CHAPTER I, SECTION 1 was essential to check possible delays. The availability of drawings, materials, manpower in required categories, special equipment, and the movement of the materials to and within the site hadto be closely watched in order to assure orderly construction and the progress required. Sacrifices by scientific project personnel in shortening beneficial occupancy time, and in foregoing some pre-test preparations assisted materially in readying the stations for the first test as scheduled. Extensive construction activities were re- quired on reefs, which had to be accomplished with all the disadvantages inherent to working in sea water of varying depths. Man-made islands and causeways were among the major items of this type of construction. The design of these called for construction of bulkheads of three-inch timber supported on 60-pound rails driven on five-foot centers; the backfill was of available beach sand and Tidal conditions had to be watched frequent shutdowns were necessary. ment had to be serviced frequently, reef coral. closely and The equipand at the VHF radio transmission between Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls. Thereafter, for the primary radio link between these Atolls, a multiple channel VHF system was designed with the terminals at Elmer, Nan and in the USS Curtiss and USNS Ainsworth. Joint Task Force SEVEN arranged for the loan of AN-TRC-24 multi- channel radio equipment for use in this system, and the antennas and other appurtenances were obtained by purchase. A change in frequency assignments necessitated the redesign of two of the four antennas being manufactured. As a result, delivery of the antennas was delayed three weeks and the system was not activated until 28 April 1956. Prior to this activation, the existing HF telephone channel became over- loaded and delays as long as three hours were experienced in completing calls. However, few difficulties were experienced after the activation of the VHF system, which was adequate in all respects and very effective in providing a reliable interatoll communication system. drained, flushed, and refilled. Men tired quickly, and even with the most thorough preventive In planning the submarine cable systems, a complete survey of existing cables was made early in the program. Preliminary estimates of requirements were made, which included the replacement of faulty cables and the estimated impaired the life of equipment. Weather was an important element. In December 1955, the half million feet of cable and necessary splice boxes were initially ordered; additional quan- seas, which periodically occur in this area. These high seas caused some damage to the and a total of 814,000 feet was eventually laid in both Atolls. The laying of this cable was accomplished without unusual incident. However there were various incidents of damage to end of each working day,all oil cases had to be maintenance measuressalt water action seriously Proving Ground was subject to especially high construction-in-place of the man-made islands and causeways. This occurred during the period in which the over-all construction schedule was extremely tight. Extraordinary action was taken to speed the flow of personnel to the Jobsite; the damage was repaired and the temporary setback in construction was overcome without a serious effect on the over-all progress. Experience during previous test operations indicated that the communication facilities for the PPG-ZI system had to be modified and expanded. Expansion of the electrical and other facilities at Fred had increased the interference noise level at that site to such an extent that it reduced the reliability of the receiving operations; also, the locations for new buildings were limited; most critical of all was the lack of area for antenna fields. This led to the selection of David for the location of a new Joint AEC-Military Radio Receiving cable for additional circuits. Approximately one- tities were ordered as requirements became firm, cables by ships’ anchors; the entire system between Elmer and David, and three telephone and three signal systems off Elmer were dis- rupted because of damagebyships. LOGISTICS. A large volume of equipment and materials had to be procured and shipped in a limited time. The normal procurement and shipping time of material from the States and particularly of fabricated equipment or specially designed assemblies was three to four months. These lead times had to be drastically shortened as success in meeting desired completion dates depended considerably on the movement of material at an accelerated rate. This had to be accomplished in a stringent material and equip- the transmitting facilities that remained on Fred ment market during a period in which demands from both industry and the consumer were the greatest in the history of the nation. Aggravating these market conditions were prolonged strikes in key manufacturing plants, plus ab- In conjunction with AEC communication personnel, a series of path proving tests were conducted which determined the feasibility of essary to plan for and take unusual action in all phases of the supply process. Where practi- Station with camp facilities to support opera- ting personnel. With the movement of receiving activities to David, considerable expansion of could be effected. Page 1-16 normal weather conditions affecting both manufacturing facilities and transcontinental shipping. In view of these conditions, it was nec-