Atomic Annie - Fort Sill Oklahoma
N 34° 40.184 W 098° 23.278
14S E 556072 N 3836589
Quick Description: From Wikipedia:
The M65 Atomic Cannon, often called Atomic Annie,was a towed artillery piece built by the United States and capable of firing a nuclear device. It was developed in the early 1950s.
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 11/19/2009 8:42:36 AM
Waymark Code: WM7PQP
Views: 2
Long Description:Wikipedia:
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
German K5 gun which was employed against the American landings in
Italy. The design was approved by the Pentagon, largely through the
intervention of chief of the Ballistics Section of the Ordnance
Department’s Research and Development Division, Samuel Feltman,and
a three-year developmental effort was begun. The project proceeded
quickly enough to produce a demonstration model to participate in
Dwight Eisenhower's inaugural parade in January of 1953.
The cannon was transported by two specially designed tractors,
both capable of independent steering in the manner of some
extra-long fire engines. 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 turns on 28 ft wide, paved or
packed roads. The artillery piece could be unlimbered in 15 minutes
and then returned to traveling configuration in 15 minutes
more.
On May 25, 1953 at 8:30am local time, the Atomic Cannon was
tested at Nevada Test Site (specifically Frenchman Flat) as part of
the Upshot-Knothole series of nuclear tests. The test--codenamed
Grable--was attended by then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Adm. Arthur W. Radford and Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson;
it resulted in the successful detonation of a 15 kt shell (warhead
W9) at a range of 7 miles. This was the first and only nuclear
shell to be fired from a cannon.
Subsequent to the successful test, there were at least 20 of the
cannons manufactured at Watervliet and Watertown Arsenals, at a
cost of $800,000.[citation needed] They were deployed overseas to
Europe and Korea, often continuously shifted around to avoid being
detected and targeted by opposing forces. Due to the size of the
apparatus, their limited range, the development of nuclear shells
compatible with existing artillery pieces (the W48 for the 155mm
and the W33 for the 203mm), and the development of rocket and
missile based nuclear artillery, the M65 was effectively obsolete
soon after it was deployed. However, it remained a prestige weapon
and was not retired until 1963.
Survivors
Of the twenty examples of the M65 produced, at least 8 survive
on display. Most no longer have their "prime movers".