Page:Operation Crossroads 1946.pdf/277

 USS Apogon (SS-308) 15 July 0811-0830 1010-1110 16 July 1330-1345 1440-1455

17 July 0840-1150 1445-1540 1610-1620 18 July 0900-1100

1330-1425 20 July 0645 0807 0858 1035-1052 1050-1115 21 July 0605 0805 1008 1225 1345-1405 1445-1700 22 July 0500 0640

0930 0950

USS Appalachian (AGC-1)

8 August Party aboard to install deflection gauges in torpedo room. 10 August Party aboard to work on blast gauges.

Apoqon's crew transfered to remanned target ship USS Fillmore (APA-83). Diving operations started.

11-12 August

Divingoperationscontinued:recovered torpedo ordnance.

13 August

Blast damage reported to main ballast 7 had tanks 6A, 6B. W, and 6D: tank largeleaksneartoponventrisers. Diver reported that tank top around 6B main ballast tank vent riser was ruptured: after torpedo room full of water; hatch found to be loose on Its seat and it was believed that dog mechanism had failed. Maneuvering room contained water that was being blowno u t. The after battery hatch was found loose on its seat with bubbles escaplng. It was made tight by turning hand wheel. Meanwhile diving operations continued.

Party came aboard to pick up blast pots. Party aboard to pick up paint patch. Rigged special weight-suspension bridles for test BAKER. Party aboardto install instruments. Party aboard to post photographic films. Working party came aboard to place Nord Unit 5120 topside for test BAKER. Party came aboard to work on torpedo room gauges. Shovedfirstevacuatipnpartyoffin 14 August preparation for test BAKER. Submerged at anchor. Surf aced. Party came aboard to take motion pictures of topside. Party boarded to check instruments. (ARSD-1) moored alongside starboard; commenced work of suspending spe- 15 cial weights for test BAKER. G m installed set of submerged weights aft and cleared starboard side. 16 G_yesr moored to starboard side to install set of weights. G_yesr completed installation of weights and cleared starboard side. Party came aboard to check instrumentation work. 17 Party from Haven came aboard to install instruments. 19

Continued work on repairing the after torpedo room hatch. Blew water from control room despite large air leak in vlcinity of forward torpedo-loading hatch. Forward engine room and after battery could be partially blown despite large leak from each within after end of conning tower fairwater.

USS Gypsy

Beganriggingsubmarineinaccordance with special submerged condition bill. Rigging of boat completed and all hands determined t o be topside. Secured final opening, the after engine room hatch: stood by for submergence. Comnenced rigging hoses to salvage lines from USS Coucal (ASR-8). Evacuated crew to Bottineau. Boat rigged for dive."A" and "B" parties evacuated to Bottineau. c o w commenced submerging the submarine for test BAKER.

1 AugustGeigerreadingsnear A m o n at165feet 4 feet (50.3 meters) depth 50 R/24 hours; (1.22 meters) above bottom1 R/24 hours.

August

Continuedsalvageoperations.Removed badly damaged after torpedo room hatch. Continued salvage operations. Continued fitting blow connections to the fuel ballast tanks and making the after torpedo room tight. Approximately 45 percent of lift boat was the buoyancy required to available within the boat's structure.

August

Continued salvage operations.

August

Attempts to install blow connection the after fuel ballast and fuel tanks proceeding slowly.

in

20 August

Continued salvage operations.

21 August

Continued salvage operations. All fuel ballast and fuel tanksaft of the conning tower fitted with blow connection. Starting from aft all tanks being tested and made air tight.

22 August

Continued salvage operations.

24 August

Staffinspectionscompletedandmade available to CTG 1.2 for disposition.

Shot BAKER (25 July, 0835) 25JulySubmergedatanchorinassignedposition in target array (850 yards [777 meters] SSE of surface zero) in Bikini Lagoon. mi (37 Crew evacuated to Bottineau 20 km) from BAKER detonation site. Amon sank as a result of BAKER.

August

USS

APPALACHIAN (AGC-1)

Crew S l z e : 614 Btklnl Atoll Arrlval: 29

June 1946 Blklnl Atoll Departure: 29 July 1946 Shot ABLE Locatlon: 18 nml ( 3 3 km) NNE Shot BAKER Locatlon: 9.5 nml ( 1 8 km) ESE Decontamlnatlon Locatlon: San Franclsco Operatlonal Clearance: 2 October 1946 FInal Clearance: 3 October 1946

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