The APACHE, BELLE GROVE, PHILIP, and SIOUX remained in the Bikini area overnight. On 2 March the APACHE maneuvered slowly westward toward Enewetak and the SIOUX continued its retrieval of buoys for Project 2.5a until about 2000 hours, at which time it also headed for Enewetak. The BELLE GROVE moored in Bikini Lagoon at 0844 hours and the GYPSY reentered the lagoon approximately 4 hours later. The PHILIP continued patrolling off Bikini until about 1900, when it entered the lagoon and anchored. About 2145 hours, the PHILIP got underway for Rongelap Atoll where it evacuated personnel to Kwajalein. The EPPERSON, LST-551, LST-762, LST-825, and the RENSHAW,all near Enewetak on shot day, were joined on the morning of 2 March by the AINSWORTH, BAIROKO, CURTISS, and ESTES. At approximately 0823 hours, the LST-825 departed Enewetak enroute to Japan. Late in the afternoon on 2 March, the BAIROKO, ESTES, and LST-762 departed Enewetak for Bikini, arriving there on 3 March. The LST-551 departed Enewetak on 3 March and arrived at Bikini the following day. 2.1.2 Shot ROMEO When Shot ROMEO was detonated at Bikini Atol] at 0630 hours, 27 March, nine of the ships were operating in assigned areas southeast of Bikini Atoll. They were: AINSWORTH BELLE GROVE ESTES APACHE CURTISS NICHOLAS BAIROKO EPPERSON SIOUX The GYPSY had departed Bikini on 26 March and was enroute to Kwajalein when Shot ROMEO was detonated. The AINSWORTH, BAIROKO, BELLE GROVE, EPPERSON, and ESTES returned to the Bikini Lagoon anchorage area early in the afternoon; the CURTISS and the NICHOLAS returned late in the afternoon. and the SIOUX began buoy retrieval operations. Bikini while the SIOUX proceeded north. The APACHE proceeded west of About 1600 hours the EPPERSON departed the lagoon to begin patrolling north of the atoll. 20 At midday the APACHE