Davy Crockett Nuke
USA · 1961 · 20 tons TNT · pure fission
Overview
One of the smallest US nuclear weapons.
With a yield of 20 tons TNT[1], the Davy Crockett is 750× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb. As a pure fission weapon, it derives its energy from nuclear fission of uranium or plutonium. [2]
Davy Crockett Blast Effects
The table below shows the calculated radius of each effect zone for an air burst at optimum height. Values are scaling laws from The Effects of Nuclear Weapons (Glasstone & Dolan, 1977) and the published effects scaling table[3, 4].
| Effect zone | Radius (air burst) |
|---|---|
| Fireball radius | 0.01 km |
| Severe blast (20 psi) | 0.05 km |
| Moderate blast (5 psi) | 0.15 km |
| Light blast (1 psi) | 0.45 km |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 0.09 km |
| 2nd-degree thermal burns | 0.13 km |
| 1st-degree thermal burns | 0.19 km |
All radii assume an air burst at optimum height and are 1-D ground-distance estimates from the detonation point. Real-world effects depend on terrain, weather, and building construction. Casualty and fallout estimates are not shown pending a verified population and fallout model.
Run the Davy Crockett on a City
Use the interactive simulator to detonate the Davy Crockett on any city worldwide. Click any location on the map to see the fireball, blast, and thermal radii (air burst at optimum height) overlaid on real geography.
🎯 Simulate Davy CrockettRelated Weapons
FAQ
How big is the Davy Crockett blast radius?
In an air burst at optimum height, the Davy Crockett produces a fireball roughly 0.01 km in radius and a 5 psi moderate-blast zone of about 0.15 km — the area in which most residential buildings would collapse. The 1 psi light-damage radius extends to roughly 0.45 km, where windows shatter.
What is the yield of the Davy Crockett?
The Davy Crockett has a yield of 20 tons TNT of TNT equivalent. That is 750× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb.
Is the Davy Crockett bigger than the Hiroshima bomb?
The Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy) had a yield of approximately 15 kilotons. The Davy Crockett at 20 tons TNT is 750× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb.[5]
What thermal burn radius does the Davy Crockett produce?
In an air burst at optimum height, thermal radiation from the Davy Crockett can cause 3rd-degree burns out to roughly 0.09 km, 2nd-degree burns to 0.13 km, and 1st-degree burns to 0.19 km.
Sources
- 1.Source: Nuclear Weapon Archive (Carey Sublette), Complete List of All U.S. Nuclear Weapons (last changed 30 Mar 2023) — retrieved Oct 2026
- 2.Source: US DoD & ERDA (Glasstone & Dolan), via Atomic Archive, The Effects of Nuclear Weapons, 3rd ed. (1977), Chapter 1 — retrieved Oct 2026
- 3.Source: U.S. DoD / DOE (Glasstone & Dolan, via Atomic Archive), The Effects of Nuclear Weapons, 3rd ed. (1977) §2.127 — retrieved Oct 2026
- 4.Source: Wikipedia, Effects of nuclear explosions — scaling-law table — retrieved Oct 2026
- 5.Source: US DOE / NNSA Nevada Field Office, United States Nuclear Tests, July 1945 through September 1992 (DOE/NV-209 Rev. 16, Sep 2015), NNSS publication library — retrieved Oct 2026