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NMCB-74 Seabees Build Ammo Supply Point Critical to Afghanistan

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091012-08
Release Date: 10/12/2009 6:52:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Lindsey, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 Public Affairs

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 began construction of an Ammo Supply Point (ASP) in Helmand Province, Afghanistan Aug. 18.

The project began July 21 with NMCB 5 and was turned over to NMCB 74. NMCB 74 has built five additional ammo cells since turnover.

The ASP is situated on a large piece of land that contains several "U" shaped cells or bunkers where small and heavy ammunitions can be stored temporarily and safely. Although currently functional, there is much more land to be leveled and cells to be constructed before the battalion completes the project.

The ammo cells are fortified using HESCO units, commonly referred to as Hescos. According to the manufacturer's website, a Hesco is a prefabricated multi-cellular defense system made of galvanized steel weld mesh and lined with non-woven polypropylene geo-textile.

In simple terms, a Hesco is a series of large galvanized steel weld mesh baskets, which are lined with a canvas like material. Each Hesco comes flat packed for transportation and must be assembled using joining pins. Once constructed, the Hesco is filled with available material such as dirt and rocks making them an effective barrier.

"The process of constructing an ammo cell is very tedious and requires good teamwork," said Equipment Operator 1st Class Lance Miller, project supervisor.
"The rough and final pads that the Hescos are placed on must be of the correct slope and height, and packed to 3,000 pounds per square inch to function correctly."

With crews working 12 hours-a-day and six days-a-week, each ammo cell takes about three weeks to build from the ground up.

"The first step in building an ammo cell is getting the area around the cell as level as possible," said Miller. "We cut and fill the area with dirt and then create a rough pad, which is a raised platform with a slight slope for drainage."

To avoid the high temperatures, the crews work at night using portable light plants and vehicle headlights for illumination, but as of Sept. 14, the crew switched to daylight hours. Temperature is not the only challenge in the desert conditions, sand is an obstacle as well.

"It is very challenging to keep the equipment running with all the dust," said Miller. "The air filters must be cleaned twice a day, and the equipment has many parts that require grease for lubrication."

There is still much work to be done and many long, hot days for the Seabees on the project, but the effort is well worth it. The ASP is built to last with little maintenance and is already playing a key role in Operation Enduring Freedom.