CHAPTER I

LANDING OF CB's IN THE U. K., DATE, LOCATION AND WORK ACCOMPLISHMENT

	On 30 November 1942, the first section of the 29th Naval Construction 
Battalion arrived at U. S. Naval Base II, Rosneath, B\Dumbartonshire, 
Scotland; the second section arriving in December 1942.  This battalion, 
the first Seabee unit arrived in Europe, was assigned the task of completing
the construction of the Naval Bases in the United Kingdom, as follows:

November 1942:	U. S. Naval Base II, Rosneath, Dumbartionshire, Scotland.

	Completed projects which had previously been in progress under
	Contract NOY 4850, to include a marine railway, four work shops,
	20 Nissen huts, BOQ, eight 10,000 barrel fuel tanks, two pumping
	stations and fuel lines, laundry, renovation of buildings for hospital,
	administration buildings, utilities and roads.

January 1943:	U. S. Naval Operating Base I, Londonderry, No. Ireland.

	Completed projects which had previously been in progress under
	Contract NOY 4850, to include 300,000 barrel tank farm, three
	pumping stations and fuel lines, three boiler houses, roads and
	services to dock, 150 foot dock, 50 Quonset huts, one recreation
	building, anti-aircraft emplacements, fencing.

September 1943:	U. S. Naval Supply Depot, Exeter, Devonshire, England.

	Provide storage buildings, offices shops, open storage area, hut
	camp, mess hall and galley, recreation buildings, Red Cross building, 
	chapel, utilities, roads, walks and fencing.

October 1943:	U. S. Naval Advanced Amphibious Base, Plymouth, Devonshire, England.

	Construction of hut camp, galley and messing facilities, dispensary,
	recreation buildings, roads, walks and utilities.
	
	To supplement these Seabee forces, the 81st Naval Construction 
Battalion was ordered in two sections; the first arriving 26 August 1943 at 
Base II, Roseneath, and the second on 22 September 1943, relieving the 29th 
Constriction Battalion of maintenance and construction at Base II.

	The 13th Naval Construction Regiment was formed on 24 September 1943
to supervise the administration and to provide logistical support for Naval 
Construction Battalion forces in the U. K.  The first section of the 97th 
Construction Battalion arrived during September 1943 at Base I, Londonderry, 
No. Ireland, relieving the 29th Construction Battalion. The second section 
arrived during October 1943, relieving the 81st Battalion at Base II, Roseneath, 
Scotland.  The 97th Construction Battalion completed the construction of these 
two facilities, and in addition completed U. S. Naval Hospital at Netley, 
Hants, England.  The 81st Battalion was then made available for construction 
of naval facilities as follows:

October 1943:	U. S. Naval Advanced Base and Hospital, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, 
		Wales.

	Provided hut camp housing for 900 men, storage buildings, offices,
	shops, chapel, Post Office, galley, utilities, waterfront facilities and
	200-bed hospital.

		U. S. Naval Advanced Amphibious Maintenance Sub-Base, Penarth, 
		Glamorganshire, Wales.

	Provided quarters for 561 officers and men, hut camp for 120 men, 
	messing and galley facilities, shops, buildings, utilities, offices, Red
	Cross Club, waterfront facilities and a 50-bed hospital.

		U. S. Naval Advanced Training Sub-Base, Fowey, Cornwall, England.

	Provided 1000-man hut camp, 500-man hut camp, shops, laundry,
	mess halls and galleys, warehouses, utilities, roads, and 150-bed
	hospital.

November 1943:	U. S. Naval Advanced Amphibious Base, Falmouth, Cornwall, England.

	Provided two 750-man hut camps, mess halls and galleys, recreation
	building, renovated hospital, utilities, 1000-man tent camp, galleys
	and septic tanks.

		U. S. Naval Advanced Amphibious Training Sub-Base, St. Mawes, 
		Cornwall, England.

	Provided 264-man hut camp, recreation building, armory, shops,
	storehouses, gun mounts, renovated 12 hotels, water supply and
	utilities.

		Transmitter and Receiving Facilities, Bicester, Oxfordshire, England.

	Provided steel masts, antenna, underground and poll line transmission.

January 1944:	U. S. Naval Advanced Amphibious Base, Salcombe, Devonshire, England.

	Provided 120-man camp, galley and messing facilities, storage buildings,
	training building, shops, quay wall, hard for small boat repairs, mooring
	facilities for LCT's offices, garage, signal station, utilities, roads and walks.

		U. S. Naval Advanced Amphibious Base, Sandridge Park, Dartmouth, 
		Devonshire, England.

	Provided 800-man hut camp, galley and messing facilities, hospital, hangar
	storehouse, storage buildings, gasoline storage, signal tower, renovation of
	hotels for quarters, and utilities.

March 1944:	U. S. Naval Construction Battalion Personnel Center, Heathfield, 
		Devonshire, England.

	Tent camp, one N1-C Unit, warehouses, garage, armory, utilities, roads
	and walks.

