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ACU 1 Crew Members Return Home

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060223-11
Release Date: 2/23/2006 3:00:00 PM

By Journalist 1st Class Frank E. Neely Jr., Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- Five Utility Landing Craft (LCU) vehicles and 65 crew members of Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 1 returned to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado from a seven-month deployment Feb. 20.

The LCU crews departed July 15 in support of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1. They participated in security missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and provided disaster relief following the devastating Pakistani earthquake. ACU 1 also provided the LCUs for Exercise Bright Star, a multinational amphibious landing exercise.

“They just did a great job,” said Cmdr. Kenneth Ritter, ACU 1 commanding officer. “I’m glad to have them back. These are 35- and 40-year-old craft, they’re old. They take a lot of blood, sweat and tears, plus great dedicated Sailors to operate.”

Ritter said a significant aspect of the deployment was that three of the LCU craft masters were first class petty officers, a position usually held by a chief petty officer. Lt. Cmdr. Katie Laundon, an LCU team officer in charge (OIC), said the change in leadership structure due to manning issues allowed hard-charging first class petty officers to show their leadership capabilities.

Chief Warrant Officer Eddie G. Brandes, OIC during the deployment, praised the first class petty officer leadership.

“All of the units successfully completed every task they were assigned,” said Brandes. “I was extremely pleased with the way everything went.”

LCUs are one of the prime transport vehicles in amphibious operations, as they serve to transport equipment and troops to the shore. LCUs are capable of carrying 143 tons of equipment or 350 personnel.

The LCU composition adds to the combat-proven amphibious readiness group and Marine expeditionary unit capabilities, with increased defense, strike and power projection capabilities and an additional range of unique combined capabilities. This potential gives the combatant commander a wide variety of options and enables sustained independent operations in dynamic environments.