487:
495:
150:
313:
657:
603:
729:
681:
295:. Their mission was to construct a high priority communications station and airfield "from scratch" in the same manner as the Seabees did in the island hopping days of World War II. All support was to be "over the beach." This key base was needed to counter a growing Soviet presence in the Indian Ocean, and was constructed under the watching eyes of Soviet warships. A communications station was in operation on 25 March, establishing for the first time worldwide US Navy communications, and an operational runway was completed on 15 July 1971 provided the first US airfield in the Indian Ocean, three days ahead of schedule, earning the personal praise of the Chief of Naval Operations
751:
808:
740:
158:
718:
707:
555:
The exercises included
Humanitarian and Civic Assistance (HCA) projects which continue to further the U.S. strategic goal of Theater Security Cooperation in key regions around the world. In all, NMCB 40 completed a total of 40,143 man-days of readiness training and construction tasking for more than 48 construction projects in 10 countries dispersed throughout the PACOM AOR. NMCB 40 also opened up the newest 26-person detail site in Timor-Leste (formerly known as East Timor) and constructed, repaired and renovated over eight schools for the Timorese Government.
796:
784:
762:
670:
615:
31:
696:
773:
651:
644:
637:
468:
working parties that delivered relief supplies to the people of
Indonesia. Additionally, the battalion participated in the Deployment-for-Training (DFT) Cobra Gold, promoting inter-operability between the nations' military components. Finally, the battalion deployed Seabees in support of a Joint Task Force exercise, New Horizons 2005, to provide humanitarian construction and engineering operations for the nation of Panama.
1044:
161:
Defense.gov News Photo 050417-F-7823A-027 U.S. Marine Corps
Engineers and U.S. Navy Seabees work alongside members of the Thai Army to raise a framework of rebar as they build a bridge in Ban Jingteenuean, Thailand, during Exercise Cobra Gold 05 on 17 April 2005. The Marines are from the 9th Engineer
578:
to
Forward Operating Base Deh Dadi II and six enduring detail sites in July 2010, throughout the ISAF Theater of Operations. The construction of Deh Dadi II was the largest Earth moving operation US forces undertook in a combat zone since World War II. The Battalion conducted a relief-in-place (RIP)
554:
in Guam manning and maintaining both locations. NMCB 40 participated in eight annual PACOM exercises: Cobra Gold, Freedom Banner, Balikatan, Voluntary
Demonstration of Response (VDR), Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), Foal Eagle/Key Resolve, Talisman Saber, and Ulchi Focus Guardian.
170:
to build Lion 1. Included on the project list was the construction of an airstrip . This project along with additional support facilities were completed in 1943. Los Negros was the next island X where 40 CB was attached to the U.S. Army's 1st
Cavalry. The Seabees of 40 were assigned a portion of the
402:
were done tactically with weapons at the ready. Logging over 256 tactical convoys covering more than 220,000 vehicle miles within a 75-day operation. FORTY completed camp deconstructions and provided contingency construction support for nineteen critical force projects—enabling enforcement of the
303:
to the United States. NMCB Forty was the pioneer battalion for the beginning of what was to become the largest Seabee construction project in history. Seabee battalion deployments would go on for eleven more years, with detachments continuing to the present. NMCB Forty deployed back to the Diego
467:
Island. Within a month of deployment, a group of 50 Seabees responded to the devastating tsunami that struck
Southeast Asia, conducting critical engineering assessments on government facilities and airfields. They also supervised the construction of tension fabric structures and supported runway
591:
On 12 September 2012, Naval Mobile
Construction Battalion FORTY was decommissioned at the Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme, California. In addition to its last commanding officer, CDR Timothy DeWitt, in attendance was Commander Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) RADM
372:, and the surrounding camps around the countryside that are the base of restoration of basic human needs to the lives of the natives Somalis for their day to day existence. in northern Somalia "Fighting FORTY" aided the Somalis through the construction and repair of schools and
486:
494:
340:. FORTY participated in the II MEF bed-down. The largest multi-battalion contingency operation in twenty years. In 36 days Seabees placed over 20,700 cubic meters of concrete and built six separate camps to house 25,000 Marines. In support of
241:. FORTY built ammunition magazines and maintained main supply routes during that deployment. The battalion returned to Vietnam for two additional tours. In October 1967 it went back to Camp Shields in Chu Lai and to Camp Campbell in
422:
in Port
Hueneme, Ca. during the hostilities, NMCB FORTY aided its sister battalions deployed to Southwest Asia through massive embarkation operations of nearly 9.6 million pounds of construction equipment from California to
570:). This operation was critical to shape and enable the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) to protect the Afghan people and provide a secure environment for sustainable peace. The Main Body deployed to
546:. Despite the challenges associated with such dispersion of personnel and tasking, the battalion safely completing over 46,000 man-days of construction, camp maintenance service and combat service support on 91 projects.
