Mini Nuke

The mini nuke is an ammunition type found in Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4 and Fallout 76.

Background
 Developed at Fort Strong as part of the M42 Fat Man project, the mini nuke is one of the most powerful conventional weapons ever devised. Though the project was plagued by design issues from the beginning, caused by the weight of the micro-nuclear warhead and the resulting low range, the designers eventually happened upon a breakthrough: Instead of trying to reduce the weight of the warhead or the power of the launching system, one researcher proposed falling back on the spigot mortar system, used over 130 years before in PIAT launchers. The ingenious solution was just what was needed to complete the project and by September 2077, the first M42 Fat Man weapon systems were sent to ordnance depots across the United States.

The mini nuke consists of four principal components. The detonator shell on the bottom contains a conventional sub-charge that detonates when struck by the M42's striking pin, catapulting it out of the launcher. Four stabilizer fins attached to it ensure a stable trajectory and prevent tumbling in flight, increasing accuracy (a necessary feature, as the projectile is not spin-stabilized). The hemisphere core is screwed onto the top, containing the nuclear core. Finally, the weapon is fitted with a beryllium contact fuse that starts the nuclear reaction on impact. 

Mini nuke


A mini nuke is similar to an American football in both shape and size. When the red tab on the nose is pressed down, the atomic fission is activated and creates a small nuclear explosion. However, the only way to detonate them is to use a Fat Man. Shooting it and/or using other explosives around it does not detonate the mini nuke.

Mini nuke grenade


As its name would imply, the mini-nuke grenade is all the power of a mini nuke, packed into a hand-held explosive device.

Behind the scenes
The mini nuke resembles the American W54 miniature nuclear warhead first developed for the Davy Crockett short-range nuclear launch device.