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Chart of Strategic Nuclear Bombs

     This chart describes all of the Strategic Nuclear Bombs designed to be carried by aircraft.  It does not include those carried by the various missiles, nor the many nuclear shells designed for use by army artillery.

Mk-1
Yield: 15-16 Kt
Fusing: Airburst
Number Produced: 5
Weight: 8,900 lbs
Dimensions: 28" x 120"
     The "Little Boy, " the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.  It was a gun-assembly HEU bomb.  Never stockpiled, only five assemblies were completed.  They were retired by November 1950

Mk-3
Yield: 18-49 Kt
Fusing: Airburst
Number Produced: 120
Weight: 10,300 lbs.
Dimensions: 60" x 128"
     This is the "Fat Man" atomic bomb, dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.   It was a Plutonium implosion bomb.  The basic design was modified and upgraded over the next ten years.  120 were produced between April 1947 and April 1949.  They were all retired in late 1950

Mk-4
Yield: 1-32 Kt
Fusing: Airburst
Number Produced: 550
Weight: 10,800-10,900 lbs.
Dimensions: 60" x 128"
     The Mark 4 was a redesign of the "Fat Man."  It was the first assembly-line produced nuclear bomb.  It could be configured to for various yields - 1, 3.5, 8, 14, 21, 22, and 31 kilotons.  

Mk-5
Yield: 6-120 Kt
Fusing: Airburst or Contact
Number Produced: 140
Weight: 3,025-3,125 lbs.
Dimensions: 43.75" x 129" or 132"
     The Mark 5 represented a major breakthrough in nuclear bomb design.  This high efficiency implosion bomb could be configured to yield three times the explosive power of the Fat Man.  Although it was about the same length, it had a thinner body.  Equally, if not more important, it weighed less than a third of the fat man.  It was later used as the primary, or first stage, in the first thermonuclear devices.  It could be used in to yield 6, 16, 55, 60, 100, or 120 kilotons.  It entered the operational stockpile in June 1952.  The last one was retired in January of 1963.

Mk-6
Yield: 8-160 Kt
Fusing: Airburst or Contact
Number Produced: 1,100
Weight: 7,600-8,500 lbs.
Dimensions: 61" x 128"
     The Mark 6 was an improved high-yield and lightweight Mk-4.  Could be configured to yield, 8, 26, 80, 154, or 160 kilotons.  It was produced from June 1951 through early 1955.  It was retired in 1962.

     The Mk-7 "Thor" was light-weight,  multipurpose  tactical bomb.  The 92 lens implosion system permitted yields of 8, 19, 22, 30, 31, and 61 kilotons.  Over 1,700 were produced between July 1952 and February 1963.  They were in service from July until 1967.  

Mk-7
Yield: 8-61 Kt
Fusing: Airburst or Contact
Number Produced: 1,700 - 1,800
Weight: 1,645-1,700 lbs.
Dimensions: 61" x 128"

Mk-8
Yield: 25-30 Kt
Fusing: Pyrotechnic Delay
Number Produced: 40
Weight: 3,230-3,280 lbs.
Dimensions: 14.5" x 116" or 132"
     Nicknamed, "Elsie", the Mark 8 was the first gun-assembly HEU bomb produced since the "Little Boy."  It was designed as an earth-penetration weapon that could be used against hardened targets, such as underground command posts.  Forty were produced between November 1951 and May, 1953.  It was retired in June, 1957, replaced by the Mk-11.

Mk-11
Yield: 25-30 Kt
Fusing: Pyrotechnic Delay
Number Produced: 40
Weight: 3,210-3,500 lbs.
Dimensions: 14" x 147"
     The Mark 11 was an improved version of the Mk8.  There were not many targets requiring its unique capabilities, thus production was limited to replacing the Mk 8 on a one-for-one basis.  They were produced in 1956 and 1957 and remained in service until 1960,.  They were then stockpiled at the "Mk-91 Penetration Bomb." 

Mk-12
Yield: 12-14 Kt
Fusing: Timer or Contact
Number Produced: 250
Weight: 1,00-1,200 lbs.
Dimensions: 22" x 155"
Known as the "Brock," the Mark 12 was a light-weight nuclear weapon designed to carried by fighters and fighter-bombers.  It was probably the first nuclear weapon to use beryllium tamper .  250 were produced between December 1954 and February 1957.  They were retired in July, 1958. 

