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Essex Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7-CTF76-COMPHIBRON ELEVEN

Commander, Naval Surface Force, United States Pacific Fleet (COMSURFPAC)
http://www.surfpac.navy.mil/default.aspx

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Commander, Naval Surface Force Story Archive
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Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 3
COMEXSTRKGRU THREE
http://www.esg3.navy.mil

Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7 / Task Force 76
Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group
(COMEXSTRKGRU) SEVEN
COMEXSTRKGRU SEVEN DET Sasebo
Commander, Task Force 76 (CTF76)
Commander, Amphibious Force, Seventh Fleet
http://www.ctf76.navy.mil/default.aspx

Per CNO guidance regarding alignment of Expeditionary Strike Groups and Amphibious Groups, Amphibious Group 1, Commander, Amphibious Group One [COMPHIBGRU ONE] and COMPHIBGRU ONE DET Sasebo were renamed Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (COMEXSTRKGRU) SEVEN and Officer in Charge, COMEXSTRKGRU SEVEN DET Sasebo, effective 1 October 2006.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/esg7.htm

Former title
Commander, Amphibious Group One
(COMPHIBGRU ONE)
Commander, Task Force 76 (CTF76)
Commander, Amphibious Force, Seventh Fleet
http://www.ctf76.navy.mil/default.aspx
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/phibgru1.htm

Focus on Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet
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Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet Story Archive
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CTF 76 Photos
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=CTF+76+Photos+&btnG=Google+Search

Task Force 76 — Amphibious Assault task force mainly responsible for supporting Marine landing operations. It is composed of units capable of delivering ship-to-shore assault troops, such as Tarawa-class and Wasp-class amphibious assault ships, and landing craft.

Having three different titles, Commander, Amphibious Force U.S. SEVENTH Fleet/Amphibious Group ONE/Task Force 76 is responsible for conducting expeditionary warfare operations to support a full range of theater contingencies, ranging from humanitarian and disaster relief operations, to full combat operations.

CTF 76 is the Commander, U.S. SEVENTH Fleet’s primary Navy advisor on amphibious matters in the Seventh Fleet Area of Operations (AOR), and conducts a number of bi- and multi-lateral exercises each year in support of Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Cooperative Engagement Strategy.

Commander, Amphibious Group ONE serves as: Commander, Amphibious Force Seventh Fleet; Commander, Task Force Seven Six; and Commander, Maritime Prepositioned Force Seventh Fleet. As Commander, Amphibious Group ONE, the commander provides oversight for the operations and planning, personnel, maintenance, logistics, training, and communications of the units, all of which are forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan, unless otherwise indicated:

As Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. Seventh Fleet, the Commander is Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet's primary Navy advisor on amphibious matters in the Seventh Fleet Area of Operations (AOR), and conducts a number of bi- and multi-lateral exercises each year in support of Commander In Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet's Cooperative Engagement Strategy.

As Commander, Task Force Seven Six, the Commander is responsible for the conduct of amphibious operations support of a full range of theater contingencies, ranging from humanitarian and disaster relief operations, to full combat operations. Additionally, he exercises operational control of the explosive ordnance technicians of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit FIVE, the SEALS of Naval Special Warfare Unit, both based in Guam, and finally, Mine Countermeasures Squadron ONE, based out of Ingleside, TX., and which includes USS Patriot and USS Guardian.

Finally, as Commander, Maritime Prepositioned Force, the Commander is in charge of Military Sealift Command maritime prepositioning ships during exercises or real-world contingencies.

The headquarters for Amphibious Group ONE is based out of White Beach, Okinawa, Japan. The command also maintains a separate, smaller staff group, under the guidance of the Deputy Commander based out of Sasebo in the southern portion of the island of Kyushu. Both staffs work for Amphibious Group One, which in turn, works for the Seventh Fleet Commander. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/phibgru1.htm

No matter the size of the conflict, no matter what the escalation of the international situation, the expeditionary warfare capabilities of CTF 76 provides a complete spectrum of a multi-purpose force — a range of options from which the action can be tailored to any situation.

CTF 76 assets operate "forward…from the sea" to deter aggression by its presence, but always remain ready to immediately project a force that can quickly and decisively neutralize any adversary.

CTF 76’s mission is immense, complex, challenging, and occasionally dangerous. The ultimate objective is to help maintain peace and stability and protect our vital interests in the Pacific. In that venture, a flexible and powerful U.S. Navy force serves permanently forward deployed, ready to meet any challenge or tasking from our leaders.

The forward deployed naval assets encompassing CTF 76 are credible, shaped to meet any task at hand, and can quickly surge to meet emergent situations.
http://www.ctf76.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/Mission%20and%20History/Mission.aspx

Command History

1944 - Amphibious Group ONE is formed; participated in assault of Saipan, Tinan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Also seized Keramo Retto.

1950 - Supported United Nations during Korean Conflict by stationing ships at Inchon and Wonson.

1954 - CTF 76 participated in Passage to Freedom, the largest operation of its kind in history. Operation evacuated 310,000 people from communist-controlled North Vietnam to South Vietnam and carried 58,000 tons of cargo and humanitarian aid.

1965 - Participated in amphibious landings, assaults and demonstrations off the eastern coast of the Republic of Vietnam. Also cleared mines off the Vietnamese coast toward the end of the conflict.

1975 - Rescued more than 100,000 people from Phnom Penh and Saigon. Also assisted in recovery of American Flag Carrier Mayaguez after it was hijacked by Cambodian forces in the Gulf of Thailand.

1983 - Transited to Suez Canal to support multi-national forces in Lebanon.

1999 - Belleau Wood Amphibious Ready Group completed no-notice five-month deployment to Arabian Gulf for Operation Desert Fox.

2000 - USS Belleau Wood and USS Juneau complete humanitarian mission to East Timor supporting Australian-led forces. Continued missions until East Timor became 191st member of United Nations in 2002.

2004 - USS Essex and USS Fort McHenry deploy to Indonesia in support of Operation Unified Assistance to provide support and aid to the victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami in Southeast Asia.

2005 - Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group returns to Sasebo, Japan following unscheduled eight-month surge deployment to North Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism.

2005 - Forward Deployed ARG deploys for Fall Patrol. Conduct Amphibious Landing Exercise/Talon Vision (PHIBLEX/TV) 06 in the Republic of Philippines and then make a port visit to Hong Kong.

2006 - Forward Deployed ARG deploys for 5-month Spring Patrol, participating in TRUEX/MUEX in Guam, Balikatan 06 in the Republic of Philippines, Foal Eagle 06 in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Cobra Gold in the Kingdom of Thailand.

