Post by Catsmate on Jul 4, 2016 10:29:41 GMT
In 1964 the Soviet Union began a series of nuclear detonations for industrial, resource exploitation and civil engineering purposes. Over the next twenty four years a total of 122 nuclear bombs were detonated under a scheme known as ‘Nuclear Explosions for the National Economy’ or Programme 7.
The bombs.
Most of the bombs detonated as part of Programme 7 were relatively small, between 2 and 20 kilotonnes, with some as small as 0.01kt (equal to a very large chemical explosive bomb).
One of the most desirable characteristics for ‘Peaceful Nuclear Explosions’ was a minimal amount of radioactive residue, both initially (irradiated material thrown into the atmosphere) and over a longer period (‘waste’ fission and fusion material from the bomb and irradiated material deposited at the explosion site). Hence the Soviet Union's designer worked to develop bombs with a maximum yield from relatively clear fusion reactions, the so-called ‘low-fission’. Another desirable characteristic was compactness, allowing bombs to be inserted into holes drilled by conventional tools for oil and gas exploration. This research was in common with attempts to develop compact nuclear weapons for rocket and artillery delivery and portable bombs like the RA-115.
Plowshare.
Peaceful used for nuclear explosions were in vogue from the mid-1950s, after Eisenhower’s ‘Atoms for Peace’ speech and the holding of four conferences in Geneva on the subject. Numerous possibilities were proposed; destroying icebergs, underground excavation, modifying the course of rivers, excavating for harbours or open-cast mines, et cetera. The Soviet engineer Pokrovskiy was enthusiastic on the subject and helped start the Soviet effort.
The United States initiated Project Plowshare in 1957 with a small test explosion in Nevada followed by the Gnome test of 1961, which was intended to test the effect of a nuclear explosion in a salt formation and the possibility is using the technique to excavate large caverns.
Lake Chagan.
The first detonation of Programme 7 was named Chagan and was also the most powerful at 140 kilotonnes yield, detonated on 15 January 1965 in the dry bed of the Shagan river. It created a small reservoir approximately 400m across and 100m deep linked to the river, holding about 6.5 million tonnes of water. However due to radioactive contamination the intent, to create a reservoir for agricultural use, wasn’t achieved. This stimulated interest in low-fission weapons that would produce less radiation.
Other uses.
In addition to reservoir excavation, bombs were detonated to assist in the excavation of canals, to aid in the search for oil and gas deposits (using the seismic waves generated by the explosion to map the geology of an area), to create underground caverns (for storing natural gas or toxic waste materials), to release additional fossil fuels for extraction (in a manner analogous to hydraulic fracturing) and other purposes.
Five bombs were used to extinguish burning natural gas plumes.
Game Uses.
Integrating such historical events into the AITAS game is pretty simple, however the tone of their inclusion is important. In the First and Second Doctor eras such uses would probably be viewed as technological marvels, part of the growth of humanity and be portrayed positively. In the Third Doctor/UNIT era, with the themes of environmental damage (both direct as a result of the explosion and indirect as a part of whatever engineering scheme was being implemented) coming to the fore, such explosions won't be seen so optimistically.
[1] Accidental arrival.
The party could arrive at the site of a planned nuclear explosion, without realising what's going on. Given the likely security this is a perfect opportunity for the party to be split up, partly arrested, and lose access to their transport. A classic Who plot with the PCs trying to get to their time machine before it's blown up.
[2] The Pit.
One thing that seems common in the Whoniverse is the tendency of large excavations to disturb Things Man Was Not Meant To Know. Using nuclear explosives is probably no exception. The blast could disturb slumbering Silurians, attract Pyroviles, reveal an alien spacecraft (or city) hidden for millennia or cause similar problems. Could a plan to release natural gas unleash something akin to the sentient seaweed that caused the Euro Sea Gas company such trouble or perhaps something that's survived since reptiles ruled the Earth?
Does the site have a second bomb available?
[3] Cover up.
Alternatively perhaps the explosion wasn't an engineering effort at all. Maybe the bomb was used to destroy a threat to the Soviet Union (or Earth) and a cover-story released. The PCs could arrive just in time to help the Soviets fight whatever it is and hopefully depart before the nuclear option is taken.
Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?
- Programmes 1-5 were the development stages of Soviet nuclear weapons while Programme 6 was a precursor to Program 7 and involved tests of nuclear explosives to determine their effects on the environment, both in terms of utility and safety. 135 bombs were detonated.
The bombs.
Most of the bombs detonated as part of Programme 7 were relatively small, between 2 and 20 kilotonnes, with some as small as 0.01kt (equal to a very large chemical explosive bomb).
One of the most desirable characteristics for ‘Peaceful Nuclear Explosions’ was a minimal amount of radioactive residue, both initially (irradiated material thrown into the atmosphere) and over a longer period (‘waste’ fission and fusion material from the bomb and irradiated material deposited at the explosion site). Hence the Soviet Union's designer worked to develop bombs with a maximum yield from relatively clear fusion reactions, the so-called ‘low-fission’. Another desirable characteristic was compactness, allowing bombs to be inserted into holes drilled by conventional tools for oil and gas exploration. This research was in common with attempts to develop compact nuclear weapons for rocket and artillery delivery and portable bombs like the RA-115.
