281:
removal and replacement without breaking the warhead seal. Magnesium instead of titanium was selected for the support casing in March 1961 as it offered minimum weight, ease of machining and moderate resistance to high temperatures. A protective can for the radiation case was provided as no means of sufficiently protecting the radiation case from the environment was known. The explosive-electric transducer was later substituted for a ferromagnetic transducer as the technology had not yet sufficiently advanced.
38:
333:
The firing set was of the dual-channel type and the weapon used an external neutron generator. The nuclear system was designed to produce no more than 4 pounds (1.8 kg) yield in the event of a detonation by anything other than the firing system. The safing system included acceleration actuated
329:
The final warhead consisted of a magnesium case with an aluminium cover. The nylon-phenolic heat shield was bonded to the magnesium case. The warhead cover included two ports for target detecting radar antennas, a baroport for pressure information and a valve to fill the warhead with dry air. The
207:
system for missile. In
November 1959, a follow-up study into the feasibility of a cluster warhead for the Polaris missile began and its report was submitted in January 1960. The report recommended the development of a missile carrying three warheads, mounted on an ejection system to disperse the
284:
In August 1961, the proposed ordinance characteristics of the warhead were found to be satisfactory to the Navy. The warhead with reentry body was 23.5 inches (600 mm) wide at the flare, 54 inches (1,400 mm) long and weighed 300 pounds (140 kg). The weapon consisted of a warhead,
280:
The fuzing system would contain a barometric airburst fuze with three height of burst options, and a surfaceburst fuze. The firing system would be of the explosive-electric transducer type, the warhead would be sealed, and the boosting gas reservoir would be contained in a well that allowed for
249:) was assigned the warhead, and while the lab's workload was quite heavy at the time, it was believed that the four year development program envisaged (as opposed to the originally envisaged three-year program) would mean that compensatory reductions in other programs would not be needed.
340:
The warhead with reentry body was 23.5 inches (600 mm) wide at the flare, 54 inches (1,400 mm) long and weighed 300 pounds (140 kg). The warhead without RB was 15.6 inches (400 mm) in diameter and 40.3 inches (1,020 mm) long, and weighed 257 pounds (117 kg).
330:
fuze was a single-channel device. The thermal battery and radar antennas were mounted on the warhead flare section. Airburst fuzing was controlled by a timer and baroswitch, with three height of burst options, while surfaceburst fuzing was provided by an electronic radiating type device.
234:
would be suitable for 95% of the target types envisioned for
Polaris, while the remaining targets would be at too high an altitude for the airburst fuze and instead would be destroyed using the surfaceburst fuze. The ability to select surface burst for any target was also included.
242:(98 m/s) deceleration for five seconds to actuate. An interlock device to prevent arming of the warhead if it did not separate from the missile was also included. The thermal battery that supplied power to the weapon was designed to actuate when exposed to reentry heating.
292:. This redesign included close integration of warhead components, including integration of warhead casing with the heat shield and consolidation of the fuzing and firing system into a single unit. This redesign caused the design release date to slip by three months. The
202:
The W58 program began in mid-1959 when concerns were raised that enemy defensive capability was increasing due to improved detection capabilities. A study into the problem was conducted and its report released in August 1959 which recommended the development of a
285:
integrated fuzing and firing system and an outer heat shield surrounding the weapon. The planned pyrolytic graphite was substituted for an ablative heat shield integrated into the warhead structure. The reentry body was known as the Mark 2.
276:
developed the fuzing and firing system. A flight test program consisting of 14 tests was scheduled for
October 1962. Early production was planned for January 1964, with a planned operational availability date of June 1964.
299:
In June 1963, the primary stage was replaced following an interim review. The new primary eliminated the mechanical safing system which the navy had expressed vulnerability concerns about. Early production of the
318:. The modelling determined that the problem could be overcome with some minor changes to weapon maintenance. However, the actions taken may have been influenced by the planned retirement date for the weapon.
208:
warheads. The warheads would be released at approximately 200,000 feet (61,000 m) altitude. A protective fairing would protect the warheads during the underwater launch and early flight of the missile.
219:. Both designs had an inner wall temperature of 1,500 °F (820 °C) with insulation limiting the warhead temperature to 300 °F (149 °C). A hemispherical shape was eventually chosen.
176:
The W58 was 15.6 inches (400 mm) in diameter and 40.3 inches (1,020 mm) long, and weighed 257 pounds (117 kg). The yield was 200 kilotonnes of TNT (840 TJ). The warhead used the
334:
contacts that closed approximately 55 seconds after launch, at an altitude of 65,000 feet (20,000 m), which connected the warhead electrical system to the thermal battery and programmer.
