Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States in the summer of 1946. The series consisted of two detonations, each with a yield of 21 kilotons: Baker was detonated 90 feet underwater on July 25, 1946. The series was to study the effects of nuclear weapons on ships, equipment, and material.
A fleet of more than 90 vessels was assembled in Bikini Lagoon as a target. Baker was the second test and sank eight ships and damaged more of them than the first test. The detonation caused most of the target fleet to be bathed in radioactive water spray and radioactive debris from the lagoon bottom. With the exception of 12 target vessels anchored in the array and the landing craft beached on Bikini Island, the target fleet remained too radiologically contaminated for several weeks for more than brief on-board activities.
This test threatened the success of the operation after Baker. A formal resurvey of Bikini Atoll was conducted in the summer of 1947 to study long-term effects of the Crossroads tests.