149:
549:
In
January 2009, the battalion deployed to Okinawa with nine detachment sites throughout the Pacific Command (PACOM) Area of Operations. NMCB 40 took custody of the Tables of Allowance at Camp Shields in Okinawa and
506:
In April 2006, NMCB 40 deployed to Guam and Southwest Asia, executing peacetime global contingency construction operations including operations in Iraq and Afghanistan supporting OIF, There were detachment sites in
523:. In the end, the battalion completed over 42,000 man-days of safe, high quality construction throughout the Pacific and Central Command Theaters of Operation, resulting in a combined cost savings of over $ 14.8M.
438:
In December 2004 the battalion deployed to the Pacific theater of operations. The battalion completed numerous construction projects at the main body site in Okinawa and other locations throughout Japan, including
171:
defensive perimeter and came under fierce attack. That attack lead to the battalions nickname "Fighting Forty". After the attack 40 returned to rehabilitating the airstrip which they had in use within two days.
347:
The first nine-man team arrived on 10 December 1992 followed by the heavy "Det" two weeks later and the battalion main body one month later. NMCB FORTY provided expeditious construction support to the forces of
979:
NMCBs 18, 40 Receive U.S. Army Valorous Unit Award, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Attn: SEABEE Online (Code PA), 1322 Patterson Ave., S.E., Bldg. 33, Suite 1000, Washington Navy Yard, DC
483:. Under arduous conditions and with limited resources, NMCB 40 employed resourcefulness, ingenuity, and technical expertise to provide immeasurable relief and accelerated recovery in the affected region.
1048:
210:. Special mention was made of the bulldozers going into the teeth of the enemies positions on 2 March 1944. Ref. Battle Honors citation dated 5 July 1944 by order of G. C. Marshall and signed by
995:
490:
US Navy 030412-N-1485H-009 A Seabee Engineer Reconnaissance Team (SERT) from NMCB 40 determine if bridge can be used to support troop and convoy movements during a field exercise
1080:
526:
In August 2007, FORTY mounted out to the CENTCOM, EUCOM, and SOUTHCOM theaters. There were complexities of the battalion's deployment, with sites located throughout Kuwait; the
1085:
356:
including the construction school houses in the south, road clean-up, construction of schools, sanitary clean-up, assistance of Operations for the US Army, US Air Force,
175:
became operational on 18 May 1944 and remains in use today. It became Hq for the 13th Air Force and had RAF elements from both New Zealand and Australia stationed there.
876:
199:. There it immediately began the work of rebuilding the island's main supply routes. While doing that, the battalion had to fight Japanese forces and endure two major
287:" as well as a continuing participation in the "hot war" of Vietnam. On 9 March 1971 the first units of NMCB 40 were deployed to the small British atoll island of
183:
which the President gave them for their part in the battle. In 1944, FORTY returned home, regrouped and deployed again in late 1944. Port calls were made at
1075:
427:
for ongoing combat operations. In August 2003, the battalion's Air Detachment redeployed from Okinawa directly to Southwest Asia to support ongoing
881:
77:
203:. At the end of World War II, 40 CB joined the ranks of the other CBs when it was decommissioned on 28 November 1945 for the post-war draw-down.
