Operation Ivy, Report of Commander, Task
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MARSHALL ISLANDS FILE TRACKING DOCUMENT Record Number: /YJ Document Number (ID): DATE: i ‘!/4.5--e Previous Location (FROM): Q cc Addditional Information: OrMIbox: CyMIbox: WT-608 (EX) EXTRACTED VERSION OPERATIONIVY REPORT OF COMMANDER, TASK GROUP 132.1 Pacific Proving Grounds Joint Task Force 132 November 1952 NOTICE This is an extract of WT-608, which remains classified SECRET/RESTRICTED DATA as of this date. Extract version prepared for: Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. Director DEFENSE NUCLEAR AGENCY Washington, D. C. 20305 31 October 1984 OPERATLON IVY, REPORT OF COMMANDER, TASK GROUP 132.1 a* lI(I~OIYIWOOI8.acCOat*~~~~* WT.608 (EX) * MJTnowJ 0. COt@Ta*Ct on ea*t,T yuY@(yaJ Stanley W. Burriss . •RWO(II~I~O O~CANIZATION MAUL Am0 AOO*CSS lo. PROGRAM LLLmtMT. lROltCT. TAM ARCA A WRU WIT nur@ER~ Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Los Alamos, New Mexico 1.CO(~TLIOLLI)IO OIIICL MAW AI@0 AOOI(LSt 1% I)WOlT OATl Approved for public release; unlimited distribution. S. SUCPLtYfMTARY MOTES This report has had the classified information removed and has been republished in unclassified form for public release. This work was performed by Kaman Tempo under contract DNAOOl-83-C-0286 with the close cooperation Of the Classification Management Division of the Defense NuclearAgency. I. ICY wonos (Cus,knn on t.vu,o aids II rorobr~ md rdmttr* by UOCb ntmbw Operation IVY D.AmSTRACt (CaWmv8 m rowuao #4d# iI me--V ti I-ldb c bbek -J The mission of the Task Group included the responsibilities to conduct experimental measurement programs on Shots Mike and King and to conduct the radiological safety program. Programs were established to make radiochemical analysis of bomb debris; to follow _theprogress of the nuclear reaction; to make neutron, gamma ray, blast. thermal radiation, and electromagnetic measurements; and to make a prellmlnarY geophysical and marine survey of the test area. The organizational structure and command relations to accomplish the mission are outlined. 00 ,:rn 1473 COITIOY OI fi MOV SS IS O~SOLCTL UNCLASSIFIED 'FOREWORD This report has had classified material removed in order to make the information available on an unclassified, open publicationbasis, to any interested parties. This effort to declassify this report has been accomplished specifically to support the Department of Defense Nuclear Test Personnel Review (NTPR) Program. The objective is to facilitate studies of the low levels of radiation received by some individuals during the atmosphericnuclear test program by making as much information as possible available to all interested parties. The material which has been deleted is all currently classifiedas Restricted Data or Formerly Restricted Data under the provision of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, (as amended) or is National Security Information. This report has been reproduced directly from available copies of the original material. The locations from which material has been deleted is generally obvious by the spacings and "holes" in the text. Thus the context of the material deleted is identiffed to assist the reader in the determination of whether the deleted information is germane to his study. It is the belief of the individualswho have participated in preparing this report by deleting the classified material and of the Defense Nuclear Agency that the report accurately portrays the contents of the original and that the deleted material fs of little or no significance to studies into the amounts or types of radiation received by any individuals during the atmospheric nuclear test program. CONTENTS Page CHAPTER 1 DEVICES TESTED . 7 1.1 Mike Device . 7 1.1.1 Objective of Detohation . 7 1.1.2 General Deecrlption . 7 1.1.3 Critical Materials . 7 1.1.4 Yield . * . 7 1.1.5 Remarka . 8 1.2 King Weapon . 8 1.2.1 Objective of Detonation . 8 1.2.2 General Description . 8 1.2.3 Critical Materials . 8 1.2.4 Operation . 8 1.3.5 Yield . 8 1.2.6 Remarks . 8 CHAPTER2 SUMMABY OF EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM8 . t 9 2.1 Program 1, Radiochemistry . 9 a.2 Program a, Progrers of the Nuclek Reaction . 9 a.3 Program 3, Scientific Photography . 10 2.4 Program 4, Neutron Measurement8 . 10 2.5 Program 5, Gamma-ray Meaeurementr . 10 2.6 Program 6, Blast Measurements . 11 2.7 Program 7, Long-range Detection . 12 2.8 Program 8, Thermal-radiauon Melaurementrr . 12 2.9 Program 9, Electromagnetic Phenomena . 13 2.10 Program 10, Timing and Firing . 