World's first underwater nuclear explosion

The blast lifted two million tons of water and sand into the air, creating a column 6,000 feet tall, 2,000 feet wide, and with walls 300 feet thick. Fifty-seven guinea pigs, 109 mice, 146 pigs, 176 goats, and 3,030 white rats had been placed on 22 nearby target ships in stations normally occupied by people. Altogether, 35% of the animals died as a direct result of blast or radiation exposure. (Image courtesy of US Govt. Defense Threat Reduction ... more 

The blast lifted two million tons of water and sand into the air, creating a column 6,000 feet tall, 2,000 feet wide, and with walls 300 feet thick. Fifty-seven guinea pigs, 109 mice, 146 pigs, 176 goats, and 3,030 white rats had been placed on 22 nearby target ships in stations normally occupied by people. Altogether, 35% of the animals died as a direct result of blast or radiation exposure. (Image courtesy of US Govt. Defense Threat Reduction Agency.) less