CHAPTER I, SECTION 2 SECTION 2 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCLUSIONS. 1. The abundance of experience available from key Management and Engineering personnel who had participated in past Operations exerted a significant in- fluence in meeting the challenge of a highly diversified program made more difficult by constantly changing cri- teria throughout the design stage. The inter-atoll Tropospheric Scatter System proved excellent in reliability, voice quality, and traffic handling capabilities. Without any additional equipment, ample facilities remain for addi- tional circuits. The VHF networks and the UHF ship-shore circuits, using mili- tary equipment, operated successfully and were adequateasinstalled. The HF ship-to-shore circuit and the television station operation were satisfactory. The Elmer dial exchange operation was adequate and remarkably trouble free. The smaller 70-line telephone exchanges proved satisfactory, operating without difficulty even close to the test detonations. Evacuations during Operation HARDTACK were conducted in an efficient manner. Few situations arose that required augmentation to the established plan. In no instance did these additions to the plan cause an interruption to the evacuation program. RECOMMENDATIONS. It is recommended that: 1. The growing utilization of Advance Material Estimates in the future be accomplished in two ways: A. The number of types and sizes of basic stockpile items must be reduced to a minimum; e. g., various specifications for steel pipe may be combined into one specification which will cover the maximum number of design requirements. B. Requirements for various items of equipment must be analyzed to ascertain the possibility of using one or more standard sizes and types of equipment, multiples of which will satisfy the requirements of manyfacilities. Future operational plans provide for centralized inter-island air-lift operational control for Eniwetok Atoll at Site Elmer. This would aid immeasurably in planning and coordinating daily aircraft requirements and movements. Marine channels be cleared into all islands that contain major scientific installations. As a part of the JTF-7 Operations Plan, a firm aircraft capability for the support of off-atoll locations be included. PAC appropriations be received at the beginning of the fiscal year for optimum performance of procurement ac- tivity. The elongated peaks of the construction programs would be eliminated if PAC procurement and construction were effected in non-operational years. Every effort be made to provide an additional 1000-man mess hall on Elmer in view of the fact that 3 and 4-seatings per meal haveresulted in an uneconomical operation. For future operations, realistic billet forecasts and personnel forecasts from each element of the Task Force be made a requirement at least four months in advanceof the actual need. Consideration should be given toward more stringent controls on the sale of beer and liquor to personnel of all Task Groups. Consideration should also be given to the installation of a Snack Bar at Site Nan. This would aid considerably to the morale at this site and would provide a long-neededfacility for the convenience of personnel. 10. Commissaries be established at EPG to sell foodstuffs for parties and special occasions to Task Force personnel during operational periods. 11. The Contractor assume responsibility for camp operations on Site Fred, in- cluding but not limited to housing, messing, and laundry. 12. Water should be furnished to transient ships at a nominal cost and only in emergencies. 13. The support ofall off-atoll weather and rad-safety sites be assumed by H&N, particularly the power generation and distillation plant operations. Page 35