Issue 05 WINTER 2008

COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE: the navy and nuclear testing in the pacific

www.navymuseum.mil.nz COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE: the navy and nuclear testing in the pacific

Te Waka Taonga o Te Taua Moana o Aotearoa

Editor: Theresa Manson P: 09 4461824 Deck Plate from HMNZS PUKAKI PUKAKI’s motto: Kua Pukekotai (to become experienced or knowing). E: [email protected]

DESIGN and photography: Nikki Payne P: 09 4461820 director’s message E: [email protected] archive photographs: Welcome to issue five of The White Ensign. Paul Restall In 1956 over 500 Sailors aboard HMNZ Ships R 2299 contents P: 09 4461825 Pukaki and Rotoiti sailed to Christmas Island in the Pacific ON THE COVER: Issue 05 Winter 2008 E: [email protected] Ocean to witness Britain’s Nuclear Bomb testing. September this year Leading Telegraphist Dennis Horne’s Crossing the Line Certificate Code Name: Operation Grapple Distribution: marks the 50th Anniversary of the last of these tests, code named - HMNZS ROTOITI 1957. 04 Christine Hodgson Operation Grapple. P: 09 4461821 Late in 1973 the Navy again witnessed nuclear testing in the pacific, 08 A Personal Recollection E: [email protected] this time as political protestors against French Nuclear testing. Finally HMNZS PUKAKI at Grapple Yankee in 1995 with Operation Valerian HMNZS Tui was sent by the Editorial advisors: CDR David Wright New Zealand Government to protest against the last French Nuclear 10 Mururoa Mr Cliff Heywood test at Mururoa Atoll. French Nuclear Testing at Mururoa LT CDR Barbara Cassin The Navy was also heavily involved in another twist to the nuclear testing story when, in 1985, the Flagship the Rainbow Our Sailors Speak Print: Warrior was bombed and sunk in Auckland harbour, the Navy was 14 APN Print NZ Ltd. called on to salvage the vessel and to assist police with gathering Bert Anscombe regular contributors: evidence for the investigation. Katherine Bol collections In this commemorative issue of The White Ensign we remember 50 16 Souvenir Poster Rose Evans project Manager, Exhibitions years of the Navy’s involvement in nuclear testing in the Pacific both as T KK 0006 Operation Grapple Claire Freeman collection Manager witness and as protester. Russ Glackin Museum Guide All members of the Ships Company who I am also very pleased to be able to announce that we have recently Mururoa 1995-6 Cliff Heywood deputy Director participated in the H-bomb tests at 18 Kelly-Ana Morey Oral Historian received approval to redevelop the Navy Museum at Torpedo Bay. Christmas Island 1957-58 were given a Operation Valerian

Debbie McKinney team Leader Guides While the approval is tremendous news for the Museum and all our Pewter Tankard with Operation Grapple slf 0002 badge on front. Paul Restall photo Archivist supporters it represents only the beginning of a long road as we now Unofficial homemade flag - Memories of Operation Grapple HMNZS CANTERBURY 1973. CDR David Wright director commence the very hard work of developing a new Navy Museum of 20 Michael Wynd researcher Terry Bruce which we can all be extremely proud. Our Christmas edition of The White Ensign will focus on the The White Ensign (ISSN 117-8008) is published Recollections of Mururoa quarterly and is the official journal of the Royal New incredible history of Torpedo Bay and also provide every one with the 22 Gerry Wright Zealand Navy Museum. The views expressed in it latest news and hopefully some plans of the new development. are not necessarily those of the RNZN or the NZDF. Archival photographs are the property of the Navy From the Collection Museum and are not to be reproduced without DC WRIGHT 24 written permission. Anyone who would like to Commander, RNZN Ephemera and Memorabilia contribute an article to The White Ensign is asked to Director Navy Museum first contact the Editor. To join or leave our mailing Medal list please contact Christine Hodgson. 25 The New Zealand Special Service Medal (Nuclear Testing) All enquiries: Navy Museum, Private Bag 32 901, Devonport, North Shore City 0744, New Zealand 26 RNZN Salvage Operation Salvage of the

O 0029 Did you know?

AA 30 Information BACK COVER PHOTO: Highlights Testing for radiation hot spots after bomb detonation. HMNZS PUKAKI c1957. Upcoming Exhibitions and Events Deck Plate from HMNZS ROTOITI ROTOITI’s motto: Takain (Bind Together). The White Ensign WINTER 08 3 HISTcoluOmRICALn head BACKGROUND OPERATION GRAPPLE 1956-1958

CODE NAME: Operation Grapple Britain’s Development of the Nuclear Bomb

When the USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan in August 1945 to end World War 2 in the Pacific, they made the possession of G . Wright P nuclear power a major

requisite for Great Power rivate C

status in the post-war world. ollection The British, no less than the Russians and French, ABOVE: Christmas Island 1957. scrambled to close the BELOW: Pennant from HMNZS ROTOITI. alarming nuclear gap that ALLIES AT ODDS Britain’s scientists had long conceived they were impressed at how technically had been opened by the of the concept of nuclear power and advanced the British were and pressed Americans and so began a were committed to the development of Roosevelt to set up the Manhattan nuclear arms race that was nuclear weapons but it was not until two Project and propose a joint collaboration nuclear scientists at the University of with the British. Britain’s chilly response the very essence of the Cold Birmingham published a paper in 1940 was ironically at odds with what later War. There in lay the seeds of theorising on the source of the fast chain transpired but they were concerned at the reaction necessary for an atomic bomb, ability of the Americans to keep secrets. Britain’s Operation Grapple that the concept became a feasibility. They were uneasy about America’s in the South Pacific. The Maud Committee was immediately neutral position in the war at that point set up to explore the possibility of the and they were understandably reluctant feasibility becoming a reality. to surrender their nuclear advantage When the Americans read the which would be vital in the post-war first Maud Report world. Britain needed America’s help to win the war. Churchill, accompanied u AA O 0027

ABOVE: 15 May 1957, HMNZS PUKAKI, crew seated on the deck awaiting the atomic blast. R 2299 4 The White Ensign WINTER 08 The White Ensign WINTER 08 5 HISTcoluOmRICALn head BACKGROUND OPERATION GRAPPLE 1956-1958

