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Fall Marya

Short answer: RDS-3, the Soviet Union's third nuclear test, took place on October 18, 1951, at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in present-day Kazakhstan.

It was the first Soviet atomic bomb dropped from an aircraft, a Tupolev Tu-4 bomber, and it detonated about 400 meters above the ground with a yield of about 42 kilotons. The footage shows archival test film.

VideoWrite-up2 sources

In collections:The Nuclear Age

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What should you know about Fall Marya?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. October 18, 1951.

    DD-412-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Date)

  2. Semipalatinsk.

    DD-412-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Site)

Video transcript: Fall Marya: On October 18, 1951, the Soviet Union Air-Dropped an Atomic Bomb for the First Time

Did you know, on October 18th, 1951, the Soviet Union conducted its third nuclear test, designated RDS-3, at the Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan. This event marked the USSR's first airdropped atomic bomb test, with the device released from a Tupolev aircraft and detonated at an altitude of approximately 400 meters. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 20.1s Reel ·

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Fall Marya: On October 18, 1951, the Soviet Union Air-Dropped an Atomic Bomb for the First Time Instagram Reel · · 20.1s

The write-up

On October 18, 1951, the Soviet Union air-dropped an atomic bomb for the first time. It burst about 400 meters above the Semipalatinsk test site.

  1. Exhibit A

    Date

    October 18, 1951.

  2. Exhibit B

    Site

    Semipalatinsk.

  3. Exhibit C

    Aircraft

    Tupolev Tu-4.

  4. Exhibit D

    Altitude

    About 400 m.

  5. Exhibit E

    Yield

    About 42 kt.

Questions people ask about Fall Marya

When was RDS-3 tested?

Third test.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Date) · Wikipedia: RDS-3

Where?

Kazakhstan.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Site) · Wikipedia: Semipalatinsk Test Site

What was new?

From a bomber.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Aircraft) · Wikipedia: RDS-3

Which aircraft?

Tupolev.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Altitude) · Wikipedia: RDS-3

Burst height?

Airburst.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Yield) · Wikipedia: RDS-3

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. When was RDS-3 tested?

    1. October 18, 1951
    2. August 29, 1949
    3. July 16, 1945
    4. 1961
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. October 18, 1951 Third test. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Date) · Wikipedia: RDS-3

  2. Where?

    1. Semipalatinsk
    2. Nevada
    3. Bikini Atoll
    4. Novaya Zemlya
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Semipalatinsk Kazakhstan. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Site) · Wikipedia: Semipalatinsk Test Site

  3. What was new?

    1. Air-dropped
    2. Underground
    3. Underwater
    4. Rocket-launched
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Air-dropped From a bomber. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Aircraft) · Wikipedia: RDS-3

  4. Which aircraft?

    1. Tu-4
    2. B-29
    3. Tu-95
    4. Il-28
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Tu-4 Tupolev. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Altitude) · Wikipedia: RDS-3

  5. Burst height?

    1. About 400 m
    2. Ground level
    3. 10 km
    4. 50 m
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. About 400 m Airburst. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Yield) · Wikipedia: RDS-3

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Fall Marya." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-412, last updated Dec 8, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/fall-marya/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/fall-marya/ · Last updated

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