Underwater explosion of an atomic bomb. Sultan and the base wave of an underwater nuclear explosion. See what "Underwater explosion" is in other dictionaries

An underwater nuclear explosion is an explosion carried out in water at a certain depth. With such an explosion, the flash and the luminous area are usually not visible. During an underwater explosion at a shallow depth, a hollow column of water rises above the surface of the water, reaching a height of more than a kilometer. A cloud is formed at the top of the column, consisting of splashes and water vapor. This cloud can reach several kilometers in diameter. A few seconds after the explosion, the water column begins to collapse and a cloud forms at its base, called base wave. The base wave consists of radioactive fog; it quickly spreads in all directions from the epicenter of the explosion, simultaneously rises up and is carried by the wind. After a few minutes, the base wave mixes with the sultan cloud (sultan is a swirling cloud enveloping the upper part of the water column) and turns into a stratocumulus cloud, from which radioactive rain falls. A shock wave is formed in water, and surface waves form on its surface, spreading in all directions. The height of the waves can reach tens of meters. Underwater nuclear explosions are designed to destroy ships and destroy the underwater part of structures. In addition, they can be carried out for strong radioactive contamination of ships and the coastal strip.

The damaging factors of a nuclear explosion and their impact on various objects.

A nuclear explosion is accompanied by the release of a huge amount of energy and is capable of almost instantly incapacitating unprotected people, openly located equipment, structures and various materiel at a considerable distance. The main damaging factors of a nuclear explosion are: a shock wave (seismic explosive waves), light radiation, penetrating radiation, an electromagnetic impulse, and radioactive contamination of the area.

shock wave. The shock wave is the main damaging factor in a nuclear explosion. It is an area of ​​strong compression of the medium (air, water), which propagates in all directions from the point of explosion at supersonic speed. At the very beginning of the explosion, the front boundary of the shock wave is the surface of the fireball. Then, as it moves away from the center of the explosion, the front boundary (front) of the shock wave breaks away from the fireball, ceases to glow and becomes invisible.

The main parameters of the shock wave are excess pressure in the front of the shock wave, the time of its action and velocity head. When a shock wave approaches any point in space, the pressure and temperature instantly increase in it, and the air begins to move in the direction of the shock wave propagation. With distance from the explosion center, the pressure in the shock wave front decreases. Then it becomes less atmospheric (a rarefaction occurs). At this time, the air begins to move in the direction opposite to the direction of shock wave propagation. After atmospheric pressure is established, air movement stops.

Influence of Explosion Conditions on Shock Wave Propagation

The shock wave propagation and its damaging effect are mainly influenced by meteorological conditions, terrain and forests.

Weather conditions have a significant effect only on the parameters of weak shock waves (DPav 0.1 kg/s) . As a rule, in summer, in hot weather, the parameters of the shock wave are weakened in all respects, and in winter, its strengthening, especially in the direction of the wind. As a result, the size of the affected areas, especially objects of low strength, can vary several times.

With rain and fog, a decrease in the pressure of the air shock wave is observed, especially at large distances from the explosion site. Under conditions of average rain, fog, pressure in the front of the shock wave is 5-15% less than in the absence of precipitation.

In conditions of heavy rain and fog, the pressure in the shock wave decreases by 15-30%.

The relief of the area can strengthen or weaken the effect of the shock wave. With a slope of 10-20°, the pressure increases by 10-50%, and with a slope of 30°, the pressure can increase by 2 times or more. In ravines, hollows, the direction of which coincides with the direction of the shock wave, the pressure is 10-20% higher than on the surface. On the opposite slopes of heights, in relation to the center of the explosion, as well as in hollows and ravines located at a large angle to the direction of propagation of the shock wave, the pressure in its front decreases. The pressure reduction ratio depends on the slope of the reverse slope. With a slope of 20°, the pressure decreases by 1.1-1.4 times, and with a slope of 30° - by 1.2-1.7 times.

The results of nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll were exaggerated in order to preserve the entourage of nuclear weapons as an all-destructive weapon. In fact, the latest superweapon turned out to be a “paper tiger”. The victims of the first Able explosion were only 5 of the 77 ships under attack - only those who were in the immediate vicinity of the epicenter (less than 500 meters).

It should be noted that the tests were carried out in a shallow lagoon. In the open sea, the height of the base wave would be smaller, and the destructive effect of the explosion would be even weaker (by analogy with tsunami waves, which are almost imperceptible away from the coast).

