11. Logis~c Efiort
The total instrumental effort involved in the experiments conducted at Eniwetok was
an order of magnitude less than the similar effort of the Crossroads expedition. Taking into account the further dissimilarities existing between the two operations, with respect to
their aims, it is apparent that the logistic effort, in terms of personnel, services and expenditures involved, were of approximately the same order of magnitude. This is believed to
be due to the fact that the locale chosen for these experiments, due to its remoteness from
the United States, imposes a fixed requirement for major logistic support.
It appears that, regardless of any success that may be achieved in simplification of
experimental procedures, the irreducible minimum of the overhead, in terms of logistic support, for subsequent tests in the Marshall Islands, will be essentially the same as that of
Crossroads and Sandstone.
In the interest of economy of personnel, materiel and money expenditures, a reexamination of the possible locations for a permanent atomic proving ground appears to be indicated. I have, by separate memorandum, brought to the attention of the Commander, Joint
Task Force Seven, certain aspects of this problem which are considered pertinent.
III,
Military
Tests
Although the proof-testing of certain weapons and the accumulation of data on nuclear
reaction were acknowledged to be the primary purpose of the Sandstone tests, it was obvious in the planning stage that these tests couid also yield a considerable amount of information regarding the effects of the nuclear explosion, valuable from a military point of
view. A certain number of experiments were therefore included which were calculated to
yield information valuable to the Military Establishment for offensive and defensive purposes. It is possible that in planning future tests, a closer integration of experiments designed to achieve these diverse but related objectives could be made with consequent additional profit to both the military and the scientific groups. In order to provide continuous
planning within the Military Establishment for future tests of this nature and to avoid the
necessity for independent sets of tests to serve one purpose or the other, it is recommended
that a permanent group composed of interested and competent representatives of the Military Establishment be assigned the responsibility for planning future tests in coordination
with the Atomic Energy Commission. It appears that this would properly be the function
of the Military Liaison Committee, with the staff support of the Armed Forces Special
Weapons Project.
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