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Most powerful nuclear weapons tests

Yield (megatons)
  • Yield (megatons)
  • Deployment
  • Year
  • 50 - 24.1
  • 24 - 16
  • 15 - 13.1
  • 13 - 9.1
  • 9 - 6
  • 5 - 2.1
  • 2 - 1

Data from Wikipedia

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Name or NumberYield (megatons)DeploymentCountryTest SiteYearDate (GMT)
Name or NumberYield (megatons)DeploymentCountryTest SiteYearDate (GMT)
Tsar Bomba, Test #13050parachute air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1961October 30
Test #21924.2missile warheadSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962December 24
Test #14721.1air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962August 5
Test #17420air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962September 27
Test #17319.1air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962September 25
Castle Bravo15groundUSABikini Atoll1954March 1
Castle Yankee13.5bargeUSABikini Atoll1954May 5
Test #12312.5air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1961October 23
Castle Romeo11bargeUSABikini Atoll1954March 26
Ivy Mike10.4groundUSAEnewetak Atoll1952October 31
Test #15810air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962August 25
Test #16810air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962September 19
Poplar9.3bargeUSABikini Atoll1958July 11
Oak8.9bargeUSAEnewetak Atoll1958June 28
Housatonic8.3air dropUSAJohnston Atoll1962October 30
Test #1838.2air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962October 22
Bighorn7.7air dropUSAKiritimati1962June 27
Castle Union6.9bargeUSABikini Atoll1954April 25
Tewa5bargeUSABikini Atoll1956July 20
Test #1315air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1961October 31
Cannikin4.8underground shaftUSAAmchitka1971November 6
Navajo4.5bargeUSABikini Atoll1956July 10
Test #1604.2air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962August 27
Test #1144air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1961October 6
Test #3924underground shaftSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1973October 27
Test (21)4air dropChinaLop Nur1976November 17
Pamlico3.9parachutedUSAKiritimati1962July 11
Cherokee3.8free air dropUSABikini Atoll1956May 20
Teak3.8high alt rocketUSAJohnston Atoll1958August 1
Orange3.8high alt rocketUSAJohnston Atoll1958August 12
Test #385 - 13.8tunnelSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1973September 12
Zuni3.5dry surfaceUSABikini Atoll1956May 27
CHIC-113.4air dropChinaLop Nur1970October 14
Test #1663.3air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962September 16
CHIC-63.3parachutedChinaLop Nur1967June 17
Test #1653.1air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962September 15
Test #2203.1air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962December 25
Grapple Y3air dropUKKiritimati1958April 28
Test #1133air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1961October 4
Yeso3free air dropUSAKiritimati1962June 10
CHIC-83air dropChinaLop Nur1968December 27
CHIC-103air dropChinaLop Nur1969September 29
Test (15)3air dropChinaLop Nur1973June 27
Test #472.9air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1957October 6
Test #732.9air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1958October 18
Test #782.8air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1958October 22
Test #1522.8air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962August 20
90 Vozduj2.7air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1961September 10
Canopus2.6balloonFranceFangataufa1968August 24
Test #345 - 12.5tunnelSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1971September 27
Test #1692.4air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962September 21
Test #4112.3underground shaftSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1974November 2
Test #327 - 12.2tunnelSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1970October 14
Pine2bargeUSAEnewetak Atoll1958July 26
Apache1.9bargeUSAEnewetak Atoll1956July 8
164 Tyulpan1.9high alt rocketSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962September 8
Handley1.9underground shaftUSANevada Test Site1970March 26
Grapple X1.8air dropUKKiritimati1957November 8
Nectar1.7bargeUSAEnewetak Atoll1954May 13
24 Binarnaya1.6air dropSoviet UnionSemipalatinsk1955November 22
Test #451.6air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1957September 24
Test #1541.6air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962August 22
Chama1.6parachutedUSAJohnston Atoll1962October 18
Test #541.5air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1958February 27
Walnut1.5bargeUSAEnewetak Atoll1958June 14
Test #711.5air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1958October 12
Test #721.5air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1958October 15
106 Volga11.5high alt rocketSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1961September 20
121 Raduga1.5high alt rocketSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1961October 20
Test #1401.5air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1961November 4
Fir1.4bargeUSABikini Atoll1958May 11
Koa1.4dry surfaceUSAEnewetak Atoll1958May 12
Starfish Prime1.4space rocketUSAJohnston Atoll1962July 9
Test #1671.4air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962September 18
Boxcar1.3underground shaftUSANevada Test Site1968April 26
Test #432-11.3tunnelSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1975October 21
Procyon1.3balloonFranceMoruroa1968September 8
Bluestone1.27parachutedUSAKiritimati1962June 30
Harlem1.2parachutedUSAKiritimati1962June 12
Test #94 Roza11.2space rocketSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1961September 12
Test #981.2space rocketSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1961September 14
Test #407-11.2tunnelSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1974August 29
Benham1.2underground shaftUSANevada Test Site1968December 19
Dakota1.1bargeUSABikini Atoll1956June 25
Arkansas1.1parachutedUSAKiritimati1962May 2
Test #2181.1air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1962December 24
Test#368-11.1tunnelSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1972August 28
Test #427-11.1tunnelSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1975August 23
Sunset1air dropUSAKiritimati1962July 10
Faultless1underground shaftUSANevada Test Site1968January 19
Milrow1underground shaftUSAAlaska1969October 2
Kasseri1underground shaftUSANevada Test Site1975October 28
Test #791air dropSoviet UnionNovaya Zemlya1958October 24

