| Assault Craft Unit 5 | |
|---|---|
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| Active | 1 October 1983 - Present |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Branch | U.S.Navy |
| Size | Over 400 personnel |
| Part of | Department of the Navy |
| Headquarters | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton |
| Nickname | Swift Intruders[1] |
| Motto | "No beach out of reach"[2] |
| Equipment | Landing Craft Air Cushion |
Assault Craft Unit 5 (ACU 5) is theUnited States Navy's Pacific operating unit for theLanding Craft Air Cushion (LCAC). Headquartered atMarine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, their mission is transporting, ship-to-shore and across the beach, personnel, weapons, equipment, and cargo of the assault elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. ACU-5 has over 400 sailors, organized in five departments. A part of theUnited States Pacific Fleet, ACU-5 administratively reports to Commander, Naval Beach Group 1, a part ofExpeditionary Strike Group 3.
The Operations department plans and executes the deployments of the unit's LCACs. Some of thesailors are deployed withamphibious readiness groups (ARG's).[3]
The ACU-5 Maintenance department has 5maintenance groups that are in charge of the repair and upkeep of LCACs.[3]
The Supply department is given an annualbudget of 18 million dollars, and is required to catalogwarehouses fulluniforms, machine parts, andequipment. Most of these warehouses have over 9,000 parts each.[3]
The Training Department provides basic and advanced LCAC operational training to all members of ACU-5. Much of ACU-5's LCAC training is conducted by Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Pacific (EWTGPAC).[3]
The Executive department is in charge of any administrative, technical, or medical paperwork involving ACU-5.[3]
LCAC orLanding Craft Air Cushion are air cushion vehicles, operated by the U.S. Navy and Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force.[4] The concept design for the modern day LCAC began in the early 1970s.[5] The purpose of the LCACs are to "carry heavy vehicles and cargo" onto beaches at high speeds and over longer distances. The LCACs are currently undergoing a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), which will be completed on all 72 craft by 2020.
DuringOperation Desert Storm in 1991, there were eleven LCACs stationed on thePersian Gulf; this was the LCAC's largestdeployment.[6] In 1992, ACU-5 deployed 3 LCACs toJapan and created a permanent military presence called detachment Westpac Alfa, which in 2012 became its own command, Naval Beach Unit 7, with 7 LCACS permanently stationed in Sasebo, Japan.[6] ACU-5 conducted landings inSomalia to help withOperation Restore Hope.[6]
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LCACs have also been used in support of civilian operations. Under an agreement between theLos Angeles County Fire Department and theNavy, ACU 5 uses their LCACs to transport fire-fighting equipment, vehicles, and personnel to Santa Catalina island, to help in combating wildfires.[3] LCACs also provided relief to areas in northern Indonesia affected by theDecember 2004 tsunami.[7]