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JOINT TASK FORCE SEVEN LOS ALAMOS. NEW MEXICO TAONGI ATOLL - CONSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS and Support Requirements Tit:Le:Proposed Taongi Master Plan As directed during discussions of possible uses of Taongi Atoll held on 2 and 3 January 195'7(J3-H-28 and 29 dtd 15 and 16 Jan ‘57 respectively) we have examined the construction and support implications of using Taongi Atoll as ,a firing site. Two situations have been examined: 1. The minimum condition described by Mr. Gibbins during the 3 January meeting which-considers a telemetering station and tower as the only scientific requirements necessary ashore for FARIYUCK. 2. A maximum condition - which might represent the eventual use of the Atoll - consisting of a combination of the facilities found on Enyu Island and the Yurochi Complex of Bikini Atoll. Estimates of the construction and support these two situations in terms of manpower, time tained in Enclosure A. and money are conThe concept of HARDTACK advanced by UCRL is certainly of a minimum nature; we feel, however, that If the Atoll 18 once used subsequent operations may result in an expansion of its facilities. We feel rather strongly that if there is to be any developent of Taongi Atoll it sho<Ld be accomplished in a fashion compatible with ultimate expansion to an installation comparable to a combination of the facilities now found on Enyu Island and in the Yurochi Complex of Bikini Atoll. With this is mind, Enclosure B 1s suggested as an
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A t(mlnn, telemetering and comunlcatiom facility (similar to sta. 70 - E&m) on the southernmost bit of real estate to reduce its vulnerability to shot dsmage as much as possible. A small craft channel and landing In the location Field Chart Ho. 4Ol.2. We astwmethat this location was logically selected from on-site information An alpha station on the most northern land mass sin&e by nature of the measurement it must be the closest station to a shot and we desire to keep shots as ,far north as possible to minimize their effect on Item 1 An airstrip on Pokaakku Island - rather than on the northerly end of Slbylla fslaad as H&P?proposed in Enclosure A - as close to Item 1 above as flight safety A photo station south of the alpha station 8t a distance roughly equal to the separation between CASTLEStations A camp located for convenience near the airstrip and boat landing since there Is no invulnerable location on this Atoll for a caml,. ” 1 In conclusion we wish to inter,ject two cautions: Enclosure A was necessarily quickly prepared and assunes construatlon conditions at Taongi Atoll are no worse than those at Bikini and Eniwetok Atolls - this assumption may prove false and necessitate ti ugptvucdrevisfon of these estimates. Further, there exists Interrelations between the items listed in the cost summaries which precludes elimination of individual items without appropriate ad,justments In the costs of the remainder; i.e., elimination of the IST landing in the minimum condition would certainly increase the difficulty of building the telemetering station and hence wotid increase its cost. Enclosures A & B as above
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This reportcoversthe requirementsforPurpose. the constructionof scientific and supportfacilitiesfor an operationin TaongiAtoll. As a basis for this report a maximumand minimumrequirementhas been assumed. The maximumscope contemplates (Nan)with a 300 foot tower,the mooringof five scientificbargeswithin the lagoon and the provisionof camp and other supportfacilities. The minimumscope of work assumedwas the constructionof a stationsimilarto Station70 (Nan),8 300 foot tower,the mooringof five bargeswithin the lagoonand a minimumof camp and other Accessibilityof Taongi. There is no safe passageinto the Atoll in its present statefor landingcraft. The study and appraisalof the constructionrequirements and the cost estimateshave been predicatedon being able to providethe needed access. From a study of charts,photographsand other Informationavailableit . appearsfeasibleto Initiallyland equipmentand materialson the southwesternreef at low tide. Wheeledor tractoredvehiclesmight be landedat this Ipointand then moved to dry land duringthe hours of low tide. From this initialundertakingwe expectto constructoperatingislandsalong the route for the storageof equipment duringperiodsunfavorab:Lefor workingon the reef. The feasibilityof the above approachcan only be determinedby an on-sitesurvey. This surveywould also determinethe best locationfor an entrancechannelwhich we proposeto construct. Such a surveycould also determinewhethera suitableanchoragefor supporting vesselsexiststo seawardof the Atoll. Camp Facilities. It is proposedto first-establisha beachheadcamp from which ’our activitiesmight be expanded. The site locationof the camps will be determined duringthe on-sitepreliminarysurveythat is expectedwill be made. It will be necessaryto subsistand sustainthe first group of constructionpersonnelon the supportingvesseluntil the beachheadcamp can be established.A 20(3-m camp will be so planned
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Cormmlnications . Communicationswill be requiredfor the maximumand minimum (3) lbongl to ships (shipto shore). (5) Submarinecable systemfor signal,controland telephonecircuits. It has been assumedthat radio communicationequipmentwill .begovernmentfurnished and the radio and telephoneterminalwill be locatedin the Station70 type structure. At site Elmer additionalequipmentand antennasfor the ?aongicircuitswill be requiredand the power demandsof the additionalequipmentdetermined. At site Nan it is proposedto establishthe communicationfacilitiesin the new buildingpresently contemplated,by decreasingthe work space. It is imperativethat a completeinvestigationof an over-allsystembe ma+ prior Airstrip. An airstripis contemplatedonly for maximumrequirements.ft will be 150 feet wide, and 4500 feet long with 25 foot shoulderson each side. It will be The nurwaysectionwill consistof an 8" coral rock sub-basewith a ib"coral rock The airstripwill be locatedat the northerlyend of SibyllaIsland. However,if the winds are more easterlythan now assumedthe airstripwill be more centrally locatedon the islandwith a bearingslightlyeast of northeast. The entire site will be clearedof trees and underbrush. A controltower,runway and field lightingor markers,wind directionindicatorsand other facilitiesas generallyrequiredby the military*&singagencyhave been contemplated. Seadrome. A seaplanelandingarea for both maximumand minimumrequirementshas been proposed. The landingarea will be 1000 feet wide, 10,000feet long and will have 15 feet depth at mean low water to providefor the heaviertype aircraft. The landingarea will be locatedin the lagoonoff Sibyl-laIslandparalleland oppositethe proposedairstrip. The exact locationwill be determinedby boat anchorageor mooringarea clearancerequirements. The landingarea must be clear of abstructionsfor 1000 feet at each end and so located to permita 1:50 glide slope. A channelfrom the landingarea to a concrete ramp 50 feet wide will be provided. Day and night markerbuoyswill outlinethe landingand channelareas. Mooringbuoys will be locatedas necessary. Control towerwith radio communicationswill be as determinedby the militaryusing agency. total lengthof 3700 feet is contemplatedonly for the maximumcondition. The _ causeways will be of coral sand fill with rip rap used on the slopeswhere excessive erosionis likely. The crownwidth will be 24 feet with roadwaysurface with coral sand.
