from the contaminated YAGs (from the Appendix) when MOLALAwasnear those ships on the
days indicated, and shine from contaminated water.
3.7

USS TAWAKONT (ATF-114).
When Shot BRAVO was detonated at 0645 hours on 1 March, TAWAKONI was

approximately 50 nmi east-southeast of ground zero. The ship remainedin this general area until
approximately 0800 hours, when, dueto fallout on several of the task force ships at this time, all
ships in the area were directed to proceed south in order to avoid the fallout area. TAWAKONI
turned south and steamed until 1045 hours, when it rendezvoused with MOLALAin an area
approximately 45 nmi south-southeast of Bikini. These two ships then steamed on a westerly

course to intercept the two remotely-controlled YAGsthat were supporting Project 6.4 (section
3.1).

At approximately noon on | March, a YAG-39 skeleton crew was transferred to

TAWAKONI from MOLALA; the two ships then headed generally west-northwest in the
anticipated direction of the YAGS, which, by now, were deadin the water.

At approximately 1700 hours, TAWAKONIintercepted YAG-39 in an area
approximately 50 nmi southwest of Bikini Atoll. Prior to going alongside to hook up the tow,
TAWAKONIslowly approached from several directions to determine any radiological hazards
associated with towing this vessel. Because of a change in wind direction prior to the detonation,
the YAGs werenot in the area ofanticipated heavy fallout and topside intensities on YAG-39 were
only 60-70 mR/hr (Reference 13). At 1845 hours, TAWAKONI was enroute to Enewetak with

YAG-39 in tow with 1,600 feet of main tow line.
By steaming in a westerly direction following their rendezvous at 1045 hours, both
TAWAKONI and MOLALA avoided the significant BRAVOfallout experienced by manyof the
task force ships (e.g., COCOPA and PC-1546) when those ships were directed to proceed northnorthwest toward Bikini at 1100 hours. Air sampling data obtained onboard TAWAKONI (and
MOLALA) dogs indicate, however, that these two ships received some fallout, although

insignificant compared to the other ships, commencing at approximately 1600 hours, 1 March.
Unfortunately, the air sampling was terminated at approximately 2000 hours on both ships and the
time of cessation can only be estimated. On YAG-40, which was being towed by MOLALA, the

air sampling equipment remained in operation until 2300 hours and, at that time, airborne
contamination levels were falling off rapidly; therefore, it is estimated that fallout on the two
manned ships also ended at this time. Since airborne activity concentrations measured on
TAWAKONIbetween 1600 and 2000 hours are about the same as those measured on YAG-40
56

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