thedrifter
08-23-04, 06:30 AM
CBIRF response by landing craft air cusion.
Submitted by: 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism)
Story Identification #: 200481791345
Story by Cpl. Sharon E. Fox
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- (Aug. 11, 2004) -- Marines of the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism), conducted an exercise utilizing a naval hovercraft on the Potomac and Anacostia rivers here August 11.
CBIRF, which is headquartered in Indian Head, Md., is located 27 miles outside the nation’s capitol.
When directed, CBIRF assists local, state, or federal agencies and Unified Combat Commanders in the conduct of consequence management operations by providing capabilities for agent detection and identification, casualty search, rescue, decontamination, and emergency medical care and stabilization of contaminated personnel.
This amphibious exercise simulated a CBIRF response to support the National Capitol Region First Responder Community.
“The capabilities of the Navy/Marine Corps team enable CBIRF to deploy its response forces into an urban environment utilizing water routes.Deploying this far inland to the urban terrain is a first for both CBIRF and Assault Craft Unit-4 (Naval unit),” said Maj. Frank E. Johnston, operations officer, CBIRF, 4th MEB (AT). “If our team can’t get to an emergency site by air or land, the LCAC can get us there by sea, or in this case, by river.”
The Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) is a high-speed, fully amphibious landing craft, capable of carrying a 60-75 ton payload. It is used to transport the weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel of the assault elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force from ship to shore and across the beach, according to the Navy fact file. LCAC’s can carry heavy payloads, such as an M-1 tank, at high speeds. The LCAC payload capability and speed combine to significantly increase the ability of a Marine Combat Ground Element to reach the shore. Air cushion technology allows this vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the world's coastline, while only about 15 percent of that coastline is accessible by conventional landing craft.
“There were many doubts by civilian authorities whether the LCAC could get underneath traffic bridges over the river, but this exercise has proved that we have plenty of clearance under city bridges,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew P. Seward, embark officer, CBIRF, 4th MEB (AT). “This mode of response transportation is fast and efficient and is definitely a quicker way of getting to an incident in the city; where there is usually a lot of traffic to negotiate.”
As the LCAC came ashore in the remote landing near Anacostia Park, CBIRF response teams in two to five emergency vehicles exited the craft, and quickly began it’s movement to a simulated incident site.
“Even through the stormy conditions as we had today, the exercise was a success,” said Johnston. “I’m more than confident that a real-life incident response will be just as successful.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200481794041/$file/LCACbridge_lowres.jpg
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism), negotiates their way under a city bridge in a Landing Craft Air Cusion during an incident response simulation here Aug. 11. Photo by: Cpl. Sharon E. Fox
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/484FDB71ED23076885256EF30048ABC2?opendocument
Ellie
Submitted by: 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism)
Story Identification #: 200481791345
Story by Cpl. Sharon E. Fox
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- (Aug. 11, 2004) -- Marines of the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism), conducted an exercise utilizing a naval hovercraft on the Potomac and Anacostia rivers here August 11.
CBIRF, which is headquartered in Indian Head, Md., is located 27 miles outside the nation’s capitol.
When directed, CBIRF assists local, state, or federal agencies and Unified Combat Commanders in the conduct of consequence management operations by providing capabilities for agent detection and identification, casualty search, rescue, decontamination, and emergency medical care and stabilization of contaminated personnel.
This amphibious exercise simulated a CBIRF response to support the National Capitol Region First Responder Community.
“The capabilities of the Navy/Marine Corps team enable CBIRF to deploy its response forces into an urban environment utilizing water routes.Deploying this far inland to the urban terrain is a first for both CBIRF and Assault Craft Unit-4 (Naval unit),” said Maj. Frank E. Johnston, operations officer, CBIRF, 4th MEB (AT). “If our team can’t get to an emergency site by air or land, the LCAC can get us there by sea, or in this case, by river.”
The Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) is a high-speed, fully amphibious landing craft, capable of carrying a 60-75 ton payload. It is used to transport the weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel of the assault elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force from ship to shore and across the beach, according to the Navy fact file. LCAC’s can carry heavy payloads, such as an M-1 tank, at high speeds. The LCAC payload capability and speed combine to significantly increase the ability of a Marine Combat Ground Element to reach the shore. Air cushion technology allows this vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the world's coastline, while only about 15 percent of that coastline is accessible by conventional landing craft.
“There were many doubts by civilian authorities whether the LCAC could get underneath traffic bridges over the river, but this exercise has proved that we have plenty of clearance under city bridges,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew P. Seward, embark officer, CBIRF, 4th MEB (AT). “This mode of response transportation is fast and efficient and is definitely a quicker way of getting to an incident in the city; where there is usually a lot of traffic to negotiate.”
As the LCAC came ashore in the remote landing near Anacostia Park, CBIRF response teams in two to five emergency vehicles exited the craft, and quickly began it’s movement to a simulated incident site.
“Even through the stormy conditions as we had today, the exercise was a success,” said Johnston. “I’m more than confident that a real-life incident response will be just as successful.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200481794041/$file/LCACbridge_lowres.jpg
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism), negotiates their way under a city bridge in a Landing Craft Air Cusion during an incident response simulation here Aug. 11. Photo by: Cpl. Sharon E. Fox
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/484FDB71ED23076885256EF30048ABC2?opendocument
Ellie