Editing Seabee (section)

== World War II Seabees outside the NCF ==
[[File:53rd NCB.jpg|thumb|53rd Construction Battalion sign]]
[[File:19th NCB.jpg|thumb|upright|19th CB Plaque produced while designated 3rd Battalion 17th Marines]]
[[File:Seabee Logo Figure.jpg|upright|thumb|CB insignia worn on USMC issue garrison cap.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=885203|title=Photo of a vet wearing CB insignia on USMC issue, U.S. Militaria Forum webpage|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref><ref name="USMC-CB"/>]]
[[File:Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.svg|upright|thumb|[[Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia]] for Seabees and Corpsmen.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/uniforms/uniformregulations/chapter5/Pages/5301.aspx |chapter=Chap. 5: Identification Badges/Awards/Insignia: #5319: Miscellaneous Devices |title=USN Uniform Regulations |publisher=NAVPERS |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref>]]
During World War II Seabees were tasked outside the NCF in the USMC, NCDUs, and UDTs.

===Marine Corps===
USMC historian Gordon L. Rottman wrote "that one of the biggest contributions the Navy made to the Marine Corps during WWII was the creation of the Seabees".<ref>{{cite book |title=USMC WWII Order of Battle: Ground & Air units in the Pacific War, 1939–1945 |first=Gordon L. |last=Rottman |location=Westport, CT |publisher=Greenwood Press |year=2002 |page=31}}</ref> In exchange, the Corps would be influential upon the CB organization and its history. After the experience of [[Battle of Guadalcanal|Guadalcanal]] the [[United States Department of War|Department of War]] decided that the Marines and Seabees would make all subsequent landings together.<ref name="WHNW">{{Cite web|url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/2020/01/04/the-u-s-navys-seabees-bulldozing-a-road-to-victory/|title=The U.S. Navy's Seabees: Bulldozing a Road to Victory|date=January 4, 2020|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> That arrangement led to numerous Seabee claims that they had landed first, even leaving signs on the beach asking the Marines "What took you so long?"<ref name="WHNW"/> The Seabees in the UDTs made an effort of this<ref name="WHNW"/> of which their mates in the CBs approved.

When the first three CBs were formed the Seabees did not have a base of their own. Upon leaving [[Recruit training|boot]] the recruits were sent to [[National Youth Administration]] camps in Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia to receive military training from the Marine Corps.<ref name="Bases.Ch6"/>{{rp|138}} The Marine Corps listed CBs on their [[Table of organization]]: "D-Series Division" for 1942,<ref>Rottman (2002), Fig. 4.2.</ref> "E-Series Division" for 1943,<ref>Rottman (2002), Fig. 4.3.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2KHCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT55|title=US Marine Corps Pacific Theater of Operations 1943–44|first=Gordon L.|last=Rottman|date=February 20, 2013|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=9781472801579 |accessdate=May 11, 2022|via=Google Books}}</ref> and "Amphibious Corps" for 1944–45.<ref>Rottman (2002) Fig. 4.2.1</ref>

When CBs were created the Marine Corps wanted one for each of the three Marine Divisions, but were told no because of war priorities. Even so, early Seabee units were connected with Marine Corps ops. The 1st Naval Construction Detachment (Bobcats)<ref name="Bases Op30 p 415"/> together with and A Co CB 3 was transferred to the Marines and redesignated 3rd Battalion [[22nd Marines]].<ref name="history.navy.mil">{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Online%20Reading%20Room/Seabee%20FAQs/SeaBees%20and%20the%20US%20Marine%20Corps%20II.pdf |title=The Beginning of Seabees and the US Marine Corps: We Remember |website=Seabee Museum Archives |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> The Bobcats had deployed without receiving advanced military training. The 22nd Marines took care of that.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Building_Bases/bases-24.html|title=HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 24]|website=www.ibiblio.org|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> The 4th Construction Detachment was attached to the 5th Marine Defense Battalion for two years.<ref name="Seabee Unit Histories"/>

