SAKAWA sank the following day. The superstructure of the sub- 

 marine SKATE was so badly damaged as to make it unsafe to 

 submerge the vessel. The light carrier INDEPENDENCE was 

 badly wrecked by the explosion, gutted by fire, and further dam- 

 aged" by internal explosions of low order, including those of tor- 

 pedoes. All the above vessels were within one-half mile of the 

 explosion point. 



J). Numerous fires were started on other ships, including one 

 on a ship two miles distant, which was apparently due to some 

 unusual circumstance since the other fires were much closer. Here 

 it should be remembered that the target ship decks carried a great 

 variety of test material not ordinarily exposed on the decks of naval 

 vessels. 



c. The only major combatant ships within one-half mile of the 

 explosion point were the battleships NEVADA and ARKANSAS 

 and the heavy cruiser PENSACOLA. The blast struck these from 

 the after quarter. Apparently little damage was done to their hulls 

 or their main turrets but their superstructures were badly wrecked. 

 These ships were unquestionably put out of action and would, along 

 with many others within three-fourths of a mile, have required 

 extensive repairs at a principal naval base. 



d. Other ships on the target array suffered damage in varying 

 degree, depending on position and type of ship, but there was 

 relatively little damage at distances greater than three-fourths of 

 a mile. 



e. The primary material effects noted were due to blast, buck- 

 ling of decks and bulkheads, and destruction or deformation of 

 lightly constructed exposed objects, including stacks, masts, and 

 antennae. Secondary effects were due to fire, and it is noteworthy 

 that Army Quartermaster stores and miscellaneous equipment 

 placed on the decks for the test proved more vulnerable than nor- 

 mal naval deck gear. It should be pointed out that since the targets 

 carried no personnel the fires were uncontrolled and undoubtedly 

 there was more damage than there would have been under battle 

 conditions. Singularly, although considerable amounts of explosive 

 ordnance were exposed on decks and in gun turrets, there is no 

 indication on ships which remained afloat that any of this ma- 

 terial was exploded by direct action of the atomic bomb. Fire- 

 fighting ships entered the target area as soon as they could obtain 

 radiological security permission and subdued a number of fires. 

 The speed and efficiency with which these ships acted preserved for 

 later examination a great deal of evidence of bomb action which 

 might otherwise have been lost. 



193 



