nuclear shell

Nuclear shells are artillery projectiles designed to carry a nuclear explosive payload. The United States introduced the first nuclear shell in 1953 with the 280-millimeter gun, firing a 15-kiloton atomic projectile. Later, nuclear projectiles with yields from 0.1 to 12 kilotons were developed for conventional howitzers, and similar ammunition was provided for Soviet artillery.1

These weapons are a type of nuclear weapon, which are devices that release energy through nuclear fission, fusion, or both. Detonating a nuclear weapon creates immense heat, a powerful shock wave, and ionizing radiation. The destructive power is measured in kilotons or megatons, equivalent to tons of TNT. While nuclear shells are a specific application, the broader category of nuclear weapons has fundamentally reshaped military strategy, particularly with the advent of intercontinental ballistic missiles.2345