Shangri La (CV 38) - Naval Cruise Book

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I ' 102 1 . V Canal Capers

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N.-.-.

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Helicopters land aboard Shangri-La. A death-dealing, radioactive particles as it mushroomed 40,000 feet in the air to be dissipated in the strong stratosphere winds. -So the Atomic Bomb came into being. Within a month it was parachuted on two enemy cities, exploding at a predetermined altitude which spread its mechanical energy over larger areas and most of the deadly radioactivity was carried harmlessly skyward. It was this deadly invisible wave of radioactivity which presented the problem to our Navy, whose ships were built to withstand punishment by force but manned by human beings vulnerable to the alpha, beta, and gamma rays emitted in the disintegration of the atomic nuclei. Alpha and beta rays may be stopped by thin shields, the former achieving lethal damage to life only when inhaled. Gamma rays constitute the most deadly aspect of atomic fission, since they have the ability to penetrate great thicknesses of every sub- stance known to man, including heavy steel armor. Admiral Blandy'is problem was to determine the effectiveness of atomic weap- ons against a wide cross-section of military equipment, plus the physiological effects on life itself. Accordingly the Navy Department ordered the following ships to Bikini as guinea pigs in the first test of atomic energy against naval forces: C TARGET GROUP BB-3 3 Arkansas CSD CA-25 Salt Lake City CPD DD-3 71 Conyngham BB-34 New York CPD CV- 3 Saratoga CSD DD-3 78 Smith BB-36 Nevada CDD CPD CVL-22 Independent CDPD DD-386 Bagley BB-3 8 Pennsylvania CPD DD-3 6 7 Lamson CSD DD- 3 8 8 Helm CA-24 Pensacola CDD CPD DD-3 6 8 Flusser DD-3 8 9 Mugford CPD