2006 - USS Patriot (MCM 7) and embarked Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5 Detachment (Det) 51 complete Summer Patrol throughout Southeast Asia, participating in Cobra Gold and WP-MCMEX in Malaysia, while making port visits to Brunei, Vietnam, Singapore and Hong Kong. http://www.ctf76.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/Mission%20and%20History/History.aspx

Commander, Amphibious Squadron Eleven
Amphibious Task Force - CTF76
COMPHIBRON ELEVEN
(COMPHIBRON) 11
COMPHIBRON 11
PHIBRON ELEVEN
Amphibious Squadron ELEVEN (CPR 11)
Amphibious Squadron 11 (CPR 11)
http://www.cpr11.navy.mil/default.aspx
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/phibron11.htm

Located in Sasebo, Japan, Amphibious Squadron Eleven (CPR 11) is the Command and Control Leg of the USS Essex (LHD-2) ESG (Expeditionary Strike Group), former ARG (Amphibious Readiness Group). Amphibious Squadrons are built much like an athletic team whose coaching and training staff remain permanently intact and receive athletes only for the season. The Core Staff serves as the "coaching staff" for the different units under its command. These units are referred to as Naval Support Elements or NSEs. They serve on this "team" for one year. A PHIBRON's NSE's consists of an Amphibious Assault Ship (LHD or LHA), an Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD), a Dock Landing Ship (LSD), a Fleet Surgical Team (FST-6), a Fleet Information Warfare Center detachment (FIWC), a Naval Beach Group detachment (NBG-2), a Search and Rescue detachment (HC SAR), an Explosive Ordinance Disposal detachment (EOD), a Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON), and a Naval Special Warfare Task Unit (NSWTU). All elements come together for six months of training then deploy for six months as a forward-deployed, self-sustaining Amphibious Task Force.

Amphibious Squadron ELEVEN's immediate superior in the chain of command is (COMEXSTRKGRU) SEVEN. Amphibious Squadron ELEVEN's immediate superior in the chain of command is (COMEXSTRKGRU) SEVEN.
http://www.ctf76.navy.mil/default.aspx

Amphibious ships are assigned to a squadron, more precisely an amphibious squadron which originally began as a Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). Each amphibious squadron is designated by number and is comprised of an at-sea staff.

Amphibious Squadron 11 is the U.S. Navy's newest and only forward deployed Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) is based in Okinawa with an operating detachment in Sasebo.

The squadron consists of four ships and its mission is to perform as Tactical Commander and Warfare Commander of forces assigned; function as Commander, Amphibious Task Force (CATF) as designated through initiating directives; function as Commander of the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG); conduct Amphibious Ready Group-Marine Expeditionary Unit/Special Operations Capable (MEU/SOC) operations as directed.

PHIBRON 11 was initially activated in July 1966 and was comprised of seven ships homeported in Long Beach , Calif. , with USS Valley Forge (LPH 8) as its flagship. During its short, but illustrious period of service from 1966 to 1970, PHIBRON 11 made two extended deployments to the Western Pacific. Each of these deployments was highlighted by combat action tours of duty off the hostile shores of Vietnam. Of particular note were numerous bold amphibious missions in the vicinity of the DMZ in support of combat operations. PHIBRON 11 also participated in humanitarian efforts in Vietnam , the Philippines and Okinawa , Japan . The Squadron was reactivated on September 30, 1992 to give forward deployment amphibious striking power in the Far East.

Since its reactivation, PHIBRON 11, with its embarked MEU, has operated at sea, providing credible deterrence against any potential aggressor in the Pacific region. With the "Forward From the Sea" concept at the forefront of Naval operations, PHIBRON 11 and the 31st MEU (forward deployed to Okinawa) maintain their readiness and flexibility at the tip of the operational spear.

This Navy-Marine Corps team has landed Marines by sea and by air in Korea , Okinawa, Guam , Thailand , Philippines , Singapore , Russia , Malaysia , Indonesia , Vietnam and Australia in the thick of night and in broad daylight, regardless of weather.

PHIBRON ELEVEN SHIP'S AND SUPPORT UNITS are forward deployed at Sasebo, Japan ships include the flagship USS Essex (LHD-2), the alternate flagship, USS Juneau (LPD-10), USS Tortuga (LSD-46) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49). http://www.ctf76.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/Ships%20and%20Commands/CPR11.aspx
http://www.cpr11.navy.mil/site%20pages/ships.aspx

PHIBRON ELEVEN SHIP'S AND SUPPORT UNITS

Essex Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) [ESXESG]
USS Essex (LHD-2)
"Iron Gator"
http://www.essex.navy.mil/default.aspx

Focus on USS Essex (LHD 2)
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USS Essex (LHD 2) Story Archive
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USS Essex (LHD-2) Photos
http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/08/0802.htm

USS ESSEX ASSOCIATION
http://www.ussessexcv9.org

USS Essex (LHD-2) History
http://navysite.de/ships/lha3.htm

Essex Amphibious Ready Group [ESXESG]
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/lhd-2.htm
Sasebo, Japan

USS Essex (LHD 2), Sasebo, Japan – ow-commandpost
http://www.freepowerboards.com/owcommandpost/owcommandpost-about1974.html

USS Essex (LHD-2) Deployment History
http://www.uscarriers.net/lhd2.htm

History of USS Essex
http://www.essex.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/Historytext.aspx

USS Juneau (LPD-10)
The "Mighty J"
http://www.juneau.navy.mil/default.aspx

USS Juneau (LPD-10) Story Archive
http://www.news.navy.mil/local/story_archive.asp?id=151

USS Juneau (LPD-10) History
http://navysite.de/ships/lpd10.htm

USS Juneau (LPD-10) History
http://www.juneau.navy.mil/site%20pages/history.aspx

USS Juneau (LPD-10) Photos
http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/09/0910.htm

USS JUNEAU is the 7th ship in the AUSTIN - class of Amphibious Transport Docks and at the moment JUNEAU is the Navy's only forward-deployed Amphibious Transport Dock.

Since July 30, 1999, the ship is homeported in Sasebo, Japan, where JUNEAU relieved USS DUBUQUE (LPD 8) as part of the rotation of the forward-deployed naval forces. Before, JUNEAU was homeported in San Diego, Calif.

The LPD 10 is the third U.S. Navy ship to carry the name USS Juneau.
Named for the capital of Alaska, the keel was laid on 23 January 1965 by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company in Seattle, Washington. The "Mighty J" was launched on 12 February 1966 with Mrs. William A. Egan, wife of the governor of Alaska, as a sponsor. Commissioned on 12 July 1969, USS JUNEAU went right to work patrolling the high seas.

