11th Transportation Battalion (TML)

The 11th Transportation Battalion (Terminal), is responsible for conducting amphibious marine operations in fixed ports and logistics-over-the-shore (LOTS) environments. The 11th Battalion, stationed at Fort Story, is part of the 7th Transportation Group (Composite) at Fort Eustis.

The 11th Transportation Battalion, located at Fort Story, is responsible for the command and control of five companies and four detachments engaged in terminal operations, in both fixed-port and logistics-over-the-shore (LOTS) environments. The battalion actively participates in joint logistics-over-the-shore operations, supporting the services' capability to conduct sustained logistics over the shore. Simply put, the battalion brings supplies, as well as warfighting machinery, from shipside to the beach regardless of the existence of any permanent pier structuring. The battalion continually trains in order to enhance the Army's strategic mobility capability of closing five divisions in 75 days into any theater.

The 11th Battalion has no vessels under it's command, but does operate the 7th Group's only amphibians: the LARC-60's under 309th Transportation Detachment. The focus of the Battalion is more on port operations and cargo documentation as demonstrated by the mix of units under command: namely two Cargo Transfer Companies (the 119th and 368th), a Port Operating Crane Detachment (the 159th) and an Automated Cargo Documentation detachment (the 267th). It also commands a POL Pipeline Company and a ROWPU detachment.

The one LARC-60 Detachment in the 7th Group is commanded by the 11th Transportation Battalion, located at Ft. Story. The 309th Transportation Detachment (Heavy Amphibian) operates the active Army's only Lighter, Amphibious Resupply Cargo (LARC-LX) wheeled amphibian. The 368th Transportation Company and 119th Transportation Company are capable of handling both containers and breakbulk cargo in marine terminal service. The units are capable of discharging/backloading containers, and breakbulk simultaneously in a LOTS environment. Additionally, the units are capable of sorting discharged cargo by destination and loading the cargo from marshaling yards onto ground transportation. The LARC is a 1950's design using clearly antiquated technology however it is the Group's only amphibian. With 4 of them in total, they are a scarce resource.

The Port Operations Crane Detachment [POCD] is a recent addition to the 7th Group. The manpower of the detachment has doubled from its previous role as a Heavy Crane Detachment in recognition of the expanding role of enabling troops at Points of Debarkation, with a substantial delta between the manning levels in the POCD and the number of pieces of equipment each detachment operates. The logic behind this is that the POCD is designed to "fall in" on existing equipment in the theater of operation and will be expected to operate the commercial cranes and MHE in the ports. It will normally operate alongside a CTC.

The three Automated Cargo Documentation [ACD] Detachments enable the 7th Group to perform cargo documentation functions throughout the reception, staging and onward movement process, feeding information which allows the maneuver commander to track his equipment as he builds combat power. The ACD's, operating the Worldwide Port System (WPS) and combining the use of RF Tags and hand-held scanners are responsible for recording the discharge and throughput of vehicles and supplies as they arrive in the theater of operations thereby providing asset visibility at the 'operational' level; a vital link in what should be a seamless, worldwide Total Asset Visibility capability.

The Port Control Office provides command, control, and communication for moving cargo between ship and the beach. The harbormaster monitors and controls ship status, movement and throughput.

The 19th Quartermaster Company (Petroleum Operating) is an over-the-shore petroleum company capable of laying 60 miles of multiproduct pipeline for inland transfer. The 82nd Quartermaster Company Detachment is the Army's only active duty reverse osmosis water purification unit (ROWPU). The detachment provides fresh water by using trailer-mounted ROWPUs to mobile units or units providing support. The 159th Transportation Detachment provides heavy crane support in both fixed-port and LOTS operations. The 276th Transportation Detachment (Automated Cargo Documentation) provides support for the movement and accounting of cargo transiting fixed ports and/or LOTS terminals.