THE SURFRIDERNEWS FROM THE LCU COMMUNITY

JANUARY 2010

2 The Surfrider

The SurfriderJanuary 2010

Welcome to the second edition of The Surfrider,news from the LCU Community!

4 ACU 1 Greetings5 ACU 2 Greetings6 New Steering and Propulsion System8 ACU News9 LCUs Deploy to Uruguay and Chile10 LCU 1500 Heroism11 LCU News12 Africa Partnership Station13 BALIKATAN 200914 Hosting Tonnerre’s LCUs15 ACU 1 Engineering16 LCU Transits from Norfolk to Tampa18 Community Activities19 The Navy’s Best Kept Secret

Contributors:PMS377: Captain Jeff RiedelPMS377J: Brooks FarnsworthPMS377J3 LCU Life Cycle Manager: Montrell SmithACU 1: CDR Michael LockwoodACU 2: CDR Robert ChathamOn-site Representative: Glenn Long, Stephen TobiasEditor and Layout Design: Emily MacDonnell

Unless otherwise stated, all stories and photographs weresubmitted by sailors and representatives at ACU 1 and 2or supplied by Navy Newsstand.

Please submit stories and photographs for future issues toBrooks Farnsworth, PMS377J, at Brooks.Farnsworth@navy.milor to Montrell Smith, PMS377J3, at Montrell.Smith@navy.mil.

The Surfrider

The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of theDepartment of the Navy. Articles, letters, queries, and commentsshould be directed to: Department of the Navy, ProgramExecutive Office Ships, Attn: Code PMS377J, 1333 Issac HullAvenue, SE, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20376-2101.

Distribution Statement A. Public Release.distribution is unlimited.

2010 3

4 The Surfrider

ACU 1 GreetingsGreetings fromACU 1!

I have now served in command for a littleover a year and the period has been themost challenging and rewarding in mycareer. I recognize more than ever theunique and critical capability that the LCUbrings to the fleet.

Without the pride of ownership of the craftcrews, outstanding support of ourshoreside engineering department, oursuperb civilian maintenance team, ouron-site representative, and program officeand planning yard experts, our LCUswould not be able to maintain theextremely high OPTEMPO they do.

Throughout the past year ACU 1 craftremained deployed and busy supportingworldwide operations. Accomplishing atotal of 14 craft deployments withPELELIU, BOXER, ESSEX, andBON HOMME RICHARDAmphibiousReady Groups, ACU 1 Sailors providedcontinuous, flexible, reliable, support toOperational Commanders in the THIRD,FIFTH, and SEVENTH Fleets.

Deployed ACU 1 Sailors supported bothOperations IRAQI FREEDOM andENDURING FREEDOM. Sailors andcraft also participated in exercisesthroughout SEVENTH Fleet, includingFall Patrol 2008, Spring Patrol 2009,Fall Patrol 2009, Exercises COBRAGOLD 2009, BALIKATAN 2009,TALISMAN SABRE 2009,CARAT 2009, and MAREX 2009.

Over the last year, the ACU 1 LCUs thathave not been deployed steamed over2,300 hours providing service to the fleet,supporting initial training, certification,and proficiency events for all Pacific FleetAmphibious ships, I MEF, Naval SpecialWarfare, Explosive Ordnance Disposal,Expeditionary Training Group Pacific, andMaritime Expeditionary Security GroupONE. This service often goes unnoticed,but is a vital contribution to the combatreadiness of the units involved.

As I mentioned before, the ACU 1maintenance team, both uniformed and

civilians, are the real key to the unmatchedmaterial readiness of our craft and ourability to maintain the very heavyOPTEMPO we consistently do.

Over the last year, this team of peerlessprofessionals managed six major shipyarddrydocking overhauls, and seventeenpierside continuous maintenanceavailabilities (in two homeports) totalingover $16 million.

ACU 1 took possession of two LCUsfrom the Navy Reserve, to bring the unitup to its full strength of 16 craft. The first“new” LCUs to join ACU 1 in 38 years,LCU 1680 and 1681, both built in 1987,spent their entire service as training craftfor Navy Reserve Sailors.

ACU 1 Sailors took ownership of LCU1680 in Little Creek, Virginia, andcompleted a historic 1,283 nautical mileindependent transit to Tampa, Florida,where she joined LCU 1681. Both craftsubsequently embarked aboard theUSS MAKIN ISLAND for the transit toSan Diego, and arrived at NAB Coronadoin September 2009.

In May, ACU 1 hosted 53 Assault CraftVeterans at the 40th Annual MemorialService in remembrance of the crew ofLCU 1500, who were lost to enemy fire on27 February 1968 at Cua-Viet, Vietnam.This is an important event at ACU 1 as itis the one day we set aside to reflect on thesacrifice of those who went before us andto rededicate ourselves to living up to theheritage they left us.

During the course of the ceremony threeLCU 1500 survivors presented thecommand with a memorial painting inhonor of the fallen. I also had the distincthonor to announce that five LCU and nineLCM crews fromACU 1 had beenawarded the Presidential Unit Citation fortheir important part in retaking Hue City,Vietnam during the 1968 Tet Offensive.

In August ACU 1 received the firstinstallations of two very importantalterations: Centralized MachineryMonitoring and Control System

(CMMCS) and Electronic Navigation.These systems replaced obsolete,unsupportable legacy equipment andsignificantly increase our craft’s reliabilityand ability to operate independently.

Through superb teamwork by the planningyard, installations team, craft crew, andour maintenance team, these werecompleted ahead of schedule. We lookforward to the installation of thesesystems in all of our craft over the nextcouple of years.

ACU 1 remains ready to answer newchallenges, whether deployed or inhomeport.

LCUs remain in high demand foramphibious and non-traditional roles andmissions.

As we continue to work these craft we willneed the great support of our uniformedexperts and their civilian technical supportteams.

I wish all the Officers, Chief PettyOfficers, and crewmembers in the LCUworld, and the many civilians who help uson a daily basis, my sincerest thanks foryour support and commitment to thisunique community. We simply couldn’t doit without you!

CDR Michael Lockwood

Welcome to another edition of TheSurfrider.

Although I have been at ACU 2 for over ayear as the XO, I just recently tookCommand this past May following amemorable change of Command withCDR Eric Anderson. Needless to sayI continue to be impressed with the sailorsof this Command. Every day theseindividuals are executing the missionsassigned with pride and professionalism.This Command could not succeed withouttheir efforts.

