requirements for major supply items which they could not obtain through their own supply sources. For the more normal supply items, experience has proven that a minimum order~shipping time of 120 days must be established for delivery to the port for shipment to the forward area. The difficulties encountered by the Transportation Branch of J-, Division were also typical of those experienced in prior op- erations. Two of the major problems are worthy of mention. The first is the matter of loading and discharging cargo and the second is the matter of phasing airlift. Out-sized equipment, particularly vans and trailers for special scientific use, is common to the shipping requirements of the Task Force, Because of this, not all Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) vessels are adequate for Task Force needs, especially if below-deck storage is a governing factor. There are no dock- ing facilities for ships at Fniwetok and cargo always must be lightered ashore. For this reason, the question of adequate shipboard heavy-lift gear is always important, especially if the cargo is outsized. Generally, the entire matter of planning cargo shipment re- quires the very closest monitoring and detailed coordination throughout the Task Force and with the shipping agencies concerned. Also, by insuring that unusual or out-sized items of cargo carry builtin sling pads or lifting rings much of the cargo handling difficulty can be dissipated. Actual discharge of cargo in the forward area oftentimes posed