By autumn, the 18th, 19th and 25th CBs<ref>{{cite web |url=http://carol_fus.tripod.com/navy_hero_25th_ncb.html |first=John J. |last=Ratomski |title=The 25th NCB |website=WWII Stories in Their Own Words |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> had been transferred to the Corps as combat engineers.<ref name=Rottman>Rottman (2002), pp. 218–220.</ref> Each was attached to a composite engineer regiment,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eCwVDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA13|title=Battle Orders: USMC Pacific Theater of Operations 1943–44 |first=Gordon L. |last=Rottman |publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=2004 |page=13 |isbn=9781472802217 }}</ref> redesignated as 3rd Battalion:<ref name=Rottman /> [[17th Marine Regiment]], [[18th Marine Regiment]], [[19th Marine Regiment]], and [[20th Marine Regiment]]. The 18th and 19th CBs each claim to have been the first CBs authorized to wear standard USMC issue.<ref name="USMC-CB">{{Cite web|url=http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=1196923|title=Photo of: Marine with early Seabee insignia WWII, U.S. Militaria Forum|accessdate=May 11, 2022|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403215843/http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=1196923|url-status=dead}}</ref> Both received their military training and USMC [[duffle bag]] at MTC [[Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune|New River, NC]]. There is no record of how many CBs received USMC issue. It is known that the 31st, 43rd,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seabee-rvn.com/They-Served-Before-Us-WWII/World-War-II-1/i-47gtcBp/A |title=43rd Seabees Wearing USMC Uniforms – Maui, Hawaii |website=seabee-rvn.com |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> 76th,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.angelfire.com/md2/patches/uniform/ww2unifcb.html |title=Navy Seabees in Marine Corps Service Uniform |website=Uniforms of WWII |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> 121st and 133rd CBs received partial or complete issues.<ref name="121stNCB">{{cite web |url=http://carol_fus.tripod.com/navy_hero_121st_ncb.html |first=John J. |last=Ratomski |title=121st NCB |website=WWII Stories in Their Own Words |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> On 15 January 1944 the 142nd CB was commissioned at New River,Camp Lejeune. On 2 February that Battalion arrived at Camp Pendelton for further training, mounting out 19 April.

After Guadalcanal amphibious operations became joint USMC/Seabee pairings. The 6th CB joined the [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]] after combat had started on Guadalcanal. The 18th CB was sent to join them from [[Fleet Marine Force]] depot Norfolk.<ref name="seabees93.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.seabees93.net/GI%20Naval%20Construction%20Battalions.htm|title=Seabee Battalion List|website=seabees93.net| access-date=18 October 2007}}</ref> Many more would follow. The 6th Special CB was tasked to the 4th Marines Depot in the [[Russell Islands|Russells]].<ref name="Seabee Unit Histories"/> November saw the 14th CB tasked to the 2nd Raider Bn on Guadalcanal. In June, the 24th CB had been tasked to the 9th Marine Defense Bn on [[Rendova]].<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.npshistory.com/publications/wapa/npswapa/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003121-00/sec2.htm/parkhistory/online_books/npswapa/extcontent/usmc/pcn-190-003121-00/sec2.htm |first=Charles D. |last=Melson |series=Marines in World War II Commemorative Series |title=Up The Slot: Marines in the Central Solomons |chapter=The Munda Drive and the Fighting 9th |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |date=2013 |access-date=18 October 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The 33rd and 73rd CBs had dets tasked to the 1st Pioneers as shore party on [[Peleliu]]<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=http://www.thomas5.com/tribute/Vets10.html |title=Peleliu Shore Party |first=John J.|last=Ratomski |website=Tribute to Michael A. Lazaro and all other Peleliu Veterans |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> as was the 17th Special CB [[colored]]. At Enogi Inlet on [[Munda, Solomon Islands|Munda]], a 47th det was shore party to the 1st and 4th [[Marine Raiders]].<ref name="history.navy.mil"/> The 3rd Marine Div. made the Commander of the 71st CB shore party commander on Bougainville. His 71st had support from the 25th, 53rd, and 75th CBs.<ref name="71USNCB">{{cite book |title=71st U.S. NCB |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AVZ2Wq35HQwC&pg=PT103|publisher=Seabee Museum |page=14}}</ref> At [[Cape Torokina]] the 75th had 100 men volunteer to make the assault of the 3rd Marines.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://ww2f.com/threads/seabees.4526/ |title=Seabees! |website=WWII Forums |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> Also at Bougainville, the 53rd provided shore parties to the 2nd Raiders on green beach and the 3rd Raiders on [[Cape Torokina|Puruata Island]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/forumnew/index.php|title=Forums|website=www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> The 121st was formed at the CB Training Center of MTC Camp Lejuene as 3rd Bn 20th Marines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.witnesstowar.org/detail_photos/20 |title=WWII Seabees photos |website=Witness to War |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> They would be shore party to the 23rd Marines on Roi-Namur, Saipan, and Tinian.

