There is often debate about which special-purpose units are best prepared. It is not for nothing that the fighters of the Delta Force (USA) and SAS (Great Britain) are trained in similar programs.
On Friday, April 29, 2011, Barack Obama ordered the most important operation in modern US history: to storm the house in the Pakistani city of Abbotabad, where Osama bin Laden was hiding. To carry out such a difficult task, fraught with the most unpredictable episodes, the American president selected a small group from the tactical unit of the Navy "Navy Seals", which during a firefight destroyed the leader of Al-Qaeda on the night of May 1.
Two years later, information leaked that only two of the members of Team 6, that is, the very same fighters from the SEAL unit who finished off terrorist number 1, survived after the death in a plane crash in Afghanistan 22 of 25 -th of its members. According to the Corriere della Sera newspaper, in April last year, another soldier was killed during an unsuccessful parachute jump. The high mortality rate proves once again that this group of highly selected fighters is at constant risk.
The Navy SEALs tactical unit was created in the wake of one of the biggest US military setbacks. In 1962, following the failed landing of Cuban mercenaries in Cuba's Bay of Pigs, President Kennedy approved the creation of a select amphibious assault force capable of raiding deep into enemy territory. They were baptized by fire in Vietnam, where the nature of the terrain and the absence of a clearly marked front line required the participation of special forces. Modeled after the British Navy Special Forces, the Seals were tasked with, among other things, monitoring and patrolling the Mekong River in their speedboats.
It was then that the United States began to use them for the most complex operations, which had to be carried out with almost surgical precision. Notable successes include the liberation of the transatlantic liner Achille Lauro, as well as Captain Richard Phillips, kidnapped by Somali pirates, the 1983 landing in Granada, and the 2003 Iraqi war, the largest in the history of the unit. ... Information also leaked out about some of the SEALs' failures, in particular the attempt to capture Panamanian President Manuel Antonio Noriega during the invasion of that country, as well as the failed hostage rescue operation at the US Embassy in Tehran in 1980.
When selecting candidates for this type of assignment, male naval servicemen no older than 28 are considered. The training process lasts six months, and it culminates in a training called "Week in Hell": for five days, future commandos experience constant cold, hunger and are unable to sleep. This "Week in Hell" is taking place at Coronado, California, where half of the Navy SEAL's 2,500 currently in service have been trained. The rest trained at Little Creek, Virginia, with the exception of 300 troops who are believed to be part of Team 6, headquartered in Dam Neck, also in Virginia.
When selecting, it eliminates up to 90% of candidates. During the tests, it is necessary to run 24 kilometers, swim three kilometers in open-air reservoirs and withstand heavy physical exertion. In general, the training lasts a year and a half, then another year as part of the unit, after which the fighters are sent to carry out their first combat mission.
The SEALs usually operate as part of a platoon of eight, although, depending on the nature of the operation, they can work in pairs or in full strength, each with their own specialization: demolition, electronics, routing, medical assistance etc.
Mysterious and formidable Russian "special forces"
The activities of the Russian special forces, the eternal enemy of the Navy SEALs during the Cold War, have always been shrouded in a thick veil of secrecy, which has turned it into a kind of myth. Although the very concept of "special forces" denotes all special forces of the Soviet and Russian era, two of them stand out for their level of training: the GRU special forces, which are structurally part of the military intelligence service of the Russian Armed Forces, and the FSB special forces, which are engaged in countering terrorism.
Despite numerous videos posted on the Internet describing how the special forces operate, the details of its training are still classified. These units were created in the 50s of the last century, at the height of the Cold War. Initially, they were trained to carry out various covert operations, including infiltration, as well as to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage activities. But after the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the special forces came out of the shadows and began to actively participate in the battles.
According to the scarce information that we know, the special forces pay great attention to hand-to-hand combat. Basically, they use sambo wrestling techniques developed in the Soviet Union. In addition, much of the training is carried out using live ammunition and explosives, which accounts for one of the highest mortality rates among special forces in the world.
However, they are structurally similar to other special-purpose units. Each spetsnaz unit consists of 8-10 fighters operating under the command of an officer. They are trained in the handling of explosives, aimed shooting, radio communications and field reconnaissance.
