CHAPTER 1, SECTION 1 the LST class and other smaller craft, and that As the scope of scientific requirements became more definite, it was necessary to reevaluate the size of the camps several different times, and by the end of 1953 the Bikini Atoll camps had to be expanded to accommodate the following population: Tare, 1,000 men; Charlie, The first echelon of construction forces for Planning for the 250-man camp on Ursula, Eniwetok Atoll, called for reactivating the site previously used in OPERATION IVY. The camp proved adequate for the peak of 239 men, including TG 7.5 and all other JTF SEVEN personnel, which was reached in April 1954. Since this was to be the forward base of operations, sea and air accesses were a primary consideration. It was determined that a pier and approach channel would be necessary to off-load and transship materials by vessels of an airstrip and related air facilities would have to be constructed in the Peter-Oboe group, with a land connection to the Tare camp. Holmes & Narver, as the Contractor, then proceeded to mobilize the effort. the beachhead operation, comprised of 39 men 300 men; Fox, 250 men; Nan, 200 men. with equipment, building materials and pro- ENGINEERING-CONSTRUCTION 1952. Additional men and materials were shipped by LST from the Elmer base at Eniwetok. The engineering necessary for the temporary facilities included an evaluation of each site to determine the most suitable location for a camp, preferably adjacent to an accessible visions, landed on Tare, at Bikini, on 2 October The group was supported by air with occasional PBM flights from Eniwetok Atoll. As the construction of the camp progressed, the first detachment of personnel was augmented, and by 1 November there were 200 H&N employees on the site plus a small contingent of Army personnel who provided radio communication with Eniwetok Atoll. By 1 January 1953, a camp on Tare, though only 47% complete, was in operation and adequate for the needs at that time. The construction of the airport facilities was slightly ahead of schedule; the pier and channel, though only 65% complete, were being used to beach LSTs; and considerable essential survey work had been accomplished. Attention was then turned to the more remote reaches of the lagoon and to the determination of the shot islands. As the scientific test program developed, it became apparent in the spring of 1953 that it would be necessary to build a 250-man camp at site Charlie to support a ground test in that area; a 250-man camp at site Fox to support three barge shots in the lagoon nearby; and on part of the beach in order that adjacent landing facilities could be provided with a minimum of cost, 2 minimum amount of channel excavation, and minimum shore transport. The camp was also to be in a location least likely to interfere with scientific requirements. Each camp was laid out to be self-contained. Power, fresh and salt water systems, sewage disposal, and recreational, medical and communication facilities were installed. At each of these sites there was also provided an area for landing helicopters plus facilities for handling materials and personnel from small craft. It was determined that because materials handling would play an important part in this Operation, a considerable amount of warehouse space and outside storage area would have to be provided at Tare as a re- distribution point to all other sites at Bikini Atoll. It was also deemed necessary to provide an additional powerplant at Ursula at Eniwetok Atoll. The existing facilities at Ursula were to be used where possible. The preliminary design for an airstrip for site Nan a 75-man campto aid in the construction of a test control station, a tower, and related facilities. A fifth temporary 250-man camp, also to base a nuclear test, was planned for Ursula at Eniwetok Atoll. Peter-Oboe, suitable for landing C-47s, was made at Elmer. The design was modified during The construction of temporary camp facilities at Charlie, Fox and Nan was accomplished by landing small groups of men,initially. Portable galleys and minimum housing facilities were provided while the temporary camps were materials which would necessitate crushing only a minimum amount of coral for the gradations ashore. In addition to being useful in detached usable for larger aircraft, including C-54s. being set up. In some instances, LCUs were outfitted as houseboats to provide living quarters until housing facilities could be established or inaccessible areas, this method was also necessary at Ursula, Eniwetok Atoll, because the camp area, due to high residual radioactivity, had to be decontaminated before men could be housed ashore. Page 1-4 construction to take advantage not only of the materials available at the site, but also the local terrain, in order to minimize the amountof fill required between islands and to provide a base course from available bank run or quarriable and conformations necessary to a well com- pacted wearing surface. The final design provided an unpaved strip made from native coral, using only water as a binder. Minor improvements to the strip approach zone later madeit Concurrent with the opening and consol- idation of the Bikini frontier, a re-examination was made of the permanent proving ground facilities at Eniwetok to determine their adequ- acy as a base for the broadened and dispersed