Fact dina Defense Nuclear Agency S h eet Subject: AC 7 Public Affairs Office Washington, D.C. 20305 SANDSTONE Fact Sheet SANDSTONE was a three-detonation nuclear weapon test series held at Enewetak Atoll, the Atomic Energy Commission's (AEC) Pacific Proving Ground (PPG), in the spring of 1948. Located in the Central Pacific Ocean, the PPG consisted principally of Enewetak* and Bikini atolls in the northwestern Marshall Islands. Assigned Local Date Location X-RAY 15 April 200-foot (6l-meter) tower on Enjebi Island 37 YOKE 1 May 200-foot (6l-meter) tower on Aomon Island 49 15 May 200-foot (6l-meter) tower on Runit Island 18 Name ZEBRA Yield (KT) Note: One kiloton equals the approximate energy release of a one-thousand-ton TNT explosion. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Operation SANDSTONE was the second test series to be held in the Marshall Islands, but it differed from the first series (CROSSROADS in 1946) in that it was primarily an AEC scien- tific test series with the armed forces serving in a supporting role. Its purpose was to proof-test improved-design atomic weapons, whereas the purpose of CROSSROADS was to test nuclear weapons effects on ships. The weapons were tested at Enewetak by a joint military and civilian organization designated Joint Task Force 7 (JTF 7). This was a military organization in form, but contained military, civil service, and contractor personnel of the Department of Defense (DOD) and the AEC. The commander of this force was the appointed representative of the AEC and reported to both the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Commander in Chief, Pacific. Peak DOD numerical strength at SANDSTONE was approximately as follows: Uniformed military DOD civilians DOD contractors 9,890 350 126 10,366 * Formerly Eniwetok. A better understanding of the Marshall Islands language has permitted a more accurate transliteration of Marshall Island names into English language spelling.