The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-07-12
Test Proves Ships Need Redesienine
 EvaIuation Experts
 Report 10 Truman
 On Rikini Bias!

w d-oliIiS tOIl, Cu4S II - NOI' - Atomic experts of the joint chiefs | of staff reported to President Tru- man today that the atomic bomb | dropped at Bikini damaged more ships than have ever before been | damaged by a single explosion
 A preliminary report of the joint | chiefs of staff evaluation board said | the test demonstrated the necessity | for redesigning naval vessels to minimize damage to superStructures | and to protect personnel of naval | craft from atom bombs.
 If humans had been aboard the guinea pig fleet anchored of Bikini | atoll, the experts said. many would | have been killed or wounded by the i devastating explosion.
 Bomb Lands 1,5OO Feet Away
 Personnel aboard ships nearest the blast would have been exposed | to lethal dosage Of pathological | effects" the report said. It said | persons sheltered below deck or even in the shadow of radiation probably would not have been in- capacitated immediately, but eX- pressed no conclusions a5ou. the | subsequent pathological effects
 The scientists, military and naval experts making up the evaluation | board told MT Truman that the test | bomb landed 1,500 to 2C0o feet west of the target ship Nevada, but it | detonated at the planned altitude | The intensity of the blast ap preached the best of the three previous atomic bombs" the report said.
 Fires touched of on many ships i by the explosions might not have caused as much damage under | naval combat conditions as they did on the test ships. the report said The experts composing the joint chiefs of staff board said that be- cause the first test was an air burst little information was obtained on how the bomb would affect hulls Of the naval vessels.
 Next Test July 9
 A shallow underwater atom bomb test is scheduled for July 25 at Bikini, and a deep-water test ex- plosion is planned later.
 Ddl4loSC lO l4ullS W III Dt SluUltN specifically after the second test.
 The board said it was clear from the first test that "only by further large-scale research and develop Inent can the United States retain its present position of scientific leadership
 This must be done in the inter- ests of national safety the board said.
 Intensity Near Others Members of the board were Dr. Karl P. Compton, chairman. Brad ley Dewey, Thomas F. Farrell. Gen Joseph W. Stilwell. Lt.-Gen Lewis H. Brereton, Rear Adm. w. R. Pur- nell and Rear Adm. R. A. Ofstie
 The board said it's present in- formation was that the bomb ex- ploded with an intensity which ap- preached the best of the three prev ious atomic bombs"
 The explosion point was 1,500 to 2,000 feet west of the target ship Nevada and approximately at the planned altitude, the board said.
 The board listed the damage caused to the ships and said that personnel casualties from the blast would have been high for persons in exposed positions on the ships within half mile of the target cen- ter.
 Await Personnel Report
 Beyond this" the board said, s'any discussion of the blast effect upon personnel will have to await the detailed reports of the medical specialists"
 The preliminary report said no significant, unexpected phenomena occurred, no large water-wave form ed, the radioactive residue dissipat- ed as expected and no damage oa- cured on Bikini Island, about three miles from the center of the ex- plosion
 The board seemed satisfied with the scientific data resulting from the test, saying this information would prove invaluable in scientific and engineering fields,
 There can be no question that the effort and expense involved in this test has been amply justified both by the information secured and by greatly narrowing the range of speculation and argument, the report said.
 Didn't Represent True Array
 Reporting on the more important effects produced by the bomb, the board recalled that the target ar say in no sense represented an actual naval disposition.
 A destroyer and two transports fa,,ly ha iactrnJypr sapsized and later sank. The Jap anese cruiser Sakawa sank the fol- lowing day. The superstructure of the submarine Skate was so badly damaged that it was unsafe to sub merge her. The light carrier Inde- pendence was badly wrecked and gutted.
 These were vessels within half mile of the explosion point.
 The battleships Nevada and Arkansas and the heavy cruiser Pensacola, also within the half mile area, took the explosion on their after quarters. Apparently little more damage was done to their hulls or main turrets, but their supersructures were wrecked.
 Fire Damage Secondary
 The board said there was no doubt that these three big ships were out of action and along with many others within three-fourths of a mile, would have required exten- sive repairs at a principal naval base.
 The board said there was little damage to ships anchored beyond three-fourths of mtle from the explosion point.
 Primary material effects noted were due to blasts, buckling of decks and bulkheads. destruction and