Mark 57/B57 Bomb
A nuclear bomb and depth charge for the Navy
Explosive Power
5 to 20 kilotons
Hiroshima Equivalent Factor
1/3rd to 1.3x
Dimensions
9 ft., 10 inches x 14.75 inches
Weight
500 lbs.
Year(s)
1963–1992
Purpose
Naval anti-ship and sub
About THE MARK 57 Bomb
Forthcoming…
Gallery
Nukemap
NUKEMAP is a web-based mapping program that attempts to give the user a sense of the destructive power of nuclear weapons. It was created by Alex Wellerstein, a historian specializing in nuclear weapons (see his book on nuclear secrecy and his blog on nuclear weapons). The screenshot below shows the NUKEMAP output for this particular weapon. Click on the map to customize settings.
Videos
Click on the Play button and then the Full screen brackets on the lower right to view each video. Click on the Exit full screen cross at lower right (the “X” on a mobile device) to return.
Further Reading
- Wikipedia
- “The History of the Mk 57 Bomb,” written by Sandia National Labs, charts the development of the weapon.
- Pantex, the outfit involved in disassembling nuclear weapons, among other responsibilities, writes in its history of their achievements dismantled the final B57 in 1995 (see page 357)–there are also several interesting photos of the B57, throughout.. Also note the mention of problems with its parachute.
- The Richard Nixon Library put together an exhibit, Cold War: Soviets, Spies and Secrets, which includes a B57. The exhibit is touring nationally.
- DASH–a remote-controlled mini-helicopter carrying a B57–is the third of the “weird” weapons profiles here.
- Rarely seen in museums, the B57 was stored with a red nose cap and matching fin guards.
- Scroll down this page (on nuclear weapons in Turkey and overseas) to find an image of a B61 and B57 (and crew) aboard the aircraft carrier USS America.