Tsar Bomba, Test #130

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 50
Deployment: parachute air drop
Year: 1961
Date (GMT): October 30

Test #219

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 24.2
Deployment: missile warhead
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): December 24

Test #147

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 21.1
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): August 5

Test #174

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 20
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): September 27

Test #173

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 19.1
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): September 25

Castle Bravo

Bikini Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 15
Deployment: ground
Year: 1954
Date (GMT): March 1

Castle Yankee

Bikini Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 13.5
Deployment: barge
Year: 1954
Date (GMT): May 5

Test #123

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 12.5
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1961
Date (GMT): October 23

Castle Romeo

Bikini Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 11
Deployment: barge
Year: 1954
Date (GMT): March 26

Ivy Mike

Enewetak Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 10.4
Deployment: ground
Year: 1952
Date (GMT): October 31

Test #158

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 10
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): August 25

Test #168

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 10
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): September 19

Poplar

Bikini Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 9.3
Deployment: barge
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): July 11

Oak

Enewetak Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 8.9
Deployment: barge
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): June 28

Housatonic

Johnston Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 8.3
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): October 30

Test #183

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 8.2
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): October 22

Bighorn

Kiritimati
USA
Yield (megatons): 7.7
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): June 27

Castle Union

Bikini Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 6.9
Deployment: barge
Year: 1954
Date (GMT): April 25

Tewa

Bikini Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 5
Deployment: barge
Year: 1956
Date (GMT): July 20

Test #131

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 5
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1961
Date (GMT): October 31

Cannikin

Amchitka
USA
Yield (megatons): 4.8
Deployment: underground shaft
Year: 1971
Date (GMT): November 6

Navajo

Bikini Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 4.5
Deployment: barge
Year: 1956
Date (GMT): July 10

Test #160

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 4.2
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): August 27

Test #114

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 4
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1961
Date (GMT): October 6

Test #392

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 4
Deployment: underground shaft
Year: 1973
Date (GMT): October 27

Test (21)

Lop Nur
China
Yield (megatons): 4
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1976
Date (GMT): November 17

Pamlico

Kiritimati
USA
Yield (megatons): 3.9
Deployment: parachuted
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): July 11

Cherokee

Bikini Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 3.8
Deployment: free air drop
Year: 1956
Date (GMT): May 20

Teak

Johnston Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 3.8
Deployment: high alt rocket
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): August 1

Orange

Johnston Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 3.8
Deployment: high alt rocket
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): August 12

Test #385 - 1

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 3.8
Deployment: tunnel
Year: 1973
Date (GMT): September 12

Zuni

Bikini Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 3.5
Deployment: dry surface
Year: 1956
Date (GMT): May 27

CHIC-11

Lop Nur
China
Yield (megatons): 3.4
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1970
Date (GMT): October 14

Test #166

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 3.3
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): September 16

CHIC-6

Lop Nur
China
Yield (megatons): 3.3
Deployment: parachuted
Year: 1967
Date (GMT): June 17

Test #165

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 3.1
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): September 15

Test #220

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 3.1
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): December 25

Grapple Y

Kiritimati
UK
Yield (megatons): 3
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): April 28

Test #113

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 3
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1961
Date (GMT): October 4

Yeso

Kiritimati
USA
Yield (megatons): 3
Deployment: free air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): June 10

CHIC-8

Lop Nur
China
Yield (megatons): 3
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1968
Date (GMT): December 27

CHIC-10

Lop Nur
China
Yield (megatons): 3
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1969
Date (GMT): September 29

