CHAPTER VII

SUMMARY

	As is evident from a review of the foregoing, the principal activities of the 25th 
U. S. Naval Construction Regiment consisted of the following:

	1.	Construction and training program in the United Kingdom

	2.	Rhino Ferry and Causeway operations and maintenance in France.

	3.	Construction and maintenance of Naval beach facilities on Omaha and 
		Utah, France.

	4.	Installation of MULBERRY on Omaha Beach, France.

	5.	Rehabilitation of existing structures and new construction to accommodate 
		naval operating facilities at Cherbourg, Nantes, Calais and Le Havre.  
		(Minor installations were provided at Granville, Morlaix and Paris).

	6.	Maintenance and operation of all naval shore facilities in France, and 
		installation and operation of all U. S. Navy P.O.L. appurtenances.

	An abstract of the data submitted herein reveals the following statistical 
information, given in brief form to establish the score, as it were, for the 25th U. S. Naval 
Construction Regiment in France, ending with its deactivation on 30 November 1944 by 
COMUSBASFRANCE Secret Dispatch 101141 November, as approved by CNO Secret 
Dispatch 111957 November, and COMNAVEU Secret Dispatch 151246 November:

CARGO - Handled by Rhino Ferries over Omaha and Utah Beaches.

					    Vehicles		Bulk Cargo

	6 June to 21 October	             94,495		422,195 tons
	Peak day during Invasion Period	      2,382		  8,084 tons
	Peak day during Follow-Up Period      1,144		  2,857 tons
	Average per day for period operation
	     of beaches (136 days)		695		  3,100 tons

RHINOS - Thirty-eight Rhinos were in operation for from six to eight months, and were 
	       ultimately disposed of as follows:

	Operative, to Le Havre and Cherbourg		11 Rhinos
	Converted to floats				16 Rhinos
	Surveyed, foundered or lost at sea		11 Rhinos

	During the period of operations on the beaches, these Rhinos were successfully 
operated in five to six foot seas and were maintained with a remarkably low maintenance 
for about the first sixty days.  Ultimately, however, tie rod yokes deformed and slipped; 
consequently crushing the sides of the pontoons.  Alternate stresses of the sea contributed 
to crystallization and failure of the Rhino angles, and the sides and bottoms of the 
pontoons developed rust holes.  The outboard units performed successfully except in the 
heavy seas, when, due to their exposed position, they were drowned out.

	In the construction of the pontoon equipment, including Rhinos, causeways, tugs, 
camels, barges and pontoon floats, 22,806 pontoons were used.

PERSONNEL

	Throughout the entire preparation for and participation in the invasion, and in the 
development of captured ports that followed, subordinate commands of the 25th USN 
Construction Regiment  included the 81st, 108th, 111th Battalions, 1006th CB 
Detachment, 28th, 69th, 114th 146th Battalion, 30th Special USNCB and CBMU's 627, 
628 and 629, and the strength of the Regiment reached totals as follows:  Figure (6)

	3800 required for assembly and operation		April
	5800 required for Invasion and Support			June
	5600 required for Development of Captured Ports		Aug-Sept.
	2700 required for Completion of Ports			November
	  790 required for Maintenance of Ports of France	December

	In the training period that preceded the invasion, 3373 officers and men of the 
3800 assigned were trained in the duties each was to perform in the invasion.

HOUSING AND FACILITIES

	In the period from 6 June to 30 November, housing and other facilities were 
provided for 1105 officers and 5950 enlisted personnel, for a total of 7055 in the ports 
developed in France; 5400 naval personnel and 3600 storm and battle casuals, for a total 
of 9000 on Omaha and Utah Beaches; or housing facilities were provided for a total of 
16, 055 naval personnel in France.

CASUALTIES:

	In reviewing the recapitulation of casualties (Figure 7), only 21 known dead were 
reported, 3 missing and 61 wounded.  This low record may be largely attributed to the 
fact that Rhinos provided poor targets for gun fire due to low freeboard, absence of 
superstructure and shallow draft.  Another factor contributing to the low casualty rate was 
the indoctrination of personnel prior to embarking for the invasion.


COMMENDATIONS AND AWARDS

	Figure 8 is recapitulation of commendations and awards that were made to 
personnel of the 25th Naval Construction Regiment.


25th U. S. NAVAL CONSTRUCTION REGIMENT


RECAPITULATION OF CASUALTIES



			   28 :	69 : 81	: 108 :	111 : 114 : 146	: 1006 : Total	
			   ---------------------------------------------------
(1) Known dead		   7     2    2	    1     5	3     0	     1	   21

(2) Missing		   1	 0    0     1     0     0     0      1      3

(3) Wounded		   5     0    15    9    30     0     1	     1     61

(4) Personnel incapaci-
      tated (but not 
      wounded) as a result
      of enemy action.	   2     0     3    0     4     0     0	     1     10

(5) Personnel incapaci-
      tated or injured not
      as a direct result of
      enemy action.	   6     0     15    0    15    1      0      8	    45

Figure 7

25th U. S. Naval Construction Regiment


RECAPITULATION OF COMMENDATIONS AND AWARDS


Type of Award		: 25CR : 28CB : 81CB : 108CB : 111CB : 146CB : 1006CBD : Total	


Legion of Merit		    0      0      1       0       1       0        0        2

Navy and Marine Corps	    0      0      3       0       2       0        0        5
	Medal

Bronze Star Medal	    1      0      8       0       2       4        1       16

Commendation,		    0      0      5       0       0       0        0 	    5
	(with ribbon)

Purple Heart Medal	    0      0     16       9      23       1        0       49

Letter of Commendation	   *2      0      0       0       0       0        1        3
	COMNAVEU

Letter of Commendation	    1      4      0       0       6       1        0       12
 COMUSBASFRANCE
	
	*Later authorized ribbon
Figure 8