Atomic Weapons Board (AwB): Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 23:22, 7 May 2020

Atomic Weapons Board
Atomwǣpnu Bord (AwB)
SeptFyrlandGlobe3.png
Agency overview
FormedJanuary 16, 1952; 72 years ago (1952-01-16)
HeadquartersBritræᵹ
Parent departmentDirectorate of Defence (DoN)

The Atomic Weapons Board (AwB) (Fēþisc: Atomwǣpnu Bord) was historically responsible for the design, manufacture, testing, and support of nuclear warheads within the Federated Fire Territories. Today, AwB's roles include maintaining the capability to design, test, and produce a nuclear device should the need arise. Britraeg hosts AwB's primary site, with significant facilities also at Faesteah, Britraeg, and Fyrhea.

History

Warhawk tests

Following the conclusion of Project Fenix, the production and manufacture of serviceable nuclear weapons gained paramount importance. Created to oversee this task, the Atomic Weapons Board directed resources, men, and materiel on all subsequent nuclear weapon efforts from January 16, 1952. Under AwB, Project Warhawk saw the testing of three nuclear devices, the Dwarf-1, two, and three, which successfully demonstrated Fyrish nuclear strike capability.

Post STAND

As a signatory to the Septentrion Treaty on Atomic and Nuclear Disarmament (abbreviated STAND), the Federated Fire Territories agreed to disarm its nuclear arsenal. This geopolitical shift drastically changed the landscape of strategic arms within the global community, forcing change within the AwB and Fyrish strategic service branches. Foremost of the changes, the AwB became charged with the disassembly and disposal of Fyrish nuclear warheads, overseen by Septentrion League inspectors. This disposal started in 1980 and continued through to end of the decade.

Post disarmament

Following the conclusion to the disarmament programme, AwB took on the roles it follows to this day. The primary directives of AwB shifted towards theoretical nuclear research, applying Fyrish expertise towards peaceful and civilian purposes, and defence against rogue nuclear states. However, the AwB also maintains a base level of readiness to restart nuclear weapons production, should the geopolitical landscape shift once again.

Facilities

AwB's facilities are responsible for the maintenance, design, testing, and manufacture of nuclear weapons. To maintain this capability, AwB operates numerous facilities throughout Fyrland.

Site-A

Site-A (Fēþisc: Steall-A) is the second oldest facility dedicated to the Fyrish nuclear effort. Located in Faesteah, construction started on Site-A in mid-1946, finishing on February 3, 1948. Site-A's primary contribution to the Fyrish nuclear effort is enriching uranium, initially accomplished through the thermal diffusion process. Upgrades later changed Site-A over to the more efficient gaseous diffusion process.

Site-A's efforts were vital to early nuclear exercises within Fyrland. The vast majority of enriched uranium came from Site-A, and its twin Site-B, before other facilities were constructed later. Initially, plutonium-240 contamination from the Britraeg Pile meant that Site-A & B were to provide all fissile material for the nuclear programme. However, this prime importance ultimately proved unnecessary, as later plutonium implosion nuclear devices became viable.

Site-B

Site-B (Fēþisc: Steall-B) is the twin of Site-A and was the third dedicated facility built for the nuclear effort. Also located in Faesteah, construction began on Site-B in July 1947, finishing on May 10, 1949. Although not fully operational until 1949, Site-B provided some limited enrichment capacity from April 1948. Built to enrich uranium in unison with Site-A, Site-B provided uranium enrichment through the calutron process. However, this process was incredibly expensive, which led to the phasing out of Site-B with the conclusion of Project Fenix.

Complex list

This list is not comprehensive.

Location Complex Site Functions Status Built /
nuclear contributor
since
Retired /
fate
R&D Pit
production
Material
production
(U)
Material
production
(Pu)
Component
production
Nuclear
testing
Weapon
assembly
Weapon
disassembly
Fæstēah FAfS Steall-A Active February 3, 1948 (1948-02-03) Still operational
Steall-B Not active May 10, 1949 (1949-05-10) 1969 (1969)
LoF LfAF Active 1943 (1943) Still operational
Britræᵹ BEfL Steall-Æ Active April 25, 1948 (1948-04-25) Still operational
LoB LfAB Active 1943 (1943) Still operational
Hacedaspinca HpAH Steall-0 Active November 15, 1945 (1945-11-15) Still operational
Steall-1 Active November 15, 1945 (1945-11-15) Still operational
Eāræsdenu ErAH Steall-13 Not active 1951 (1951) 1969 (1969)
Steall-14 Not active 1951 (1951) 1969 (1969)
Geoirēlandes ĒbAH Steall-7 Not active 1955 (1955) 1969 (1969)
Steall-8 Not active 1955 (1955) 1969 (1969)
Key
Symbol Meaning
Fully capable
Somewhat capable
Incapable

See also