The M65 atomic cannon, often called "Atomic Annie"

[DemolitionMan]

Picatinny Arsenal was tasked to create a nuclear capable artillery piece in 1949. Robert Schwartz, the engineer who created the preliminary designs, essentially scaled up the 240mm shell (then the maximum in the arsenal) and used the German K5 railroad gun as a point of departure for the carriage.[2] (The name "Atomic Annie" likely derives from the nickname "Anzio Annie" given to a pair of German K5 guns which were employed against the American landings in Italy.[1]) The design was approved by the Pentagon, largely through the intervention of Samuel Feltman,[2] chief of the ballistics section of the ordnance department's research and development division. A three-year developmental effort followed. The project proceeded quickly enough to produce a demonstration model to participate in Dwight Eisenhower's inaugural parade in January 1953.

The cannon was transported by two specially designed tractors, both capable of independent steering in the manner of some extra-long fire trucks. Each of the tractors was rated at 375 hp, and the somewhat awkward combination could achieve speeds of 35 miles an hour and negotiate right angle turns on 28 ft wide, paved or packed roads.[1] The artillery piece could be unlimbered in 15 minutes, then returned to traveling configuration in another 15 minutes.

On May 25, 1953 at 8:30am, the atomic cannon was tested at the Nevada Test Site (specifically Frenchman Flat) as part of the Upshot–Knothole series of nuclear tests. The test — codenamed "Grable" — was attended by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Arthur W. Radford and Secretary of Defense Charles Erwin Wilson; it resulted in the successful detonation of a 15 kt shell (W9 warhead) at a range of seven miles. This was the first and only nuclear shell to be fired from a cannon [1] (the Little Feller 1 test shot of an M388 used a Davy Crockett weapon system which was a recoilless smooth bore gun firing the warhead mounted on the end of a spigot inserted in the barrel of the weapon.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M65_atomic_cannon


www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lXllpsFX-4

Better Overall Documentary

[Cyber Liberty]

Great footage of Grable in Trinity and Beyond. 

[DemolitionMan]

Great footage of Grable in Trinity and Beyond.

That is my favorite. I wish we have a couple in the Korean Peninsula right now.

[Cyber Liberty]

That is my favorite. I wish we have a couple in the Korean Peninsula right now.

They didn't work out. Not a practical battlefield weapon when the minimum range is at least 5 miles.  Pull range any closer than that and you die, too. 

[DemolitionMan]

They didn't work out. Not a practical battlefield weapon when the minimum range is at least 5 miles.  Pull range any closer than that and you die, too.

I am sure with todays technology they can increase the range and dial down the explosion. If they can create a suitcase bomb they can make a smaller shell.


http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,283972.0.html

[Cyber Liberty]

I am sure with todays technology they can increase the range and dial down the explosion. If they can create a suitcase nuclear weapon they can sure figure out a better shell.

I think the problem with Annie was she was very large and cumbersome.  Difficult to get into position.  IIRC, they worked best on rail, and that can be really impractical for battlefield use.  Whatever, they had to be driven like a fire engine, I can't imagine a more difficult battle piece.  It was an obsolete relic before the first one was ever put in service.

Sure was an awesome concept though.  An atomic warhead launched by a cannon.  It had to be tried at least once.

[DemolitionMan]

I think the problem with Annie was she was very large and cumbersome.  Difficult to get into position.  IIRC, they worked best on rail, and that can be really impractical for battlefield use.  Whatever, they had to be driven like a fire engine, I can't imagine a more difficult battle piece.  It was an obsolete relic before the first one was ever put in service.

Sure was an awesome concept though.  An atomic warhead launched by a cannon.  It had to be tried at least once.

I did some checking and they developed a M109 self-propelled, M114 towed howitzers and M198 towed howitzers delivering 155mm from 1963-1992. The W48  had an explosive yield equivalent to 72 tons of TNT (0.072 kiloton), which is very small for a nuclear weapon.On firing the weapon, small to moderate amounts of high explosive collapse and slightly reshape the nuclear material into a supercritical mass which then begins a chain reaction, goes critical, and explodes in a small nuclear blas However,I agree with you it was a very good concept.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W48




www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGenSZt4MaY