Nuclear accident terminology

U.S. Navy's definitions for nuclear weapon accidents:

• Bent Spear – Any nuclear weapon significant incidents other than nuclear weapons accidents or war risk detonations, actual or possible.

• Broken Arrow – The accidental or unauthorized detonation, or possible detonation of a nuclear weapon (other than war risk); non-nuclear detonation or burning of a nuclear weapon; radioactive contamination; seizure, theft, or loss of a nuclear weapon or component (including jettisoning); public hazard, actual or implied.

• Dull Sword – Any nuclear weapon incident other than significant incidents, including malfunction of the weapon or its delivery platform.

• Empty Quiver – A reporting term to identify and report the seizure, theft, or loss of a U.S. nuclear weapon.

• Faded Giant – Any nuclear reactor or radiological accidents involving equipment used in connection with naval nuclear reactors or other naval nuclear energy devices while such equipment is under the custody of the Navy.

• Nucflash – Any accidental or unauthorized incident involving a possible detonation of a nuclear weapon by U.S. Forces which could create the risk of nuclear war between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.

• Rogue Spear – A nuclear weapon is confirmed to be in the hands of a non-governmental agency.

See also

• List of nuclear accidents

External links

• List of terminology