Radiological Defense; A Manual Prepared by the Joint Crossroads Committee, Volume II, The Principles of Military Defense against Atomic Weapons
Washington, DC: GPO, 1951. Presumed First Edition, First printing thus. Hardcover. Quarto (Approximately 8 inches by 10.5 inches), Volume II ONLY. xiv, 242 pages. Illustrations (some with color). Figures. Tables. Bibliography. Appendix I, II, and III. Index. This publication was Restricted and remarked by stamp as Unclassified. Ex-library with usual library markings. Cover has some wear and soiling. Small tear in frontis illustration. Foreword by Brigadier General Herbert B. Loper, Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. The purpose of this volume was to provide, in its true perspective, the essential background information which would make possible intelligent planning in advance and appropriate action in an emergency. The first half of the book deals with the characteristics of atomic weapons, and their effects on structures, equipment, and personnel. The second half considered the steps that could be taken to minimize those effects and to control their consequences. The Armed Forces Special Weapons Project (AFSWP) was a U. S. military agency responsible for those aspects of nuclear weapons remaining under military control after the Manhattan Project was succeeded by the Atomic Energy Commission. These responsibilities included the maintenance, storage, surveillance, security and handling of nuclear weapons, as well as supporting nuclear testing. The AFSWP was a joint organization, staffed by the U. S. Army, U. S. Navy and U. S. Air Force. Major General Leslie R. Groves was its first chief. The early nuclear weapons were stored as components rather than complete devices and required expert knowledge to assemble. The short life of their lead-acid batteries and modulated neutron initiators, and the heat generated by the fissile cores, precluded storing them assembled. The large quantity of explosives in each weapon demanded special care be taken in handling. A team of regular Army officers were trained in the assembly and handling of the weapons. Condition: good.
Keywords: Military Manual, Atomic Bomb, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Operation Crossroads, Atomic Testing, Air Burst, Blast, Thermal, Radiation, Underwater Detonation, Underground Detonation, Radiological Warfare, Weapon Effects, Radiation Injuries, Radiation Damage
[Book #76953]
Price: $250.00