When the Marine Engineer Regiments were inactivated in 1944, CBs were then tasked to Marine Divisions. For [[Iwo Jima]], the 31st and 133rd were attached to the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions. The 133rd was shore party to the [[23rd Marines]].<ref name="4thMarDiv">{{cite web |url=http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p4013coll8/id/1191 |title=4th Marine Div. Ops Report, Iwo Jima, 19 Feb. to 16 Mar., 1945 |website=Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library |access-date=18 October 2017}} PDFs 6 and 7, Appendix 1 Annex Dog (Shore Party Log D-Day–D+18)</ref> while the 31st CB was in the 5th Shore Party Regiment. The 31st demolitionsmen attached directly to the Division.<ref>Annex Uncle, 5th Marine Div. Operations Report, April 1945, NARA, College Park, Md.</ref><ref name="5th">{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/fifthmarinedivis00chap|title=The Fifth Marine Division in World War II|first=John C.|last=Chapin|date=May 11, 1945|publisher=[Washington?] : Historical Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps|accessdate=May 11, 2022|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> The 8th Marine Field Depot was the shore party command eschelon for Iwo Jima. They requested 26 heavy equipment operators and received volunteers from CB 8.<ref>[https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/wwiicruisebooks/ncb-cruisebooks/8TH%20NCB%201943-1943.pdf 8th NCB cruise book, 1946, Seabee Museum Archive, Port Hueneme, CA. p. 83/142 ]</ref> Okinawa saw the 58th, 71st, 130th, and 145th CBs detached from the Navy and tasked to the Marine Corps 6th, 2nd, and 1st Marine Divisions respectively.<ref>[https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/UnitListPages/NCB/058%20NCB.pdf 58th CB History file, Seabee Museum Archives webpage, Prot Hueneme, CA., Jan 15, 2015 ]</ref>

From Iwo Jima the 5th Marine Div. returned to [[Camp Tarawa]] to have the 116th CB attached.<ref name="5th"/> When Japan fell the 116th CB was part of the occupation force. [[V-J day]] left thousands of Japanese troops in China and the III Marine Amphibious Corps was sent there to get them home. The 33rd NCR was assigned to III Marine Amphib. Corps for this mission.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cI7rEUDQ6lEC&pg=PA470|title=Building the Navy's Bases in WWII: History of the BuDocks and the CEC 1940–1946 |volume=II |publisher=U.S. GPO |location=Washington, DC |date=1947 |page=470 |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref>

CBs were also tasked individually to the three USMC Amphibious Corps. The 19th CB started out with the [[I Marine Amphibious Corps|I MAC]]<ref name="seabees93.net"/> prior to joining the 17th Marines. The 53rd CB was attached to I MAC as Naval Construction Battalion I M.A.C. When I MAC was redesignated [[III Amphibious Corps]] the battalion became an element of the [[1st Provisional Marine Brigade]].<ref>{{cite book |title=53rd Naval Construction Battalion: the Marine Seabee 1st M.A.C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nkm07Z0YhUsC&pg=PA49|publisher=U.S. Navy Seabee Museum |pages=14 & 106}}</ref> For Guam, III Amphibious Corps had the 2nd Special CB, 25th, and 53rd CBs. The CO 25 CB was shore party commander for the 3rd Marines on beaches Red 1 and Red 2. The 3rd Marines would award 25's shore party 17 bronze stars.<ref>[https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/wwiicruisebooks/ncb-cruisebooks/25%20NCB%201942-45.pdf 25th NCB cruisebook, p. 97]</ref> [[V Amphibious Corps]] (VAC) had the 23rd Special and 62nd CBs on Iwo Jima. On Tinian the 6th Construction Brigade was attached to V Amphibious Corps.<ref name="Picssr">{{cite web |url=http://picssr.com/photos/usnavyseabeemuseum/page52?nsid=60248384@N05 |title=USN Seabee Museum Archives |website=Picssr |access-date=18 October 2017 |archive-date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325065014/http://picssr.com/photos/usnavyseabeemuseum/page52?nsid=60248384@N05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Two sections of CBMU 515 saw combat with the 22nd Marines on Guam.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Building_Bases/bases-28.html|title=HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 28]|website=www.ibiblio.org|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref>
* When the decision was made to construct Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton in 1942, BuDocks issued the main contracts to civilian contractors. However, the base project was so large that some smaller contracts were awarded to the Seabees, one of which was a Quonsent Camp for USMC instruction of Naval Construction Battalions in area 25(Vado del Rio).<ref name="MCBCP"/> Seabees were also involved in the construction of Camp Del Mar in area 21 and erected a temporary construction camp close by while they were assigned.<ref name="MCBCP">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mciwest.marines.mil/Portals/62/Docs/Government%20Affairs/INSTALLATION%20HISTORIES%20-%20MCIW.pdf|title=1st Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Installations-West, Installation Histories, USMC Official website p.2, 4|accessdate=May 11, 2022|archive-date=29 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929010357/https://www.mciwest.marines.mil/Portals/62/Docs/Government%20Affairs/INSTALLATION%20HISTORIES%20-%20MCIW.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

