Radioactive Campania

Just how Radioactive was H.M.S Campania after participating in the Nuclear Testing program? Documents obtained by LABRATS show that the Special Squadron Ship was contaminated, contained contaminated cargo and stayed contaminated for many years.

This document dated 8th November 1952 states that despite being small, there is a potential inhalation or ingestion hazard and that a full report would follow:

The full report on the contamination is available:

The Ship was also carrying four contaminated Landrovers which need to be allocated to H.M.S Phoenix and the Joint School of Chemical Warfare for decontamination or left in a secure park to weather!

4 weeks after detonation, the ship was checked for contamination. Note that all floorboards and cordage had already been jettisoned.

4 weeks after detonation the No. 8 compartment was still reading 5.0 mr/hr

The Landrovers were still reading 4.0 mr/hr on the bonnets, this was down from 20 mr/hr when the vehicles embarked. What precautions did the personnel take who were driving these vehicles?

Enclosed contamination must be checked if the machinery is opened up for maintenance.

On the 2nd of December 1953, work in connection with the radioactive contamination of CAMPANIA should be restricted to monitoring and decontamination only.

On the 6th of December 1953, an inspection report was published:

The Evaporators on the ship have not been opened since 1952 due to radioactive contamination!

On the 19th March 1954, CAMPANIA was being considered to become a Rosyth Reserve Fleet living ship, despite the contamination!

Eventually, CAMPANIA was reduced to a Class III Reserve.

Conclusion

Evaporators are used on a ship to produce fresh drinking water from seawater for the crew. If they knew that they had been contaminated, how contaminated was the water that the crew were drinking and washing in?

The Landrovers on board were radioactive, how much protection did the drivers or mechanics have?

The Number 8 compartment continued to have high levels of radioactivity, how many personnel were exposed at this time?

Ingestion and Inhalation risks are all listed in these documents, yet the denial continues.

Thank you to our researcher for taking the time to research this material, courtesy of the National Archives.

We would love to hear from any CAMPANIA Veterans who were on-board who can tell us exactly how much protection was given to them.