Page:Operation Crossroads 1946.pdf/298

 y

USS Bountiful ( A H - 9 )

USS Bracken ( A P A - 6 4 )

4-26AugustAnchoredatBikini,conductingroutine activities.

1 July 1857Anchoredinthelagoon. Shot BAKER (25 July,September 0835) 27Departed Bikini Pearl Harbor Atoll for

via Kwajalein Atoll. 24 July 1530LeftBikiniLagoonforareaoutsidethe steaming with atoll. TG 1.8.

USS (APA-64) BRACKEN

Crew S l z e :

27

108 Blklnl Atoll Arrlval: Before 30 June 1946 Blklnl Atoll Departure: 19 August 1946 Crew Locatlon for Shot ABLE: USS Henrlco (APA-45) Locatlon for Shot BAKER: Vartous unlts ABLE Locatlon: 2,010 yards (1.8 km) S Shot BAKER Locatlon: 1,475 yards (1.3 km)SSE 10 March 1948, off Kwafaleln Atoll

1600 Departed Bikini Atoll en route to Pearl Harbor. Crew4 August 1040 Moored Pearl atHarbor. Shot 13 September Decommissioned at Seattle, Washington. Sunk

Task Unlt and Functlon USS

BOWDITCH (AGS-4)

Bracken was an attack transport used as a target vessel during CROSSROADS. Its crew was evacuated before ABLE. It served in Transportation Division 93 of TU 1.2.6 (Merchant Type Unit). Bracken was equipped by the Electronics Group with Celger counters coupled to radio transmitters. It also carried water-pressure-telemetering channelsto measure ionized clouds.

Creu S t z e : 296 BIklnl Atoll Arrlval: 5 March 1946 Blklnl Atoll Departure: 27 September 1946 Shot ABLE Locatlon: 23 nml (43 km) N E Shot BAKER Locatlon: Rongelap Atoll Decontamlnatlon Locatlon: San Franclsco Operatlonal Clearance: 20 November 1946 Flnal Clearance: 20 November 1946

Shot ABLE (1 July, 0900)

Task Unlt and Function

30 June 1145 Barditch was a surveying ship used as a support ship In TU 1.8.5 (Survey Unlt). Before task force arrival, Bowditch made a survey of the atoll and lagoon t o prepare anchorage charts to be used in the operation. Enewetak and Rongelap atolls were 1 July also surveyed. Its function during the operation was to survey the biological effects of the tests on fish and wildlife. It also conducted oceano1402 graphic surveys to determine the character of currents in and around the atoll. 1403-1435

Shot ABLE ( 1 July, 0900) 30 June 1601 Underway from Rongelap Atoll for area Packard.

1412

1 July

1535

0910Joined TG 1.8. 1847 Anchored in berth

1435

1542

322, Bikini Atoll.

2 July Shiftedtoberth230.

Three officers and eighty-four enllsted menevacuatedtoHenrico.Last-minute detall of two officers and ten enlisted men remained on board. Remaining Bracken crew evacuated before ABLE. A fire was reported on Bracken (Reference 5. p. B-11). ATA-192 alongside target ships USS Nla9ara (APA-87). USS Bladen (APA-631, and Bracken to fight fires caused by nuclear detonation (Reference 1, ATA-192). USS Oneota(AN-85)reportedfireon Bracken (Reference 1. -1. ATA-192startedcoolingdownBracken (ReEerence 6. I-12-A). Bracken not cleared for boarding (Reference 6, I-12-A). Oneota reported a small fire on after1. deckhouse of Bracken (Reference Oneota).

12 0841 Reported a Eireon USS Cumberland Sound AV-17). 0855 Extinguished fire aboard Cumberland 0940 Cleared for boarding (Reference

0816-0854BoardingpartyfromOneotaonBracken (Reference 1. Oneota).

5, p.

Sogo.

17 July 0556 1411

8-16). 3 July Bracken crew resumed berthing aboard

Underway. Anchored in Rongelap Atoll.

ship. Shot BAKER ( 2 5 July, 0835)

Shot BAKER (25 July,0835) 25 July

25-26 July Ship abandoned before test BAKER. Personnel were aboardUSS Rockbridqe (APA-228). U s Henrico, USS Applinq (APA-58). and Gunston Hall (LSD-5).

Anchored at Rongelap Atoll.

1 August

0558

Underway for Bikini Atoll where chored in berth 251.

it an27 Julv ~

"~

0640 Bracken showed 30-minute a tolerance 3 August

Shifted to anchorage between berths level. and Item.

385

293