When the war ended the Seabees had a unique interservice standing with the U.S. Marine Corps.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Can Do! |first=Charles |last=Kester |magazine=Leatherneck |date=January 1963 |page=30 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hbfvAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA30|access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> Seabee historian [[William Bradford Huie]] wrote "that the two have a camaraderie unknown else-wheres in the U.S. military".<ref>{{cite book |title=Third Marine Division's Two Score and Ten History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AZP9T9wr690C&pg=PA162|author=Third Marine Div. Assoc. |date=1992 |publisher=Turner Pub. Comp.|page=162 |isbn = 9781563110894|access-date=18 October 2017 }}</ref> Even though they are "Navy" the Seabees adopted USMC fatigues with a Seabee insignia in place of the EGA. At least 10 CB units incorporated USMC insignia into theirs. Admiral Moreell wrote, tongue in cheek, that the Marines were the best fighting men in the Pacific, but one had to serve 90 days with the Seabees to qualify to as a "Junior Bee".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GWlrJTKd5lAC&dq=The+navy+civil+engineer%2C+September+1963&pg=RA11-PA28|title=Navy Civil Engineer|date=May 11, 1963|publisher=Naval Facilities Engineering Command|accessdate=May 11, 2022|via=Google Books}}</ref>

===Naval Combat Demolition Units===
[[File:Naval Combat Demolition Unit 45.jpg|thumb|"NCDU 45", Ensign Karnowski (CEC), ChCarp. Conrad C. Millis, MMCB2 Lester Meyers and three gunners mates. The unit received a Presidential Unit Citation with Ens. Karnowski earning the [[Navy Cross]] & French [[Croix de Guerre]] with Palm, while MM2 Meyers received a [[Silver Star]].<ref name="KarnowskiNCDU-45">{{cite web |url=http://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/06/06/opening-omaha-beach-ensign-karnowski-and-ncdu-45/ |first=Frank A. |last=Blazich |title=Opening Omaha Beach: Ensign Karnowski and NCDU-45 |date=6 June 2014 |website=Seabees Online |publisher=Navy Facilities Engineering Command |location=Washington Navy Yard, DC |access-date=18 October 2017 |archive-date=3 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903115317/http://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/06/06/opening-omaha-beach-ensign-karnowski-and-ncdu-45/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Two men were wounded and one killed.]]

