and three PR-lW (Navy operated B-17's equipped with special
radar).
The addition of the extre vessels to the Offshore Fa-
trol Unit increased the rate of expenditure of fuel oil by such
an amount that Comservpac was requested to furnish a station
tanker; ASHTABULA was assigned for the last two weeks of March,
and MISPILLION was assigned for the major portion, of the remainder
of the operation.
An AF was also assigned temporarily by Com-
servpec at various times when needed.
Another change in the
originally planned compositim of the Task Group was occasioned
by nonavailability of tro of the eight helicopters oricinally
ellowed.
Also,one LCI, although originally ellocated by the JCS,
vas not needed and its assiznment was not requested by CTG 7.3.
With the additionWf ships augmenting the Task Group, it
increased in size until, just before the first test, the Task
Group comprised a total of 28 ships, 11 craft, six helicopters,
six patrol seaplanes, three large lend patrol planes and two
small landplanes (SNJ), with a total complement of about 5850
men.
The ships totalled above included two FS (one dry stores
and one reefer ship) of the U. S. Army Transportation Service
which were permanently attached; in addition, at one time or
another during the operation, three large cargo vessels, one
LST, and one additional dry stores FS of USATS were under the
operational control of CTG 7.3.
“Section VII
Destroyer Division 1] (4 DD)