1961 Soviet nuclear tests
The Soviet Union's 1961 nuclear test series was a group of 57 nuclear tests conducted in 1961. These tests followed the 1958 Soviet nuclear tests series and preceded the Soviet Project K nuclear tests series.
| Name | Date time (UT) | Local time zone | Location | Elevation + height | Delivery, Purpose | Device | Yield | Fallout | References | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84 (Joe 75) | 1 September 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.4227°N 77.7231°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 660 m (2,170 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 16 kt | ||||
| 85 (Joe 76) | 4 September 1961 05:00:27 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.45°N 77.74°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 725 m (2,379 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 9 kt | ||||
| 86 (Joe 77) | 5 September 1961 06:00:05 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.45°N 77.74°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 710 m (2,330 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 16 kt | ||||
| 87 (Joe 78) | 6 September 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.4°N 77.8°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 685 m (2,247 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 1.1 kt | Study of weapon effects on radar. | |||
| 88 Groza (Storm) (Joe 79) | 6 September 1961 | MSK (3 hrs) | Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan 48.56956°N 45.90346°E, elv: 0 + 0 m (0 + 0 ft); Detonation over Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan 48.4°N 45.8°E | N/A + 22.7 kilometres (14.1 mi) | high alt rocket (30–80 km), weapon effect | R-12? | 10.5 kt | R-5M rocket launch from Kapustin Yar. Probable ABM test. | ||
| 89 | 9 September 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.378°N 77.855°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 0 | dry surface, safety experiment | 380 t | ||||
| 92 (Joe 81) | 10 September 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50°N 78°E | N/A + 180 m (590 ft) | atmospheric, weapons development | 880 t | ||||
| 90 Vozduj (Air) (Joe 80) | 10 September 1961 09:00:09.2 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73.75°N 54.3°E | 0 + 2,000 m (6,600 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 2.7 Mt | Dropped by TU-95 from Olenya AF in the Kola Peninsula. Dropped over Battlefield D-2, near Mityushika Bay. | |||
| 91 (Joe 82) | 10 September 1961 11:00:?? | MSK (3 hrs) | Launch from NZ Area A, Chyornaya Guba, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 71.61667°N 52.47833°E, elv: 30 + 0 m (98 + 0 ft); Detonation over NZ Area A, Chyornaya Guba, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 70.7°N 54.6°E | N/A + 390 m (1,280 ft) | high alt rocket (30–80 km), weapons development | 12 kt | Launched on R-11M. Named "Volga" in one source, not connected with Volga series later on. | |||
| 93 | 11 September 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.4°N 77.8°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 690 m (2,260 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 300 t | R-12 missile from Novaya Zemlya. | |||
| 94 Roza1 (Rose) (Joe 83) | 12 September 1961 10:08:15.3 | MSK (3 hrs) | Launch from Komi, Russia 67.46441°N 64.30266°E, elv: 0 + 0 m (0 + 0 ft); Detonation over NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74.2°N 52.1°E | N/A + 1,190 m (3,900 ft) | high alt rocket (30–80 km), weapons development | Product 49 TN | 1.2 Mt | R-13 launched from Vorkuta Sovietski Air base. Probable ABM test. Airburst over water in Mitushika Bay. | ||
| 95 (Joe 85) | 13 September 1961 | MSK (3 hrs) | Launch from Kola Peninsula Launch Area (Barents Sea) 70°N 40°E, elv: 0–30 m (0–98 ft); Detonation over NZ Area A, Chyornaya Guba, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 70.87°N 53.33°E | N/A + 250 m (820 ft) | high alt rocket (30–80 km), weapons development | 6 kt | Live nuclear tipped missile test, across the sea to land. | |||
| 96 (Joe 84) | 13 September 1961 05:01:55.8 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.45°N 77.75°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 710 m (2,330 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 10 kt | ||||
| 97 | 14 September 1961 05:59:59.4 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan 50.35°N 77.82°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 0 | dry surface, weapons development | 400 t | ||||
| 98 (Joe 86) | 14 September 1961 09:56:16.7 | MSK (3 hrs) | Launch from Kola Peninsula Launch Area (Barents Sea) 70.5°N 39.5°E, elv: 0–30 m (0–98 ft); Detonation over NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74.6°N 51.1°E | N/A + 1,700 m (5,600 ft) | high alt rocket (30–80 km), weapons development | 1.2 Mt | Kola Sea to Mitskuya Bay, R-13 ballistic missile live test. | |||
| 99 Roza2 (Rose) (Joe 87) | 16 September 1961 09:08:13.7 | MSK (3 hrs) | Launch from Komi, Russia 67.46441°N 64.30266°E, elv: 0 + 0 m (0 + 0 ft); Detonation over NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73.75°N 54.3°E | N/A + 1,320 m (4,330 ft) | high alt rocket (30–80 km), weapons development | Product 49 TN | 830 kt | Launched on an R-12 rocket from Vorkuta Sovietski Air base. Probable ABM test. One source says launch from Kola. | ||
| 100 (Joe 88) | 17 September 1961 07:00:46.6 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.45°N 77.75°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 695 m (2,280 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 21 kt | ||||