The Mark 14 was the first deployed solid-fuel thermonuclear weapon.  Only five were made.  They were recycled into the Mk-17 weapons by September of 1956.  Carried a 64 foot parachute, thus fins were not thought necessary.

Mk-14
Yield: 5-7 Mt
Fusing: Airburst
Number Produced: 5
Weight: 28,954-31,000 lbs.
Dimensions: 61.4" x 222" or 223.5'

Mk-15
Yield: 1.6-3.9 Mt
Fusing: Airburst
Number Produced: 1,500
Weight: 7,600 lbs.
Dimensions: 34.4" x 140"
     The Mark 15 was the first "lightweight" U.S. TN bomb.  Denotation was delayed through the use of three parachutes.  It used HEU secondary casing; 3 mod3s.

     The Mark 16 was the first deployed thermonuclear weapon. 
It was the red version of Ivy Mike device.  It was the only cryogenic TN weapon ever deployed.  The were stockpiled for only three months, January thru April, 1954.

Mk-16
Yield: 6-8 Mt
Fusing: Airburst
Number Produced: 5
Weight: 39,000-42,000 lbs.
Dimensions: 61.4" x 296.7"

    Weighing in at over ten tons, the Mark 17 was the heaviest U.S. nuclear weapon ever built.  It could only be carried by the
B-52.  It also had the second highest yield of any U.S. weapon.  It was deployed using a single 64-foot parachute.  The delay in fall gave the aircraft additional time to escape the blast.   Two hundred were produced between July 1954, and November 1955.  All retired in November of 1956. 

Mk-17
Yield: 10-15 Mt
Fusing: Airburst or Contact
Number Produced: 200
Weight: 41,400-42,000 lbs.
Dimensions: 61.4" x 296.7"

Mk-18
Yield: 500 Kt
Fusing: Airburst or Contact
Number Produced: 90
Weight: 8,600 lbs.
Dimensions: 60" x 128"
     Known by the acronym, "SOB" (Super Oralloy Bomb), the Mark 18 was a super-updated version of the old "Fat Man" design that produced a much higher yield than earlier models. It was essentially a re-engineered Mark 6.  It produced the greatest yield of any pure fission bomb ever deployed.  90 were produced between March 1953 and February, 1955.  They were retired in 1956 by going back to the lower yield Mark 6.   They were superceded by the Mk 16 and Mk 28.

     The Mark 21 was a redesigned Shrimp TN device with 95% enriched Li-6.  Three models, all were "dirty."  The "clean" version was never tested.  Although 275 were produced between December 1955 and July 1956, they were never deployed.  During the second half of 1957, they were retired by converting them into Mk-36s.

Mk-21
Yield: 4-5 Mt
Fusing: Airburst, Contact
and Laydown
Number Produced: 275
Weight: 15,000-17,700 lbs.
Dimensions: 58" x 150"

     The Mark 24 was identical in appearance to the Mk-17 (see above), but had a different secondary.  It was heaviest U.S. nuclear weapon, 2nd highest yield of any U.S. weapon (along with similar Mk-17).  105 were produced between July 1954 and November, 1955.  Retired in 1956.

Mk-24
Yield: 10-15 Mt
Fusing: Airburst or Contact
Number Produced: 105
Weight: 41,400-42,000 lbs.
Dimensions: 61.4" x 296.7"

     The Mark 28 was SAC's primary Cold War weapon for many years.  Production began in January, 1958, but a problem was discovered with the safety mechanism that resulted in five month delay.  It was corrected and production continued through May, 1966.   The Mk-28 was a highly dependable multipurpose tactical and strategic bomb carried by virtually all SAC's bombers.  It was in service thirty-three years: from 1958 until retired in 1991.

