Assault Craft Unit Four

• Establishment: Assault Craft Unit Four (ACU-4) was commissioned in October 1983 and is based at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia. • LCAC Operators: ACU-4 was the first operational unit to be equipped with the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), a high-speed, amphibious hovercraft capable of carrying heavy payloads directly onto shore. • Key Role in Amphibious Operations: ACU-4 is responsible for providing rapid transport of weapons systems, equipment, cargo, and personnel from ship to shore and across the beach in support of amphibious assault missions. • Global Deployments: ACU-4 craft and crews have participated in major military operations and humanitarian missions, including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and disaster relief efforts such as Hurricane Katrina. • LCAC Innovations: The unit's LCACs can carry up to a 60-ton payload and travel at speeds over 40 knots, giving them a unique advantage over traditional landing craft. • Training Excellence: ACU-4 is recognized for its rigorous training programs, preparing not only its own sailors but also personnel from allied nations in the operation and maintenance of LCACs. • First Combat Use: The LCACs of ACU-4 saw their first combat deployment during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, revolutionizing amphibious assault capabilities for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. • Humanitarian Missions: ACU-4 LCACs have been used to deliver disaster relief supplies, including food, water, and medical aid, to inaccessible coastal areas following natural disasters. • Fleet Support: The unit supports a wide range of U.S. Navy amphibious ships, including Whidbey Island-class and Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ships, and Wasp-class amphibious assault ships. • Unit Motto: ACU-4's motto is "Swift, Silent, Deadly," reflecting the unit's speed, versatility, and combat readiness in amphibious warfare.