Page:Operation Crossroads 1946.pdf/383

 USS

Pensacola ( C A - 2 4 ) USS

PENSACOLA (CA-24)

Crew Slze: 354 Btklnl Atoll Arrlval: 28-29 May 1946 Blklnl Atoll Departure: 24 A u g u s t 1946 Crew Locatlon for Shot ABLE: USS George Clymer (APA-27); USS Rocklnqham ( APA-229) Crew Locatlon for Shot BAKER: Clymer; Rockinaham Shot ABLE Locatlon: 710 y a r d s (649 meters) E Shot B A K E R Locatlon: 640 y a r d s ( 5 8 5 meters) W Oecontamlnatlon Locatlons: Kuafaleln; Bremerton Sunk 10 November 1948. o f f the coast o f Washlngton Task U n l t and Functlon The heavy cruiser Pensacola served in TU 1.2.1 (Battleship and Cruiser Unit). Cruiser Division 23. It was a target vessel for CROSSROADS. Its Food and crew was evacuated before each shot. clothing. radio. radar. and electronic equipment were placed aboard the vessel for experimental reasons.

USS Pensacola ( C A - 2 4 ) Shot B A K E R (25 July, 0835) 25 July Crew aboard Rockinqham. 0345 Last-minute personnel left ship for Clymer The detonation caused extensive damage to and it was radiologically unsafe for habitation.

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27 July

Pensacola crewmembers aboard Clymer apparently transferred to Rockinqham.

30 July

ATR-87 washed down Pensacola for 4 hours with high-pressure hoses (Reference 6. p. VII-I-49-B). The ship had tolerances of 6 and8 minutes.

31 July

ATR-87 washed d m Pensacola with foamite (Reference 6. p. VII-I-57-B).

1 August

Work parties from Pensacola boarded Preserver (ARS-8) to go alongside

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Shot A B L E (1 1 July 0340

1630

1702 2 July 1630

3 July 0800 0915 0925

1040-1200 1300-1700

1320-1430 1-10 July

1420 CompletedevacuationofPensacolato Rockinqham. Last-minute security detail evacuated to Clymer. Clymer and Rockinqham reentered the lagoon and proceeded to anchor for the night. Later in the night, Pensacola personnelaboardClymerdisembarkedand joined Pensacola crew aboard Rockinqham. Fire noted burning on fantail (Reference 6, p. VII-I-16-A).

1600-1623

2 August 0830 1002

AlthoughFensacola hadnotyetbeen clearedradiologically.theconmanding officer made a survey of Pensacola from a small boat but did not board.

1028

Pensacola cleared radiologically. 1415-1528 The conmanding officer. Team A. and radsafe monltor came aboard. Joint Chiefs of Staff and members of the President'sEvaluationBoard. who had 1805-1810 boarded prior to the commanding officer. left the ship. Conducted radiological inspections of the 5 August 1430 topside structures. Topside was cleared radiologically withsome exceptions. Team B on board to open below deck spaces and continue with radiological survey bel ~ .Pensacoladeclaredradiologically clear with minor exceptions. A security 7 August watch of 3 officers and 23 enlisted men 1430-1540 remained aboard. Task force medical officer on board for inspection. 8 August 1510-1610 No Pensacola crewmembers regularly berthed aboard. but continued living on Rockinqham. The crew worked on Pensacola 10 August from 3 to 10 July and returned to Rock1030-1130 inqhameachnightexceptforasmall security detail.

6 July 1349

Shifted by tugs t o berth 286.

11 July 1035

Crew returned to quarters aboard. Anchored in berth 161.

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Preserver washed down decks and superstructures with saltwater to reduce high radioactivity after a boarding party from Pensacola found it unsafe. Repair teams aboard to lay out hoses and pumpoutfloodedcompartments.Repair teams left Pensacola and the Pensacola boarding party returned to Rockinqham. Radioactivity was too high to permit an accurate assessment of damage. Repairpartiesboarded USS Reclaimer (ARS-42). Repair parties boarded Pensacola and completedlayingouthosesandconnected portable pump in preparation for pumping out flooded compartments. Reclaimerstoodclearfromalongside Pensacola due toheavyradioactivity. which prevented i t from remaining. Reclaimer alongside Pensacola to complete connecting pump and hoses. High radioactivity prevented reboarding except for short periods of time. Reclaimermooredalongsidetorefuel Pump. Reclaimer went alongside Pensacola. Reboarding groups boarded Pensacola to adjust hoses and to continue preliminary damage inspection. Reboarding party from Reclaimer adjusted hoses. Reclaimer alongside Pensacola with boarding party to adjust hoses.

re-

A small boarding party from Reclaimer came aboard to adjust pump hoses and inspect damage. In accordance with advice from radiological monitor. four men were for examination sent t o VSS Haven ("12) because their hands had been contaminated while working on Pensacola.