v
patrole im the cocan area near the two atolls against any subuerine
er surface penetration,
Continuous patrol coverage around beth atolls
was not possible with the number of ships evallable,
As the nost
effective alternative the ships condusted interaittent patrols,
varying the pattern of thelr sovenenta oo that hostile forces, if
any were present, could not takes advantage of an established tut
{neomplete patrol pattera,
The patrols were seaantered about the mre
sensitive areas at each atoll, f.e,, near shot sites and off lagoen
entrences. Vhenever possible an in-port vescel was stationed ssa’
sonar picket inside a Lagoon entrance.
fhe frequeat absense of one
or mre ships on other wigsionas mde this practi oe irrequler.
Ia
eéfition te their eva patrols clese inshore, the Bits aad FO were
available to develep eonteats farther out in the denger area uhen
‘ peperted by patrolling aircraft ef ¥P-29.
Farly in the Gperation
a DDE intereepted and diverted a Japenese fishing yessal approaching
Eniwetek,
Other than this, so unauthorised surface Veatele were
deteated fn the surfsee patrol area during the Operation.
‘Several
@onar contects were made; all were claseified, after inventigation,
as non-gulasrine,
&,
Surface escorts were provided fa all fater-atoll movenants
of AKC deviees, utilising one or tvo screening ships, depending upon
the nunber available.
‘The escort destroyer division's iaitiel task
in CASTLE had Been to screen CURTISS on her January voyage inte the
forvard area, from a position eff Fawall to "niwetok.
movenente
Zo other ship
escorted,
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