CHAPTER 16.3 COMMUNICATION SERVICES The Communications Department provided a telephone system, radio nets, intercommunications systems, public address systems, amplifiers and speakers for moving picture theatres, and other equipment and serv- ices. These facilities were provided throughout the Atoll, including the marine fleet operated by H & N and ships calling or stationed at the Atoll. The Telephone Section of the Communications Department maintained telephone communications at all times between the islands of Eniwetok, Parry, Japtan, Runit, Biijiri, and Engebi. Telephone switchboards were installed on all of these islands except Japtan, which was directly connected to the Parry board. This telephone system used land lines on each island, submarine cables between islands, and submarine cables to certain mooring buoys at which operational craft were moored. In addition to the main telephone system, a great many special temporary telephone and intercomminication hookups were also installed during the operational period to meet the demands of the Users, The Radio Section maintained numerous radio installations for communication from land to marine craft afloat, ships at anchor in the lagoon, dispatcher stations on various islands, and special stations required by Users during the operational phase. In addition to normal radio comunications services, the Radio Section was called upon to supply such services as public address systems, amplifiers and speakers for motion pictures, and other equipment and services. Many special problems resulted from unexpected demands placed upon the Radio and Telephone Sections by Users during the operational period and from such untoward incidents as the accidental tearing up of cables by heavy construction equipment. The maintenance of the buried neoprene wire on outlying sites was & major problem because of the sharp coral and wet ground. It was used because individual pairs offered the flexibility necessary for the constantly changing requirements and because, even with added maintenance costs, analysis had shown that for short term usuage it was more economical than multiconductor cables, However, for future operations milticonductor cables should perhaps be considered if communication plans can be established sufficiently in advance, particularly for wiring serving the tower and the major test stations. The Communications Department worked very closely with the comm- nications officers and men of JTF-3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4. No single group could have furnished these services without the full cooperation of the others. This cooperation was fully and mutually maintained on the part of all agencies. 16-12