WREP
““
Subj:
Roll-up of Weather Islands
"es Rolleup and transportation of the oquipmont back to the ZI
are two more major probloms which I recommond to be solvod in the following
manner: Due to LST landing difficulties at Rongcrik, a LCU should accompany the LST to Rongorik. The LCU is able to beach and pick up loads of
equipment ond transfer the loads to the LST anchored in tho lagoon.
This is
admittedly a slow method but beaching the LST is too hazardous an operation,
An alternate method would be to send some other type craft to Rongorik,
smallor than an LST, but largo enough to handle approximately 180,000
pounds 13,000 cuke of oquipment, returning to Eniwotok and transforring the
oquipment to the LST at that point. Tho LST thon would procood to Ponapo,
Kusoie ond Majuro picking up the woathor island oquipmont at onch point,
No expected difficulty will be encountered at ony of theso islands in -
londing.,
The LST should then proceed to Pearl Harbor to off-load special
equipment previously installed on LST (No, 551) at that location to assist
in loading and wnlonding operations and presorvation of food products for
the weather islonds. Tho
LST would thon be froe to transport the equip~
ment to tho Oakland Army Port, Tho LST (No. 551) Commander hos orders to
return to the 2I upon completion of this operation and his orders wero for
approximately six months, Therefore I assume the LST would bo returning
to tho ZI and would be available to transport tho equipment. Since unload-
ihg and reloading of the oquipmont would be an umnecossary expense, the
cargo should not be unloadod at Pocrl Harbor for roshipmont aboardarothor
surface craft. By the most careful computation of availablo figures .tho
total cargo load for 11 four woathor islands is 607,734 pounds or.2@).3,
long tons and 40,656 cubo,
This I bolieve is approximately the capacity”
of the LST considering tho oxtra equipment prosently aboard to be removed
at Pearl Harbor, If this load is not sufficicnt for efficiont utilization
of the LST, five trailers of fixed holium cylinders could be added at tho
Eniwetok stop, This helium is for the 1110th Air Support Detachment assigned to WREP for administrative and logistical support.
to bo returned to NAS Moffct Field, Cclifornia,
1 Inel:
WREP Opns Plan 1-54
(Proposed)
Tho trailors are
kf Fellio F, Robinson
FELLIE F. ROBINSON
Major, USsF
Commendor
SIS