245:
Formal approval to develop the warhead was given in July 1960 and the military characteristics approved in August of that year. Lawrence
Radiation Laboratory (now
751:
1649:
230:
fuzing would be provided. Airburst fuzing would be the inertial type, consisting of a range-corrected timer started by a decelerometer. The airburst
211:
Two reentry bodies were initially considered. Both were the same basic, slightly flared cylinder, but one had a hemispherical nose made of pyrolytic
1644:
314:
In approximately 1975, corrosion problems were discovered in some W58 warheads. The problem was evaluated with computer modelling rather than
744:
402:
737:
246:
76:
1545:
1065:
621:
458:
1119:
1092:
1113:
1097:
261:
173:
submarine-launched ballistic missile. Three W58 warheads were fitted as multiple warheads on each
Polaris A-3 missile.
1107:
180:
311:
was proposed in
December 1965 to provide resistance to high energy x-rays, but the program was never authorized.
268:
warhead). The department of defense was responsible for all aspects of the weapon except for the warhead itself.
1371:
194:
The W58 design entered service in 1964 and the last models were retired in 1982 with the last
Polaris missiles.
1102:
760:
304:
warhead began in March 1964 and the first submarine equipped with the warheads was on station in
October 1964.
1035:
1030:
1471:
1597:
1082:
1592:
360:
273:
256:
was initially assigned to the weapon, but in
October 1960 the weapon was reassigned the nomenclature
177:
337:
The warhead used the
Kinglet nuclear primary. Weapon yield was 200 kilotonnes of TNT (840 TJ).
1587:
1582:
857:
537:
435:
948:
1572:
795:
350:
1613:
1577:
288:
In March 1962, a warhead redesign occurred, leading to the redesigned warhead nomenclature of
1523:
1518:
1513:
1508:
1441:
1431:
1416:
1391:
1386:
1381:
1366:
1346:
1336:
1331:
1301:
1291:
1060:
1055:
1040:
953:
943:
938:
928:
918:
913:
296:
was designed released in May 1963, with the exception of the reentry body and primary stage.
184:
410:
1306:
1281:
1276:
1204:
1199:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1134:
1025:
994:
908:
903:
852:
847:
842:
837:
832:
269:
17:
8:
898:
893:
888:
883:
827:
822:
817:
812:
807:
272:
were assigned development of the reentry body, missile and testing equipment, while the
617:
454:
1341:
1316:
1311:
1286:
1260:
1244:
1239:
1234:
1229:
1224:
1219:
1214:
1209:
1194:
1009:
867:
204:
1004:
862:
315:
729:
768:
662:
660:
170:
51:
434:(Report). Sandia National Laboratory. February 1968. p. 5-6. SC-M-68-50.
1638:
781:
61:
704:
702:
687:
657:
42:
Diagram of the Mark 2 Reentry Body that housed the W58 thermonuclear warhead
1491:
227:
166:
999:
699:
647:
645:
630:
595:
593:
578:
677:
675:
215:, and the other an elliptical nose made of either pyrolytic graphite or
789:
556:
554:
516:
514:
501:
499:
486:
484:
482:
467:
714:
642:
590:
566:
672:
238:
The primary safing device was to be a decelerometer that required 10
223:
216:
551:
511:
496:
479:
1623:
1618:
212:
801:
1296:
693:
666:
611:
536:(Report). Sandia National Labs. February 1968. p. 18.
231:
1551:
1528:
1477:
1466:
1461:
1456:
1451:
1446:
1436:
1426:
1421:
1411:
1406:
1401:
1396:
1376:
1361:
1351:
1326:
1321:
1071:
1050:
1045:
978:
973:
968:
963:
958:
933:
923:
355:
265:
188:
37:
720:
708:
681:
651:
636:
599:
584:
572:
560:
533:
520:
505:
490:
473:
431:
430:
260:(The XW-58 nomenclature was initially assigned to the
759:
1636:
745:
403:"Complete List of All U.S. Nuclear Weapons"
1650:Military equipment introduced in the 1960s
752:
738:
396:
605:
394:
392:
390:
388:
386:
384:
382:
380:
378:
376:
400:
321:The warhead was retired in April 1982.
222:In July 1960, it was decided that both
1637:
616:. Chukelea Publications. p. 455.
448:
442:
373:
247:Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
77:Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
1645:Nuclear warheads of the United States
733:
453:. Chukelea Publications. p. 15.
