1957 ... bank vault - 37 kiloton 'Priscilla Shot'


... "Response of Protective Vaults to Blast Loading". The bank vault itself survived virtually unscathed. The still functioning 14 ton steel door was removed after the test. I have been trying to determine what the distance from ground zero was. Damn close is my estimate.

a reader provided info that the distance was 1,150 ft from ground zero (37 kiloton weapon suspended from balloon at 800 feet) 




4 comments:

ralphbenton.com said...

Remember the Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith having lunch in a bank vault the day the bombs went off? A classic.

BlackBear said...

From the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, 1961

"A reinforced-concrete steel-plate-lined vault and steel vault door were exposed to a nuclear detonation (shot Priscilla, about 37 kt, balloon suspended, at 700 ft) at the predicted 75-psi peak incident pressure level (1150 ft from Ground Zero)."

So, it would appear the range was around 1,150 feet from Ground Zero.

https://books.google.com/books/about/Response_of_Protective_Vaults_to_Blast_L.html?id=2LbANwAACAAJ

james vaughan said...

... thanks for the info!

Anonymous said...

Been there done that. Toured NTS November 2001. Basically I was 30 feet from that vault on DOE tour bus.