Amphibious by nature...

[thedrifter]

Amphibious by nature...
Marines 'test the water' for amphibious landing
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification Number: 200357194026
Story by Lance Cpl. Shawn J. Vincent



NUMAZU BEACH, Japan -- Before every amphibious landing Marines execute, a hydrographic water survey is conducted to gain information on the landing, to include what type of terrain the Marines will be landing on.

In 1971, A Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, conducted a hydrographic water survey here. Untouched for 32 years, 18 Marines of A Company recently returned to conduct the survey again.

"The focal point of the survey was that we drew a picture of any obstacles on the bottom of the ocean, and anything which may hinder landing for oncoming raid forces," said Cpl. Graham H. Jacobs, team leader, A Company.

While a beach may sometimes have razor sharp rocks or very loose sand, it is crucial for leaders to know the terrain for oncoming vehicles and troops.

"We have to know what kind of vehicle can drive on the beach with the soil or rocks which it has. The vehicle has to be one which matches with the size of the raid force, without getting stuck in sand," Jacobs said.

"If, for example, a survey was not conducted on a beach which was all coral, the boats would break and Marines could get seriously injured," he said.

Along with gaining knowledge on the depth of the ocean and the soil, the entranceways to the beach are photographed, and calculations of the best times to land are made.

With every piece of equipment essential to the mission, gear included sonar guns (depth finders), swimmer slates to mark the depth and soil, sounding line, and the Marines' dry suits.

"We get all the Marines in a perpendicular line to the beach with their gear. With their sonar guns, they find out how deep the water is, then collect a sample of the soil to see if it is rock or sand," said 1st Lt. Nic R. Wisecarver, 3rd Platoon commander, A Company.

"If an obstacle is found at the bottom of the ocean with a drag line, we chart and mark the exact location of it for future landings," Wisecarver said.

According to Wisecarver, when the survey is complete, a chart of the beach is made with a depth of every lane the Marines were in.
Nothing new to A Company, Numazu beach was the Platoon's third hydrographic water survey.

"Before Numazu, we also surveyed Kin Blue in Okinawa, Gimbaru, Japan, and now here," Wisecarver said.



Sempers,

Roger

[arzach]

Too much BS, put the Grunts on AmTracs and hit the Beach!

[leroy8541]

The worst memory of my tenure in recon was a hydrographic survey in Big Sur California in 8' surf. We destroyed 2 boats, used a complete issue of field sutures, and a broken wrist. Before it was deemed a landing on this beach was improbable.