The test site at Maralinga was completed involvement in nuclear testing in early 1956 at a cost of five million when RNZN sailors were deployed Successful testing of Britain’s megaton range pounds. At the same time construction at the request of the British to nuclear weapons during Operation Grapple had already begun at Christmas Island. witness nuclear testing off the required the cooperation of the three military coasts of Christmas and Malden services and civilian scientists. These four DEVELOPING A BRITISH H-BOMB Islands in the Pacific Ocean. main arms are symbolised in the 4-pointed Britain decided to manufacture its own These tests were the final block grapnel carried by a cormorant. The cormorant H-bomb in June 1954 as the Americans carried out by Britain in Australia is a symbol frequently used for inter-service and the Russians had already developed and the Pacific. 551 men and two cooperation. and tested their H-bombs. They got (HMNZS ROTOITI a “bigger bang for their buck” as the and PUKAKI) comprised New This booklet was created for the information of H-bomb was cheaper to manufacture Zealand’s contribution. Their the men who worked on Operation Grapple. than the A-bomb. The original Test official duties were to witness the The introduction by Task Force Commander Air Agreement with the Australians had explosions and collect weather Vice-Marshall W. E. Oulton suggests it would specifically excluded hydrogen weapon data, although some New Zealand “serve as a pleasant souvenir of what must testing on the Australian mainland so the sailors also monitored the test area surely be one of the most interesting periods hunt was on for another testing ground. for Russian and American spy- of your lives.” The requirements for the new site were subsmarines. British ownership in the largest area of The first bomb was dropped LEFT: PUKAKI Operation Grapple funnel Insignia from a Valiant bomber at 13000 ABOVE RIGHT: Souvenir Booklet for men serving in Operation sea with the least number of adjacent land Grapple, published by the British Government c1956. masses and the least number of people. feet on the 15 May 1957. Many The finger fell upon Christmas Island, who witnessed the blast were the Pacific’s largest atoll, a 1000 miles astonished and terrified by its by his daughter, travelled to America to and could see no political advantage for Australia to start a nuclear energy south of and 1500 miles north of power. William Oates, a storeman request Franklin Roosevelt to come into in continued collaboration with a poor programme of their own, readily agreed , and adjacent to Malden Island. on the island recalled: ‘Probably AA O 0028 the war. relation. The McMahon Act of 1946 to allow Britain’s first atomic bomb test to The British H-bomb Tests on the thing that scared me the most ABOVE: Scrubbing the decks in overalls and gas masks, the PUKAKI crew attempt to remove radioactive fallout. made it illegal for Americans to pass be conducted on the uninhabited Monte Christmas Island were code-named was not the ball of flame in the PEARL HARBOUR BOMBING information to another country on pain Bello Islands off Australia’s north-west Operation Grapple. The 4-pointed sky, nor the searing heat but the blast and Operation Grapple ended in GALVANISES AMERICA of death. Britain was now in the bomb coast. He assured Australians that ‘the iron grapple symbolizing inter-service shockwave which followed later…I saw September 1958 and just in the nick of The American and British roles were making business by itself. test…will be conducted in conditions co-operation on the project – Army, grown men at their wits end trying to run time as Britain joined the USA and the dramatically reversed by the Japanese which will ensure that there will be no Navy, Air Force and AWRE, the Atomic away from the blast.’3 USSR in the next month in a moratorium bombing of Pearl Harbour in December GREAT POWER STATUS danger whatever from radioactivity to Weapons Research Establishment. 1957- on nuclear testing. Britain never tested 3 Denys Blakeway, Denys, Sue Lloyd-Roberts, Fields of Thunder: 1941, committing America to the war The decision to proceed with the the health of people or animals in the 1958 saw direct New Zealand Navy Testing Britain’s Bomb, London: Unwin, 1985, p. 165. in the open again but Christmas Island and the atomic bomb. Roosevelt poured building of Britain’s independent nuclear Commonwealth’2 whilst neglecting to was back in business by 1962 as a test vast quantities of money, materials and deterrent was made in January 1947. mention that it was probably the first test “Britain was now in the bomb making site for the Americans.The moratorium manpower into the Manhattan Project It was a highly secret project under the in an ongoing programme and would collapsed when the Soviets began testing against which a war-torn Britain could direction of William Penney and the costs leave the islands uninhabitable for years. business by itself” again in 1961 and Britain lent their test site not compete. Churchill’s formidable were hidden. Reliance on the Americans Britain exploded its first A-bomb at to the USA for a series of 25 tests called diplomatic skills were needed to persuade for nuclear power was to ensure second- Monte Bello at 9.15am on 3 October Operation Dominic which they used to Roosevelt to give British scientists the class status. ‘Like native levies who were 1952 amidst great secrecy and urgency. refine their Polaris missiles. When Britain opportunity to join the Manhattan team allowed small arms but not artillery’ said It went faultlessly. Britain had joined an then purchased these Polaris missiles from at Los Alamos in a desperate bid to build Lord Cockcroft, the Head of the Atomic exclusive club but had singularly failed the Americans they effectively ended their the bomb before the end of the War. Research Establishment at Harwell.1 The to impress its members for only a month own independent nuclear deterrent by Though the British scientists on the project was given greater impetus with the after Monte Bello the USA exploded becoming reliant on the USA for supply Project were ‘compartmentalised’ by the developing Cold War. her first H-bomb followed by the Soviets thus denying the original objective of Americans and prevented from getting in August 1953. It was, however, the their nuclear programme since the end of an overall view of the work on the bomb MONTE BELLO ISLANDS TEST SITE beginning of Britain’s programme of World War 2. n their contribution to the Hiroshima bomb IN AUSTRALIA atmospheric nuclear tests that was to end was vital and they returned home with a The priority was to explode a nuclear with Operation Grapple Z on the 23 RUSS GLACKIN working manual on how to duplicate the device as soon as possible. Britain September 1958. American atomic bomb. needed an isolated test site large enough REFERENCES: to conduct twelve tests, with no human NEW TEST SITES NEEDED Blakeway, Denys, Lloyd-Roberts, Sue, Fields of GUARDED ANGLO-AMERICAN habitation within 100 miles downwind of The original test-site on the Monte Thunder: Testing Britain’s Bomb, London: Unwin, 1985. COOPERATION a detonation and where prevailing winds Bello Islands proved to be unsuitable. A Crawford, John, The Involvement of Royal New By the end of 1945 the ‘special would blow contamination out to sea but further two new test sites were developed Zealand Navy in the British Nuclear Testing relationship’ between Churchill and not into shipping lanes. at Maralinga and Christmas Island. Programmes of 1957 and 1958, Wellington: Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force, 1989. Roosevelt had soured as Truman In early 1952 Australia’s pro-British An aboriginal place name, Maralinga Ministry of Defence, Operation Grapple determined that America must retain its Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, keen portentously translates as “field of 1956-1957, London: HMSO, 1958. nuclear monopoly. They were suspicious thunder”. Wright, Gerry, We Were There: Operation

EA B 0028 Grapple, New Plymouth: Zenith Publishing, n.d. of the socialist Government of Atlee 1 Denys Blakeway, Sue Lloyd-Roberts, Fields of Thunder: Testing Britain’s Bomb, London: Unwin, 1985, p. 85. 2. Ibid, p.165 ABOVE: Christmas Card from HMNZS Rotoiti 1957

6 The White Ensign WINTER 08 The White Ensign WINTER 08 7 aco perslumonnal head recollection PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE

strikingly white water-spout that darkened The weapon, codenamed Grapple Yankee, as it sucked up sea-water. To Arthur Venus it seemed to be almost over the ship as it exploded at 7,000 feet with a yield of 3.0 HMNZS PUKAKI turned into an ever-expanding column of smoke with tinges of red around the edges. Megatons, 20,000 times more powerful than Within minutes the gigantic fireball was a the Hiroshima bomb in 1945 towering mushroom cloud, spotlessly white AT almost no radiation.”5 It was an uneventful conditions that ensured the mushroom GRAPPLE but going dirty as it continued to suck up As told by water “which it was not meant to do as it voyage characterised by all the routines of cloud would disperse over nearly 5,000 was supposed to be much higher.”2 Arthur shipboard life at sea but interspersed by miles of empty sea away from PacificI slands Arthur Venus reckoned it to be much closer than the 200 internal preparations, drills and exercises and Japan. Weather balloons were launched YANKEE relating to shutting the ship down when every six hours from the balloon hut on the miles “officially” stated by the Chief of Naval Staff. At H+8 “standby for the blast wave” passing through a nuclear fallout area. upper deck and the tracking terminated and then the double crack of the explosion, Action stations and Damage Control states when the balloon burst at over 70,000 like a double-barrelled shot-gun blast, were practised regularly with the addition of feet [21 km]. Routine weather balloon came racing across the water. The cloud “shelter stations” which simulated the ship runs continued for a time after the tests to AA O 0012 stalk started to fall away as the high upper being caught in nuclear fallout. Everyone monitor the on-going situation. winds flattened off the mushroom cloud was taken below the water-line to avoid After the bomb was dropped on Monday which then began to open out like a massive horizontal radiation which meant closing 28 April, the mushroom cloud spread ABOVE: After experiencing the blast and after smoke ring.3 down the external air supply, re-circulating over Pukaki and far beyond as weather shock, sailors aboard PUKAKI look to ground the air within the accommodation area balloon runs continued until midnight. On zero. The weapon, codenamed Grapple LEFT: Arthur Venus 2006, holding a portrait of Yankee, exploded at 7,000 feet with a or citadel and squeezing everyone into Tuesday morning the ship passed through himself as a young naval rating. yield of 3.0 Megatons, 20,000 times more the confined areas of the magazines and Ground Zero and took water samples on powerful than the Hiroshima bomb in 1945. storerooms. The upper deck hoses were its return to Christmas Island. Arthur Venus ship as the Valiant bomber turned into its final It was the largest British nuclear weapon turned on to wet the decks prior to the test remembers the Captain commenting on run. Quietly the H- and then H+ countdown ever tested in the atmosphere. and then the ship was covered in a shower of their return to the Island that the explosion began from the bridge ... HMNZS Pukaki had departed Auckland spray post-testing to wash away any fallout …” must have been close to here as all the 6 on the morning of Friday 14 March sailing before monitoring teams in white overalls, vegetation is burned.” 10 ……. 9 all the ship’s company for Raoul Island, Fiji, Rarotonga and face masks and breathing gear searched With the test completed and assessed as shuffled nervously on deck and Christmas Island. Arthur Venus sailed out for radiation hot-spots. The crew regularly a successful detonation, HMNZS Pukaki 8 …… 7 sat down against the rail or a secure in the Admiral’s injunction not to exercised in their Action Working Dress with set off for New Zealand on Thursday, 30 bulkhead with their backs to Ground Zero ... “worry about it. You won’t be within 200 anti-flash gear to prepare them for fallout in April and arrived in Auckland on Sunday, 6.…… 5 at 40 seconds, hands over miles of the bomb.” 4 He also recalls that “[the the test area. It all became serious when the 18 May. n closed eyes after a last look at the fast- ship’s company] were told that the bombs ship entered the Grapple Restricted Area. closing vapour trail were clean and that monitoring teams on Pukaki’s primary task at Operation RUSS GLACKIN 4….. ... 3 tension spread with the the ships up to that point had discovered GRAPPLE was in response to the British silence over the ship …. This was it! government’s request for two frigates for REFERENCES: 2 DLA 0229 p20 2 …. 1 weather reconnaissance and reporting DLA 0229 Chief Signal Instructor A.C. Venus Oral 3 DLA 0229 p20 History, RNZN Museum 4 DLA 0229.p20 which would be supplemented by RAF Gerry Wright, We Were There: Operation Grapple, 0 “Bomb exploded!” Canberra aircraft making high and low level Privately Published, 2000. rang out from the bridge. Russell Glackin interviewed Arthur in his home in flights to produce observational reports. June 2008. Ideal test requirements demanded weather 1 …….. 2 Arthur Venus felt a warm breeze that seemed to sweep through 5 DLA 0229. p20. 6 DLA 0229.p20 his body 3 ……. 4 a dull, thudding noise like a jack-hammer ran across the sea at him … 5 ……. 6 the bones of his fingers were

N icola P ayne visible through his closed eyes. 7 ……. 8 As tension expired the silence Time 0930 hours (H-30) company mustered on the upper deck with was broken …. Monday 28 April 1958 only the engine and boiler rooms running as 9 ……. 10 the command from the the ship went to the highest damage control bridge … “ stand up and turn around.” Arthur Venus, Yeoman of Signals, mustered state. Everyone was wearing Action Working with the Ship’s Company of HMNZS Pukaki Dress and anti-flash hood with gloves. When The quiet was broken with a range of as the vapour trail from the Vickers Valiant the warning order came by tannoy1 from the expletive. Arthur Venus turned around and carrying the test bomb loomed over the bridge, trousers were tucked into socks and looked up “… and there was this fireball horizon on its test run to the south-east shirt cuffs into gloves. A grim tension grew growing larger and swirling all the time” 2. of Christmas Island. He was on the bridge with a silence that slowly spread across the glowing intensely with all the deep hues as the Captain slowed the ship to a stop, of red tinged with grey around a glowing 1 Tannoy: A British generic term for an outdoor public address ABOVE: Deck Plate from HMNZS PUKAKI which served on Operation Grapple. eighty miles east of Ground Zero. The ship’s system, originally was made by the Tannoy Company. hot centre as it rose into the sky trailing a LEFT: Mururoa Mushroom cloud.

