PSTD get
setting lines at 0342 hours at Lat. 11952 1/2'N. and Long.
166°35'E. Afterward it cruised for ten (10) minutes toward the
north-east (estimated cruising distance: 1 1/4 nauti al miles),
and drifted with its engine stopped.
About 0412 hou s, after it
had drifted about twenty (20) minutes (estimated wes
way, about one half (1/2) nautical mile), a streak o
which seemed to have resulted from an atomic bomb ex
seen.
The vessel's position at that time was approx
11°53-1/4'N. and Long. 166°35-1/4'E.
About seven or eight minutes after the light had bee
detonation apparently resulting from an atomic bomb
was heard and the vessel immediately started hauling
lines.
This operation ended at 1030 hours and the ve
toward the north to get out of the area.
After 0440 hours, March 2 the vessel shifted its cour
the north-west and headed for Yaizu.
Yaizu at 0600 hours on March 14.
III.
It entered the
Circumstances of the Accident:-
lL.
About 0412 hours on March 1, a reddish brilliant ligh
in the direction of west-southwest of the vessel.
Th
this light gradually turned to white-yellow and again
color of
red and faded away.
No wind resulting from the explosion was felt within
seven or eight minutes but two blasts were heard in su
A cloud having the shape of a mushroom was seen in the direction
where the light was first seen and this cloud started
covering the sky with dark clouds.
Oo expand
As the crew saw the light, some of them realized that
robably
in the
an atomic test, about which they remembered having rea
newspapers, might have occurred.
Anticipating danger,
Started hauling in the lines at about 0430 hours, from
tion where they had previously finished setting the li
gresSing in the opposite direction toward the northeas
lines were hauled in by machine using what is called a
hauler. While hauling in the lines the vessel's engin
the process of “go slow ahead" and "stop" and the same
In the present instance all hands with the exception of
engineers on watch were working on the upper deck and i
wheel house.
In the midst of the operation of hauling lines, about t
hours later than the moment the light had been seen, an
estimated position of Lat. 11956 3/4'N. and Long. 166°4
ashes started to fall on the deck, which was turned whi
the hauling operation ended about 1030 hours in the vic
the estimated position of Lat. 12°03'N. and Long. 16695
466
ine-