thedrifter
06-22-07, 07:24 AM
ACU-5 storms beaches - by air
Cpl. Nathaniel Sapp
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(June 21, 2007) -- They can move from dry land to the ocean with ease, but a group of Sailors here spend most of their days floating on air, literally.
When the Marine Corps needs to “storm the beach” and move troops and equipment from ships to land, they call on Sailors of Assault Craft Unit 5.
In the days of the World Wars, Marines only hoped for the best results as they crashed onto a hostile shore. Ships which looked like floating shoeboxes transported thousands of Marines onto beaches like Iwo Jima with almost no cover from hostile fire and could only carry about 36 Marines.
However, the modern Navy-Marine Corps team has a distinct advantage: technology.
Using their Landing Craft, Air Cushion, the Sailors of ACU-5 not only have hovercrafts twice as large and able to hold 15 times the carrying capacity of the old World War II vessels, but also a “boat” that continues to sail after hitting land.
“It really brings a versatile platform for long-range inserts,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Jamie McKee, an operations specialist with ACU-5. “It's what we're designed for. We're here to support the Marines.”
Although they're constantly traveling the world with Marine Expeditionary Units, ACU-5 also keeps a detachment deployed to Japan to ensure they're ready when needed, said Chief Petty Officer Scott Mermer, a craftmaster instructor.
While a $23 million hovercraft used for beach assault is unique in itself, what makes ACU-5 special aren't the crafts, but the Sailors using them.
Four classes are held annually for Sailors new to the unit, and the constant “reset” training for Sailors already there ensures the fleet of the hovercraft are always put to good use.
During the two-month class period, ACU-5 runs 16 missions, covering formation flying and beach landings, Mermer said.
“It's pretty challenging,” said McKee, originally from North Yorkshire, England. “Going fifty knots in a hovercraft across the open ocean means that everyone needs to know exactly what they're doing so nothing goes wrong.”
Sailors who come to ACU-5 are trained in specific jobs aboard the LCAC, said Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Hill, a navigator instructor with ACU-5. However, the Sailors' knowledge can't be limited to their job.
“We don't teach engineers how to be navigators,” said Hill, a 27-year-old from Victorville, “but we expect them to know the basics about what everyone else is doing.”
Making sure everyone is aware of the craft eliminates dangers, ensuring ACU-5 maintains its excellent safety record, said McKee.
Though the hours at their job may be long, Sailors from ACU-5 don’t get tired of their work.
“I've been doing this for six years, and I still love it every time we get underway,” McKee said. “There's no better job in the Navy than what we do every day.”
Ellie
Cpl. Nathaniel Sapp
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(June 21, 2007) -- They can move from dry land to the ocean with ease, but a group of Sailors here spend most of their days floating on air, literally.
When the Marine Corps needs to “storm the beach” and move troops and equipment from ships to land, they call on Sailors of Assault Craft Unit 5.
In the days of the World Wars, Marines only hoped for the best results as they crashed onto a hostile shore. Ships which looked like floating shoeboxes transported thousands of Marines onto beaches like Iwo Jima with almost no cover from hostile fire and could only carry about 36 Marines.
However, the modern Navy-Marine Corps team has a distinct advantage: technology.
Using their Landing Craft, Air Cushion, the Sailors of ACU-5 not only have hovercrafts twice as large and able to hold 15 times the carrying capacity of the old World War II vessels, but also a “boat” that continues to sail after hitting land.
“It really brings a versatile platform for long-range inserts,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Jamie McKee, an operations specialist with ACU-5. “It's what we're designed for. We're here to support the Marines.”
Although they're constantly traveling the world with Marine Expeditionary Units, ACU-5 also keeps a detachment deployed to Japan to ensure they're ready when needed, said Chief Petty Officer Scott Mermer, a craftmaster instructor.
While a $23 million hovercraft used for beach assault is unique in itself, what makes ACU-5 special aren't the crafts, but the Sailors using them.
Four classes are held annually for Sailors new to the unit, and the constant “reset” training for Sailors already there ensures the fleet of the hovercraft are always put to good use.
During the two-month class period, ACU-5 runs 16 missions, covering formation flying and beach landings, Mermer said.
“It's pretty challenging,” said McKee, originally from North Yorkshire, England. “Going fifty knots in a hovercraft across the open ocean means that everyone needs to know exactly what they're doing so nothing goes wrong.”
Sailors who come to ACU-5 are trained in specific jobs aboard the LCAC, said Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Hill, a navigator instructor with ACU-5. However, the Sailors' knowledge can't be limited to their job.
“We don't teach engineers how to be navigators,” said Hill, a 27-year-old from Victorville, “but we expect them to know the basics about what everyone else is doing.”
Making sure everyone is aware of the craft eliminates dangers, ensuring ACU-5 maintains its excellent safety record, said McKee.
Though the hours at their job may be long, Sailors from ACU-5 don’t get tired of their work.
“I've been doing this for six years, and I still love it every time we get underway,” McKee said. “There's no better job in the Navy than what we do every day.”
Ellie