Mk-28
Yield: 70 Kt - 1.1  Mt
Fusing: Airburst or Contact
Number Produced: 4,500
Weight: 1,700-2,320 lbs.
Dimensions: 22" x 170"

Mk-36
Yield: 9-10 Mt
Fusing: Airburst, Contact
and retarded
Number Produced: 940
Weight: 17,500-17,700 lbs.
Dimensions: 58" x 150"
     The Mark 36 was a two-stage TN strategic bomb.  Between April 1956 and June 1958, a whooping 940 were produced.  275 of them were converted Mk-21s.  Widely carried by SAC aircraft, it represented half of the U.S. megatonnage at the time of it's retirement in August, 1961.  There were two versions, the Y1 "dirty" version and the  Y2 "clean."  Because of the extreme power of it's  blast, it utilized two parachutes to slow it's descent.  This allowed the aircraft more time to escape. 

Mk-39
Yield: 3-4 Mt
Fusing: Airburst, Contact
and retarded Laydown.
Number Produced: 700
Weight: 6,650-6,750 lbs.
Dimensions: 35" x 140"
     The Mark 39 was an Improved Mk-15.  It used a gas-boosted primary to reduce weight; thermal batteries, and had improved safeties.  The new plain and finless casing caused it be referred to as the "trash can."   Two models were produced between February 1957 and March 1959.  One yielded 3 megatons, the other four.  Two parachutes delayed detonation.   Retired between 1962 and 1966.

     Yielding a 25 megaton blast, the Mark 41 was the most powerful U.S. weapon ever deployed.  It was a three stage TNT weapon.   Two versions were produced, one "clean" and one "dirty."  Two parachutes delayed detonation.  500 were produced between September 1960 and June 1962.  They remained in service for many years. The last one was retired in July 1976.  

Mk-41
Yield: 25 Mt
Fusing: Retarded Airburst, Contact and Laydown
Number Produced: 500
Weight: 10,500-10,670 lbs.
Dimensions: 52" x 148"

     The Mark 43 was basically a laydown bomb for high-speed low-altitude delivery.  Five models yielding 70 Kt, 500 Kt and 1 Mt.  Model 4 was fission only.  Two parachutes.  They were produced between April 1961 and October, 1965.  In lated 1972, the U.S. began phasing them out of active deployment, but the last one was not retired until April of 1991.

Mk-43
Yield: 70 Kt - 1 Mt
Fusing: Retarded Airburst, Contact and Laydown
Number Produced: 1,000
Weight: 2,060-2,125 lbs.
Dimensions: 18" x 150" or 164"

Mk-53
Yield: 9 Mt
Fusing: Retarded Airburst, and Contact Laydown.
Number Produced: 350
Weight: 8,850-8,900 lbs.
Dimensions: 50" x 150"
     The Mark 53 was carried by B-47, B-52; and B-58 bombers.  Two models were produced between August 1962 and June 1965, "clean" and "dirty."  The Y2 "clean" fissile material was all HEU, no plutonium.  Three parachutes.  SAC began retiring the early models in July 1967, but they remained in permanent stockpile until early 1997.  50 are still in stockpiles.

     The Mark 57 was a light-weight multipurpose tactical strike and depth bomb made in six models.  They were produced between January 1963 and May 1967.  Retired in June 1993 in favor of the the B-61. 

Mk-57
Yield: 5-20 Kt
Fusing: Retarded Airburst, Contact and Laydown
Number Produced: 3,100
Weight: 490-510 lbs.
Dimensions: 14.75" x 118"

Mk-61
Yield: 80-340 Kt
Fusing: Retarded Airburst, Contact and Laydown
Number Produced: 3,150
Weight: 695-716 lbs.
Dimensions: 13.3" x 141"
     The Mark 61 was produced between October, 1966 and the early 1990's.  It is a multipurpose tactical and /strategic bomb.  It's basic design has been adapted to many other weapon systems.  Four different yield configurations.  Single parachute.  It enjoyed the longer production run of any United States nuclear weapon and is the oldest design now in service.  3,150 were produced, but early models were retired in the 1970's.  Later models were retired in the 1980's.  In 1997, there were about 1,350 in service.

Mk-83
Yield: Low Kt to 1.2 Kt
Fusing: Retarded Airburst, and Contact Laydown.
Number Produced: 650
Weight: 2,400 lbs.
Dimensions: 18" x 145"
     The Mark 83 is the current high-yield strategic TN bomb.  650 were produced between June, 1983 and 1991.  In 1997, all were in service.