3. The accuracy of the drop was such that the explosion oc- 

 curred within the area included within the allowance for the prob- 

 able error of the elevation of drop, and detonation was probably 

 within 100 feet of the chosen altitude. Nevertheless, the explosion 

 actually occurred several hundred yards west of a point directly 

 above the target ship NEVADA and therefore entirely west of the 

 closely spaced array of capital ships. 



4. There were 90 targets anchored in the lagoon when the bomb 

 exploded. These were not in battle formation but were placed in 

 positions to give the largest amount of desired technical information 

 with especially close concentration around the center target point. 

 Those ships anchored a mile or more from the point of drop largely 

 escaped injury. Those within a mile were sunk or suffered damage 

 varying with the distance from the point of detonation and with 

 the type of ship construction. On explosion, a destroyer and two 

 transports sank promptly. A second destroyer and the Japanese 

 cruiser SAKAWA sank within twenty-seven hours. The light car- 

 rier INDEPENDENCE was gutted with fire and resultant explo- 

 sions. The submarine SKATE was heavily damaged and later 

 towed away. All of these were near the point of explosion. The 

 other ships, including the only two capital ships which were within 

 one-half mile of the detonation, received damage that would re- 

 quire more or less complete overhaul and in most cases repair 

 at major bases before they could again be used in combat. A 

 study of this damage will point the way to changes in design which 

 should minimize damage from blast and heat. Beyond these ships 

 there was extensive damage to superstructure, radar, and fire con- 

 trol. Had the ships within the damage area been manned, casualties 

 and psychological injuries would have required a large percentage 

 of replacements. Until the readings of complex instruments and 

 the future life history of animals within the ships have been de- , 

 termined no accurate appraisal of potential damage to humans 

 within the ships can be made. 



5. No wave or blast damage could be noticed on Bikini Island, 

 which is approximately three miles from the point of detonation. 



6. We are of the unanimous opinion that the first test amply 

 justified the expenditure required to conduct it and that the second 

 test is equally desirable and necessary. You made a wise decision 

 when you approved the plans for these tests and they have been 

 carried out with extraordinary skill, diligence and ingenuity. The 

 test just completed has again proven that the atomic bomb is a 

 weapon of terrific power when used on land or sea. 



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