270:Lockheed Missiles and Space Division
1120:Tactical Atomic Demolition Munition
155:200 kilotonnes of TNT (840 TJ)
13:
1114:Special Atomic Demolition Munition
262:Special Atomic Demolition Munition
14:
1661:
1108:Medium Atomic Demolition Munition
694:Swords of Armageddon - Volume VII
667:Swords of Armageddon - Volume VII
614:Swords of Armageddon - Volume VII
438:from the original on 2022-06-12.
401:Sublette, Carey (12 June 2020).
36:
540:from the original on 2021-05-22
451:Swords of Armageddon - Volume V
526:
424:
99:
1:
761:United States nuclear devices
366:
1472:Reliable Replacement Warhead
721:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
709:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
682:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
652:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
637:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
600:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
585:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
573:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
561:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
521:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
506:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
491:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
474:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
432:History of the Mk 58 Warhead
7:
534:History of the Mk 54 Weapon
344:
183:, which it shared with the
10:
1666:
197:
15:
1606:
1565:
1538:
1501:
1490:
1269:
1253:
1142:
1133:
1081:
1018:
987:
876:
780:
767:
361:Kinglet (nuclear primary)
324:
274:Naval Ordnance Laboratory
151:
146:
142:15.6 in (40 cm)
138:
134:40.3 inches (102 cm)
130:
126:257 lb (117 kg)
122:
117:
109:
98:
90:
82:
72:
67:
58:Place of origin
57:
47:
35:
28:
351:List of nuclear weapons
94:March 1964 to June 1967
612:Hansen, Chuck (2007).
449:Hansen, Chuck (2007).
407:Nuclear Weapon Archive
167:thermonuclear warhead
252:The nomenclature of
30:W58 nuclear warhead
18:W58 (disambiguation)
16:For other uses, see
68:Production history
1632:
1631:
1561:
1560:
1486:
1485:
1129:
1128:
1083:Atomic demolition
623:978-0-9791915-7-2
460:978-0-9791915-5-8
159:
158:
1657:
1499:
1498:
1140:
1139:
778:
777:
754:
747:
740:
731:
730:
724:
718:
712:
711:, p. 16-17.
706:
697:
691:
685:
679:
670:
664:
655:
649:
640:
639:, p. 11-12.
634:
628:
627:
609:
603:
597:
588:
587:, p. 10-11.
582:
576:
570:
564:
558:
549:
548:
546:
545:
530:
524:
518:
509:
503:
494:
488:
477:
471:
465:
464:
446:
440:
439:
428:
422:
421:
419:
418:
409:. Archived from
398:
165:was an American
152:Blast yield
101:
40:
31:
26:
25:
1665:
1664:
1660:
1659:
1658:
1656:
1655:
1654:
1635:
1634:
1633:
1628:
1602:
1557:
1534:
1493:
1482:
1265:
1249:
1125:
1084:
1077:
1014:
983:
872:
772:
770:
763:
758:
728:
727:
719:
715:
707:
700:
692:
688:
680:
673:
665:
658:
650:
643:
635:
631:
624:
610:
606:
598:
591:
583:
579:
571:
567:
559:
552:
543:
541:
532:
531:
527:
519:
512:
504:
497:
489:
480:
476:, p. 3, 5.
472:
468:
461:
447:
443:
429:
425:
416:
414:
399:
374:
369:
347:
327:
316:nuclear testing
264:version of the
205:cluster warhead
200:
147:
43:
29:
24:
21:
12:
11:
5:
1663:
1653:
1652:
1647:
1630:
1629:
1627:
1626:
1621:
1616:
1610:
1608:
1604:
1603:
1601:
1600:
1595:
1590:
1585:
1580:
1575:
1569:
1567:
1566:Primary stages
1563:
1562:
1559:
1558:
1556:
1555:
1549:
1542:
1540:
1536:
1535:
1533:
1532:
1526:
1521:
1516:
1511:
1505:
1503:
1496:
1488:
1487:
1484:
1483:
1481:
1480:
1475:
1469:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1449:
1444:
1439:
1434:
1429:
1424:
1419:
1414:
1409:
1404:
1399:
1394:
1389:
1384:
1379:
1374:
1369:
1364:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1339:
1334:
1329:
1324:
1319:
1314:
1309:
1304:
1299:
1294:
1289:
1284:
1279:
1273:
1271:
1267:
1266:
1264:
1263:
1257:
1255:
1251:
1250:
1248:
1247:
1242:
1237:
1232:
1227:
1222:
1217:
1212:
1207:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1172:
1167:
1162:
1157:
1152:
1146:
1144:
1137:
1131:
1130:
1127:
1126:
1124:
1123:
1117:
1111:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1089:
1087:
1079:
1078:
1076:
1075:
1069:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1022:
1020:
1016:
1015:
1013:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
991:
989:
985:
984:
982:
981:
976:
971:
966:
961:
956:
951:
946:
941:
936:
931:
926:
921:
916:
911:
906:
901:
896:
891:
886:
880:
878:
874:
873:
871:
870:
865:
860:
855:
850:
845:
840:
835:
830:
825:
820:
815:
810:
805:
799:
793:
786:
784:
775:
765:
764:
757:
756:
749:
742:
734:
726:
725:
713:
698:
696:, p. 458.
