Arms Race (1945-68)

Question 0

6 aug 45

Answer 0

Uranium-235 bomb dropped on Hiroshima Japan by USA

Question 1

July 1945

Answer 1

First nuclear explosion of USA; “trinity” test of implosion-style plutonium-based nuclear weapon (the “gadget”) - near Alamogordo, New Mexico

Question 2

9 aug 45

Answer 2

Plutonium-239 bomb dropped on Nagasaki Japan by USA

Question 3

Aug 49

Answer 3

USSR first nuclear test, “first lightening”

Question 4

Oct 52

Answer 4

UK conducts Operation Hurricane - first nuclear test; detonated in lagoon between Montebello Islands, W Australia

Question 5

Nov 52

Answer 5

USA tests first fusion bomb, “ivy mile” - hydrogen bomb (2nd generation nuclear weapon)

Question 6

1953

Answer 6

First nuclear-tipped rockets deployed by US

Question 7

Aug 53

Answer 7

USSR first test of Hydrogen bomb (2nd generation nuclear weapon) - nicknamed Joe 4 by US

Question 8

Feb 54

Answer 8

USA detonates first deliverable thermo-nuclear weapon (3rd generation nuclear weapon) at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands

Question 9

Oct 61

Answer 9

USSR detonated Tsar Bomba (biggest/most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated)

Question 10

Oct 64

Answer 10

China tests successfully a nuclear/atomic bomb at Lop Nur

Question 11

June 67

Answer 11

China successfully tested a Hydrogen bomb (2nd generation nuclear weapon)

Question 12

July 68

Answer 12

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty opened for signatures - tried to limit spread of nuclear weapons. March 2011: 189 countries signed (inc 5 permanent UN Security Council members; not India, Pakistan, Israel and NK