13 2.11 Program 11, Preliminary Geophysical ud Marine Survey of the TeatArea . 14 CHAPTER 3 GENERAL ACTIVITIES OF TASK GROUP 133.1 . 15 3.1 Mirrion . 15 3.2 Organization and Command Rblationr . 15 3.3 The Advisory Group . 19 3.4 PlanningandTraining . 19 3.4.1 Device Planning . 19 3.4.2 Basic Requirement8 . 20 3.4.3 Experimental Program8 . 21 3.4.4 Determination and Support of Project Requirement8 . l . 21 . 21 3.4.5, Training . l 3 CONTENTS (Continued) Page 3.5 Movement to the Forward Area and Assembly of Subordinate Units . 22 3.5.1 Personnel . 22 3.5.2 Equipment . 23 3.8 Movement of Devices and Components. 28 3.7 On-site Operations and Rehearsals . 28 3.7.1 General . 28 3.7.2 Construction . 28 3.7.3 Xntra-atoll Airlift Service . 27 3.7.4 Motor Vehicle Transportation . 29 3.7.5 Intra-atoll Boat Service . l 29 3.7.8 Off-atoll Activities . 30 3.8 Shot Phase Evacuation . 32 3.8.1 Mike Shot . 32 3.8.2 King Shot . 34 3.8 Operations Moat . 34 3.10 Sample Return . 34 3.11 Recovery Operations . 35 3.12 Postshot Re-entry . 38 3.12.1 Mike Shot . 38 3.12.2 Ring Shot . - . * . 57 3.13 Documentary Photography . 37 3.14 Radiological Safety . 39 3.14.1 Early History . 39 3.14.2 Orientation and Training of Task Unit 7 Personnel . 40 3.14.3 Organization and Activities of Task Unit 7 . 40 3.14.4 General Comments . 43 3.15 Classification Activities . 43 3.18 security . 45 3.17 Communications . 48 3.17.1 Mission . 48 3.17.2 Organization . 48 3.17.3 Preliminary Planning . 47 3.17.4 On-site Operations and Rehearsals . 47 3.17.5 Control Station Communications . 47 3.18 Disposition of Forces (Roll-up) . 48 3.18.1 General . 48 3.18.2 Phase-out of Personnel . 49 3.18.3 Property Roil-up . 49 3.18.4 Headquarters Roll-up . 50 3.19 Conclusions and Recommendations . 50 3.19.1 J-l Section, Personnel and Administration . 50 3i19.2 J-2 Section, Security . 51 3.19.3 J33 Section, Plans and Operations . 51 3.19.4 J-4 Section, Logistics . 53 3.19.5 Documentary Photography . 53 3.19.8 Shot Island and Off-atoll Organization . 53 4 CONTENTS (Continued) . Page CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY OF TASK UNITACTMTIES . 55 4.1 Task Unit 1, Scientific Programs . 55 4.2 Task Unit 2, Production . 55 4.3 Task Unit 3, Special Materials Facilities (Cambridge Corp.) . 56 4.4 Task Unit 4, Mike Assembly . , . l 57 4.5 Task Unit 5, King Assembly . 58 4.6 Task Unit 6, Firing Party . 58 4.7 Task Unit 7, Radiological Safety . 59 4.8 Task Unit 8, Technical Photography . * . 59 4.9 Task Unit 9, Documentary Photography . 59 4.10 Task Unit 10, Test Facilities ...... 59 4.11 Task Unit 11, Base Facilities ...... 59 ILLUSTRATIONS CRAPTER 3 GENERAL ACTIVITIES OF TASK GROUP 132.1 3.1 Organization Chart of Task Group 132.1 . 7 3.2 Relation of Task Group 132.1 to Higher Headquarters . ! a 3.3 Weekly Average of Task Group Personnel in Forward &ei . 24 rABLE CHAPTER 3 GENERAL ACTIVITIES OF TASK GROUP 132.1 3.1 Radiation Levels, from Aerial and Ground Surveys, in Milliroentgens per Hour . 41 5-d CHAPTER 1 DEVICES TESTED 1.1 MIXE DEVICE 1.1.1 Objective of Detonation The objective of Mike Shot was to test, by actual detonation, the theory of design for a thermonuclear reaction on a large scale, the results of which test could be used to design, test, and produce stockpile thermonuclear weapons. 1.1.4 Yield In order to be assured that a thermonuclear reaction progressed to a desired magnitude, the Mike device was essentially overdesigned. The yield of this device is considered to be within the range of 8 to 12 Mt. A better yield figure is not available at the date of writing, pending a more complete analysir of test data.*7 @Application of the LASL analytic solution method to the EGbG photographic data has re- sulted in the. following as the fireball yield figure aa of May 15, 1953: Mike, 11 f 1 Mt; King, 550 f 20 Lt. Wee note on p. 14. 7 P 1.1.5 Remarks It is desirable to point out that the thermonuclear device tested was not a weapon. All be diagnostic experiments were designed to measure certain specific reactions in an effort to confirm the predictions of theories that went into the design of this device. This type of ther- monuclear device may be adaptable to a major redesign for weapon purposes. It is believed that the over-all size and weight can be reduced and that the cryogenics system can be sim- plified to make a usable weapon. It is hoped that a new design will be ready for overseas tests in the spring of 1954. 1.2 MNG WEAPON 1.2.1 Objective of Detonation The objective of King Shot was to Data on the field variables leading to consideration of weapon effects in this yield range were also desired.