My vision and objectives for 2009 are tobuild on the momentum and successes thecommand has achieved over the past year.ACU 2 is a unique and dynamicCommand with almost 300 officers andSailors operating 16 Utility Landing Craft(LCU) vessels, 4 Mechanized LandingCraft (LCM-8), 2 MaritimePre-positioning Force Utility Boats (MPFUB) and assorted small boats.

The versatility of both the LCU andMike-8 boats are best seen in theirsustainability and heavy lift capability.The LCU is capable of conductingprolonged operations alone and away froma support platform and both are capable ofdelivering very large payloads to areas thatare not accessible by other sea basedmethods. ACU 2 craft have operated in thewaters of the Atlantic Ocean, the

Pacific Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, theIndian Ocean, the Black Sea and the BalticSea, supporting virtually everyamphibious exercise or contingencyoperation that has occurred in those waterssince the late 1940s.

Recently, the LCU sustainability wasdemonstrated by the successful transit ofU80 from Norfolk, VA to Tampa, Floridawithout incident.

Over the past several years we have seenthe missions for these craft evolve beyondthe ship to shore role. In addition tosupplying landing craft detachments,ACU 2 provides trained personnel tosupport the Maritime Pre-positioningForce (MPF) operations. The concept ofthe MPF mission centers around merchantships pre-loaded with equipment whichare offloaded at port or at anchor and thenmarried with their units to provide acombat force anywhere in the world.

ACU 2 trains and provides active duty andreserve personnel to operate theLCM-8 and MPF UB used to offload theseships.

So you can see why the ACU 1 and 2Commands are known as ”TheWorkhorses of the Amphibious Fleet”.Within the past year, ACU 2 alone hassuccessfully completed over 10 LCUdeployments and four MPF exercises.

Since JAN 09, we have had over 4000visitors to the Command or onboard craft;all wanting to see this unique capability.

We are continuing to make great strides inensuring these craft are properly manned,trained and equipped. Vital LCUmodernization and sustainment programscontinue to gain momentum. We haverecently even completed development ofthe first LCU Craftmaster course ofinstruction. Staying on top of these effortswill ensure the LCUs remain active formany years to come and continue to be avital part of the fleet.

CDR Robert Chatham

2010 5

ACU 2 Greetings

Commander Rob Chatham attended the University of SouthCarolina in Columbia, South Carolina where he earned hisBA in History and was commissioned through the NavalROTC program in May 1991. He also holds an MA in NationalSecurity Affairs and Strategic Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate school.

Commander Chatham served aboard a number of seacommands, including division officer tours aboard USSNIMITZ (CVN 68), as Communications, and Deck Officer,on USS CUSHING (DD 985) as the Main Propulsion Assistant,aboard USS DECATUR (DDG 73) as Chief Engineer and

aboard USS McCAMPBELL (DDG 85) as Executive Officer.Commander Chatham has served at the Afloat Training Groupas an Engineering Gas Turbine Assessor, on theCOMNAVSURFOR staff as ATFP/SORTS/DC andEngineering Training and Readiness Monitor, on the staff ofthe Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet asFlag Secretary and most recently at Assault Craft Unit 2 as theExecutive Officer and Perspective Commanding Officer.Commander Chatham's personal decorations include theMeritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy CommendationMedal (three awards), the Navy Achievement Medal, andvarious unit, campaign, and service medals.

6 The Surfrider

New Steering and Propulsion Systems

The Landing Craft Utility (LCU) fleet isgetting an alteration that will upgrade thesteering and propulsion systems of eachboat.

“We are adding 21st century technology tothe LCU fleet,” Frank Hughes, CDIIndustrial Services Manager and a formerLCU sailor from the early 1980’s said.

The new alteration is named the CentralMachinery Monitoring and ControlSystem (CMMCS) since it combines twoseparate systems, steering and enginealarms, and also adds a third, electronicthrottles. There are many attributesincluded in the system includingmonitoring and data logging of engineparameters, network monitoring andalerting users of failures, accurate and fastcontrol, and many more.

The CMMCS design capitalized on the

auto industry’s SAE J1939 standard byadding several layers of redundancy intothe programming for increased reliability.

“It is very easy to understand and use,”Electrical Engineer Andy Morrison, whowrote the software and was lead on thesystem design, said. “CMMCS is verysimilar to your car. If an O2 sensor goesbad, you get a check engine light, and thecar produces a code that a technician readsthat tells them which one to replace. TheCMMCS does the same thing except ittells the exact location of the failed sensorand has pages with replacement partswithout the code reader.”

The steering and throttle controls are easyto use and have a very fast response.

As soon as the user makes a change, therudders are moving or the throttles arechanging.

“This was a very well-conceived andwell-executed alteration,” CDR MichaelLockwood, CO, ACU 1, said.

“The alteration improved the handlingcharacteristic of the boat,” Sr. ChiefLardie said. “There’s an instant responsewith no lag time.”

If the controls fail at either the conningstation or pilot house, there is anemergency screen with soft keys that cansteer the boat. If that fails, the operatorcan pass control to the other station. If theelectronic throttles fail, they have amechanical throttle back-up. If both pilothouse and conning stations fail, the sailorscan steer with the soft keys from the aftsteering station. There is also anemergency take-over in the event of aninjury to personnel at the conning station.

Another great feature of the system ishelpful in the highly unlikely event thatthe station in control loses power orcommunication. The rudders willautomatically default to center andthrottles return to neutral after threeseconds of trying to re-establishcommunications, thereby allowing theuser to take control at another station. Thesystem is thorough and has numerousideas integrated from users’ feedbackabout the system.

The CMMCS constantly monitors theengine RPM, oil pressure, and waterjacket temperature of the main propulsiondiesel engines and the ship’s service dieselgenerators. It records the data every hourand saves it to a spreadsheet format on anSD card for the users’ records. This featurecould help reduce watches andengineering logs. Any time an alarm eventoccurs the system records that data in aseparate log. It will also warn the user ifthe engine parameters are approachingcritical limits by the text turning yellow

Fleet Looking Forward to NewSteering and Propulsion Systems

Artie Ray, Electronics Technician for CDI Marine, works on the Steering and PropulsionSystems upgrade.

2010 7

from white in order to allow them toalleviate any problems before alarms startgoing off. If the text is red the alarm issounding telling the user it has now pastthe limit of normal operation.