Test (15)

Lop Nur
China
Yield (megatons): 3
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1973
Date (GMT): June 27

Test #47

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 2.9
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1957
Date (GMT): October 6

Test #73

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 2.9
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): October 18

Test #78

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 2.8
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): October 22

Test #152

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 2.8
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): August 20

90 Vozduj

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 2.7
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1961
Date (GMT): September 10

Canopus

Fangataufa
France
Yield (megatons): 2.6
Deployment: balloon
Year: 1968
Date (GMT): August 24

Test #345 - 1

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 2.5
Deployment: tunnel
Year: 1971
Date (GMT): September 27

Test #169

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 2.4
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): September 21

Test #411

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 2.3
Deployment: underground shaft
Year: 1974
Date (GMT): November 2

Test #327 - 1

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 2.2
Deployment: tunnel
Year: 1970
Date (GMT): October 14

Pine

Enewetak Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 2
Deployment: barge
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): July 26

Apache

Enewetak Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.9
Deployment: barge
Year: 1956
Date (GMT): July 8

164 Tyulpan

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.9
Deployment: high alt rocket
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): September 8

Handley

Nevada Test Site
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.9
Deployment: underground shaft
Year: 1970
Date (GMT): March 26

Grapple X

Kiritimati
UK
Yield (megatons): 1.8
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1957
Date (GMT): November 8

Nectar

Enewetak Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.7
Deployment: barge
Year: 1954
Date (GMT): May 13

24 Binarnaya

Semipalatinsk
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.6
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1955
Date (GMT): November 22

Test #45

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.6
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1957
Date (GMT): September 24

Test #154

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.6
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): August 22

Chama

Johnston Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.6
Deployment: parachuted
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): October 18

Test #54

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.5
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): February 27

Walnut

Enewetak Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.5
Deployment: barge
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): June 14

Test #71

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.5
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): October 12

Test #72

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.5
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): October 15

106 Volga1

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.5
Deployment: high alt rocket
Year: 1961
Date (GMT): September 20

121 Raduga

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.5
Deployment: high alt rocket
Year: 1961
Date (GMT): October 20

Test #140

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.5
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1961
Date (GMT): November 4

Fir

Bikini Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.4
Deployment: barge
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): May 11

Koa

Enewetak Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.4
Deployment: dry surface
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): May 12

Starfish Prime

Johnston Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.4
Deployment: space rocket
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): July 9

Test #167

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.4
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): September 18

Boxcar

Nevada Test Site
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.3
Deployment: underground shaft
Year: 1968
Date (GMT): April 26

Test #432-1

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.3
Deployment: tunnel
Year: 1975
Date (GMT): October 21

Procyon

Moruroa
France
Yield (megatons): 1.3
Deployment: balloon
Year: 1968
Date (GMT): September 8

Bluestone

Kiritimati
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.27
Deployment: parachuted
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): June 30

Harlem

Kiritimati
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.2
Deployment: parachuted
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): June 12

Test #94 Roza1

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.2
Deployment: space rocket
Year: 1961
Date (GMT): September 12

Test #98

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.2
Deployment: space rocket
Year: 1961
Date (GMT): September 14

Test #407-1

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.2
Deployment: tunnel
Year: 1974
Date (GMT): August 29

Benham

Nevada Test Site
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.2
Deployment: underground shaft
Year: 1968
Date (GMT): December 19

Dakota

Bikini Atoll
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.1
Deployment: barge
Year: 1956
Date (GMT): June 25

Arkansas

Kiritimati
USA
Yield (megatons): 1.1
Deployment: parachuted
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): May 2

Test #218

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.1
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): December 24

Test#368-1

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.1
Deployment: tunnel
Year: 1972
Date (GMT): August 28

Test #427-1

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1.1
Deployment: tunnel
Year: 1975
Date (GMT): August 23

Sunset

Kiritimati
USA
Yield (megatons): 1
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1962
Date (GMT): July 10

Faultless

Nevada Test Site
USA
Yield (megatons): 1
Deployment: underground shaft
Year: 1968
Date (GMT): January 19

Milrow

Alaska
USA
Yield (megatons): 1
Deployment: underground shaft
Year: 1969
Date (GMT): October 2

Kasseri

Nevada Test Site
USA
Yield (megatons): 1
Deployment: underground shaft
Year: 1975
Date (GMT): October 28

Test #79

Novaya Zemlya
Soviet Union
Yield (megatons): 1
Deployment: air drop
Year: 1958
Date (GMT): October 24

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