981:
398:(IFOR) to close and disestablish fourteen base camps ahead of schedule. All operations in the formidably-hostile environment of the Bosnia
755:
940:
Commander Naval Construction Battalion U.S. Pacific Fleet, Tân Sơn Nhất, Republic of Vietnam, Completion Report 1963–1972. Seabee Teams
312:
180:
471:
In September 2005, "Fighting FORTY" conducted humanitarian relief, clearing, and construction operations for the citizens of greater
387:, re-calling five separate detachments and a Water Well Drilling Team operating out of Turkey, including its main body stationed in
299:, and the Navy E for "Best of Type." The construction of this remote base changed the balance of power in the Indian Ocean from the
580:
1036:
153:
US Navy 021213-N-1485H-001 Seabees of NMCB 40 load equipment onto an Air Mobility Command (AMC) C-5 "Galaxy" cargo plane
921:
886:
619:
344:, NMCB FORTY prepared 1,500,000 square feet (140,000 m) of aircraft parking, fueling taxiways and maintenance hangar pads.
391:. Mount-out and embarkation via ship, rail, line-haul, and the air was complex. NMCB FORTY planned and operated with the Army's
916:
911:
906:
901:
896:
891:
840:
834:
744:
1017:
502:(T-AH 19) makes a one-day stop to give the crew a break and pick up Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four Zero (NMCB-40)
392:
207:
583:
to support the surge of 30,000 additional troops directed by the Commander-in-Chief to bolster the Afghanistan strategy.
206:
The 40th earned the Army's WWII equivalent of the Presidential unit citation on Los Negros Island while attached to the
866:
721:
710:
607:
602:
871:
662:
238:
994:
Humanitarian Service Medal, Approved Operations, DOD Office of the Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness
333:
680:
852:
733:
329:
166:
On 6 November 1942 the battalion was commission at Camp Allen, Va. The battalion's first deployment was to
728:
1016:
Seabee onLine Magazine, 1322 Peterson Ave., S.E., Bldg. 33, Suite 1000, Washington Navy Yard, D.C. 20374
614:
800:
788:
766:
674:
411:
99:
750:
592:
Christopher J. Mossey, along with many other former Commanding Officers and Command Master Chiefs.
384:
341:
129:
132:. Its primary mission was wartime contingency construction as well as peacetime construction and
1053:
1031:
941:
861:
428:
103:
1026:
650:
643:
812:
807:
739:
684:
571:
563:
380:
361:
349:
951:
US Naval Institute Proceedings, "To Build a Link" by Cdr. Daniel W. Urish CEC USN, April 1971.
699:
575:
558:
In June 2010, FORTY deployed a reinforced Air Detachment of 125 Seabees from Port Hueneme to
476:
636:
157:
30:
846:
395:
211:
717:
706:
221:
base they created at Tanapag would survive the War and become a training facility for the
8:
777:
567:
404:
242:
656:
1059:
1006:
610: : – 40th CB plus 12 men from the 78th CB with the 1st Cavalry Div. on Los Negros
357:
59:
480:
399:
316:
Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40 at Mogadishu, Somalia December 1992
176:
795:
783:
761:
669:
531:
1005:
Battle "E" Peltier Perry Awards, Seabee Museum Archives, Port Hueneme, CA 93043
237:, Vietnam. The first assignment was in support of advance base operations of the
133:
695:
551:
527:
321:
196:
172:
167:
1069:
772:
415:
498:
US Navy 050615-N-3532C-004 The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS
464:
460:
337:
300:
296:
292:
288:
245:, December 1968. In 1968 the Navy changed Construction from MCBs to NMCBs.