In early May 1943, a two-phase "Naval Demolition Project" was ordered by the [[Chief of Naval Operations]] "to meet a present and urgent requirement" for the [[invasion of Sicily]]. Phase-1 began at Amphibious Training Base (ATB) [[Solomons, Maryland]] with the creation of Operational Naval Demolition Unit # 1. Six Officers led by Lt. Fred Wise CEC and eighteen enlisted reported from Camp Peary dynamiting and demolition school.<ref name="seabeemagazine.may14">{{cite web |url=http://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2017/05/12/this-week-in-seabee-history-week-of-may-14/ |first=Frank A. |last=Blazich |title=This Week in Seabee History (Week of May 14) |date=12 May 2017 |website=Seabees Online |publisher=Navy Facilities Engineering Command |access-date=18 October 2017 |archive-date=5 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805062249/http://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2017/05/12/this-week-in-seabee-history-week-of-may-14/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Seabees called them "Demolitioneers".<ref name="specwarnet.net">{{cite web |url=http://www.specwarnet.net/americas/NCDU.htm |title=Naval Combat Demolitions Units |website=SpecWarNet.net |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref>
[[Naval Combat Demolition Units]] (NCDUs) consisted of one junior CEC officer,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://navysealmuseum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/6B94AEB7-9A2E-4CED-8EA7-546476702240|title=1988.0022.23 - B&W photo of Navy officers &#124; UDT-SEAL Museum Association|website=navysealmuseum.pastperfectonline.com|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> five enlisted, and were numbered 1–216.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2018/06/03/this-week-in-seabee-history-june-3-june-9/|title=This Week in Seabee History: 3–9 June, Official Online Magazine of the U.S. Navy Seabees, Naval Facilities Engineering Command.|accessdate=May 11, 2022|archive-date=16 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016081358/http://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2018/06/03/this-week-in-seabee-history-june-3-june-9/|url-status=dead}}</ref> After that first group had been trained, Lt. Commander [[Draper Kauffman]] was selected to command the program. It had been set up in Camp Peary's "Area E"(explosives) at the dynamiting and demolition school. Between May and mid-July, the first six NCDU classes graduated at Camp Peary. While the program was at Camp Peary the men were given head-of-the-line privileges at the mess hall. The program was moved to [[Fort Pierce]] where the first class began mid-July.<ref name="specwarnet.net"/> Despite the move, Camp Peary remained Kauffman's primary recruit center. "He would go back to the dynamite school, assemble the (Seabees) in the auditorium and say, ''"I need volunteers for hazardous, prolonged and distant duty."''<ref name="dailypress.com"/> Fort Pierce had two CB units assigned, CBD 1011 and CBMU 570. They were tasked with the construction and maintenance of obstacles needed for demolition training.

The [[invasion of Normandy]] had 34 NCDUs. When the first ten arrived in England they had no CO. Lt. Smith (CEC) assumed the role, splitting them up to train with the 146th, 277th and 299th [[Combat Engineers]].<ref name="NCDU Report"/> As more NCDUs arrived they did the same, with 5 combat engineers attached to each NCDU.<ref name="ALLHands">{{Cite web|url=https://digital.evpl.org/digital/collection/p16848coll2/id/4511|title=evpl-lst325bk-147-0028|website=digital.evpl.org|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> Group III (Lt. Smith) did [[research and development]] and is credited with developing the Hagensen Pack.<ref name="NCDU Report"/> NCDUs had a 53% casualty rate at Normandy.<ref name="dailypress.com"/> Four from Utah beach later took part in [[Operation Dragoon]].

With Europe invaded, Admiral Turner requisitioned all available NCDUs from Fort Pierce for integration into the UDTs for the Pacific. That netted him 20 NCDUs that had received Presidential Unit Citations and another 11 that had gotten Navy Unit Commendations.<ref name="NHHC"/> Prior to Normandy 30 NCDUs<ref name="UDT Cold"/> had embarked to the Pacific and another three had gone to the [[United States Eighth Fleet|Mediterranean]]. NCDUs 1–10 were staged at Turner City on [[Florida Island]] in the beginning of 1944.<ref>WWII USN Special Warfare Units, Eugene Lipak, Osprey Publishing, New York, 2014, p. 25</ref> NCDU 1 was briefly in the [[Aleutians]] in 1943.<ref name="NCDU">{{Cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/Ah_online/ftrStory.asp?id=106553|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327195036/https://www.navy.mil/Ah_online/ftrStory.asp?id=106553|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 March 2019|title=Navy SEAL History Part One, A Glance at the Origins of Naval Special Warfare, Aug. 2018, MC2 Taylor Stinson, Defense Media Activity, All Hands Magazine, Defense Media Activity, U.S. DOD|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> The first NCDUs in combat were 4 and 5 with the 4th Marines on [[Green Island, Papua New Guinea]] and [[Emirau Island]].<ref name="NCDU"/> Later, NCDUs 1–10 were combined to form the short-lived UDT Able. NCDUs 2, 3, 19, 20, 21 and 24<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navysealmuseum.org/about-navy-seals/seal-history-the-naval-special-warfare-storyseal-history-the-naval-special-warfare-story/seal-history-origins-of-naval-special-warfare-wwii|title=SEAL History: Origins of Naval Special Warfare-WWII|website=National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> were assigned to MacArthur's 7th Amphibious Force and were the only NCDUs remaining at the war's end.

