eae eb ro Shee te lee aller eeeUM Thodaeee ke PART If!, CHAPTERS 3 and 4 struction of a poured concrete IBM building with suspended acoustical ceiling, removable floor panels supported on stringers, and a major utilities plant to provide air conditioning both overhead and underthe floor. Two guest houses were erected on Site Elmer to accommodate visiting dignitaries. The base facility construction program also included a Butler-type administration building to house the Contractor’s offices, concrete and prefabricated aluminum barracks, warehouses, community service buildings, and several laboratory buildings. The Administration Compound was enlarged and provided with aluminum chain link fencing. A large volume of modifications to existing structures and additional construction was accomplished to provide some measure of comfort to Task Force personnel. For example, eight barracks were modified to provide day rooms, and newly constructed barracks included day rooms. Building construction on Site Fred was predominantly Pasco-type structures for warehousing. Ten major concrete projects on Site Fred included the airfield extension, a 200,000gallon water storage reservoir, an explosive storage building, two pumphouses, three concrete ramps, a double tennis court, and a decontamination storage building. Additional recreational facilities, such as volleyball and basketball courts, were constructed on Sites Fred, Elmer, and Nan. MAINTENANCE 3.4 H&N wasresponsible for the maintenance of all buildings, grounds, utilities, and all AEC-owned equipment. Although somewhatcurtailed by the construction effort, the maintenance program was continuous throughout Operation HARDTACK, Phase I, and was predicated on preventive maintenance, normal wear and tear, and non-scheduled repairs. Due to the critical requirement for continuous operation, reefers, generators, and pumps were checked daily, and any breakdowns were cause for immediate repair, day or night. All construction equipment was rigidly scheduled for lubrication and inspection, and breakdownswere often forestalled by timely replacement or overhaul of parts. Preventive maintenance with respect to buildings and structures included securing all doors and shutters in an open position to prevent shockwave damage during test events. During the operational phase, H&N was also responsible for the preventive maintenance/— and minor repair of all Military-owned vehicles, except those located at Site Fred. — The maintenance and repairs to marine craft was confined to engines, bottom and hull plating, replacement of stringers and stiffeners, and the replacementand repairs of propellers and shafts. These repairs were accomplished by either beaching the craft by use of a “Gilhoist” or placing the craft in a floating dry dock. The maintenance of utilities increased proportionally with the increase in population during the build-up period, when additional facilities were put into use. CHAPTER 4 s ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE OF TEST FACILITIES GENERAL ‘4.1 ‘The increased scope of Operation HARD- TACK, Phase I, nearly twice the magnitude of Operation REDWING,required a heavy expendable test construction Rrogram for both Bikini and Eniwetok Atolls. Criteria for scientifie structures were not completely released by the Laboratories until the middle of January, 1958. The procurement of men and materials and the task of transporting them to the EPG created multitudinous problems for the AEC Contractor. Material storage, fabrication, construction, and inspection, as well as the housing and feeding of construction personnel, are but a few of the manyefforts that result in a completed structure. Despite the many obstacles and the rigid construction schedules, the job was effectively accomplished by H&N. Page 44 42 To maintain a dual-shot capability, UCRLtest facilities were constructed at Bikini Atoll and LASLtest facilities at Eniwetok Atoll. However, adverse weather conditions in the Bikini Atoll area resulted in the transfer of five shots to Eniwetok Atoll. Twenty-four barge zero stations and five LCU hull zero stations were fabricated for Operation HARDTACK, Phase I, using cargo-type barges and obsolete Navy and Army LCU hulls procured from sources. Subsequent to construction completion, one of the barge zero stations was damaged beyond repair while in tow from Eniwetok to Bikini Atoll, and two were cancelled as a result of a program change. Barge station construction required the addition of a second floating dry dock (AFDL) at Eniwetok Atoll and the construction of a three-fingered barge slip at Site Nan. Of the shots scheduléd for Operation ne ee KETTECLELETTEHEEHEETTEE EEE EE pre