Amphibious Operations and Wet Well Procedures

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering wet well operations, craft specifications, go/no-go criteria, safety markings, and watchstander duties based on NSTM 584 and amphibious operations doctrine.

Landing Craft Utility (LCU)

A $100\text{-ft}$ amphibious craft whose stowed vehicles and cargo must not exceed $17\text{ feet } 9\text{ inches}$ above the keel, typically requiring $6\text{--}8\text{ ft}$ (or $8\text{ ft}$) of water depth at the sill and the stern gate at the stops during standard launch and recovery.

Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV)

An armored assault vehicle launched underway at ship speeds of $5\text{--}15\text{ knots}$ ($21.5\text{ knots}$ maximum) with $1\text{ ft}$ of water at the sill and stern gate at $90^\circ$, and recovered with $4\text{--}6\text{ ft}$ of water at the sill with the stern gate at the stops.

Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC)

A high-speed hovercraft operating at $0\text{--}6\text{ inches}$ of water at the sill and a stern gate positioned $10^\circ$ below horizontal during launch and recovery, configured with passenger cabins seating $16$ troops on the port side and $8$ on the starboard side.

Combat Rubber Raider Craft (CRRC)

A small craft whose launch and recovery parameters require a water depth of $1\text{ ft}$ below the sill, ship speed at bare steerageway into the seas, and the stern gate positioned between $90^\circ\text{ and } 120^\circ$.

Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo (LARC-V)

An amphibious resupply vehicle operated in a dry well or wet well with $4\text{ ft}$ of water at the sill, requiring ship speeds not to exceed $4\text{ knots}$ and secured underway with $8\text{--}70\text{k}$ gripes.

Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM)

A conventional landing craft category utilized in amphibious wet well operations under NSTM 584.

Well Deck Ventilation Rule

The procedural requirement to turn on and verify well deck ventilation $30\text{ minutes}$ prior to commencing well deck operations.

Line Handler Manning Requirement

The wet well safety mandate requiring at least one line handler stationed on each line until an entering craft is completely grounded.

Forklift Well Deck Ramp Procedure

The mandated protocol requiring forklift operators to climb all well deck ramps driving forward and traverse down all ramps operating in reverse.

Cleat and T-bitt Safety Clearance

The safety standard requiring personnel to stand a minimum of $18\text{--}24\text{ inches}$ away from cleats and T-bitts.

T-bitt Color Sequence

The sequential color coding of T-bitts along the wing walls: Red, White, Blue, Yellow, and Green, remembered by the mnemonic "Run When Bosn Yells Go."

Ship Maneuvering Restriction

The safety rule dictating that at no point will the ship maneuver while craft are alive in the wet well.

$45^\circ$ Stern Gate Mark

A visual indication consisting of a $6\text{-in}$ white line on the stern gate operating arms denoting a $45^\circ$ gate angle.

$90^\circ$ Stern Gate Mark

A visual indication consisting of a single $1\text{-in}$ black band on the stern gate operating arms denoting a $90^\circ$ gate angle.

Stern Gate at the Stops Mark

A visual indication consisting of two $1\text{-in}$ black bands on the stern gate operating arms denoting that the gate is lowered fully against the stops.

$10^\circ$ Below Horizontal Stern Gate Mark

A visual indication consisting of a $3\text{-in}$ yellow band on the stern gate operating arms.

Bull Chains

Chains measuring $35\text{ feet}$ in length and rated at $35\text{ tons}$, utilized to secure an LCU firmly against marriage blocks during stern gate marriage operations.

Stern Gate Marriage Positioning Lines

Lines measuring $300\text{ ft}$ of $5\text{-in}$ or $6\text{-in}$ double braid nylon used during stern gate marriage aboard an LSD or LPD.

November Flag

The international maritime signal flag hoisted to signal that an Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) is disabled or sinking.

Green Well Signal Flag

A square $3 \times 3\text{ ft}$ flag waved by well deck control personnel to communicate an open, green well deck status.

Red Well Signal Flag

A triangular flag measuring $36\text{ inches}$ across held motionless to visually communicate a red well deck status.

Administrative and Tactical Debarkation

The two operational methods utilized for debarking Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs) from the well deck.

Craft Standoff Distance

The minimum clearance of $500\text{ yards}$ or more that an LCU or other landing craft must maintain from the ship when not actively embarking or debarking.

Shoring Dimension Rule

The structural damage control rule establishing that the length of shoring timber must never exceed $30\text{ times}$ its minimum thickness.

"H" Hour

The designated hour established for the initiation of debarkation operations and the timing of the overall ship-to-shore movement.

Line 2 (LCU Embarkation)

A $5\text{-in}$ double braid nylon line passed as the first line to an entering LCU; functions as the braking line to prevent forward motion into the well deck.

Line 4 (LCU Embarkation)

A $4\text{-in}$ double braid nylon line passed second to an entering LCU to prevent the vessel from drifting aft toward the stern gate.

LCU Line Cast-Off Sequence

The mandatory sequence in which mooring lines are released during LCU debarkation: Line 1, Line 3, Line 4, and finally Line 2 ($1, 3, 4, 2$).

Multipurpose Amphibious Assault Ship (LHD)

A capital amphibious warfare vessel designed to deploy conventional landing craft, LCACs, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters.

Dock Landing Ship (LSD)

An amphibious assault vessel configured to transport and launch amphibious assault vehicles or landing crafts alongside their accompanying troop contingents and equipment.

Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD)

An amphibious warship utilized to transport, land, and support troops along with their equipment and supplies via landing craft, amphibious vehicles, and rotary-wing aircraft.

Debark Control Officer

The First Lieutenant (1st LT), who maintains overall responsibility and control over amphibious debarkation operations.

Combat Cargo Officer

The designated officer responsible for determining vehicle and cargo loading arrangements and authorizing the movement or un-griping of any vehicle inside the well deck.

Well Deck Control Officer

The officer charged with ensuring the safe handling, movement, embarkation, and debarkation of all watercraft and vehicles within the well deck.

Ship's Boatswain

The designated deck supervisor who directly oversees all well deck crew personnel during amphibious operations.

Dunnage

Cordwood, dimensional planks, or other cushioning materials placed adjacent to vehicles to secure and protect cargo from transit damage.

Keel Clearance Standard

The fundamental wet well clearance standard requiring at least $18\text{ inches}$ of water under the craft's keel during all embarkation and debarkation evolutions.

LCU High-Speed Launch Criteria

Operational go/no-go parameters requiring $4\text{ ft}$ of water above the sill, maximum ship speed of $12\text{ knots}$ into the seas, and the stern gate positioned at $90^\circ$.

LARC-V Environmental Limits

Operational go/no-go safety limits requiring water depth $4\text{ ft}$ above the sill, craft speed $< 4\text{ knots}$, ocean current $< 4\text{ knots}$, swell height $< 6\text{ ft}$, chop height $< 4\text{ ft}$, and winds $< 25\text{ knots}$.