- The Soviet RA-115 could easily be added to a scenario set anytime from the 1970s to the modern day; it was a (relatively) compact weapon built into a large backpack shaped like a flattened cylinder, almost a metre long, and weighing about 45kg. It uses a electro-mechanical timer but could be equipped with a cable or radio activation system. The yield of the standard model was a mere two kilotonnes, sufficient to collapse houses and knock over trees to 600m. After about 1,200m the blast effects would be negligible and the thermal burns minor, however the radiation effects would not be. Two kilometres is approximately the minimum safe distance, for humans anyway, without good cover.
- The United States had a broadly similar device (the 68kg Special Atomic Demolition Munition with a yield variable from 0.01kt to 1kt). Britain briefly considered the Blue Bunny/Blue Peacock device, a seven-tonne truck carried nuclear landmine in the late 1950s; in the Whoniverse a developed version might be available to UNIT...
Plowshare.
Peaceful used for nuclear explosions were in vogue from the mid-1950s, after Eisenhower’s ‘Atoms for Peace’ speech and the holding of four conferences in Geneva on the subject. Numerous possibilities were proposed; destroying icebergs, underground excavation, modifying the course of rivers, excavating for harbours or open-cast mines, et cetera. The Soviet engineer Pokrovskiy was enthusiastic on the subject and helped start the Soviet effort.
The United States initiated Project Plowshare in 1957 with a small test explosion in Nevada followed by the Gnome test of 1961, which was intended to test the effect of a nuclear explosion in a salt formation and the possibility is using the technique to excavate large caverns.
- Technically the test was a success, however an error in the location of the device allowed a cloud of irradiated material to escape in full view of a group of invited scientists. Worse came when the Sedan test of a plan of a cratering explosion intended to create new lakes in 1962 also caused widespread fallout.
Lake Chagan.
The first detonation of Programme 7 was named Chagan and was also the most powerful at 140 kilotonnes yield, detonated on 15 January 1965 in the dry bed of the Shagan river. It created a small reservoir approximately 400m across and 100m deep linked to the river, holding about 6.5 million tonnes of water. However due to radioactive contamination the intent, to create a reservoir for agricultural use, wasn’t achieved. This stimulated interest in low-fission weapons that would produce less radiation.
Other uses.
In addition to reservoir excavation, bombs were detonated to assist in the excavation of canals, to aid in the search for oil and gas deposits (using the seismic waves generated by the explosion to map the geology of an area), to create underground caverns (for storing natural gas or toxic waste materials), to release additional fossil fuels for extraction (in a manner analogous to hydraulic fracturing) and other purposes.
Five bombs were used to extinguish burning natural gas plumes.
- There is a full list of the detonations, with yield and location, in Mike Nordyke's "The Soviet program for peaceful uses of nuclear explosions" available here as a PDF.
Game Uses.
Integrating such historical events into the AITAS game is pretty simple, however the tone of their inclusion is important. In the First and Second Doctor eras such uses would probably be viewed as technological marvels, part of the growth of humanity and be portrayed positively. In the Third Doctor/UNIT era, with the themes of environmental damage (both direct as a result of the explosion and indirect as a part of whatever engineering scheme was being implemented) coming to the fore, such explosions won't be seen so optimistically.
- Perhaps, given the generally more advanced science in the Whoniverse, the devices used are cleaner and produce fewer long term detrimental effects.
[1] Accidental arrival.
The party could arrive at the site of a planned nuclear explosion, without realising what's going on. Given the likely security this is a perfect opportunity for the party to be split up, partly arrested, and lose access to their transport. A classic Who plot with the PCs trying to get to their time machine before it's blown up.
- While a mere nuclear bomb probably won't damage a TARDIS it may activate the HADS (leaving the players searching for the craft), bury it under rubble or trigger interest in the scientists supervising the explosion ("Why is that rock still intact?" And why is it humming?").
[2] The Pit.
One thing that seems common in the Whoniverse is the tendency of large excavations to disturb Things Man Was Not Meant To Know. Using nuclear explosives is probably no exception. The blast could disturb slumbering Silurians, attract Pyroviles, reveal an alien spacecraft (or city) hidden for millennia or cause similar problems. Could a plan to release natural gas unleash something akin to the sentient seaweed that caused the Euro Sea Gas company such trouble or perhaps something that's survived since reptiles ruled the Earth?
Does the site have a second bomb available?
[3] Cover up.
Alternatively perhaps the explosion wasn't an engineering effort at all. Maybe the bomb was used to destroy a threat to the Soviet Union (or Earth) and a cover-story released. The PCs could arrive just in time to help the Soviets fight whatever it is and hopefully depart before the nuclear option is taken.
Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?