cart SUBJECT: ° Report on Soil and "hter Sampling Mission collected at approximately 1200 M, 6 March 1954. Instrument readings with the MX-‘ showed a maximum of 3 or/hr, however this was not considered reliable, since a higher scale showed a lower reading. ce AIDWWK ATOLL. The ship reached this atoll ot approximtely 1600 M, 6 YWarch 1954, and slowly moved to an anchorage off Ailuk Island, the most heavily populated. The lagoon has not been swopt, and numerous coral heads and pinnaclos provided considerablo hazard to ship movement. The landing party moved ashore br whaleboat without difficulty, and agzin obtained water samples from the most promi . ant cistern and soil samples from random unsheltered spots. Readings with the MX-! showed approximately 3 or/hr (off the 2 mr scale). An AN/PDR-27E showed a high reading of 7 mr/hr, however, on a diffcrent scale a-reading of 12 or 15 aor/hr was obtained, The MX-5 roading is probably nearest correct. No significant varlatior:< were detected on bare foet or clothing of individuals, Samplos and roadings wore taken at approximtely 1700 M, 6 March 1954. d, MEJIT Island, This singlo coral island is also surrounded bya recf, ‘3 is JEMO, but landing wis possible with a whaleboat, duc to an arca protoctod fr: the surf, The island was found to bo heavily populated in view of its sizo, the ,otal number of people boing 327, according to the island magistrato, Soil and yater samples were taken as in the previously described mannor, at approximtoly 1300 M, 7 March 1954. Roadings with tho MX-5 showed maximum of approximtely 3 arfhr (off the 2 scale, but approximately 1.5 on tho 20 seale); the maximum readin;: with a PDR 27 E was 10 m/hr. Tho truco figuro was probably somowhore betwoen the SWOe , 2. CONCLUSIONS. Low levol (less than 10 mr/hr)radiation measuromert s with fiold instrummts of the type used are highly unsatisfactory. Ono MX-5 and threo AN/PDR 27 E instruments all showed widoly variant readings on different scales, and varied among each other when exposed to the same radiation, An AN/PDR T1-B proved completoly useless not holding to zcro even after an hours warm-up, and also showing widely variant readings on different scales, 3. RECOMMENDATIONS. landing parties in islands such as JEMO and MEJIT shoulc be provided with a rubber 6-man or @-man mpneumtic boat, to provide groatcr safcty to personnel and cquipment. This will pormit lending directly on live coral recfs with less danger of the boat being stove in. Ships assigned te such aissims should draw such cquipment prior to departure, 4. The successful accomplishment of tho mission ws egrcatly facilitated by she interost and enthusiasm of tho Commanding Officer of the USS RENSHAW, CDR L. H. ilford, USN, and his officers and mon, Their matorial contributions were noccssary to the mission, however, the many valuable suggestions and assistance in solutions of problems proved invaluable. /sf R. D. Crea R. D. CREA