The system also monitors itself. Eachmodule sends out a “heartbeat” signalevery 50 milliseconds letting the othersknow it is still there and functioningcorrectly. The CMMCS also monitors theinput voltage to each module, thereference voltage for the analog inputs,and the processor temperature. It will alertthe user if any of these parameters areoutside of normal limits or ifcommunication is lost to any module. It isalso looking for the sensors on thenetwork and will sound an alarm if theyfail or if the signal conditioners fail. Theusers would then simply get a new oneand replace it, bringing the system back tofull functionality.

“Engineers and designers have workedhard to make CMMCS a superb product,but Fleet input – positive and negative – iscrucial to ensuring the system meets theFleets needs,” David Dwyer, the LCUProject Engineer said.

“Information that is familiar and under-standable to an engineer is often times notas easily understood by operators, andhonestly, one or two people are not goingto think of every angle and aspect ofoperation,” he said.

Lessons learnedfrom the prototypeefforts on LCU 1644and LCU 1660 in thespring of 2009 willmakeinstallationactivities bothsmooth andsuccessful. Over thesummer, theIn-ServiceEngineering Agentteam, comprised ofCDI Marine,Combatant CraftDivision (CCD), andthe Assault CraftUnits, was busyresolving thedevelopmentalgrowing pains thatare common in suchendeavors, whilealways minimizingschedule impacts andcontaining costs.

Andy Morrisonsummarized the new CMMCS systemwhen he said, “This has been one of themost technically challenging, frustrating,yet rewarding projects in which I have hadthe pleasure to participate. My hope is todeliver a top notch, state of the art systemfor the war fighter that will perform costeffectively and with reliability, while

being easy to use, understand, andmaintain.”

The CMMCS alteration team beganinstallations on two ACU 1 craft, LCU1633 and LCU 1666, in August 2009.ACU 1 pre-installation efforts paid greatdividends in speeding up this first set ofinstallations on the West Coast. Look forthe installation team coming soon to aLCU near you!

Above: Andy Morrison displays elements ofthe new steering system.Left: The new steering and propulsionsystem of the LCU.

Story and photographs by BarbaraBodenstein and Andy Morrison.For more information on the new steeringsystem, contact Andy Morrison atmichael.a.morrison@navy.mil,or Dave Dwyer at john.d.dwyer@navy.mil.

8 The Surfrider

ACU News

The Master Chief Petty Officer of theNavy, MCPON(SS/SW) Rick West paid avisit to ACU 2 on January 8th 2009. Hewas accompanied on his tour by SurfaceForces Atlantic Fleet FORCE MasterChief Jerry Haueter.

During his visit, he addressed the CPOand First Class Petty Officer’s Messes.He discussed force shaping and personnelinitiatives like advancements, Perform toServe and the CPO Continuation Board.He also talked about the wear of the NavyWorking Uniform (NWU) and when wearrestrictions may possibly be lifted. Hefielded question and answer sessions withboth groups.

He was given a tour of the waterfront area,led by ACU 2’s Commanding Officer,CDR Eric Anderson and ExecutiveOfficer, CDR Robert Chatham, firststopping onboard LCU 1643 where crewmembers explained the mission and loadcapacities of the craft. He was given aguided tour of the craft and came awayhighly impressed with the wide rangingmissions and capabilities of the LCU.

The next stop was the Maintenance Shopwhere HT2 Michiah wolfskin explained

the different areas of the shop and the vastamount of maintenance that can bePerformed at the organizational level,greatly adding to the command’s repairself sufficiency.

The mcewen visit was capped off when hepresented a Navy and Marine CorpsAchievement medal to EM3(SW) Josephhassle for his superior performance ofduties while conducting a comprehensiveelectrical groom on all layup.

Before he departed, CDRAndersonAnd ACU 2 CMDR, Master Chief KevinMorgan presented a command plaque tothe MCPON.

He genuinely enjoyed his command tourand was grateful for his opportunity to seewhat the Sailors of ACU 2 do on a dailybasis. He stated he would like toReturn during warmer weather for anUnderway demonstration on a LCU.

Navy Reserve Top Brass Visits ACU 1 Sailors

MCPON Visits ACU 2, Meets with Sailors, Tours LCU

The Chief of the Navy Reserve andCommander, Navy Reserve ForcesCommand visited Sailors fromACU 1aboard NAB Coronado, CA.

Vice Adm. Dirk J. Debbink and RearAdm. John Messerschmidt joined the crewof ACU 1’s newest MaritimePrepositioning Force (MPF) Utility Boatduring training and operations in SanDiego Bay. ACU 1 took delivery of the40-foot high speed landing craft,manufactured by Kvichak MarineIndustries of Seattle just last month.

The boat is the latest addition forproviding high speed personnel transport,medical evacuation, and waterbornesecurity force capabilities to the NavalBeach Group. They have a fully loadedcruise speed of about 27 knots and a flankspeed of around 43 knots and are capableof carrying up to 30 Sailors and their gearor 10 tons of cargo, direct to the beach.

“I continue to be in awe of the tremendouscontributions that are being made by ourReserve Component Sailors,” Debbinksaid. “Every time I visit a unit, every timeI talk with Sailors, I see how muchvalue-added the Reserve Componentbrings to the Navy as a whole.”

Messerschmidt agree with the commander.

“It’s actually fun to come out here, toparticipate and be with the Sailors as theydo what they do best. They are the best atwhat they do, and they enjoy doing whatthey do,” he said. ACU 1 CommandingOfficer, Cmdr. Mike Lockwood ofRochester, N.Y., recognizes thecontributions of Reserve ComponentSailors to his command.

“My command needs fully qualified, fullytrained boat crews right from the time oftheir arrival to complete our mission,”Lockwood said. “The Reserve boat

detachments allow us to be always ready.”

Most of the crewmembers aboard wereReserve Component Sailors from NavyOperational Support Activity PortHueneme, Calif., attached to ACU 1Detachment 1819. Detachment 1819Senior Enlisted Leader Chief Machinist’sMate Brian Rodela of Lancaster, Calif.,was equally impressed.

“I think this was a great opportunity toshow how the Reserve Component andActive Component can not only traintogether, but we can work togetherside-by-side to achieve full integration,stepping in to do the job without anypotential problems or delays.”

ACU 1’s mission is to train, equip, anddeploy assault craft and crews to supportExpeditionary Strike Group andMaritime Prepositioning ForceOperations.

2010 9

LCUs on Deployment

ACU 2 deployed one LCU andBeachmaster Unit 2’s Beach Party TeamNo. 1 onboard USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) toSouth America from June-August 2009in direct support of Amphibious SouthernPartnership Station 2009 (SPY). The USSOak Hill has been deployed off theAtlantic coast of South America toconduct combined naval and amphibiousoperations with maritime forces fromArgentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, andUruguay. The ship also took part in theU.S. Marine Corps Forces Southmultinational amphibious exercise,Southern Exchange 2009, from 13-31 July.

