Ix
Repairs could act be effected in the forward ares,
The resultant
loss of speed end mancuversbility virtually eliminated her further
usefulnese to the tssk group,
For a few daye pricr to UNION she
tented the NECTAR site at Inivetok, supporting the scientific per
eonnel engaged there in preparing for the HOCTAR shot.
By the tine
UNIOS was fired «wcrk on MICTAR had progressed to the point here an
LOO could take over the shot site support duties.
CIG 7.5 provided
ani LCU for tho purpose, end arrangements were completed to release
LST 762 from the Oper tion and assist hor to Posr] Nerbor,
On one
;
engine she could make a maximum apeod of only 4.6 knots; at that speed
she had difficulty holdinay her bow into a head sea.
Since she would
have to head into the sevs during the eatire woyage, ancther LST,
ecroute fron the Western Facifio, was ordered by COMPHIRPAC to rentesyous with 762 between Eniwetok end Pearl Narbor emt serve as escort.
The rendezvous was effected, LST 97§ joined 742, book her in tow to
assist in halding her head into the sess, an4 the ciow voyage to Bexeii
eontinued,
On 6 Hay, approximtely 700 miles esst of Bikini, both
L8Te were slightly comtaminated by radicactive fallak from YaNKRE,
averaging about 20 ar/hr.
Ecth ships effected decontamination before
their arrival et Fearl Harbor.
he
Next to leave were the FECLAINER and SHEA.
They had been
ordered to the task group for the epecific purpose of supporting the
Bureau of Ordnance's gining project, 3.4.
Since they had placed all
their experimental sinse in position on UNION, their alsslon was
accomplished whea they had cospleted recovery of the mines after the
245
AFWL/HO .
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gk
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