. at 1200 MIKE on 27 September at which time ComTaskGroup 132.3 telieved Com TaskElement 132.32 cf SOPA functions in the South End of the lagoon. & The USS RENDOVA arrived cn 2 October ami the entire staff was finally exsumbled as one unit when the staff group in’ the ESTES moved on board the RENDOA on 4 October. The Task Group Commander shifted his flag at 1100 MIKE on thatdate. He was received on board andbis flag broken with TS RAihbs Shag 5 ANGE Paes - appropriate honors. B. = THE wEAPONS ELEMENT (TASK ELEMENT 132.30)” ; . The USS CURTISS constitutes the only permanently assignedunit in phis element, having as her mission the transport and certain support of the test devices. One or Two DNE‘s may be assigned to the Weapons Element from the Destroyer Element on 4 rotational basis. The CURTISS reported or 29 August and errived at Enivetck on 12 September as stated above. C. THE TRANSPORT ELEMENT (TASK GROUP . 132 HEEpe The USS ESTES (Task Unit 132.31.0) had reported to the Task Group on 27 August. Then departed Sen Francisco, California, on 29 August, and arrived at Eniwetck on 18 September, The USS LST 836 (Task Unit 132.31.1) was operating in the forvard area at the beginning cf the pericd of this report. Up te this date the mission of the LST hed been to establish the weather island stations and assist in erection of navigational aids on certain atclis for Task Group 132.4 alreraft during the sarly operational phase and later to serve in the Tra-.sport Element ina shert phase evaruation mission. Early in this period her mission was up #2 Bikini in anticipation of Operation CASTLE, 73 BEST AVAILASLE COPY x Ich .