to consolidate with appropriate J Sections under the supervision of the J
Section head.
program.
A somewhat similar arrangement was planned for the DOD TU~13
During the pre~operetional phase representatives of Armed Forces
Special Weapons Project (AFSWP) were placed on duty for 2=3 days per week with
fA
J sections and would work full time during the operational phase. (12)
Be.
1.
The decision to use Bikini made possible the realization of CASTLE
as originally contemplated, but certain problems inherent in a seven shot
CJ
thermonuclear program still remain,
Factors such as the degree of instrumentation
to be given each experiment, the estimated shock strengths, and possible
radiation contamination, had to be weighed against the need to minimize the
‘
' duration of the operation, the desire to avoid shipboard housing except for
short periods of unavoidable evacuation, and to avoid damageto instrumentation
being installed for subsequent experiments.
2. The new 7.1 organization got under way with intensified planning in
an effort to bring the basic concept into operational focus.
Prior to 1 Feb
53, it was acknowledged that the originally planned test dates of Fall 1953
were not realistic, and a period in Spring 1954 was accepted. From
approximately February thru May of 1953 a planning phase prevailed, during~
which the scope of experimentation was continuously reviewed for the purpose
of determining support requirements, This phase changed, during June thru
September, into a requirements phases during which the findings of the previous
‘
phase were made known, projects became identified and definitive relations with
participating agencies became a major subject.
The activities of these two
periods follow in greater detail.
.
(11)
Ltr DWET to CTG 7.1, 20 Aug 53, File 21050 in 600 CASTLE - Re relationships
between JIF, TG & AFSWP
a