’ seventh device was included, resulting in this progr

Sequence

=&B.

Device

LASL

NAW EW
_

Lab

Location

Bravo

LASL

UNION

UCRL

Echo

IASL

Yankee

LASL
LASL

1.

Code

\

}
!

=

Romeo

Prior to MIKE the need for additional test site locations had

been recognized, and preliminary considerations were in progress.

In August

1952, Dr. Graves made a study, including an aerial survey, of several probable

__

sites.

Taongi was found “unsuitable-because no channel into the lagoon existed

and there was insufficient space for construction of an airstrip.

Rongerik .

was located approximately in the center of the Marshall Islands, and extensive

evacuation of leeward islands would probably be required in event of large
scale tests there.

Other locations were found to be such distances from Eni-

wetok that duplication of the Eniwetok facilities would be necessary, which
was not acceptable and on il September 1932 the use of Bikini in the CASTIE
program was approved.

2

.

The use of Bikini was particularly necessary to ‘the AEC for several

reasons.

MIKE experience proved that test sites of the size required for ..

several detonations such as those planned for CASTILE are physically not available at Eniwetok.

The AEC installation at Enivetok isan importent, expensive

asset whose usefulness should not be risked by detonation of several high yield

thermonuclear devices in the ‘tmmea(ate vicinity.
one small island.

Further, MIKE obliterated

,

With the requirements of thermonuclear testing still largely

unknown, it is quite possible that suitable land areas at Eniwetok might soon
be actually eliminated by destryction, thus nullifying the value of the install-

ation.

With this in mind, the use of barges as test sites was ‘investigated,

end Bikini sites were henceforth included in abl CASTLE planning,
principles that logistic support thereof would be held to a minimun.

with the besic

Select target paragraph3