Desig-
nation |
Type |
Width
(in.) |
Length
(in.) |
Weight
(lb.) |
Yield(s) |
Fuzing |
Deployment
Status |
Comments |
| Mk-I |
Bomb |
28 |
120 |
8,900 |
15 - 16 Kt |
Airburst |
Used in combat in 1945, never stockpiled; only 5 bomb assemblies
completed, all retired by Nov 1950 |
Gun-assembly HEU bomb; "Little Boy" dropped on Hiroshima |
| Mk-II |
Bomb |
|
|
|
|
|
Theoretical design, never produced |
Low-efficiency plutonium implosion bomb |
| Mk-III |
Bomb |
60.25 |
128 |
10,300 |
18, 20-23, 37, 49 Kt |
Airburst |
Used in combat in 1945; mass production 4/47-4/49, 120 produced; all
retired late 1950 |
Plutonium implosion bomb; "Fat Man", Model 1561; Mods 0, 1, 2 |
| Mk-4 |
Bomb |
60 |
128 |
10,800 - 10,900 |
1, 3.5, 8, 14, 21, 22, 31 Kt |
Airburst |
Entered service 3/49; produced 3/49-5/51; 550 produced (all mods);
Retired 7/52-5/53 |
Implosion fission bomb; redesigned weapon based on Mk-III Mod 1; first
IFI weapon; first assembly-line produced nuclear weapon; used type C and D
pits, composite Pu-HEU cores; 3 mods |
| W-4 |
Warhead |
60 |
90 |
6,500 |
|
Airburst |
Canceled 1951 |
Planned warhead for the Snark SSM cruise missile; Mk-4 bomb derivative |
| Mk-5 |
Bomb |
43.75 |
129 - 132 |
3,025 - 3,175 |
6, 16, 55, 60, 100, 120 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Entered operational stockpile 5/52;
last retired 1/63;
140 bombs (all mods) produced |
92 lens high efficiency implosion bomb; used type D pit, composite
cores; first weapon with major size/weight reduction over Fat Man; used as
primary (1st stage) in the first thermonuclear devices; 4 mods; first
weapon to use auto IFI |
| W-5 |
Warhead |
39; 44 |
76 |
2,405 - 2,650; 2,600 (XW-5-X1) |
same as Mk-5 |
Airburst or surface |
Start of manufacture 4/54 (Regulus), 7/54 (Matador);
retired 7/61 - 1/63;
35 (Regulus), 65 (Matador) produced |
Warhead for the Matador (MGM-1) and Regulus 1 (SSM-N-8) SSM cruise
missiles; application to the Rascal air-to-surface canceled; first missile
warhead; produced by modifying stockpile Mk-5 bombs |
| Mk-6 |
Bomb |
61 |
128 |
7,600 - 8,500 |
8, 26, 80, 154, 160 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured from 7/51 to early 1955; 1100 bombs (all mods) produced;
last retired 1962 |
Improved high-yield lightweight Mk-4; 7 mods; some Mk-4Ds were converted
Mk-6 Mod 0; early mods had 32 lens implosion system, Mod 2 and later had
60 lens system |
| Mk-7 |
Bomb |
30.5 |
183 |
1,645 - 1,700 |
8, 19, 22, 30, 31, 61 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 7/52 - 2/63; in service July 1952-1967; 1700 - 1800
produced |
Mk-7 "Thor"; multipurpose light weight tactical bomb; 92 lens
implosion system; 6-7 yields; 10 mods, PAL A used on late mods |
| W-7 |
Warhead |
30 - 30.5 |
54.8 - 56 |
900 - 1,100;
970 (W-7-X1 / X2);
983 (Betty) |
90 T; 2 - 40 Kt |
Airburst, surface, hydrostatic |
W-7 warhead manufacture begun 12/53;
BOAR: stockpiled 1956 - 1963, 225 produced;
Corporal: stockpiled 1955 - 1965, 300 produced;
Honest John: stockpiled 1954 - 1960, 300 produced;
ADM: stockpiled 1955-1963, 300 produced;
Betty: stockpiled 6/55 - 1960, 225 produced;
Nike Hercules: canceled 1956 |
Multipurpose warhead - BOAR air-surface rocket, the Corporal (M-2) and
Honest John (M-3) ballistic missiles, ADM, Betty Mk 90 ASW depth bomb,
Nike Hercules SAM missile warhead (W-7-X1/X2); 7 yields, 4 mods; Corporal
yield 2-40 Kt (several options), ADM yield low (90 T?), Betty yield 32 Kt |
| Mk-8 |
Bomb |
14.5 |
116 - 132 |
3,230 - 3,280 |
25 - 30 Kt |
Pyrotechnic delay |
Manufactured 11/51 - 5/53; in service 1/52 - 6/57; 40 produced (all mods) |
Earth penetrating weapon, gun-assembly HEU bomb, nicknamed
"Elsie" (for LC - light case), 2 mods; replaced by the Mk-11 |
| W-8 |
Warhead |
|
|
|
|
|
Canceled May 1955 |
Gun-assembly warhead, intended for use as a cratering warhead for the
Regulus missile |
| W-9 |
Artillery Shell |
11.02 (280 mm) |
54.8 |
803; 850 |
15 Kt |
Mechanical time delay airburst |
Manufactured 4/52 - 11/53;
Retired 5/57; 80 produced |
Used in T-124, the first U.S. nuclear artillery shell; gun-assembly HEU
weapon, modified TX-8; replaced 1-for-1 by W-19; only 20 280mm cannons
were ever made |
