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Minor Scale was a test conducted on June 27, 1985, by the United States Defense Nuclear Agency (now part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency) involving the detonation of several thousand tons of conventional explosives to simulate the explosion of a small nuclear bomb. The purpose of the test was to evaluate the effect of nuclear blasts on various pieces of military hardware, particularly new, blast-hardened launchers for the Midgetman ballistic missile.〔(Summary of Minor Scale ) from nuclearfiles.org〕 The test took place at the Permanent High Explosive Testing Grounds () of the White Sands Missile Range in the state of New Mexico. 4.8 kilotons of ANFO explosive (ammonium nitrate and fuel oil), equivalent to 4 kilotons of TNT,〔Minor Scale Event Test Execution Report, p.135〕 were used to roughly simulate the effect of an eight kiloton air-burst nuclear device. With a total energy release of about (or 4.2 kilotons of TNT equivalent), Minor Scale was reported as "the largest planned conventional explosion in the history of the free world", surpassing another large conventional explosion, the 'British Bang' disposal of ordnance on Heligoland in 1947, reported to have released of energy (about 3.2 kilotons of TNT equivalent). The Q&A released as part of the effort states: "Future tests are not expected to get bigger than Minor Scale", and in particular, "There are no plans for a test called Major Scale".〔Minor Scale Event, Test Execution Report, p. 137.〕 ==See also== *List of the largest artificial non-nuclear explosions *Misty Picture - a similar test 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Minor Scale」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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