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TheB57nuclear bomb was atactical nuclear weapon developed by the United States during theCold War.
Development began at theLos Alamos National Laboratory in 1960 to meet a requirement for a multi-purpose weapon, suitable for use as a nuclear depth charge or a nuclear bomb against ground targets.[1] Entering production in 1963 as theMk 57, the bomb was designed to be dropped from high-speed tactical aircraft. It had a streamlined casing to withstandsupersonic flight. It was 3 m (9 ft 10 in) long, with a diameter of about 37.5 cm (14.75 in). Basic weight was approximately 227kilograms (500 lbs).
Some versions of the B57 were equipped with a parachute retarder (a 3.8 m/12.5 ft diameternylon/kevlarribbon parachute) to slow the weapon's descent, allowing the aircraft to escape the blast (or to allow the weapon to survive impact with the ground inlaydown mode) at altitudes as low as 15 m (50 ft). Variousfuzing modes were available, including ahydrostatic fuze for use as adepth charge for anti-submarine use.
The B57 was produced in six versions (mods) with explosive yields ranging from 5 to 20kilotons.Mod 0 was 5 kt,Mod 1 andMod 2 were 10 kt,Mod 3 andMod 4 were 15 kt, andMod 5 was 20 kt. The depth bomb version of the B57, for theU.S. Navy, replaced theMk 101 Lulu and had selectable yield up to 10 kt.
The B57 used theTsetse primary design for its core design, shared with several other mid- and late-1950s designs.
The B57 was produced from 1963 to 1967. After 1968, the weapon became known as theB57 rather than theMk 57. 3,100 weapons were built, the last of which was retired in June 1993.
The B57 could be deployed by most U.S.fighter,bomber and Navy antisubmarine warfare and patrol aircraft (S-3 Viking andP-3 Orion), and by someU.S. Navyhelicopters including theSH-3 Sea King[2] andSH-60F Seahawk.[1] The B57 was also deployed with Canada'sCF-104s in Germany, and theRoyal Air Force'sNimrod fromRAF St Mawgan andRAF Kinloss in the United Kingdom andMalta in the Mediterranean.