The crowded arrangement of ships at the anchorage also played a role. In real conditions, when following in an anti-nuclear order (when the distance between the ships is at least 1000 meters), even a direct hit by a bomb or missile from a nuclear warhead on one of the ships could not stop the squadron. Finally, it is worth considering any lack of struggle for the survivability of ships, which made them an easy victim of fires and the most modest holes.

It is known that four of the eight submarines participating in the tests became victims of the Baker underwater explosion (with a capacity of 23 kt). Subsequently, they were all raised and returned to service!

The official point of view refers to the resulting holes in their durable hull, but this is contrary to common sense. Russian writer Oleg Teslenko draws attention to the inconsistency in the description of damage to boats and how they were raised. To pump out water, you must first seal the compartments of the sunken ship. Which is unlikely in the case of a submarine that has a light hull on top of the strong hull (if the explosion crushed the strong hull, then the light hull should turn into a continuous mess, right? And then how to explain their quick return to duty?) In turn, the Yankees refused from lifting with the help of pontoons: divers would have to endanger their lives by washing channels under the bottoms of submarines to wind cables and standing for hours waist-deep in radioactive sludge.

It is known for certain that all sunken boats were submerged during the explosion, therefore their buoyancy margin was about 0.5%. At the slightest imbalance (inflow of ~ 10 tons of water), they immediately fell to the bottom. It is possible that the mention of holes is an invention. Such an insignificant amount of water could enter the compartments through the glands and seals of the retractable devices - drop by drop. A couple of days later, when rescuers reached the boats, they had already sunk to the bottom of the lagoon.

If the attack with the use of nuclear weapons took place in real combat conditions, the crew would immediately take measures to eliminate the consequences of the explosion and the boats would be able to continue the campaign.

The above arguments are confirmed by calculations, according to which the force of the explosion is inversely proportional to the third power of the distance. Those. even with the use of half-megaton tactical ammunition (20 times more powerful than the bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Bikini), the damage radius will increase by only 2 ... 2.5 times. Which is clearly not enough for shooting “in areas” in the hope that a nuclear explosion, wherever it occurs, will be able to harm the enemy squadron.

The cubic dependence of the force of the explosion on the distance explains the combat damage to the ships received during the tests on Bikini. Unlike conventional bombs and torpedoes, nuclear explosions failed to break through anti-torpedo defenses, crush thousand-ton structures, and damage internal bulkheads. At a distance of one kilometer, the force of the explosion is reduced by a billion times. And even though a nuclear explosion was much more powerful than an ordinary bomb explosion, but, given the distance, the superiority of nuclear warheads over conventional ones turned out to be unobvious.

Approximately the same conclusions were reached by Soviet military experts after a series of nuclear tests on Novaya Zemlya. The sailors placed a dozen warships (decommissioned destroyers, minesweepers, captured German submarines) at six radii and detonated a nuclear charge at shallow depths, equivalent in design to the SBC of the T-5 torpedo. For the first time (1955), the explosion power was 3.5 kt (however, do not forget about the cubic dependence of the explosion force on the distance!)

On September 7, 1957, another explosion with a power of 10 kt thundered in Chernaya Bay. A month later, a third test was made. As in Bikini Atoll, the tests were carried out in a shallow pool, with a large concentration of ships.

The results were predictable. Even the unfortunate pelvis, among which were minesweepers and destroyers of the First World War, demonstrated an enviable resistance to a nuclear explosion.

"If there were crews on the submarines, they would easily eliminate the leak and the boats would retain their combat capability, however, with the exception of the S-81."

The members of the commission came to the conclusion that if a submarine attacked a convoy with the same composition with a torpedo with an SBC, then at best it would sink only one ship or ship!

B-9 hung on pontoons after 30 hours. Water entered through damaged seals. She was raised and after 3 days brought to combat readiness. S-84, which was on the surface, suffered minor damage. 15 tons of water got into the forward compartment of the S-19 through an open torpedo tube, but after 2 days it was also put in order. "Thundering" was greatly shaken by the shock wave, dents appeared in the superstructures and the chimney, but part of the running power plant continued to work. Damage to the Kuibyshev was minor; the "K. Liebknecht" had a leak and was taken aground. Mechanisms are almost not affected.

It is worth noting that the destroyer “K. Liebknecht” (type “Novik”, launched in 1915) already had a leak in the hull BEFORE testing.

