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BEFSXCTS OF DELAYS
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The last shot in the CASTLE schedule os it was contegplated
a the comencemant of the operational period was to be detonated an
22 April.
MEGTAR, the last ehot actually fired, was detonated approx
imately three weeks after that date, on 14 May.
Im retrospect the
extension of the operstion for three weeks beyond ite planned length
wes not a considereble delay,
A delay approaching that length ef
tims was not entirely mexpected.
Perhape the moct. elgnificsnt ef~
fects that the element of delay hid upon the Navy Task Group were
attirubteable more to the lack af any firm knovleize as to when the
Operation would end, than to the dalay tha’ actually occurred,
The
added fector of the delays on individual chots contributed substant~
Sally to the Navy's problems during CASTLE,
2.
,
Aw the Operntion continued on with its end not ia sights
and shots were postponed again and again because of unsstisfactory
weather, apprehensions were fel& for a nasber of reasons.
Kany tazk
@row shipe wore due for shipyard ovrertadl in late Kay ao early duns.
Some were scheduled for other employment, notably the four DBzs af
Becort Deatroyer Division fwelve sho were to deploy to the Fer East
im dune.
The asterial condition of all units was detericreting.
Lack
of repair facilities and the inpossibility of scheduling adequate per
fods of upkeep, due in part to the many shot postpenememts, began to
be felt in April and haden increasing effect as tims went on.
began to suffer acchanical failures:
AFWUsHO
iy
ae.
178
Ships
LST 762 was relessed froa CASTLE
4