686:
671:
669:, p. 455.
656:
641:
629:
622:
604:
589:
577:
565:
550:
525:
510:
495:
478:
466:
459:
441:
423:
371:
370:
368:
365:
364:
363:
358:
353:
346:
343:
326:
323:
199:
196:
157:
156:
153:
149:
148:
144:
143:
140:
136:
135:
132:
128:
127:
124:
120:
119:
118:Specifications
115:
114:
111:
107:
106:
103:
96:
95:
92:
88:
87:
84:
80:
79:
74:
70:
69:
65:
64:
59:
55:
54:
52:Nuclear weapon
49:
45:
44:
41:
33:
32:
23:Nuclear weapon
22:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1662:
1651:
1648:
1646:
1643:
1642:
1640:
1625:
1622:
1620:
1617:
1615:
1612:
1611:
1609:
1605:
1599:
1596:
1594:
1591:
1589:
1586:
1584:
1581:
1579:
1576:
1574:
1571:
1570:
1568:
1564:
1553:
1550:
1547:
1544:
1543:
1541:
1537:
1530:
1527:
1525:
1522:
1520:
1517:
1515:
1512:
1510:
1507:
1506:
1504:
1500:
1497:
1495:
1489:
1479:
1476:
1473:
1470:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1453:
1450:
1448:
1445:
1443:
1440:
1438:
1435:
1433:
1430:
1428:
1425:
1423:
1420:
1418:
1415:
1413:
1410:
1408:
1405:
1403:
1400:
1398:
1395:
1393:
1390:
1388:
1385:
1383:
1380:
1378:
1375:
1373:
1370:
1368:
1365:
1363:
1360:
1358:
1355:
1353:
1350:
1348:
1345:
1343:
1340:
1338:
1335:
1333:
1330:
1328:
1325:
1323:
1320:
1318:
1315:
1313:
1310:
1308:
1305:
1303:
1300:
1298:
1295:
1293:
1290:
1288:
1285:
1283:
1280:
1278:
1275:
1274:
1272:
1268:
1262:
1259:
1258:
1256:
1252:
1246:
1243:
1241:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1221:
1218:
1216:
1213:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1171:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1153:
1151:
1148:
1147:
1145:
1143:Gravity bombs
1141:
1138:
1136:
1135:Thermonuclear
1132:
1121:
1118:
1115:
1112:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1090:
1088:
1086:
1080:
1073:
1070:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1023:
1021:
1017:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
992:
990:
986:
980:
977:
975:
972:
970:
967:
965:
962:
960:
957:
955:
952:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
935:
932:
930:
927:
925:
922:
920:
917:
915:
912:
910:
907:
905:
902:
900:
897:
895:
892:
890:
887:
885:
882:
881:
879:
875:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
856:
854:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
824:
821:
819:
816:
814:
811:
809:
806:
803:
800:
797:
794:
791:
788:
787:
785:
783:
782:Gravity bombs
779:
776:
774:
766:
762:
755:
750:
748:
743:
741:
736:
735:
732:
723:, p. 14.
722:
717:
710:
705:
703:
695:
690:
683:
678:
676:
668:
663:
661:
654:, p. 13.
653:
648:
646:
638:
633:
625:
619:
615:
608:
602:, p. 11.
601:
596:
594:
586:
581:
575:, p. 10.
574:
569:
562:
557:
555:
539:
535:
529:
522:
517:
515:
507:
502:
500:
492:
487:
485:
483:
475:
470:
462:
456:
452:
445:
437:
433:
427:
413:on 2009-02-27
412:
408:
404:
397:
395:
393:
391:
389:
387:
385:
383:
381:
379:
377:
372:
362:
359:
357:
354:
352:
349:
348:
342:
338:
335:
331:
322:
319:
317:
312:
310:
305:
303:
297:
295:
291:
286:
282:
278:
275:
271:
267:
263:
259:
255:
250:
248:
243:
241:
236:
233:
229:
225:
220:
218:
214:
209:
206:
195:
192:
190:
186:
182:
179:
174:
172:
168:
164:
154:
150:
145:
141:
137:
133:
129:
125:
121:
116:
112:
108:
104:
97:
93:
89:
85:
81:
78:
75:
71:
66:
63:
62:United States
60:
56:
53:
50:
46:
39:
34:
27:
19:
1607:Experimental
1356:
716:
689:
684:, p. 4.
