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Home : Media : News
NEWS | Oct. 1, 2019

MARMC Production Team Completes USS Bataan Repairs

By Chris Wyatt, MARMC Public Affairs Specialist

Norfolk (NNS) – Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center’s (MARMC) outside machine shop recently completed repairs to USS Bataan’s (LHD 5) Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) recovery winch, Aug 29.

The recovery winch is used to pull LCAC vehicles into the well deck of amphibious assault ships. Due to the size of the winch, the repair would typically be handled by a depot-level facility, rather than MARMC, which functions as an intermediate-level maintenance (I-Level) facility. With the ship preparing for deployment, MARMC took on the challenge to ensure Bataan’s mission ready status and to keep them on schedule.

“Our shop received the job request from Bataan to assist in the repair of the clutch assembly on their LCAC recovery winch which, due to standard wear and tear, had been rendered inoperable,” said MARMC Outside Machine Shop zone manager, Jeff Wunsch. “We disassembled the entire winch assembly. We removed the rotating assembly, bearings and drum assemblies, swapped out the clutch assemblies, and completed the repair in just under five days.”

The Outside Machine Shop used a four-person repair team to complete the job, allowing junior Sailors to get the opportunity to learn from the senior mentors and to receive hands-on training.

“Due to the large range of repair capabilities in our shop, it’s vitally important that our Sailors get the hands on training they need to be successful,” said Wunsch. “We work on various ship platforms, from cruisers to carriers, as well as many different types of equipment. Allowing our Sailors to be a part of this recovery winch repair helps broaden their scope and capabilities.”

In order to complete the necessary repairs, the Outside Machine Shop worked with MARMC’s Temporary Services’ Rigging Shop.

“Our repair work is made possible because of the great relationships we have with other shops under the MARMC production department umbrella. Since there is often overlap in the expertise needed to complete waterfront repairs, everyone with knowledge of the equipment has a vested interest in getting it fixed in a timely manner, and done right the first time, “said Wunsch.

MARMC provides surface ship maintenance, management and oversight of private sector maintenance and fleet technical assistance to ships in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and provides support to the 5th and 6th Fleet Area of Responsibilities. They are also responsible for the floating dry-dock Dynamic (AFDL-6).