Hardtack Poplar
USA · 1958 · 9.3 megatons · thermonuclear (hydrogen bomb)
Overview
Hardtack I series test.
With a yield of 9.3 megatons, the Hardtack Poplar is 620× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. As a thermonuclear (hydrogen bomb) weapon, it derives its energy from a fission primary that ignites a much larger fusion secondary stage.
Hardtack Poplar 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 | 5.61 km | 4.49 km |
| Severe blast (20 PSI) | 9.83 km | 5.41 km |
| Moderate blast (5 PSI) | 21.01 km | 11.56 km |
| Light blast (1 PSI) | 59.77 km | 32.87 km |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 28.39 km | 17.03 km |
| 2nd-degree thermal burns | 50.85 km | 30.51 km |
| Lethal fallout zone | minimal | ~464.1 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 Hardtack Poplar on a City
Use the interactive simulator to detonate the Hardtack Poplar 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 Hardtack PoplarRelated Weapons
FAQ
How big is the Hardtack Poplar blast radius?
In an air burst, the Hardtack Poplar produces a fireball roughly 5.61 km in radius and a 5 PSI moderate-blast zone of about 21.01 km — the area in which most residential buildings would collapse. The 1 PSI light-damage radius extends to roughly 59.77 km, where windows shatter.
What is the yield of the Hardtack Poplar?
The Hardtack Poplar has a yield of 9.3 megatons of TNT equivalent. That is 620× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.
Is the Hardtack Poplar bigger than the Hiroshima bomb?
The Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy) had a yield of approximately 15 kilotons. The Hardtack Poplar at 9.3 megatons is 620× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.
What thermal burn radius does the Hardtack Poplar produce?
Thermal radiation from the Hardtack Poplar can cause 3rd-degree burns out to roughly 28.39 km and 2nd-degree burns out to 50.85 km in an air burst. Surface bursts reduce these radii by approximately 40 percent due to ground absorption.