Among the failures of the special forces and, above all, the special forces of the FSB, in carrying out anti-terrorist operations, one should mention the storming of a secondary school in Beslan on September 3, 2004, two days earlier captured by Islamist militants. It all ended in a disorderly assault, which was launched by the anti-terrorist unit "Alpha". Subsequently, the servicemen of the Armed Forces and the Internal Troops joined him. The result is 370 dead.
As well as SAS and Delta Force
The Russian special forces and the Marine Seals detachment are well known in the world, and especially in the media, but there are other elite units undergoing similar training. In particular, the Special Air Service (SAS) and Marine Special Forces (SBS) of the Royal Armed Forces of Great Britain were created during World War II and became a kind of prototype for the special forces units that appeared later. Among other tests, candidates must walk through the mountain ranges of Wales, carrying 25 kilograms of cargo, and live a month in tropical forests.
In the same USA, there are other well-trained special forces, for example, the 75th Ranger Regiment, "Green Berets" (fighting insurgents, partisans, training foreign troops), and, of course, the 1st Special Operations Detachment "Delta "(Delta Force). It was created in 1977 by Colonel Charles Beckwith, who had previously trained the British SAS fighters for a long time. The Delta squad accepts men with the rank of sergeant over the age of 21, who have served at least two and a half years in the army and have successfully passed tests, no different from those that pass as candidates for the SAS and the SEAL squad.
Unlike the aforementioned Special Forces forces, Delta Squad tend to operate in secrecy, performing more delicate missions. At military bases, they wear civilian clothing, and their area of activity includes the territory of the United States.
The Israeli Sayeret Matkal detachment and the special forces of the French Navy also enjoy great international prestige.
The materials of Inosmi contain assessments exclusively of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the editorial staff of Inosmi.
After the publication about the American "green berets" I received numerous requests to tell about similar structures of the American army. Especially often they asked to tell about the "Delta" detachment. However, it seemed to me more appropriate to talk about the naval analogue of the "Delta", known to most readers under the name "Navy Seals". More precisely, about the elite of "SEALs" codenamed SEAL Team 6.
The point is not even that there are much more materials on "Delta", and those who are really interested in this topic will be able to independently "dig up" the necessary information. An army unit that lives by army law is more predictable than one that is a "ghost". The level of secrecy of Team 6 is such that there is not much material even in the American press. Most Americans talk about "cats" on the basis of knowledge gained from feature films and sometimes slipping in the press interviews of former "cats". And the very existence of this detachment can always be questioned.
Publicly, the Pentagon denies the existence of such a unit. SEAL Team 6, that is what the name of this top-secret unit sounds like, is shrouded in such a veil of secrecy that sometimes it is surprising that there are messages on this topic at all. There is no unit, but, for example, there is an interview with a fighter of this unit, who "personally killed Osama bin Laden". Therefore, if you look at the media reports over the past 10-15 years, it becomes clear that the veil of secrecy is being torn. The desire to make money from the PR of their exploits and talk about their own heroic life takes precedence over promises to remain silent.
And the increase in the size of the unit does not contribute to the preservation of secrecy. What two know, the pig knows. And according to the estimates of the same American and our experts, today the number of Team 6 has grown to 300 commandos and up to 1,500 service personnel. True, the "seals" themselves do not call themselves commandos. Moreover, they do not like this name in principle. Among themselves and in documents that sometimes "float", the unit's fighters are called operatives.
From this, a competent analyst can already conclude that Team 6 is not a purely naval structure. It is rather a symbiosis of naval intelligence and the CIA. With an appropriate attitude. I mean not only the restrictions imposed by military orders and regulations, but also the ability to act "at your own discretion", which is given by affiliation with the CIA.
The detachment began not so long ago. First of all, the name SEAL itself is interesting. It comes from a combination of three English words - Sea, Air, Land. This is how the diving team was called during the Second World War. However, it is impossible to consider the diving team as the prototype of the described unit. Rather, it is one of the camouflage methods adopted by reconnaissance and sabotage units during the Cold War.
By the way, Team 6 is from the same song. Already during the formation of the detachment, the Americans understood that Soviet intelligence officers would soon find out about the "cats". In fact, at the time of Team 6's creation, there were only two SEAL units in the US. Therefore, it would be logical to name the squad Team 3.