Juneau ventured into Vietnamese waters eight times during the 1970's on
five different deployments. The "Mighty J" showed its prowess early earning five battle stars for efforts during the Vietnam War. The first AV-8B Harrier landing on a Pacific Fleet LPD was conducted by JUNEAU in February 1976. http://www.juneau.navy.mil/site%20pages/history.aspx

USS Tortuga (LSD-46)
"Tough, Tall, Tenacious"
http://www.tortuga.navy.mil/default.aspx

Focus on USS Tortuga (LSD 46)
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USS Tortuga (LSD 46) Story Archive
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USS Tortuga (LSD 46) History
http://navysite.de/ships/lsd46.htm
http://www.tortuga.navy.mil/site%20pages/history.aspx

USS Tortuga (LSD 46) Photos
http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/12/1246.htm

USS TORTUGA is the sixth Dock Landing Ship in the WHIDBEY ISLAND class and the third ship in that class built by Avondale in New Orleans and the second U.S. Navy ship to bear that name. In April 2006, the TORTUGA replaced the USS FORT McHENRY (LSD 43) as a forward deployed naval unit in Sasebo, Japan. The hull swap was part of the Navy's long-range plan to routinely replace older ships assigned to the Navy's Forward Deployed Naval Force with newer or more capable ships. The TORTUGA was previously homeported in Little Creek, Va.

USS Tortuga (LSD-46), a part of the ESSEX ARG stationed in Sasebo, Japan. It is the Only Forward Deploy Apmhibious ARG and the pace is fast but rewarding.

Tortuga is the sixth Dock Landing Ship in the WHIDBEY ISLAND class and the third ship in that class built by Avondale in New Orleans. In April 2006, the TORTUGA replaced the USS FORT McHENRY (LSD 43) as a forward deployed naval unit in Sasebo, Japan. The hull swap was part of the Navy's long-range plan to routinely replace older ships assigned to the Navy's Forward Deployed Naval Force with newer or more capable ships. The TORTUGA was previously homeported in Little Creek, Va. http://www.tortuga.navy.mil/site%20pages/history.aspx

USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49)
“First Freedom”
“Guns for our Marines”
http://www.harpers-ferry.navy.mil/default.aspx

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http://www.navy.mil/local/story_archive.asp?id=336

USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) History
http://navysite.de/ships/lsd49.htm
http://www.harpers-ferry.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/history.aspx

USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) Photos
http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/12/1249.htm

Harpers Ferry History
http://www.harpers-ferry.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/history.aspx
John Brown's raid.

On October 16, 1859, the radical abolitionist John Brown led a small group of 22 men in a raid on the Arsenal. Five were black: three free blacks, one a freed slave, and one a fugitive slave. During this time assisting fugitive slaves was illegal even in the north, and morally unacceptable to most southern white communities. Brown attacked and captured several buildings; he hoped to use the captured weapons to initiate a slave uprising throughout the South. However, he and his men were quickly pinned down by local citizens and militia, and forced to take refuge in the engine house adjacent to the armory.

On October 18, United States Marines were sent via train to Harpers Ferry. Under the temporary command of U.S. Army Colonel Robert E. Lee, they stormed the fire house and killed or captured most of the raiders. Brown was tried for treason by the State of Virginia, convicted, and hanged in nearby Charles Town. Following the prosecution (by Andrew Hunter), "John Brown captured the attention of the nation like no other abolitionist or slave owner before or since." The failed raid was a catalyst for the American Civil War.

Civil War

The Civil War was disastrous for Harpers Ferry, which changed hands eight times between 1861 and 1865. Because of the town's strategic location on the railroad and at the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley, both Union and Confederate troops moved through Harpers Ferry frequently. The town's garrison of 14,000 Federal troops played a key role in the Confederate invasion of Maryland in September 1862. General Robert E. Lee did not want to continue on to Pennsylvania without capturing the town, which was on his supply line and would control one of his possible routes of retreat if the invasion did not go well. Dividing his army of approximately 40,000 into four sections, he used the cover of the mountains and sent three columns under Stonewall Jackson to surround and capture the town.

The Battle of Harpers Ferry started with light fighting September 13 to capture the Maryland Heights to the northeast while John Walker moved back over the Potomac to capture Loudon Heights south of town. After an artillery bombardment on September 14 and September 15, the Federal garrison surrendered. Lee, because of the delay and the movement of Federal forces west, was forced to regroup at the town of Sharpsburg, leading two days later to the fateful Battle of Antietam, and the bloodiest single day in American military history. When Virginia seceded in April of 1861 the US garrison attempted to burn the arsenal and destroy the machinery. Locals saved the equipment, which was later transferred to a more secure location in Richmond. Arms production never returned to Harpers Ferry.

Shortly after the end of the Civil War, Harpers Ferry, along with all of both Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, was separated from Virginia and incorporated into West Virginia. The inhabitants of the counties as well as the Virginia legislature protested, but the federal government went ahead anyway, forming the West Virginia "panhandle" of today. Without the distraction of Union forces at Harpers Ferry during the Antietam campaign the North might not have won that crucial battle or, consequently, the war. http://www.harpers-ferry.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/history.aspx

USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) is the first of four new cargo variants to the WHIDBEY ISLAND class of dock landing ship. On September 1, 2002 HARPERS FERRY relieved USS GERMANTOWN (LSD 42) as a forward deployed naval unit in Sasebo, Japan. She is part of SEVENTHFLT.

Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7 / Task Force 76 additional Ships, Commands and Units

USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19)
“The First Navy Flag Ship:”
http://www.blue-ridge.navy.mil/default.aspx

Focus on USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19)
https://navcms.news.navy.mil/local/lcc19

USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) Story Archive
https://navcms.news.navy.mil/local/story_archive.asp?id=202

USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) History
http://navysite.de/ships/lcc19.htm
http://www.blue-ridge.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/History.aspx

USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) Photos
http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/01/0119.htm

USS BLUE RIDGE is the lead ship of the BLUE RIDGE class and the Seventh Fleet command ship. USS BLUE RIDGE is the third ship in the Navy named after the Blue Ridge Mountains in the eastern United States.
USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) was commissioned on November 14, 1970, at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard as the most sophisticated command and control platform in the Navy. With accommodations for more than 200 officers and 1200 enlisted, the ship provides all the services of a small town.

From 1971 until 1979, Blue Ridge operated from San Diego, California, where she deployed to the Western Pacific, earning the Meritorious Unit and Navy Unit Commendations for the evacuation of Saigon, Vietnam in 1975.

Since October 1979, Blue Ridge has been forward deployed from Yokosuka, Japan as the flagship of Commander Seventh Fleet. Well suited to support a fleet commander in peacetime and in war, Blue Ridge participates routinely in U.S. and allied training exercise each year with countries throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. She performed brilliantly during a nine-and-one-half month deployment as flagship for Commander United States Naval Forces Central Command during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from August 1990 through May 1991, for which the ship earned another Navy Unit Commendation.

