341:, each with 7.5-ton pulling capacity, provided the muscle needed for the A-frame, the three complete sets of beach gear carried on board (60-ton pull on each leg), and the flexible power needed on independent operations. Two jetting pumps provided dewatering, underwater digging, and auxiliary fire fighting capabilities. Cutting/welding and messing/berthing facilities were also aboard. Two AC generators also provided electrical power to the salvage site and shore power to distressed ships/bases as required. Manned by an Officer in Charge and 16 enlisted men, they often operated independently and were a vital asset to a major salvage job.
280:
worked in groups of three to five men on small jobs. They carried what gear they could to the job, utilizing a wide variety of transportation facilities: helicopters, cargo aircraft, small boats, ships, trucks, jeeps, and on foot. Upon arrival, they made a detailed survey to develop the salvage plan: methods to be used plus required materials and equipment. Work commenced with a minimum of three divers and whatever indigenous labor and/or materiel was available. Whenever major salvage operations were required, the teams supplied all manpower.
315:
salvage craft in the world at that time. Manned by an
Officer in Charge and twenty-five men, they provided command headquarters, berthing and messing facilities for embarked personnel. The first use of the YHLCs on salvage operations was near Dong Tam, RVN, on the sunken dredger SANDPUMPER, which sank after it dredged aboard a piece of unexploded ordnance that later exploded.
306:
to wrecks. It contained the
Headquarters Group, including a Naval Engineering Duty Officer (Naval Architect and Salvage Engineer), diving Medical Officer, Supply Officer, and Admin Officer, plus appropriate personnel. According to the Naval Vessel Register (NVR), the former YRST-1 (redesignated "YR 94 FLOATING WORKSHOP") still remains in service:
511:
358:
Two Yard Diving Boats, 64-foot highly-maneuverable craft, were a vital part of every salvage operation. Mainly used as a diving platform, they were able to go where others could not. It was manned by a crew of from four to six enlisted men (not necessarily divers) YDBs rotated between Subic Bay and
305:
The main unit support and headquarters barge: a towed Repair
Salvage Tender --- which housed the Officer in Charge, Assistant Officer in Charge and crew of 34, including divers. Equipped with repair shops and a working platform for the fabrication of salvage patches, it also provided electrical power
169:
Most salvage jobs consisted of segmented operations requiring the independent operation of teams and craft deployed in-country. Major jobs were less frequent and required the mobilization of many craft, personnel, and materials. Large or small, salvage and clearance operations were the unit business:
314:
Commissioned in 1943 by Nazi
Germany and contracted 14 years later by the United Nations to clear the Suez Canal of sunken vessels, ENERGIE and AUSDAUER added 4,800 tons of combined lift strength to HCU-1. YHLC-l CRILLEY (formerly ENERGIE) and YHLC-2 CRANDALL (formerly AUSDAUER) were the two largest
283:
Teams were very mobile and task-oriented. Part of a team might work deep within the Delta clearing the jungle rivers of obstructions with explosives, while others might work aboard a YLLC to reclaim a sunken PBR. Faced with responsibilities only specialized, independent duty could provide, each team
275:
Beginning as a small cadre of personnel, HCU 1 quickly grew in size to over 260 personnel, as combat operations in littoral environment intensified. At its peak, the unit consisted of five Harbor
Clearance teams of 20 to 22 personnel each and a varied armada of specialized vessels within the Vietnam
113:
Harbor
Clearance Unit One, or HCU-One, was established at Subic Bay on 1 February 1966 with a hand-picked cadre of five officers and sixty-five enlisted men. The unit was under the operational and administrative control of Commander Service Group Three; Vietnam detachments were under the operational
349:
Four converted
Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM 6) were designed/equipped for riverine salvage work in support of the Mobile Riverine Force. A much smaller version of the YLLC, each CSB was manned by a handpicked, all enlisted crew of six to eight men, four of whom were divers. Able to perform salvage
73:
in the southernmost tip of the country. They rescued from the murky waters of the Mekong and its tributaries practically every type of vessel utilized in
Vietnam. Salvage also meant the recovery of, the repair of, and/or the demolition of aircraft and bridges; trucks, tanks, and tractors; forklifts
258:
in