| Mk-9 / T-4 |
Atomic Demolition Munition |
|
|
120 - 200 |
|
Time delay |
Stockpiled 1957;
retired 1963 |
The T-4 was built from recycled W-9 warheads; gun-assembly HEU weapon;
replaced by W-45 |
| Mk-10 |
Bomb |
12 |
|
1,750; 1,500 |
12 - 15 Kt |
Airburst |
Canceled May 1952 |
"Airburst Elsie", a reduced size/ weight derivative of the
Mk-8; superseded by the Mk-12 |
| Mk-11 |
Bomb |
14 |
147 |
3,210 - 3,500 |
|
Pyrotechnic delay |
Manufactured 1/56 - 1957; in service 1/56 - 1960; 40 produced |
Improved Mk-8 gun-assembly weapon, replaced Mk-8 on 1-for-1 basis;
stockpiled as the "Mk-91 penetration bomb" |
| Mk-12 |
Bomb |
22 |
155 |
1,100 - 1,200 |
12, 14 Kt |
Timer or contact |
Manufactured 12/54 - 2/57;
Retired 7/58 - 7/62; 250 produced |
High-speed fighter-bomber weapon; 92-point implosion weapon; nicknamed
"Brok"; probably first weapon using beryllium tamper; 4 versions
stockpiled - 2 prototypes, 2 mods |
| W-12 |
Warhead |
22 |
|
900 |
Low Kt |
Airburst |
Canceled Nov 1955 |
Talos (Navy)/Talos-W (Army) surface-air missile warhead |
| MK-13 |
Bomb |
61 |
128 |
7,400 |
32 Kt (Upshot - Knothole Harry shot) |
Airburst or contact |
Canceled Aug 1954 |
High-yield Mk-6 follow-on, 92-point implosion system; superseded by TN
Mk-15/39 |
| W-13 |
Warhead |
58 |
100 |
6,000 - 6,500 |
|
Airburst or contact |
Canceled Sept 1954 |
Early warhead intended for Snark cruise missile, Redstone ICBM;
superseded by TN Mk/W-15/39 |
| TX / MK-14 |
Bomb |
61.4 |
222 - 223.5 |
28,954 - 29,851; 31,000 |
5-7 Mt; 6.9 Mt (Castle Union shot) |
Airburst |
Stockpiled 2/54 - 10/54;
5 produced |
First deployed solid-fuel thermonuclear weapon; recycled into Mk-17
weapons by 9/56; used 95% enriched Li-6; 64 ft parachute |
| MK-15 |
Bomb |
34.4 - 34.7; 35 |
136 - 140 |
7,600 |
1.69 Mt (Castle Nectar), 3.8 Mt (Redwing Cherokee) |
Airburst, contact (F/F or rtd), laydown |
Manufactured 4/55 - 2/57;
Retired 8/61 - 4/65; 1200 produced (all mods) |
First "lightweight" U.S. TN bomb; used HEU secondary casing; 3
mods; 1x3 ft and 1x12 ft ribbon parachutes |
| W-15 |
Warhead |
34.5 |
|
6,400 - 6,560 |
|
|
Canceled Feb 1957 |
Class "C" TN missile warhead derived from MK-15, canceled in
favor of very closely related W-39 |
| TX-16 |
Bomb |
61.4 |
296.7 |
39,000 - 42,000 |
6 - 8 Mt |
Airburst |
Stockpiled 1/54 - 4/54;
5 produced |
First deployed thermonuclear weapon; weaponized version of Ivy Mike
device; only cryogenic TN weapon ever deployed |
| EC-17 |
Bomb |
61.4 |
224.9 |
39,600 |
11 Mt (Castle Romeo shot) |
Airburst |
Stockpiled 4/54 - 10/54; 5 produced |
"Emergency Capability" weapon (deployed prototype); used
natural lithium; free fall bomb |
| MK-17 |
Bomb |
61.4 |
296.7 |
41,400 - 42,000 |
10 - 15 Mt |
Airburst or contact (Mod 2 only) |
Manufactured 7/54 - 11/55;
Retired 11/56 - 8/57; 200 produced |
Similar to MK-24, different secondary; heaviest U.S. nuclear weapon, 2nd
highest yield of any U.S. weapon (along with similar Mk-24); 3 mods; Mod 2
contact fused; 1x64 ft. parachute; replaced by the Mk-36 |
| MK-18 |
Bomb |
60 |
128 |
8,600 |
500 Kt (Ivy King shot) |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 3/53 - 2/55;
Retired 1/56 - 3/56; 90 produced (all mods) |
Very high-yield MK-6/Mk-13 follow-on; largest pure fission bomb ever
deployed; nicknamed the SOB ("Super Oralloy Bomb"); 92-point
implosion system, all HEU core; 2 mods;
Retired by conversion to lower yield Mk-6 Mod 6; superseded by TN Mk-15
and Mk-28 |
| W-19 |
Artillery Shell |
11.02 (280 mm) |
54 |
600 |
15 - 20 Kt |
Mechanical time delay airburst |
Production began 7/55;
Retired 1963; 80 produced |
Used in T-315 atomic projectile; improved W-9; gun-assembly HEU weapon |
| Mk-20 |
Bomb |
60 |
128 |
6,400 |
|
|
Canceled Aug 1954 |
Improved high-yield MK-13; superseded by TN MK-15 |
| Mk-21 |
Bomb |
56.2; 58.5 |
149 - 150 |
15,000 - 17,700 |
4 - 5 Mt |
Airburst, contact, laydown |
Manufactured 12/55 - 7/56;
Retired 6/57 - 1//57; 275 produced (all mods) |
Redesigned Shrimp TN device with 95% enriched Li-6 fuel; 3 mods, all
"dirty"; "clean" version tested, never deployed; Mod 1
contact fused; Mod 2 also had w/boosted primary;
Retired by conversion to Mk-36-Y1 Mod 1 |
