Assault Craft Unit 2

• World War II Roots: Assault Craft Unit 2 (ACU 2) traces its lineage back to the World War II-era Boat Pool Units, which were essential for amphibious operations during the D-Day landings and Pacific campaigns. • Official Establishment: ACU 2 was officially established in 1959 at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia, consolidating various landing craft operations on the East Coast. • Key Role in Grenada: During Operation Urgent Fury in 1983, ACU 2 played a pivotal role in landing U.S. forces on Grenada’s beaches, marking a major post-Vietnam amphibious operation. • Gulf War Operations: ACU 2 deployed Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) vessels for Operation Desert Storm, supporting the largest amphibious force assembled since World War II. • Humanitarian Missions: The unit regularly participates in humanitarian relief, including disaster response in Haiti (2010 earthquake) and Caribbean hurricane relief. • Diverse Craft: ACU 2 operates several types of landing craft, such as the LCU 1700, LCM-8, and Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), enabling transport of troops, vehicles, and supplies from ship to shore. • Innovative Training: The unit is known for its rigorous surf and beaching training, preparing sailors to operate in challenging weather and surf conditions worldwide. • Supporting Special Operations: ACU 2 has supported Navy SEALs and Marine Recon units in clandestine insertions and extractions on hostile shores. • Global Deployments: ACU 2 regularly deploys to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and West Africa, participating in exercises like BALTOPS, UNITAS, and African Partnership Station. • Modernization: ACU 2 is part of the Navy’s ongoing modernization of amphibious capabilities, including fielding new craft like the improved LCU 1700, to ensure rapid-response and shore-to-shore logistics for the 21st century.