CHAPTER |, SECTION 1 Limited facilities on Bikini Island for fuel- and approximately six L-13 (or similar) planes be assigned to Bikini Atoll. Radio communications between Bikini Atoll and EniwetokAtoll. The Task Force provide radio communications between Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls, using a frequency channel separate from that connecting Eniwetok Atoll and the Continental United States. ing liaison and transient aircraft. Beaching and docking facilities for Navy LCUs and LCMsat the port-of-entry base and the shotislands. Scientific Stations of OPERATION IVY. Mike type, for each experiment. Two ten-conductor signal cables and two 16-pair telephone cables between site Tare (Eninman Island) and the shot island groups. The report ‘Auxiliary Proving Ground, Marshall Islands” contained, in addition to consideration of the foregoing data, the following basic recommendations: A detailed reconnaissance be made on Bi- kini Atoll at an early date. Orders for equipment and placed as soon as possible. materials be An LSTbe assigned to the Operation prior to 1 October 1952, and remain throughout the construction, periods. operation and_ roll-up The beachhead operation be started by 1 October 1952. A horizontal control survey be started in October 1952. Camp facilities be simple, with prefabricated wood buildings. No laundry be provided at Bikini Atoll. Utilities similar to those for OPERATION GREENHOUSE be provided on the shot islands. The power plant on Bikini Island be a permanent concrete structure, blast proof and wave proof. Diesel fuel be transported to Bikini Atoll in the tanks of the supporting LST and all other POL materials be supplied in drums. Maximum use be made of the supporting facilities at Eniwetok Atoll, and shop and maintenance facilities at Bikini Atoll be kept to a minimum. Criteria for the scientific programs be made Based on assumptions in the submitted report, “Auxiliary Proving Ground, Marshall Islands’, it was estimated that the facilities listed below would be required for OPERATION CASTLE: Beachhead Operations....... .... $ Base Camp........0000.000.0 cee $ Shot Island Camp.................... $ Scientific Stations......0000000...... $ Causeways............. ........... $ New Construction Equipment.....0..0000.00 0. $ Support of Scientific 210,000 1,525,000 1,387,000 2,260,000 2,600,000 1,000,000 Using Agencies... ............. $ 1,159,000 maintenance and roll-up... $ 2,758,000 Features common to over-all programs such as boat pool operations, labor pool, submarine cable, control and signal facilities, Total estimated cost of the Bikini Atoll Program.......... $ 12,899,000 On 11 September 1952, the Atomic Energy Commission, having concluded that utilization of Bikini Atoll for forthcoming tests was desirable from the standpoint of available land, geographic isolation, operational practicability and economy, approved the use of Bikini Atoll for OPERATION CASTLE and_ authorized Holmes & Narver, Inc. to proceed with planning for beachhead operations, proposed to begin on 1 October 1952. Field forces then at Eniwetok initiated planning for the organization of an advance party, using men, materials and equipment available from OPERATION IVY. On 15 September 1952, the Project Engi- neer and Chief of Surveys proceeded via LST from Eniwetok to Bikini to initiate ground reconnaissance. Three days later they were join- ed by additional management and technical representatives of Holmes & Narver, the Atomic Energy Commission, and the Staff of Commander, Joint Task Force SEVEN. The general survey conducted by the augmented reconnais- sance party resulted in the selection of a group of islands from Tare to Oboe as best suited for a base of operations and port-of-entry, rather island group become known by 15 November 1952. than Bikini Island as originally proposed. It was then decided that the camp facilities would be placed on Tare, starting with a camp for 250 men with necessary facilities to be self-sustain- The Task Force provide frequent shuttle and salt water systems, recreation, medical and available to the design engineers by 1 January 1953, and that the choice of the shot service between Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls, ing, including shelter, subsistence, power, fresh communication facilities. Page 1-3