imu 4 The delays on individual shots, accompanied as they were ty frequent sorties followed by postponement, multiplied the taske of mang task group unite. A considerable aumber of them had to com mence scheduled operstions on alnus two day or early on minus onc to permit eanpletion before shot tims, notably the «TFs supporting sclen~ tific projects, and the pstrol sjusdron at Keajalein, All ships hai to prepare early on minns one day for sortie from the lagoon. Fou~ teen actual sorties were cerried out in getting off the six CASTLE shots3 preparations were carried owt to a considerable extent on several other cocasions, é To mect the citastion the task group was maintained in a abate of constent readincss, ond preparatory oper etions originally scheduled for ainus two day were sodified so that they sould be comsenced on minus alts the conctantly changing eitustion Fequired extran flexibility of the task group. Logistics wore oonplioated. Supply ships end tankers carrying task force cargoes had to pat in at Kwajalein to await a break in the schedule to perait thas te proceed te mnivetok without getting involved fin shot operations, Unloading st Bikini had to be carried out hurriedly; complicated fueling plans were neceasary to keep ships supplicd and ample stocks on hand. Froper upkesp became impossible. ‘The task group successfully accomplished its CASTLE mission only by virtue of long hours of hard labor, and the determination, reflected throughout all unites, that no CASTLE shot would be delayed on account of the Marvy. — 120 ye _