AenheARHei REA
15. Taongi would be used only as a barge site.
All
diagnostics and firing would be accomplished from a ship.
Use
of the ship would permit a flexibility in operation and would
further reduce the time of stay of technical personnel overseas
by about one month, since installation and dry-running of egquip-
ment could be accomplished while the ship is still on the West
coast.
This ship would be controlled by the AEC and manned by
MSTS or Holmes & Narver personnel.
Although the cost of outfitting
and operating such a ship appears large,
there are offsetting
considerations and survey is presently under way of vessels which
might be available and suitable for this use.
It would not be
necessary to construct any diagnostic stations or other facilities,
-estimated to cost $2.5 million, on Taongi.
In addition, the
diagnostic ship provides a facility for a "quicki'
1
tests of smaller
over-all magnitude at a minimum cost.
16. The use of Taongi would require additional logistic
support,
The air operations of Task Group 7.4 (Air) and the
surface operations of Task Group 7.3
(Navy) would be increased.
Shot barges would have to be Perried by LSD from the Eniwetok/ |
Bikini area to Taongi; however,
the establishment of a UCRIL
assembly area at Bilcini would practically eliminate the LSD trips
between Bikini and Eniwetok for UCRL shots at Bikini, thus com~
pensating for the Taongi trips.
The re-supply of the diagnostic
ship, small craft support, liaison aircraft or helicopter support,
and increase Task Group 7.5 support requirements would be additional.
However,
the elimination of evacuation, re-entry
and recovery operations for large shots at Bikini will accelerate
the operation and offset somewhat those increases occasioned by
use of Taongi.
The question of the capability of DOD to provide
the additional military support requirements resultingfrom the
use of Taongi has not been resolved.
- 15 -
Appendix "4"