| 102 | 18 September 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.378°N 77.855°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 1 m (3 ft 3 in) | dry surface, safety experiment | 4 t | ||||
| 103 | 18 September 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.4°N 77.8°E | N/A + | atmospheric, weapons development | 750 t | ||||
| 101 (Joe 89) | 18 September 1961 07:59:36.8 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73.75°N 54.3°E | 0 + 1,500 m (4,900 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 1 Mt | Khalturin believes this is a missile test from Chita. | |||
| 104 (Joe 90) | 19 September 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan 50.3782°N 77.8373°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 0 | dry surface, safety experiment | 30 t | ||||
| 105 | 20 September 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.4°N 77.8°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 280 m (920 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 4.8 kt | ||||
| 106 Volga1 (Joe 91) | 20 September 1961 08:12:12 | MSK (3 hrs) | Launch from NZ Area A, Chyornaya Guba, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 71.61667°N 52.47833°E, elv: 30 + 0 m (98 + 0 ft); Detonation over NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73.52°N 54.3°E | N/A + 1,600 m (5,200 ft) | high alt rocket (30–80 km), weapons development | 1.5 Mt | Launched on R-11M rocket launched from Rogachevo airbase in the NTR. Probable ABM test. | |||
| 107 (Joe 92) | 21 September 1961 14:01:01.6 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.4277°N 77.7231°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 110 m (360 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 800 t | ||||
| 108 Volga2 (Joe 93) | 22 September 1961 08:11:00 | MSK (3 hrs) | Launch from NZ Area A, Chyornaya Guba, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 71.61667°N 52.47833°E, elv: 30 + 0 m (98 + 0 ft); Detonation over NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73.52°N 54.3°E | N/A + 1,300 m (4,300 ft) | high alt rocket (30–80 km), weapons development | 260 kt | Launched on R-11M rocket launched from Rogachevo airbase in the NTR. Probable ABM test. | |||
| 109 | 26 September 1961 07:01:19.8 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.45°N 77.75°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 665 m (2,182 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 1.2 kt | ||||
| 110 | 1 October 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.4°N 77.8°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 700 m (2,300 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 3 kt | ||||
| 111 (Joe 94) | 2 October 1961 10:30:50 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73.92°N 54.55°E | 0 + 1,500 m (4,900 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 250 kt | ||||
| 112 (Joe 95) | 4 October 1961 07:01:19.9 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.45°N 77.75°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 605 m (1,985 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 13 kt | ||||
| 113 (Joe 96) | 4 October 1961 07:30:54.8 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73.75°N 54.3°E | 0 + 2,100 m (6,900 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 3 Mt | Some sources (Khalturin) believe this was an ICBM test launched from Chita. | |||
| 115 Grom (Thunder) (Joe 98) | 6 October 1961 | MSK (3 hrs) | Launch from Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan 48.56956°N 45.90346°E, elv: 0 + 0 m (0 + 0 ft); Detonation over Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan 48.45°N 44.3°E | N/A + 41.3 kilometres (25.7 mi) | high alt rocket (30–80 km), weapon effect | 40 kt | Rocket launched from Kapustin Yar, to exlode above West Kazakhstan. Probable ABM test. | |||
| 114 (Joe 97) | 6 October 1961 07:00:12.2 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74.3°N 51.6°E | 0 + 2,700 m (8,900 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 4 Mt | ||||
| 116 (Joe 99) | 8 October 1961 | MSK (3 hrs) | Launch from Kola Peninsula Launch Area (Barents Sea) 70.63°N 54.02°E, elv: 0 + 20 m (0 + 66 ft); Detonation over NZ Area A, Chyornaya Guba, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 70.7°N 54.6°E | 30 m (98 ft) + 1,450 m (4,760 ft) | cruise missile, weapons development | KSR-2 warhead | 15 kt | KSR-2 air-to-ship cruise missile. No information on launcher, all that is a guess. | ||
| 117 (Joe 100) | 11 October 1961 07:39:59.9 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan: V-1 49.76986°N 77.9833°E | 724 m (2,375 ft) + | tunnel, fundamental science | 1 kt | First Soviet underground test. | |||
| 118 (Joe 101) | 12 October 1961 05:31:03.6 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.45°N 77.75°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 670 m (2,200 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 15 kt | ||||
| 119 (Joe 102) | 17 October 1961 07:00:00.8 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.45°N 77.75°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 505 m (1,657 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 6.6 kt | ||||
| 120 (Joe 103) | 19 October 1961 05:30:42.6 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.45°N 77.75°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 710 m (2,330 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 10 kt | ||||
