Originally posted by Rolex
6,970' detonation
8,325' detonation
The very high alt tests Holden referred to were tiny yield (1.7 kt) that were used in air-to-air rockets called 'Genie.' Nope, thats not a mistake... unguided air-to-air rockets.
Here>> is a link to some very high alt test photos.
The Genie was intended to be "lobbed" into bomber formations, to take 'em all out with one shot. The plan was to do the intercept over Alaska, the oceans, or Canada...someplace without a bunch of people under the blast.
The one that should worry you (and make you think about why "military intellignece" is an oxymoron) is the Nike-Hercules system. About 10 miles from here, south of Detroit in Wayne County, is a former Nike site. Nike-Hercules had a maximum range of about 100 miles. The warhead was a 40 kiloton NOOK.
Drawing a 100-mile circle around Detroit yields a LOT of cities. The weapon that took out Hiroshima was a 19 KT unit, IIRC.
Somebody could have got hurt.