January, 1982. Manpower level was greatly reduced and the command was transferred as a unit under the control of Service Squadron Five at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The unit also gained six reserve detachments consisting of over 250 personnel. MDSU-1 dive teams were back in-country twenty-plus years
279:
Each salvage team was designed to supply experienced and qualified marine salvors anywhere they were needed: divers and non-diving technicians, artisans, and support personnel. Approximately 18 in number, teams were led by an
Officer in Charge and an assistant, both diving Officers. Teams often
263:
allowed the US Government to research and recover remains of US service members killed in action at coastal aircraft wreck sites. In October 1995, a scuba survey team deployed to Vietnam to gather evidence. Their efforts resulted in the positive identification of one site and the elimination of
48:
The unit's role encompassed the entire spectrum of marine salvage. From South Korea to Guam, to Japan and the Philippines, HCU-1 detachments aided military forces of the US, South Vietnam, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. They covered every corner of South Vietnam: from the harbors of
323:
Four YMLC's with tidal/ballast lift capability of 750 tons each, on lease from Great Britain, were indispensable in effecting major salvage tasks. Manned by Harbor Clearance Teams, they provided headquarters and berthing facilities for the deployed teams and craft at Vung Tau Harbor.
287:
The teams gained extensive experience in marine salvage, deck seamanship, heavy rigging, operation and maintenance of salvage gear and equipment, and riverine warfare. All ratings were required --- from Seaman Apprentice to Chief Petty Officer, for
154:
and its $ 500,000+ cargo was salvaged. The world's largest salvage patch to date, costing over $ 50,000, was designed/applied by the HCU-l personnel. The patch was manufactured by the Ship Repair Facility, Subic Bay Naval Shipyard, Philippines.
246:
from Subic Bay on 7 July 1971, bound for Pearl Harbor. YRST-1 moored at Alpha Docks on 30 July 1971 and was then moved to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for modification on 6 October 1971. Modifications included the installation of a
332:
Capable of lifting 25 tons with an A-frame derrick mounted forward and capable of a 100-ton ballast bow lift: an exceptional salvage platform with air compressors for diving operations and salvage tools. A Clyde salvage
26:
unit, was commissioned in February 1966 with the mission "....to provide salvage repair; diving and rescue services in rivers and restricted waters and to conduct harbor and river clearance operations in the Western
35:
teams in direct support of the Vietnam War. Whatever the actual intent was, the concept was proven so effective that the command was moved to continuous salvage service at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, near the end of the
624:
150:
ship channel." A large-scale operation ensued: the tender, the Subic staff, an all support personnel were called to the job site. The entire command, except for one Light Lift Craft, participated.
629:
239:
program. The unit was relocated to Bishop Point moorage at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (on Hickam Air Force Base) on 1 JUL 71. YRST-1 later followed the Headquarters Unit; it was towed by
350:
operations in lesser rivers and channels than the YLLC, the CSB was capable of entirely independent salvage operations—a mainstay of salvage support for Mobile Riverine Groups.
367:
Used for both deep water search and salvage to 600 feet, it could be airlifted anywhere in the world and was maintained in Subic Bay by Harbor Clearance Team TWO.
433:
267:
For its service during the Vietnam War the unit received the Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation and the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation.
619:
484:
166:. This job was the first of three dredge jobs, all similar in size and configuration, all sunk in Dong Tam and all less than a kilometer apart.
395:
284:
member was relied upon for his contribution. Within each salvage team, it was not a matter of Navy rate, it was a matter of personal skill.
115:
158:
The second major salvage operation in January/February 1967, was one of the world's largest dredges, the 170 feet (52 m)
458:
66:
163:
264:
several others. MDSU-1 conducted recovery operations at several sites off Nang An province in March and April, 1996.
129:, South Vietnam, was underway. It was a successful operation. Six months and numerous smaller operations later, the
614:
235:
HCU-1 trained numerous Vietnamese divers and turned over many US Navy salvage assets to Vietnam during the
493:
248:
133:
139:
338:
70:
23:
391:
95:
31:." Some contended that the intended mission was to provide rapidly deployable diving and
259:
later, farther north than any wartime operations and for a decidedly different purpose.