8 The White Ensign WINTER 08 TheThe Wh Whititee EnEnssiiggnn WwINTERiNter 0808 99 cMoURURlumnO Ahead AAU 0018 The administration and stores complex for next series of testing starting in July 1973. A ships and aircraft was constructed at Hao would need fuel which necessitated played a significant role by Atoll, 270 miles northwest of Mururoa. a supply vessel. The problem was solved sending a frigate to protest with the help of Bob Hawke, then leader French nuclear testing in NEW ZEALAND APPEALS TO of the ACTU7 who successfully pressured INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE the Australian Government to lend the the Pacific in 1973. It is a The New Zealand government first tanker HMAS Supply as the support unique act in New Zealand’s formally expressed its concern at the ship for the RNZN frigate. The RNZAF political history. It showed proposed testing programme in 1963 with and the RAAF would airlift supplies to representations to the French government, Rarotonga for uplifting and replenishment how much the government the process continuing through diplomatic of the RNZN frigates at sea. had changed its views from channels and inter-governmental meetings The two frigates available for this participation in the 1950s up to the end of 1973. The main objection operation were HMNZS Otago which to the French Testing Programme was was undergoing a self-maintenance period with Operation GRAPPLE the hazard from fallout to the people of and HMNZS Canterbury. However, to outright opposition. It New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, Canterbury was committed to a and Tokelau Islands.4 New Zealand had working up period with her new crew and was also a unique situation monitored the testing and had recorded would not be available until July 1973. where a warship was sent to fallout over all these areas despite the Otago would be deployed first and operate off a colony not as French attempts to mitigate the effects of would embark Fraser Colman the selected the tests and the supposed ‘safer’ location. Cabinet Minister and three representatives an act of war or provocation, France declared a prohibited zone of the media. French but as a political protest. around Mururoa Atoll and Hao Island in 1965 but it also declared ‘Dangerous Peace Squadron THE FRENCH TESTS Zones’ during the tests themselves. These As in 1972 a fleet of private craft was sailing France sought to defend its strategic were not fixed and could be of any size and to Mururoa and this Peace Squadron was NUCLEAR interests by developing an independent shape dependent on the test and French very disappointed that HMNZS Otago nuclear arsenal. Force de frappe was concerns. By 1972, the French Navy and would not act as a mothership for them. France’s protection against the threat of Air Force operating from the test site were The government was concerned the Soviet invasion. France needed to test its actively interfering with foreign shipping.5 French would ask the Otago to remove TESTING at bombs and initial testing was conducted at Prime Minister ’s letter the craft from the prohibited zone resulting the Reggane Firing Ground in their colony to the French Government in March in negative publicity. On 22 June 1973, the 1 of Algeria in February 1960. An improved of 1973 claimed that continued French International Court of Justice supported location was needed because of the atmospheric testing was a “violation of New Zealand’s application for interim Mururoa unfortunate habit nuclear explosions have New Zealand’s rights under international measures to halt the tests but the dates for of sucking up tonnes of debris and then law”6 and sought an assurance as to when exchanges of memoranda between France dumping them downwind as radioactive the testing programme would end. France and New Zealand were set well after the 2 fallout. When Algeria was granted demurred and strongly contested the completion of the testing programme. independence in 1962 and banned testing assertion. The New Zealand government France proceeded with the 1973 plans. on the site an alternative became essential. then advised that it would seek legal remedy under international statutes via Active Operations by the RNZN NEW PACIFIC TEST SITE AT MURUROA the International Court of Justice. By May The first vessel deployed by the In 1963 the French government decided 1973 New Zealand was firmly convinced RNZN was HMNZS Lachlan. She to move their atmospheric testing that French atmospheric testing was conducted signal intelligence gathering programme to Mururoa Atoll in the unlawful and sought other means parallel and spent the period from 21 June to 1 Tuamotu Archipelago beginning July to the legal avenue of protest at the risks July 1973 steaming off Rarotonga tracking 1966 under the control of Direction des these tests posed. and eavesdropping on French Radio Centres d’Experimentation Nucleaires communications, under the direction of 3 (DIRCEN). A base for the testing Government sends Frigate Lieutenant-Commander Dennis Milton. During the 1972 elections the Labour 1French Nuclear Testing in the Pacific: International Court He had embarked aboard especially for of Justice Nuclear Tests Case New Zealand v. France, Party indicated that if elected it would this purpose having been involved in Wellington: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, July 1973, p. 9 send a frigate to Mururoa with a Cabinet communication intercepts since 1944. 2 Gerry Wright, We Were There: Operation Grapple, Minister aboard in order to further the The Commanding Officer, Commander New Plymouth, Zenith Publishing, n.d., p. 16. protest against French atmospheric testing. 3 French Nuclear Testing in the Pacific:I nternational Court Ian Munro calculated the bearing from of Justice Nuclear Tests Case New Zealand v. France, Between November 1972 and June 1973, Waiouru to Mururoa Atoll for HMNZS Wellington: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, July 1973, p. 9. Naval Staff worked on the operational plan Irirangi, so that the directional for a frigate to sail to Mururoa to protest the LEFT: Amid a flotilla of International observers aerials could be directed to listen into the and intelligence gatherers at Mururoa, New French communications. Lachlan 4 ibid., pp. 9-10. Zealand’s HMNZS OTAGO proudly flew the also refuelled at sea from RFA u White Ensign. 5 ibid., p.11. OVERLAYED IMAGE: 3 minutes after detonation. 6 ibid., p. 10. 7 ACTU: Australian Council of Trade Unions

10 The White Ensign WINTER 08 The White Ensign WINTER 08 11 McoURluurmona head

AAU 0206 There were three parts to the orders: shadowed the ship until contact was broken RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (ROE) when Otago changed course. “All the major nuclear powers had naval forces acting 1. Written authority to fire upon Otago would sail into the zone French vessels in self-defence until 23 July maintaining a course to as observers of the test. In this great game of intelligence if the need arose. Otago had avoid territorial waters but would sail orders to fuse its shells11 for the in and out of the zone rendezvousing gathering only the RNZN was acting in a protest role” voyage to the exclusion zone. with HMAS Supply to replenish fuel The USN ship avoided any contact 2. The action to be taken and provisions. French surveillance with Otago. Otago transferred if the Otago was severely continually photographed Otago until equipment, personnel and Fraser Colman contaminated by fallout and the about July 14. to the Canterbury. Canterbury procedure for seeking medical Personnel from two French frigates was then subject to the same level of assistance from the French. boarded the protest yacht and took it inspection that Otago had experienced 3. Details of a secret under tow to Hao Atoll. Otago made from the surveillance planes. communications safety circuit preparations in case the French sought After a delay noted by the with the French authorities to to close with them also. Orders were Canterbury from the radio traffic avoid a direct hazard to the New received from Wellington on Thursday in the morning of 28 July,19 a device Zealand frigate. 19 July to proceed closer to Mururoa was detonated at 1032 feet. There Fraser Colman was selected as the Atoll as a test was about to occur. were some hold-ups in the countdown Cabinet minister to sail in Otago. Otago began to prepare for the fallout. and an alarm was sounded that caused At the date of departure on the 28 Fortunately for the men aboard Otago, the French fleet to sail southwards. June, Norman Kirk at a dockside press the French countdown frequency had Canterbury followed in order to conference stated ‘this is a mission of been discovered and was under constant avoid the potential fallout zone.20 The ABOVE : Testing for radiative fallout post nuclear purpose’ and the voyage of Otago monitoring by the electronic warfare test. HMNZS OTAGO c1973 explosion was not heard or seen by men would ‘ensure that the eyes of the world team under the leadership of Lieutenant on the Canterbury. It was a much 13 (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) Tideflow. are riveted on Mururoa’. On 29 June Commander Jeff Daykin. smaller yield than the previous test and Nevertheless the British made it very clear Otago made rendezvous with HMAS could not be recorded. Tiny amounts of to the New Zealand government and the Supply and they proceeded in company ‘the eyes of the fallout were recorded and did not pose RNZN that they were not supporting the northwards to Mururoa. Wind-direction a danger for the crew. There was some 8 New Zealand protest action. On 2 July balloons were released and tracked with world are riveted thought that this was a nuclear trigger 1973, HMNZS Lachlan returned. A the fire-control radar so Otago would rather than an operational bomb. course had been set to avoid HMNZS be able to measure patterns of fallout. The on Mururoa’ The injured master of the detained Otago so that Lachlan's part in crew was kept busy undertaking NBCD Norman Kirk protest yacht Fri was taken on board obtaining signal intelligence was kept from (Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical on the 3 August. The next morning the media contingent aboard Otago. 12 Defence) exercises every day. International Intelligence orders came from Wellington ordering Otago received orders to pass into the Gathering Canterbury home as the release of HMNZS OTAGO SENT TO MURUROA French-declared ‘Intermediate Zone’ on 4 The next day, by mistake a United States the yacht Fri was a clear signal that the test Prior to departure the Ship’s Company was July, with instructions to contact by Morse