| W-21 |
Warhead |
52; |
145 |
15,000 - 16,000 |
|
|
Canceled |
For B-58, SM-64A 56 Navaho |
| Mk-22 |
Bomb |
51 |
|
18,000 |
1 Mt |
|
Canceled April 1954 |
UCRL design based on the Morgenstern/Ramrod devices; canceled following
Morgenstern fizzle (Castle Koon) |
| W-23 |
Artillery Shell |
16 |
64 |
1,500; 1,900 |
15 - 20 Kt |
Mechanical time delay airburst |
Production began 10/56;
Retired 10/62;
50 produced |
US Navy "Katie" shell; W-19 (11 inch shell) internal
components adapted to 16 inch shell body |
| EC 24 |
Bomb |
61 |
225 |
39,600 |
13.5 Mt (Castle Yankee shot) |
Airburst |
Stockpiled 4/54 - 10/54;
10 produced |
"Emergency Capability" weapon (deployed prototype); used
enriched Li-6; free fall bomb |
| Mk-24 |
Bomb |
61.4 |
296 |
41,400 - 42,000 |
10 - 15 Mt |
Airburst |
Manufactured 7/54 - 11/55;
Retired 9/56 - 10/56;
105 produced |
Similar to MK-17, different secondary; heaviest U.S. nuclear weapon, 2nd
highest yield of any U.S. weapon (along with similar Mk-17); 2 mods (Mod 2
with contact burst canceled); 1x64 ft parachute; replaced by the Mk-36 |
| W-25 |
Warhead |
17.35 - 17.4 |
25.7 - 26.6 |
218 - 221 |
1.7 Kt |
Time delay |
Manufactured 5/57 - 5/60;
Mod 0 retired 8/61 - 1965, all retired by 12/84;
3150 produced (all mods) |
MB-1 Genie AAM warhead; unboosted composite implosion warhead; first
"sealed pit" weapon; 2 mods, Mod 1 had environmental sensing
device safeties |
| Mk-26 |
Bomb |
56.2 |
150 |
15,000 - 17,700 |
|
|
Canceled 1956 |
Mk-21 sibling design |
| Mk-27 |
Bomb |
30.2 |
125 - 142 |
3,150 - 3,300 |
|
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 11/58 - 6/59;
Retired 11/62 - 7/65; 700 (all mods) produced |
Navy TN bomb; This UCRL design was a competitor with the LASL Mk-28 to
satisfy the Class "D" light weight TN bomb requirement; 3 mods |
| W-27 |
Warhead |
30.25 - 31 |
75 |
2,800 |
2 Mt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 9/58 - 6/59;
retired 8/62 - 7/65;
20 produced |
Regulus I (SSM-N-8) SSM cruise missile warhead; considered for several
other systems all of which were were canceled: the F-101 and B-58 bomb
pods, and the Rascal, Regulus II, and Matador cruise missiles |
| Mk-28 |
Bomb |
20; 22 |
96 - 170 |
1,700 - 2,320 |
Y1: 1.1 Mt,
Y2: 350 Kt,
Y3: 70 Kt,
Y5: 1.45 Mt |
FUFO: F/F or retarded, airburst or contact, laydown |
Manufactured 1/58 - 3/58, 8/58 - 5/66; retirement of early mods began
1961, last one retired 9/91; 4500 produced (all mods) |
Multipurpose TN tactical and strategic bomb; longest weapon design in
U.S. (33 years); 2nd largest production run of any U.S. weapon design; Y4
was fission only; 20 mods and variants; PAL A (Y1), B (Y2), D (Y3, Y5);
replaced by B-61 and B-83 bombs; 1-point safety problem with primary
discovered after start of initial manufacture, halting production for 5
months |
| W-28 |
Warhead |
20 |
60 |
1,500 - 1,725 |
70 Kt - 1.45 Mt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 8/58 - 5/66, entered service (Hound Dog) 1959 and (Mace)
1960;
Hound Dog retired 1/64 - 1976, Mace retired 1970;
production - 900 (Hound Dog), 100 (Mace) |
Warhead for the Hound Dog (AGM-28) and Mace (MGM-13) cruise missiles; 5
mods; PAL A and B |
| W-29 |
Warhead |
52; 35 |
145 |
3,500 |
|
|
Canceled Aug 1955 |
Canceled in favor of Mk-15 |
| W-30 |
Warhead |
22 |
48 |
438; 490; 450 |
300 T; 500 T (Talos and TADM); 4.7 Kt; 19 Kt |
Airburst, contact, time delay |
TADM: stockpiled 1961 - 1966, 300 produced;
Talos: manufactured 2/59 - 1/65, retired 1/62 - 3/79; 300 produced |
Multipurpose warhead: Talos SAM/SSM, XW-30-X1 TADM (Tactical Atomic
Demolition Munition) warhead; Talos - 1 yield, 3 mods; TADM - 2 yields
stockpiled |
| W-31 |
Warhead |
28 - 29; 30 |
39 - 39.3 |
900 - 945 |
1, 2, 12, 20, 40 Kt |
Airburst, timer, surface |
Honest John: manufactured 10/59 - 12/61, retired 7/67 - 1987, 1650
produced;
Nike Hercules: manufactured 10/58 - 12/61, retired 7/67 - 9/89, 2550
produced;
ADM: stockpiled 9/60 - 1965, 300 produced |
Multipurpose boosted fission warhead: Honest John SSM, Nike Hercules
SAM, ADM (Atomic Demolition Munition);
Versions used: Honest John: W-31 Mod 0, 3; Nike-Hercules: W-31 Mod 0, 2;
ADM: Mk-31 Mod 1;
