CHAPTER VII, SECTION 2
dismantling of all facilities. Figure 7-7 shows the
protection provided for the traveling crane and
associated equipment in Station 60. The entire
roll-up was completed in the time allowed.

Figure 7-7. Station 60
Protection Provided for Equipment
The USNS Ainsworth was used in lieu of
the USS Curtiss as a personnel housing craft
during the post-Yankee roll-up. This substitution of vessels was deemed more practical to

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During the roll-up period, H&N_ coordinated their needs for transportation to Bikini
Atoll with the requirements of the various Scientific Groups in order to take advantage of whatever facilities were scheduled for use. The vessels utilized usually carricd one o1 more DUKW
which enabled the men to visit any of the
islands within the Atoll.
The majority of the equipment from the
Scientific Stations at Bikini Atoll was removed
by 3 May,prior to test Yankee. The final equipment roll-up started only three days after the
execution of the Yankee event on 8 May.
The post-test roll-up in the Bikini Atoll
area was accomplished expeditiously despite
very adverse working conditions. Much of the
equipment was from areas considered radioactively contaminated, but because of prompt
action this equipment was salvaged immediately
Page 7-8

rather than temporarily abandoned and recover-

ed later as originally planned.

The major portion of the post-Yankee

roll-up consisted of removing equipment from
Stations 70 and NA-5QU, Nan; Station 1342 and
1550. George; and removing the marine craft
from Bikini Atoll. The removal of mooring gear
was also an important part of the roll-up.
Rolling stock and equipment of both H&N
and the Users was shipped irom the Bikini area
by Navy craft to Eniwetok for decontamination.
However, since the existing Rad-Safe facilities
at Elmer were taxed beyond their capacity,
especially in regard to heavy equipment, a new
fenced-in wash-down area approximately 150
ft. x 200 ft. was provided on the ocean-side of
the island east of the CMR Area. Fresh and
salt water lines were laid and a 50 ft. x 50 ft.
concrete slab was poured near the beach (within
the fenced area) for proper water run-off. A
boiler was installed to furnish the live steam
used to clean off engine and chassis grease; salt
water was used for washing down exteriors and
interiors of equipment. As the equipment was
brought into the area from Bikini, decontaminating was begun immediately, and at times
many H&N employees were used to accomplish
the decontamination program and also to allow
the various Task Groups to make preparations
for an early return of their equipment to the
Z.1. It was also the responsibility of the Contractor to maintain, repair, and service various
Task Groups equipment and vehicles while at
Jobsite and also to assist in their preparation
for return to 2.1. (Figure 7-3).
Desicants were scattered throughout scientific buildings and these buildings were then
closed and sealed with heavy masking paper.
Eleven DUKWs. seven M-boats, five LCUs
and two barges were removed from Bikini Atoll
during the tinal roll-up. ‘i hese vessels were ioad-

ed with recovered equipment and were transported aboard the LSD Belle Grove to Elmer;
the initial trip was on 8 May 1954. The same
procedure was followed with other marine craft
until 11 May, when the last of the equipment
was removed and the roll-up at Bilini Atoll!
was considered complete. At 1015 hours on 12
May, the LSD Belle Grove arrived at Elmer
with the last load of equipment, after having
been used for three successive trips between
Bikini and Eniwetok Atolls during this period.
In compliance with an additional part of
the roll-up plans, an LCU was dispatched to
Rongerik on 12 May via an LSD Navy Craft
in order to dismantle and remove the equipment from a weather station located in Rongerik
Atoll. With the return of this craft, all equip-

ment involved in the post-Yankce roll-un had
been removed to Elmer.

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