CHAPTER J, SECTIONS 1 and 2
Precautionary measures against blast damage. wave action, and radioactive contamination
were taken as dictated by probable test vields.
However, after the initial shot (Bravo - Station
20) on 1 March 1954, all pre-test plans were
greatly modified.
The unexpected destruction of facilities and
the intensity of the residual radivactive contamination resulting from the Bravo cetonation
necessitated changes in the test program.
Changes were made in the shot sequences; also.
Station 90 was moved to the Charlie crater:
Station 10 to the Flora crater; and a number of

photographic and other recording stations had

to be abandoned or added to mevt the require-

ments for the changed zero statiors. Radioactive
contamination necessitated a new barge, Station
1840.01, on a reef near How, in lieu of Station
1820.02.

'

The principal resultant problem to the
Contractor was the disposition of his torces,
particularly the abrupt shift from a land-based
to a ship-based operation at Bikini. The adaptation was sucvessfuly made four the iimited
duration involved.

SECTION 2
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The principal difficulties reported in OPERATION CASTLE appear to have been related, directly or indirectly, to the scheduling
of the preoperational phascs of construction. The
problems derive from the nature of the project.
The remoteness of the site, the lead time necessary for procurement and mobilization, the
difficulty of effective distribution of men and
equipment on widely dispersed areas, and transport over the considerable water separation, all
contribute to a rather extended construction
period. Yet, in the earher phases of the pre-

operational period, [ew criteria are tirm except

the end date, which, being inflexible. demands
careful planning. Detailed schedules based on
firm scope are not possible until late in a program when they were often too late for effectiveness, and early schedules tend to be fragmentary. However, experience iu the problems
of GREENHOUSEand IVY has enabled the
Contractor increasingly to anticipate and evaluate missing factors, and thus make realistic
forecasts. The momentum of scientific progress,
continuing to the moment of a test, makes most
of the resulting engineering and construction
problems inherent in the project. Although the
operational phase was changed in scope as a
result of the first detonation, the rapid solution
of the problems which followed indicated that
the existing procedural techniques and organizational set-up, were functional and flexible
enough to accommodate not only an orderly
progression in the operation, but atso radical
changes in plans. Therefore, extended recommendations do not appear to be indicated.
Page 1-10

There are a few refinements, from the
Contractor’s standpoint, that might produce
some saving of time and monevin other operations. Accordingly, the following is offered for
consideration in planning future test programs.
1. Expericnce gained during OPERATION
CASTLE indicates the need for more direct
contr) by the Contractor over contract employers in the matter of radiation exposure.
It is therefore believed desirable to establish
within Task Group 7.5 a non-military RadSafe unit which would be responsible for the
regulation of safety measures within the Task
Group.
2, In the develanment of design criteria. it is
believed that the Contractor's personnel
should work in close proximity with the actual design groups at the University of California Radiation Laboratory and Los Alamos
Scientific Lahoratory in ordcr to expedite the
development of criteria and, also, to help the
Scientific Groups formulate design requirements along lines which could result in simplification or standardization of construction
procedures and materials, thus resulting in
over-all savings in time and money.
3. As a means of reducing the number of personnel in the advance elements of the Task
Groups assigned to the Forward Area, consideration might be given to instructing the
Contractor to assume additional responsibilities in the handling, processing, and billeting
of personnel; in warehousing of. User's equipment and supplies: and in other related functions at the Pacific Preving Ground which involve duplication of function, and for which

the Contractor is already established.
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All of the foregoing narrative summary is
extracted irom text treated in more complete
detail in following sections of this report.

Select target paragraph3