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The Atomic Gun

Short answer: The Davy Crockett was a U.S. tactical nuclear weapon system of the Cold War: a recoilless rifle that fired the M388 nuclear projectile. Its W54 warhead had a yield of roughly 10 to 20 tons of TNT, tiny for a nuclear weapon.

It was deployed with U.S. Army units, including in West Germany, from 1961 until it was withdrawn by 1971.

VideoWrite-up2 sources

In collections:The ArsenalThe Nuclear Age

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What should you know about The Atomic Gun?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. It was a recoilless rifle.

    DD-083-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (System)

  2. It fired the M388.

    DD-083-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Projectile)

Video transcript: The Atomic Gun: The U.S. Army Fielded a Nuclear Weapon Fired by a Three-Man Crew

During the Cold War, the United States designed an atomic gun that they called the Davy Crockett. Did you know? The Davy Crockett was intended to be portable, and it had a surprisingly small caliber for a nuclear weapon. The projectile it fired, nicknamed the Atomic Hand Grenade, had an explosive yield in the range of 10 to 20 tons of TNT. This is super cool, because... Despite its small size, the Davy Crockett was part of the U.S. military's tactical nuclear arsenal during the 1960s. The idea of a portable nuclear weapon, even on a small scale, reflects the unique challenges and strategies during the Cold War era. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 37.8s Reel ·

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The Atomic Gun: The U.S. Army Fielded a Nuclear Weapon Fired by a Three-Man Crew Instagram Reel · · 37.8s

The write-up

The U.S. Army fielded a nuclear weapon fired by a three-man crew. Its warhead had a yield of about 10 to 20 tons of TNT.

  1. Exhibit A

    System

    It was a recoilless rifle.

  2. Exhibit B

    Projectile

    It fired the M388.

  3. Exhibit C

    Yield

    About 10 to 20 tons of TNT.

  4. Exhibit D

    Deployed

    It entered service in 1961.

  5. Exhibit E

    Withdrawn

    It was withdrawn by 1971.

Questions people ask about The Atomic Gun

What kind of weapon was the Davy Crockett?

Fired by a crew.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (System) · Wikipedia: Davy Crockett (nuclear device)

What did it fire?

Nuclear.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Projectile) · Wikipedia: Davy Crockett (nuclear device)

What was the warhead?

Very small.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Yield) · Wikipedia: Davy Crockett (nuclear device); Wikipedia: W54

About what yield?

Tiny.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Deployed) · Wikipedia: Davy Crockett (nuclear device)

When was it withdrawn?

Ten years in service.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Withdrawn) · Wikipedia: Davy Crockett (nuclear device)

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What kind of weapon was the Davy Crockett?

    1. A recoilless rifle
    2. A missile
    3. A bomber
    4. A mine
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. A recoilless rifle Fired by a crew. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (System) · Wikipedia: Davy Crockett (nuclear device)

  2. What did it fire?

    1. The M388 projectile
    2. A torpedo
    3. A rocket
    4. Shells only
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The M388 projectile Nuclear. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Projectile) · Wikipedia: Davy Crockett (nuclear device)

  3. What was the warhead?

    1. W54
    2. W88
    3. B61
    4. Little Boy
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. W54 Very small. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Yield) · Wikipedia: Davy Crockett (nuclear device); Wikipedia: W54

  4. About what yield?

    1. 10 to 20 tons of TNT
    2. 1 megaton
    3. 15 kilotons
    4. 1 ton
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 10 to 20 tons of TNT Tiny. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Deployed) · Wikipedia: Davy Crockett (nuclear device)

  5. When was it withdrawn?

    1. By 1971
    2. 1945
    3. 2001
    4. Never
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. By 1971 Ten years in service. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Withdrawn) · Wikipedia: Davy Crockett (nuclear device)

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "The Atomic Gun." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-083, last updated Nov 16, 2023. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-atomic-gun/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-atomic-gun/ · Last updated

Markdown version

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