BOMBS AT BIKINI 



ing September and October of 1945 by Task Unit 

 96.38.1 under the Commander of the Marshall-Gilberts 

 Area. Five more mines were removed during March 

 of 1946 by Commander, Minecraft Pacific, Task Unit 

 18.11. 



Coral heads were another menace to navigation 

 inside the Lagoon. They consisted of great underwater 

 obstructions rising nearly 200 feet above the lagoon 

 floor. Many of them extended up to the level of the 

 lagoon surface. Composed of corals and also deposits 

 made by the calcerous algae, they were solid enough 

 to damage any ships which might collide with them. 

 Some were in positions to interfere with the mooring 

 of target vessels or to impede the submerging of the 

 target submarines. Accordingly, the tops of these coral 

 heads were removed by dynamiting. Over 100 tons of 

 dynamite were used. 



Much construction work was required on Bikini 

 Atoll. Principal structures built were the following: 



. 12 75-ft. steel towers for mounting cameras 

 and other technical equipment. (In view 

 of high winds prevailing, these towers 

 were constructed in horizontal position 

 and then hoisted into vertical position.) 

 5 25-ft. wood towers 

 12 20 ft. X 20 ft. steel huts 

 5 Seismograph huts 



5 '^ Dead-man" moorings for Test C 



6 Photography beacons, for aerial photog- 

 raphy fixes 



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