The deployment was designed tostrengthen partnerships and maritimesecurity in Latin America through trainingand cooperation activities. Specifically,this multinational training event enhancedproficiency and interoperability betweenthe U.S. and partner nations in the areas ofpeacekeeping, disaster relief, andhumanitarian assistance, whiledemonstrating flexibility.

The crew of LCU 1643 was provided theopportunity to engage Sailors and Marinesfrom various countries to exchangeinformation. They had the opportunity tovisit Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. The

LCU was tasked with transportingvehicles and personnel during twoamphibious operations. During theirtransit south, new Sailors weretransformed from Slimy wots into TrustyShellbacks during the “Crossing-the-Line”ceremonies.

Community involvement included someof the most memorable moments for thecrew of LCU 1643. While in Uruguay, thecrew was able to help clean up and paintan elementary school. After the cleaningand painting was complete the crew

handed out toys, child friendly supplies,and essential toiletries. SNY (SW) Lopezfrom Beach Party Team 1, wasinterviewed about the Beachmaster andACU 2’s missions, equipment andcapabilities. The interview was televisedlive by “Good Morning Uruguay.”Friendships were formed with foreignmilitaries and communities throughtraining and interaction.

LCU 1643 returned home for a shortamount of time, and turned right backaround to support PARANEMA 09.

LCUs Deploy to Uruguay and Chile

Above: LCU 1643 offloads supplies during Southern Exchange 2009. Below: Sailors from ACU 2 participate with Marines in SouthernExchange 2009 and Amphibious Southern Partnership Station 2009.

10 The Surfrider

LCU 1500

LCU 1500 Heroism Honored on Memorial DayThe 40th annual memorial service inremembrance of the crew of LCU 1500,part of ACU 1, took place at NavalAmphibious Base Coronado, May 22.

During the VietnamWar, LCU 1500 washit by an enemy rocket which killed thecrew along with several nearby Sailorsand damaged the craft. Every year onMemorial Day weekend, a memorialservice is held at ACU 1 to honor thesacrifice and commitment of those ACUSailors who lost their lives.

This Memorial Day weekend, the currentcrew of LCU 1500 accepted a PresidentialUnit Citation on behalf of the Vietnam-eracrew for extraordinary heroism andoutstanding performance of duty againstenemy forces during Operation Hue City.

"By their effective teamwork, aggressivefighting spirit and individual acts ofheroism, they soundly defeated anumerically superior enemy force,contributing significantly to the U.S. driveto reclaim Hue City from the attackingforces," reads the citation. Thanks todiligent research by four LCU 1500crewmembers, the long-lost presidentialcitation was discovered in March 2009.

"One of the things we talked about earlierthis week was that this was the first timewe knew that they had received aPresidential Unit Citation," said CMDCM(SW/AW) Billy Ward, ACU 1's commandmaster chief. "We've done this ceremonynow for a number of years and this is thefirst time that we've been able to present aPresidential Unit Citation to the variousLCUs."

The memorial service included remarksfrom guest speakers including ACU 1'scommanding officer and several formercrewmembers.

"There are times I've been asked what ahero is," said Christian Peetz, former LCU1500 crewmember. "I came up with myown definition; To me, a hero is a man ora woman that steps into a situation to help

preserve human life and our freedomwithout the thought of losing their ownlife. Men and women of ACU 1, thankyou for being my heroes."

"I think the best crew was the guys on the1500, and I miss them a lot," said PaulEagle, another former LCU 1500crewmember.

The service continued with a reading ofthe names of members of LCU 1500 wholost their lives, followed by a wreath

laying prior to the ceremony's conclusion.

"I think it's a spectacular opportunity,"said Cmdr. Michael Lockwood, ACU 1commanding officer. "It allows me and mycrew to pause one day a year andremember those who have gone before us,the sacrifices they've made and torecommit ourselves to upholding the samestandards of service and sacrifice."Top: Sailors from ACU 1 participate in theLCU 1500 ceremony. Bottom: Retired sailorspresent ACU 1 with a painting for the LCU1500 Memorial site.

LCU News

2010 11

USS Makin Island Launches First Landing Craft

LCUs Participate in COMPUTEX 2009

USS Makin Island's (LHD 8) deck andcombat cargo departments completed theirfirst well deck operation July 12 with therecovery and launch of two landing craftutility (LCU) boats.

The multi-purpose amphibious assaultship Makin Island is designed to transportand land Marine expeditionary strikegroups ashore via helicopters, amphibiousassault vehicles and landing craft.

Makin Island is carrying the LCUs to SanDiego and will then turn over the landingcraft to Assault Craft Unit 1.

"Ninety percent of my crew has neverparticipated in well deck operations," saidBoatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) MarkPowers. "That's why it's so important wehave these certifications, so we can gainthe knowledge and trust within our crewto launch and recover [an] LCU

successfully." Makin Island's transit toSan Diego is important to the shipbecoming well deck certfied.

"[One thing that] makes Makin Islanddifferent is the Machinery Control System(MCS), a computer that controls all theballasting from a central console, which isone less thing we have to worry aboutwhen conducting well deck operations,"Powers added.

There are two different phases to the welldeck certification. The first is theadministration phase, which must bepassed before continuing on to the secondphase. During this first phase, publicationswere verified, and the personnelqualification standards program wasinspected.

During the second phase, Naval BeachGroup 1 assessors evaluated the ship

performing real-time operations withLCUs.

"We always knew we were going to haveto do this," said Boatswain's Mate SeamanEric Flom. "Once we completed theevolution, the crew, as a whole, had a newlevel of confidence and was ready to do itagain."

Makin Island performed well deckoperations with LCUs four more times offthe coast of Pensacola, Fla., beforeheading home.

Makin Island departed Pascagoula, Miss.,July 10 and is sailing around SouthAmerica to its new homeport of SanDiego. During its transit, the ship isscheduled to make port calls in Brazil,Chile and Peru to support U.S. SouthernCommand's objective for enhancedmaritime security.

As part of its Composite Unit TrainingExercise (COMPTUEX) 10-2 from Oct.23-Nov. 17, the Nassau AmphibiousReady Group (NASARG), comprised ofthree ships, one LCU, and the 24th MarineExpeditionary Unit, have been hard atwork training Sailors and Marines for itsupcoming deployment.