No serious damage was found on the B-20, only water got inside through some pipelines connecting the light and durable hulls. B-22, as soon as the ballast tanks were blown out, surfaced safely, and S-84, although it survived, was out of action. The crew could deal with the damage to the light hull of the S-20, the S-19 did not need to be repaired. At "F. Mitrofanov" and T-219, the shock wave damaged the superstructures, "P. Vinogradov" did not suffer any damage. The destroyers again crushed superstructures and chimneys, as for the "Thundering", its mechanisms were still working. In short, shock waves affected the "experimental" most of all, and light radiation only affected dark paint, while the revealed radioactivity turned out to be insignificant.
- Test results on September 7, 1957, explosion on a tower on the shore, power 10 kt.

On October 10, 1957, another test took place - from the new S-144 submarine, a T-5 torpedo was fired into Chernaya Bay, which exploded at a depth of 35 m. 218 (280 m) followed him. On the S-20 (310 m), the aft compartments were flooded, and she went to the bottom with a strong trim; at S-84 (250 m) both hulls were damaged, which caused her death. Both were in position. Placed 450 m from the epicenter, "Furious" suffered quite badly, but sank only after 4 hours. At the S-19, which was on the surface, weapons and mechanisms failed, the same thing happened on the "P. Vinogradov" (620 m) . The battered "Thundering" now had a trim on the nose and a roll to the port side. After 6 hours, it was towed to the shallows, where it remains to this day. B-22, lying on the ground 700 m from the explosion site, remained combat-ready; the minesweeper T-219 has also been preserved. It is worth considering that for the third time the most damaged ships were hit by "all-destroying weapons", and the "novice" destroyers were already pretty worn out over almost 40 years of service.
- Magazine "Technology - Youth" No. 3, 1998

The destroyer "Gremyashchiy", the top photo was taken in 1991

"The living Dead". The effects of radiation on the crew

Air nuclear explosions are considered "self-cleaning", because. the main part of the decay products is carried away into the stratosphere and subsequently dispersed over a large area. From the point of view of radiation contamination of the area, an underwater explosion is much more dangerous, however, this also cannot pose a danger to the squadron: moving at a 20-knot course, the ships will leave the danger zone in half an hour.

The greatest danger is the outbreak of a nuclear explosion itself. A short-term impulse of gamma quanta, the absorption of which by the cells of the human body leads to the destruction of chromosomes. Another question is how powerful this impulse must be in order to cause a severe form of radiation sickness among the crew members? Radiation is undoubtedly dangerous and harmful to the human body. But what if the devastating effects of radiation appear only after a few weeks, a month, or even a year? Does this mean that the crews of the attacked ships will not be able to continue the mission?

Just statistics: during tests for at. Bikini direct victims of a nuclear explosion was a third of the experimental animals. 25% died from exposure to the shock wave and light radiation (obviously, they were on the upper deck), about 10% died later, from radiation sickness.

The test statistics on Novaya Zemlya show the following.

There were 500 goats and sheep on the decks and in the compartments of the target ships. Of those who were not instantly killed by the flash and shock wave, severe radiation sickness was noted in only twelve artiodactyls.

From this it follows that the main damaging factors in a nuclear explosion are light radiation and a shock wave. Radiation, although it poses a threat to life and health, is not capable of leading to a rapid mass death of crew members.

These data were the basis for a harsh calculation: the "living dead" will be at the helms of the doomed ships and lead the squadron on the last campaign.

Relevant requirements were sent to all design bureaus. An obligatory condition for the design of ships was the presence of anti-nuclear protection (PAZ). Reducing the number of openings in the hull and overpressure in the compartments, which prevents radioactive fallout from getting on board.

Having received data on nuclear tests, the headquarters began to stir. As a result, such a concept as “anti-nuclear order” was born.

The doctors had their say - special inhibitors and antidotes (potassium iodide, cystamine) were created, which weaken the effect of radiation on the human body, bind free radicals and ionized molecules, and accelerate the process of removing radionuclides from the body.

Now an attack using nuclear warheads will not stop the convoy delivering military equipment and reinforcements from New York to Rotterdam (in accordance with the well-known scenario of the Third World War). The ships that broke through the nuclear fire will land troops on the enemy coast and provide him with fire support with cruise missiles and artillery.

The use of nuclear warheads is unable to resolve the issue with the lack of target designation and does not guarantee victory in a naval battle. To achieve the desired effect (causing heavy damage), it is required to undermine the charge in the immediate vicinity of the enemy ship. In this sense, nuclear weapons differ little from conventional weapons.

Sources:
"Technique - youth" No. 3 for 1998.
Oleg Teslenko. "Ships are stronger than an atomic explosion!"

