This section discusses the duties and organization
of control personnel and the procedures for
coordinating the various ships for an amphibious
operation.
CENTRAL CONTROL
OFFICER (CCO)
The CCO is designated by the CATF for overall
coordination of the waterborne assault. This officer is
embarked on the control ship, and his/her
responsibilities include the following:
Planning and supervising the waterborne
ship-to-ship movement
Organizing the Navy control group to support
the ATF landing plan
Maintaining liaison with the tactical air officer
(TAO)
Maintaining liaison with the tactical logistics
(TACLOG) group
ASSISTANT CENTRAL CONTROL
OFFICER (ACCO)
An ACCO may be designated if the scope of the
operation requires it. He/she embarks in an
appropriate ship or craft and coordinates, as necessary,
the movement of landing craft, amphibious vehicles,
and landing ships in his/her designated area.
PRIMARY CONTROL OFFICER (PCO)
A PCO is designated for each colored beach and
is responsible for the following:
Providing detailed plans, called PCO
instructions, to conduct the ship-to-shore
movement for amphibious assaults or
withdrawals across a colored beach
Maintaining current location and status of all
ships, landing craft, and boats assigned to
conduct the landing on the assigned beach
Monitoring surf conditions and weather
predictions and recommending the termination
of boating when conditions warrant
Maintaining the status of debarkation or
embarkation
Landing scheduled waves at the correct beach at
the specified time
Arranging for fueling boats and providing rest
and food for boat crews
Providing liaison to the surfaceborne RLT
TACLOG detachment
Conducting assault craft salvage operations
Coordinating the employment of landing ships
and craft within his or her area of responsibility
following the initial assault
SECONDARY CONTROL OFFICER (SCO)
The SCO embarks in the secondary control ship
(SCS) and is a principal assistant to the PCO. The SCS
is assigned a fixed point station on the LOD or
underway sector in the vicinity of the PCS; SCO\SCS
duties include the following:
Maintaining duplicate control records and plots
required of the PCO and PCS
Monitoring PCO radio circuits
Controlling the waterborne ship-to-shore
movement over a numbered colored beach when
two or more numbered beaches are designated
for colored beach
Assuming PCO and PCS duties in an emergency
BOAT GROUP COMMANDER (BGC)
The BGC is embarked in an LCPL displaying the
ZERO flag over the beach flag and is under the tactical
control of the PCO. The BGC is thoroughly briefed on
the approach schedule; assault wave, landing area, and
transport area diagrams; and weather conditions; and
is responsible for the following:
Maintaining discipline within the boat group
Maintaining proper wave positions in the
rendezvous area
Leading the first displacement landing craft
wave from the rendezvous or underway launch
area to the surf zone
Controlling waterborne traffic off the beach
After the last scheduled wave has landed, the BGC
assumes the duties as the traffic control officer (TCO)
for the beach.
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