Ir
ep-sarind preparctory to launching a high altitoate balloon.

She

conpleted her up~wind run, reversed course and at 2150 launched
the balloon and returned to her station.

A little over on how

later word waz recaived from the Joint Task Force comm:ni post in
BSTES that the shot had been delayed for twenty-four hours.

All

ships were notified of the delay ani directed to renain at sea
through the night.

AL 0800 ESTES, BAIROKO and SENSE AT closed on

Enyu to transport the firing party in by helicopter to disconnect

the firing circowll ami disams the device, but this action was da0
layed in the hope that a better weather situation micht be develop-.

ing.

By 1500 it had become apparent that the weather would not

perait firlag next day, ani the disamsing process wes begun.

ord

wes received at 1730 that disarming was completed when the ships
heséed into the lagwon.

«ge

Py 20.6 all were anchored.

—

Ascetic for ULION was not again siteapted antil 25 April.

Throughouk the period between sorties the tesk group remained in an
atvance’ state of readiness, prepared to sove out again on chest
pobtica, with each day designated as minus—two or rinus-thres dopending on the weather cutblock,

It became aprarent that to Gre

the reneinder of the CASTLE series, the Jaint Task Force had to be
prepared te take advantage of favorable weathes based on short range

forecasts.

To meet the situation the alert statue of the Navy Task

Group was further increased so that ell ships sare required to be

ready to ecamence their minus-one day events at noo on any day.
Plenes were mode for carrying out the sortie after dark, in case sach

am
WL/H@

&

165
;

¥

Select target paragraph3