		U. S. Naval Advanced Amphibious Base, Plymouth, Devonshire, England.

	Relieved the 29th Construction Battalion and completed the construction
	of sixty 20 x 48 huts, two storage huts, one hangar, messing and galley
	facilities.  Recreation buildings, ordnance shop, ammunition storage,
	compass shop and utilities.

April 1944:	U. S. Naval Dispensary, London, England.

	Accomplished renovation and conversion of St. Catherine's School into
	Naval Dispensary.

	The second section of the 10th Special USNCB arrived in the U. K. 
during September 1943, and was utilized for movement and storage of cargo 
and materials at U. S. Naval Supply Depot, Exeter, Devonshire, England.

	On 12 February 1944, the 111th Construction Battalion reported for 
duty in the U. K. and was assigned the following tasks:

February 1944:	U. S. Naval Advanced Base, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, England.

	Construction of ways, Rhino Ferries and Rhino Tugs.

February 1944:	U. S. Naval Advanced Amphibious Bases, Plymouth, Dartmouth and 
		Falmouth, England.

	Pontoon and Rhino Ferry construction program and training.

		U. S. Naval Base II, Rosenath, Dumbartonshire, Scotland.

	Camp maintenance and completion of camp construction until relieved
	by the 97th Construction Battalion.

March 1944:	U. S. Naval Advanced Amphibious Base, Plymouth, Devonshire, England.

	Training of 24 crews for Warping Tugs at Cattedown Quarry, Plymouth.

	The 1006th U.S.N.C.B. Detachment, formerly operating in the 
Mediterranean area on causeways, etc., arrived in the U. K. during December 
1943 and was assigned duty with the 25th Regiment.  Their special assignment 
was training for and operation of the causeways for the invasion beaches.

	The 146th Construction Battalion, a specialized P.O.L. unit, was formed outside the continental limits of the United States during February 1944. 
Their special task was planning and assembling P.O.L. material and equipment 
for requirements of captured ports in France.  In addition, the 146th 
Construction Battalion completed the following assignments:

April 1944:	Efford Camp, U. S. Naval Advanced Amphibious Base, Plymouth, 
		Devonshire, England.

	Provided two N1-C units, to include huts, galleys and messing facilities,
	recreation building, dispensary, transportation, utilities, roads and walks.

	The 25th U. S. Naval Construction Regiment was established on 1 April 
1944 for the purpose of training, organizing and planning for invasion 
operations, and established headquarters at Plymouth, England (Figure 1).  
Regimental subordinate units were the 81st, 108th, 111th, 146th U. S. Naval 
Construction Battalions, the 1006th USNCB Detachment; and subsequently the 
28th, 114th, 69th Battalions and the 30th Special USNCB.

	On 27 April 1944, the second section of the 97th Construction 
Battalion was detached and commissioned the 108th Naval Construction 
Battalion; moving to Selsey, Sussex, England. This battalion was assigned 
to providing crews and outfitting artificial harbor elements to be used
in the invasion.

	The 28th Construction Battalion arrived in the U. K. on 27 April 
1944 and was assigned the duties of preparing preliminary plans for the 
camps for Omaha and Utah Beaches and listing materials and equipment 
required for the construction and operation of the Beach Camps.  These plans 
and lists were turned over to the 81st and 111th Battalions assigned to 
operate beach camp facilities.  Reserve crews for the Rhino Ferries 
operating on Omaha Beach, drydock crews operating on Utah Beach and first 
captured port, and float crews operating on Utah Beach were furnished by 
the 28th Battalion.  In addition to the above, the 28th Battalion made the 
preliminary study in connection with outfitting of the construction parties 
for Drew One and Drew Two. While in the U. K. the 28th Battalion also 
accomplished the renovation and rehabilitation of quarters for naval 
personnel at Teignmouth, Devonshire, England.

	The 69th Construction Battalion arrived in the U. K. on 30 June 1944 
and reported for temporary duty with the 13th construction Regiment, at 
Plymouth, Devonshire, England, reporting to the 25th Regiment by letter for 
duty.  Principal assignment was construction pontoon wharves for Quiberon 
Bay project.  Their accomplishments in the U. K. have consisted of the 
following:

July 1944:	U. S. Naval Advanced Amphibious Base, Plymouth, Devonshire, England.

	Constructed tent site at Edinburgh Camp, constructed 42 x 1875' causeway 
	and 56 x 156' Liberty berth as well as assembling Chrysler Sea Mule units, 
	fabricating 250 stevedoring hooks.

July 1944:	U. S. Naval Air Station, Dunkeswell, England.

	Constructed 120 x 240' structural steel hangar.

	30th Special USNCB (one-half battalion) arrived in the U. K. on 
7 August 1944 reporting for duty with the 25th Regiment, and was assigned 
temporary duty with the 13th Regiment at Plymouth, England.  They were 
engaged in the handling of cargo and the loading of vessels in the Plymouth 
Area.  Duty with the 25th Regiment was completed on 4 November, at which 
time the 30th Special USNCB reported to COMPHIBSUKAY for duty.