| 121 Raduga (Rainbow) (Joe 104?) | 20 October 1961 08:07:02.0 | MSK (3 hrs) | Launch from Kola Peninsula Launch Area (Barents Sea) 71°N 39°E, elv: 0–30 m (0–98 ft); Detonation over NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73.87°N 54.35°E | N/A + 530 m (1,740 ft) | high alt rocket (30–80 km), weapons development | R-13 warhead? | 1.5 Mt | An R-13 rocket fired from a submarine in the Barents Sea towards Novaya Zemlya. | ||
| 122 Korall 1 (Coral) (Joe 107) | 23 October 1961 08:31:22.1 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area A, Chyornaya Guba, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 70.703°N 54.6°E | −33 m (−108 ft) – 25 m (82 ft) | underwater, weapon effect | RDS-9 | 4.8 kt | Nuclear torpedo, fired by B–130 by Captain Rank 3 NA Shumkov in Chornaya Bay, ran underwater for 12.5 km distance. | ||
| 123 (Joe 106) | 23 October 1961 10:30:47.0 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73.75°N 54.3°E | 0 + 3,500 m (11,500 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 12.5 Mt | ||||
| 125 | 25 October 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.4°N 77.8°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 500 m (1,600 ft) | air drop, fundamental science | 500 t | ||||
| 124 (Joe 108) | 25 October 1961 08:31:05 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73.75°N 54.3°E | 0 + 1,450 m (4,760 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 300 kt | ||||
| 126 Korall 2 (Coral) (Joe 110) | 27 October 1961 08:30:27.6 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area A, Chyornaya Guba, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 70.74179°N 54.60959°E | −1 m (−3.3 ft) + 1 m (3 ft 3 in) | barge, weapon effect | RDS-9 | 16 kt | Test of nuclear torpedo, fired by B–130 by Captain Rank 3 N.A. Shumkov in Chornaya Bay, ran underwater for 11 km (6.8 mi) distance, then broached and exploded just above the target. | ||
| 129 | 30 October 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.4°N 77.8°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 470 m (1,540 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 90 t | ||||
| 130 Tsar Bomba (Joe 111) | 30 October 1961 08:33:27.8 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73.85°N 54.5°E | 0 + 4,000 m (13,000 ft) | parachuted, weapons development | RDS-220 | 50 Mt | Largest man-made detonation ever. Cleanest weapon ever tested; 97% energy from fusion. Full yield degraded by at least half. Dropped from a heavily modified Tu-95 Bear bomber, pilot A. E. Durnovtsev. One injury on ground. | ||
| 131 (Joe 112) | 31 October 1961 08:29:17.2 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73.53°N 58.92°E | 0 + 2,200 m (7,200 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 5 Mt | ||||
| 132 (Joe 113) | 31 October 1961 08:38:?? | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74.6°N 59.4°E | 0 + 1,530 m (5,020 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 400 kt | ||||
| 133 (Joe 114) | 1 November 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.4277°N 77.7231°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 475 m (1,558 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 2.7 kt | ||||
| 135 (Joe 116) | 2 November 1961 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 75.2°N 57.5°E | 0 + 1,500 m (4,900 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 280 kt | ||||
| 136 | 2 November 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.4°N 77.8°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 645 m (2,116 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 600 t | ||||
| 134 (Joe 115) | 2 November 1961 08:41:?? | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 74.6°N 55.4°E | 0 + 1,400 m (4,600 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 120 kt | ||||
| 137 | 3 November 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.378°N 77.855°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 0 | dry surface, safety experiment | less than 0.001 kt | ||||
| 138 (Joe 117) | 3 November 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.4°N 77.8°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 635 m (2,083 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 900 t | ||||
| 139 (Joe 118) | 4 November 1961 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73.3°N 56.6°E | 0 + 1,770 m (5,810 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 15 kt | ||||
| 141 | 4 November 1961 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia ~ 73°N 55°E | 0 + 2,240 m (7,350 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 6 kt | ||||
| 142 | 4 November 1961 | ALMT (6 hrs) | Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan ~ 50.378°N 77.855°E | 280 m (920 ft) + 0 | dry surface, weapons development | 200 t | ||||
| 140 (Joe 119) | 4 November 1961 07:20:19.7 | MSK (3 hrs) | NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia 73.6°N 56.8°E | 0 + 1,750 m (5,740 ft) | air drop, weapons development | 1.5 Mt |
| 1961 | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Test site | Degelen, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan; Ground Zero, Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan; Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan; NZ Area A, Chyornaya Guba, Novaya Zemlya, Russia; NZ Area C, Sukhoy Nos, Novaya Zemlya, Russia |
| Period | 1961 |
| Number of tests | 57 |
| Test type | air drop, atmospheric, barge, cruise missile, dry surface, high alt rocket (30–80 km), parachuted, tunnel, underwater |
| Max. yield | 50 megatonnes of TNT (210 PJ) |
| Test series chronology | |
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