Why did Byrd take 4,700 men and 13 ships to a 'science trip' in 47?

Operation Highjump. 1946 into 47. Admiral Richard Byrd, US Navy, sails to Antarctica with Task Force 68: thirteen ships, thirty three aircraft, FOUR THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED men. They schedule it for like 8 months. Then the whole thing wraps up and goes home in under two. Two months. For a "mapping an……