Gerboise Bleue yielded approximately how many kilotons?

Gerboise Bleue yielded approximately how many kilotons?

• A. 20 kt
• B. 70 kt
• C. 100 kt
• D. 150 kt

Answer: (B)

The yield of Gerboise Bleue demonstrates the scale of early French nuclear weapons. This test, conducted in the Sahara in February 1960, produced about 70 kilotons of TNT. That makes it roughly four to five times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb (about 15 kilotons). Historical records consistently cite around 70 kilotons for this device, which fits the given figure. A much smaller yield, like 20 kilotons, would underestimate the test, while yields of 100 or 150 kilotons would exceed the commonly cited result for Gerboise Bleue.

The yield of Gerboise Bleue demonstrates the scale of early French nuclear weapons. This test, conducted in the Sahara in February 1960, produced about 70 kilotons of TNT. That makes it roughly four to five times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb (about 15 kilotons). Historical records consistently cite around 70 kilotons for this device, which fits the given figure. A much smaller yield, like 20 kilotons, would underestimate the test, while yields of 100 or 150 kilotons would exceed the commonly cited result for Gerboise Bleue.