n explosive nuclear chain reaction occurs when a sufficient quantity of nuclear fuel, such as uranium

or plutonium, is brought together to form a critical mass. This is the minimum amount of fissionable
material needed to start a chain reaction. The chain reaction starts when neutrons strike the heavy
uranium or plutonium nucleus which splits releasing a tremendous amount of energy along with two
or more neutrons which, in turn split more nuclei, and so on. For more information, see The Science
Behind the Atom Bomb.

Little Boy
In this gun-type device, the critical mass is achieved when a uranium projectile which is sub-critical is
fired through a gun barrel at a uranium target which is also sub-critical. The resulting uranium mass
comprised of both projectile and target becomes critical and the chain reaction begins. Dropped on the
Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, it was the first nuclear weapon used in a war.
Weight: 9,700 lbs
Length: 10 ft.; Diameter: 28 in.
Fuel: Highly enriched uranium; "Oralloy"
Uranium Fuel: approx. 140 lbs; target - 85 lbs and projectile - 55 lbs
Target case, barrel, uranium projectile, and other main parts ferried to Tinian Island via USS Indianapolis
Uranium target component ferried to Tinian via C-54 aircraft of the 509th Composite Group
Efficiency of weapon: poor
Approx. 1.38% of the uranium fuel actually fissioned
Explosive force: 15,000 tons of TNT equivalent
Use: Dropped on Japanese city of Hiroshima; August 6, 1945
Delivery: B-29 Enola Gay piloted by Col. Paul Tibbets

Fat Man
"Fat Man" was the second plutonium, implosion-type bomb. The first was the "Gadget" detonated at
the Trinity site on July 16, 1945. In the implosion-type device, a core of sub-critical plutonium is
surrounded by several thousand pounds of high-explosive designed in such a way that the explosive
force of the HE is directed inwards thereby crushing the plutonium core into a super-critical
state. Dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, it was the second nuclear weapon
used in a war.

Weight: 10,800 lbs

Length: 10 ft 8 in.; Diameter: 60 in.
Fuel: Highly enriched plutonium 239
Plutonium Fuel: approx. 13.6 lbs; approx. size of a softball
Plutonium core surrounded by 5,300 lbs of high explosives; plutonium core reduced to size of tennis ball
Bomb Initiator: Beryllium - Polonium
All components of Fat Man ferried to Tinian Island aboard B-29's of the 509th Composite Group
Efficiency of weapon: 10 times that of Little Boy
Approx 1.176 Kilograms of plutonium converted to energy
Explosive force: 21,000 tons of TNT equivalent
Use: Dropped on Japanese city of Nagasaki; August 9, 1945
Nuclear Weaponeer: Cdr. Frederick Ashworth
Delivery: B-29 Bockscar piloted by Maj. Charles Sweeney