Se Om ise Bea? thei ee dy NSdie} eh APPENDIX "A" BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION 1. Planning for Operation HARDTACK has reached the stage where it is necessary to decide the scope and concept of the operation. These broad decisions are necessary at this time so that subsequent planning, especially in the field of support requirements, Will adequately reflect Commission desires. Detailed military support requirements for HARDTACK are presently. being readied for submission to the JCS for approval and sub-~ sequent programming by the separate services. 2. Two major questions connected with the HARDTACK tests require Commission action at this time. The first has to ao with general guidance as to the number and types of shots which will be tested on HARDTACK. The second concerns the use of Taongi Atoll as an additional test site for HARDTACK (and future) nuclear test activities. 3. LASL and UCRL have submitted their best estimates of the weapons and devices which probably will be ready for and will require testing in Operation HARDTACK. In addition, DOD has programmed certain tests for inclusion in HARDTACK, The test program based on these estimates is described in Appendix "B” and consists of 31 shots of which 12 are sponsored by LASL, 14 by UCRL and 5 by DOD (The 5 DOD shots include the very high altitude shots previously approved by the Commission.) the exception of the DOD shots, With this program represents the very early thinking of the laboratories and can, and probably will, change materially in its details with developments at the lab-~ oratories and with the results of PLUMBBOB. ~ 8 - Appendix it “A tl GUE YAS ED Tae noticeHis Bh Oy ets oF RP ge