see Notes

===Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT)s===
[[File:Seabee Demolition UDT 3.jpg|thumb|Seabees in both UDT 3 and 4 made signs to greet the Marines assaulting Guam. Lt. Crist confiscated this sign.<ref name="Fane"/> However, Team 4 was able to leave theirs on the beach for the Marines to see that the Seabees had been there first.]]
[[File:Lt Luehrs CO UDT 3.jpg|thumb|Lt Luehrs was one of the 30 Officers from the 7th NCR that Lt. Crist staged for UDTs 1 & 2. He and Chief Acheson were the first UDT swimmers.]]
[[File:Charp W. H. Acheson CEC.jpg|thumb|Carp. W. H. Acheson Silver Star ceremony for UDT 1 action at Engibi where he stripped down to swim trunks and did reconnaissance in broad daylight on a hostile beach becoming a role model of UDTs being swimmers.]]
[[File:80-G-244701 Lt Crist, Lt Cmdr. Kauffman, and Lt Carberry awards.jpg|thumb|Lt. Crist(CEC), Lt. Cmdr. Kaufmann, and Lt. Carberry right to left at Silver and bronze stars awards]]

Prior to [[Operation Galvanic]] and Tarawa, V Amphibious Corps had identified [[coral]] as an issue for future [[amphibious operations]]. RADM [[Richmond K. Turner|Kelly Turner]], commander V Amphibious Corps had ordered a review to get a grip on the problem. VAC found that the only people having any applicable experience with the material were men in the Naval Construction Battalions. Lt. Thomas C. Crist, of CB 10, was in Pearl Harbor from [[Canton Island]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.viewoftherockies.com/UDT1andUDT2.html|title=UDT1and2|website=www.viewoftherockies.com|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>UDTs 1 & 2, The Marshall Islands, Kwajalein, Roi-Namur, Eniwetok, U. S. Naval Special Warfare Archives]</ref> where he had been in charge of clearing [[coral|coral heads]]. His being in Pearl Harbor was pivotal in [[Underwater Demolition Team|UDT]] history. While there he learned of the Adm. Turner's interest in coral blasting and met with him. The Admiral tasked Lt. Crist to develop a method for blasting coral under combat conditions and putting together a team to do it.<ref name="UDT Cold"/> Lt. Crist started by getting men from CB 10, but got the remainder from the 7th Construction Regiment.<ref name="CB301">{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/seabee/explore/wwii-cruisebooks/cruisebooks-ncb.html|title=Naval Construction Battalions|website=NHHC|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> By 1 December 1943 he had close to 30 officers and 150 enlisted at [[Waipio]] Amphibious Operating Base on Oahu.<ref name="UDT Cold"/>

