CHAPTER II, SECTION 7
paper insulated lead armored cable that had

been used in previous installations. Due to the
large amount of cable involved with relatively
short delivery requirement, it became necessary
to split the order, and approximately 85% of
lead armored cable and 15% of plastic covered
cable was ordered. As of 23 April 1953 when
authorization was received to place the order,
775,000 lineal feet of 16 pair cable was required.

Subsequently the deletion of Scientific Stations
west of site Tare caused a reduction in these
requirements, but the Contractor was authori-

zed by the Manager, Eniwetok Field Office to accept delivery of the entire order so that it would

be on handfor possible use at other locations then
unknown. Drawings approved on 30 July 1953
indicated that all but 94,000 lineal feet would

be required.

Another departure from previous test
installations was the use of reinforced concrete
vaults for housing submarine cable terminals.
This cable system was designed for use with
several successive tests. These vaults provided

for protection against blast effects and a means
for ready access to the terminal boxes. They
had the further advantage of providing some
protection from radioactive contamination for
the employees required to work at the terminals

between tests. These terminal structures proved

entirely adequate as evidenced by the lack of
damage after the various detonations and the

Figure 2-226.

S.T. Station - 50% Completed
Typical

derground cable. The reason for the use of 51
pair underground cable for this run was that
the same cable could be used to provide the
signal, control and telephone needs of all the

few difficulties encountered in preparing the submarine cable system for each succeeding test.

islands between Tare and Oboe. This was a
more economical installation than providing

These terminal vaults consisted of reinforced concrete buildings with a gravel floor and a
3’ x 3’ hatch opening. Stations ST 1.1 through
1.3 and ST 2.1 were 8’ x 8’ x 7’ high and projected 1’-0” above grade. Stations ST 3.1

Tare and separate cables for all other island
needs. Three telephone buoys in the lagoon were
connected to the Tare telephone exchange.

through 3.4 were 11’ x 11’ x 8’ high and project-

ed 2’- 6” above grade. Earth fill was placed on

a slope to the tops of the Stations. The location

submarine cable from the control at Nan to

The signal, control and telephone cable
system as finally completed is indicated in the
Block diagram Figure 2-227.

of Station ST 3.3 was on solid coral and the
building was constructed on grade. Due to the
anticipated high blast pressures, this necessitated the addition of buttresses to this Station
which were embedded one-foot into the coral

The actual mechanics of laying of the cables
were facilitated by fitting out an LCM as a
cable laying and repair boat. The deck and
bottom of this boat were reinforced, a gasoline
engine driven winch wasinstalled alongside the
wheelhouse and four davits, each carrying a large

bedded in holes drilled in the coral. This Station

The cable reel was placed in a special cable dolly

with the reinforcing steel of the buttresses em-

is shown in Figure 2-225. Each of these build-

ings was equipped with a watertight terminal
box for the submarine cable ends and another

watertight terminal for the termination of lead

covered cables which were run underground to
other Stations. Figure 2-226 shows a typical
terminal Station with the foundation poured
and the sides formed.

The system as finally installed consisted
of 620,000 feet of 16 pair, 19 gauge submarine
cable, running in a single system from site Able
to Charlie, thence as a double system around

the atoll to Oboe. From Oboe the circuits were

completed to Tare via a 51 pair, 19 gauge un-

Page 2-228

sheave, were placed along one side of the boat.

in the well deck of the boat, and the cable then
run over the winch drum from where it was

paid out as the boat moved forward. The cable

was laid on a designated course so as to pass

over the shortest distance in shallow water be-

tween the terminals. For the long run between

Nan and Oboe requiring 65,874 feet of cable to

be laid in fairly deep water, a helicopter was

utilized for assistance in maintaining the proper
course. Figure 2-229 shows men laying cable in
shallow waters from a terminal station.
The changes effected in laying interisland
cables for the CASTLE OPERATION are
summarized as follows: (1) Cables were gener-

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