APPENDIX C COMMUNICATIONS Communications has been a dominant factor in the technological progress of the world. Without the development of modern facilities for carrying a message to almost any point on the globe, it would be nearly impossible to conduct the multitude of signif~ icant activities which occur daily in every area of life. For over- seas atomic tests the variety of communications facilities plays an immeasurable role. Every aspect of the joint operation relies on the communication network which has been established in the forward area at considerable expense, both in terms of money and manpower, This appendix then will outline those general problems which face the communications planners and those specific diffi- culties occuring during Operation CASTLE. PART I Joint Task Force Communications Problems. It is the purpose of this first portion of the appendix to ‘present the unusual planning and operational difficulties, variant from the normal military procedure, and the special requirements which exist in order to provide communications support for an overseas atomic test. The discussion is not confined to Operation CASTLE but is based on experience from preceding operations as well so as to illustrate those problems which are recurring and can be definitely considered in the planning phase. Preliminary assumptions necessary prévious to a narrative on communications planning ares 198