CHAPTER IV, SECTION 4 Figure 4-26. U.S. Navy LST Unloading at Site Tare for other purposes. For the operational phase at Bikini Atoll a total of 15 of these craft were made available. Several of these were fitted with A-frames and proved advantageous for work in contaminated areas. The turnover of DUKWoperators after Bravo due to radioactive exposure was exceptionally heavy. It was nec- essary during the later stages of the Operation to establish a training school in order to provide the number of operators required. The stevedoring on board sea-going vessels was the responsibility of the Army Post Commander at Eniwetok Atoll and of the H&N Supply Superintendent at Bikini Atoll. At Eniwetok Atoll, the ship to shore marine carriers used were primarily barges, with LCUs and LCMsbeing used for rolling stock and reefer vessel cargoes. At Bikini Atoll, LCUs and LCMswere entirely used for this purpose. _ The volume of cargo and passengers carried by the various types of marine craft is indicated in Figure 4-27. Interatoll water transportation was prin- cipally furnished by the operation of the U.S. Navy LSTs. Figure 4-26 shows one of these vessels being unloaded at site Tare. Some heavy equipment, such as cranes, could not be loaded through the ramp opening of these vessels. To eliminate the necessity of complete disassembly of this equipment when interatoll transfer was required, this type of equipment was loaded in LCUs which were then docked in an LSD for the overseas trip. Towing of LCUs by LSTs was tried on several occasions. The experience with these towed craft indicated that towing - should be undertaken only in fairly calm seas, with wind velocities below 12 knots. On the last tow of this type with wind velocities of approximately 17 knots, the LCU received some structural damage. Cargo vessels arriving in the area of operations were used in most cases for interatoll transportation. During the last stages of the operations at Bikini, Commander, Task Group 7.3 established a daily interatoll schedule, utilizing every type of craft available to him for this service. Considerable difficulties were experienced in maintaining proper beach conditions for LST landings. The continued and extended use of the beaches by landing craft of all types resulted in ever changing beaching conditions. The beach sand gradient varied and hard coral heads and shelves were bared. Generally the beach had to be examined frequently by divers, and dredging or back filling had to be undertaken. The LSTs sustained some damage to forepeaks and bot- toms. On Bravo minus 2, an LST at Tare was unable to retract with its own power. It was necessary to salvage the vessel by using two AFTs and a number of LCMs after the vessel waslightened by completely unloadingits cargo. The vessel was retracted after approximately 36 hours of anxious effort due to the nearness of -hour. Page 4-35