USS Blue Ridge frequently makes port calls throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean including Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia. She made her historic port visit to Shanghai, People Republic of China in May 1989 and Vladivostok, Russia in July 1996. The ship has also been cited for rescues of refugees and merchant vessels. USS Blue Ridge continuously upgrades her command and control facilities, her warfighting capabilities and her methods of meeting the high visibility requirements of a fleet flagship.

The first USS Blue Ridge (S. P. 2432) was originally constructed as the Great Lakes passenger steamer VIRGINIA built by Globe Iron Works at Cleveland, Ohio. The ship was launched in 1891 and was operated by the Goodrich Transit Company between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1893, during the Chicago World's Fair, the ship and the whaleback steamer CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS competed against each other in races. VIRGINIA was purchased on April 19, 1918 for use as a Navy transport at Manitowoc, Wisconsin once America entered World War I. The ship was renamed BLUE RIDGE (S. P. 2432) and commissioned on October 17, 1918. Lieutenant Commander E. S. Ells, USNR, was the commanding officer. The ship was named for the BLUE RIDGE Mountains of the United States. Blue Ridge (S. P. 2432) had an overall length of 269 feet, 2 inches; extreme beam of 38 feet, 3 inches; tonnage of 1,606; draft of 12 feet, 8 inches; speed of 16.5 knots; and a crew of 87officers and enlisted.

On December 28, 1918, the ship arrived at the Boston Navy Yard from the Great Lakes. While undergoing repairs, the war ended and eliminated the need for further service. While still at the Navy Yard, the ship's name was changed to Avalon on August 18, 1919. The Edward P. Farley Company, from Chicago bought the ship on August 21, 1919. The Wilmington Transportation Company acquired Avalon. In 1920, the ship entered the company's two-hour daytime run between the Catalina Island Terminal at Wilmington and Los Angeles harbor. During World War II, Avalon served as a transport in the San Francisco Bay area. The ship returned to the Catalina-Los Angeles run in 1946 and remained in this service until laid up at the Catalina Island Terminal February 12, 1951.

Avalon caught fire and burned at Long Beach, California on July 18, 1960.
The next Blue Ridge (AGC-2), an amphibious force flagship, was built by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, under a Maritime Commission contract. The ship was launched on March 7, 1943 under the sponsorship of Mrs. David Arnott. Blue Ridge was transferred to the Navy on March 15, 1943.

The Bethlehem Steel Company of Brooklyn, New York, outfitted the ship as an amphibious force flagship and was commissioned on September 27, 1943. Commander Lewis R. McDowell, USN, was the commanding officer.

Blue Ridge (AGC-2), had an overall length of 459 feet, 3 inches; extreme beam of 63 feet; trial displacement of 13, 910 tons; limiting draft of 24 feet; trial speed of 16.6 knots; a complement of 36 officers and 442 enlisted; and a flag accommodations for 138 officers and 123 enlisted. The ship was armed with two 5-inch .38 caliber guns and four twin 40-mm anti-aircraft guns.

Following trial runs in Long Island Sound, Blue Ridge departed New York on October 8, 1943, to train in the Chesapeake Bay Area out of Norfolk, Virginia. On November 1, the ship put to sea with two destroyers, bound for the South Pacific. After transit of the Panama Canal, BLUE RIDGE called at the Society, New Caledonia and Fiji Islands, enroute to Brisbane, Australia, arriving on December 16, 1943. She pulled out of Brisbane three days later for Milne Bay, New Guinea where December 24, 1943, she became the flagship of Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey, USN, Commander Seventh Amphibious Force. She served as the command ship for amphibious operations westward along the New Guinea Coast until October 13, 1944. On that day, BLUE RIDGE left Hollandia as the flagship of Rear Admiral Barbey's Northern Attack Force bound for the liberation of the Philippine Islands.

The night of October 19-20, 1944 Blue Ridge and her formation stood through the swept part of Surigao strait, between Homonhon and Dinagat Islands and entered San Pedro Bay, Leyte, Philippine Islands. She served as a command ship for troops storming the beaches at Leyte the morning of October 20, and continued in support of the amphibious assault landings for six days. The ship's gunners drove off an enemy reconnaissance plan October 23. The morning of October 25, a torpedo-bomber made a run along her port side, coming in from her port quarter, and was shot down by her forward 40-mm gunners. That afternoon, the ship fired on 11 enemy planes of various types attacking the transport area.

The morning of October 26, 1944, Blue Ridge helped fight off five enemy bombers that attacked her formation. That afternoon she helped drive away three more enemy bombers. Several bombs fell in the vicinity during this action, but only one exploded close enough to shake the command ship. As she kept watch off the Leyte beaches, the three-pronged attack of the Japanese Fleet met disaster in the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Battle of Samar and the Battle of Cape Engano. She stood out of San Pedro Bay in the night of October 26, 1944 to stage at ports of New Guinea in preparation for the liberation landings to be made at Lingayen. She remained the flagship of Vice Admiral Barbey who was designated commander of the San Fabian Attack Force 78. Besides Admiral Barbey and his staff, she embarked Major General I. P. Swift, commanding the I Army Corps, and Major General L. F. Wing, Commanding the 43rd Infantry Division, together with their personal staffs.

Blue Ridge led the San Fabian Attack Force from Aitape, New Guinea on December 28, 1944. An aerial snooper was driven off by gunfire January 2, 1945 and covering escort carrier aircraft shot down a bomber twenty miles out from her formation the following day.

The night of January 4, 1945 the command ship followed a covering group of cruisers and destroyers through Surigao Strait to enter the Mindanao Sea. The afternoon of January 5 an enemy submarine fired on the covering group, ten miles ahead, and was forced to surface and rammed by destroyer Dashiell. Enemy planes attacked the formation January 7; two being shot down by pilots of the Combat Air Patrol, and three fell victims to combined anti-aircraft fire of the formation. That night four destroyers sank a Japanese destroyer eleven miles to the east of Blue Ridge. The command ship helped repel six enemy planes on January 8, 1945 and entered Linguine Gulf before daybreak of January 9. Troops stormed ashore that morning, some two hours after a single-engine enemy aircraft sneaked through cover of night, staffed to a point forward of the bow, barely missed the bridge, then overshot and dropped bombs about 500 yards off her port bow. The ship was not damaged and suffered no casualties. During the initial landings, three air attacks came close enough to be a threat to Blue Ridge, but veered off the in the face of heavy anti-suicide swimmers and small fast suicide boats. To combat this threat, a patrol boat was kept circling Blue Ridge and all shipboard security patrols were strengthened.

