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"