~- ~. Le.sues of the heavy cone teminatien of the atoll, the USS Belrcuc, 055 Estes, U3S Ourtics end the UGU3 dinsworth returned to kciwetuok during the evening of shet day so that recovery plans sould be revised and personne) gould be shifted between the various ships in preparation far ship~besed operations at Bikint. It wae deciced that ocoupanay of the island camps at Bikini would net b radiologically ssfe for the remainder of the operation, ! Tho ships returned vo Eirini the night of & arch and recovery operetions proceeded acca ding to echeéule. 2. Ramco a. -— a_ a Sesauce of the slight Camage to the Kocz {natallation on fare as a result of the Bravo ahct, and the yaot that the next soheculed abot, Union, algnt cive a yield us large as Brave and cause acditional dame, it was decided to fire Ronse next. To raximise tho distance from sero point to Tare, it was decided to fire Eomeo in ths Eravo rater izstsad of on tre barge located south of Yurcechi., Reaueo was selectc4 in preferenos to the other devices since it was fclt that, of these é€evices which oould be mdo ready inths ahori tine eS 4% was the lonsS likoly to produce « yield of more than thue niniwiaing tee ohences of fiurthor danaging the xoon inatalletion, b. Toe readiness cate for Roneo wae set a6 1] March 19%, end the micrity of Task Unit 15 prajests ware ready on that dete, Some instrunsatation hed been vary has‘ily installed, howgver, and ths lerg deley period whica foliewed enabled several groups te imrrow their equipsent ene put in sdditionel stations. OO. 10 barch, it warn ceaided timt the ehot would buve tc be delayed £4 houre since some cf the disgnortis tects sould act mect the 1) Marck dete with o reasonable degree of ecaulidenus. The wosther was nst satisfactcry cn 12 March anc a €8 hours deley wae crdereé. Successive delays were or¢sred uni) 19 Nearch ct O?S>, shen it was anpouncec thet 2C Karen would te chot cay. Suitatle weather did not develop, ani further dolays were necessary, During this period it was peoossary to maintain & oapaetilit, for firing on 18 howre noticr. ©. :t 0780 on EC Marck, it was encoumced thet *ue weather looked Seraoralle far 27 Maroh ari, ws le