21.7.73 Voice piece special for TV
Suggested throw line - The protest frigate watched the explosion from a station 22 miles off the testing atoll. NZBC reporter Shaun Brown was one of only five people on the bridge of the vessel at the time the bomb went off.
Tape - Wearing protective goggles and anti-flash clothing we turned our backs on Mururoa as the official French countdown came over the Otago's radio. As the countdown ended there was a brief flash and then nothing. But then the Captain of the Otago, Commander Alan Tyrrell sighted the fireball rising from behind a layer of clouds. Within seconds the grey stalk caused by the rising fireball had been topped by a mushroom cloud which climbed higher and higher.
First it was an angry burnt red colour - then as it assumed the typical mushroom shape it's colour changed and the top became smooth and completely white. Finally the mushroom shape disappeared and became just another cloud over the Atoll - only the tinge of red on its edge reminding us that it was in fact the start of the French nuclear testing programme for 1973.
The crew of the Otago were allowed on deck seconds after the explosion - among them was the minister of Immigration, Mr Colman. He too was wearing special clothing as a protection against a possible nuclear flash. While Mr Colman and others watched the cloud rise and finally disappear, members of the crew measured and assessed the size of the explosion from the length of the flash and the size and height of the cloud.
Their final verdict - it had been a small detonation - a little over 5 kilotons. But regardless of size it had been a symbol of French determination to continue in its bid for tactical nuclear capability. France had exploded her 30th bomb in the South Pacific.
This is Shaun Brown on board the Otago.
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