Underwater nuclear explosions called explosions below the surface of the water, i.e. explosions for which the medium surrounding the reaction zone is water.

As a result of the action of X-ray radiation on water, its thin layer is strongly heated and turns into an incandescent gas, the radiation of this layer turns the next thin layer of water into an incandescent gas, etc. Thus, as a result of its layer-by-layer heating, an incandescent volume is formed in water. The process of expansion of this volume in undisturbed water is called a thermal wave in water.

Inside the heated volume, due to large pressure gradients, mechanical perturbations arise at its boundary. With an increase in this volume and a decrease in the temperature of the medium in it, the velocity of propagation of a thermal wave decreases faster than the velocity of propagation of mechanical perturbations.

At a distance from the center of the explosion approximately (0.03-0.04)

m. the propagation velocity of mechanical disturbances begins to exceed

the speed of the thermal wave and in the surrounding water at this time there is an abrupt increase in pressure, density, temperature and speed of its movement. The process of propagation of these perturbations is called a shock wave in water or an underwater shock wave.

An underwater shock wave, propagating from the center of the explosion in all directions, reaches the surface of the water. The fall of an underwater shock wave on the surface of the water leads to the appearance of a refracted shock wave in the air, and a reflected rarefaction wave in the water. As a result of the reflection of an underwater shock wave from the water surface, a water dome is formed above the epicenter of the explosion.

Due to a significant pressure gradient in the refracted air shock wave and the rise of the water dome in the air, another shock wave is formed, which is called epicentral. When a rarefaction wave propagates in water, tensile forces arise, leading to a discontinuity—liquid cavitation in a large area around the epicenter of the explosion. The trace of this area on the surface of the water is visible in the form of a light ring expanding around the water dome.

As a result of the impact on the water environment, first, thermal and then shock waves in the vicinity of the center of the explosion, ionization, dissociation and evaporation of water occur, a vapor-gas bubble appears in the water, filled with radioactive products formed in the initial stage of the explosion.

Immediately after the formation of the vapor-gas bubble, it begins to expand, first under the influence of its internal pressure, then, after it becomes less hydrostatic, as a result of the inertial movement of water masses acquired at the previous stage of its expansion.

If the explosion occurs at a considerable depth and at a sufficiently large distance from the bottom of the water area, the vapor pressure inside the gas-vapor bubble, which has reached its maximum size, becomes much less than the pressure of the surrounding water. Higher pressure in the water surrounding the bubble causes it to compress, as a result of which the pressure inside it rises, and partial condensation of the vapor occurs.

At the end of the compression stage, the vapor pressure in the bubble again becomes much higher than the hydrostatic pressure, so a new cycle of its expansion-compression begins. After three expansion-compression cycles (pulsations), a significant amount of vapor condenses in the bubble and its further pulsation practically stops.

In the stage of expansion, the bubble has a spherical shape; in the stage of compression, it differs from spherical, since the bottom part of the bubble, as a result of high hydrostatic pressure, contracts faster than the top.

During compression in the first pulsation, the gas-vapor bubble begins to rise. After a certain time, it breaks through the surface of the water.

In an explosion at a shallow depth, the bubble breaks through the water surface during expansion in the first pulsation; with an increase in the depth of the explosion, it can break through during compression in the first pulsation or at any moment of expansion-compression in the second and third pulsations, as well as after the cessation of pulsation. During an explosion near the bottom of the water area, the bubble is “attracted” to the bottom and its ascent slows down sharply.

As a result of the breakthrough of the gas-vapor bubble through the surface of the water, another, third air shock wave is formed in the air, and the water dome turns into a rising hollow water column. Vapors from the bubble, together with the radioactive products of the explosion, rise to the top of the column, forming a condensation cloud. A column of water crowned with a condensation cloud is called an explosive plume.

The sultan cloud (steam-water cloud during an explosion at a shallow depth) is a source of penetrating radiation - mainly gamma radiation from radioactive fission and activation products.

After reaching the maximum lifting height, the explosive sultan collapses. As a result of the destruction of the walls of the sultan (collapse of a large mass of water) and heavy precipitation from the condensation cloud, a base wave is formed at its base - a vortex ring of dense radioactive fog, water drops and splashes.

The base wave is the second source of penetrating radiation, mainly gamma radiation from the radioactive products of the explosion. The base wave quickly propagates over the water area in all directions from the epicenter of the explosion, increases in height and is blown away by the wind.

