patrole in the coean area near the tvo atolis against any subserines
or surface penstration,
Continuous patrol coverage around toth atolis
was not possible with the nuzber cf ahips avatiable,
As the most
effective alternative the ships confusted interaittent patrols,
warying the pattern ef thelr movenents oo that hostile forces, if
any were present, could not takes advantage of an established tut
{necomplete patrol pattern.
The patrole were centered ebout the mre
sensitive areas at each atoll, 1.6,, near shot sites and off Lagoon
entrences.
Vhenever possible an in-port veseal ws stationed asa’
sonar picket inside a Lagoon entrence.
The frequent absence of one
er mre ships on other ulesions mde this practice irregular,
In
efdition te their evn patrole close inshore, the Tits and FO were
availatle to develep contacts farther out in the denger area when
‘reported by patrolling aircraft ef VP-29.
Tarly in the Operation
a DDE intereepted anf diverted « Jepanene fishing yessel approaching
Enivetck,
Other than this, no onauthori sed surface veasele were
detected in the surface patrol area during the Operation.
‘Several
gonar contests were made; all were classified, after investigation,
as non-gubasrine,
kh,
Surface escorts were provided fa all inter-atell movenants
of AKC deviess, utilising one or two screening ships, depending upon
the nunber availatio.
‘The escert destroyer division's iaitiel task
in CASTLE had Been to screen CURTISS on her January voyage inte the
forvaré area, fron a postition off Raval to "nlwetok.
Yo other ship
movenents vere e900 tea,
3