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Online Library of Selected Images -- Picture Data

Photo #: NH 98886 (extended caption)

Operation "Sailor Hat", 1965

"Sailor Hat" Shot "Bravo"'s 500 tons of high explosive are detonated on Kahoolawe Island, Hawaii, 6 February 1965, with the test ship Atlanta (IX-304) moored nearby. Note smoke or dust around the ship's foremast, and the shock wave perimeter expanding on the water beyond the ship.
See the block below for text that accompanied this image.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 96KB; 600 x 765 pixels

 

"Master Caption" for Photo # NH 98886

Released by the Department of Defense, 9 March 1965

"First phase of Operation Sailor Hat, a series of three large scale TNT explosions to test the blast resistance of Navy ships, was completed February 6 near Kahoolawe Island, Hawaii."
"Three manned ships were anchored near the site of a 500-ton TNT blast to measure the effects of the explosion. The ex-light cruiser USS Atlanta, taken out of moth balls and refitted with an array of radar antennae plus special blast recording and measuring devices, served as primary test ship, accompanied by the guided missile destroyer USS Cochrane and the Canadian destroyer escort Frazer."
"The Atlanta's crew of 169 Navy men and 60 scientists will remain onboard for the second test explosion, scheduled for April, but will be removed prior to the third detonation, sometime in June. For each successive blast, the test ship will be closer to the charge."
"Data from the tests will be used by the Navy to evaluate present and planned 'blast hardened' structure aboard ship."

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10 October 2003