When did the "seals" appear? According to some information from open sources, the detachment was formed immediately after the failure of the special operation to rescue 53 hostages at the American Embassy in Tehran (Operation Eagle Claw). Let me remind you that this happened in 1980. And the operation of the elite special forces of the US Army then ended in complete collapse. A military helicopter with commandos collided with the plane on the ground and exploded. 8 commandos were killed. The Pentagon was then put in a very delicate position.
The naval commanders thought in the same way. It was urgent to create a structure that could quickly and by any means solve the issues of combating terrorism. The goal, as you can see, is good, but it was entrusted to implement it to a rather ambiguous person - commander (corresponds to the Russian naval rank of captain of the second rank) Richard Marsinko. During the Vietnam War, Marcinko earned a reputation as a rather brutal and ruthless officer. (By the way, for those who are interested in his biography: Marcinko wrote the book "The Rogue Warrior".)
Team 6 is headquartered at the Dam Neck Branch at Oceana Naval Air Station, south of Virginia Beach. It is there that the majority of "fur seals" are still today. Other army units are also located there to cover the base.
The commander did not particularly care about the observance of army regulations and orders. The first detachment was formed according to the principle of personal courage (especially in the Vietnam War), friendship between soldiers and ... readiness to carry out any command order.
How do you become a member of Team 6? Typically, the selection procedure is as follows. In the divisions of "SEALs", which perform normal tasks, after several years of service, casting is held for those wishing to go to Team 6. There are three such places in the United States. They are perfectly "tracked" by numbers. The even rooms are located in Virginia Beach. San Diego odd number base. Third place is Hawaii. There is another "secret" of the US Navy - the base of mini-submarines. Typically, the dropout rate for passing tests is 50 or higher.
The officers of the Team usually come for one or two contract terms. And it changes quite often. Although, according to some reports, there are cases of returning to the Team several times. This practice somewhat diminishes the importance of the officer corps, but raises the importance of the sergeants.
According to the recollections of the officers of the unit, many soldiers, and especially sergeants, tend to exaggerate their own role. Marcinko laid down just such a style of service. Anyone can be anyone.
But on the other hand, this style of service generates some bravado specifically for Team 6. All other SEAL units are "white" or "standard" for them. Although, in fairness, it should be said that they perform the same tasks. However, any team operative will always say: "If we need to take away an atomic bomb from the bad guys, or save prisoners in a war zone, then only we can do it ..."
This is how the two squads (assault groups) of Team 6 were created. They were named after the colors of the American fleet. Blue and gold. By the way, at the same time, fighters from the “blue” were spotted. The fact is that the "Blue" group chose "Jolly Roger" as their symbol. It is clear that the "pirates" soon became quite famous. They even got the unofficial name "Bad Boys in Blue".
In order for you to understand the system of training detachments, it is enough to give a couple of examples known from open sources. The state police have preserved several hundred protocols against members of the Team for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. And in the database of accidents there are a lot of reports on the cancellation of equipment, which were broken by the operatives during their training.
Former Team member and now Congressman from Montana Ryan Zinke recalls one of the exercises he took part in during his training for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Then he accompanied the commander of the exercise, the American admiral.
“When we opened the door, what I saw was like Pirates of the Caribbean.
Is this my fleet? Are these guys my fleet? the admiral asked me. "
Indeed, for the naval admiral, what he saw was a shock. The top-secret, most trained division of the Navy Special Forces looked like the thugs from a Hollywood movie. Long hair, earrings in the ears, beards ... And the appropriate attitude to the form of clothing. Each of the fighters dressed to perform "his" task.
After this episode, the detachment underwent a severe reorganization. The command structure of Team 6 was "thinned" thoroughly. And at all levels. Many officers and even admirals were transferred to other units or dismissed from military service. This also affected the non-commissioned officers. These reorganizations created SEAL Team 6 as it stands today.