In the course of time (3-5 min), it breaks away from the water surface and merges with the condensation cloud, a residual explosion cloud is formed, which has a stratocumulus appearance. From the residual cloud moving under the influence of the wind, radioactive fallout falls - a radioactive contamination is created.

As a result of the expansion of the gas-vapor bubble and the collapse of the funnel formed in the water when the bubble breaks into the atmosphere, a radial movement of water occurs, which causes the emergence of a series of annular gravity waves.

The impact of a shock wave in the water on the bottom of the water area can lead to the formation of wave reflections in the water and seismic waves in the soil. The latter can generate waves in the water. They are called waves of seismic origin in water.

During an underwater nuclear explosion near the bottom, a funnel and a heap of soil are formed in the soil.

During an underwater explosion in a shallow water area, an expanding steam-gas bubble sets in motion a large amount of soil, which is further involved in the resulting plume cloud or steam-water cloud.

The destructive effect of an underwater nuclear explosion

During an underwater nuclear explosion, damage to naval facilities and engineering structures of the coastal strip can be caused by an explosive plume, an underwater shock wave, gravity waves, seismic explosive waves in water of seismic origin, and air shock waves. In addition, an underwater explosion can cause radiation injury, which is mainly due to gamma radiation from the sultan cloud, the base wave, the steam-water cloud and the radioactively contaminated water area. In the event of an explosion near the bottom, a bank of soil formed around the funnel can create a barrier to navigable areas.

The main damaging factors of an underwater nuclear explosion are an explosive sultan, an underwater shock wave and gravitational waves.

The explosive plume is a giant hollow water column crowned with a condensation cloud. The main parameters of the explosive sultan are the radius of the base and the height of the rise. Their values ​​depend on the power and depth of the explosion. With an underwater nuclear explosion of a medium power range at a depth of 200 m, the radius of the base of the sultan is about 400 m, the lifting height is 1000 m, and with an explosion of a super-large power range at the same depth, the radius of the base of the sultan reaches 1000 m, the lifting height is 3500 m.

Explosive plume and condensation cloud

Any floating objects and aircraft that are in the zone of the Sultan are destroyed.

An underwater shock wave is a sharp compression of water that propagates in all directions from the center of the explosion. It propagates at a speed of about 1500 m/s. The front boundary of an underwater shock wave is called a front. Here the pressure is at its maximum.

At the moment when the front of the underwater shock wave arrives at a given point, the water pressure at this point instantly increases from hydrostatic to maximum, the object located here experiences a sharp blow. Qualitatively, the change in pressure in an underwater shock wave at a given point over time is similar to the change in pressure in an air shock wave. The difference lies in the appearance of a secondary smooth increase in pressure after the expiration of the rarefaction phase.

An underwater shock wave can have a damaging effect on submarines and surface ships outside the zone of the explosive plume. In addition, as a result of the action of an underwater shock wave on the ship's hull, shaking of its decks and platforms occurs, which can cause damage to personnel.

Gravitational waves can:

• destroy the hydraulic structures of the port (piers, breakwaters, moorings, piers, boat ports, etc.);
• damage ships at piers, and even throw them ashore;
• cause damage to shipbuilding and ship repair enterprises located on the shore near the water's edge;
• damage lifting and transport equipment, communications and communications;
• move concrete tetrahedrons, iron and reinforced concrete hedgehogs and gouges of the system of antiamphibious obstacles for a considerable distance.

During underwater nuclear explosions of medium and large power ranges at the bottom of the water area several tens of meters deep, gravitational waves damage hydraulic structures and antiamphibious barriers at a distance from the epicenter of the explosion, equal to 3-7 and 3-4 km, respectively.

It is characterized by weak attenuation of shock waves due to the low compressibility of the aquatic environment. As a result of an underwater explosion of an explosive charge, a gas bubble arises, the pressure inside of which is much higher than in the environment. Expanding, the gases form a shock wave in the water. When the shock wave front reaches the free surface, the water under the huge pressure behind the shock wave front moves towards the weakly resisting air. In this case, at first a small surge is observed due to the rapid expansion of the compressed surface layer of water, and then the general rise of the entire mass of water between its surface and the gas bubble begins. As a result of this, a column of water ("sultan") arises, rising to a considerable height above the site of the explosion of the charge.