Navy Sea King helicopter approached 0706 AAU programme was concluded for 1973. offered the chance to opt out of sailing with code twice a day an unidentified radio the Otago. It hurriedly left and landed ABOVE: Fraser Coleman, Minister of Immigration and Mines, poses with his gas mask aboard the Otago and 22 took up the offer. No station, it was discovered later this was the aboard the USS Corpus Christi OTAGO. He was to prove an indefatigable de-facto correspondent and able communicator. Aftermath officers or operation specialists opted out. safety link to the French authorities. When Bay, a helicopter repair ship operated by The French government announced in When on deployment to Mururoa the France stated that it would proceed with its crew inside the ship’s citadel saw it come HMNZS Canterbury arrives to the Military Sealift command. Along with 1975 that they would end atmospheric vessel would be under the direct control of tests despite the presence of the Otago, through the ventilation system. The Crowded Seas this there were the RFA Sir Percival, testing and move to underground testing Rear Admiral E.C. Thorne C.B., C.B.E., Norman Kirk assured them that the frigate yield was estimated to be 5.4 kilotons.15 Canterbury left Auckland to replace USSR research vessels Akademic at Mururoa. This remained the case until Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), who in turn would not enter French territorial waters Commander Tyrrell, the Navigation Otago on the 14 July she was equipped Shirshov and Volna plus a Chinese June 1995 when they recommenced testing reported directly to Lieutenant-General but rather what the French called their Officer, the Yeoman of Signals and two with the RNZN’s first on-board computer fishing vessel gathering signal intelligence!14 at Mururoa, finally ending in January 1996. Richard Webb, Chief of Defence Staff9 ‘danger zone’. reporters were on the bridge equipped nick-named ‘Clarence’ to monitor the All the major nuclear powers had naval They then signed the Comprehensive who took his direction from the Kirk A French P-2 Neptune maritime patrol with anti-flash gear and dark goggles.16 yield of the French bomb and fallout. forces acting as observers of the test. In this Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and to date have government. The directive given to the aircraft made several passes over the Otago did not detect any radiation Despite being hampered by contamination ‘great game’ of intelligence gathering only not conducted any further testing. Mururoa Commanding Officer Commander Alan Otago on 6 July, but there was no with its sensors; it was not affected by any in the port boiler, Canterbury the RNZN was acting in a protest role. is still French territory and is treated as Tyrrell10 of Otago was not to be shared communication. France then advised it was fallout or other contamination from the rendezvoused with Otago on 22 July. Approaching the territorial limits a secure site but the facilities have been with his subordinates. Due to the fact this activating the test zone equal to 72 miles explosion. Through a radio-telephone Otago was ordered back to Mururoa to Otago could see a balloon with the dismantled and decommissioned. n was a political operation he was not given any around the test site, the area that Otago link to Wellington, the news was quickly observe what was thought to be the second device slung beneath it. They were told leeway to manoeuvre. Commander Tyrrell would be entering. Two days later a French broadcast to the outside world from the test. While Canterbury fixed some to prepare for a test the next day. At 0800 MICHAEL WYND was a good choice having participated in Dunkerque-class minesweeper appeared reporters aboard Otago. The film engineering issues, Otago remained on local time, the French detonated a device Operation GRAPPLE aboard the Loch- three miles off the stern of Otago and footage that was taken would follow in a station and moved to a new location for above the atoll at 2000 feet. Otago For Research enquiries fill in an class frigates. few days time.17 observation. At this point it came across was 21.5 miles west of the detonation. enquiry form on our website: a USN Victory-class intelligence gathering 8 Gerry Wright, ’30 Years Ago: The Navy at Mururoa’, The 11 Fused shells: Loaded shells were stored without fuses The flash was intense enough that the 15 Gerry Wright, ’30 Years Ago: The Navy at Mururoa’, www.navymuseum.mil.nz Raggie 17:3 (2003), p.6. for safety reasons. When going into action fuses were The Raggie 17:3 (2003), p. 7. ship, possibly USS Wheeling.18 9 The Navy List, Wellington: Ministry of Defence, 29 inserted making them “live.” 13 Gerry Wright, Mururoa Protest, New Plymouth: Zenith 16 Gerry Wright, Mururoa Protest, New Plymouth: 19 This was the 32nd test since 1966. February 1973, p. 6. 12 Gerry Wright, ’30 Years Ago: The Navy at Mururoa’, The Print, 2008, p.149. Zenith Print, 2008, p. 156. 18Gerry Wright, ’30 Years Ago: The Navy at Mururoa’, 20 Gerry Wright, ’30 Years Ago: The Navy at Mururoa’, 10 ibid., p. 9. Raggie 17:3 (2003), p. 6. 14 ibid., p. 152. 17 ibid., pp.159-164. The Raggie 17:3 (2003), p. 7. The Raggie 17:3 (2003), p. 7.

12 The White Ensign WINTER 08 The White Ensign WINTER 08 13 cFOroURomlu SAILm then Ohead cRSo llectiSPEAKon from the oral history archives

of anti-flash gloves and headgear, wearing all hired motor-scooters. They were very gas mask respirators, so that we wouldn’t cheap to hire and we had a session on the “We had shown breathe in radio-active particles, [and] the wharf riding these scooters off the end wearing of the dosimeter, which really of the wharf, and the locals including the them backwards and looks like the old type bottle opener. It people who owned the scooters thought had mixed up the had a reading on it in colour to detect and it was a huge joke. As we sailed they had Bert Anscombe indicate to the wearer whether or not they trucks there with cranes on them rescuing reels, just anything Among the Navy Museum’s Oral Histories there are had been subjected to radiation fall-out”. these motor-scooters out of the tide. recollections from sailors who sailed to the Christmas Island Quite hilarious”. for entertainment, THE WORLD ON FIRE and Mururoa test sites. South Islander Bert Anscombe’s “The first bomb, it just looked like BREAKING THE MONOTONY to break the personal account gives a good insight into the day to the sky was on fire. The last one of the “The crew, well we weren’t really a crew monotony” second series which I was there for, that in the true sense, we were more like a day living conditions of those onboard ship. Young New was the worst of the lot. I was sure that gang, everybody looked after everybody, “Something I want to add. Sometimes Zealand sailors, ordinary blokes, away from home, in a new the world had gone on fire. We were 120 right from the skipper down. If you had a in the afternoons if there was inclement situation and for the most part unprepared for what they miles from it. You could feel the blast, the problem, then it was soon dealt with one weather or for any reason we were down disposition of air, the noise was horrific way or another, even long distance stuff. below, we would sling our hammocks and were to experience. Bert Anscombe joined the navy as a and the whole sky it was shocking. I We got little mail. it wasn’t unusual for a voice to come up Boy Second Class in 1952. He was 21 when he travelled to remember thinking I hope Mum can’t We used to get a weekly news report and say, “I spy with my little eye”, and see this. That is how big it was. It looked from Navy Office in Wellington, which here are all these grown sailors lying in Christmas Island in 1957 as a Signalman in HMNZS Pukaki. like our entire universe had just burst into was put up on the notice-board, so their hammocks playing ‘eye spy’, just These excerpts are from a new Oral History currently being flame, terrifying. I speak for myself on everybody had some idea of what was something to break the monotony”. n that one, but I know damn well looking going on at home. But other transcribed at the Navy Museum. around at some of my shipmates, even than that during the dog watches hours after the event we were very quiet playing Tombola (Housie) with spent the best part of another all explanation. It was as if the sun had Kiwis thinking, what the hell do they our beer issue, and watching movies year in Philomel, and then exploded…I will never forget it”. think they are doing”. that we had watched a thousand “II was drafted to the Loch class times before, that was about it. frigate Pukaki, thus commenced a LETTING OFF STEAM RIDING SCOOTERS AT PAPEETE Sometimes especially we had very happy era in my naval career. The “We stayed on station for the rest of “At the end of the second series we a tropical routine, where Commanding Officer was Richard T. the series, never getting ashore very EA B 0032 were sent to Tahiti for a rest. Rotoiti you commenced work at Hale and he was a man’s man. In fact much. One shore break we did have and Pukaki alongside one another in 0700 and you finished at he lives just around the corner from me was on an atoll, and onboard the ship Papeete. Can you imagine it? We had 1130, and that was tropical ABOVE: RNZN Petty Officer Herbert Anscombe. now. Richard and I are great cobbers. I we had several films. We had shown been locked in these steel hulls for the routine. You were free then am the president of the local RSA and he them backwards and had mixed up the best part of five months without seeing until the dog watches, unless you is on my executive committee. We are reels, just anything for entertainment, to “It looked like our anybody or landing anywhere. We had were actually on watch. It suited us just good friends. break the monotony, and one of these money coming out our ears and all these fine we had the afternoons to ourselves. We sailed from Auckland for the films was about the knights of old, in entire universe had lovely people ashore wanted to entertain We would take a stretcher off out to the Christmas Island nuclear test trials in the days of King Arthur, and there was us. The funniest thing you have ever seen upper deck under an awning somewhere early `57, and the first series was for five the blue knights and the red knights. So just burst into flame, in your life. The night we sailed we had and perhaps sleep or write letters.” months. We called at Suva on the way we stopped at an atoll and as I say there up, in company with Rotoiti another wasn’t even a tree on it. terrifying.” Loch class frigate. There was a lot of We went ashore in the cutter and the any the wiser, just within the ship, and competition between the two ships, so whaler loaded up with tons of liquid seeing us getting around, there were guys much in fact, the day that we sailed from refreshment and everybody got cardboard with black eyes and bandaged heads and Suva, Rotoiti, who was the junior ship and anything they could get a hold of, all sorts, but we had let it all out. That was to us, following us out through the reef at and the port watch of course were the a great idea of our skipper”. Suva had loaded up their Squid weapons red knights and the starboard watch were with bags of split peas. They came right the blue knights. We had painted up our NUCLEAR TEST PREPARATION up behind us, much to our dismay and armour and our swords made of bits of “The actual exercise carried out for the fired these split peas all over Pukaki. packing case and anything we could get a nuclear tests…for a start we had to rig the It came down like very hard hail. Having hold of in the way of timber, and we had a ship for wetting down. In today’s navies, no bridge cover, there was a little bit of ill joust on the beach, after we had consumed most of them have got a pre-wetting feeling and quite a few bruises. It was just the refreshments. The funniest thing system built in. We didn’t, so we rigged part of the fun”. you have ever seen in your life. About up our fire hoses to spray water over most “We had been on station for the a hundred sailors fighting and bashing of the ship to wash off or de-contaminate EAA 0028 nuclear tests for about two months. The one another on the beach all dressed nuclear residue. ABOVE: Task force Grapple Christmas card from HMNZS Rotoiti 1957. They were a long way from home, on a remote first test had taken place and that was up as knights of the realm, including the The next part of our training for the Pacific Island and this was for the folks back home. The card is inscribed from the Captain and Officers of the Rotoiti. something that I will never forget. Being skipper. The next day we were sailing explosions was getting into white suits. On the outside, “This is where it is” and inside “and this is what it looks like.” so close to an atomic explosion defies along on our appointed station, no one They were a very fine nylon. The wearing OVER PAGE: Poster shows the mushroom cloud moments after detonation. Christmas Island 1957.

