Theavailable radiological data for MOLALAandnearby ships on 1 Marchare air sample
activities rather than topside intensities.

As only partial measurement of the airborne

concentrationsof radioactive fallout are available during fallout deposition on MOLALA,the more
complete measurements obtained onboard YAG-40 (1,550 feet behind) are used to estimate the

environment on MOLALA. Shot BRAVO wind data obtained at H-hour and H+6 hours reveal
very little change in wind direction and speedin the layer from the surface to 6.1 km,1.-e., easterly
trade winds of 10 to 15 knots below 2.1 km and west-northwesterly winds of 10 to 15 knots
between 2.1 and 6.1 km (Reference 2).

Based on these winds, fallout originating from the

BRAVOcloud stem in the upper portion of the latter layer, at about a 5 km height, would have
been deposited in a wide area extending tens-of-miles southwest of ground zero. The mid-time of
fallout deposition on YAG-40 was H+12.5 hours, implying an average particle fall speed of
approximately 400 m/hr.

Air samples on YAG-40 measured about 0.5 uCi/m3 ofactivity

throughout a 7-hour period of fallout deposition, and imply a buildup rate of approximately 200
wCi/m2/hr. With decay accounted for, some 1.2 Ci/m2 had deposited on the weather decks by
the time fallout ceased at H+16 hours. This corresponds to a peak intensity of approximately
6 mR/hrat the conclusion of fallout deposition (Reference 14). Figure 3.9 depicts the estimated

topside radiation environment of MOLALAbased on the YAG-40 air sampling data. Radiological
decay after 2300 hours, 1 March (H+16), is based on measured decay rates on other ships
receiving Shot BRAVOfallout.
At 1317 hours, 2 March, MOLALAshortened the tow wire to YAG-40as it prepared to
enter Enewetak Lagoon (Reference 3).

At 1708 hours, YAG-40 was cast off in berth G-7,

approximately 2 nmi west of Parry Island (see figure 1.3); MOLALAanchored approximately 500
yards north in berth F-7. MOLALAremained at anchor in Enewetak Lagoon until 11 March,
when, after embarking several Project 6.4 personnel, it got underway for Bikini Atoll in company
with YAG-39 and YAG-40. These three ships arrived at Bikini at 0830 hours on 12 March and,at
1630 hours, they got underwayfortheir assigned operating area for Shot ROMEO, scheduled for

13 March. Shot ROMEOwaspostponed andall three ships reentered Bikini Lagoon during the
morning of 13 March and anchored in the Nan anchorage area (figure 2.1).

On 14 March, MOLALA moored alongside YAG-40to refuel from 1625 to 1747 hours.
Topside intensities on YAG-40 had decayed to less than 0.5 mR/hrby this time (Reference 13);
hence, exposure to MOLALA's crew while alongside YAG-40is insignificant (see Appendix).
Shot ROMEO wasdelayed until 27 March, and during the interim period 15-25 March,
except for a brief 4-hour sortie out of the lagoon on 21 March, MOLALAremained in the southern
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