Leland Lash

Harbor Clearance Unit One (HCU-1) was established in 1966 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as the U.S. Navy’s first dedicated salvage and harbor clearance unit. Its primary mission was to provide rapid-response salvage, diving, and clearance operations throughout the Pacific, notably supporting the Vietnam War by clearing harbors, salvaging damaged vessels, and assisting in underwater repairs. HCU-1 teams utilized specialized equipment and expertise to clear navigational hazards, ensuring the safe passage of military and commercial shipping. The unit’s vital work contributed significantly to maintaining naval operations and logistics in the Pacific region until its deactivation in 1996.

**USS Nereus (AS-17)** was a Fulton-class submarine tender commissioned by the United States Navy during World War II. Launched on 23 September 1943 and commissioned on 27 March 1945, she provided vital support to submarines operating in the Pacific Theater, including repair, resupply, and crew rest. After the war, Nereus continued service during the early Cold War, supporting the Atlantic Fleet's submarine forces. She was decommissioned on 30 June 1971 and subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register, marking the end of her distinguished service.

Navy saturation divers are elite military personnel specially trained to conduct deep-sea diving operations using saturation diving techniques, enabling them to work at great depths for extended durations. The concept emerged during the 1960s, as militaries worldwide recognized the need to support submarine rescue, salvage, and covert underwater missions. Using advanced equipment and living in pressurized chambers, saturation divers can perform complex engineering tasks, explosive ordnance disposal, and clandestine operations beneath the ocean. Their expertise has proven vital in both wartime and peacetime, supporting missions such as submarine rescue, recovery of sensitive materials, and maintenance of underwater military infrastructure.

The Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) was established in 1927 in Washington, D.C., to serve as the primary research and testing center for the U.S. Navy’s diving and undersea operations. Relocated to Panama City, Florida, in 1975, NEDU became renowned for advancing diving technology, physiological research, and the development of safe decompression procedures. Over the decades, NEDU has played a critical role in evaluating diving equipment, life-support systems, and underwater procedures for both military and civilian applications. Its contributions have significantly enhanced the safety and effectiveness of Navy divers and undersea missions worldwide.

USS **Chanticleer** (ASR-7) was a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1942. During World War II, she served in the Pacific Theater, providing vital rescue, salvage, and diving support for submarines and other vessels. After the war, Chanticleer continued her service, participating in submarine exercises, training missions, and occasional rescue operations during the Cold War period. She was decommissioned in 1973, having played a crucial role in undersea rescue and salvage operations for over three decades.

The Naval School Deep Dive System, located at Point Loma in San Diego, traces its origins to the U.S. Navy's commitment to advancing underwater operations and diving technology. Established in the mid-20th century, the school has served as a premier training center for deep-sea diving, submarine rescue, and underwater salvage operations. Over the decades, it has been instrumental in developing and refining deep-dive protocols, equipment, and safety standards for Navy divers. The unit continues to support critical missions, ensuring personnel are expertly trained to operate in challenging underwater environments around the globe.

USS Conserver (ARS-39) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Designed for towing, salvage, and rescue operations, she served with distinction during the final months of World War II, supporting operations in the Pacific theater. During the Korean War and the Vietnam War, Conserver provided critical salvage and recovery services to stricken vessels and contributed to harbor clearance and repair missions. After decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1994, marking nearly 50 years of active duty in support of U.S. naval operations worldwide.

Harbor Clearance Unit One (HCU-1) was a specialized U.S. Navy unit established in 1966 during the Vietnam War to provide salvage, diving, and clearance operations in Southeast Asia. The unit's primary mission was to clear harbors, rivers, and coastal waters of sunken vessels, unexploded ordnance, and other hazards to navigation, thereby ensuring the safe movement of military and civilian shipping. HCU-1 operated a variety of craft and utilized advanced diving equipment, often working under dangerous conditions in combat zones such as Da Nang, Cam Ranh Bay, and the Mekong Delta. The unit played a crucial role in maintaining logistical supply lines throughout the conflict and contributed significantly to postwar salvage and clearance operations in the Pacific region.