fresh provisions and fuel, it got underway for Bikini via Enewetak. After a short stop at Enewetak
on 23 March, MENDERarrived at Bikini Atoll during the late afternoon of 24 March and moored
alongside USS GYPSY (ARSD-1).
GYPSY,along with COCOPA, had been involved in laying moors and instrument cans
and in instrument can recovery operations for Project 1.4 during the period 1-24 March. With
GYPSY scheduled to depart the PPG on 26 March, MENDER had arrived at Bikini to relieve
GYPSY ofits support functions for Project 1.4. Project equipment wastransferred from GYPSY
to MENDER on 24-25 March, and, during the afternoon of 25 March, GYPSY accompanied

MENDERona familiarization trip to Area Charlie (see figure 2.1) where Project 1.4 instruments
were already in place for Shot ROMEO, now scheduled for 27 March.
During the late afternoon of 26 March, MENDER got underwayfor its assigned
operating area for Shot ROMEO, approximately 80 nmieast-southeast of surface zero. Shot
ROMEOwasdetonated at 0630 hours on 27 March, and MENDERreturned to the Nan anchorage
area at approximately 1400 hours the same day. The ship shifted berths to "he Tare anchorage area
just north of Eneman Island (see figure 2.1) on 28 March. During the late afternoon of 28 March,
MENDERbegan receiving secondary fallout from the Shot ROMEOcloud. Topside intensities
increased during the evening and, by the time fallout ceased at midnight, average intensities of
27 mR/hr were measured on MENDER's weather decks. The radiation environment on the ship
resulting from Shot ROMEOfalloutis depicted in figure 3.7.
Between 29 March and 5 April, MENDER madeseveral trips between the Tare and Nan
anchorages and, at approximately noon on 5 April, MENDERgot underway forits assigned
operating area for Shot KOON,35 nmi southeast of the KOONgroundzero.
Shot KOON was detonated at 0620 hours on 7 April, and MENDERretumedto the
lagoon and anchored in the Nan anchorage at noon. On 8 April, the ship steamed to Area Dogin
the northern lagoon (see figure 2.1) and began laying buoys for Project 1.4 instrument cans for
participation at Shot UNION,scheduled for 16 April. Between 9 and 14 April, MENDER made
amost daily trips to Areas Dog and George where it conducted various salvage operations and
assisted COCOPAwith mooring Project 1.4 instrument cans. At approximately 1130 hours on
15 Apnl, MENDERdeparted the lagoon for its assigned operating area for Shot UNION. Dueto
unfavorable weather, Shot UNION was postponed and MENDERreturned to Bikini during the
evening of 16 April.

39

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