On January 13, 1945 Chief Storekeeper H. G. Williamson reported on board Blue Ridge. He was an escaped prisoner of war, having been captured by the Japanese on January 18, 1942, while attached to the Naval Air Station at Cavite. He had escaped on March 15, 1942 and had remained in hiding near San Fabian since then. Williamson was returned to duty at the Naval Base and Blue Ridge departed Lingayen Gulf on January 15, 1945. The ship continued to serve as Vice Admiral Barbey's flagship at San Pedro Bay and Subic Bay until June 8, 1945. Two days later, Blue Ridge was underway for Saipan and then to Pearl Harbor when she became the flagship of Rear Admiral Jerauld Wright, Commander Amphibious Group Five on June 30, 1945. She hauled down his flag on July 20 and entered the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for alterations and repairs.

USS Blue Ridge departed Pearl Harbor on September 8, 1945 and reached Buckner Bay, Okinawa, on September 22. That afternoon, she hoisted the flag of Rear Admiral Ingolf N. Kiland, Commander Amphibious Group Seven. The ship got underway on October 21 to serve as a command ship at Tsingtao, China, arriving October 24, 1945. Rear Admiral Kiland shifted his flag to WASTACH (AGC-9) on November 6, 1945 and BLUE RIDGE became the flagship of Rear Admiral A. G. Noble, Commander Amphibious Group One.

The ship departed Tsingtao for Jinsen, Korea on December 13, 1945, then returned off Taku Bar before proceeding to Shanghai, China. She arrived in the Wonsung Anchorage of the Uangtze River on December 22, 1945, and served as station command ship for Naval Forces there until February 24, 1946, when the ship departed Shanghai for Hawaii. After a brief stay at Pearl Harbor, she was routed to the western seaboard, arriving at San Pedro, California on March 18, 1946. The ship entered the Naval Shipyard at Terminal Island to prepare for participation in "Operation Crossroads", the atomic bomb tests to be carried out at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands.

Blue Ridge departed San Francisco on June 12, 1946, touching at Honolulu, Hawaii, enroute to Kwajalein Atool where she arrived June 28, 1946. Here the ship completed embarking general and flag officers of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps along with United Nations officials for transportation to Bikini Atoll to observe Atomic Bomb Tests. She hoisted the flag of Vice Admiral H. W. Hill. The senior officer on board was Vice Admiral E. L. Cochrane, Chief of the Bureau of Ships. Also on board were Vice Admiral G. F. Hussey and Vice Admiral A. E. Montgomery.

The ship arrived at Bikini Atoll on June 29, 1946, serving as one of the command and observation ships off Bikini during the Atomic Bomb Test "Able" on July 1. Thereafter, she called at Ponape and Truk in the Caroline Islands, then proceeded to Kwajalein where, on July 23rd, Blue Ridge became the flagship of Rear Admiral C. C. Glover. The ship again served as observation flagship for the atomic bomb test of July 24, hauled down Rear Admiral Glover's flag on July 27, and sailed for home on July 30. She arrived at San Francisco inactivation overhaul in the Naval Shipyard at Terminal Island; she decommissioned on March 14, 1947.

The ship remained in reserve until January 1, 1960, when her name was struck from the Navy list. She was sold for scrapping August 26, 1960 to Zidell Exploration Incorporated, 3121 Southwest Woody Street, Portland, Oregon.

USS Blue Ridge (AGC-2) received two battle stars and other awards for the operations listed below:

One Star/LEYTE OEPRATION: Leyte Landings: October 13-30, 1944
One Star/LUZON OPERATION: Lingayen Gulf Landings: January 9-14, 1945

NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL (Asia Clasp): September 22, 1945-
February 24, 1946
CHINA SERVICE MEDAL: September 22, 1945-February 24, 1946
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES PRESIDENTIAL UNIT http://www.blue-ridge.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/History.aspx

USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50)
USS Safeguard (ARS 50)
http://www.safeguard.navy.mil

USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50) Story Archive
http://www.news.navy.mil/local/story_archive.asp?id=151

USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50) History
http://navysite.de/ars/ars50.htm

USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50) Photos
http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/37/3750.htm

USNS SAFEGUARD - the lead ship of the SAFEGUARD-class - is the Navy's only forward deployed Rescue and Salvage Ship. On September 26, 2007, she was transfered to the Military Sealift Command

Forward deployed from Sasebo, Japan , the USS Safeguard (ARS 50) is the lead ship of the 'Rescue-Salvage' class of vessels owned by the U.S. Navy. The mission of these ships is fourfold:

De-beaching of stranded vessels
Heavy lifting from ocean depths
Towing of other vessels
Manned diving operations

For rescue missions, USS Safeguard (ARS 50) is equipped with three fire monitors forward and amidships that can deliver either aqueous film-forming foam or saltwater. The salvage holds of the ship are outfitted with portable equipment to effect assistance to vessels in dewatering, patching, the supply of electrical power, and many other essential services required to return a disabled ship to operating condition. Additionally, Safeguard's carries with it the finest diver life support air system in the fleet.

The rugged construction of this steel-hulled vessel, combined with her speed and endurance, make Safeguard well suited for the rescue and salvage operations of Naval and commercial shipping throughout the world. The versatility of this class of ship adds immeasurably to the capabilities of the U.S. Navy with the regards to rendering assistance to those in peril on the high seas.

USS Guardian (MCM 5)
http://www.guardian.navy.mil/default.aspx

USS Guardian (MCM 5) News
http://www.guardian.navy.mil/SitePages1/news3.htm

USS Guardian (MCM 5) History
http://navysite.de/ships/mcm5.htm
http://www.guardian.navy.mil/SitePages1/ShipInfo.htm

USS Guardian (MCM 5) Photos
http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/1205.htm

USS GUARDIAN is the fifth AVENGER class Mine Countermeasures Ship and one of the two ships in that class forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan and is the second ship to bear the name Guardian. Her mission is to counter the threat to our forces and our allies from all types of naval mines. USS Guardian represents the most capable mine countermeasures platform ever constructed, capable of mine detection, mine neutralization and mine clearance in strategic U.S. and foreign ports and key ocean areas in order to maintain vital commercial shipping lanes.

One of fourteen Avenger Class ships, Guardian was commissioned December 16, 1989.

To accomplish her mine countermeasures mission, she is equipped with an AN/SQQ-32 sonar system and an Alliant Techsystems AN/SLQ-48 Mine Neutralization robot. The hull is constructed of wood laminated with layers of fiberglass. Propulsion is provided by 4 Isotta-Fraschini 600HP engines connected to two controllable pitch propellers. Guardian's length is 224 feet, with a width of 39 feet and a displacement of over 1,300 tons of American fighting timber. Her maximum speed is around 14 knots.

