Otago was patrolling in French territory waters, mortars, small arms and torpedoes, were also carried. The Neptune P2 flew various patterns fully testing the Otago's radar, electronic warfare and IFF passive and active capabilities. HMNZS Otago was flying three battle ensigns, officially as an aid to recognition and to signal this was a RNZN operational warship on a political not a protest mission. France may have considered it an act of war and it is unlikely the RN was approached on the right and wisdom of flying an associated battle ensign on this exercise. A couple of Soviet research ships were out of sight 25 nm distant and two large USN naval auxiliary and spy ships, USS Corpus Christi Bay and USS Wheeling (T-AGM-8). The Royal Navy had deployed an RFA tanker and an amphibious landing ship to allow for evacuating the Pitcairn Islands if the French conducted a much larger "megabomb" test but that did not happen. The objective was to lead a NZ government and world protest against 'illegal' atmospheric testing, demonstrate ability for 'innocent passage' in international waters outside the French territorial 12-mile zone and, while avoiding confrontation, maintain the right to self defence. On the insistence of the PM , executive and CEO of Foreign Affairs (and possibly their Australian counterparts, who reduced RAN involvement from HMAS Sydney and a destroyer to HMAS Supply a tanker with six 40mm Bofors guns (2 km range) so the RNZN frigates forward in intermediate zone would face any immediate obstruction from the French Navy only the captain and operations officers were informed of the specific instructions - that in certain contingencies French action, fire and attempts to arrest or board the RNZN frigates would be arrested. Unaware of the specific instructions the wardroom of the Otago was increasingly concerned by the aggressive and unpredictable evolutions run by Cpt Tyrell in French waters. The small French frigate force probably indicated only a small nuclear trigger test of 5.4 kilotons was likely. Otago observed it from 21.5 miles and the crew was held in the enclosed citadel for only 20 seconds before allowed on the upper deck to observe the nuclear cloud. Cdr Tyrrell had witnessed the 1957 Operation Grapple hydrogen bomb test at Kiritamati and saw the explosion as puny in comparison and well within safe limits for the crew at the distance. The NZBC journalists, Shaun Brown and David