_aBEEEE that notification to the Security Council and public announcement of the closing of Taongi be delayed and coordinated with our announcement of Operation HARDTACK even though certain activities would be under way there. 20, The laboratories and the EPG Planning Board have estimated that the length of the test operation composed of 31 shots would be about 3 months, of Taongi Atoll). (not considering tne possible use This may be compared with REDWING which used 79 days for 17 shots; however, in REDWING, 18 days were spent waiting for suitable weather to airdrop the Cherokee event. In REDWING we had a limited dual shot capability in that we were able to fire one large and one small-yield shot nearly simultaneously. It is planned, for HARDTACK, to enlarge to a full dual shot capability which would permit to firing two high-yield shots within twenty-four hours of each other. LASL activities would be centered at Fniwetol: and UCRL activities at Bilcini, insuring maximum flexibility. thus It is believed that the implemen- tation of a full dual shot capability will enable the test program to be carried out in 3 months. el. The adoption of the proposal to incorporate Taongi Atoll into the EPG would enable UCRL to fire its larger shots at Taongi. UCRL estimates that it would take 3 months to fire its shots at Bikini alone but only 5 weeks based on the use of both Bikini and Taongi. It is more difficult to estimate the effect of the adoption of the Taongi proposal on the combined programs of both laboratories. The general feeling is that it would almost certainly shorten the operations, probably by about 3 weeks. ee. A reduced test program as in paragraph 11 of the Summary would probably shorten the operation by about 1 to 2 weeks. ~ 18 - Appendix "A"