14 The White Ensign winter 08 14 The White Ensign WINTER 08 TheThe Wh Whititee En Enssigignn W wINTERinter 08 08 1515 column head 1956 - 1958 RAPPLE G

PERATION

16 The White Ensign WINTER 08 The White Ensign WINTER 08 17 O mcoururlumno ahead 1995-6

Z0077 AC Lieutenant-Commander Campbell Operation had ‘some doubt as to the sea worthiness of the two embarked politicians’ Chris Carter (Labour) VALERIAN and Brian Neeson (National).

as being ‘so openly friendly’. Lieutenant- Commander Campbell was contacted the Commander Campbell was at great pains next day by the French Navy he explained to explain to the excited passengers that that it was the French ship’s poor handling it was a normal mark of respect between that gave rise to the close encounter.16 navies.11 The letter welcomed Tui to October 1 was a day of action. Yachts Mururoa and asked the RNZN to respect from the protest fleet were breaching the the right of the French Navy to protect 12-mile limit and the French were very the sovereignty of this French colonial active in escorting them out of territorial territory.12 waters. French Navy personnel also On 28 August the MPs conveyed a boarded one of the yachts who had letter of protest to the French Navy who launched canoes to land on the atoll. had deployed frigates to shadow the All this activity attracted the media protest fleet usually staying some two representatives’ attention and they nautical miles from the yachts. When the transferred over to a yacht where they protest fleet would gather, they would be were discussing when the next test would surrounded by the French.13 The MPs be. As this discussion continued, the at one stage went across to the protest French detonated their second device yacht Tryptych and returned to the Tui in the afternoon.17 Tui did not pick up happy that they had been the guests of the that the detonation had occurred until RNZN and not cooped up on a yacht. the media in New Zealand called them On Tuesday 5 September 1995 the to determine if the French had tested the first device was detonated. The media device. The rest of the time on station contingent went into high gear and the was spent relaxing as now the tests had ship’s communication circuits were been conducted. On 9 October Tui left flooded with calls from international the waters off Mururoa but not before media. By the end of the week the media the MPs passed another protest letter and politicians were clamouring for the to the French when Tui met up with n May 1995, Jacques Chirac running a naval vessel to Mururoa arguing that a slow but long range endurance diesel ABOVE: In August 1995 both Helen Clark Tui to return to Rarotonga. This she a French Patrol Craft. She then sailed for the Presidency of France, promised a naval vessel should be used for naval electric ship. (Leader of the Opposition) and Jim Bolger did and arrived back on 17 September.14 for Rarotonga then home arriving to a (Prime Minister) boarded TUI prior to its to end the moratorium on testing of 4 After reprovisioning she then departed welcome on 26 October 1995.18 I purposes. The New Zealand government On July 24 a warning order was issued departure for Mururoa from Auckland. nuclear devices if elected. He won the took a different view, there was political to Lieutenant-Commander J.F. Campbell, Operation Valerian was not only protesting for Mururoa this time carrying the MPs The post deployment report indicated election and announced that between and public pressure to do something the Commanding Officer of Tui ‘for a the tests it was officially supporting the John Carter (National) and Pete Hodgson that ‘from a military perspective, the September 1995 and May 1996 there protest fleet. A bipartisan initiative, it was 19 about the resumption of the testing. It 70-day deployment to the South Pacific well supported by the public. (Labour) accompanied by media mission was achieved’ The service that would be a new series of eight tests at announced that a ship would be sent in support of Government initiatives at representatives and civil servants. During Tui provided to the protest fleet was Mururoa Atoll.1 France was pursuing its but would operate outside the 12-mile Mururoa.’7 Equipment was removed off in 1995 than in 1973, so the government the passage damage to the starboard invaluable. The reports of proceedings status as a world power. Two reasons were territorial limit and would offer support to Tui in preparation for the deployment had to monitor news output very carefully. main engine generator halved the speed for the time Tui spent off Mururoa shows given for the resumption of testing; firstly the flotilla of protest vessels.5 On 18 July and to make room for civilian passengers. As she sailed to Rarotonga Lieutenant- of Tui and it would be a slow voyage that she provided water, fuel, and medical to verify the safety and reliability of the Prime Minister Jim Bolger announced She was ready on 4 August for Operation Commander Campbell had ‘some to Mururoa. She arrived at the edge of services to the protest flotilla even though devices and secondly to develop warheads that there was broad agreement from VALERIAN, the name given to the doubt as to the sea worthiness of the the territorial waters on 26 September.15 that was not her mission. This is another with better yield-to-weight ratios.2 France all parties to send an RNZN ship to operational deployment to Mururoa.8 two embarked politicians’ Chris Carter That afternoon Tui stood by when the example of the courage, comradeship, indicated at the end of the testing support the protest fleet. HMNZS Tui, The voyage would be under the control (Labour) and Brian Neeson (National).10 yacht Vega deliberately crossed the 12- and commitment of the men the RNZN programme it would be willing to sign the an unarmed oceanographic research of the RNZN with an interdepartmental Tui arrived at the 12-mile territorial mile limit and was boarded by the French sent to monitor another nuclear test by Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.3 ship, was to be sent to Mururoa and MPs ‘watchgroup’ providing guidance on limit on the afternoon of 24 August. and escorted to the atoll. That night there the French. n Despite the public outcry in both would travel with it.6 TUI was able to the legal, political, and media aspects of There was great excitement amongst the was an incident when a French Patrol craft countries, Australia would not deploy deploy with no tanker support as she was the operation.9 Technological advances media representatives and politicians closed up to the Tui. When Lieutenant- MICHAEL WYND 1 Ramesh Thakur, The Last Bang before a Total Ban: French meant it was harder to control the media when a French Patrol Craft rendezvoused Nuclear Testing in the Pacific Working Paper No. 159, Canberra: 4 ibid., p. 23. 11 ibid., p. 5. 16 ibid., p. 11. Australian National University Research School of Pacific Studies, 5 Ruth Laugesen, ‘Navy may join protest yachts’, The with Tui to pass along a letter. Following 12 ibid., p. 5. The letter is attached to the report. 17 HMNZS Tui Report of Proceedings October 1995, p. 2. 1995, p. 1. 14 July 1995, p. 1. 7 HMNZS Tui Report of Proceedings for July 1995, p. 3. naval protocol was interpreted by the MPs 13 ibid., p. 8. 18 ibid., p. 6. Tui spent 75 days at sea while on Operation 2 ibid., p. 12. 6 Sarah Boyd, ‘Parties unite to condemn French tests’, The 8 HMNZS Tui Report of Proceedings August 1995, pp. 1, 3. 14 ibid., pp. 7-8. VALERIAN. 3 ibid., p. 22. Evening Post 18 July 1995, p. 1. 9 EXO 0013 RNZN Minute NA 3440-0015 14 December 1995 10 HMNZS Tui Report of Proceedings August 1995, p. 3. 15 ibid., pp. 9-10. 19 EXO 0013 RNZN Minute NA 3440-0015 14 December 1995