4 yields stockpiled: 2 for Nike-Hercules, 3 for Honest John (2, 20, and 40
Kt) |
| W-32 |
Artillery Shell |
9.45 (240 mm) |
|
400; 450 |
|
|
Canceled May 1955 |
|
| W-33 |
Artillery Shell |
8 (203 mm) |
37 |
240 - 243 |
5 - 10 Kt, 40 Kt (Y2) |
Mechanical time delay airburst |
Manufactured 1/57 - 1/65;
Retired 9/92; 2000 produced |
W-33 used in the T-317 atomic projectile; gun-assembly HEU weapon; used
titanium to reduce weight and size; 4 yields (Y1 - Y4) using different
internal HEU assemblies, high yield variant may be boosted; 2 mods |
| W-34 |
ASW warhead / Bomb |
17 |
32 |
312; 320; 311 |
11 Kt |
Hydrostatic, laydown, impact |
ASW: Manufactured 8/58 - 12/62;
retired 7/64 - 1971 (Lulu), 7/64 - 1976 (Astor);
2000 Lulu, 600 Astor produced;
Hotpoint: Manufactured 6/58 - 9/62;
Retired by 1965;
600 produced |
Multipurpose warhead for ASW (antisubmarine warfare) and tactical use;
ASW: Mk-34 Lulu depth bomb, Mk-44 Astor torpedo; tactical: Mk-105 Hotpoint
bomb, first parachute retarded laydown weapon; 2 mods; boosted fission
implosion device identical to the Mk-28 primary |
| W-35 |
Warhead |
20; 28 |
|
1,500 - 1,700 |
1.75 Mt |
|
Canceled Aug 1958 |
Early LASL TN ballistic missile warhead, intended for Atlas, Titan
ICBMs, Thor, Jupiter IRBMs; competitor with UCRL W-38; canceled in favor
of W-49 (a modified Mk-28) |
| Mk-36 |
Bomb |
56.2; 58; 59 |
150 |
17,500; 17,700 |
9 - 10 Mt |
F/F or retarded airburst or contact |
Manufactured 4/56 - 6/58;
Retired 8/61 - 1/62; 940 produced (all mods) |
Two-stage TN strategic bomb; Y1 "dirty," Y2 "clean",
each in two mods; parachutes 1x5 ft, 1x24 ft ribbon; all Mk-21s converted
to Mk-36 in 1957;
Retired in favor of Mk-41; at retirement this weapon represented almost
half of the megatonnage of the U.S. arsenal |
| W-37 |
Warhead |
30 |
|
900; 940 |
|
|
Canceled Sept 1956 |
Intended to be a high-yield multipurpose companion to the W-31; XW-37
was redesignated XW-31Y2 |
| W-38 |
Warhead |
32 |
82.5 |
3,080 |
3.75 Mt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 5/61 - 1/63; retired 1/65 - 5/65; Production: 110 (Atlas),
70 (Titan) |
Warhead for Atlas E/F and Titan I ICBMs; used Avco Mk 4 RV; first UCRL
designed TN ballistic missile warhead; competitor with LASL W-35/49 |
| Mk-39 |
Bomb |
35, 44 (tail section) |
136 - 140 |
6,650 - 6,750 |
3-4 Mt (2 yields, Y1 and Y2) |
Airburst, contact; mod w/low-level retarded laydown |
Manufactured 2/57 - 3/59;
Retired 1/62 to 11/66; 700 produced (all mods) |
Improved Mk-15, Mk-39 Mod 0 same as TX-15-X3; used gas-boosted primary
to reduce weight; thermal batteries, improved safeties; 3 mods;
parachutes: 1x6 ft, 1x28 ribbon, 1x100 ft |
| W-39 |
Warhead |
34.5 - 35 |
105.7 |
6,230 - 6,400 |
3.8 Mt (2 yields, Y1 and Y2) |
|
Redstone: stockpiled 7/58 - 1963, 60 produced;
Snark: manufactured 4/58 - 7/58, retired 8/62 - 9/65, 30 produced |
Warhead for Snark cruise missile, Redstone MRBM, B-58 weapon pod;
Versions: Redstone Mk-39Y1 Mod 1 and Mk-39Y2 Mod 1, Snark Mk-39Y1 Mod 1;
W-39 identical to Mk-39 except for fuzing system |
| W-40 |
Warhead |
17.9 |
31.64 |
350; 385 (Y1) |
10 Kt (Y1) |
Airburst or contact |
Bomarc: manufactured 9/59 - 5/62, retired by 11/72, 350 produced;
Lacrosse: manufactured 9/59 - 5/62, retired 10/63 - 1964, 400 produced |
Warhead for Bomarc SAM and Lacrosse SSM; boosted implosion system
adapted from Mk-28 primary; initially deployed version (produced
6/59-8/59) not 1-point safe, Mod 2 retrofit required; 2 yields |
| Mk-41 |
Bomb |
52 |
148 |
10,500 - 10,670 |
25 Mt |
FUFU: F/F or retarded, airburst or contact, laydown |
Manufactured 9/60 - 6/62;
Retired 11/63 - 7/76; 500 produced |
Highest yield U.S. weapon ever deployed; only U.S. 3-stage TN weapon; Y1
"dirty," Y2 "clean"; parachutes 1x4 ft, 1x16.5 ft;
retired in favor of Mk-53 |
| W-41 |
Warhead |
50 |
|
9,300 |
|
|
Canceled July 1957 |
|
| W-42 |
Warhead |
13 - 14 |
18.5 |
75 - 92 |
|
Proximity |
Canceled June 1961 |
Intended for air-to-air (e.g. GAR-8), surface-to-air (e.g. Hawk)
applications |
| Mk-43 |
Bomb |
18 |
150 - 164 |
2,060 - 2,125 |
70 Kt - 1 Mt;
Y1: 1 Mt,
Y5: 500 Kt |
F/F or retarded, airburst or contact, laydown |
Manufactured 4/61 - 10/65;
