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Beachmaster Unit Prepares Australian Beach for Exercise Talisman Saber

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090719-08
Release Date: 7/19/2009 10:56:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jose Lopez, Jr., USS Essex Public Affairs

QUEENSLAND, Australia (NNS) -- Members of Beachmaster Unit (BMU), Detachment Western Pacific landed bulldozers and heavy equipment on the beach in Queensland, Australia, to prepare for the amphibious landing phase of exercise Talisman Saber 2009 (TS09).

BMU, Detachment Western Pacific arrived at Freshwater Bay beach a few days prior to an amphibious assault exericse to determine the best landing time and location for the exercise.

"We mark the beach so they know exactly where to land," said Boatswain's Mate Chief (SW) Joseph Romero from Beach Master Unit (BMU) Detachment Western Pacific, Sasebo, Japan. "Here it's a bit challenging with the waves. We're not in a protected harbor so we have to measure everything. But it should be an easy task."

For landing craft utility (LCU), waves can't measure more than 6 feet, and the current can't exceed four knots. For a landing craft air cushion (LCAC), the beach must have at least 50 yards from the shore.

"We open and set up the beach for landings," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Petty Officer (SW) Mark Clariza of BMU. "We measure the tides. If the water is too high, we tell the ship that the landing has to take place somewhere else or at a different time."

"Depending on the beach, there is always something to clear," said Seaman Reginald Young, a BMU bulldozer operator. "I assist in clearing trees on the beach; sometimes I salvage vehicles that get stuck returning to the landing craft."

The BMU team's work allows for LCU and LCAC units to transit from ship to shore, bringing U.S. and Australian troops to the battlefield.

"It's spectacular to see a beach landing," said Romero. "It's like watching a scene from a World War II movie."

TS09 is a biennial combined training activity designed to train Australian and U.S. forces to plan and conduct combined task force operations, which will help improve combat readiness and interoperability between the two nations.