J3<58 | SrORET IS February 1957 For Operation REDKING, the above and other requiremnts necessitated extensive nodifications and installations shipboard, As a remit, the USS CURTISS (AV) received these alterations and served as the TG 7.1 Conaand Ship for REDJING. Considerable time and fimds were expended to fit her out which undoubtedly will have to be accomplished again in the event ancther ship is supplied. Therefore, in the interest of economies, it is the recomrendation of this Task Croup that the USS CURTISS be obtained for this sane purpose for Operation HARDTACK, .b. The Task Group has a requirement for a ship for the purpose of moving HARDTACK elassified devices to and from the EPG. Suitable booms, elevators, and storage space for. this classified material mst be available, A detailed stowage requiremant can not be made at this time as the cubages and tonnages of the material to be moved are not Imom at this tim. For REDWING the USS CURTISS (AV=), also filled tiis requirement and fran what is presently mon would also be entirely adequate for HARDTACK. Sane past modifications an alterations have been made on the USS CURTISS to facilitate this mission. c. Also there mst be a ship present at BIKINI Atoll on which to dase the Marine helicopter squadron and from which during afloat operations, conduct evacuation and re-entry-recovery helicopter activities. For Operation HARDTACE no extensive modifications or permanent installation are visualized at this tim. It will require, hovever, a personnel decontamination facility. This includes outside showers (salt water) with overside drains and a clothing change station. TCG 7.1 peek population quartered aboard the CVE during REDJING was 6§ cabin class ani 17 troop class spaces. a A ship is requested by TC 7.1 for the movement of shot barges between atolls, For REDJING tha USS CATAMCUNT (LSDel7) was assigned. Due to the suitability md configuration of m LSD it is considered that again this type of ship be assigned for Opsration HARDTACK. e. In all probability the ship assigned as TG 7.2 Command Ship will not be able to eccomodate the bulk of the TG 7.1 ad other Task Forces persomel at BIKINI during periods afleat, For that reason, a ship of the TeAP type is required. For REDWING, the peak number of TG 7.1 personel who were quartered aboard the USNS ATNSJORTH (Te4P-261) was 225, The AINSJORTH was entirely satisfactory and would be highly desirable for Operation HARDTACK, also served as the TG 7.5 Commend Ship. f, This ship At EYIWETOX Atoll provision mst be made for the emergency evacuation of TG 7.1 personnel from the atoll in the event of natural disaster or contamination from fallout. Unlike Operation REDWING, the necessity to have the capability cf firing medium and large yield devices at both atolls restricts the use that can be made of the ships stationed at BIKINI. From discussions on this subject it would appear that a ship of the APA type, on a rotational basis, would adequately satisfy this requirement. For Operation REDWING, TG 7.1 population at ENIWETOK reached a maximum of 1000, go During REDWING, in contrast to the CASTIE operation, the commander TG 7.1 ad certain of his key scientifie persormel were required to do extensive traveling between EX IVETOK and BIKINI Atolls as shots were readied and as problems developed which required their imediate and personal attention. The