Davy Crockett
USA · 1961 · 20 tons TNT · pure fission
Overview
Smallest US nuclear weapon.
With a yield of 20 tons TNT, the Davy Crockett is 750.0× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb. As a pure fission weapon, it derives its energy from nuclear fission of uranium or plutonium.
Davy Crockett Blast Effects
The table below shows the calculated radius of each effect zone for an air burst (optimal altitude, maximum blast spread) and a surface burst (ground level, with massive radioactive fallout). Formulas are scaling laws from The Effects of Nuclear Weapons (Glasstone & Dolan, 1977).
| Effect zone | Air burst | Surface burst |
|---|---|---|
| Fireball radius | 0.03 km | 0.02 km |
| Severe blast (20 PSI) | 0.13 km | 0.07 km |
| Moderate blast (5 PSI) | 0.28 km | 0.16 km |
| Light blast (1 PSI) | 0.81 km | 0.44 km |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 0.13 km | 0.08 km |
| 2nd-degree thermal burns | 0.24 km | 0.14 km |
| Lethal fallout zone | minimal | ~2.5 km |
All values are 1-D ground-distance estimates from the detonation point. Real-world effects depend on terrain, weather, and building construction.
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 overlaid on real geography with population-density-based casualty estimates.
🎯 Simulate Davy CrockettRelated Weapons
FAQ
How big is the Davy Crockett blast radius?
In an air burst, the Davy Crockett produces a fireball roughly 0.03 km in radius and a 5 PSI moderate-blast zone of about 0.28 km — the area in which most residential buildings would collapse. The 1 PSI light-damage radius extends to roughly 0.81 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 750.0× 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 750.0× smaller than the Hiroshima bomb.
What thermal burn radius does the Davy Crockett produce?
Thermal radiation from the Davy Crockett can cause 3rd-degree burns out to roughly 0.13 km and 2nd-degree burns out to 0.24 km in an air burst. Surface bursts reduce these radii by approximately 40 percent due to ground absorption.