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LEFT: Warrant Officer T.A. Bruce receiving LEFT: Envelop fragment sent the Meritorious Service Medal from CNS Rear from Leading Telegraphist Admiral C.J. Steward CB, CBE 27 January1986. Dennis Horne, HMNZS ROTOITI 1957. lot of bomb tests they were actually exploded from towers, they weren’t dropped from aircraft, the BELOW: Ships Company who participated in the H-bomb tests A bombs were actually up towers on Christmas at Christmas Island 1957-58 Island. They bombed their base and runway place were given a Pewter Tankard too, because one of the trips we came back from with Operation Grapple badge

R 2299 on front. Close up of badge on there, we came around the bottom of the island previous page. back into the bay where it was all blackened and flattened and we just shot in there and took on provisions and were gone. That is when we came home, after the first whack that I was up there, we shot in and shot home and we went back up again about two months afterwards for the next whack or the last whack”. “I didn’t have a lot to do with the bomb drop. We had a rundown given to us from the bridge about what was happening and we could actually see the Canberra aircraft, because they were painted white and you could see them in the blue sky when they were doing their runs prior to bomb drop. Everyone was out on the upper deck they would say the next run would be the firing run and they would just broadcast it on board the ship as T KK0006 the aircraft was coming in. You would be told to turn your back to the bomb, sit down or whatever it was that you wanted to do, close your eyes, put your hands over your eyes as well and then it would be bomb gone, 5,4,3,2,1, bomb burst and whoof, a brilliant flash, it didn’t matter that your eyes were shut and your hands were over them. No anti flash gear, we were only in number eights, Terry Bruce n out on the upper deck”. Warrant OfficerT erry Bruce joined HMNZS Pukaki in 1958 arriving in time for the second nuclear test at Christmas Island. His role was to track the met balloons to REFERENCE WOS T.A. Bruce MSM , DLA161 determine the weather for the tests. Commodore G.F. Hopkins interviewed him in 1997 for the Navy Museum’s Oral History archives. The following is an extract from this interview.

was closed up in the radar shack sond, so not only did you get to track the could get on the 277. As soon as you got chasing balloons. In one of the balloon for the wind speed and direction it, it was stopped and you didn’t lose it from “Iphotographs you will see us sitting you got the temperatures as well. That came there on, I found it quite easy to hang on to. on the quarter deck with our backs to the straight back to the ship”. It didn’t auto track. It was all handraulic, the bomb and our anti flash on and our knees “Before the balloon launched you had whole lot was done by hand, both revolving up. I was one of those. I can remember to set the radar up. They had a special A and the elevation was all done by hand and being out there for one of the bombs. I was display built into it for this each range was running your little range marker off as well. FNA 0004 there for the big H bomb, I actually saw that about 20 miles. To measure the angle of the So you were quite busy sitting there. Then WARNING LEAFLET, 1957 one go off. I have got a photograph of that at aerial you would do three cuts, stop in the of course every minute you had to report to home somewhere, I will dig it out”. middle, you would get a bearing, a range the ops room on the minute and so you are This leaflet was dropped by air, warning fishing boats and people living on “I did a bit of sailing there actually in the and an elevation, which was the bearing, watching the clock doing this. The longest nearby islands and atolls that there was to be a prohibited zone around old 14 foot dinghy, on a Saturday or Sunday slant range and the elevation at the time. We balloon run took 119 minutes, 1,000 feet a Malden Island during the British nuclear tests. None of the translations were you would go for a sail and there was these really had to get the balloon within the first minute and so that was 119,000 feet. Gerry in a Pacific Island language. 1957. big Manta Rays flopping past and they would two or three minutes of its launch for it to Wright and I did this 4 times a day in the The leaflet states: appear right alongside you. They never be effective because they rose at something days running up to the actual bomb drop.” 1. You are in the Danger Area of the United Kingdom Nuclear Weapon Tests… bothered you or anything like that”. like a thousand feet a minute and so you “We were usually out to the east of 2. The dates between which it is dangerous to be in this area are 1st March, “The RN had their own team for blowing had the 277 radar barreling around flat to Christmas Island when they did the drops. AAU 0702 1957 to 1st August, 1957. ABOVE: Weather Ballon being released from HMNZS 3. For your own safety you should leave this area immediately, making up the balloons and letting them go. We did the boards and the Officer of the Watch on The first lot were at Malden Island or OTAGO at Mururoa in 1973. Weather balloons helped four a day I think it was when I was doing the bridge would be reading off bearings and whatever it was, but from there on they were detect wind direction to avoid nuclear fallout and maximum speed and in the direction indicated by the aircraft which drops them and two of them used to have a radio slant ranges using his sextant, so that you on Christmas Island. The second and third were used at both Christmas Island and Mururoa. this leaflet.

20 The White Ensign WINTER 08 TheThe Wh Whitite eEn Ensisging nW wINTERinter 08 08 21 21 croECluOmLLECTIn headONS OF mURUROA

Gerry Wright’s two books are available through the Navy Museum Shop. GERRY Order on-line: www.navymuseum.mil.nz WRIGHT On July 6 1973 The (Christchurch) Press reported Prime Minister Norman Kirk’s response to France’s intention to proceed with the nuclear tests at Mururoa. “President Pompidou has indicated to me that it is France’s firm intention to go ahead with the tests at Mururoa”… “Commander Tyrrell’s orders are being amended and the Otago will be authorised to enter the test area.” President Pompidou had rejected the World Court’s competence in matters relating to nuclear testing. Kirk replied do you mean, it’s got USN on the side of it Barber, "Your press report was released in “In saying this the President seems to have overlooked a long and a bloody great star". It was an American Paris 6 minutes before the French". A list established rule of international law that it is for international and mistaken OTAGO for its own mother of all the others and their timings were also ship the CORPUS CHRISTIE”. given. In the last paragraph it said "Name tribunals to decide whether they have competence and not for “My job at that stage was to measure your next position". He sent back one word the parties that appear before them.” the size of the bomb; you could do it "London", and off he went to London for by measuring range and a sextant angle two years”. erry Wright was Operations Officer was going to go off. Of course, having been between the horizon and then the base and “On the way home, we were re-organizing aboard HMNZS Otago when to the British tests at Christmas Island, as had the top of the cloud after so many seconds. the officer's duties. One of my new duties Gshe went to protest the tests at Alan Tyrell, we understood the preparations It worked out the bomb was about 4 and was to be Duty Officer of the Day on arrival Mururoa in 1973. Here are some excerpts routine; the things that happen prior to an half kilotons and about 20 miles off”. in port.” There was in fact an ulterior from his Oral History… explosion.” “Fraser Coleman was getting really fed motive in this - what I was interested in was …”we would listen in on anything. I think, “A couple of days later, the time came up, because he was spending any thing up being first across the brow. The only way more just out of background interest, because for the bomb test. We knew it was going to to 8 hours a day talking to the world news of doing that was to make sure that I was we couldn't pick up commercial radio happen; we had worked that out. We knew media. One day he came in and said "I in charge. We arrived at Devonport, the stations, we were just too far away, so we just the day. We then had one of those routine have just been talking to this Japanese bloke brow1 went out and, as soon as it touched listened to the French Armed Forces Radio. calls with the French. They didn't identify for two hours and at the end of which he ashore I was across. My wife and daughter One day the programme was suddenly themselves but told us that the bomb would said "Now can we start the interview?", at were standing at the bottom. I grabbed my interrupted and in French it said "5,4,3,2,1. go off at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning. In fact which I hung up. It just went on and on daughter who was aged three and gave her a For the bomb count down programme, they it happened at 9.30. We were 30 minutes and people seemed to have the impression big hug just as a newspaper reporter turned were using the local Armed Forces radio out. We had in fact 22 hours warning that that OTAGO had a red box on the stern up, took one photograph and disappeared. and everyone had a copy of the programme. the test was going to happen. On the day and you just picked up the telephone. The That photograph appeared on the Herald's For instance at two hours to go they played of the test it started cloudy. Overcast, low whole thing was just taking off and in many front page”. n The Grand March by Aida. I remember that cloud, which was normal. The cloud cleared ways it was getting out of control”. because it was my wedding march. We had shortly after dawn. I think Clive Calkin was “Anyway when the bomb went off and our Gerry Wright will speak at several clicked onto their count down programme on the bridge at the time when a helicopter message via NZPA was released in Paris 6 venues in September (See page 31). and we picked that up three days before we suddenly appeared out of the clouds and minutes before any one else. Apparently in expected the bomb to go off. We already Clive said "Look at that a Super Frelon", a this reporting game, seconds count. To have REFERENCES: had some other indications when the bomb French helicopter. Alan Tyrell said "What it minutes before was just phenomenal. I Oral History transcribed from interview with Lieutenant Commander G.C. Wright RNZN (Rtd) can remember now clearly the message that RIGHT: Gerry Wright embraces his daughter Philippa on his return from Mururoa in Auckland February 1994. DLA 0085 came in from NZPA Wellington to David BELOW: Christmas Island fold out image sequence. 1957 1 Gangway between ships G . Wright P rivate C ollection

22 The White Ensign WwINTERinter 08 TheThe Wh Whitite eEn Ensisging nW wINTERinter 08 08 23 23 cFreatureoomlum then head collection Medal

D-DAY ROUTINE - HMNZS PUKAKI Daily orders issued on 14 April 1957 the day before the detonation of the first Ephemera & Memorabilia British Hydrogen bomb at Malden Island in the Christmas Islands.