632:
613:
607:
580:
568:
563:, p. 9.
542:. Retrieved
528:
523:, p. 8.
508:, p. 7.
493:, p. 6.
469:
450:
444:
426:
415:. Retrieved
411:the original
406:
339:
336:
332:
328:
320:
313:
308:
306:
301:
298:
293:
289:
287:
283:
279:
257:
253:
251:
244:
239:
237:
228:surfaceburst
221:
210:
201:
193:
175:
169:used on the
162:
160:
86:1960 to 1964
1254:Depth bombs
988:Depth bombs
309:Mk 58 Mod 2
302:Mk 58 Mod 1
294:Mk 58 Mod 0
171:Polaris A-3
102: built
1639:Categories
790:Little Boy
771:(including
544:2021-03-24
417:2021-03-18
367:References
191:warheads.
1539:Artillery
1494:radiation
1085:munitions
1019:Artillery
217:beryllium
1624:RACER IV
1598:Starling
1502:Warheads
1492:Enhanced
1270:Warheads
877:Warheads
804:(Mark 3)
798:(Mark 2)
796:Thin Man
792:(Mark 1)
773:boosted)
538:Archived
436:Archived
345:See also
290:XW-58-X1
224:airburst
213:graphite
139:Diameter
110:Variants
91:Produced
83:Designed
73:Designer
1619:Sausage
1593:Kinglet
1205:Mark 39
1200:Mark 36
1190:Mark 27
1185:Mark 26
1180:Mark 24
1170:Mark 21
1165:Mark 17
1155:Mark 15
1150:Mark 14
1093:XM1 ADM
995:Mark 90
858:Mark 20
853:Mark 18
848:Mark 13
843:Mark 12
838:Mark 11
833:Mark 10
802:Fat Man
769:Fission
198:History
181:primary
178:Kinglet
1614:Gadget
1588:Tsetse
1583:Python
1122:(TADM)
1116:(SADM)
1110:(MADM)
1098:T2 ADM
1005:Mk 105
1000:Mk 101
863:Mk 105
828:Mark 8
823:Mark 7
818:Mark 6
813:Mark 5
808:Mark 4
620:
457:
325:Design
131:Length
1573:Robin
1474:(RRW)
1317:XW-46
1297:XW-35
974:W76-2
959:XW-51
258:XW-58
254:XW-59
1578:Swan
1292:TX29
1220:TX46
1175:TX22
1160:TX16
618:ISBN
455:ISBN
307:The
232:fuze
226:and
187:and
161:The
123:Mass
105:1400
48:Type
1552:W82
1546:W79
1529:W70
1524:W66
1519:W65
1514:W64
1509:W63
1478:W93
1467:W91
1462:W89
1457:W88
1452:W87
1447:W86
1442:W85
1437:W84
1432:W80
1427:W78
1422:W76
1417:W73
1412:W71
1407:W70
1402:W69
1397:W68
1392:W67
1387:W64
1382:W63
1377:W62
1372:W61
1367:W60
1362:W59
1357:W58
1352:W56
1347:W55
1342:W53
1337:W52
1332:W50
1327:W49
1322:W47
1312:W41
1307:W39
1302:W38
1287:W28
1282:W27
1277:W15
1261:B90
1245:B90
1240:B83
1235:B77
1230:B61
1225:B53
1215:B43
1210:B41
1195:B28
1072:W82
1066:W79
1061:W75
1056:W74
1051:W54
1046:W48
1041:W33
1036:W23
1031:W19
1010:B57
979:W81
969:W72
964:W54
954:W45
949:W44
944:W42
939:W40
934:W37
929:W34
924:W31
919:W30
914:W25
909:W13
904:W12
868:B57
356:W47
266:W54
189:W47
185:W55
163:W58
100:No.
1641::
1554:-0
1548:-0
1531:-3
1103:T4
1074:-1
1068:-1
1026:W9
899:W8
894:W7
889:W5
884:W4
701:^
674:^
659:^
644:^
592:^
553:^
513:^
498:^
481:^
405:.
375:^
753:e
746:t
739:v
626:.
547:.
463:.
420:.
240:g
113:2
20:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