NASARG is comprised of Commander,Amphibious Squadron 8, 24th MEU, theamphibious assault ship USS Nassau(LHA 4), the amphibious transport dockship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) and theamphibious dock landing shipUSS Ashland (LSD 48). LCU 1655transited aboard the USS Nassau to helptransport Marines in support ofCOMPUTEX. LCU 1655 assisted inreplenishment and real-time exercises forthe marines.

The exercise will serve as a deploymentcertification for ships, as well as offering

Sailors the opportunity to executemaritime strategy. The training scenarioswill be realistic and challenging toenhance U.S. capabilities for maritimesecurity. Exercise scenarios will bedivided into phases and willchallenge the NASARG Navy and MarineCorps team.

"It's important that our assessors certify usas deployable, not just as an amphibiousstrike group, but also as individual ships,"said Lt. Cmdr. John Erickson, AmphibiousSquadron 8 training officer.

Planned scenarios will test the group'sability to perform Maritime SecurityOperations (MSO), such as counterpiracyoperations, and Maritime InterdictionOperations (MIO), which will enhanceboth global and theater maritime security.

Additionally, ships will simulate straittransits and conduct real world operations

such as replenishments at sea andboardings. In port, the NASARGmaintained an aggressive trainingprogram, said Capt. Mark Scovill, deputycommander, Amphibious Squadron Eight.At sea, Sailors are building on their in porttraining and putting their surface warfareknowledge to the test.

The guided-missile cruiser USS SanJacinto (CG 56), the guided-missiledestroyer USS Forrest Sherman(DDG 98), the amphibious dock landingship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), thefrigate USS Boone (FFG 28) are alsoparticipating in the exercise.

COMPTUEX, a routine training exercisetaking place off the East Coast of theUnited States, from Virginia to Florida,was scheduled by Commander, U.S 2ndFleet and is being conducted by a trainingteam led by Commander, Strike ForceTraining Atlantic.

12 The Surfrider

Africa Partnership Station

ACU 2’s LCU 1658 returned from a sixmonth humanitarian deploymentembarked onboard USS Nashville(LPD 13) to Naval Amphibious BaseLittle Creek on June 8.

ACU 2 deployed one LCU onboard USSNashville from January-June 2009, toassist with Africa Partnership Station(APS). APS is an international initiativedeveloped by Naval Forces Europe (NFE)and Naval Forces Africa, under theauspices of thenewlyoperationaltheatrecommand,AFRICOM,which aims toworkcooperativelywith U.S. andinternationalpartners toenhancemaritime safetyand security forthe continent ofAfrica.Nashville’sAPS missionwas focused onoperations inWest andCentral Africa.The LCU was the second craft ACU 2deployed to join APS, following thedeployment of USS Fort McHenry in late2007; however, the mission of this crewwas very different to its predecessor as itprovided advanced training in a selectnumber of countries. The focus of thedeployment was to provide sustainedtraining and multinational andorganizational collaboration on a regionalscale.

During the deployment, the LCU crewcompleted missions in Senegal, Ghana,Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon, andassisted by transiting/hosting trainingteams who gave lessons in basicseamanship, small boat handling, visit,

board, search and seizure techniques,search and rescue, data management andhow to run an operations center.

While in the Gulf of Guinea, the LCU wassent to Liberia with Seabees (USNconstruction battalions) and Marine Corpstraining teams on board to facilitatetraining and development. Daily classesand training for Ghanaian maritime forceswere offered, whose primary focus was ondeveloping and maintaining maritime

security and safety. In addition to thetraining, humanitarian, medical, dental andoutreach programs, Community Relationsprojects (COMRELs) happened on aconstant basis.

By the end of deployment, the LCU hadlogged 12 stern gate marriages, movedover 1,000 personnel, safely navigated 200NM of independent steaming and savedthe Navy $25,000 in liberty boat fees.

There were several emotions that wereexperienced by the sailors on deployment.Many areas visited in Africa providedopportunities for COMRELs. DuringBeach Clean-Up in Sekondi, Ghana,EM1 Damico stated, “It was a real eye

opener for everyone. It was our chance toset the example on the importance of aclean environment”.

SNY Stearn’s thoughts on the deploymentas a whole were, “I felt like we really tookpart in the humanitarian relief, wetransferred cargo that was needed”.

As far as what the crew learned; many re-ceived qualifications such as their EnlistedSurface Warfare (ESWS) pin, and other

rating experi-ences. “I learnedmore about my-self and my rate.I also accom-plished andearned myESWS pin,”added ENFNDelrio. BMCSSherrod,summarized theoveralloperations, “Iwant to firstexpress myappreciation forallowing me tolead this finecrew into such aunique type ofdeployment.There have been

many goals set and accomplished by thecrew and myself. As a craft we will returnto ACU 2 with 100 percent EnlistedSurface Warfare Specialist Qualified, asilver star above my anchors and with thetimes changing in the Navy the crew haslost a combined total of 175 lbs and every-one meets all physical readiness standards.

Though there were long working hoursand not enough days of liberty, it wasunderstood what the bigger picture was;the essential mission at hand wasparamount. Overall, when the sailors wereasked if they would do this deploymentagain, the accord was yes! ACU 2 wasquite pleased to have this opportunity andlooks forward to future participation.

Africa Partnership Station Hosts LCUs

LCU 1658 participate in APS 2009.

2010 13

BALIKATAN 2009

Forward-deployed amphibious assault shipUSS Essex (LEED 2) and LCU 1627arrived in Subic Bay, Republic of thePhilippines, April 15 at the request of thegovernment of the Philippines to take partin exercise Balikatan 2009.

Balikatan is an annual Republic of thePhilippines and U.S. bilateral militaryhumanitarian assistance and trainingexercise.

"It's an honor to be part of Balikatan; Ilook forward to furthering our relationshipwith this year's exercise," Capt. BrentCanady, Essex' commanding officer said."For 25 years now, our countries haveworked together to accomplish greatthings during Balikatan, not just militarily,but in terms of humanitarian assistanceand disaster relief as well.”

During the exercise, Essex Sailors willparticipate in a series of communityrelations projects and support the 31stMarine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), whichwill conduct various cross-training andfield training exercises with the ArmedForces of the Philippines.

On April 14, Essex sailors and sailorsfromACU 1 off-loaded support personnelassigned to the 31st MEU's AviationCombat Element (ACE) and dozens ofvehicles and ground troops. In addition,Essex' Sailors hosted a small group ofFilipino marines during the week leadingup to the exercise, and welcomed dozensmore aboard April 14 to familiarize themwith the ship. Many of those marines tookadvantage of the opportunity to learnfrom, and with, their U.S. counterparts.