The Navy Museum holds an extensive eclectic and unique collection of ephemera and memorabilia from its sailors. It gives a different perspective on the political events of the time and provides an insight into the social and leisure activities of seamen while at sea. The New These collection items highlight the serious nature of the tests and also the efforts at light relief produced by the sailors. Zealand Special Service Medal (Nuclear Testing)

The New Zealand Special Service medal was introduced

X F 0007 A in 2002 to recognise personnel who undertook special

SFL 0002 operations in extreme or hazardous circumstances, which are not normally recognised by a campaign medal. FLAG - HMNZS CANTERBURY There is scope for a number of different variations on Donated by Mr Michael Bell, Canterbury flew this unofficial homemade flag at Mururoa Atoll the award. To date, three NZ Special Service Medals have July 1973. It features an H bomb and the words ‘Norms Mystery Tours’ (sic). Both Canterbury and Otago were sent to Mururoa by the New Zealand Prime Minister, Norman Kirk, as a national protest been created: the NZSSM (Nuclear Testing), the NZSSM against French nuclear testing in the Pacific. (Erebus) and the NZSSM (Asian Tsunami).

he NZSSM (Nuclear Testing) the medal was introduced. Operation was issued to personnel (both Grapple veterans, who had been battling Tservicemen and civilians) who for compensation for health problems were part of an official New Zealand they attributed to the nuclear tests, were

Government presence at an atmospheric unhappy with the offer of the medal

0260, 0260, ENA nuclear test between 1956 and 1973. without an offer of compensation also. These include not only the Christmas The Special Service Medal held in the Island and Mururoa tests, but also those Navy Museum collection was issued to at Maralinga, Australia (1956-1957), Leading Telegraphist Dennis Horne2. EL B 0017 Malden Island (Kiribati) (1957), Nevada, Horne entered the Navy to serve during USA (1957) and Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall wartime (1940-1946) and then rejoined SHIP'S NEWSPAPERS Islands (1958)1. in 1952 serving for 6 years until May F O N 0009, 0010 MURUROA ENVELOPE - HMNZS PUKAKI The medal itself is simply inscribed “For 1958. Thus his service at Christmas Island - HMNZS CANTERBURY The Mid Pacific News Special Souvenir Special Service”. It features the NZ coat aboard HMNZS Rotoiti was one of his Edition, 15 May 1957. The red headline Air Mail envelope showing a stamp of a of arms on the front side with an array last postings. His medal, along with his “Bomb Gone! H-Bomb puts Britain mushroom cloud in the bottom left hand corner. of NZ plants and flowers on the reverse service records and assorted ephemera, on Level Terms” tells something of the The words HMNZS Canterbury at the top, suspense the men aboard the Pukaki including ferns, kowhai and pohutukawa. was donated to the museum in 2005 1973 in the cloud and Mururoa in the stem,

must have felt before the bomb test at Its ribbon has an orange-yellow centre by his long-term housekeeper, Mrs S.A. DEPLOYMENT DIRECTIVES - HMNZS OTAGO with Captain F11 at the base. Leading Seaman n Malden Island. This would have been with crimson, red, white, and black stripes Currie. “Supplementary Directive for RNZN Ships Deployed as a National Protest Garthwaite (Squeak) made the mushroom produced and distributed between the RN Against French Nuclear Tests in the Pacific” from the Chief of Defence Staff shaped stamp from a pencil rubber and an on either side. and RNZN ships involved in the bomb tests to the Chief of Naval Staff, 27 June 1973.Originally classified TOP SECRET altered ship’s stamp. Captain Derek Cheney gave There was some controversy when CLAIRE FREEMAN at Christmas Island. but later over stamped DECLASSIFIED. approval for the stamps use. 1 New Zealand Special Service Medal (Nuclear Testing) Regulations 2002 2 Horne Collection, 2007.6, R2299

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AIR DROPPED WARNING

Salvage ABOVE: In freezing conditions Greenpeace had been very active in the peace flotilla at Mururoa in the salvage crew remove the of the 1973. This article summarises Gavin Apperley’s official report on the foremast 27 July 1985. role the Navy had in salvaging the Greenpeace Ship Rainbow Warrior LEFT: LT Hugh Aitkin and his Divers, standing in Calliope and in preserving evidence for the police investigation. It is reprinted Dock, in front of the hole from Navy Today July 2005, when it was written to mark the 20th that was later successfully Rainbow patched. anniversary of the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior.

n Thursday the 10 July 1985 the reporting a huge hole in the engine agreement with the police on 24 July; the British registered Greenpeace room, and extensive damage around next day CDRE Tempero (Commodore Warrior Ovessel Rainbow Warrior was the propeller and propeller shaft. In the Auckland) signed an Administration sunk in Auckland harbour by French subsequent two weeks the naval dockyard Order placing Gavin Apperley, saboteurs of the DGSE. Greenpeace team assessed various options for salvage, Constructive Manager at HMNZ Photographer was while the Divers began clearing the Dockyard, in charge of the salvage. The killed when the limpet mines exploded. interior of the ship, moving some 30 Navy’s resources, including the ODT The Navy’s initial response was just 2 tons of equipment and fittings out of the were placed in support of Apperley’s hours after the explosions, when Leading wreck. team; the Ministry of Transport’s Oil Diver (LDR) Schmidt of the Operational The salvage task was a daunting one; Pollution Unit was also available (led by Diving Team (OPT) entered the wreck Rainbow Warrior had sunk onto her Gerry Wright, a former naval officer). and recovered Pereira’s body. The Diving starboard side, burying the huge (2.4 x LTCDR Brian Ward, then Assistant Team also conducted a search of the hull 1.5m) hole in her hull in the soft mud Queen’s Harbour Master and in charge and wharf for any other explosives; none of the seabed. But the impact of the two of the Support Team of PHILOMEL were found. limpet mines was immense, shock blast sailors, saw the salvage in three main The police declared the wreck a crime and shrapnel damage had spread far into phases: scene; they wanted it recovered for the ship. When eventually salvaged a full forensic examination, they even wanted inspection revealed she could never be PHASE ONE, to examine the seabed under the ship. made seaworthy again. 19-28 July The removal of all accessible Beginning the following Monday the Many preparations went on in the items in the Rainbow Warrior, a ODT, under the command of LT Hugh next two weeks, before the Master of thorough survey of damage and, Aitken, conducted a survey of the wreck, the Rainbow Warrior signed a salvage commencing patching of stern damage. u

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ABOVE: The RNZN Operational Diving Team worked continuously on the Rainbow Warrior from 11 July to 22 August in appalling conditions.

Warrior’s starboard side to give additional the Harbour Board and even the scream buoyancy and to control the lift. That from the two Rovers, and the roar of air meant more work for the ODT who had compressors supplying the divers and to bolt and weld on the steel eyepieces to filling the salvage air bags. fasten each air bag to the hull of the ship. At 0245 on 21 August the final lift began, In addition, the Ministry of Transport by dawn Rainbow Warrior was partially loaned Captain G.C. Wright to assist and afloat and almost upright, she was moved oversee the large capacity MOT pumps. south and the pumps rearranged for the GN 85 01513 01 block shrapnel holes and cable runs, and ABOVE: The Rainbow Warrior was placed “Always helpful, always cheerful, CAPT harbour crossing. At 1245 on 22 August in Calliope Dry Dock on 22 August 1985. PHASE TWO, guide the suction hoses to rid the hull of Wright became a strong member of our Rainbow Warrior was docked in Calliope 28 July-19 August Patching, Engine mud; even the ship’s drawings had to be team,” LTCDR Ward reported. Dock; as the water drained down the full Room Patches placed, test pumping recovered from underwater. And all this their Apple III computer (in Wellington) LTCDR Ward’s Support Team did all extent of the bomb blast could be seen. and attaching air bags. had to be done with police evidence in available to assist with calculations. the surface tasks imaginable: working on A underwater explosives mind. It was of course winter: the days For the divers it was continuous hard and in the Rainbow Warrior to make the expert flew in to assist with the Police PHASE THREE, were short, the water cold – and polluted work. LT Aitken reported that, “The accessible structure watertight, operating examination; finally the Dockyard was 19-22 August Raising the ship, moving with diesel from the bomb-damaged fuel salvage was a challenging task, conducted the pumps, even cooking for the whole tasked with sealing the ship and making her south along Marsden Wharf and tanks – while the wind would blow up a in conditions of nil visibility and often salvage team. Few across the harbour in her watertight for eventual disposal. On finally moving her to Calliope Dock. nasty chop that pounded into the basin involving a high degree of difficulty. “ PHILOMEL understood the adverse 25 September the Rainbow Warrior was beside Marsden Wharf. The Divers used surface supply conditions they were working in- for undocked and the Navy’s part in her Even though the trawler had been sunk But after several approaches, it became breathing apparatus, which meant they example the supply of dry socks became salvage came to an end. in shallow water and next to a wharf, inevitable that the Dockyard would have had a continuous air supply. In the a bone of contention when the Supply Today the Rainbow Warrior lies in the salvage was not simple. First were to fabricate a patch to cover the main relatively shallow depths, they didn’t have Depot, not understanding the nature of Matauri Bay, Northland, accessible structural limitations of the wharf itself, hole in the engine room, and the divers to worry about decompression tables, the salvage work, told the salvage crew to to sports divers. Her salvage was an then there were the structural limitations would have to attach it over the hole. But and the SSBA meant they enjoyed hard- wash and dry their own socks. interdepartmental and commercial team of the ship. Rainbow Warrior was old, because the ship could not be moved, ABOVE: Inside the Rainbow Warrior wired communications with the surface. In mid-August, as more of the ship was effort, led by the Naval Dockyard and suffered corrosion in key decks and the patch would have to be applied with revealing the damage. They quickly developed an excellent being pumped out and made watertight it involving many from PHILOMEL. bulkheads and had been rather carelessly the ship still on her side and barely a foot working relationship with the Police, the became apparent that the Navy’s Rover The salvage of the Rainbow Warrior is converted by Greenpeace so that few of clearance under her for the divers to water and weakened by shock or blast, the Auckland Harbour Board and the Fire gas turbine pumps were not up to the an event the Navy can look back on with of her internal bulkheads were in fact operate in. structure can easily buckle or collapse. The Brigade (who provided additional pumps task. The Fire Brigade supplemented the pride. n watertight (because cable runs and other Underlying each of the decisions Dockyard team knew that a wrong move to assist the salvage). pumping effort at short notice, in time for alterations had been made without regard were many hours of calculations by the could break up the ship, worse, an error Early on the decision was made to hire the final lift. When the final lift took place REFERENCES: salvage airbags from Salvage Pacific Ltd it was a cacophony of diesel engines: the G.C. Apperley, Salvage of the Rainbow Warrior: for basic ship fitting). Constructor and his team. For all its size could cause casualties among the salvage July/August 1985 at Marsden Wharf East, Report The salvage effort began with the and apparent strength a ship is a dynamic team. The Dockyard staff were assisted in Fiji, these bags each with a five ton lift five big MOT salvage pumps, the Fire from Constructive Manager, HMNZ Dockyard, divers; they had to clear the interior, object, but when filled with a 1000 tons of by the Ministry of Transport, who made capacity, were mounted along Rainbow Brigade’s three pumps, five more from Auckland: RNZN., 1985.