USS Guardian (MCM 5) is assigned to Amphibious Forces Seventh Fleet, forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan. http://www.guardian.navy.mil/SitePages1/ShipInfo.htm

USS Patriot (MCM 7)
“Fortune Favors the Brave”
http://www.patriot.navy.mil

USS Patriot (MCM 7) Story Archive
http://www.news.navy.mil/local/story_archive.asp?id=151

USS Patriot (MCM 7) History
http://navysite.de/ships/mcm7.htm
http://www.patriot.navy.mil/site%20pages/history.aspx

USS Patriot (MCM 7) Photos
http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/1207.htm

USS PATRIOT is the seventh AVENGER class Mine Countermeasures Ship and one of the two ships in that class forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan.
The first Patriot, a wooden schooner, was purchased by the Navy at Baltimore 13 August 1861 to be sunk to block the channel leading into the Carolina Sounds at Hatteras Inlet. However, a rough surf, the poor condition of the ship and Confederate Naval defenses forced postponement of this project until it was obviated by Flag Officer Stringham's victory at Cape Hatteras at the end of August. Patriot served as a storeship in Hampton Roads before disappearing from Naval and Maritime records.

The second Patriot was a costal patrol vessel. On March 1, 1941 she reported to duty in Boston with the 1st Naval District. There she conducted coastal patrol assignments until brought out of service September 29, 1944. She was laid up at Quincy, Massachusetts and finally sold back to her former owner for one dollar.

Built of white oak, Douglas fir, and Alaskan cedar from America’s forests Patriot was launched the 15th of May 1990 in Marinette, Wisconsin, and over a year later on December 13th, 1991, she was commissioned in Charleston, South Carolina. CDR Michael J. O’Moore, a native of Brooklyn New York was the commissioning Commanding Officer. Patriot was originally homeported in Charleston, SC until 1993, when, she transferred to Ingleside, TX.

In 1994 PATRIOT was called to serve in the Pacific, and since then has served as one of two forward deployed MCM’s in SEVENTH Fleet's Amphibious Ready Group. Patriot is operationally assigned to MCMDIV ELEVEN, CTF 76, COMSEVENTHFLT, CINCPACFLT, and USCINCPAC. Her administrative chain of command is COMCMDIV ELEVEN, COMCMRON ONE, COMINEWARCOM (Corpus Christi, TX), and COMNAVSURFLANT.
Although Patriot was permanently assigned to Sasebo Japan her crew served on a rotational basis from Ingleside, Texas. Each rotation lasted approximately 6 months. In 1997 the crew assignments was changed to permanent overseas assignments.

In March 2003 the major event was TSTA3/FEP. This Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA3)/ Final Exercise Problem (FEP) initially designed to be a training assist visit to assess readiness, was turned into a graded scenario to prove her battle readiness. This advanced stage of training is designed to improve ships operations and give Patriot an opportunity to prove she is ready to perform her primary and secondary missions with utmost efficiency and skill.

Patriot executed her deployment phase during the 2003 calendar year. Along with conducting MINEX, she participated in Exercise Foal Eagle 2003, a combined naval exercise with the Republic of Korea. Patriot successfully accomplished 100 percent mine warfare tasking during the integrated exercise. Patriot conducted a WESTPAC Deployment during the months of May and June conducting port visits in Okinawa, Fukuoka, JA, Pusan, ROK, Inchon, ROK, and Kagoshima, JA. Patriot also took part in the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War with a port visit to Pusan, South Korea.

Patriot routinely participates in a combined Mine Warfare training exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force as part of an annual MINEX and EODEX. MINEX/EODEX is a joint mine countermeasures (MCM) exercise designed to foster US Navy and Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) interoperability through the use of the MCM Triad, surface MCM (SMCM) air MCM (AMCM) and Explosive Ordnance disposal (EOD) teams.

Currently Patriot is conducting Selected Maintenance Availability in which the ship is refitted with the most recent equipment upgrades and shipboard alterations. The maintenance period allows the ship to re-train personnel and begin preparations for the upcoming Basic Training Phase and Interdeployment Training Cycle.
http://www.patriot.navy.mil/site%20pages/history.aspx

Assault Craft Unit ONE
“Where Others Fear We Dear”
http://www.acu1.navy.mil

Assault Craft Unit ONE Command History
http://www.acu1.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/History.aspx

Assault Craft Unit ONE has approximately 350 personnel assigned and is responsible for 16 Landing Craft Utility (LCU), (12 based in San Diego, CA and 4 based in Sasebo, Japan), 4 Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM-8) and 3 Maritime Prepositioning Force Utility Boats based in San Diego, CA; and the support of 4 Naval Reserve Detachments. ACU ONE was established 1947.

Assault Craft Unit ONE operates, maintains and provides assault craft as required by the Amphibious Task Force Commander for waterborne ship to shore movement during and after an amphibious assault. Provide crews to assist in the offload of Maritime Prepositioning Force ships to support military or relief operations ashore. http://www.acu1.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/MISSION.aspx

Assault Craft Unit Five (ACU) Five
http://www.acu5.navy.mil/default.aspx

Assault Craft Unit (ACU) Five was commissioned on October 1, 1983 in Panama City, Florida, with the first craft delivered in December 1984.
The first operational deployment of LCAC was in 1987, during which the first LCAC landing outside the United States was conducted in support of amphibious operations in Okinawa. A detachment of maintenance personnel was deployed to Japan on a permanent basis to support LCAC operations in the Western Pacific.

In October 1992, three LCACs deployed to Sasebo, Japan as Detachment WESTPAC Alpha, establishing a forward deployed presence which remains to this day. During a separate deployment that same month, three LCAC conducted landings in Somalia in support of OPERATION RESTORE HOPE. The command regularly deploys LCAC with the Amphibious Readiness Groups (ARGs) of the Pacific Fleet, conducting operations and exercises throughout the Persian Gulf, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
http://www.ctf76.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/Ships%20and%20Commands/ACU5.aspx

ACU-5 is located on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, approximately 50 miles north of San Diego, California.
Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC)

The Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) Transport weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel of the assault elements of the Marine Air/Ground Task Force both from ship to shore and across the beach. The landing craft air cushion (LCAC) is a high-speed, over-the-beach fully amphibious landing craft capable of carrying a 60-75 ton payload.

Capable of operating from existing and planned well deck ships, it is used to transport weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel from ship to shore and across the beach. The advantages of air-cushion landing craft are numerous. They can carry heavy payloads, such as an M-1 tank, at high speeds. Their payload and speed mean more forces reach the shore in a shorter time, with shorter intervals between trips.
The LCAC is capable of carrying a 60 ton payload (up to 75 tons in an overload condition) at speeds over 40 knots. Fuel capacity is 5000 gallons. The LCAC uses an average of 1000 gallons per hour.