Today a lot is known about the detachment. Everything you read above is just the tip of the iceberg. The fact that some members of the detachment "opened their mouths", especially after the operation to liquidate bin Laden, became the basis for initiating many criminal cases on charges of high treason. Readers probably remember two names: Matt Bissonnet (author of two books about his service in the Team) and Robert O'Neill (the one who claims that it was he who killed bin Laden). Both are accused today under this very article.
After some insight into the history, perhaps we should talk about the features of the actions of this unit in a combat situation. What is the difference between the Team and the "white fur seals"? And they really are. And quite substantial.
The strongest SEAL Team 6 inherited is in Afghanistan. Therefore, the analysis of actions in this particular country, in my opinion, will be the most indicative for understanding the work of this special unit.
First of all, about the principles of the work itself. Those that were laid down by the founder. The first, which is fundamental for operatives from SEAL Team 6, is the words of one of the former officers of this unit: "If you feel threatened even for a second, then you will kill someone."
This principle applies unswervingly. As, however, in other special forces. "If you doubt, shoot." Moreover, none of the commandos will not pass by an already killed enemy without a control shot. For a formal account of the operation, a sense of threat is sufficient to justify any loss.
True, in official papers, when it comes to the murder of civilians, the picture is absolutely perfect. As an example, I will cite the words of one of the commanders of the Team: "Do I think that something bad was happening? Do I think that there were more killings than necessary? Naturally. I think that the natural reaction to the threat was to eliminate it; and only then you wondered: “Didn't I overestimate her?” Do I think that the guys intentionally killed those who did not deserve it? No, I somehow find it hard to believe.
The second principle of the Team's work was best expressed by retired admiral, former NATO Supreme Commander James Stavridis: "If you want the unit to sometimes conduct activities that violate international law, you definitely do not need publicity."
Even more specifically, an expert on national security issues at Syracuse University, William Banks, wrote: "If you are not on the battlefield, then you are not responsible."
It was not in vain that I cited these two principles as the basis on which all further actions of the detachment are superimposed. Americans often use the latest technological advances in order to create a picture of "fair" war for the whole world. Think of TV reports about the use of precision bombs. When the entire bomb flight is televised live. Remember the drone footage showing the effective work of American units anywhere in the world.
SEAL Team 6 has not passed the cup. Some operations are controlled by the headquarters in "Dam Neck" or the center for the coordination of overseas operations with the help of drones. And, as a rule, they end in failure. But those that are carried out according to the established scheme are often successful.
Operations are usually carried out at night. Used not only pistols and rifles with silencers, but also cold. Operatives sneak into places of concentration or residence (which was done much more often in Afghanistan) and simply cut everyone out.
I think it is necessary to tell here about one scandalous operation "Bad Men in Blue", which was carried out at the very end of their stay in Afghanistan in 2008. And entered the history of the detachment under the code name "Panther".
The "bad guys" were then in the Afghan province of Helmand. One of the most difficult militarily and still considered the mainstay of the Taliban. The main population of the Pashtun province. It is in this province that the largest opium poppy plantations are located. The southern border province, which has always caused a lot of trouble for everyone.
So, in early 2008, the elders of one of the Pashtun villages turned to the commander of the coalition forces with a complaint that the "seals" had killed several peaceful farmers. Just like that, without any reason. The complaint was forwarded to Captain Scott Moore, commander of the SEALs unit.
Moore demanded an explanation from the commanding officer of the Panther unit, Captain Peter Valey. As always happens in such cases, "the civilians were not killed." I am not me, and the horse is not mine. To which Moore demanded that the Operations Center conduct its own investigation.
The investigation resulted in facts that shocking ordinary Americans. "Seals" have destroyed all the men in the village! Base? They had weapons at home. In addition, another unpleasant episode "surfaced". It became known that one of the Team was cutting the throat of a murdered Afghan. As one of the “Blue” commanders, Captain Slabinski, commented on this episode, “he seemed to mutilate a corpse” ... By the way, the interrogators also had questions to Slabinski himself. The fact is that, according to the testimony of some operatives, it was this commander who ordered the killing of all men indiscriminately.
The case was eventually hushed up. Slabinski did not give any commands. And the operative who cut the corpse, it turns out, was simply removing the equipment from the victim. But, to this day, there is no exact information either about the number of Afghans killed, or about the objectives of the operation, or about the place of the exact burial of the corpses.