28 The White Ensign WINTER 08 The White Ensign WINTER 08 29 didcolu yomun k headnow information highlights Upcoming exhibitions and events

THE NAVY MUSEUM WILL FREE PUBLIC EVENTS BE HOLDING A VARIETY OF Did you know...? EXHIBITIONS THIS YEAR, ALL OF n 3 SEPTEMBER, 10-11 WHICH WILL BE OFFSITE, MAINLY MAIN GALLERY, DEPOT IN DEVONPORT LOCATIONS ARTSPACE. anti-flash gear Local resident and retired Petty Officer FRIENDS Arthur Venus talks on his experience The Great OF THE NAVY White Fleet during the tests at Christmas Island during Operation Grapple. MUSEUM n NZ NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, SANFORD GALLERY Followed by morning tea. AUCKLAND VIADUCT. No charge. All welcome n If you are interested in the OPEN SEVEN DAYS 9-5 work of the Navy Museum, EXHIBITION RUNS AUGUST 1-17 n 4 SEPTEMBER , 10-11 join our mailing list and The Maritime and Navy Museum MAIN GALLERY, DEPOT ARTSPACE receive updates on the present an exhibition on the 100th Gerry Wright, veteran of the tests at progress of the new anniversary of the Great White Fleet’s Christmas Island, Mururoa and part museum, volunteer ABOVE: Ian Barton visit to New Zealand in 1908. Featuring of the salvage team for the Rainbow - a new navy recruit perhaps? opportunities and items from the Navy Museum’s Warrior, will speak in the main gallery. openings. You will also photographic and ephemera archives Followed by morning tea. receive The White Ensign SCHOOL and American William Stewart’s private No charge. All welcome journal. HOLIDAY collection. n 10 SEPTEMBER, 7PM, METHODIST n Contact Christine Hodgson: PROGRAMMES n NZ NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM CHURCH HALL, OWENS RD, P: 445 5186 MARITIME SPEAKER SERIES: DEVONPORT. E: christine.hodgson@nzdf. n SALTY SEA DOGS-TERM 1 Maritime Room.17 August, 7 pm, $15 Join the Devonport Methodist mil.nz This holiday programme was James Recknor PhD, Professor evening lecture group when Gerry Post: Christine Hodgson, themed around ships’ mascots. of History at the Texas Technical Wright discusses his involvement at Navy Museum, Private Pelorus Jack, the famous bulldog University will speak on the 1908 visit Operation Grapple and Mururoa. of the Great White Fleet. nti-flash gear was developed and designed to fit tightly over a shirt Bag 32901, Devonport, from HMS New Zealand in Followed by supper. All welcome. after the 1916 , or overalls. The current RNZN Clothing Auckland. WWI figured in stories, poems the major naval battle of WW1. Instructions (NZBR 3) describes how and music. Biscuit decorating, BOMB GONE! - The n 25 SEPTEMBER, 7.30PM DRINKS A binocular making-the children Navy and Nuclear It was then used in both world wars the gear should be worn, “The anti-flash Testing in the AND NIBBLES, 8PM START, during action stations1. Flash is the result hood is to be tucked inside the collar of had a ball. Lunch and games DEVONPORT LIBRARY, outside were followed by Pacific of explosion usually below decks, but the GWD [General Working Dress] Shirt. n VICTORIA RD, DEVONPORT making zany ships’ mascot DEPOT ARTSPACE can travel a considerable distance from Anti-flash gloves are to be worn over 28 CLARENCE STREET, Gerry Wright addresses Devonport puppets. What wonderful the source. It is of very short duration the GWD sleeve with the shirt sleeve DEVONPORT Library Associates on his first hand creations the kids came up with. and even thin clothing will give some buttons secured around the wrist prior 30 AUGUST - 24 SEPTEMBER experience at Christmas Island and 2 3 Afternoon tea of sugary lolly protection . Consequently, anti-flash to fitting the glove” . Also, trousers are MON-SAT 10- 5 AND SUNDAY 10- 4. Mururoa test sites. He will also discuss coated biscuits- yummy! gear was, and still is, an essential item of to be worn tucked in socks; the intent is No charge how he published his own book. WATERFRONT clothing during Action and at Emergency that one should be completely covered HERITAGE TRAIL The RNZN moved from a position of All welcome. Stations. with clothing. AND NAVAL BASE n SPLASH AND CRASH-TERM 2 witness to one of protest regarding When HMNZ Ships PUKAKI and Considering that this was standard In a new venue and with more nuclear testing in the Pacific. This n For further information on these and ROTOITI took part in Operation GRAPPLE action dress throughout summer and TOURS days, once again we were exhibition covers the Cold War other events, and for material for n Either explore Devonport’s Secondary Schools, please visit the at Christmas Island all personnel winter, the discomfort felt by personnel fully subscribed. This holiday period of nuclear proliferation and relationship with the Navy in a Navy Museum website: wore working or action dress: overalls such as those taking part in Operation programme was themed around the developing local nuclear protest fascinating Waterfront Heritage www.navymuseum.mil.nz with anti-flash hoods and gloves. All Grapple in the heat of the Pacific, must all the sounds of the ship and movement. An historian will be at Tour or book an historic tour personnel wore standard working or have been almost unbearable at times. sea. The children made fabulous the gallery from 10-12 Tuesday and through Devonport’s Naval Base. action dress: overalls with anti-flash Furthermore, because anti-flash gear is papier mache bells, took a Wednesday, to answer questions There is no charge for either tour letters to the editor hoods and gloves. fireproofed, it is designed never to be ferry trip to visit the Maritime throughout the exhibition. but bookings are essential. The anti-flash hood or helmet, which washed. As one serviceman noted, “In Museum and oh those lolly After each edition of The White Ensign is like a balaclava, covers the neck and the tropics the helmet reeked of stale sculptures! training at Tamaki: we receive wonderful letters, often with n Contact Debbie Mckinney n PART OF NZ SCULPTURE ONSHORE all of the head except for the eyes and perspiration and was repulsive to wear. Be in early to book for the next unique anecdotes and photographs Tour Guide Leader for more FORT TAKAPUNA, VAUXHALL RD, nose. Anti-flash gloves are long-sleeved It nearly made me vomit”4. n school holidays! which help to fill gaps in our knowledge information or bookings on: NARROWNECK and collection. As from Issue 6 we will P: 09 4455186 7 November- 16 November 1 Andrew Gordon, The Rules of the Game: Jutland CLAIRE FREEMAN n publish a selection of these letters. and British Naval Command. John Murray, London, E: [email protected] BOOKINGS Entrance charges apply. 1996. Write or email the Editor: Post: Navy Museum, Private Bag Debbie Mckinney A small exhibition, in conjunction 2 Manual of Seamanship, Volume II, 1951 BR 67 3 NZBR 3 - RNZN Clothing Instructions. pp. 79-80 E: [email protected] (2/51); London, Her Majesty's Stationery Office: 4 Unsourced, undated handwritten note, Navy 32901, Devonport, Auckland. P: 09 4455186 with the Department of Conservation, 1952. p. 33 Museum object information file Postal: The Editor, Navy Museum, Private Or book on-line: E: [email protected] examining the Tamaki Training Facility Bag 32901, Devonnport, Auckland www.navymuseum.mil.nz located at Fort Takapuna 1954-1961.

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