George Sottung (American, 1927 - 1999) "Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll - "Baker"" Signed lower left. Original oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 32+8c "Baker" stamp issued July 1, 1996. The first underwater nuclear test occurred when the "Baker" bomb was detonated on July 25, 1946, at Bikini Atoll. The primary objective of this test was to analyze the effect of a nuclear explosion on naval vessels. Outdated U.S. Navy ships and captured German and Japanese World War II vessels were brought into Bikini lagoon. Encased in a watertight steel caisson, the bomb was suspended 90 feet below the landing ship LSM-60. Radio signals from a command ship closed circuits that armed and then detonated the bomb at 8:45 a.m. A massive column of steam and water erupted from the lagoon, and the explosion created a series of huge waves that struck the target ships. Less than a second after detonation, the first wave -- more than 90 feet high -- crashed into the Carrier Saratoga and the Battleship Arkansas. The Saratoga was swept 800 yards from its mooring point and sank eight hours after the explosion. The Arkansas sank almost immediately, as did the submarines Pilotfish, Apogon, Shipjack and the fuel barge YO-160. Image Size: 13.75 x 16 in. Overall Size: 17.25 x 21 in. Unframed. (B15407) See More