-16-
RESULTS
Initial radiation survey
The Wahoo device was detonated at 1330 on May 16,
1407 hours,
1958, and
at
the radiation survey to determine the 10 mr/hr limits of
the radioactive water mass was started.
A summaryof the ship's
track and the radiation readings in mr/hr recorded during the survey are presented in Figure 4.
Immediately before the Wahoo test
while the ship was 7, 000 yards south of target zero, the background
radiation aboard ship was 2.0 mr/hr.
The average background radi-
ation in the target area was 1.5 mr/hr.
In the following discussion
the average background value has been subtracted from the values
presented.
Following the detonation, as the ship proceeded in a northeasterly
direction, it entered a 3 mr/hr field, at which time (1435) it was turned
to the west,
During the turn, the radiation level increased rapidly to 500
mr/hr (1451) and then dropped rapidly to 5mr/hr as the ship's
was changed sharply southward and away from target zero.
course
This point,
approximately one mile southeast from target zero, probably represents
the limit of the main body of radioactive water at this time (1455).
survey was continued in a southwesterly direction and at 1510,
readings of 10 to 30 mr/hr were obtained,
a northwesterly one.
the course was
The
when
changed to
At 1530, readings of 2 to 8 mr/hr were obtained
- weco
D
ov
24,
wb