOR TORPEDO. THE W 34 WAS THE PRIMARY IN MANY
THERMO-NUCLEAR WEAPONS. PROBABLY THE MOST ELEGANT AND UTILITARIAN FISSION WEAPON EVER MADE; USED AS PRIMARY IN SEVERAL H-BOMBS, BOTH AMERICAN AND BRITISH. BOOSTED FISSION IMPLOSION DEVICE. [600 A; 2000 L; 600 H]
34 / MK 36/B-36 / 56.2, 58, 59 “ X 150” / 17,500, 17,700 LBS. / Y1 19MT
Y2 6 MT / BOMB
FREE FALL OR RETARDED AIRBURST, CONTACT / UPGRADE OF B 21 USING SAME CASING. Y1 WAS A “DIRTY”
BOMB, Y2 CLEAN. EACH HAD 2 MODS. ALL OLDER MK 21s WERE
CONVERTED TO MK 36 CONFIGURATION IN 1957. [940]
35 / W-38 / 32” X 82.5” / 3080 LBS. / 3.75 - 4.5 MT / WARHEAD
AIRBURST, CONTACT / ATLAS E, ATLAS F, TITAN 1 ICBMs. [110 A; 70 T]
36 / MK 39/B-39 / 35”, 44” X 136 – 140 “ / 6650 – 6750 LBS. / 3 – 4 MT (Y1 AND Y2) / BOMB
AIRBURST,
CONTACT, LOW-LEVEL RETARDED
LAYDOWN / BASED ON B-15 W/PARACHUTE RETARD. WEIGHT REDUCTION
VIA USE OF GAS B00STED PRIMARY. IMPROVED SAFETY WITH
THERMAL BATTERIES. 3 MODS. [700]
37 / W-39 / 34.5 -35” X 105.7” / 6230 – 6400 LBS / 3 – 4 MT (2 YIELDS, Y1 & Y2 / WARHEAD
AIRBURST,
CONTACT / B 39 WARHEAD MODIFIED FOR SNARK (SM-62) CRUISE MIISSILE, REDSTONE MRBM AND FOR THE B-58 HUSTLER WEAPONS POD. IDENTICAL TO THE MK-39 EXCEPT FOR FUSING SYSTEM. REDSTONE USED THE Y1 AND Y2 MOD 1; SNARK USED THE Y2 MOD 1. [30]
38 / W-40 / 17.9” X 31.64” / 350, 385 LBS / 10 KT / WARHEAD
AIRBURST, CONTACT / BOMARC SAM, (CIM-10A,B), LACROSSE, SSM-A-12. USED THE W-34 BOOSTED WARHEAD WITH DIFFERENT FUSING. [350 B; 400 L]
39 / MK 41/B-41 / 50” X ?” / 10,500 – 10,670 LBS. / 25 MT (Y1, Y2) / BOMB
FREE FALL OR RETARDED AIRBURST, CONTACT, LAYDOWN / LARGEST YIELD U.S. THERMONUCLEAR DEPLOYED. ONLY 3- STAGE WEAPON DEPLOYED. Y1 WAS “DIRTY” Y2 CLEAN. [500]
40 / MK 43/B-43 / 18” X 150 – 164” / 2060 – 2125 LBS. / 70 KT – 1 MT (Y2,3,4), 500 KT (Y5); 1 MT (Y1) / BOMB
FREEFALL OR RETARDED AIRBURST, CONTACT,
LAYDOWN / DESIGNED AS A LAYDOWN BOMB FOR HIGH-SPEED LOW-LEVEL DELIVERY. 5 YIELDS. 70 KT Y4 YIELD USED PRIMARY ONLY (FISSION). EQUIPPED WITH PAL B. [1000]
41 / W-44 / 13.75” X 25.3” / 170 / 10 KT / WARHEAD
HYDROSTAT. / MK 17 ASROC (RUR-5A) DEPTH CHARGE WARHEAD. PLUTONIUM IMPLOSION SYSTEM SIMILAR TO PRIMARY IN MK 43. [575]
42 / W-45 / 11.75” X 27” / 150 LBS. / 0.5, 1, 5, 8, 10,
15 KT / WARHEAD & DEMOLITION MUNITION
AIRBURST, SURFACE, TIME DELAY, REMOTE COMMAND / MEDIUM ATOMIC DEMOLITION MUNITION (MADM), TERRIER SAM, BULLPUP B ASM, LITTLE JOHN SSM. Y1 YIELD (1 KT) LITTLE JOHN, TERRIER, MADM. Y2 YIELD LITTLE JOHN, MADM. Y3 (UNBOOSTED – 500T) GAM 83B BULLPUP, MADM. Y4 (BOOSTED) ALL FOUR. MADM WAS VARIABLE, 1 – 15 KT. [MADM 350; B 100; LJ 500]
43 / MK 47/W-47
(EC-47) / 18” X 46.6” / 717-733 LBS.
DEP. ON YIELD / YI 600 KT, Y2 1.2 MT / WARHEAD
AIRBURST,
CONTACT / POLARIS A-1 SLBM THERMONUCLEAR. FIRST COMPACT, LIGHT HIGH-YIELD WARHEAD DESIGN. PLAGUED BY RELIABILITY PROBLEMS NOT FULLY SOLVED UNTIL LATE 1967.; ONLY MISSILE TESTED WITH A LIVE WARHEAD. [EC-47 VERSION – 300; W-47 1060, WITH 300 IN SERVICE AT A TIME.]
44 / W-48 / 6.1” X 33.3 “ / 118-128 LBS. / 72 TONS / WARHEAD
MECH. TIME DELAY,
PROXIMITY AIR BURST,
CONTACT / M454 6.1” (155 MM) AFAP (SHELL). SMALL DIAMETER LINEAR IMPLOSION PLUTONIUM WEAPON. 2 MODS. [135 MOD O; 925 MOD 1]
45 / MK 49 / 20” X 54,3 – 57.9” / 1640 – 1680 LBS. / 1.44 MT / WARHEAD
AIRBURST, CONTACT / RE-PACKAGED W 28 WITH NEW ARMING/FUSING SYSTEM AND PAL A FOR ATLAS D (MOD 0,1), TITAN AND JUPITER (MOD 0, 1, 3, 5) THOR (MOD 0,1,3) ICBM/IRBMs. [TOTAL PRODUCED NOT KNOWN]
46 / W 50 / 15.4” X 44” / 410 LBS / Y1 60 KT; Y2 200 KT; Y2 400 KT / WARHEAD
AIRBURST,
CONTACT / THERMONUCLEAR WARHEAD FOR PERSHING 1A SSM. MOD 1 EQUIPPED WITH PAL A. 2 MODS. [280]
47 / MK 52/W-52 / 24” X 56.7” / 950 LBS. / 200 KT / WARHEAD
AIRBURST, CONTACT / SERGEANT SSM WARHEAD. 3 MODS. MOD 2 WITH PAL A. TEST IN 1963 SHOWED MOD 1 AND 2 WERE USELESS. MOD 3 ACHIEVED FUNCTIONAL YIELD. [300]
48 / MK 53/B-53 / 50” X 148 – 150” / 8900 LBS. / 9 MT / BOMB
FREE FALL OR RETARDED AIRBURST, CONTACT, LAYDOWN / HIGH-YIELD ORALLOY (NO PLUTONIUM, ALL HEU) Y1 WAS “DIRTY” Y2 CLEAN. [350 – 50 WERE RETAINED IN STOCKPILE UNTIL 2011.]