i Fak UI ew x ss @ re DD2a49/m. Pe2 CONFIDENTIAL (2) Tne island «no surroundin- .ecter tears «itn fisn, turtles and Sse Olrds. ce, Roncorax Atoll: (a) Tne snap cia not etteret csessx 2 into tn> avoid o¢cause of the poor navigational aids available. It 18 h2diev2a taut a snuiLo. drat VeSSsi SNOuUsU sALEFasnee Very siltic Qlasacuaty if mendin,, PeSSaec. (2) Smait Boataas i8 rourh, put not aan: srous. Extrets cere so0uld be exercised when approaching Boca Isl-na as miny coraéi heaas urpresent ano tre water is very shallow. Gd. Aldineinc3 Atoll: (2) Onty grail bot anctry sas ade. have very little difficulty making entry. A shallo. drzit vessel should Navigational cuts were very poor. (2) Small boating was rough but not dangerous. e. Utirix atoll: (1) The four beacons shown on HO chart 6023 have been replaced by two black buoys. It is understood that the Trust Territory AKL makes reg- ular entry into Utirik Atoll through Utirik Fussage. around Utirik Island are missing. The beacons on and (2) Small boating is not difficult, but a sharp watch should be maintained for coral heads. 4. Recommendations and Summary: a. Survey of these atolls from a DD= tyre vessel is somewhat inefficient in that Rongzlap is the only atoll, of the five visited, that can be entered and navigated safely, thus limiting the number of islands thst can be coversd in a given time. Boat handling operations outside the atolls were difficult due to heavy swells. “Jith the forces available, it is believed that the use of a DIE is the most practicable solution for similar missions. For oparaticns subsscuent to "CaSTLI", it is recommended that a smaller class ship of shalloi. draft be used. This would permit entry into most lagoons shortening boat runs, in somz cases twenty miles. LDPIED/D LANL po (72 <u Lercheneareredn nena teeerie UNCLASSIFIED

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