~
essentialmaterialrequirements.
It is considered,
however,the.tthe arrangementsfor and pro+ision
of logisticalsu~portwere handicappedby two factore:
a. The very high securityclassification
assignedin the initial
stagesof the operation.
b. The brief time availablebetweeninitialplanningand aotual
execution.
.
Extremelyhigh securityclassification
severelyrestricts dissemination
of information to the operating level; it is intended to restrict knowledge
to a few highly placed apd highly trusted officials
Yet an operation of
and
this magnitude cannot be planned and directed in all its ramifications
detailsby the top staffalone.
It is necessaryfirstto determinethe troopswhich will be required.
ZhiU is not a greatproblemwhen the operationis of a normaland routine
character,and when the aapabilitieaof standardTO & E organizations
oan
be readilyand accuratelyasseased. However,OperationSandstonewas of
a most unusualand peouliarnature;the accurateevaluationof the capabilitiesof TO & Eunits was not susceptibleto finaldetermination
at high
stafflevel. Thus, GeneralOgden and his Staff,afterhavingbeen acquainted with the problem,made a oarefulanalysisof the work and funotionsto
be performedby Engineertroopsat Mwetok
and from this developedthe
troopbasis and the materielrequirements.In the case of the Air Force,
no standardTO & E ex~sted whioh met the situation, and a provisicxal
organization had to be especially constructed, equipped and supplieds