236:
32:
608:
579:
528:
515:
240:
130:
83:
54:
492:. U.S. Government Printing Office. 15 October 2011. pp. 1–6.2. Archived from
385:
557:
107:
37:
173:
Since its inception, HCU-1 conducted these salvage and clearance operations:
103:
121:
Twenty-four days after unit commissioning, salvage of the merchant vessel
58:
446:
one of the world's largest dredges . . . the 170-foot dredge Jamaica Bay
260:
201:
Fifty-one Swift, PBR, and Riverine boats salvaged or saved from sinking
126:
87:
28:
419:
147:
99:
91:
50:
387:
Mud, Muscle, And Miracles: Marine Salvage in the United States Navy
222:
Two mobile support bases utilizing ammi pontoons moored in position
334:
213:
Two tanks, four amphibious tractors and eight Army trucks salvaged
514:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
183:
Six large sunken ships obstructing channels demolished or removed
62:
625:
Military units and formations of the United States Navy
82:
The original harbor clearance units were formed during
589:(609). Bureau of Naval Personnel: 16–17. October 1967
57:; from the coastline to the upper highlands near the
251:
to support the Navy/Makai Range CY 71 Dive Project.
210:
Two sunken dredges, obstructing channels, demolished
86:and were active clearing the obstructed harbors of
486:US Navy Diving Manual Rev. 6 with Change A entered
630:Military units and formations established in 1966
538:(652). Bureau of Naval Personnel: 22–23. May 1971
390:. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 263.
465:. Pearl Harbor - Hickam News. February 18, 2012
558:"NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive"
254:Harbor Clearance Unit One (HCU-1) was renamed
219:Five concrete pontoon ferry landings refloated
216:Eight sunken mooring buoys raised and repaired
204:Twelve demolished bridges cleared from rivers
8:
195:Three tug boats demolished to clear channels
256:Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One (MDSU-1)
146:was the first American vessel sunk in the
74:and ferry landings; sampans and steamers.
580:"You Don't See Many Like the AHLC Twins"
420:"Remembering Vietnam's Forgotten Seamen"
198:Wreckage of twenty-two aircraft salvaged
189:Four barges demolished to clear channels
434:"Red Mines Sink U.S. Dredge in Vietnam"
376:
231:Six major fires fought and extinguished
418:Stephen Schwartz (October 20, 1997).
177:Eleven large stranded ships refloated
7:
363:Advanced Diving System IV (ADS IV)
14:
620:Organizations established in 1966
459:"MDSU-1 Celebrates 46th Birthday"
180:Four large sunken ships refloated
509:
116:Commander, Naval Forces Vietnam
1:
560:. navsource.org. 5 April 2013
384:Bartholomew, Charles (1990).
170:vital to the Vietnam effort.
310:Heavy Lift Craft (YHLC/AHLC)
301:Repair Salvage Tender (YRST)
207:Five sunken dredges salvaged
186:Twenty-nine barges refloated
53:to the rivers of the lower
646:
422:. San Francisco Chronicle.
345:Combat Salvage Boats (CSB)
20:Harbor Clearance Unit One
319:Medium Lift Craft (YMLC)
225:Two refuse trucks salved
328:Light Lift Craft (YLLC)
192:Six tug boats refloated
16:United States Navy unit
142:, South Vietnam. The
436:. Reading Eagle. UPI
249:Taylor Diving System
228:Two forklifts salved
138:was salvaged on the
499:on 10 December 2014
152:Baton Rouge Victory
144:Baton Rouge Victory
135:Baton Rouge Victory
463:Ho'okele Navigator
354:Diving Boats (YDB)
164:Đồng Tâm Base Camp
65:borders, from the
24:United States Navy
397:978-0-945274-60-5
96:Cherbourg, France
637:
599:
598:
596:
594:
584:
576:
570:
569:
567:
565:
554:
548:
547:
545:
543:
533:
529:"Diver Training"
525:
519:
513:
512:
508:
506:
504:
498:
491:
481:
475:
474:
472:
470:
455:
449:
448:
443:
441:
430:
424:
423:
415:
409:
408:
406:
404:
381:
292:and non-divers.
