Pacific diving and salvage unit to shut down, sources say

[unhappycamper]

Pacific diving and salvage unit to shut down, sources say
By Mark D. Faram - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 18, 2009 17:00:49 EST

Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, the Navy’s deploying diving and salvage capability for the entire Pacific Fleet, will be decommissioned by Oct. 1, two sources told Navy Times.

The unit, which just played a key role in the salvage of the cruiser Port Royal in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was identified by Navy Expeditionary Combat Command as “having a low demand signal,” a source within the unit said.

Gone will be 67 diving and support billets, the sources told Navy Times, including the commanding officer, executive officer and the command master chief billets.

Remaining will be roughly 45 diving billets that will report directly to San Diego-based Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1, but the unit will cease to be a command of its own.

It is unclear if there will be similar cuts at MDSU 2, based at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va.


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/02/navy_salvage_cuts_021809w/%2e