French Test Archive | Program History | Testing Database | Image Gallery | Gerboise Bleue-|Reggane| Date: 07:04 UTC 13/02/1960 | Type: Tower @105m | Yield: 65 Kt The first French test, Gerboise Bleue was a surface shot fired atop a 105m tower in Reganne Algeria. The device was a prototype for the AN-11 warhead deployed three years later, used plutonium and had the highest yield for any countries first test. General Ailleret personally activated the firing switch for the detonation of the device. The name of the test originates from the Gerboise (jerboa), a desert rodent, while blue is the first color of the French tricolor flag. The AN-11 was the first nuclear weapon to be stockpiled by the French. A pure fission weapon with a 60 kilotons yield, it entered service in 1963; only 40 were made before being replaced by the AN-22 in 1967. Gerboise Blanche-|Reggane| Date: 06:17 UTC 01/04/1960 | Type: Surface | Yield: 10 Kt The second French test, Gerboise Blanche was a surface shot fired in a seven meter deep pit, which accounted for the strange, Christmas tree-like shape of the fireball. The 1288 kg device was cubic in form, with a plywood outer casing and housed in a crude hut. The device was built to achieve a nuclear reaction and was not heavily instrumented. Security was much lighter than the previous shot Gerboiuse Bleue shot. Personal cameras were allowed to record the detonation with proper authorization. General Ailleret once again personally initiated the firing of the device. The explosion produced a 13 meters deep crater, which was later filled in. Gerboise Rouge-|Reggane| Date: 07:30 UTC 27/12/1960 | Type: Tower @50m | Yield: 3 Kt Gerboise Rouge (French - Red Jerboa) is the codename for a French nuclear test conducted on 27 December 1960 in Reggane, Algeria. This was the 3rd French nuclear test, after Gerboise Bleue and Gerboise Blanche, completing the colors of the French flag. During this test, the army carried out experiments on animals, such as goats or mice, which were in Reggane. Gerboise Verte-|Reggane|- NEW Date: 07:30 UTC 25/04/1961 | Type: Tower @50m | Yield: 0.5 Kt Codename Gerboise Verte ('Green Jerboa') was the last of the series of four tests at Reggane. The test device yielded less than 1 kiloton, significantly less than the expected 6–18 kilotons. 300 troops were ordered into the contaminated area shortly after the detonation. Agate-|In Ecker| - NEW Date: 11:29 UTC 02/11/1961 | Type: Subsurface | Yield: 10 Kt Agate was a plutonium implosion device, the first test of the jewel designation series running from 1961 until 1966. Conducted at the Oasis Military Experiments Centre near In Ekker, French Algeria at the Tan Afella in the Hoggar Mountains. Beryl-|In Ecker| Date: 10:00 UTC 01/05/1962 | Type: Sub-surface | Yield: 40 Kt Beryl was a test of a prototype AN-11 bomb. A spiral shaped tunnel drilled into the mountain for the shot, designed to self-seal before any material could reach the surface. This system failed and 5-10% of the explosion's radioactive products escaped in the form of lava, aerosols and gases which formed a cloud which reached 2600m and spread 150km downwind. Several hundred personnel including two government ministers were exposed to the contamination as well as an unknown number of Algerians. Aldebaran-|Mururoa| Date: 15:34 UTC 02/07/1966 | Type: Barge | Yield: 28 Kt France's first Pacific nuclear test, using the M-50 CTC (Charge Tactique Commune - common tactical warhead) device which went on to be deployed as the AN-51 and AN-52 tactical warheads. The barge containing the nuclear device was moored at the Dindon testing sector on the western end of the atoll. This method of testing would be used for a further three tests (Rigel, Sirius, and Arcturus). Un-predicted weather conditions and the fact that it was a suface shot, caused significant radioactive contamination of the Mururoa Atoll. The local populations were not notified about the radiological situation. Betelgeuse-|Mururoa| Date: 17:30 UTC 11/09/1966 | Type: Balloon @470m | Yield: 110 Kt Test of an experimental pure plutonium fission device. This was a prototype of the MR-31 warhead intended for the future S2 IRBM. The first French test in which a balloon was used. Charles de Gaulle observed the test from the bridge of the De Grasse, personally activating the firing switch. Pressure from de Gaulle reportedly forced the test to be conducted in unfavorable weather conditions following delays. The cloud stabilized at an average altitude of 11,704 meters. A radiological hot spot was measured in Samoa, located 3,670 km from Mururoa the day following the Betelgeuse test. Monitoring stations set up by the New Zealand National Radiation Laboratory also detected fallout in the Cook Islands, Niue, Tonga, Fiji, and Tuvalu. The MR-31 warhead was stockpiled from 1970 to 1980. Antares-|Mururoa| Date: 18:30 UTC 27/06/1967 | Type: Balloon | Yield: 120 Kt Antares was a test of an experimental thermonuclear device developed by Luc Dagens. The yield of the device was considered to be disappointing. The test took place on at Mururoa Atoll via a helium filled balloon at 340 metres. Possibly used a pure plutonium unboosted primary, with a radiation implosion fission secondary, and a weight of 700 kg. The warhead was unhardened, as it is practicaly impossible to harden such a large pure fission warhead like this against predetonation effects. View 2 | Cloud development Canopus-|Fangataufa| Date: 18:30 UTC 24/08/1968 | Type: Balloon @520m | Yield: 2.6 Mt France's attempts to produce a staged thermonuclear weapon came to fruition with Canopus, it was also the largest French atmospheric test. The 3 ton device was suspended from a balloon. The top of the cloud reached an altitude of 23,400m, while the base reached an altitude of 14,500m. The cloud drifted to the north-east