ReConstructed History of Beach Jumper Unit One 1952-1959
1952-1954:
Initial organization and development was based on the WW
Il BJU Operations. WW II techniques dictated the
“operating mode” utilizing UDT training and high speed
boat operations, using converted AVR’s in lieu of PT’s.
Initial outfitting allowances of electronic equipment
were established in Radar, Communications and Electronic
Countermeasure equipment’s from “available” equipment
inventories, which in most cases proved to be obsolete,
too large for rapid mobile operations, or for adequate
boat (AVR) installations.
Operations were conducted with/against both afloat
operating forces and on amphibious landing exercises
with the Marine Aggressor forces.
TD was practiced afloat utilizing RR type reflectors,
large J4 type balloons and
RCM/CCM. CCM was used ashore during all
amphibious landing exercises
with BJU teams working in conjunction with the BJB’s
afloat. [6- 63” AVRs and 1-104”
AVR]
During this period BJU-1 was under the ADMIN of
COMPHIBTRAPAC, with a limited budget for BJU, BJU-1 was
considered a “holding” area for PHIBTRAPAC football team
and the AVRs a good source for weekend fishing trips.
OPCON was delegated to various “FLEET COMMANDERS” as
necessary for the “current operation”. An unsuccessful
attempt was made in 1953 to place BJU-1 directly under
COMPHIBPAC for both ADMIN and OPCON.
1954-1956:
However with BJU-1 becoming more active, in fleet
exercises, efforts were renewed to change ADMIN control
of BJU-1 and in 1954, with CINCPAC approval based on
recommendations by COMPHIBPAC and COMFIRSTFLT, BJU-1 was
placed directly under the ADMIN of COMPHIBPAC with a
more substantial budget.. Later in 1954 OPCON was passed
to COMFIRSTFLT.
Under this new leadership the unit began to develop
improved amphibious and fleet warfare methods.
In January 1955 the first of a series of Joint CNO, BUSHIPS, PHIBPAC, PHIBLANT and BJU conferences were set up
and attended by the C.O. BJU-1 (LCDR Sears) and
COMPHIBPAC Staff (CWO Clark). Allowance problems were
discussed, requirements made known and CNO established a
revised policy concerning the function of the BJU’s.
In September 1955 BJU-1 made an evaluation of airborne
ECM equipment and began replacing ECM equipment on the
BJB’s with airborne types.
Later in 1955 BJU-1 was authorized direct liaison with
COMFIRSTFLT for the purpose of developing Fleet ECM
exercises concurrent with STRIKEX operations.
In 1956 BJU-1 began providing technical assistance to
the Fleet Staffs in the development of OpOrders for
these exercises and in June 1956 BJU-1 placed a team
aboard USS Bremerton (CL-130) for the first operation
from a non-amphibious type ship.
[Note:
LCDR Hazelwood was the communications officer on
Bremerton at this time and subsequently requested
duty as CO BJU-1)
1956 with the “upswing” of BJU operations disaster
almost struck BJU-1 when the CO of BJU-2, because of
a shortage of personnel, recommended that BJU-1 be
disestablished and combined with BJU-2. This
recommendation was forwarded “approved” by
COMPHIBLANT via COMPHIBPAC, COM1stFLT, and CINCPACFLT. However through some “infighting” and a
series of presentations to various staff groups by
CWO Clark and LCDR Sears, PHIBPAC, 1stFLT and CINCPAC said NO and this fortunately did not come
about.
In September 1956 the first break through in
establishing “up-to-date” allowances for the BJU’s
came in a Joint BJU/OPNAV/BUSHIPS conference,
(attended by LCDR Sears and CWO Clark), when CAPT
Nixdorff [OPNAV desk for BJU’s] directed BUSHIPS to
provide the BJU’s with the allowances they requested
and he would approve of them. He pointed out that
although the basic allowances were similar, that
“BUSHIPS should not hold up allowance approval and
fulfillment of either BJU because of an agreement to
quantity and type could not be reached by either
unit. It was pointed out that there was a PACFLT and
LANTFLT and that the operational requirements of
each BJU differed because of geographical location
and many other factors. Each BJU had their own
unique requirements.
It was the result of this conference that the
concept of the “mobile package” was conceived and
developed and BUSHIPS provided BJU-1 with the first
three basic units (3 Army shop van hulls) to be
outfitted with “modern” electronic equipment
provided by BUSHIPS.
The design and installation in these vans was
entirely by BJU-1 personnel. The design was such
that a quick ECM change over from amphibious to
fleet operations could be accomplished in a few
hours.
These vans were initially employed as “amphibious
type” ECM vehicles during October-December 1956 and
proved to be highly successful.
1957-1959:
In 1957 with OPCON under COMFIRSTFLT for all
operations in EASTPAC and
COM7thFLT for all BJU-1 Teams operating in WESTPAC
BJU-1 participation in
FLTEX’s increased.
In June 1957 the first Fleet exercise employment of
the “Mobile Package” was successfully carried out
with two vans being deployed aboard USS Curtiss AV4
in a FIRSTFLT STRIKEX. Subsequent FLTEX’s were
engaged in with VAN teams deployed in USS Uhlmann
DD627 (Dec 1957), USS Stoddard DD-566 (Jan 1958),
USS Ingersol DD652 (May 1958) and USS Pledge MSO-492
(July 1958). All operations were conducted with
excellent results and steady employment of the
“Mobile Package” was assured by COMFIRSTFLT.
In July 1957 the CNO called the BJU’s and Surface
and Airborne commands engaged in TD training to a
conference in WASHDC. [Attended by LCDR Hazelwood
and CWO
Clark]. At this conference the CNO expressed his
desire that every effort be made to
increase the operational capability of the BJU’s.
Subsequent to this conference the roll of the BJU teams
in WESTPAC 7th FLT exercises (Other than amphibious)
began to increase and at the request of COMSEVENTHFLT
BJU-1 detachments were rotated to WESTPAC for each major
operation.
In 1958 during the Taiwan Straights incident, COM7THFLT
requested and CINCPAC authorized the “operational
deployment” of a BJU detachment. This team was placed
under the control of COM7THFLT and subsequently assigned
to COMTAIWAN PATFORCE for OPCON and CHMAAGTAIWAN for
ADMIN. [See
report on this special operation]
In October 1958 BJU-1 deployed two teams to Camp Roberts
in the first joint Army/navy operations involving ECM
AND TD.
In June 1959 BJU-1 deployed the first “package ULQ” to
WESTPAC for use by COM7TH FLT.
This is the point where I retired from active duty while
Beach Jumper Unit One went on to bigger and better
operations. Any or all I would have enjoyed
participating in.
I am proud of my accomplishments with Beach Jumper Unit
One. I believed in it’s concepts and believed that it’s
possibilities were unlimited.
In my 24 year Navy career I have two commands that will
always stand out in my memory as being “the best”.
The first command, my third ship, the USS Talbot DD1 1
4/APD7 where I served 6 years before and during WW II as
RM3c, RM2c, RM1c, RMC and WO-1.
The second command, and my last as EMO/EWO/Special OPS
Beach Jumper Unit One.
Curtis G. Clark
CWO3, USN Retired
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