225:
that would eventually include all of the island north of the Tanapag base.
184:
87:
829:
472:
456:
432:
388:
91:
1037:
40 NCB & NMCB 40 Unit Histories and Cruisebooks NHHC: Seabee Museum
520:
379:
Midway through its 1996 European Deployment, NMCB 40 was redeployed to
365:
328:, the battalion was called from its deployment site in Guam to support
419:
373:
369:
250:
559:
516:
284:
264:
218:
188:
95:
566:, Afghanistan, to support Operation HAMKARI BARAYE (Phase III of
539:
452:
444:
353:
257:
234:
200:
122:
74:
homeport: Davisville, RI moved to Port Hueneme, CA in the mid 70s
856:
448:
440:
424:
325:
271:
192:
125:
1032:
http://www.public.navy.mil/usff/1NCD/Pages/NMCB40/history.aspx
368:, and Turkish Army. Logistical support in and around downtown
1027:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/nmcb40.htm
543:
535:
512:
877:
Naval Construction Battalion Center (Gulfport, Mississippi)
508:
195:. In 1945, the week after Easter, the battalion sailed for
222:
969:(4), CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation: 10, November 2012
1081:
Military units and formations established in the 1940s
815: : – U.S. Atlantic Fleet Battle "E" (9 awards).
1086:
Military units and formations disestablished in 2012
283:
In the 1970s NMCB 40 was to play a key role in the "
233:
In 1966 MCB FORTY was reactivated for deployment to
665:
with one arrowhead device with 2 bronze star device
162:
Support Battalion and the Seabees are from NMCB 40.
1067:
882:Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme
410:In 2003, "Fighting FORTY" was called to support
78:Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme
803: : – Hurricane Katrina/Rita Relief Effort
626:
447:, and Sasebo. There were also detail sites in
1076:Seabee battalions of the United States Navy
756:Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
228:
29:
376:and many other basic life support needs.
115:Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FORTY
24:Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FORTY
581:Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four
493:
485:
479:following the devastation brought on by
311:
156:
148:
922:Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133
1068:
917:Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 26
912:Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25
907:Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11
990:
988:
902:Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7
897:Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4
892:Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3
887:Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1
841:Amphibious Construction Battalion Two
835:Amphibious Construction Battalion One
745:Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
608:U.S. Army Distinguished Unit Citation
214:, Major General, Adjutant General.
43:1 February 1966 – 12 September 2012
13:
985:
867:Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek
586:
278:
217:Unbeknownst to the Battalion the
41:6 November 1942 – 28 November 1945
14:
1097:
954:
307:
1047: This article incorporates
1042:
806:
794:
791: : – 10 May - 31 July 1976
782:
771:
760:
749:
738:
727:
722:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
716:
711:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
705:
694:
679:
668:
655:
649:
642:
635:
613:
601:
431:operations in Kuwait, Iraq, and
1010:
999:
973:
961:"NMCB 7, NMCB 40 Stand Down",
945:
934:
872:Naval Amphibious Base Coronado
663:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
595:
1:
927:
360:, Italian Army, French Army,
179:put the battalion up for the
853:Naval Construction Battalion
818:Peltier Award: – (3 awards).
734:Southwest Asia Service Medal
7:
822:
627:Campaign and service awards
253:, October 1967 – June 1968
239:3rd Marine Amphibious Force
69:31st Seabee Readiness Group
10:
1102:
801:Humanitarian Service Medal
789:Humanitarian Service Medal
767:Afghanistan Campaign Medal
675:World War II Victory Medal
412:Operation Enduring Freedom
297:Admiral E. R. Zumwalt, Jr.