Safety precautions for underwater blasting. Underwater explosions are carried out in strict accordance with the requirements of the "Uniform Safety Rules for Blasting Operations", "Technical Rules for Conducting Blasting Operations on the Day Surface", "Rules for Navigation on Inland Navigation Routes", "General Rules for Sea Trade and Fishing Ports of the CCP Union", " Uniform rules for labor protection in diving operations. Underwater blasting projects are coordinated with the basin inspection for the use and protection of water resources, with fish protection authorities, as well as with the sanitary and epidemiological station. If explosive work is carried out near industrial facilities, utilities, residential buildings, etc., then the project is coordinated with the executive committee of the local Council of People's Deputies and other interested organizations. The project for the production of underwater blasting and ice blasting must include a section on environmental protection. On reservoirs of fishery importance, drilling and blasting operations are possible only on time and in areas agreed by the Glavrybvod or the basin departments of the Glavrybvod and with the mandatory control of representatives of the fish protection authorities.

To protect the ichthyofauna, watercraft and hydraulic structures from the action of a shock wave formed during an underwater explosion of explosive charges, a bubble curtain, a dynamic screen made of a detonating cord, covering the protected surfaces with foam, etc. are used. The choice of ships for blasting and the arrangement of temporary consumable warehouses on them

When performing blasting operations in the area of ​​maritime navigation, warning signs correspond to the existing systems of the marine navigational fence (cardinal or lateral). It is forbidden to carry out underwater explosions with insufficient artificial or natural lighting of the explosion sites and the danger zone, as well as during a thunderstorm. In case of heavy fog, heavy rain, snowfall and blizzard, blasting is carried out only in extreme urgent cases with the permission of the head of blasting, while observing special measures to ensure the safety of work (strengthened sound signaling and protection of the danger zone, etc.). The radii of dangerous zones during an underwater explosion are determined by the types of blasting (Table 2).

Surface nuclear explosion

Underground nuclear explosion

An underground nuclear explosion is an explosion produced at a certain depth in the earth.

With such an explosion, the luminous region may not be observed; the explosion creates a huge pressure on the ground, the resulting shock wave causes the ground to vibrate, reminiscent of an earthquake.

A large funnel is formed at the site of the explosion, the dimensions of which depend on the power of the charge, the depth of the explosion and the type of soil; a huge amount of soil mixed with radioactive substances is thrown out of the funnel, which form a column. The height of the pillar can reach many hundreds of meters.

In an underground explosion, a characteristic, mushroom cloud, as a rule, is not formed. The resulting column has a much darker color than the ground explosion cloud. Having reached the maximum height, the column begins to collapse. Radioactive dust, settling on the ground, strongly infects the area in the area of ​​​​the explosion and along the path of the cloud.

Underground explosions can be carried out for the destruction of especially important underground structures and the formation of blockages in the mountains in conditions where severe radioactive contamination of the area and objects is permissible. In an underground nuclear explosion, the damaging factors are seismic explosive waves and radioactive contamination of the area.

This explosion has an outward resemblance to a ground-based nuclear explosion and accompanied by the same damaging factors as a ground explosion. The difference is that the mushroom cloud of a surface explosion consists of dense radioactive fog or water dust.

Characteristic of this type of explosion is the formation of surface waves. The effect of light radiation is significantly weakened due to screening by a large mass of water vapor. The failure of objects is determined mainly by the action of an air shock wave. Radioactive contamination of the water area, terrain and objects occurs due to the fallout of radioactive particles from the explosion cloud

Surface nuclear explosions can be carried out to destroy large surface ships and solid structures of naval bases, ports, when severe radioactive contamination of water and coastal areas is permissible or desirable.

An underwater nuclear explosion is an explosion carried out in water at a certain depth. With such an explosion, the flash and the luminous area are usually not visible. During an underwater explosion at a shallow depth, a hollow column of water rises above the surface of the water, reaching a height of more than a kilometer. A cloud is formed at the top of the column, consisting of splashes and water vapor. This cloud can reach several kilometers in diameter. A few seconds after the explosion, the water column begins to collapse and a cloud forms at its base, called base wave. The base wave consists of radioactive fog; it quickly spreads in all directions from the epicenter of the explosion, simultaneously rises up and is carried by the wind. After a few minutes, the base wave mixes with the sultan cloud (sultan is a swirling cloud enveloping the upper part of the water column) and turns into a stratocumulus cloud, from which radioactive rain falls. A shock wave is formed in water, and surface waves form on its surface, spreading in all directions. The height of the waves can reach tens of meters. Underwater nuclear explosions are designed to destroy ships and destroy the underwater part of structures. In addition, they can be carried out for strong radioactive contamination of ships and the coastal strip.