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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