| Operation Mandrel | |
|---|---|
 Mandrel Mint Leaf reentry team. | |
| Information | |
| Country | United States |
| Test site | Varied, includes Alaska and Colorado |
| Period | 1969–1970 |
| Number of tests | 53 |
| Test type | Underground |
| Max. yield | 1.2 megatons |
| Navigation | |
| Previous test | Operation Bowline |
| Next test | Operation Emery |
Operation Mandrel[1] was a series of 53 nuclear test explosions conducted in 1969 and 1970. This test series included a 1.2 megaton "calibration shot" code-named Milrow, which was detonated 1,220 metres (4,000 ft) underground at Amchitka Island, Alaska, and the 40 kiloton gas stimulation experiment code-named Rulison, detonated near Grand Valley, Colorado
These tests followed Bowline and preceded the Emery series.
The individual blasts of this series were:
| Name | Date | Size |
|---|---|---|
| ILDRIM | July 16, 1969 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| HUTCH | July 16, 1969 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| SPIDER A, B | August 14, 1969 | < 20 kilotons |
| PLIERS | August 27, 1969 | < 20 kilotons |
| HOREHOUND | August 27, 1969 | < 20 kilotons |
| RULISON (Grand Valley, Colorado) | September 10, 1969 | 40 kilotons |
| MINUTE STEAK | September 12, 1969 | < 20 kilotons |
| JORUM | September 16, 1969 | < 1 Mt |
| KYACK A, B | September 20, 1969 | < 20 kilotons |
| SEAWEED C, D, E | October 1, 1969 | < 20 kilotons |
| MILROW (Amchitka Island, AK) | October 2, 1969 | 1 - 1.2 megatons |
| PITKIN | October 8, 1969 | 200 kilotons to 1 megaton |
| SEAWEED B | October 16, 1969 | < 20 kilotons |
| CRUET | October 29, 1969 | 11 kilotons |
| POD A, B, C, D | October 29, 1969 | 16.7 kilotons |
| CALABASH | October 29, 1969 | 110 kilotons |
| SCUTTLE | November 13, 1969 | 1.7 kilotons |
| PICCALILLI | November 21, 1969 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| PLANER | November 21, 1969 | < 20 kilotons |
| DIESEL TRAIN | December 5, 1969 | < 20 kilotons |
| CULANTRO A, B | December 10, 1969 | < 20 kilotons |
| TUN A, B, C, D | December 10, 1969 | 4 < 20 kilotons |
| GRAPE A | December 17, 1969 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| LOVAGE | December 17, 1969 | < 20 kilotons |
| TERRINE-WHITE, -YELLOW | December 18, 1969 | 2 20 to 200 kilotons |
| FOB-GREEN, -RED, -BLUE | January 23, 1970 | 3 < 20 kilotons |
| AJO | January 30, 1970 | < 20 kilotons |
| GRAPE B | February 4, 1970 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| BELEN | February 4, 1970 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| LABIS | February 5, 1970 | 25 kilotons |
| DIANA MIST | February 11, 1970 | < 20 kilotons |
| CUMARIN | February 25, 1970 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| YANNIGAN-RED, -BLUE, -WHITE | February 26, 1970 | 3 20 to 200 kilotons |
| CYATHUS | March 6, 1970 | 8.7 kilotons |
| ARABIS-RED, -GREEN, -BLUE | March 6, 1970 | 3 < 20 kilotons |
| JAL | March 19, 1970 | < 20 kilotons |
| SHAPER | March 23, 1970 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| HANDLEY | March 26, 1970 | > 1 megaton |
| SNUBBER | April 21, 1970 | 12.7 kilotons |
| CAN-GREEN, -RED | April 21, 1970 | 2 20 to 200 kilotons |
| BEEBALM | May 1, 1970 | < 20 kilotons |
| HOD A (GREEN), B (RED) | May 1, 1970 | < 20 kilotons |
| HOD C | May 1, 1970 | < 20 kilotons |
| MINT LEAF | May 5, 1970 | < 20 kilotons |
| DIAMOND DUST | May 12, 1970 | < 20 kilotons |
| CORNICE-YELLOW, -GREEN | May 15, 1970 | 2 20 to 200 kilotons |
| MANZANAS | May 21, 1970 | < 20 kilotons |
| MORRONES < | May 21, 1970 | 20 to 200 kilotons |
| HUDSON MOON | May 26, 1970 | < 20 kilotons |
| FLASK-GREEN, -YELLOW, -RED | May 26, 1970 | 105 kilotons, 90 kilotons, and 35 kilotons |
| PITON C | May 28, 1970 | < 20 kilotons |
| PITON A, B | May 28, 1970 | < 20 kilotons |
| ARNICA-YELLOW, -VIOLET | June 26, 1970 | < 20 kilotons |
References[]
The original article can be found at Operation Mandrel and the edit history here.