B65 6
24 April 1957
HQDP010048073
Memorandum for General Starbird:
“
AAA
As a result of mv discussion with General Luedecke on this date
regarding the DoD's position on the Taongi paper, General Luedecke
made the following four points:
1.
2.
He does not believe that they can do the job by the methods
programmed by UCRL, I.e., they cannot dig the channel as quickly
and as cheaply as UCRL indicated.
The status of the Class A weapon is a controlling factor.
Unless
we can be sure that the Class A will be available to test in
HARDTACK on Taongi we would be on thin ground attempting to
justify the additional site.
3.
The magnitude of the total program is so large he feels the
SecDef and the Chairman, AEC would personally have to sit down
and review together whether or not we should include Taongi.
He roughly estimates that the DoD costs alone are aporoximately
$57,000,000 at this point.
4,
He did not specifically have the reaction of the Navy people
regarding their ability to support the additional site.
He
Stated that they could and will do the job if approved by the
SecDef but would not on their own recommend such a decision.
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