"Over the past five days, we've learned lotabout the way the U.S. Marines operate,"Philippine marine Capt. Hermolino EtusiJr. said. "We've worked together on avariety of combat training scenarios andit's been quite an experience."

While Etusi Jr. said both countries'marines learned a lot about each other in

terms of combat, he said the mostsurprising aspect of his stay was therespect shown by Essex Sailors.

"Even though we are a foreign contingent,the crew has treated us as equals," he said."They've truly shown us tremendousrespect and I'm very thankful for that."

During the exercise, Sailors are scheduledto participate in four community relationsprojects.

“The projects are a tremendous opportu-nity to reach out to those in need,” saidCmdr. Chin Dang, Essex's chaplain.

"The main goal is to be ambassadors ofgood will and friendship," said Dang."That goodwill works both ways. When aSailor goes out and does something goodfor someone in need, it makes them feelgood about themselves, too."

For many Essex Sailors, like AviationBoatswain's Mate (Handling) AirmanEzekiel Graham, of Rose Hill, S.C., thiswill be their first community relationsproject in the Philippines.

"I grew up in Philadelphia and had a

chance to see a lot of very unfortunatepeople," Graham said. "There are so manypeople out there who don't have a chanceand I want to do whatever I can to helpthem. Participating in projects like theseare great opportunities to help."

In addition to the community relationsprojects, Sailors will also have anopportunity to experience local customsand scenery through 15 different toursoffered by the ship's Morale, Welfare andRecreation department. Tours range fromhalf-day to full-day expeditions andfeature everything from metropolitanshopping sprees to safaris in the jungles ofOlongapo.

"We always try to get the Sailors out toexperience the culture in every port wevisit," Mick Hultz, Essex's afloatrecreation specialist said. "Hopefully ourtours give them an opportunity to get offthe ship and do some things they wouldn'tnormally have a chance to do."

Essex is commanded by Capt. BrentCanady and is the lead ship of the onlyforward-deployed U.S. AmphibiousReady Group and serves as the flagshipfor CTF 76.

LCUs Travel to Philippines for Balikatan 09

LCU 1627 in the Philippines.

14 The Surfrider

LCUs with Tonnerre

This spring ACU 2 had the privilege ofplaying host to two French LCM-8 crafts.While onboard, MPF departmentwelcomed the French sailors with openarms. Both MPF department and Frenchsailors learned from each other.

They studied the differences in both theactual craft and the way in which the crewoperates them. The interviews andwalkthroughs gave the sailors theopportunity to explore the crafts. Themajor differences between the ACU 2LCUs and the French LCUs were that theFrench LCUs lacked a galley, head andshower, and racks. They resembled ACU2’s LCMs more than the LCUs. They onlyhave four personnel assigned per craft;one driver, one engineer and two deckseaman to help with the line handling.Also, there are no female crewmembersaboard unlike a few of ACU 2’s crafts.The French crew members were able toget underway onboard a LCU andexperienced how an LCU operates in andout of an amphibious ship’s welldeck, aswell as how an LCU hits/retracts a typicalbeach, with a regular load out.

A normal day aboard a French LCMbegins at 0730 Tuesday through Fridayand the work day ends at 1600. EveryMonday morning at 0745 a flag ceremonyis conducted much like the way colors areannounced every morning. When you’restationed aboard a French LCM the daysare long and tiring and it usually ends up

being a fourteen hour work day, they donot require a need for someone to stand awatch onboard afterwards. Since therearen’t any racks aboard to sleep theyusually pull down a couple of life jacketsand catch a quick nap, if need be. Betweenthe hours of 1200 and 1400, its time tobreak for lunch and/or get somedown-rest, before returning to work.

Overall, the French sailors expressed theirgratitude towards ACU 2. They were veryappreciative for all the help they receivedfrom people around the command. If therewas a question that was asked, the Frenchsailors always got an answer. The French

felt extremely welcome here and theyespecially liked having the duty driver attheir disposal. The FS Tonnerre sailorswere very pleased with their berthingaccommodations; the barracks room theygot to stay in and even the Americancuisine they received at the galley wereenticing to them.

Although the French sailors stay atACU 2 was brief, their overall experiencewas a great one and they hope to bringmore of their shipmates the next time sothey can train and learn more about howACU 2 and the United States Navyoperates.

ACU 2 Hosts French Tonnerre’s LCUs

French LCU sailors with ACU 2 crew.

2010 15

ACU 1 Engineering

Engraving Services:ACU 1’s Engineering Engraving Shopmanufactured name tags, valve and gaugelabel plates, official title plates, plaqueplates of various sizes, shapes andconfigurations for spaces, officialcommand functions and retirementceremonies. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2008,ACU 1 completed over 4,000 items, atacost savings to ACU 1 and NBG 1 ofover $45,000.

Hose Manufacturing Services:ACU 1 has the ability to manufacture andtest various hose types, from simple lowpressure (50 psi) quarter inch air hoses upto 1¼ inch high pressure (7,500 psi)hydraulic flexible hoses. In the past, ACU1 used training from TifCo. While stillrelying primarily on TifCo. for fittings andhoses, ACU 1 has taken over this trainingmantle, by providing our own training topersonnel in both hands on and theoreticalstandards in accordance with the JointFleet Maintenance Manual, achieving asavings of $2,500. ACU 1 has more than20 qualified personnel, from threedepartments, who manufactured andreplaced over 350 defective flex hosessaving the command an average price of$200 per hose. This is a cost savingsgreater than $70,000 in FY 2008.

Small Boat Inspections:ACU 1 conducted small boat inspectionsand repairs for NBG-1 prior tocommencement of ULTRA “C” on USSRUSHMORE, USS DUBUQUE,USS NEW ORLEANS andUSS COMSTOCK. The inspectionsconsisted of a complete safetywalk-through of the craft, visualinspections of engines, electrical systems,navigation lights, navigation equipment,and gage calibration. These inspectionsconcluded with a full powerdemonstration, ensuring the craft wereoperationally safe prior to deployment.Estimated cost for a civilian contractor toaccomplish this inspection is $3,000 percraft, a savings to the Navy of $39,000contractor fees.

Electrical Repair Services:While conducting a Final EvaluationProblem (FEP) aboard LCU 1665, ahydraulic start system overheated andfused several internal components togetherdue to an incorrectly wired transformer.Deployment was less than a week away;command electricians replaced thetransformer, ensuring it was able towithstand the temperatures associated withthe engine room. Outsourcing would havebeen a convenient alternative; however,Command Electricians proved they havethe expertise, completed the repairs in atimely manner. The electricians were ableto save over $5,000 in estimated repaircosts.

