caused a 6000-foot diameter, 240-foot deep crater in the lagoon off Nam
Island.
BRAVO, a surface burst H-bomb shot, deposited radioactive fallout
unevenly throughout Bikini Atoll causing the contamination of Bikini
in particular.
In addition to BRAVO, the testing of Union and Yankee (Site
D) and Cherokee
(Site E)
caused numerous obstructions
(test towers, etc.)
that lie on the bottom near Lomilik Island (Figure C-1, 8-4).
crater
was
recently
visited
and
cursorily
inspected
(reference Appendix E, Environment, this Report).
has occured.
Island
by
a
The BRAVO
diving
team
Very little regeneration
The remnants of the Union, Yankee and Cherokee tests have not
been reinspected recently.
2.
RESURVEY OF THE BAKER SITE AND SUNKEN SHIPS
2.1
General
The
problem.
loaded
11
They
guns
sunken
are
and
ships of Operation Crossroads
an
attractive
stores
nuisance
of ammunition.
and
they
Because
of
present a potential
sank
carrying
their
fuel,
potential as
a
long-term problem, a brief summary of their status as of 1947 is presented
here.
The Bikini
Scientific Resurvey
(reference C-1) originated by the
Joint Chiefs of Staff in May 1947 with the general purpose of completing...
“studies
and
projects
begun
Crossroads."
The
Department
Survey,
Department
the
Navy
of
in
1946
was
Interior,
in
connection
supported
and
by
the
with
operations
U.S.
Geological
the
National
Museum
accomplishing the resurvey.
-..The Bikini Scientific Resurvey "...would entail the
collection of biological specimens; diving on target
ships to recover specific instruments and to make
certain
structural
examinations;
the
taking
of
water
and bottom samples and cores; and radiological studies
of the lagoon, the surrounding islands, and organisms,
5000083
C-2
in