DDE449/ms: Pe2 Ce (2) Tne island and surroundine water te2ns with fisn, turtles 2nd gva olirds,. ce. Roncerix Atoll: (14) Tha snip dia not attetpt ressn-2 anto the atoll pecause of ths poor navigational aids available. It 1s p2eLreved taat a snzilo. drat Vessel SNOudU sAverisnce Very alitle ailiaculty in nueking puesSdge. oixtrene ce r & (2) Sméii Boatan> is rouch, put not aonzerous. oo sould bs exercised when approaching Bocx Isl:nq as many coral hee ds prossnt and tho watsr is very shallow. gd. ure Arlinginc2 Atoll: (1) Only stall boit entry .as aade. A shelio.s drart vessel should have very little difficulty making entry. Navigational cuts were very poor. . . r (2) Small boating was rough but not dangerous. e. : Utirik Atoll: (1) The four beacons shown on HO chart 6023 have been replaced by two black buoys. It is understood that the Trust Territory AKL makes reg- ular entry into Utirik Atoll through Utirik Passage. around Utirik Island are missing. The beacons on and (2) Small boating is not difficult, but a sharp watch should be maintained for coral heads. 4. Recommendations and Summary: a. Survey of these atolls from a DDE type vessel is somewhat inefficient in that Rongelap is the only atoll, of the five visited, that can be entered and navigated safely, thus limiting the number of islands that can be covered ina given time. Boat handling operations outside the atolls were difficult due to heavy swells. ‘Yith the forces availabfe, it is believed that the use of a DDB is the most practicable solution for similar missions. For operations subsecuent to "CASTLZ", it is recommended that a smaller class ship of shallow draft be used. This would permit entry into most lagoons shortening boat runs, in some cases twenty miles. LA rier, Cy D/008 coptE NL RC