139:
100:Operation Enduring Freedom
511:, Whidbey Island, Wash.,
274:, May 1971 – January 1972
181:Distinguished Unit Ribbon
83:
73:
65:
55:
47:
37:
28:
23:
385:Operation Joint Endeavor
342:Marine Aircraft Group 16
324:'s Iraqi forces invaded
229:Reactivation and Vietnam
130:Port Hueneme, California
862:Seabees in World War II
429:global war on terrorism
144:
128:Battalion based out of
104:Operation Iraqi Freedom
1049:public domain material
685:Vietnam Campaign Medal
620:502d Infantry Regiment
572:Regional Command North
564:Regional Command South
503:
491:
381:Bosnia and Herzegovina
362:Botswana Defence Force
350:Operation Restore Hope
320:In August 1990, after
317:
163:
154:
16:American military unit
700:Vietnam Service Medal
576:Regional Command East
497:
489:
477:Gulfport, Mississippi
315:
291:in the middle of the
267:, March–November 1970
191:Island; and Tanapag,
160:
152:
117:(NMCB 40), nicknamed
963:The Seabee Quarterly
847:Civil Engineer Corps
687:service ribbon with
396:Implementation Force
393:1st Armored Division
212:James Alexander Ulio
208:1st Cavalry Division
778:Iraq Campaign Medal
568:Operation Moshtarak
405:Dayton Peace Accord
270:Seabee team 4006 -
263:Seabee team 4004 -
260:, March–August 1968
256:Seabee team 4002 -
249:Seabee team 4001 -
1060:United States Navy
849:United States Navy
504:
492:
358:Canadian Air Force
318:
164:
155:
60:United States Navy
530:; Andros Island;
519:, and aboard the
481:Hurricane Katrina
400:Posavina Corridor
364:, Egyptian Army,
177:General MacArthur
109:
108:
1093:
1063:
1055:NMCB 40: History
1046:
1045:
1019:
1014:
1008:
1003:
997:
992:
983:
977:
971:
970:
958:
952:
949:
943:
938:
810:
798:
786:
775:
764:
753:
742:
731:
720:
709:
698:
683:
672:
659:
653:
646:
639:
622:Afghanistan 2010
617:
605:
542:, Sao Tome; and
475:, Louisiana and
304:Garcia in 1980.
33:
21:
20:
1101:
1100:
1096:
1095:
1094:
1092:
1091:
1090:
1066:
1065:
1052:
1043:
1023:
1022:
1015:
1011:
1004:
1000:
993:
986:
978:
974:
960:
959:
955:
950:
946:
939:
935:
930:
825:
813:Navy "E" Ribbon
713:Somalia 1991-93
661:
660:
654:
647:
640:
629:
618:1st Battalion,
598:
589:
587:Decommissioning
310:
281:
279:1970s, Cold War
231:
173:Momote airfield
147:
142:
134:disaster relief
112:
102:
98:
94:
90:
42:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1099:
1089:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1040:
1039:
1034:
1029:
1021:
1020:
1009:
998:
984:
972:
953:
944:
932:
931:
929:
926:
925:
924:
919:
914:
909:
904:
899:
894:
889:
884:
879:
874:
869:
864:
859:
850:
844:
838:
832:
824:
821:
820:
819:
816:
804:
792:
780:
769:
758:
747:
736:
725:
724:Bosnia 1995-96
714:
703:
692:
677:
666:
648:
641:
634:
633:
632:
628:
625:
624:
623:
611:
597:
594:
588:
585:
552:Camp Covington
534:, Cuba; Rota,
532:Guantanamo Bay
528:Horn of Africa
383:in support of
322:Saddam Hussein
309:
308:1990s to 2010s
306:
280:
277:
276:
275:
268:
261:
254:
230:
227:
168:Espiritu Santo
146:
143:
141:
138:
119:Fighting FORTY
110:
107:
106:
85:
81:
80:
75:
71:
70:
67:
63:
62:
57:
53:
52:
49:
45:
44:
39:
35:
34:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1098:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1073:
1071:
1064:
1061:
1057:
1056:
1050:
1038:
1035:
1033:
1030:
1028:
1025:
1024:
1018:
1013:
1007:
1002:
996:
991:
989:
982:
976:
968:
964:
957:
948:
942:
937:
933:
923:
920:
918:
915:
913:
910:
908:
905:
903:
900:
898:
895:
893:
890:
888:
885:
883:
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
858:
854:
851:
848:
845:
842:
839:
836:
833:
831:
827:
826:
817:
814:
809:
805:
802:
797:
793:
790:
785:
781:
779:
774:
770:
768:
763:
759:
757:
752:
748:
746:
741:
737:
735:
730:
726:
723:
719:
715:
712:
708:
704:
701:
697:
693:
690:
686:
682:
678:
676:
671:
667:
664:
658:
652:
645:
638:
631:
630:
621:
616:
612:
609:
604:
600:
599:
593:
584:
582:
577:
573:
569:
565:
561:
556:
553:
547:
545:
541:
537:
533:
529:
524:
522:
518:
514:
510:
501:
496:
488:
484:
482:
478:
474:
469:
466:
462:
458:
454:
450:
446:
442:
436:
434:
430:
426:
421:
417:
416:Iraqi Freedom
413:
408:
406:
401:
397:
394:
390:
386:
382:
377:
375:
371:
367:
363:
359:
355:
351:
345:
343:
339:
335:
331:
327:
323:
314:
305:
302:
298:
294:
290:
286:
273:
269:
266:
262:
259:
255:
252:
248:
247:
246:
244:
240:
236:
226:
224:
220:
215:
213:
209:
204:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
169:
159:
151:
137:
135:
131:
127:
124:
120:
116:
111:Military unit
105:
101:
97:
93:
89:
86:
82:
79:
76:
72:
68:
64:
61:
58:
54:
51:United States
50:
46:
40:
36:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1054:
1041:
1012:
1001:
975:
966:
962:
956:
947:
936:
811:
799:
787:
776:
765:
754:
743:
732:
702:: – 5 awards
688:
673:
606:
590:
557:
548:
525:
505:
499:
470:
465:San Clemente
461:Diego Garcia
437:
409:
378:
346:
338:Saudi Arabia
319:
301:Soviet Union
293:Indian Ocean
289:Diego Garcia
282:
232:
216:
205:
185:Pearl Harbor
165:
118:
114:
113:
88:World War II
66:Part of
18:
830:Ben Moreell
596:Unit awards
473:New Orleans
457:South Korea
433:Afghanistan
420:Home ported
389:Rota, Spain
92:Vietnam War
84:Engagements
1070:Categories
980:20374-5065
928:References
521:USNS Mercy
374:orphanages
366:Kenya Army
370:Mogadishu
251:Lai Thieu
828:Admiral
823:See also
560:Kandahar
517:Thailand
443:, Fuji,
285:Cold War
265:Xuan Loc
219:seaplane
201:typhoons
189:Eniwetok
187:, T.H.,
121:, was a
96:Gulf War
843:(ACB-2)
837:(ACB-1)
540:Romania
453:Chinhae
445:Iwakuni
354:Somalia
258:Go Cong
243:Phu Bai
235:Chu Lai
197:Okinawa
140:History
123:US Navy
48:Country
857:Seabee
691:Device
463:, and
449:Pohang
441:Atsugi
425:Kuwait
334:II MEF
326:Kuwait
272:Tan An
193:Saipan
126:Seabee
56:Branch
38:Active
1051:from
579:with
544:Ghana
536:Spain
513:Palau
500:Mercy
330:I MEF
855:aka
689:60–
574:and
509:Guam
451:and
414:and
332:and
145:WWII
562:in
435:.
352:in
336:in
223:CIA
1072::
1058:.
987:^
967:18
965:,
538:,
515:,
459:,
455:,
418:.
407:.
136:.
1062:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
_load_equipment_onto_an_Air_Mobility_Command_(AMC)_C-5_%22Galaxy%22_cargo_plane.jpg)