retirement (early mods) began 12/72, last retired 4/91;
1000 produced (all mods) |
Laydown bomb for high-speed low-altitude delivery; 5 yields; Y4 is
fission only; PAL B (mod 2); Parachutes: 1x4 ft, 1x23 ft ribbon; last
version retired was MK-43Y2 Mod 2 |
| W-44 |
ASW warhead |
13.75 |
25.3 |
170 |
10 Kt |
Hydrostatic |
Manufactured 5/61 - 3/68;
retired 6/74 - 9/89;
575 produced |
ASROC (RUR-5A) ASW warhead; plutonium implosion warhead, similar to
primary for Mk-43 |
| W-45 |
Warhead |
11.5 |
27 |
150;
MADM: 350 |
500 T; 1, 5, 8, 10, 15 Kt |
Airburst, surface, time delay, command |
Terrier: manufactured 4/62 - 6/66, retired 7/67 - 9/88, 750 produced;
MADM: manufactured 1/62 - 6/66, retired 7/67 - 1984, 350 produced;
Bullpup: manufactured 1/62 - 1963, retired 7/67 - 1978, 100 produced;
Little John: manufactured 9/61 - 6/66, retired 7/67 - 1970, 500 produced |
Multipurpose UCRL designed tactical warhead; small implosion design; Y1
(1 Kt): Little John SSM, Terrier SAM, MADM (Medium ADM); Y2: Little John,
MADM; Y3 (unboosted): GAM-83B Bullpup ASM, MADM; Y4 (boosted, 1 Kt):
Bullpup, Little John, Terrier, MADM |
| Mk-46 |
Bomb |
37 |
|
6,400 |
Mt range |
|
Canceled Oct 1958 |
"Clean" and "dirty" versions tested during Hardtack
I; was to have replaced Mk-39; development of improved design continued as
Mk-53 |
| W-46 |
Warhead |
35-40 |
|
|
|
|
Canceled April 1958 |
Warhead planned for Redstone, Snark, B-58 pod warhead; Redstone/W-46
canceled in favor of Titan II/W-53 |
| W-47 |
Warhead |
18 |
46.6 |
Y1: 717 - 720;
Y2: 733 |
Y1: 600 Kt;
Y2: 1.2 Mt |
Airburst or contact |
EC-47 manufactured 4/60 - 6/60, retired 6/60, 300 produced;
W-47 manufactured 6/60 - 7/64, retired 7/61 - 11/74, 1060 produced (Y1 and
Y2) - only 300 in service at a time |
Polaris SLBM TN warhead; breakthrough in compact, light high yield
design; integral warhead/beryllium re-entry vehicle; 3 versions: EC-47,
W-47Y1, W-47Y2; several severe reliability problems required repeated
modification and remanufacture (in 1966 75% of the stockpiled Y2s were
inoperable, correction took until 10/67) |
| W-48 |
Artillery Shell |
6.1 (155 mm) |
33.3 |
118 - 128 |
72 T |
Mechanical time delay or proximity airburst, or contact |
Manufactured 10/63 - 3/68; retirement (135 Mod 0s) 1/65 - 1969, all 925
Mod 1s retired 1992; 1060 produced (all mods) |
Small diameter linear implosion plutonium weapon, 2 mods |
| W-49 |
Warhead |
20 |
54.3 - 57.9 |
1,640 - 1,680 |
1.44 Mt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 9/58 - 1964;
Thor retired 11/62 - 8/63 (a few to 4/75);
|
LASL developed ICBM/IRBM warhead; Used in Thor (Mod 0,1, 3), Atlas (Mod
0, 1), Titan, Jupiter (Mod 0, 1, 3, 5) warhead; 2 RVs used Mk-2 heat sink
and Mk-3 ablative; 2 yields, 7 mods; Mk/W-28 adaptation with new arming/fuzing
system; PAL A; successor to W-35 |
| W-50 |
Warhead |
15.4 |
44 |
409 - 410 |
Y1: 60 Kt;
Y2: 200 Kt;
Y3: 400 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 3/63 - 12/65;
retired 4/73 - 4/91;
280 produced |
TN warhead for Pershing SSM (Mod 1, 2), Nike Zeus SAM (canceled 5/59);
Mod 1 equipped with PAL A; 3 yields, 2 mods |
| W-51 |
Warhead |
|
|
|
22 T |
|
Became XW-54 Jan 1959 |
Very small spherical implosion warhead, initial development by LRL,
development transferred to LASL and design redesignated W-54 |
| W-52 |
Warhead |
24 |
56.7 |
950 |
200 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 5/62 - 4/66;
retired 3/74 - 8/78;
300 produced |
Sergeant SSM warhead; 2 yields, 3 mods; PAL A (Mod 2); warhead test in
1963 showed Mods 1 and 2 to be useless, Mod 3 was first to achieve rated
yield |
| Mk-53 |
Bomb |
50 |
148 - 150;
Y2 144 |
8,850 - 8,900 |
9 Mt |
FUFO: F/F or retarded, airburst or contact, laydown |
Manufactured 8/62 - 6/65; retirement (early mods) began 7/67, last 50
retired from active service (but retained in permanent stockpile) early
1997; 350 produced, 50 still in stockpile |
Carried by B-47, B-52; B-58 used Mk-53BA (in BLU-2/B pod); 4 mods, Y1
"dirty" version, Y2 "clean" version; fissile material
all HEU, no plutonium; parachutes: 1x4 ft, 1x16.5 ft ribbon, 3x48 ft
ribbon; last 50 retired in favor of B-61 Mod 11; part of the U.S.
