In the well deck of amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18), members from Assault Craft Unit 5 (ACU 5) are hard at work.

Their landing craft air cushion (LCAC), loaded with gear and Marine vehicles from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is preparing to head for a beach in the Republic of Korea.

ACU 5 is a key player in the execution of Exercise Ssang Yong 16, as LCACs are a primary ship-to-shore connector for transporting Marines, Sailors, and gear in support of the exercise. Electronics Technician 1st Class Brian Christensen, who has been with ACU 5 for three years, spoke about the importance of units like ACU 5.

"We act as the ship-to-shore connection for Marines that need to get to the beach," said Christensen. "We can also assist with disaster relief, humanitarian missions, and personnel evacuation missions."

Senior Chief Gas Turbine System Technician Jason Karber, who has been with ACU 5 for 15 years, discussed how ACU 5 accomplishes this.

"We can carry up to 60 tons of gear," said Karber. "That includes up to 12 Humvees, one M1A1 Abrams tank, or any combination of other equipment, stores, Marines, and gear."

The LCAC is loaded with gear and vehicles by a signalman who directs trucks, weapons, light armored vehicles (LAVs) onto the craft. ACU 5 is in charge of the load distribution and securing of all the vehicles they take onto their LCAC.

Gas Turbine System Technician (Electrical) 3rd Class Kirsten John assists with the loading and chaining of cargo.

"We have to make sure the load is evenly distributed," said John. "The cushion needs to sit evenly in the water, so leveling the load is our primary job before launching."

After all vehicles are secured on deck, the ACU crew conducts a foreign object debris walk down to check for loose material on the deck that could be thrown during startup.

"The propellers put out hurricane-force winds," said John. "We do the FOD walk down to make sure nothing is loose to get blown around and damage the LCAC or hurt anyone," she said.

The crew then heads for the cabins. Inside the main cabin, Karber sits ready to maneuver the craft out of the well.

After a communications check with well deck control, the crew inside the LCAC starts the engines and two large propellers on the back of the craft - the primary method of propulsion of an LCAC - begin to spin.

"Green well!" is heard through the headset communications system in the LCAC's cabin, and the large skirt - a large inflatable bag that is used to hold the air under the craft allowing it to hover - begins to inflate. From there, the four fans under the LCAC take over.

The craft backs out of the well, and spins toward the beach. Karber controls the LCAC with his hands and feet. He alone controls the propellers, bow thrusters, and rudders.

"I love driving the LCAC," he said. "It's very involved, but it's my favorite part of our evolutions."

The approach to the beach comes with a constant stream of communications from the craft to the team signaling the LCAC onto the beach. A cloud of flying sand accompanies the LCAC onto the beach, and then bags are deflated.

The ramps are lowered, and once again the crew sets to work. This time, they are unchaining the vehicles and signaling them off. According to Christensen, the offload is a team effort on all parts to ensure safety concerns are met while still executing expeditious release of vehicles onto the beach.

"We only move one vehicle at a time," said Christensen. "We have one ground guide and one safety observer at all times; safety is one of our main concerns during beach unloads."

Once the deck of the LCAC is cleared, the crew raises the ramp, completes another FOD walk down, retreats to the cabins, and begins the return trip to the ship to pick up another load.

These back and forth transport missions can happen multiple times a day, and enable upwards of 200 Marines and their gear to be transported quickly from sea to shore in support of the exercise.

"We are able to land on 88 percent of the beaches around the world, and with a top speed of 50 plus knots and our 60-ton load capability, we greatly improve the speed at which we can get ground troops to the beaches," said Karber.

The crew of ACU 5 returns to the ship at the end of the day tired, sandy, and hungry. But when they return, they return with a sense of pride, knowing the exercise was a success because of their hard work and diligence.

Ssang Yong is a biennial combined exercise conducted by forward deployed U.S. Forces with the Republic of Korea Navy and Marine Corps, Australian Army and Royal New Zealand Army Forces in order to strengthen our interoperability and working relationships across a wide range of military operations, from disaster relief to complex expeditionary operations.

For more info on ACU 5, USS New Orleans and for more information on Commander, Amphibious Squadron 1, please visit: http://www.navy.mil/local/phibron1 facebook.com/BigEasy18 .

For more news from COMPHIBRON ONE , visit http://www.navy.mil/.