290:qualified divers
645:
644:
640:
639:
638:
636:
635:
634:
605:
604:
603:
602:
592:
590:
582:
578:
577:
573:
563:
561:
556:
555:
551:
541:
539:
531:
527:
526:
522:
510:
502:
500:
496:
489:
483:
482:
478:
468:
466:
457:
456:
452:
439:
437:
432:
431:
427:
417:
416:
412:
402:
400:
398:
383:
382:
378:
373:
365:
356:
347:
330:
321:
312:
303:
298:
273:
80:
46:
17:
12:
11:
5:
643:
641:
633:
632:
627:
622:
617:
615:Marine salvage
607:
606:
601:
600:
571:
549:
520:
476:
450:
425:
410:
396:
375:
374:
372:
369:
364:
361:
355:
352:
346:
343:
329:
326:
320:
317:
311:
308:
302:
299:
297:
294:
272:
269:
237:Vietnamization
233:
232:
229:
226:
223:
220:
217:
214:
211:
208:
205:
202:
199:
196:
193:
190:
187:
184:
181:
178:
140:Long Tau River
79:
76:
45:
42:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
642:
631:
628:
626:
623:
621:
618:
616:
613:
612:
610:
588:
581:
575:
572:
559:
553:
550:
537:
530:
524:
521:
517:
516:public domain
495:
488:
487:
480:
477:
464:
460:
454:
451:
447:
435:
429:
426:
421:
414:
411:
399:
393:
389:
388:
380:
377:
370:
368:
362:
360:
353:
351:
344:
342:
340:
336:
327:
325:
318:
316:
309:
307:
300:
295:
293:
291:
285:
281:
277:
276:combat zone.
270:
268:
265:
262:
257:
252:
250:
245:
244:
238:
230:
227:
224:
221:
218:
215:
212:
209:
206:
203:
200:
197:
194:
191:
188:
185:
182:
179:
176:
175:
174:
171:
167:
165:
161:
156:
153:
149:
145:
141:
137:
136:
132:
128:
124:
119:
117:
111:
109:
105:
101:
97:
93:
89:
85:
77:
75:
72:
68:
64:
60:
56:
52:
43:
41:
39:
34:
30:
25:
21:
593:13 September
591:. Retrieved
586:
574:
562:. Retrieved
552:
542:13 September
540:. Retrieved
535:
523:
501:. Retrieved
494:the original
485:
479:
469:12 September
467:. Retrieved
462:
453:
445:
440:17 September
438:. Retrieved
428:
413:
401:. Retrieved
386:
379:
366:
357:
348:
331:
322:
313:
304:
289:
286:
282:
278:
274:
266:
255:
253:
242:
234:
172:
168:
159:
157:
151:
143:
134:
131:Victory ship
122:
120:
112:
84:World War II
81:
55:Mekong Delta
47:
19:
18:
503:9 September
403:9 September
160:Jamaica Bay
114:control of
108:Philippines
90:, Tunisia;
38:Vietnam War
609:Categories
564:11 October
371:References
587:All Hands
536:All Hands
359:Vietnam.
241:USS
123:Sea Raven
104:Subic Bay
94:, Italy;
71:Sea Float
59:Cambodian
296:Hardware
271:Manpower
243:Chowanoc
339:capstan
261:Vietnam
127:Chu Lai
88:Bizerte
78:History
63:Laotian
33:salvage
29:Pacific
394:
337:and a
148:Saigon
100:Manila
98:; and
92:Naples
51:Saigon
583:(PDF)
532:(PDF)
497:(PDF)
490:(PDF)
335:winch
162:, at
125:near
44:Scope
595:2014
566:2022
544:2014
505:2014
471:2014
442:2014
405:2014
392:ISBN
102:and
61:and
22:, a
69:to
67:DMZ
611::
585:.
534:.
461:.
444:.
118:.
110:.
106:,
40:.
597:.
568:.
546:.
518:.
507:.
473:.
407:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.