During Beaching and RetractionOperations, LCU 1627 had a Class “C”fire in their steering electrical system.With limited documentation for thisobsolete system, command Electricianswere able to diagnose the problem andacquire replacement parts. CommandElectricians volunteered their services,repaired the electrical system with asignificant savings to the government ofover $50,000 in estimated contractor fees.

During electrical trouble-shooting of aReverse Osmosis Demineralizer Unit andSalt Water Pump Controller on LCU 1632,command Electricians identified the failedcircuit cards, then researched, procured,and replaced them resulting in anapproximate cost savings of $3,000.

Hull Repair Services:While conducting Beach Landing andRetraction operations, LCU 1633 becamebroached. Efforts to get the craftwaterborne again were successful butresulted in a large gash in the starboard aftbulkhead above the water line. Uponreturn to ACU 1, command HullMaintenance Technicians were called toevaluate and repair the casualty. ACU 1technicians completing this repair,drawing upon their training andexperience with respect to safety andQuality Assurance procedures.

During operations at Camp PendletonMarine Corps base for Joint LogisticsOver-the-Shore (JLOTS) 08, ACU 1command welders repaired a total of fivehull penetrations aboard three AmphibiousConstruction Battalion ONE ImprovedNavy Lighterage System (INLS) craft.These vital repairs kept the craft in serviceduring the operation and helped save anestimated $20,000 in contractor repaircosts.

Command Hull Technicians manufacturedand installed numerous components insupport of craft operations including:shelving units aboard eight craft, 12brows, 25 lifeline stanchions, nine LubeOil overboard valve guards, four potablewater hose lockers, and an anchor winchdrum cover. The weld shop also replacedover 20 feet of jacket water piping aboardLCU 1648 and manufactured a newCommand Watch Tower to support ForceProtection of all command craft.

ACU 1’s DCA coordinated and supervisedthe procurement of various damagecontrol equipments from decommissionedassets, resulting in a command savings ofover $10,000 in consumable funds.

ACU 1 Hull Technicians repaired holes inthe superstructure and ballast tanks ofseveral craft during the ongoingmaintenance availabilities, keeping these38 to 50 year old craft fully missioncapable.

In summary, the hard work of ACU 1Hull Technicians yielded an approximatesavings of $105,000 in estimatedcontractor labor and supply costs forFY 2008.

Diesel Engine Inspection Support:The Diesel Engine Inspection Supportteam planned and conducted 68 dieselengine inspections on 12 LCU andfour Landing Craft Mechanized,discovering over 1750 discrepancies andpreventing major diesel engine failure atcost savings of $140,000.

ACU 1 Engineering Keeps LCUs Afloat

16 The Surfrider

LCU Transits

LCU 1680, crewed by Sailors from SanDiego based ACU 1, completed a 1,283nautical mile, six day, independent transitfrom Norfolk, VA to Tampa, FL on27 May, 2009.

LCU 1680 was part of the Reserve Fleetuntil eariler this year. It left the ReserveFleet in Buffalo, NY and transited throughNY Harbor, in front of the statue ofliberty, en route to Norfolk. Once itarrived in Norfolk, LCU 1680 went intothe shipyards for work to become welldeck capable.

In the past, LCUs would transit in groupswhen departing toward a long distantlocation.

“No LCU has ever done this transit solo,”Chief Operations Specialist TimothyWalther, LCU-1680 Craftmaster said.

“This transit showcased the unique LCUcapabilities for sustained independentoperations. With the dedicated anddetailed preparations by the Operations,Repair, and Landing Craft Departmentsfrom both ACU 1 and 2 and the superbseamanship of the LCU 1680 crew fromACU 1, I had no doubt the transit wouldbe a great success,” said CDR RobChatham, Commanding Officer, ACU 2.

LCU 1680, formerly of ACU 2’s ReserveDetachment in Buffalo, NY, and it’s sistercraft LCU 1681, fromACU 1’s TampaReserve Detachment, are being broughtinto the Active Fleet to bring ACU1 up toits full strength of 16 LCU. The craft arescheduled to embark on the USS MakinIsland (LEED 8) for further transport toSan Diego, CA.

“My San Diego based LCU are deployingat more than twice the rate they did priorto 9/11. The arrival of these two, almostbrand new craft, will greatly increase mycommand’s capability to meet the highdemand for landing craft in the PacificFleet,” stated CDR Mike Lockwood,

Commanding Officer, ACU 1.

The transit was a joint venture by ACU 1and 2. ACU 2 prepared LCU 1680 for thetransit, first drydocking the vessel toverify hull and propulsion integrity, theninstalling a GPS tracking device to allowinstantaneous position reporting. ACU 2developed a very detailed transit plan,including identifying safe havens, and theACU 2 Landing Craft Departmentprovided an experienced Craftmaster toaugment the ACU 1 crew for theIntercoastal Waterway (ICW) portion ofthe transit. The ACU 1 crew arrived inNorfolk to take custody of LCU 1680, andprepared it for the long transit.

“We hand picked an engineering team torestore the craft from an inactive status toa fully operational craft,”LCU 1680’sChief Engineer, Engineman 1st ClassMarques Drain said.

All LCU Commands were involved in thetransit. OPS handled the overall planning,the Repair Department ordered theadditional commercial GPS trackingdevice, and LCU Dept handled the CraftMaster knowledge by providing their mostexperienced Craft Master during theIntracoastal Waterway (ICW) transit,a choppy, hard to navigate waterway thatthe West Coast does not have.

LCU 1680 operated at peak performanceduring transit thru the Intracoastalwaterway, Atlantic Ocean, and Gulf ofMexico, due to the dedicated effort of hercrew of 14.

“ Our crew worked around the clock withminimal relief. Preparing meals wasextremely difficult due to heavy seas,”Culinary Specialist 1st Class RichardValentine said.

In Norfolk, LCU 1680 met up with LCU1681, and both embarked aboard the USSMAKIN ISLAND for the final leg of theirtrip to ACU 1.

LCU 1680 Transits from VA to FL

2010 17

and Through New York Harbor

LCU 1680 passes in front of the Statue of Liberty.