and fallout was detected on the atolls of Pukarua, Tureia, and Reao. The device used a lithium-6 deuteride secondary jacketed with HEU that caused massive contamination of the atoll, requiring it to be quarantined for six years. The device entered the stockpile in 1977 as the TN-60 with a 1 Mt yield. These warheads were deployed on the Redoutable class ballistic missile submarines as well as on the land based SSBS S3 missiles. View 2 | View 3 | Cloud Timelapse Procyon-|Mururoa| Date: 19:00 UTC 08/09/1968 | Type: Balloon | Yield: 1.28 Mt Procyon was France's 2nd hydrogen bomb test designed to produce a larger fusion reaction from the secondary stage. The largest nuclear test conducted at Mururoa atoll and the 2nd largest French test overall. The device was lifted above the Dindon testing sector by a helium balloon. Detonated at an altitude of 700m. The device was fired at height to reduce local radioactive fallout. The yield exceeded all pre-shot predictions. Though less powerful than the Canopus test, Procyon was considered a much more efficient design. Excellent meteorological conditions during shot time permitted ideal photography of the test. View 2 Andromede-|Mururoa| Date: 18:00 UTC 15/05/1970 | Type: Balloon @220m | Yield: 13 Kt Andromede was a weapons developement test conducted at the Denise zone off Moruroa Atoll. Licorne-|Mururoa| Date: 18:30 UTC 03/07/1970 | Type: Balloon @500m | Yield: 914 Kt Eexperimental thermonuclear device for the TN-60 warhead; the 4th thermonuclear test conducted by France. The device was suspended from a balloon 500m over the Dindon testing sector. The cloud reached 24,000m approximately 6 minutes after shot time, with the base reaching 15,800m. Two aircraft conducted cloud sampling missions at H+1 hour 15 minutes. Four rockets were fired into the cloud to collect samples. Fallout was detected on downwind atolls, including Tureia, Reao and Puka Rua. Minister of Defense Michel Debre observed the test along with the French press. Debre reportedly swam in the lagoon to demonstrate the safety of the tests. View 2 Toucan-|Fangataufa| Date: 19:00 UTC 03/08/1970 | Type: Balloon @500m Yield: 594 Kt Toucan shot day was characterized by partial cloud cover, the mushroom cloud reached an altitude of 19,000 meters. Dione-|Mururoa| Date: 19:15 UTC 05/06/1971 | Type: Balloon | Yield: 34 Kt A test of the later deployed AN-51 warhead. The AN-51 was based on a pure plutonium fission warhead design called the MR-50 CTC (common tactical charge). Manufactured January 1977, the warhead was stockpiled from 1973 to 1993. There were two yield variants, 10kt 25kt. The warhead was relatively light, weighing about 500kg. A total of 70 warheads were manufactured. Dione timelapse Encelade-|Fangataufa| Date: 19:14 UTC 12/06/1971 | Type: Balloon @438m | Yield: 440 Kt Encelade was a proof test of the MR-41 boosted fission warhead. The MR-41 entered service in 1971 and had a nominal yield of 500 kilotons. The mushroom cloud reached an altitude of 16.5 kilometers 10 minutes after the explosion. Fallout fell over the atoll of Tureia following the test. Japet-|Mururoa| Date: 21:30 UTC 04/07/1971 | Type: Balloon @224m | Yield: 9 Kt Japet was possibly a developmental test for a primary trigger for the TN-60/61 warhead. The mushroom cloud reached an altitude of 8.7 kilometers. Rhea-|Mururoa| - NEW Date: 19:00 UTC 14/08/1971 | Type: Baloon @480m | Yield: 955Kt A test of the TN-60/61 warhead. It was the third largest and last megaton range test conducted by France. The mushroom cloud reached an altitude of 19,500m. Four aircraft made passes each through the mushroom cloud to collect samples. Eight rockets were fired into the cloud to collect particulate samples. Fallout was detected on the Gambiers and several uninhabited islands. View 2 Pallas-|Mururoa| Date: 19/08/1973 Type: Balloon | Yield: 4 Kt Shot day was characterized by heavily cloudy conditions. Mushroom cloud rose to an altitude of 5,400 meters. Three aircraft conducted cloud sampling missions. Verseau-|Mururoa| Date: 14/09/1974 | Type: Balloon | Yield: 433 Kt Verseau was the last atmospheric test conducted by France, a test of the TN-60/61 warhead. The mushroom cloud rose to an altitude of 19,000m. Four cloud sampling aircraft conducted a total of 24 passes through the mushroom cloud between 11,250 and 12,500m. Light fallout was detected on Tureia and Reao. Cloud development Achille-|Fangataufa| Date: 18:15 UTC 05/06/1975 | Type: Underground @-623m | Yield: 5 Kt France ceased atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons in 1974, with testing being conducted underground at Mururoa and Fangataufa. Deep shafts were drilled, the test devices were lowered then detonated deep below the atoll. These underground tests were far less polluting, but the process was more complex and therefore more expensive. As it turned out the porous nature of the coral meant that there was still significant leakage and contamination. Compilation Date: Various Type: Various Yield: Various Compilation of unidentified French test shots. High-speed Compilation Date: Various Type: Various Yield: Various Compilation of French test shots filmed at high-speed. All unidentified except the first one which is Betelgeuse. The majority of the French Pacific tests were fired suspended from baloons. The spiked protruberences on the underside of the fireballs are caused by the thermal pulse incinerating the baloon guide cables, known aas the 'rope-trick' effect. Effects Compilation - NEW Date: Various Type: Various Yield: Various Compilation of unidentified French effects tests. Unknown Date: N/A Type: N/A Yield: N/A Unknown French test shot Unknown Date: N/A Type: N/A Yield: N/A Unknown French test shot Unknown - NEW Date: 1968 Type: Balloon Yield: N/A Part of the 1968 tests series, either Castor or Pollux.