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Underwater Construction Teams (UCT) are the Navy Seabee's underwater capable units for construction projects, including, but not limited to: the construction, repair, and inspection of permanent or temporary piers, mooring systems, quay walls, dolphins, underwater cables and pipelines, underwater surveillance systems, dams; harbor and channel clearance; test and evaluation of a wide variety of underwater systems and equipment. They extend the construction project from the shore to the sea.
(the following taken and adapted from the official UCT-1 history:)
"SEABEE divers have been around for as long as the Navy has had SEABEES.
The original SEABEE divers were assigned to each battalion, with a compliment of 4 to each. Larger projects would see a combining of divers from a couple to several battalions for clearing port channels, driving sheet piles, bridge work, and other types of construction projects requiring eyes and hands underwater.
During World War Two, in support of beach clearing operations and combining the unique skills of blasting and diving, they formed small units that cleared the beaches in preparation of amphibious assaults. Later, these units were called Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT). Today, Underwater Construction Teams (UCT) utilize explosives and other techniques to blast coral reefs, demolish obstacles, and perform inshore work necessary to provide channels and mooring facilities for shipping.
During the 1960's, SEABEE divers became major contributors to the early success of the "Man-in-the-Sea" programs, including SEALAB II and TEKTITE II undersea laboratories. In 1969, a UCT was established under the 21st Naval Construction Regiment (NCR) then homeported at Davisville, R.I. It was later moved to its current homeport of Little Creek, VA. A UCT was also established then in the 31st NCR at Port Hueneme, Calif., but not manned with enlisted Seabee divers until 1971.
In 1974 the two detachments of SEABEE divers were commissioned as Underwater Construction Teams with a Civil Engineer Corps Officer as the Officer in Charge. In 1985, the Underwater Construction Teams were elevated to Command status. UCT ONE is currently homeported in Little Creek, Virginia and UCT TWO in Port Hueneme, California."
(Note: if you are reading this from the UCT-1 link on your Duty Station section, see other features on the Unit Page: personnel assigned, photos, history, web links, medals/ribbons, combat & operations, etc)
