Storming the Beaches: US Navy’s ACU-1 Craft Get Engine Overhaul
during the Korean War
(click to view larger)
Pushed to the edge of the Korean peninsula by a massive and sustained invasion by the North Korean army, South Korean, US, and UN troops dug in at a perimeter around the city of Pusan. It was the summer of 1950 and things looked desperate for the allied forces.
Then, US General Douglas MacArthur launched a bold counteroffensive – an amphibious landing at the port of Inchon near the 38th parallel. The landing was successful; MacArthur retook South Korea’s capital city of Seoul. The South Korean and allied forces broke through at Pusan and the North Korean army beat a hasty retreat. The tide of the Korean war had turned.
Playing an important role in the Inchon invasion was the US Navy’s Assault Craft Unit One, formed in 1947 to operate, maintain, and provide assault craft for US amphibious landings in the Pacific theater. The ACU-1 continues to operate today from Naval Base Coronado in southern California. To fulfill its role as the only assault craft unit in the Pacific Fleet, ACU-1 needs to maintain its craft in top condition. To do this, the Navy recently awarded $30.5 million in contracts to maintain the engines on the ACU-1’s small boats and craft…
The US Navy’s Southwest Regional Maintenance Center in San Diego, CA awarded contracts to 2 San Diego, CA firms for the maintenance and overhaul of ACU-1’s craft.
Propulsion Controls Engineering (N55236-10-D-0008) and Valley Power Systems (N55236-10-D-0009) won a combined $19.5 million multiple award, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for the maintenance and Class “B” overhauls of Detroit brand diesel engines on ACU-1’s small boats and craft. Class “B” overhauls restore the engines to their original design and technical specifications.
The companies will perform the work in San Diego and expect to complete it by November 2014. This contract was competitively procured via the FedBizOpps website with 3 offers received.
In addition, Propulsion Controls Engineering (N55236-10-D-0007) won an $11 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for the maintenance and Class “B” overhauls on Cummins brand diesel engines on ACU-1’s small boats and craft. The company will perform the San Diego and expects to complete it by November 2014. The contract was competitively procured via the FedBizOpps website with 3 offers received.