In November the Navy had a hard lesson with coral and tides at [[invasion of Tarawa|Tarawa]]. It prompted Adm. Turner to request the creation of nine [[Underwater Demolition Teams]] to address those issues.<ref>[https://visitpearlharbor.org/the-underwater-demolition-teams-of-the-pacific/ The Underwater Demolition Teams of the Pacific, Pearl Harbor Visitors Bureau] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906165016/https://visitpearlharbor.org/the-underwater-demolition-teams-of-the-pacific/ |date=6 September 2019 }},</ref> Six teams for VAC in the Central Pacific while the other three would go to III Amphibious Corps in the South Pacific. UDTs 1 & 2 were formed from the 180 men Lt. Crist had staged. Seabees make up the majority of the men in teams 1–9, 13 and 15.<ref name="Rockies">{{cite web |url=http://www.viewoftherockies.com/UDTWWII.html |title=The Teams in World War II |website=View of the Rockies |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> How many Seabees were in UDTs 10 and 12 is not listed, for UDT 11 they composed 20% of the team.<ref name="Rockies"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.66145/transcript?ID=sr0001|title=Interview Transcript: Wright S. Travis: Veterans History Project (Library of Congress|website=memory.loc.gov|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref>
UDT officers were mainly CEC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2016/09/12/this-week-in-seabee-history-week-of-sept-11/ |first=Frank A. |last=Blazich |title=This Week in Seabee History (Week of September 11) |date=12 September 2016 |website=Seabees Online |publisher=NavFac Engineering Command |access-date=18 October 2017 |archive-date=13 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013172300/http://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2016/09/12/this-week-in-seabee-history-week-of-sept-11/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> UDT 10 had 5 officers and 24 enlisted originally trained as OSS [[Operational Swimmer Groups|Maritime Unit: Operational Swimmer Group II]],<ref name="UDT10">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/articles/oss-in-action-the-pacific-and-the-far-east.htm|title=OSS in Action The Pacific and the Far East (U.S. National Park Service)|website=www.nps.gov|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> but the OSS was not allowed to operate in the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater|Pacific Theater]]. Adm. Nimitz needed swimmers and approved their transfer from the OSS to his control. The MU men brought with the [[swimfins]] they had trained with and the Seabees made them a part of UDT attire as quickly as the [[Navy Supply Corps|Supply dept]]. could get them.<ref name="UDT10"/> In the Seabee dominated teams the next largest group of UDT volunteers came from the joint Army-Navy [[Scouts and Raiders]] school that was also in Fort Pierce. Additional volunteers came from the [[Explosive ordnance disposal (United States Navy)|Navy's Bomb disposal School]], Marine Corps and U.S. Fleet.<ref name="UDT Cold"/><ref name="Rockies"/>

The first team commanders were Cmdr. E.D. Brewster (CEC) UDT 1 and Lt. Crist (CEC) UDT 2. Both Teams were "provisional" totaling the 180 men Lt Crist had put together from the 7th NCR.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viewoftherockies.com/UDT1and2.html |title=WWII UDT One & WWII UDT Two |website=View of the Rockies |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="CB301"/> Those men were put through five weeks of training by a [[United States Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion|Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion]]. They wore fatigues, life-vests and were expected to stay in their rubber boats like the NCDUs. At Kwajalein Adm.Turner ordered daylight [[reconnaissance|recon]]. It was apparent to the Seabees that staying in the boats would not get the Admiral the [[military intelligence|intel]] he wanted. Cmdr. Brewester's men all wore swim trucks under their [[Combat uniform|fatigues]]. [[Ensign (rank)|Ensign]] Lewis F. Luehrs, and Charp. Bill Acheson spent 45 minutes in the water in broad daylight and were the first team members recovered.<ref name="UDT Cold"/> Still wet and in their trunks they reported directly to Adm. Turner. He concluded what they had done was the only way to get accurate intelligence on submerged obstacles and conveyed that opinion to [[Chester Nimitz|Adm. Nimitz]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Hoyt |first=Edwin P. |title=SEALs at War |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fDvNvnMrc1QC&q=seabee+dynamiting+and+demolition+school&pg=PT25 |year=2011 |publisher=Random House Publishing |page=25|isbn=9780307570062 |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> At [[Engebi]] Cmdr. Brewster was wounded.<ref name="UDT Cold"/> The success of UDT-1 not following USMC Recon protocol rewrote the UDT mission model and training regimen.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kelly |first=Orr |title=Brave Men, Dark Waters: The Untold Story of the Navy SEALs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3c-1AwAAQBAJ&q=Lewis+F+luehrs&pg=PT30 |date=24 June 2014 |publisher=Open Road Media |page=30 |isbn=9781497645639 |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> Ens. Luehrs and Charp. Acheson were each awarded a [[Silver Star]] for their initiative while unintentionally creating the UDT "naked warrior" image.<ref>The Water is Never Cold), James Douglas O'Dell, Brassey's, Dulles, VA, 2001, p. 136</ref> Diving masks were uncommon in 1944 and some men had tried using goggles at Kwajalein.<ref name="Fane1">Naked Warriors, Cdmr. Francis Douglas Fane USNR (Ret.), St. Martin's Press, New York, 1996, p. 828</ref> Diving masks were a rare item in Hawaii so Lt. Crist and CB Chief Howard Roeder had requested supply get them.<ref name="Fane1"/> A fortuitous observation by one of the men spotted a magazine [[advertisement]] for diving masks. A priority dispatch was made to the States that appropriated the store's entire stock.<ref name="Fane1"/> The UDTs adopted goggles independent of the OSS. When UDTs 1 and 2 returned to Hawaii Chief Acheson and three other UDT Officers were transferred to the 301st dredging CB.<ref name="CB301"/> The 301st had 12 dredges saving Teams from blasting channels, but needed divers to get the job done. Ensign Leuhrs made Lt. and was a member of UDT 3 until he was made XO of team 18. Commander Brewster's purple heart got him out of the UDTs and elevated to Commander 7th NCR instead of back to CB 10.

