© connie COPAA~317 April 19, 1957 MEMORAND!M TO: G. W. Johnson FROM: Walter D. Gibbins UCRL has a requirement for a suitable ship to be used in the firing and diagnosis of high yield nuclear devices at Taongi Atoll in Operation Hardtack, 1958, and in future operations. Considerable work has been done toward accumulating the necessary requirements to be fulfilled in the choice of such a ship. Several specific ships have been underconsideration in obtaining the information necessary for us to arrive at a preference. The ships considered were: 1. ®2 ° Medium troop transport (Liberty Hospital shi P NAME: 3. Light cruiser 5. AV~-4 (USS Curtiss) 4. CVE or CW (i.e., Cape Esperan p GEPART WERDATE 2NO REVIEWER-DAYpS eeeny YC : GY DECLASSIFICN DETEAMANATION ere 1. CLASSINCATION RLTAINED } CLASSIFICATION CHANGED 70: earnsHODOE CLASSIFIES WFO 5, SSIRCATION CANCELED LE CLASSIHED SHE BRACKETED The above ships were considered in an attempt to fill two basic major requirements: ” 1. 2. Sufficient cabin class quarters Radar tracked armament’ mounts or stabilized platforms suitable for mounting the diagnostic equipment The first two ships above were rejected because of insufficient clear elevated deck space in which to mount the radar positioned acientific equipment. Number three was rejected because of excessive size and future operating expense. The two remaining ships, a CVE or CVU type and an AV, the USS Curtiss specifically, were brought under closer scrutiny. The CVE type represents one extreme and the "Curtiss" the other, since the CVE’s as presently fitted out, meet practically none of the requirements, while the USS "Curtiss" materially meets all of the needs. It seems pertinent, therefore, to present our concepts of the operation of the diagnostics ship and those facilities and functions which she mst house aboard. Since, from our viewpoint the field has narrowed down to a choice between items four and five above, it also seems pertinent to draw a comparison between the two to aid you in your decision on the basis of suitability and econony. Concept Of Operation It is our concept that the ship arrive off Taongi at the same time an LSD would arrive from Bikini, prior to the first shot. Aboard the 45455 TOITSM SIM. 7 Porc