Page:Operation Crossroads 1946.pdf/449

 USS Wilson (DD-408) 1 6 August

YMS-354

USS Etlah (W-79): anchor placed on focecastle, but not secured to deck due to absence of propermaterial.Tolerance remained 3 hourson focecastle. Unpainted (oc with light coat of paint) forecastle deck had low Geiger readings because of its excellent drainage: heavily painted maindeckandfantailwithcompacable drainage had readings double or three times that of forecastle (Reference 4). Party aboard about 3 hours. 15 minutes. 18 August

19 August

15 July 0530 1505

Underway to conduct fishing survey of Bikini Lagoon. Moored in berth 205A. Bikini.

17 July 1725

Underway for Rongecik.

18 July 1245

Anchored at Rongerik.

19 July Working party boarded to hoist anchor and 0605 pcepare i t for towing to Kwajalein 1350 by ATA-180. Tcansfecred 53 men to USS Rockpl_l(APA-230). 21 July 0900 Underway in tow by ATA-180 for Kwajaleln. 1430 Transferred 33 men to Rockwall.

Underway to conduct fishing survey. Anchored in Rongerik Lagoon. Underway foe Rongelap. Anchored in berth 2, Rongelap.

Shot B A K E R ( 2 5 J u l y, 0835)

21 August

Arrived at Kwajalein.

28 August

Wilson decommissioned.

24 July 1401 26-27 July

YMS-354 Crew S l z e2:8 B l k l nAl t o lAl r r t v a l2: 1M a r c h1 9 4 b B t k l nAl t o lDl e p a r t u r e : 14 September 1946 Shot ABLE L o c a t l o n6: 4 nrnl ( 1 1 9 krn) E ( R o n g e l a p ) Shot BAKER L o c a t l o n : 65 nrnl (120 krn) E ( R o n g e l a p ) Oecontarnlnatlon Locatlon: Guam/Warlanas O p e r a t l o n aCl l e a r a n c e2:0 December 194b F l n aCl l e a r a n c e1: F0 e b r u a r 1y 9 4 1

29 July 0615 1605 30 July 1620

Task U n l ta n dF u n c t l o n

The minesweeper YMS-354 was a member of TU 1.8.5 (Survey Unit). As part of the survey unit. its mission included surveying the probable effects of the nuclear tests on fish and other wildlife and conducting an oceanographic survey to determine the character of the ocean currents in and around Bikini Atoll.

31 July 0110 1410 1 August 0535 0547 0920

Shot ABLE ( 1 July, 0 9 0 0 )

1 July 0720 0830

Underway to change anchorageat Rongelap. Anchored in south pass of Rongelap.

3 July 2133

Underway to Bikini.

4 July 1255

Moored in berth 315, Bikini.

5 July 0915

Moored in berth 207A, Bikini.

8 July 0535

1605 9-11 July

1000-1227 1310 1500 3 August 1643 1655

Anchored in berth 3. Rongelap. Conducted fishing surveys around Rongelap. anchoring oc mooring each day at the end of the sucvey in Rongelap Atoll. Underwaytoconductfishingsurvey Rongelap Atoll. Anchored in Rongelap Atoll.

of

Underway to Bikini. Proceeding to conduct fishing survey off Bikini Atoll. Moored in berth 205A. Bikini. Underway with YMS-413. Anchored in Bikini Lagoon. Underway to YMS-413. anchored in berth 206B. Bikini. Moored to YW-413. Moored to ARD-29. Entered ARD-29 to be drydocked. Cast off from dcydock. Anchoced off Eneu Island.

6 August

0613 1425

Underwaytoconductfishingsurvey Bikini Lagoon. b r e d in berth 205A. Bikini.

in

Engaged in fishingsurveys in Bikini Lagoon. returning to Bikini Lagoon each day.

12 July

Moored alongside USS Alax (AR-6).

14 July 1340

Moored to YMS-358.

7 August 0613 1735 9 August 0614

1340

10 August 0640

444

Underwaytoconductfishingsurvey in Bikini Lagoon. (ARG-6) inBikini MooredtoUSSCebu Atoll. Underway to conduct fishing sucvey. to YMS-413. Bikini.

Mooted

Undecway to conduct fishing survey off Bikini Atoll. Moored starboard side t o YE-413. which was moored to USS Alax (AR-6) in becth 205A. Bikini Atoll. Underwaytoconductfishingsurveyof Bikini.