Alex WellersteinVerified account

I've been rather *obsessively* researching the history of the fabled Davy Crockett nuclear weapon recently, and I need to share some things just to get them out of my brain! h/t @Casillic for the unintentional inspiration (1/9) #Nukes #DavyCrockettpic.twitter.com/LKIeyLhJXP

It's no secret who it's named for, as Disney's hit show (with catchy tune!) had aired just years before. A frontline Soviet tank-killer, it was named for "the man who always got his b'ar." A pinch of Davy's mythos as a bear killer with a dash of "Russian Bear" symbolism! (3/9) !pic.twitter.com/JW2RZLvyOV

Its design started in early 1958, with public reports of it (and its name) as early as June 1958. First displayed at the Modern Army Needs firepower demo on May 3rd 1960 with President Ike in attendance! But the public wouldn't see a photo in newspapers until early 1961. (4/9)pic.twitter.com/UK4bzV04Jq

The Davy Crockett used a recoilless rifle to launch its nuclear projectile (hopefully far away). But it had to be light enough to be carried and strong enough to handle the blast pressure of its propellant. So what was the hot new metal of its day? Titanium! (5/9)pic.twitter.com/QI9x1NF6tc

But titanium is expensive. You know what else is expensive? A nuclear warhead. Even really small ones. Fissile material is not cheap and it was hard to justify the cost for something with a very limited use case, so they didn't make many warheads. One of many problems...(6/9)pic.twitter.com/dfFVTFZSIa

But the W54 warhead provided the iconic, bulbous shape of its projectile that we all know and love! For comparison, here's a March 1961 photo of a Davy Crockett heavy system with an uncommon warhead shape that's not nearly as iconic or funny. (7/9)pic.twitter.com/b0RbTrg7Af