Page:Operation Crossroads 1946.pdf/381

 USS Parche (SS-384)

USS Pennsylvanla (66-38)

C r e uL o c a t l o nf oSr h o t BAKER: Clymer;Rockbrldge Shot ABLE L o c a t l o n1:. 5 4 v1 a r d (s1 . 4 km) SE ki) s Shot BAKER L o c a t l o n i:, l 4 0 - y a r d s ' ( l. o Sunk 1 0F e b r u a r y1 9 4 8n e a rK w a j a l e l n

1210-1510 Opening up boat. 2-24JulyCrewaboard. Shot B A K E R ( 2 5J u l y ,0 8 3 5 )

Task U n l t and F u n c t l o n

The battleship Pennsylvania served in TU 1.2.1 (Battleship and Cruiser Unit), Battleship Division 9. as a target ship for CROSSROADS. Its crew left the ship for each shot. Different kinds of materials were placed aboard the ship for experimental reasons. The materials included food and clothing, ammunition.andradio,radar.andelectronic equipment.

26 July 1600

6-8 August

Preserver(ARS-8)wasdirectedto proceed to the vicinity of target submarines USS Skate (SS-305) and Parche to make a radiological survey around five submergedsubmarines(Reference 6 . p. VII-I-17-B). USS

Shot ABLE ( 1 J u l y, 0900)

Parche scrubbed down using boiler cmpound. The boat was cleaned alternately by scrubbing with boiler compound and applying a lye bath.

nost Pennsylvania crewmembers were evacuated to c1ymer and Rockbridqe on29 and 30 July.

8 August 0900

0935 August 14

Crew transferred to re.mnned target ship USS Fillmore (APA-83). Anchored near berth 145.

1 July 0335

Crew delivered a sample of wood the deck to USS Haven (AH-12) for study by the Radsafe Office. Parche scrubbed down with lye and its trim pump hosed i t down using high pressure.

19 August 1044 Anchored in berth112. Anchored near berth 145. 1710 During the day. the ship was again hosed down. Sulfuric acid removed any rust.

1314 1319 1330

1445 1523 1700 1106 1905

wood on bridge deck and 20 August Crew ripped up hosed it down (Reference 4). 2 July The sizes of the working parties and their times aboard 1013 Parche from 6 August to 21 August are swm~rized in is Table A.7. Shipboard contamination aboard Parche reported in Table A.8. 1130

22 August 0745 Parche reboarded with entire crew. 0900Underway to Kwajalein.

1155 23 August 1100 ArrivedatKwajalein. 1430CrewtransferredtoFillmore. 24 August Crew reboarded for

8 hours.

25 August Crew reboarded for

6 hours.

26 August Crew returned

1325

1407

to live aboard.

1415 28 August Departed bor.

for San Francisco via Pearl Har-

1435 1455

USS PENNSYLVANIA (86-38) Crew Size: 484 B l k l nA l t o lA l rrlval: B l k l nAl t o lDl e D a r t I J r e : Crew L o c a t l o nf o rS h o t

28-29 May 1946 21 Auoust 1916 ABLE: USS GeoroeClymer (APA-27); USS Rocklnoham

1501 2305

( APA-229)

376

The last-minute evacuation group left for Rockbridqe, leavlng no persons aboard. Explosions amidship noted (Reference 6 . p . VII-I-8-A). A fire flared up on Pennsylvania and burned continuously until about 1530 when it was extinguished by the DsM salvage parties. PennsylvaniawasreportedGeigersour (Reference 6 . p. VII-I-11-A). Radiological teams in boats B14 and B3 reported Pennsylvania Geiger s e t (Reference 6, p. VII-I-lla-A). CKW consolidated on Clymer. USS Current (ARS-22) reported PennsylGeiger sweet (Reference 6. p . VIII-17-A). Ds?! declared Pennsylvania clear for boarding by TeamsA and B; to be boarded on the following day. The commanding officer and a portion of Boarding Team A departed from Clvmet for USS Haven ("12) to pick up the radiological monitor. The radiological monitor was taken aboard the boat and the .party. headed for permsylvanla. The ship's initial boarding teami m d i ately commenced a radiologlcal clearance of the topside. The topside and the foremast and main be radiologically mastwerefoundto clear. and the inspection was continued below decks. The casemates (armored enclosures to fire guns from) and main and second decks were found to be radlologlcally clear, The engine rooms, fire rooms, and auxiliary spaces were found to be radiologically clear. The remainder of Team A and Team B was received aboard. The radiological officer and commanding officer satisfied themselves that permsylvanlawasradiologicallyclearand safe. The radiological monitor collected water samples and returnedt o Clearance to turn on fteshwater was obtained.

Haven.