What is a Neutron Bomb?
A neutron bomb is a small thermonuclear device designed to kill armored enemy troops with radiation while doing minimal damage to the surrounding area. It gets its name from the source of the lethal radiation — energized free neutrons. These radioactive bullets can penetrate several feet of earth and practically any form of vehicle armor. This is in contrast to conventional nuclear weapons that emit lots of heat and light, which is blocked comparatively easily relative to radiation. Neutron bombs are also known as enhanced radiation bombs (ERBs). The bomb was invented by physicist Samuel T. Cohen in the early 1970s. The intent of the bomb was to make a “nicer nuke” that did its job of eliminating enemy troops with minimal collateral damage to civilians or infrastructure. The Pope was so excited by the neutron bomb that he gave Cohen a peace medal in 1979. Another “ethical” aspect of the bomb is the low quantity of enduring radioactivity it leaves in its wake. Among other thermonuclear
“Tactical neutron bombs are primarily intended to kill soldiers who are protected by armor. Armored vehicles are very resistant to blast and heat produced by nuclear weapons, but steel armor can reduce neutron radiation only by a modest amount so the lethal range from neutrons greatly exceeds that of other weapon effects. The lethal range for tactical neutron bombs can exceed the lethal range for blast and heat even for unprotected troops. Armor can absorb neutrons and neutron energy, thus reducing the neutron radiation to which the tank crew is exposed, but this offset to some extent by the fact that armor can also react harmfully with neutrons. Alloy steels for example can develop induced radioactivity that remains dangerous for some time. When fast neutrons are slowed down, the energy lost can show up as x-rays. Some types of armor, like that of the M-1 tank, employ depleted uranium which can undergo fast fission, generating additional neutrons and becoming radioactive. Special neut
The extra radiation is designed to slam through things like tank armor. Kill or disable the crew and you’ve put the tank out of action. And this radiation is very lethal to tank crews that may think they’ve survived the blast because of the armor of the vehicle. The lethality of the weapon to those buttoned up inside a tank was the primary thinking behind development of the bomb. Back in the day, the USSR had NATO way outgunned in the tank department. The number disadvantage was severe. We needed an edge. But times have changed. The weapons have been stricken from the US inventory and are (probably) no longer a part of strategic planning.
