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 argued that the ships were in such radiological condition that with available personnel and equipment they could not all be made safe (Reference C.10.11) for the work needed either to prepare them for movement to Pearl Harbor or to assess their damage fully (Reference C.10.17).

By 11 August it was recognized that post-BAKER contamination was also a continuing and increasing problem for nontarget ships remaining in Bikini Lagoon (Reference C.10.14). Radioactive material from the contaminated lagoon was accumulating in the support ships' evaporators, saltwater piping, and marine growth on the outside of their hulls. Plans were made to move target vessels and support ships to Kwajalein, a convenient location with good anchorages, where the problems resulting from BAKER could be faced free from the environmental contamination present at Bikini. Beginning 19 August, 53 target ships were towed to Kwajalein and by 5 September the last of the target fleet had left Bikini.

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