responsible for receiving, transporting, and safeguarding special devices; providing shipboard facilities for assembly of these devices and space for TG 7.1 administration and laboratories; acting as the flagship for CTG 7.3 en route to the forward area (after 6 March); providing transportation to the forward area for approximately 100 officers and 50 enlisted personnel of JTF 7; and assisting JTF Weather Central by taking surface readings hourly, and radiosonde balloon and radar wind readings twice daily. Per- sonnel decontamination facilities were located near the ship's stern, which proved to be an awkward location because personnel requiring decontamination had to walk through the ship. Due to overcrowding on the USS Bairoko, CTG 7.3 shifted his flag to the Curtiss on 6 March. The operational activities of the Curtiss for each CASTLE shot are described in Table 60. The Curtiss' assigned duties should not have ex- Posed it to radioactive material, as the ship's crew did not assist in decontamination of other units. The Curtiss was contaminated by shot BRAVO, however; from 0800 to 1800 on 1 March, it was exposed to fallout and was required to use its washdown system. No crewmen received expo- sures in excess of 3.9 R. Task Unit 7.3.1 (Surface Security Unit) This unit consisted of four escort destroyers of Escort Division 12, the USS Epperson, the USS Nicholas, the USS Renshaw, and the USS Philip, and one patrol craft, the USS Grosse Point. Escort Division 12 provided a screen forthe Curtiss from Hawaii to Enewetak, acting as Task Element 7.3.0.1. curity. The general function of the unit was to assure the atollis' seThe operational activities of each vessel during the CASTLE shots are described in Tables 61 through 65. At Bikini, the destroyers were assigned to search and rescue (SAR) missions to investigate submarine contacts in conjunction with the Patrol Plane Unit 7.3.3, to warn and divert unauthorized shipping from the danger area, and to function as Task Element 7.3.9.2 of Transport Unit 7.3.9, escorting ships transporting shot devices from Enewetak to Bikini Tables 61 through 65). 340 (see