"enduring stockpile" |
| W-53 |
Warhead |
37 |
103 |
6,200 |
9 Mt |
Airburst or contact |
|
Titan II warhead |
| W-54 |
Warhead |
10.75 |
15.7 |
50 - 51 |
250 T |
Contact or proximity |
Manufactured 4/61 - 2/65; retired 7/67 - 4/72; 1000 - 2000 produced |
GAR-11/AIM-26A Falcon AAM warhead; originally called "Wee
Gnat"; adaptation of Mk-54 |
| Mk-54 |
Warhead |
10.75 |
17.6 |
50 - 55 |
10, 20 T |
Time delay |
Manufactured 4/61 - 2/65;
retired 7/67 - 1971;
400 produced |
Warhead for Davy Crockett M-388 recoilless rifle projectile; 2 yields; 2
mods; very light, compact spherical implosion plutonium warhead |
| Mk-54 SADM |
Atomic Demolition Munition (ADM) |
16 |
24 |
150 (complete);
59 (W-54 only) |
Variable, 10 T - 1 Kt |
Time delay |
Manufactured 8/64 - 6/66;
retired 1967 - 1989;
300 produced
SADM: |
M-129/M-159 SADM (Special Atomic Demolition Munition) used a Mk-54
warhead package very similar to Davy Crockett; 2 mods; mechanical
combination lock PAL |
| W-55 |
ASW |
13 |
39.4 |
470 |
Mid Kiloton Range |
Hydrostatic |
Manufactured 1/64 - 3/68, 3/70 - 4/74;
retired 6/83 - 9/90;
285 produced |
SUBROC (UUM-44A) ASW missile thermonuclear warhead; based on the 202 Kt
Hardtack I Olive device |
| W-56 |
Warhead |
17.4 |
47.3 |
600; 680 |
1.2 Mt |
Airburst or surface |
Manufactured 3/63 - 5/69;
retired 9/66 (early mods), Mod-4 retired 1991-93;
1000 produced (all mods), 455 Mod-4s produced |
Minuteman I and II warhead, based on UCRL W-47, competitor with the W-59
for Minuteman; 4 mods, retrofit of early mods required to fix reliability
problem, blast and radiation hardening added later |
| Mk-57 |
Bomb |
14.75 |
118 |
490 - 510 |
5 - 20 Kt |
Retarded airburst, retarded laydown, F/F contact, hydrostatic |
Manufactured 1/63 - 5/67; retirement (early mods) started 6/75, last
retired 6/93; 3,100 produced |
Light weight multipurpose tactical strike/depth bomb; boosted implosion
fission weapon; modular design, 6 mods; PAL B; 1x12.5 ft ribbon parachute;
Retired in favor of B-61 |
| W-58 |
Warhead |
15.6 |
40.3 |
257 |
200 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 3/64 - 6/67; retired 9/68-4/82; 1400 produced |
Polaris A-3 warhead, each A-3 carried three multiple re-entry vehicles (MRVs),
first MRV warhead in service |
| W-59 |
Warhead |
16.3 |
47.8 |
550 - 553 |
1 Mt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 6/62 - 7/63;
retired 12/64 - 6/69;
150 produced |
Warhead for Minuteman I/Mk 5 RV and the canceled Skybolt; version of
LASL "J-21" design; |
| W-60 |
Warhead |
13 |
20 |
115 - 150 |
Very low |
Proximity |
Canceled Dec 1963 |
Typhon SAM warhead |
| MK/B 61 |
Bomb |
13.3 |
141.64 |
695 - 716 |
Variable (4 yields), 0.3 - 340 Kt;
Mod 3: 0.3 - 170 Kt;
Mod 4: 0.3 - 45 Kt;
Mod 7/11: 10 - 340 Kt;
Mod 10: 0.3 - 80 Kt |
FUFO: retarded and F/F, contact or airburst, laydown |
Manufactured 10/66 - early 90s; early mods retired 70s - 80s; 3150
produced, 1350 in service |
Multipurpose tactical/strategic bomb; basic design adapted to many other
weapon systems; 4 yields; 11 mods, 5 in service; PAL B, D, F; uses IHE in
primary; parachute: 1x17 ft or 1x24 ft ribbon; longest production run of
any U.S. nuclear weapon, oldest design in service; part of the U.S.
