The family of warheads used with guided missile MIN-14 includes one fragmentation warhead (T45) and the W31 nuclear warhead in three yields; 2 kt (kilo ton) (Mike-97), 20 kt (Mike-22), and 40 kt (Mike-23). Some sources indicate yields of 1 kt, 20 Kt, and 40 kt.
Fragmentation
Warhead T45 consists of approximately 20,000 cubical, 140 grain, steel fragments arranged in single and double layers around a 625-pound explosive charge and warhead booster. Detonation of the warhead is initiated by a burst pulse form the missile guidance set. The burst pulse ignites a small explosive charge in two safety and arming devices M30A1. These charges ignite two explosive harnesses M38. The explosive harnesses detonate the warhead booster which in turn detonates the warhead charge. The safety and arming devices M30A1 cannot be fired until they are armed by the force of acceleration during the boost period. The fragment distribution (blast pattern) of warhead T45 is approximately spherical with a conical dead zone to the rear.
The W31 was designed by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. The W31is a boosted fission nuclear device, meaning that the yield is enhanced by the addition of a mixture of deuterium and tritium gas to the core. By adjusting the amount of D-T to the core, yield can be increased by 100%. The W31 could be set to yield a range from one to forty kilotons. (Some references indicate a yield from two to forty kilotons.) Presumably, this was done by adjusting the amount of D-T in the core.
It is believed that the only time a NIKE nuclear warhead was tested was during the Operation Dominic. A subset of tests, Operation Fishbowl, were conducted at the Pacific Test Range in November, 1962.
Shot Fishbowl Tightrope was a Department of Defense sponsored live launch of a Nike Hercules Missile with a W31 nuclear warhead. The warhead detonated at 69,000 feet approximately two miles South South West of Johnston Island. The yield of this test is not in the public literature, but
The airburst created an intense white flash as seen on Johnston Island, too bright to view through high density goggles. The detonation was accompanied by a strong heat pulse. A yellow-orange disk formed, slowly changing to a purple toroid which faded from view after several minutes.
Fishbowl Tightrope Shot *
This shot is generally regarded as the last U.S. atmospheric test. The later zero-yield atmospheric plutonium dispersal tests conducted in Operation Roller Coaster are however listed as "nuclear tests" by the U.S. government and counted as part of the total of U.S. nuclear tests. Furthermore, several later Plowshare nuclear tests (Cabriolet, Palanquin, Buggy, and Schooner) were surface cratering shots, in which the explosions intentionally broke through the surface, venting a substantial fraction of the radioactivity produced.
* (Source:) http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Dominic.html
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