Jumbo: The Secret Vessel Built to Hold an Atomic Bomb - Paperback

by Frederick J. Fraikor (Author)

Early in 1944, within the top-secret Manhattan Project, Major General Leslie Groves and Director Robert J. Oppenheimer faced a critical dilemma. Physicists at the secret city of Los Alamos had considerable doubts that the first atomic bomb using an untried implosion technique would be successful and achieve nuclear fission in its first test. If the test device, code named Gadget, was a dud, the chemical explosives could scatter highly radioactive plutonium, valued at over a billion dollars, across the New Mexico desert and the surrounding communities. The General insisted on developing a unique container that could withstand a chemical explosion and recover the precious plutonium. Hence, the decision was made to construct the world's largest, strongest and most expensive steel bottle to contain Gadget. The vessel, code named Jumbo, would have steel walls twelve inches thick and weigh more than 200 tons. And it would have to be ready for in less than a year. Trouble was, no steel manufacturer could be found to make such a gigantic beast and early calculations by physicists indicated no spherical vessel could contain the power of four tons of high explosives, let alone a partial atomic explosion. No trailer or railroad flat car existed that could hold the ponderous weight and enormous size of this steel bottle. Nonetheless, the assignment was given to two engineers in X2 Division at Los Alamos to design, construct and transport Jumbo to the Trinity test site in the desolate Jornada del Muerto, ( Journey of the Dead) desert under strict secrecy. None of the hundreds of contract workers on Jumbo would be permitted to know its purpose or destination. The story of the efforts to overcome significant obstacles is an intriguing one. This book not only describes their struggles during wartime rationing and shortages to create this behemoth but also chronologically follows the historical events that began the race in the United States to develop the first atomic bomb. The enthralling history begins with Einstein and his theories at the beginning of the 20th century. Followed by the startling realization by nuclear scientists in Europe of the enormous destructive potential of nuclear fission and why the British urged the United States to take on the huge construction of research and production facilities from the frightening fear that Nazi researchers were already ahead in the race. The narrative explores the feeling of the civilians as well as the military in the United States as to why it was necessary to drop two atom bombs on Japan. This fascinating history of little known secrets in the Manhattan Project concludes with a mysterious end to Jumbo that is still controversial. This is a must read book for WWII history buffs who want to delve into little known facts, once top-secret, in the development of the first plutonium bomb as well as STEM students and the younger generation who have not read the fascinating history of the Manhattan project and how it lead to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

"The impeccable research carried out by the author was praise-worthy. It was easy to read, and the inclusion of handwritten technical notes was brilliant. I rate this book four out of four stars." ......Online Book Club Review.

"Jumbo has been one of those enjoyable and thought -provoking books that I didn't want to end. Consequently, I read it cover to cover a second time. Having been born and raised in Los Alamos coupled with 21 years as a Bradbury Science Museum staffer, I thought I knew just about everything regarding the history of the town and the Manhattan Project. Page after page you proved me wrong!"......Stan Johnston, retired New Mexico Teacher of the Year and administrator, Los Alamos High School.