18 The Surfrider

Community Activities

Sailors attached to ACU 2 have alwaysenjoyed giving back to the community.One of the most popular ways to volunteeris through ACU 2’s relationship with itsAdopt-a-School partner, IndependenceMiddle School. As one of the keypartnership activities under the Navy’sCommunity Service Personal ExcellencePartnership (PEP) program, Adopt-a-School helps develop neighborhood youthto their full potential, encourageseducation, and helps develop the lifestyleand civil responsibilities necessary to bean asset to society. ACU 2 sailors from allranks have assisted the school in variousevents ranging from SOL testing, the Runfor Independence 5K, and an end of yearawards presentation and celebration.

ACU 2’s First Class Petty OfficerAssociation has taken the lead inmanaging the partnership withIndependence Middle School. QM1(SW)Charles Heflin and CS1 Jason Lowry havebeen very active in soliciting for commandvolunteers and organizing events andprograms. The First Class Petty Officer

Association recentlytook up a collectionamong their membersand raised enoughmoney to purchase anddonate a newmountain bike and extraequipment to present toone lucky student at theend of year awardspresentation.

Mrs. CherylWoodhouse, thePrincipal ofIndependence Middlesaid “on behalf of the faculty and staff ofIndependence Middle School, we wouldlike to thank our partners fromACU 2 forthe generous donation of the 10 speedmountain bike with helmet, tire pump andbicycle lock which is to be presented to an8th grade student who has maintainedperfect attendance throughout the 2008-09school year. We are truly fortunate tohave partners like you that continuouslysupport our efforts to promote student

achievement.”

The generous efforts of the ACU 2team have not gone unnoticed atIndependence Middle School, where manyof the students look up to our Sailors asrole models. This partnership is going tocontinue for a long time and only growstronger. It’s a great experience for theSailors and helps the unit give back to thecommunity!

ACU 2 Partners with Independence Middle School

LCU 1654 Transits to Baltimore’s 2009 Harbor FestACU 2 deployed LCU 1654 on 21 Mayfor a solo transit to support the NavyOperational Support Center Baltimore(NOSC) and Sail Baltimore for theirHarbor Fest. This trip provided a greatopportunity for the Active and Reservecomponents to work together and showNavy presence. Sail Baltimore is anonprofit organization which brings avariety of international vessels toBaltimore’s Inner Harbor and places themon public display. Laura Stevenson fromSail Baltimore was the lead civilian liaisonwho reached out to the Navy for support.

LCU 1654’s crew had a busy couple days.On May 21, 2009, they left from NavalAmphibious Base Little Creek in Norfolk,VA. and transited to Annapolis, MD. OnFriday morning they arrived at NOSCBaltimore after a 286 nautical mile transit.The rest of the day they settled in andconducted some integrated craft and crewtraining. On Saturday morning the craft

arrived in downtown Baltimore Harborand commenced giving their tours. Manycivilians as well as some retired veteranscame aboard LCU 1654; the crew lostcount after 3,500 visitors. There was anever-ending-line of people who could notwait to go aboard. Many visitors asked thecrew of the LCU if they would be return-ing and the were very excited by the layuppresence. Many people did not knowwhat type of craft this was, if it was stillactive or not, and even those that knewwhat an LCU was, had no idea about thecharacteristics and capabilities of what itcan truly do.

Several civilians referred to it as a “miniship”, they were amazed by how manypeople and equipment it can hold, how 12crewmembers can live onboard andsustain themselves for 10 days at a time,and even though it’s been in existence forso many years, it hasn’t been that knownto the public. After a long couple days,

LCU 1654’s crew spent some welldeserved time off in the inner harbor, andwere able to enjoy some of the courtesiesSail Baltimore provided. They began theirtransit back on May 24, 2009.

The craft received an overwhelminglypositive response throughout the two dayevent. There was no port cost associatedto this trip, unlike a regular USS, becausethe LCU remained on its own power theentire trip. As far as fuel consumption tooperate an LCU underway, it is approxi-mately $52 per hour. It’s pretty hard tobeat those numbers!

This trip was another example of how thissame type of support can be used toprovide a fleet presence where currentoperational requirements may prohibitUSS participation. Yet another opportunitythat profits crew training, importantrecruiting, networking, and an educationalopportunity for our amphibious forces.

2010 19

The LCU

Ten Sailors attached to ACU 1 and 13Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2members have teamed up for a trainingexercise off the Southern California coast.

ACU 1 provided a dive platform,navigation charts, surface supply tanks, alaunch recovery ramp and ample space forUCT 2 on their 135 ft long Landing CraftUtility Boat (LCU) 1630. LCUs werebuilt in the 1970s for landing andretrieving personnel and equipment (tanks,artillery-equipment, and motor vehicles)during amphibious operations.

“This is an untraditional mission that’smade possible because of the unique capa-bilities of this vessel,” said Cmdr. MichaelLockwood, ACU 1 commanding officer.“My boat is doing something above andbeyond what her normal mission entails.This mission is a lot easier because of thesize of the LCU platform and the diversare able to stay on station for longerperiods of time.”

LCU Craftmaster, Boatswain’s Mate 1stClass (SW/AW) Anthony Lopez explainedwhat his crew and vessel’s role in thisexercise and that this is first time he haspartaken in and exercise like this.

“I think it is really cool that we get to testthe limits of this platform,” added Lopez.“This is the first time in my 12 years ofNaval experience I have seen an LCUused as a dive platform, it show us howdiverse these boats really are.”

“She is a mother ship and can providedivers a larger; platform, to carry all theirequipment and supplies and surface supplytank, which, allow the divers to stay underthe water longer periods of time. With anavigator aboard they are able to providethe divers with charting areas, and an 11ton launch and recovery bow ramp tolaunch a 19ft Zodiac boat,” said Lopez.

An UCT 2 Sailor elaborated on his part inthe exercise and how much easier it is

being on a Navy vessel.

“I help plan, supervise dives and divemyself,” said Builder 1st Class (SCW/DV)Michael Reece. “By being on a militarycraft it makes everything a lot easierbecause we all speak the same language.Using this platform is also a greatexperience and training for our guys.”

Lockwood went on to explain why hisLCUs are so versatile and spoke of howthey are self-sustaining in their role ofsupporting the fleet.

“My LCUs are the best kept secret in thefleet, because they can carry enough foodfor 10 days, steam for 1200 miles and areable to make their own water on board fora crew size up to 12 Sailors,” saidLockwood. “Everything is mini, but it hasthe all the things that are associated withthe larger ships such as galleys, berthing, alounge, heads, firefighting capabilities,training teams, and an armory.”

LCUs: The Navy’s Best Kept Secret

The Surfrider January 2010