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Nuclear Weapons: Testing

Answer

The Ministry of Defence holds limited information on Fijian nationals who were present at the British nuclear tests in the Pacific. Records held by the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) contain four pages listing the names of Fijian nationals involved, and the tests for which they were present. No radiation doses were recorded for any Fijian national.At Operation Mosaic, which took place in 1956 at the Monte Bello Islands off the North West coast of Australia, 32 Fijians were onboard HMS Newfoundland. Two Mosaic trials were held. At the first on 16 May, HMS Newfoundland was docked at Singapore. At the second on 19 June trial, the ship was approximately 565 nautical miles (approx. 940 km) west north west of the Monte Bello Islands.Operation Grapple comprised three trials which took place in May and June of 1957 off the Maiden Island; 42 Fijians were onboard the aircraft carrier, HMS Warrior, which was the Forward Area Control Ship for the trials, and the Task Force flagship. The flagship acted as the control centre for a group of ships stationed off Maiden Island during the trials.At a later trial, Operation Grapple Y, 23 Fijians were stationed at HMS Resolution. The Grapple Y trial took place on 28 April 1958 off the south east point of Kiritimati (formerly Christmas Island). From December 1957, HMS Resolution was the name used for the group of naval personnel based onshore at Kiritimati. HMS Resolution was situated at Port London, on the north west side of the island, approximately 43 km from the point of detonation.At a subsequent series of trials, Operation Grapple Z, 16 Fijians were attached to 269 Squadron. The series comprised four nuclear detonations at the south-east point of Kiritimati, which took place in August and September 1958. The duties performed by 269 Squadron during Operation Grapple Z were reconnaissance, meteorological patrol and air-sea rescue.More widely, AWE records indicate that the 'Fijian Military Force' was under 12 Independent Field Squadron from April 1958 to February 1959; under 36 Corps Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, from February 1959 to November 1959; and under 73 (Christmas Island) Squadron, Royal Engineers, from November 1959 to April 1960.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

160529; 465 c979W

Session

2006-07

Subjects

Nuclear weapons Radiation exposure Testing Fiji Veterans

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk