nid. Gven before the first shot cf the series two buoys were alesing, presumably due to the high winds and rough seas thct prevailed ab Bikini, Thereafter, wini, weather and the blast and weter weve effect of the shote severely cripzled the bucyaze system and eliminated amy of the shore structures that ships hed been using for landmarks, The blast and water waves follonwia, shots had ao appreciable effect on unlfieited buoys ct all distant from the sero point, but deranged eeny of the lighted buoy mechanisms even at relatively greet distances — from the detonstion. Lighted buoys close to the shote usually had” their upper atractures blowm away, and often sank ceveral days after the damace was received, presusebly from slow leaks, The lack of lighted buoys aade aight aoversnts in the lagoon and throagh the entrances particularly hasardous, For this reason nicht sovensote were held to an absolate ainimua. The absence of good landmerks made offshore navigzetion difficult. 55. 3 There was no arran;eser. for repair or replacement of bucys ty the Coast Quard as the cpoeraticn progressed, nor waa there a supply of replacanent buoys available. Linited repairs cere undertaken by BAIAZOKD, CUXTISS and the Beat Fool under the Bikini Harbor Unit, using buoys recowered after they sank er went adrift. “hen nicht sove= gents were planned as they were in ecorties for some of the later ehote at Bikini, seaireee asrker lights were placed on essential bat inoperative lighted bucys.