U.S. Navy Seabees During World War IISlide Number 2Slide Number 3Slide Number 4Slide Number 5Slide Number 6Slide Number 7Slide Number 8Slide Number 9Slide Number 10Slide Number 11Slide Number 12Slide Number 13Slide Number 14Slide Number 15Slide Number 16Slide Number 17THE NAVY’S UBIQUITOUS STEEL PONTOONS (Naval Lighterage)Origins of the Seabee’s Steel Pontoons The ubiquitous T-6 box Pontoon Slide Number 21Outboard Motors for pontoon bargesPontoon BargesPontoon Barges and LightersSlide Number 25Pontoon DrydocksPontoon Drydocks in theaterSlide Number 28Rhino FerriesPontoon TowsBoot CausewaysPontoon landing causewaysProject Sock -1943Slide Number 34Slide Number 3560-ton Mobile Crane hoisting pontoon causeways onto an LST Slide Number 37Pontoon strings were even employed as highway bridges Pontoon stockpilesSEABEES WERE RENOWN AS INNOVATORSFloating Filling StationSlide Number 42Clearing JunglesBridge RepairsA Cumshaw Pile DriverCumshaw Washing MachineScrounging a flagpole for the Marines at Iwo JimaROAD CONSTRUCTIONRoads Across Mangrove Swamps and RiversRoadway after draining and filling of the swampSlide Number 51Movie TheatresSlide Number 53TYPICAL AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION in World War IISlide Number 55Slide Number 56Slide Number 57Slide Number 58Runway Subgrade CompactionSlide Number 60Slide Number 61Slide Number 62Slide Number 63Slide Number 64Slide Number 65The World’s Largest AirdromeSlide Number 67Slide Number 68Slide Number 69Slide Number 70Slide Number 71Slide Number 72CONCLUSIONSlide Number 74References 1 of 2References 2 of 2U.S. Navy Seabees During World War IICan DoJ. David RogersADM Ben Moreell was Chief of the Navy’s Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineering Corps. He was promoted in 1937, skipping the rank of CaptainBSCE degree from Washington University in St Louis in 1913 and commissioned as a LTJG in the Navy CE Corps in 1917, during World War I. He served in the Azores with Navy Under-secretary Franklin RooseveltHe attended École Nationaledes Ponts et Chaussées in France in 1932-33, as a LCDRAdmiral Ben Moreell (1892-1978) was Chief of the Navy’s Bureau of Yards & Docks and of the Civil Engineering Corps BuDocks developed war plans in the 1930s which envisioned a massive build-up of Navy construction battalions Moreell requested activation of these war plans in Dec 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor.  The first battalion was formed in Jan 1942, and initial Seabee deployments began in March 1942  258,000 officers and men served in the Seabees during World War II 80% of these forces served in the Pacific TheaterMoreell was promoted to VADM in 1944 and was the first staff corps officer and the first Jewish American to attain 4-star rank in the Navy in June 1946.Navy Recruits “Cream of the Heavy Construction Industry”Personnel had prior experience with projects like:Boulder DamNational HighwaysNew York SkyscrapersMines, Quarries, and Subway TunnelsShip Yards, Docks, Wharfs, even Aircraft CarriersExperience Comes with age (average age 37)Battalions Designed to be:“Completely equipped and self-sustaining able to construct airfields, roads, bridges, and buildings at an advance base and to install operate and maintain its public utilities.”350 Seabee units were formed during the Second World War, many from existing heavy construction firms across the USAThey were provided with military training and discipline, including basic use of weapons, shown here.Military TrainingFirst projects were construction of patrol base facilities in Iceland and construction of graving docks at Pearl Harbor, critical to the war effort The first Naval construction battalion, the Bobcats, were deployed on 5 Mar 1942 and the NCB was officially named “Seabees”Their motto was “Construimus, Butuimus”Birth of the Seabeesearly 1942The romanticimage of Seabees appealed to construction workers, who were eager to contribute to the war effort in a worthwhile way -overseas• Moreell posed the idea for Seabee construction battalions to be drawn from the ranks of civilian heavy construction firms in his initial proposal, in late 1941. Construction trade and labor unions were dubious of the concept. Seabees were the highest paid group in the military and fought in every theatre of WWII• Crucial in Pacific island hopping during World War IIRoles in the Atlantic in WWIIPanama CanalPuerto Rico- “Pearl Harbor of the Caribbean”North AfricaLandings at SicilyD-Day: Demo unitsPontoon CausewaysHarbor RestorationSeabee UnitCompositionsDuring World War II 350,000 men served in the SeabeesThere were 151 Naval Construction Battalions (NCBs) and 39 special battalions; each comprised of seasoned workers.The average age of a Seabee was 37 years164 Special Detachments- Anything from tire repair shops to QuarryingMost units were capable of constructing pontoon causeways, roads, bases, airfields and wharf facilitiesThe Navy also formed 136 Seabee Maintenance BattalionsRepairing Marston Mats (PSP) at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal39 Special (stevedore) Battalions5 Pontoon Assembly DetachmentsEach Seabee unit had its own surveyorsSeabees also built their own floating dry docks –THE NAVY’S UBIQUITOUS STEEL PONTOONS(Naval Lighterage)Origins of the Seabee’s Steel PontoonsCaptain Laycock invites Admiral Moreell to lean on a cigar-box model of a string of pontoons. • A better way to bridge the gap from ship to shore was needed, known as Naval Lighterage, or simply “N.L.”• Idea came from a report written in 1935, followed by observations of segmented steel pontoons supporting the gold dredge Yuba, built by Bethlehem Steel in California in 1937, for shipping to a remote site. • Captain John Laycock began experimenting with cigar boxes and kite sticks in 1940-41.At left: In September 1941, the first segmented steel pontoons were delivered to the Navy at davisville, along with the requisite “attachment jewelry,” (shown at right) used to connect the units.Wedge, bolt, and nut attachment employed between pontoon corners and angle stiffenersThe ubiquitousT-6 box Pontoon Tapered Type 7 pontoons were attached to the ends of pontoon barges, intended to navigate through open water.The T-6 displaced 175 cubic feet Could float in 1.5 ft of waterEach pontoon could support about 5.5 tons through buoyancyThe standard Type 6 pontoon boxes were 5 ft x 7 ft x 5 ft. These were shipped flat, then assembled in-theater.Link pin being driven into top