CHAPTER I, SECTION 1
at EPG, the total population supported by H&N
reached a peak of 5280 on 22 Apmil 1958.

Early in 1958 a Technical Facilities Coordination Group of TDY personnel from Home
Office Engineering arrived at Jobsite to assist
in expediting the scientific program. This group
consisted of Project Engineers and other engin-

eering personnel who were constantly in touch

with User groups and were familiar with their
requirements. The mission of this group was to

gather all design requirements of the Users and
coordinate their accomplishment through the
field engineering design forces.
At this same time, ships and planes were
unloading men, equipment, and supplies into the
main camp at Elmer in enormous proportions;
warehouses and open storage areas in all camps
were utilizing all available space, and the lagoons
at Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls were receiving

additional craft daily. In an attempt to expedite
the support program, the supply facilities at Nan
were revamped to provide full accounting for
all materials at Bikini, and Supply Coordinators

were assigned at all off-island camps for more
effective control of materials needed at these
locations.In order to realize maximum utilization
of the craft on hand, air and marine transportation systems and schedules were established, and

facilities were expanded to provide transportation for the large influx of Task Force personnel.

By mid-January 1958 a major portion of

the Barge Station requirements were known,

and construction was in full swing to meet readi-

ness dates for their use. Because of changes in

criteria some revisions were necessary, mainly
in the Pinex-type Barges. A significant facet of
Operation HARDTACK wasthe large-scale use
of Pinex Barges as Ground Zero Stations. The
construction of these barges is explained in detail in Chapter [V, Section 2, Marine Operations.
Although faced with additional barge and LCU
station requirements late in the program, afloat

stations were completed on schedule. New barge
assembly facilities were constructed at Nan and

were utilized to the fullest for final assembly

and device loading for the UCRL program. The

barge construction program presented numerous
difficulties due to shortages of certain materials

which prevented continuous construction effort
on any one barge. This situation necessitated
considerable movement between assembly areas
and moorings in the lagoon.

The major Ground Zero Stations, +20 on

Yvonne and +21 on Gene, were readied in time

for the CACTUS and KOA events respectively,
along with all satellite stations in connection
with these and other events. Other stations were

finished to the point where they could be quickly
brought to completion for future events. The
Scientific Station construction program for the
CACTUSevent was completed and in the readi-

ness stage on D minus 1-Day, with the camp at

Yvonne rolled up and evacuated at that time.
After the Janet camp wasrolled-up for the KOA
event, further activities consisted of the support

(Neg. No. W-V-208-5)

Figure No. 1-6.

Aerial of Pinex Barge in Drydock.

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