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Harbor Facilities. For both maximumand minimumrequirementsa channel300 feet wide with a depth of 20 feet at mean low water is proposed. The probablelocation Is in the area south of YokaakkuIslandor In the southwesternreef. The exact locationwill be determinedfrom the site survey. For purposesof estimatingcosts we have assumedthe len&h of the channelexcavationto be 1000 feet. . A mole 75' x 150' long Is proposedon the Lagoon side for the maximumconditiononly. The entrancechanneland the approachto the mole contemplatesthe use of LSTs. It is assumedthat the scientificbargeswill be outfittedat site Elmer and moved to Taongiin 8n ISDor undertow by a seagoing tug. Presentlywe contemplatethat these bargeswill be taken in tow by LCMs and LCU off the entrance&angel for movementinto the lagoon. The feasibilityof such ah operationwill requirefurther study of currentand sea conditionsin the channeland in the operatingarea off the structionand operationequipmentfor the maximumand minimumscope contemplated. The equipmentplmned is that consideredessentialfor the constructionof the sclentific stations,camp 81~3the other servicesnd supportfscilities. Any changesin the mgnltude of the contemplatedscope of work will be reflectedIn a change in equipment Marine craft requirementswill dependentirelyon the modus opersndiof gaining and 6 DUKWswill be requiredfor both maximumand minimnnconditions. Found8tionInvestigations.We contemplatean early explorationparty to obtain drillingcore recordsand samplesof the Islandsoil and coral cap 8nd the reefs for test and evaluationat the Elmer Laboratory. Surfaceand Air Support.It Is assumedthat an ISD will be made av8ilableduring the early constructionperiod. This type vessel can c8rryloadedICMs andINs with which we have assumedthe first landingson the southwesternreef can be made. The use of an IST for these landingsdoes not appear feasible. The water drops off to great depths just off the reef and it is doubtfulthat 811IST would be able to use The LSD type vessel is the best suitedto act 8s the mother ship for our craft during the early constructionperiod. We do not know whether811anchorageto seawardof the Atoll existsor whetherLSD operationswill have to be accomplishedwith the vessel lying to. The dockingfacilitiesof the ISD make it very suitablefor pfcking up our craft rapidlyin case Of b8d weather. We will need the supportof the LSD until we can make sufficientprogresson the channel to permit passageof our landing craft. Thereafterwe will requirecontinuousand independentsupportof an LST. The supportof seaplanesfor emergencyevacuationor other emergency needswill be requireduntil the airfieldis constructed.On completionof the airfieldwe assume that airliftsupportwill be similarto that providedon the Enlwetok-Bikinirun during
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Becauseof the meager informationavailableto us with respectto large vessel operationsoff the TaonglAtoll it seems logicalthat a representativeof the agency that will furnishthe supportvesselsaccompanyour first reconnaisanceparty. The methodof operationsand the supportthatwemayexpectcantherebybe determined ConstructionSchedule. For the minimumscope of work contemplatedit is estimated we will require65 constructionand 35 operationpersonnelfor a periodof 6-i/2 months. The maximumscope of work will require120 constructionanal80 operation personnelfor a period of 7-l/2months, These schedulescover on-siteconstruction only; a minimumof four monthsmust be added to these schedulesfor procurement and shipnt of materialand equipment. In estimatingthe time scheduleIt has been assumedthat the topographyof the proposedairstripsite will be similarto that of Nan and that beachesfor landingcraft,coral deposits,trees,underbrush and other conditionswill be similarto those of other atolls in which we have operated. Cost Estimates. The items of work contemplatedand the cost estimatesare summarized in the followingtables: Five (5) Barge Anchorages TOTAL MINIMUM CONSTRUCTION
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Five (5) Barge Anchorages =,OoQ Mole Type Pier 98,O~ Very truly yours, p
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2 Sarge lbmamxt and TACXGIBoat 24 m 13 Boat Poolrs & Row43 Bozrts
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