re SECRET ( operational use which could be evacuated to Eniwetok. During this period over thirty semi-trailers and fifty motor vehicles of various types along with tons of other general property were moved from Bikini to Eniwetok, This movement was carried out by work parties from ships in the lagoon. wo * There was only one point where an LST could beach and difficulty was encountered on several occasions because of IST grounding on a sandbar at beaching site. There was only one crane available for loading. | id large amount of Task Group 7.1 property from Eninman and Enyu to Eniwetok. There was a period of three weeks of unexpected shipping activity required by immediate evacuation of vehicles and operational support property no longer needed at Bikini, owing to afloat operation and the possibility of further damage to property not required for te: Bae f ashore operation was impossible, it became necessary to evacuate a ghee Pee a s No property was left behind but the operation ~ | was very limit- % expected activity was encountered in connection with evacuation for the various scheduled shota, 8 . ed in the amount of property that could be evacuated at)one time. Subsequent to the evacuation of material following only normal & x = = 3.9 OPERATIONS AFLOAR. ot For event -3 et Headquarters, Task Group 7.1, was transferred to the USS Estes off Februa to the Eninman complex from 28. With the advent of fallout and damage it became necessary to maintain = TG 7.1 Headquarters on the Estes for the remainder of the Bikini Opera- tion, which included all but the last shot, and to conduct operations from afloat, The Bikini phase of the operation involved a total of five vessels, each with a special task. The USS Estes was the command ship fitted out for the control of aircraft used in tests. The USS Curtiss was especially suited for the support of the shot barges and classified material, while the USNS Ainsworth housed the bulk of the experimental and support personnel. € S The USS Bairoko and the USS Belle Grove pro- £ vided helicopter and boat support respectively; in addition the USS Belle Grove also transported the shot barges from Eniwetok to Bikini Atoll, 4 g Besides these major vessels, there were a total of five ATF's, i 3 tt Aon two IST's, four DDE'a, one PC and aseorted special purpose craft involved in support of lagoon experiments. Operationally, the majority of the planning for each day's acti- vities originated aboard the Estes where the commanders of the Task Unite and representatives of service organizations were located. These plans were organized into missions which were then relayed to c plea 700 la N a Lon as tT 5