"Master Caption" for Photo # NH 98886
Released by the Department of Defense, 9 March 1965
"First phase of Operation Sailor Hat, a series of
three large scale TNT explosions to test the blast resistance
of Navy ships, was completed February 6 near Kahoolawe Island,
Hawaii."
"Three manned ships were anchored near the site of a
500-ton TNT blast to measure the effects of the explosion. The
ex-light cruiser USS Atlanta, taken out of moth balls
and refitted with an array of radar antennae plus special blast
recording and measuring devices, served as primary test ship,
accompanied by the guided missile destroyer USS Cochrane
and the Canadian destroyer escort Frazer."
"The Atlanta's crew of 169 Navy men and 60 scientists
will remain onboard for the second test explosion, scheduled
for April, but will be removed prior to the third detonation,
sometime in June. For each successive blast, the test ship will
be closer to the charge."
"Data from the tests will be used by the Navy to evaluate
present and planned 'blast hardened' structure aboard ship." |