"enduring stockpile" |
| W-62 |
Warhead |
RV Body: 21 in;
Warhead: 19.7 in |
RV Body: 72 in;
Warhead: 39.3 in |
Warhead/RV: 700-800 lb;
Warhead: 253 lb |
170 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 3/70 - 6/76;
early mods retired starting 4/80;
1725 produced, 610 in active service; |
Minuteman III/Mk-12 RV warhead; remaining W-62s part of U.S.
"enduring stockpile", but will be removed from active service
under START II (to be replaced by W-88s) |
| W-63 |
Warhead |
|
|
|
|
|
Canceled Nov 1966 |
LRL design for Lance SSM warhead; ER ("neutron bomb") design;
(canceled in favor of W-70 |
| W-64 |
Warhead |
|
|
|
|
|
Canceled Sep 1964 |
LASL design for Lance SSM warhead; ER ("neutron bomb") design;
canceled in favor of W-63 |
| W-65 |
Warhead |
|
|
|
Mt range |
|
Canceled Jan 1968 |
Sprint ABM warhead, canceled in favor of W-66 |
| W-66 |
Warhead |
18 |
35 |
150 |
Kt range |
|
Manufactured 6/74 - 3/75;
retired from service 8/75, ret. from stockpile 1985;
70 produced |
Sprint ABM warhead, ER ("neutron bomb") warhead |
| W-67 |
Warhead |
|
|
|
150 Kt |
|
Canceled Dec 1967 |
LRL ICBM/SLBM multiple warhead, intended for Poseidon and Minuteman-III |
| W-68 |
Warhead |
|
|
367 |
40 - 50 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 6/70 - 6/75; retired 9/77 - 1991; 5250 produced |
Poseidon Mk-3 RV warhead, each missile carried 10 RVs; aging problems
with explosive required complete rebuilding of stockpile 11/78-83 (3200
rebuilt, others retired); largest production run of any U.S. warhead |
| W-69 |
Warhead |
15 |
30 |
275 |
170 - 200 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 10/71 - 8/76;
retired 10/91 - 9/94;
1500 produced |
SRAM (short range attack missile, AGM 69A) air-surface missile warhead;
derived from Mk-61; initially removed from active service 6/90 due to fire
safety concerns |
| W-70 |
Warhead |
18 |
41 |
270 |
Mods 0,1, 2: variable from 1-100 Kt;
Mod 3: 1 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 6/73 - 7/77 (Mods 0-2), 8/81 - 2/83 (Mod 3);
retired 7/79 - 9/92;
Mods 0-2: 900 produced, Mod 3: 380 built |
Lance SSM warhead; LRL successor to W-63 design; 4 mods; Mods 0, 1, 2:
TN warhead with 3 yield settings (1-100 Kt), Mod 1 had improved selection
of yields; Mod 3: enhanced radiation ("neutron bomb") version, 2
yield options (slightly less than 1 Kt, and slightly more than 1 Kt), both
60% fusion and 40% fission; PAL D |
| W-71 |
Warhead |
42 |
101 |
2,850 |
5 Mt |
Airburst (command & delay timer) |
Manufactured 7/74 - 7/75;
retired from service 1975, ret. from stockpile 9/92;
30 produced |
Spartan ABM warhead, used thermal x-rays for exoatmospheric RV kill |
| W-72 |
Warhead |
15 |
79 |
825 |
ca. 600 T |
Contact |
Manufactured 8/70 - 4/72;
retired 7/79 - 9/79;
300 produced |
Walleye (AGM-62) guided glide bomb warhead; W-72 was a modified W-54,
salvaged from retired AIM-26A Falcon AAM; yield was significantly enhanced
over Falcon version |
| W-73 |
Warhead |
<17 |
|
|
|
|
Canceled Sept 1970 |
Condor ASM warhead; derived from Mk-61; canceled in favor of a
conventional HE warhead |
| W-74 |
Artillery Shell |
6.1 (155 mm) |
|
|
2 yields (both >100 T) |
|
Canceled June 1973 |
Linear implosion pure fission plutonium warhead; intended to replace
W-48 |
| W-75 |
Artillery Shell |
8 (203 mm) |
|
|
>100 T |
|
Canceled 1973 |
"Big brother" of W-74, similar design |
| W-76 |
Warhead |
|
|
363 |
100 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 6/78 - 7/87;
active service;
approx. 3000 produced |
Trident I and Trident II Mk-4 RV TN warhead, missiles can carry 8-14
RVs; developed by LANL; part of the U.S. "enduring stockpile" |
| B-77 |
Bomb |
18 |
144 |
2,400 |
Variable, Kt to Mt range |
FUFO |
Canceled Dec 1977 |
High yield strategic TN bomb, intended to replace Mk-28 and Mk-43; PAL
D; costly, heavy delivery system lead to cancellation, warhead design
continued with B-83 |
| W-78 |
Warhead |
21.25 |
67.7 |
400 - 600 |
335 - 350 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 8/79 - 10/82;
active service;
1083 produced, 920 in service |
Minuteman III/Mk-12A RV warhead; LANL design derived from W-50 with a
new lighter primary; part of U.S. "enduring stockpile", but will
be removed from active service under START II (to be replaced by W-88s) |
| W-79 |
Artillery Shell |
