Atomic Weapons Research Establishment. Orford ... - English Heritage

weapons, but through demonstrated expertise led to renewed nuclear co-operation
with the United States. In spring 1955, the immediate concern of the planners was for
an installation to test the tactical Red Beard bomb and the Mark I atomic bomb, or Blue
Danube, before the autumn 1956 Buffalo trials to be held in Australia (TNA: PRO AVIA
65/1258, E28). AWRE’s development of the Orford Ness range may be broken down
into four main construction phases. The first began in 1956 with the construction of
Laboratories F1, F2 and F3. Construction work for the second phase began in 1960
when the range’s most distinctive structures, the Vibration Test Buildings E2 and E3,
or pagodas, were built along with their associated infrastructure. The last two phases
comprised the construction of two single structures; the Impact Facility F5 in late 1963,
or early 1964, and a second Centrifuge E1around 1966.
Initial construction work probably began in summer 1955 and building record drawings
completed in June 1956 suggest that the challenging task of building Laboratory 1 was
complete by this date (Figure 43). By summer 1956 preparations were already well
advanced for the autumn Buffalo trials at Maralinga, Australia, which would include an
operational air drop of a Blue Danube atomic bomb by the RAF (Arnold and Smith
2006, 138-171). By August Bank Holiday of that year, Laboratory 1 F3 was ready for its
first trial, a live Blue Danube round, minus its fissile core (Kinsey 1981, 109). This work
was essential to verify that the Bomb’s complex systems could withstand the rigours of
transport and then operate as intended. The results of these tests would determine
whether or not the air drop trial was included in the Buffalo programme.
Cabinet approval for the development of a much more powerful thermonuclear, or
hydrogen, bomb had been given in July 1954, and became the main emphasis of AWRE’s
activities. By summer 1956, when Orford Ness’ facilities became operational, many
important design questions still needed to be answered, which led to the pursuit of a
number of different design options. After the completion of the Buffalo trials in autumn
1956, the focus quickly moved to the far more ambitious Grapple series planned for
autumn 1957 on Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean. In these tests Britain would
detonate her first thermonuclear weapon.
During the late 1950s AWRE was running a bewildering number of programmes.
Based on differing detonation techniques two designs of thermonuclear weapons were
proposed Green Bamboo and Green Granite. Two derivatives of the latter Short Granite
and Purple Granite were tested during the Grapple series. Work was also proceeding on
a device known as the interim weapon; an early design was called Orange Herald. Such
a device, although technically not a thermonuclear weapon would allow the government
to claim that the country had a weapon with a yield in the megaton range - defined as
more than 400 kilotons. Later a version codenamed Violet Club, or Knobkerry, was issued
to the RAF for a short time. AWRE was also developing a smaller tactical weapon
that could be carried by a greater variety of aircraft. This was designated Red Beard ,
it measured 12ft (3.66m) in length and weighed 2,000lb (907kg). In June and July 1957
ground vibration trials on a ballistic version of the weapon, attached to a Canberra
bomber carrier and fitted with all components and a HE warhead were carried out at
Orford Ness (TNA: PRO AIR 2/13683 22 Oct 57, 3 page 11). Consideration was also
being given to two even smaller warheads Blue Fox and Pixie that might be mounted on
surface to air missiles (Arnold and Smith 2006, 180-8). The picture that emerges from
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