The Crossroads Baker test was part of Operation Crossroads, a series of nuclear tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The primary objective of these tests was to investigate the effects of nuclear explosions on naval ships and the surrounding environment. The Baker test detonated on July 25, 1946, involved a plutonium bomb that was lowered to approximately 90 feet beneath the surface of the lagoon. The explosion created a massive column of water, resulting in a considerable radioactive cloud that reached high into the atmosphere.

The test's groundbreaking underwater detonation revealed significant insights into the displacement of water and the devastation that nuclear weapons could inflict on naval fleets. A variety of target ships were positioned in the lagoon, allowing scientists to observe the results directly on naval technology and tactics. Additionally, Operation Crossroads aimed to study the impact of nuclear weapons on both military strategy and international relations in a post-World War II context.

The repercussions of the Baker test extended beyond mere observation; they sparked a global dialogue regarding nuclear proliferation, military ethics, and the environmental consequences of nuclear weapons. The desire to comprehend these effects reflected increasing anxieties during the early Cold War period. As nations began to grapple with the implications of nuclear warfare, the findings prompted discussions about arms control and a new era of military strategy, where nuclear capability became a central feature of global power dynamics.