Maritime Expeditionary Boat Division 56

Boat Division 56 Command Senior Chief  with the Royal Marines Commando's

Patrol Briefing --- Long Patrols --- Long Days and Long Nights   The Sailors do it all!!!

On Patrol in the Persian Gulf

Just like Swift Boats and PBR's in the past the men on patrol have search and board vessels. Here the SeaArk of Boat Division 56 is doing perimeter overwatch for a boarding team with air support (Their SEAWOLVES)

The boats also provide security for rigs in the gulf

Boat Division 56 members are patrolling Foreign  Waters ever vigilant and protecting our national interests.

A PO1 from MEBD 56 maneuvering his Sea Ark in joint ops with the USS San Antonio and her LCACs

The Boat Crews need their Coffee

 

Boat Haulout

Sand Storm

If all of you Gunners mates out there take a good look at the MA Duce you can see all the fun they must have in BD 56 cleaning up all the Sand.

LCAC heading for shore

LCAC's taking the U.S. Marines ashore in a way that a Sea Ark can not!

I can tell that a Chief has trained these men WELL. They are armed and obscuring a US Coast Guard sign. GOOD WORK

Maybe someone will tell me what the red papers are?

AND the ANSWER IS:

The group picture had "red" x-mas cards from some kids in the mid-west, the one I am holding said "what kind of guns do you use"? So we all brandished our weapons for the "Deputy Commodore'''s picture he wanted to answer the one card senders question, should be a real thrill for that young man

All of their member are training and reaching new heights!!

Two of there number have just Qualified for their Small Craft pins!!!

The unit is called to Formation to honor two men who earned their Small Craft pins and became new "tactical craft coxswains"

"Boat Pins" are cut from a mentor to give some "salt" to the new Coxswain's

"Baptised" with coastal sea water from the combat Zone

"Boat Pins" on 2 new BOATDET 562 Coxswain's.

 

Words from the Front  

Our Small Boat Sailors are holding up.  Everyone is doing very well, and showing the usual Esprit De Corps and positive attitude.  We are settling in now, and they are working on new qualifications.  

Just know your Sailors are "in the mix" and loving every minute of it.  You would be very proud to see them in action

 A picture of the USS Ford escorted by the PBR, framed and in our overseas office. 

Take care brother.  Please give our warmest regards to the rest of the GreyBeards.

In ranks, awaiting our plane ride "forward"

Unloading their gear at our new "hooches"

Nice weather --- no snow

It's a small Navy!- Old shipmates meet in the Odd Places the Navy sends its sailors

 

Boat Division 56 pre-deployment group picture  

MEBD 56 is training for deployment in San Diego and is made up of two detachments 562 and 932 from Portland.

We at the Northwest Chapter are honored to be associated with them. They are the Future of Riverine Forces

and today's Heroes

I was honored to have a chance to visit the men and women of Boat Division 56 while they were training at San Diego

It bought back memories of my training in the same location 42 years earlier with Swift Boats

I was given a guided tour of all their facilities

The crews of the patrol boats received a very thorough briefing before getting underway. The only surprise I got was the final  question --- when they were asked if they wanted to get underway.

That was what they were here for!!!

Our Two Boat patrol returning to the dock. They made it a short patrol so that I could get back in time to attend a Chiefs retirement. During the patrol they demonstrated high speed maneuvering and their boat skills. Their boat handling can only be described as OUTSTANDING. I was impressed by every man and women of the Boat Division. I would be willing to put my life in their hands and deploy with them.

The crews go on extended  day time and day training patrols while here in San Diego.

No training is complete without instruction on the old reliable MA Duce 50 Caliber Machine gun. a favorite of us old PBR sailors.

 Training with the 240 machine gun. The replacement for our M60 7.62 machine gun is the 240.

 

Training can't be all boats and guns. The sailors must be issued their gear. One of the most important items is their Body Amor. It is heavy as hell, stops bullets and it also floats.   Love the new technology!!

 

It is important to recognize sailors when they advance

Frocking sailors of River Division 56

PS1 Skaggs

MA3 Emminger

MA2 Scruggs

EA3 Rodgers