Handbook, Volume 1

SUMMARY OF SEABEE COMBAT HANDBOOK TRAINING MANUALS

VOLUME 1

Seabee Combat Handbook Volume 1, NAVEDTRA 12003 consists of chapters on the History and Organization of the Seabees and Laws of War; Special Clothing and Equipment; Service Rifle and Pistol Marksmanship; Combat Maneuvers, Formations, Patrols, and Ambushes; Land Navigation; Evasion, Survival, and Escape; Individual Protective Measures; Entanglements; Chemical, Biological, and Radiological (CBR) Defense; First Aid and Field Sanitation; Organic Communications Equipment; Hand Grenades, Land Mines, and Booby Traps; Organic Support Weapons: M203 and Machine Guns; and Organic Support Weapons: 60-mm Mortar and AT4.

VOLUME 2

Seabee Combat Handbook Volume 2, NAVEDTRA 12004 consists of chapters on Setup and Operation of the Command Post; Organization and Operation of the Combat Operation Center; Application of the Laws of Armed Conflict; Setup and Control of Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC); Planning and Development of Defensive Tactics; Planning and Deployment of Patrols; Deployment and Control of Heavy Weapons; and Deployment and Control of CBR and NBC Teams.

CHAPTER 1

HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SEABEES AND LAWS OF WAR

The Seabees are the Navy's construction forces; and few select teams, if any, enjoy a finer reputation among America's fighting men. During their short history, the Seabees have won fame, honor, and distinction as an organization that "Can Do," even when faced with practically insurmountable obstacles. A brief discussion on the history of the Seabees is given below.

THE CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS

No discussion on the history of the Seabees is complete without first explaining the origin and purpose of the Civil Engineer Corps (CEC). The CEC is composed of dedicated staff corps officers who are specialists in the field of civil engineering. A CIVIL ENGINEER is a professional engineer who performs a variety of engineering work in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of structures and facilities, such as roads, airports, bridges, harbors, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems. Civil engineers have been an integral part of the Navy since its very beginning. Our first "fleet" consisted of less than 10 ships. However, our forefathers realized that to survive as a nation, the United States must have a Navy powerful enough to counter the naval threat from pirates and other great powers, such as England, France, and Spain. To meet this threat, Congress authorized the hiring, purchasing, and building of several additional vessels. Suitable land for use as navy yards had to be located, surveyed, and purchased. Logically, civil engineers were delegated to perform these tasks. By the time Thomas Jefferson became President, the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Stoddert, had established six Navy Yards. All were managed by civil engineers, although they were not yet known as Civil Engineer Corps officers. In the following years, the number of ships increased sharply as well as the need for more dry docks and repair facilities. The United States was emerging as a great sea power and governmental functions were becoming more complex. As a result, on 31 August 1842, Congress established the "Bureau" system. The Bureau of Yards and Docks (BUDOCKS)-known now as the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC)-was created, and the chief of this bureau was a civil engineer. It was not until 25 years later, however, that the Civil Engineer Corps was officially named and authorized. At that time, the officers in the corps were the forerunners of the CEC officers who lead the variety of Seabee units today. As naval technology advanced in the modern era, the navies of the world ranged far over the great oceans. Ships grew more and more dependent upon an ever-increasing chain of sophisticated shore bases for their support, both at home and abroad. The construction of these bases necessitated a new and large organization of seafaring fighter-builders.

Before 1941, the Civil Engineer Corps used private contractors to accomplish all overseas construction. The contractors, in turn, hired steelworkers, electricians, carpenters, draftsmen, and mechanics from private industry. However, the Navy realized that, in the event of war, civilian contractors and construction workers could not be used very well outside our own country. If they were attacked and attempted to defend themselves, these civilians could be regarded as guerrillas. Also, since most of them had never received any type of combat training, there was reason to believe that they could not adequately defend themselves, even if their lives depended on it. These fears soon became realities.

As World War II drew near, there was an urgent need for more overseas bases. Airfields and landing strips had to be rushed into existence on far away islands. Clearly, we needed a combat MILITARY ORGANIZATION trained to construct these advance bases. Even before the outbreak of hostilities, the Bureau of Yards and Docks had conceived the idea of naval construction battalions. The first construction units were organized early in January 1942. Highly skilled construction workers were recruited, and whole construction companies volunteered men and equipment.