Maneuvering considerations include requiring 500 yards or more to stop and 2000 yards or more turning radius. The LCAC, like all "hovercraft," rides on a cushion of air. The air is supplied to the cushion by four centrifugal fans driven by the craft's gas turbine engines. The air is enclosed by a flexible skirt system manufactured of rubberized canvas. Unlike the Surface Effect Ship (SES), no portion of the LCAC hull structure penetrates the water surface; the entire hull rides approximately four feet above the surface.

LCAC operates in waters regardless of depth, underwater obstacles, shallows or adverse tides. It can proceed inland on its air cushion, clearing obstacles up to four feet, regardless of terrain or topography), including mud flats, sand dunes, ditches, marshlands, riverbanks, wet snow, or slippery and icy shorelines. Equipment, such as trucks and track vehicles, can disembark via ramps located both forward and aft, there by shortening critical off load time.

LCAC is a dramatic innovation in modern amphibious warfare technology. It provides the capability to launch amphibious assaults from points over the horizon, thereby decreasing risk to ships and personnel and generating greater uncertainty in the enemy's mind as to the location and timing of an assault, thereby maximizing its prospects of success. It is also important to point out the LCAC propulsion system makes it less susceptible to mines than other assault craft or vehicles. Previously, landing craft had a top speed of approximately eight knots and could cross only 17% of the world's beach area. Assaults were made From one to two miles off-shore. Due to its tremendous over-the-beach capability, LCAC is accessible to more than 80% of the world's coastlines. It can make an undisclosed, over the horizon (OTH) assault from up to 50 miles offshore. Its high speed complements a joint assault with helicopters, so personnel and equipment can be unloaded beyond the beach in secure landing areas. For 20 years, helicopters have provided the partial capability to launch OTH amphibious assaults. Now, with LCAC, landing craft complement helos in speed, tactical surprise and without exposing ships to enemy fire.

With LCACs in the fleet, an amphibious assault force could be nearly 500 miles away at H-hour minus 24 and still make pre-dawn attack launched from beyond an enemy's horizon. The LCAC's air-cushion capability also allows it to proceed inland beyond an enemy's horizon to discharge cargo on dry, trafficable beaches, thus reducing build-ups of troops, equipment and other material in the surf zone.

LCAC was developed to satisfy the need for an air cushion landing craft capable of carrying troops, artillery, tanks, combat vehicles, and other major items of combat and combat support equipment across the beach. LCAC is the production follow-on to earlier advanced development craft which were tested by the Navy between 1977 and 1981. On June 29, 1987, LCAC was granted approval for full production. Forty-eight air-cushion landing craft were authorized and appropriated through FY 89.
Lockheed Shipbuilding Company was competitively selected as a second source. The FY 1990 budget request included $219.3 million for nine craft. The FY 1991 request included full funding for 12 LCACs and advance procurement in support of the FY 1992 program (which was intended to be nine craft). The remaining 24 were funded in FY92. As of December 1995, 82 LCACs had been delivered to the Navy.

Initially, all testing had been conducted in Panama City, FL. Subsequently, the LCAC was tested in California, Australia, and in Arctic waters. Rough weather conditions forced cancellation of Exercise Valiant Usher 89-4, a joint U.S.-Australian amphibious assault exercise to be conducted off the northern Australian coastline.

Objectives for tests in Alaska in March 1992 included evaluating all operational effectiveness and suitability concerns of multiple LCAC in an arctic environment. LCAC was neither operationally effective or suitable for arctic operations, and merely correcting the cold weather kit design would not be sufficient to conclude that LCAC was operationally effective and suitable in an arctic environment. Performance in opposed scenarios and in severe cold weather conditions would be necessary to fully evaluate LCAC performance. DOT&E recommended further operational testing. Developmental tests indicated that at colder temperatures engine power increases until gearbox torque limits capability, but icing and sea state would reduce that capability. Since then, LCAC has been used in two arctic exercises, one of which included operations in weather down to 15oF and realistic sortie rates. Based on this exercise, DOT&E concluded that further operational testing would not be necessary. LCAC demonstrated the ability to travel over light ice and open water, in fairly calm seas. The distance traveled per sortie ranged from 3-10 miles each way. Icing, which occurred in some conditions, also requires periodic interruption of missions to remove ice. JP-5 fuel was used, which alleviated problems with filters clogging. Also, LCAC has been involved in several minesweeping exercises, it has shown itself to be a potentially effective minesweeper in very shallow water. While this was not the original intent of the program, the system offers significant potential for enhancing force readiness.

The first deployment of LCAC occurred in 1987 with LCAC 02/03/04 embarked in USS GERMANTOWN (LSD 42). In July 1987 LCAC 04 transited Buckner Bay, Okinawa and conducted the first LCAC landing on foreign soil. The largest deployment of LCAC took place in January 1991 with four (4) detachments consisting of eleven (11) craft reporting for duty in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Storm.
The similarities between a Navy LCAC and an airplane are substantial. The craftmaster sits in a "cockpit" or command module with a headset radio on. He talks to air traffic control which for LCAC's is well-deck control located near a ship's sterngate. The ride feels like a plane in high turbulence. The craftmaster steers with a yoke, his feet are on rudder controls -- and he flies a lot like a hockey puck on an air hockey table, The LCAC is similar to a helicopter in that it has six dimensions of motion. Operating the LCAC demands unique perceptual and psychomotor skills.

In addition, with a machine as expensive and inherently dangerous as the LCAC, sound judgment and decision-making also play an important role. Concerns over escalating training cost, projections for an increased number of LCAC vehicles and crew, and a high attrition rate in training highlighted the importance of developing a more accurate means of selecting candidates. Attrition of operators and engineers has dropped from an initial high of 40% in 1988 to approximately 10-15% today. http://www.acu5.navy.mil/Site%20Documents/Landing%20Craft,%20Air%20Cushion%20-%20Navy%20Ships.htm

Beachmaster Unit 1
http://www.bmu1.navy.mil/default.aspx

Beachmaster Unit One, located at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, is a member command of Naval Beach Group One. Other commands in this group are Assault Craft Unit One, Amphibious Construction Battalion One, and Assault Craft Unit Five. Together these units provide the capability of moving combat troops and equipment ashore from ships at sea and providing the beach logistical support once these troops are established on the beach. Beachmaster Unit One is the Naval Element of the Landing Force Shore Party (LFSP). The mission of BMU One is to support the landing movement over the beaches of troops, equipment and supplies, and to facilitate the evacuation of casualties and prisoners of war. In addition, the Beachmasters maintain communications and liaison with designated naval commanders and naval control units, control all craft and amphibious vehicles in the vicinity of the beach from the surf line to the high water mark, coordinate the reembarkation of equipment, troops and supplies, determine and advise on the suitability for landing through coordination with the Oceanographic Section of the Sea, Air, Land (SEAL TEAM), control boat salvage, keep appropriate Navy commanders apprised of wind and surf conditions, install causeway beaching range markers and range lights, and assist in the defense of the beach.
http://www.bmu1.navy.mil/site%20pages/Command%20Mission.aspx