Adm. Turner also requested the formation of a Demolition Training Center at [[Kihei]]. It was approved. The actions of UDT 1 provided the training model, making UDT training distinctly different from Fort Pierce's NCDU program. Lt. Crist was briefly the first training officer and emphasized swimming and recon until he was made CO of UDT 3. When UDT 3 returned from Leyte in the fall of 1944 it became the school instructors with Lt. Crist again OIC of training.<ref name="Rockies"/> The classes now included: [[Night operations (military)|night ops]], weapons, [[bivouacking]], small [[Military tactics|unit tactics]], along with coral and [[lava]] blasting. In April 1945, team 3 was sent to Fort Priece to instruct there. Lt. Crist was promoted to Lt. Cmdr. and sent back to Kihei. Team 3 would train teams 12–22.<ref name="Rockies"/> UDT 14 is called the first "all fleet team" even though it had Seabees from Team Able and the CO and XO were both CEC. UDT 15 was the last team formed of NCDUs. Teams 12–15 were sent to Iwo Jima. Three cleared the shoreline for five days, D+2-D+7. After July 1944 new UDTs were only USN. In 1945, CBMU 570 was tasked to the UDT coldwater training center at ATB Oceanside, CA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/UnitListPages/CBMU/CBMU%20570.pdf|title=CBMU 570 Records, Seabee Museum Archives, Port Hueneme, CA|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref>

On Guam team 8 requested permission to build a base.<ref name="UDT8">{{Cite web|url=http://www.viewoftherockies.com/UDT8.html|title=UDT8|website=www.viewoftherockies.com|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> It was approved by AdComPhibsPac, but disapproved by Island Command.<ref name="UDT8"/> Team 8 turned to the CBs on the island and got everything needed.<ref name="UDT8"/> Coral paving got placed the night before Admiral Nimitz inspected, giving teams 8 & 10 a glowing review.<ref name="UDT8"/>

By V-J day 34 teams had been formed.
Teams 1–21 saw actual deployment with the Seabees providing over half of the men in those teams. The Navy did not publicize the existence of the UDTs until post-war and when they did they gave credit to Lt. Cmdr. Kauffman and the Seabees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/ah_online/archpdf/ah194510.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617175403/http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/archpdf/ah194510.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 June 2015|title=Underwater Demolition, "All Hands", The Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin, October 1945, NAVPERS-0 Number 343 pp. 12–15|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> During World War II the Navy did not have a rating for the UDTs nor did they have an insignia. Those men with the CB rating on their uniforms considered themselves Seabees that were doing underwater demolition. They did not call themselves "UDTs" or "[[Frogmen]]", but rather "Demolitioneers"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://navysealmuseum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/6A9D1E48-3FAE-48BC-94F3-951428987292|title=2018.0033.2 - B&W photo of NCDU216, Morrow's Demolitioneers in combat uniforms. These men became part of WWII UDT-15 &#124; UDT-SEAL Museum Association|website=navysealmuseum.pastperfectonline.com|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> reflecting where Lt. Cmdr. Kauffman had recruited them from, the CB dynamiting and demolition school.

UDTs had to be of standard recruiting age, Seabees older could not volunteer. Mid-year 1945, in preparation for the cooler waters around Japan, a cold water training center was created. With it came a more demanding [[physical examination|physical]]. Team 9 lost 70% of the team to this change.

Postwar, MCB 7 was tasked with projects at the UDT training facility on [[St. Thomas, Virgin Islands]]

see Notes