8 |
44 |
200 |
Variable - 100 T to 1.1 Kt (Mod 0), 0.8 Kt (Mod 1) |
Proximity airburst or contact |
Manufactured 7/81 - 8/86; ER version retirement started mid-80s, all
retired 9/92; 550 (325 ER, 225 fission) produced |
Plutonium linear implosion weapon, used in XM-753 atomic projectile (AFAP);
Mod 0: dual capable - pure fission or enhanced radiation (ER of
"neutron bomb"), 3 yield options; Mod 1: fission only; PAL D |
| W-80-0 |
Warhead |
11.8 |
31.4 |
290 |
Variable: 5 Kt and 170-200 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 12/83 - 9/90;
active service;
367 produced |
SLCM warhead; uses supergrade plutonium; PAL D; LANL design derived from
Mk/B-61 warhead; now stored ashore; part of the U.S. "enduring
stockpile" |
| W-80-1 |
Warhead |
11.8 |
31.4 |
290 |
Variable: 5 Kt and 150-170 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 1/81 - 9/90;
active service;
1750 produced, 1400 in service |
Warhead for ALCM (1000 in service), ACM (400 in service); PAL D; LANL
design derived from Mk/B-61 warhead; part of the U.S. "enduring
stockpile" |
| W-81 |
Warhead |
<13.5 |
|
|
2 - 4 Kt |
|
Canceled 1986 |
USN Standard SM-2 SAM warhead; PAL F; variant of Mk/B-61 warhead,
enhanced radiation version initially planned, later converted to fission
only |
| W-82 |
Artillery Shell |
6.1 (155 mm) |
34 |
95 |
<2 Kt |
Airburst |
W-82-0 canceled in Oct 1983; W-82-1 canceled in Sept 1990
|
155 mm companion to the the W-79, for use in XM-785 atomic projectile (AFAP);
original Mod 0: dual capable - pure fission or enhanced radiation; Mod 1:
fission only; PAL D |
| B-83 |
Bomb |
18 |
145 |
2,400 |
Variable, low Kt to 1.2 Mt |
FUFO: F/F or retarded, airburst or contact, laydown |
Manufactured 6/83 - 1991;
active service;
650 produced |
Current high-yield strategic TN bomb; PAL D; uses IHE, fire resisitant
pit; parachutes: 3x4 ft, 1x46 ft; 1x5 ft, 1x46 ft |
| W-83 |
Warhead |
|
|
1,700 - 1,900 |
|
|
|
PAL D |
| W-84 |
Warhead |
13 |
34 |
388 |
Variable: 0.2 - 150 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 9/83 - 1/88;
inactive stockpile;
300-350 produced |
GLCM warhead, missile scrapped under INF Treaty; LLNL design derived
from LANL Mk/B-61 Mod 3/4 warhead; uses IHE, PAL F; part of the U.S.
"enduring stockpile" |
| W-85 |
Warhead |
12.5 |
42 |
880 |
Variable: 5 - 80 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Manufactured 2/83 - 7/86;
retired 1988 - 3/91;
120 produced |
Pershing II SSM warhead; derived from LANL Mk/B-61 Mod 3/4 warhead; uses
IHE, PAL F; upon retirement the W-85 was recycled into B-61 Mod 10 bombs |
| W-86 |
Warhead |
|
|
|
|
Delayed |
Canceled Sept 1980 |
Earth penetrating warhead for the Pershing II SSM, canceled due to
change in mission from hard to soft targets |
| W-87 |
Warhead |
21.8 |
68.9 |
500 - 600; 440 |
300 Kt;
upgradeable to 475 Kt |
Timer or proximity airburst, contact |
Manufactured 7/86 - 12/88;
active service;
525 produced |
Peacekeeper (MX) ICBM/Mk-21 RV TN warhead (missile carries 10);
RV/warhead weighs 800 lb; LLNL design; primary uses IHE and fire resistant
pit; yield upgradeable by adding HEU rings to secondary; part of the U.S.
"enduring stockpile"; after MX retirement, will equip Minuteman
III |
| W-88 |
Warhead |
21.8 |
68.9 |
<800 |
475 Kt |
Timer (w/path length correction) and proximity airburst; contact |
Manufactured 9/88 - 11/89; active service;
400 produced |
Trident II Mk-5 RV warhead; does not use IHE; uses HEU jacket with
secondary stage; production terminated by FBI raid on Rocky Flats; part of
the U.S. "enduring stockpile" |
| W-89 |
Warhead |
13.3 |
40.8 |
324 |
200 Kt |
Airburst or contact |
Canceled Sept 1991 |
SRAM (short range attack missile) II warhead; LLNL design; safety
features: PAL D, IHE, FRP; also considered for Sea Lance ASW missile |
| B 90 |
Bomb |
13.3 |
118 |
780 |
200 Kt |
retarded airburst, retarded contact, F/F airburst, F/F contact,
hydrostatic |
Canceled 1991 |
USN nuclear strike/depth bomb; intended to replace Mk-57; PAL D; 1x26 ft
parachute |
| W-91 |
Warhead |
|
|
310 |
10, 100 Kt |
|
Canceled Sept 1991 |
SRAM-T (short range attack missile - tactical) warhead; SRAM-T was a
SRAM II derivative for the F-15E Eagle fighter/bomber; LASL TN design
orignally called "New Mexico 1"; safety features: FRP, IHE; 2
yields |
