Can someone tell me what is the difference between an ACB unit and MCB unit?

messer1-
You probably mean ACB and NMCB, for Amphibious Construction Battalion and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion.

As the name implies, the Phibs are charged with supporting amphibious landing operations, so they have the equipment and training to build portable docks and piers, build facilities onshore for storing fuel, supplies, and ammunition, transporting fuel from ships to onshore dumps, and the like.

The NMCBs are the non-amphibious, shore based battalions which are pretty much the backbone of the Seabees community. They perform all phases of horizontal and vertical construction and carry most, if not every single one, of the Seabee ratings.

There is considerable overlap in the ratings carried by ACBs and NMCBs, as each will have EOs, SWs, UTs, CEs, CMs, BUs, and probably EAs. I'm not entirely certain about that, but if you consider that the Phibs have to build their own facilities ashore in order to support the landing forces and transfer of vehicles, fuel, etc, then the noted ratings would seem to have to be included in the ACBs.

A lot of info on the ACBs and NMCBs can be found on the official Naval Construction Force website at www.seabee.navy.mil. For its own part, ACB 1 has a well-done website with a great video clip, concluding with the tagline "We Put the Sea in Seabee".

HH

Thanks for the reply. It cleared up a lot. If anyone can add more, be my guest.

HH

Actually, MCB and NMCB are the same. It is all Naval _______ Construction Battalion. Sometimes we drop the N because we don't want the Navy to know who we are.

Otherwise...GOOD explanation, bro.

ACB's usually land with...or before the Marines. There are 2 Battalions, one Homeported at Port Hueneme, CA (ACB 1), affectionately called AC Bone, and the other at Little Creek, VA (ACB 2).

MCB's do build their own bases (called Camps because, like the Marines, they are not considered permanent) and usually arrive after the main landing as support for the 'combat troops' to build roads, piers, base camps, storage facilities, etc. for the Army, Marines or anyone who needs something built or blown up. Sometimes we are on our own and provide our own security and support, sometimes the Marines or Army or... help out.

ACB's usually do more along the shore, clearing the beach, providing landing areas, deepwater piers and with the Marines secure the beach area. Then pack up and move to the next beach.

Ofcourse, I'm talking the Vietnam Theatre, it may have changed in the past 40 years.

No matter where you end up...YOUR GONNA ENJOY IT. GOOD LUCK!!!!

Well here is another spin on MCB, the poster could be refering to Maintenance Construction Battalion...

Bob, correct me if I screw up, back when you were an active Bee the Battalions were called MOBs? correct?

HH= Awesome explanation as usual...

Your right HH, the 'Bees were and are often called MOB's because they stuck close with each other and when the trouble started there was always a 'MOB' to fight.

Our CO called a 'special muster' because we were always fighting at the EM Club. We were "The GREAT 58" and would yell 58 whenever trouble started. Another Battalion "The Fighting 40" was also around then and were our greatest rival. The CO said we shouldn't yell 58 because everyone is starting to call us "The FIGHTING 58". Gee Capt'n we were only having some FUN!!!

Oh, almost forgot. There are also, CBU's (Construction Battalion Unit's) these are small (13 man) detachments that go into Villes and train the locals to be Honorary Seabee's ...to survey, drive, build, do plumbing and electrical, etc., also provide Medical and other assistance.

CBU are much larger now and are normally reserved for building and maintaining Navy fleet hospital units...I think you are refering to our CAT "civic action teams" which go into very impovereished areas and show the locals how to do certain things, including turning unfriendlies into friendlies...

I hated it when they started calling Seabee's "Civic Action Teams". Suddenly we went from "combat hardened veterans" to 'Babysitters'.

These CAT guys were in some of the most remote areas in vietnam & cambodia with some of the toughest man units ever put together (Green Berets, Force Recon) to name a few. They saw there share of war, beleieve me. I have a very good friend and mentor who were part of those teams in the early days of vietnam.

CAT guys weren't baby sitters they were some of the best trained construction/combat men ever to proudly be called a SEABEE...These guys formed some alleginaces that helped our SF men and combat troops beyond our wildest imaginations...

I don't mean to tread on your memories, I'm stating truths that were told to me by fellow CB's from the first annual SEABEE reunion in VA this past Feb and from other very close sources.

I respect the hell out of you Bob and enjoy your memories almost as much as you do...Can Do!

Sorry for the misunderstanding, I wasn't saying CAT guys were 'babysitters'. I meant today the 'Bees (all 'Bees) seem to be doing less and less with construction and more with Civic Action. Bad choice of words.

And I don't want to dis today's Seabee's, either. I have and always will have the GREATEST RESPECT for our brothers and sisters of the entire Military. Anyone who is willing to volunteer to go to Iraq and/or Afghanistan has more ba!!s than I do.

I do want to say, as a Military Training Instructor (with the only working M16), I went after a CAT team, took out the rear guard, circled around front and took out the point before I was killed. Losing 6 of your 13 man team on the trek into your field position is not good, but that's what training's all about. You guys go out in the field (the REAL field) you be careful. There's guys like me waiting for ya...with real bullets. And they're a lot younger, too, they can still run.