Prior to the formation of a Beachmaster Unit, a Shore Party was used as the integral party within a combat division in a Marine Pioneer Group or an Army Combat Engineer Group. In both services, the Shore Party formed the Underwater Demolition Team, Naval Pontoon Unit, and the Boat Pool. The Beach Party elements of the Shore Party were provided by the APA’s of the amphibious task force. Each APA provided a beach party, approximately two officers and thirty men, to support the landing of the battalion of troops. The Beach Party would land at the objective area and take charge of the beach in a manner similar to today. But the Beach Party was normally withdrawn with its’ parent ship. The concept was that the Shore Party was instrumental to the assault only and would be relieved promptly by garrison elements, including a garrison beach party, which would unload follow-on shipping. The Shore Party organization was inadequate, inefficient, and deficient in training. These weaknesses led to the formation of the Beach Party Battalion. The Beach Party Battalion, which included a Beachmaster Unit, was established for experimental purposes in July 1947. In July 1948, the Chief of Naval Operations ordered the commissioning of the Beachmaster Unit as a separate command with designation as Beachmaster Unit ONE (BMU-1). BMU-1 was commissioned at the U.S. Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, California, 13 July 1949.

BMU-1 saw action with the First Marine Division during the amphibious assaults of Wonsan and Inchon, Korea in September and October 1950, and the evacuation of Hungman and Inchon during December 1950 and January 1951 (Presidential Unit Citation). For action while operating with Task Force 90 from August to September 1950 the Unit was awarded the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

From August to November 1954, a Beachmaster detachment operating under Task Force 90, during operation PASSAGE TO FREEDOM directed the loading of Vietnamese refugees and French Union Military forces and equipment at Haiphong, French Indo-China. The Beachmasters were awarded the Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation (Ribbon of Friendship) for this operation which eventually led to the evacuation of more than 500,000 Vietnamese refugees. From January to February 1955, a Beachmaster detachment performed the beach landing craft phases of Operation FULLBACK which involved the armed evacuation of the Chinese Nationalist from the Tachen Islands from January to February 1955. In 1962 the Unit deployed in complete combat readiness to the Caribbean from October to December during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

From 1965 to 1973 Beachmasters participated in over 70 combat beach landings during the Vietnam conflict. Among the more significant landings were: March 8, 1965- 3500 Marines landed at Da Nang during the first amphibious landing of the Vietnam War; April 4, 1965- 3652 Marines and 756 support vehicles were landed at Da Nang and Hue; September 24, 1966- Operation DAGGER THRUST I- first amphibious raid, near Quinhon; January 28, 1966- Operation DOUBLE EAGLE – Largest landing since Inchon, over 5000 Marines (Navy Unit Commendation); May 1967- Operation BEAU CHARGER- Seven Beachmasters suffered casualties due to enemy mortar fire during the operation (Meritorious Unit Commendation); and in 1968 Beachmasters participated in the Defense of Hue during the Tet Offensive (Navy Unit Commendation).

From 1990 to present Beachmasters have had near continuous presence in the Arabian Gulf in support of United Nations Sanctions, two Iraq Wars, and the Global War on Terrorism. From August to September 1990, Beachmasters participated in the offload of the Maritime Prepositioning Force in Jubail, Saudi Arabia during Operation DESERT SHIELD. From January to March 1991 the Unit deployed in support of amphibious operations during Operation DESERT STORM (Navy Unit Commendation).

In August 1994, Beachmaster Unit ONE deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation VIGILANT WARRIOR, and again in August 1995 in support of Operation VIGILANT SENTINEL in response to United Nations Sanctions against Iraq. In 2002 Beach Party Teams (BPT) deployed to offload Amphibious Task Force West and Maritime Pre-positioning ships into Kuwait Naval Base. The Unit continued to offload troops and equipment into Kuwait from January to May 2003 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (Navy unit Commendation). From March to May 2003 Beachmasters embarked in USS DULUTH assisted U.S Coast Guard port security units providing security to the Iraqi Gas and Oil Platforms KAAOT and MABOT (USCG Meritorious Unit Commendation).

Beachmasters have also been involved in several humanitarian and disaster relief efforts including the San Francisco earthquake (1989) and the Exxon Valdez oil spill (1990). From May to June 1991 the Unit provided humanitarian aid to Bangladesh after a tropical cyclone and tidal surge during Operation SEA ANGEL (Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Humanitarian Service Medal). In June 1991 the Unit assisted in the evacuation of military personnel and dependants after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Republic of the Philippines during Operation FIERY VIGIL (Joint Meritorious Unit Award). In December 1992, Beachmasters directed the landing of units into Mogadishu, Somalia in support of Operation RESTORE HOPE. Beachmasters remained on the beach supporting the entire United Nations effort from March 1993 until the final withdraw of the United Nation Forces in March 1995. The Unit provided assistance from Hurricane Iniki in Kauai (1992), Flooding in the Tijuana River Valley (1993), Operation FREEDOM BANNER in Korea (1994), and Operation NATURAL FIRE in Kenya (2000). In December 2004, BMU-1 deployed a BPT in under 48 hours in support of Operation UNIFIED ASSISTANCE, providing immediate assistance to Tsunami victims across Southeast Asia (Humanitarian Service Medal). Again in October 2005 Beachmasters were among the first to deliver medical supplies, provisions, and heavy equipment to the Government of Pakistan after the devastating earthquake. In February 2007 BPT ECHO along with reservists from CHARLIE and GOLF deployed to Guatemala for one month in support of Humanitarian Support over the Shore (HSOTS) and Operation HANDCLASP. They transported 415 Pieces of Equipment, tools and humanitarian supplies across the beach. Their efforts were instrumental in assisting the SOUTHCOM meet its readiness goals and helped demonstrate that our nation is a valued partner in the region.

Today, the Unit's Teams embark in Amphibious Ships and deploy as part of an Expeditionary Strike Group. When not deployed, Beachmasters routinely participate in Fleet and Theater exercises (RIMPAC, FOAL EAGLE, COBRA GOLD, CARAT, KERNEL BLITZ BRIGHT STAR, JLOTS, and TALISMAN SABRE) and provide a wide variety of support services at Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, and throughout the Southern California operation area. Throughout an illustrious history, from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, the Beachmasters have carried out the command, “Land the Landing Force,” with skill, professionalism, and dedication. http://www.bmu1.navy.mil/site%20pages/history.aspx
_________________

U. S. Navy Veteran
August 1977 to July 1983

Yoeman Second Class,
with student pilot's license