In 1949, the Navy went through a
reorganization that created a new type of construction unit – the Mobile Construction Battalion (MCB).
On 8 August 1949, U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1 (MCB 1) was established at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia and was formally commissioned on 28 October.
 In December the battalion took part in a multi-service Operation PORTEX on Vieques, Puerto Rico.
 In 1951 homeport changed when the Battalion moved from Little Creek to Davisville, Rhode Island.
During the next four years the Battalion would go to Puerto Rico; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Bermuda; Port Lyautey, French Morocco; Argentia, Newfoundland; and Rota, Spain.
 In 1956, the Battalion went to Antarctica and participated in Operation Deep Freeze II.
During that deployment MCB 1 had detachments on six continents.
 MCB 1 returned to Antarctica in 1961 to assemble a nuclear power plant for which the Battalion received the Navy Unit Commendation.
In 1949, the Navy went through a
reorganization that created a new type of construction unit – the Mobile Construction Battalion (MCB). On 8 August 1949, U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1 (MCB 1) was established at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia and was formally commissioned on 28 October.  In December the battalion took part in a multi-service Operation PORTEX on Vieques, Puerto Rico.  In 1951 homeport changed when the Battalion moved from Little Creek to Davisville, Rhode Island. During the next four years the Battalion would go to Puerto Rico; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Bermuda; Port Lyautey, French Morocco; Argentia, Newfoundland; and Rota, Spain.  In 1956, the Battalion went to Antarctica and participated in Operation Deep Freeze II. During that deployment MCB 1 had detachments on six continents.  MCB 1 returned to Antarctica in 1961 to assemble a nuclear power plant for which the Battalion received the Navy Unit Commendation.
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1