Page:Operation Crossroads 1946.pdf/405

 -USS

USS Robert K. H u n t l n q t o n (OD-781)

5 July 1050Anchored

1620 Anchored in berth147E,Bikini.

Rockbrldqe (APA-228)

in

berth Jig south, Bikini

At01 1. 10 nugust

8 July 0857Underwaytoconducthydrographicsoundings.

0750Underwayfromberth Pearl Harbor.

1165 enrouteto

8-11 JulyConductingsoundings. USS

1 1 July 1233Anchored

Crew S l z e : 206 Elklnl Atoll Arrlval: 4 June 1946 BIkini Atoll Departure: 23 August 1946 Shot ABLE Locatlon: 20 nml (37 km) E N € Shot BAKER Locatlon: 19 nrnl ( 3 5 km) ENE Oecontamtnatlon Locatlon: San Franclsco Operatlonal Clearance: 6 December 1946 Final Clearance: 13 Oecember 1946

in berth 116s. Bikinl.

12 July 1514 Anchored in berth 386 as the harbor entrance control vessel. 15 July 1059Anchored Shot

BAKER

24 July 1025 1232 2143

ROCKBRIDGE (APA-228)

in berth 1165. Bikini.

Task U n i t and Function

( 2 5 J u l y, 0835)

S i x radiological monitors reported aboard

for temporary duty. Underway from berth1165. Bikini. Stopped all engines tobe in vicinity of area Mack, southeast of Riklnl.

25 July 2301 2335

The attack transport Rockbridqe was a member of TU 1.3.1 (Ttansport Unit). Transport Division 31. One of the Transport Unit's primary functions was to house target ship crews during and following the detonations. Crews of target ships that Wete sunk or rendered uninhabitable by the tests continued living aboard TU 1.3.1 vessels after the detonations unless transferred to other ships.

Shot ABLF (1 J u l y, 0900) Hove to. conducted soundings. Commenced downwind patrol crossing to lo-30 June cate radioactivity. of target ships USS Ar0920-1530 Evacuated crews kansas (BB-33). USS New York (BR-34). and 26 July -__ Stopped all engines and took bathythermoUSS Salt Lake City (CA-25) came aboard 0200 in preparation for shot ABLE. graph reading. Anchored in berth 324, Bikini Atoll. 0954 1 July 0330 Began evacuation of last-minute personnel 28 July from target vessels. Underway from berth 324. 1455 0518 Underway from berth 222, RIkini. for opStopped all engines to conduct soundings. 1635 erating area. All engines stopped to investjgate oil 1727 0740 Joined TG 1.3 in area Marmon. slick. 1516BeganmaneuveringtoenterBikini enHove to to conduct soundings. 1840 trance. awalting signal to enter. 2056-2350 Took bathythermograph readings. 1704-1835 Anchored in berth 318, disembarking personnel to various transports. 29 July steaming singly on radiological patrol 0000 2 July north of Lomilik Island. stopping every 1444 Shifted anchorage t o berth 222 5 nmi (9.3 km)€or Geiger meter probe and bathythermograph readings. 3-23JulyRoutineactivities. 0030-0250 Conducted soundings. Stopped all engines to conduct radiologi0401 Shot BAKER ( 2 5 July, 0835) cal test of water. Passed through radioactive oil slick. 0515 24 July Changed course to steam on western edge 0518 0855-1607 Evacuated Arkansas. New York. and S a l t of the slick. Lake City personnel. Commenced steaming t o circle outer boun0525 daries of oll slick. Stopped all engines to conduct radioloqi- 25 July 0638 0330-0410 Evacuated last-minute personnel from tarcal tests of the water. get ships. 0751 Investigated new oil slickon the water. 0513 Underway from berth 222. Anchored in berth 337, Bikini. 1307 0725 Joined TG 1.3in area Marmon. Observed detonation; continued steaminq 0835 2 August in area Marmon. Underway from berth 1165 to relieve V s S 0719 O'Brlen (DD-725) as harbor entrance con27 July trol vessel. 1355-1440 Disembarked last-minute personnelof tarRelieved O'Brien. 0813 get ships VSS Pennsylvania (BB-38), Anchored in berth Victor. Bikini. 1603 Saratoqa (CV-3).USS Parche (SS-384).V I B u t t e (APA-68). and USS Briscoe (APA-65) 5 August to rejoin thelr crews on other transUnderway for firing tests. 0747 ports. 1026-1612 Engaged in firing tests.

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