By mid-1952, plans had been completed for a nuclear component organization with a sound division of responsibilities. These plans were being activated as the reporting period ended, timing being largely dependent on activation of operations at Rocky Flats. The organization centered in LASL as the developmental laboratory and in Rocky Flats as the production agency, with fabrication continuing at other AEC installations. Efforts were made in mid-1952 to plan and to activate a system which would divest Sandia Laboratory of production functions and make it primarily an inert component development and design control center, and which would provide a sound centralized control and division of responsibilities for inert and high explosives production. A Production Agency was to be established with direct operating control over Kansas City, for inert components, and what became Spoon River, for high explosives. Inert and high explosives fabrication, procurement, and assembly were to be centered in the new Agency. The general plan was developed in separate studies by Sandia Corporation, Bendix, and by an Industry Advisory Panel of top-level industrialists. The divestment of certain functions from Sandia and centralizing inert component production in Kansas City were being activated in mid-1953. Simplification of the high explosives organiza- tion had not progressed. As it was being developed, Kansas City Plant was becoming the Production Agency for inert component procurement, fabrication, and assembly. The proposal for a centralized agency over both inert and HE production had been dropped. Inyokern remained to some extent the production engineering and prototype production center, although these functions were scheduled for eventual transfer to the new Spoon River plant. Inyokern, Burlington, and Pantex would continue to fabricate HE and have assembly responsibilities. Much of the relief of Sandia Laboratory was being obtained through the buildup of Kansas City. As the period closed, Sandia was primarily responsible for research, development, design control, and testing of inert components for which the AEC had responsibility. The organization built for thermonuclear development was wholly within SFO. LASL held responsibility for the full explosive system and case. American Car & Foundry was added to assist LASL with engineering and to produce developmental cases at Albuquerque. Cambridge Corporation and National Bureau of Standards at Boulder were added to perform research, engineering, and production of specialized equipment and materials, while Herrick Johnston was added as a LASL sub-contractor to engineer, build and operate a liquefaction plant at Pacific Proving Grounds. A different total organization was developed for gun-type manufacture. Develop- ment of a bomb type was centered in LASL and Sandia, with the Navy participating. Development of an atomic cannon nuclear shell was a joint LASL-Sandia activity, with Picatinny Arsenal participating. As of July 1, 1953, non-nuclear design and all nonnuclear production were to be transferred to the Armed Forces. Another and different organizational arrangement was developed for missile » warhead installations. The primary problem peculiar to SFOO was adaptation of existing nuclear weapons as warheads, and this was undertaken by Sandia. After the first four atomic warhead installations, responsibility for fuzing and arming was transferred to the Military. Development of the vehicles, or missiles, was, throughout, a responsi- “y bility of the Military and its contractors. SFO's nuclear, HE and inert component de- velopment and production system continued, of course, to manufacture the atomic war- heads. ALCO The development of organizations for the conduct of full-scale nuclear field tests was largely perfected during the period. LD Following the pattern for 1948's Sandstone SRAOGRL (2-1