Up to this point, I have written about the well-known episodes of SEAL Team 6. Now it is time to touch on another side of the work of this squad. The fact is that, in addition to the "Blue" and "Golden" companies, the Team includes one more unit - the "Black" company.
The history of the appearance of this squad as part of Team 6 is quite interesting. It was originally a team of highly skilled snipers. And the task of this team was to ensure the actions of the operatives with fire support. Accordingly, the team members were assigned to the "Blue" or "Gold" companies to perform specific tasks.
The transformation of the sniper team into the "Black" company was "facilitated" by the Saudis. More precisely, those who organized and carried out the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11. Immediately after these events, it was decided that SEAL Team 6 should have a purely reconnaissance unit. The preparation of the Team's future operations not only does not exclude, but fully justifies the conduct of reconnaissance.
Today, Black Company operatives are scattered throughout the world. They are in American embassies not only in Africa, Latin America or Asia, they are also in European embassies. It is possible that we also have such specialists.
According to the stories of some former members of the Team, operatives of the "Black" Hundred widely use diplomatic channels not only to collect and send intelligence, but also to deliver weapons and equipment to the desired countries. In addition to the official "roof", operatives of the "Black" company also work under the guise of local residents. In the same Afghanistan, local media reports often appear about the capture and destruction of unknown intelligence officers.
In addition to operative agents, the Black Company uses technical reconnaissance equipment. From specially equipped vehicles to yachts and other supposedly civilian ships that are actually floating spy stations. UAVs have become commonplace.
There are only a few known cases when operatives from the "Black" company used weapons. According to internal orders, the use of weapons by the operatives of this unit is possible only in emergency cases. And any such case is considered in detail by the command as a serious emergency.
But there is something in the "Black" company that is not found anywhere else and that causes the undisguised envy of the rest of the operatives. Women serve in this unit! Moreover, women-operatives work not only independently, but, most often, together with men. The tandem raises fewer questions from the special services of the state where the couples are. And if interest in one of the operatives is discovered, the other does the job. The first one "plays the fool." In the American intelligence services, this tactic is called "softening."
Today the "Black" company is a fairly serious intelligence structure. The rise to power of Donald Trump made the work of some US intelligence agencies quite problematic. And most American politicians understand that this is just the beginning. It is doubtful that the president will simply back down. His position is too strong. The security service has worked too well and is working too well. Too little compromising evidence is stored in the "storerooms".
And Trump's proclaimed policy of focusing on internal affairs speaks for itself. The American army will gradually scale back its overseas operations. However, American interests outside the United States have not been canceled. Business, and hence politicians, will require operations to ensure the "negotiability" of the leaders of other states. Whether Trump wants it or not. America wants to advertise its presence, or does not want to.
Be that as it may, but today the "Black" company is already quite numerous. More than a hundred operatives. Alas, there is still no information about the number of information support units. And the company is constantly growing.
In general, SEAL Team 6 continues its activities in all corners of the world. With their problems, victories and defeats. And you can't discount it. The above-mentioned congressman from the state of Montana Ryan Zinke once said an interesting phrase: "When I was in business, we were looking for wars all the time. And these guys did." I don’t think it’s better.
Seals - United States Navy SEAL ( SE a, A ir and L and) (literally "Seals") - the legendary, as well as the main tactical unit of the Special Operations Forces (MTR) of the Navy, which is operationally subordinate to the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
According to many military analysts, today the US Navy Seals are the most trained and equipped unit in the world, on a par with the elite US Delta units, FORECON, MARSOC.
This is the elite of the American special forces.
SEAL Tasks
United States Navy SEALs are designed to:
- conducting reconnaissance,
- conducting special and sabotage events, search and rescue operations,
- covering the main forces,
- guidance of artillery fire,
- demining and mining,
- providing communications in areas where hostilities are underway,
- combating maritime terrorism and illegal crossing of the country's maritime state borders,
- fulfillment of other tasks facing the MTR.
SEAL business structure
The main unit in the SEAL is a separate detachment (battalion) of the Special Forces (special purpose), consisting of:
- a detachment commander, who, as a rule, has the rank of captain of the 3rd, sometimes captain of the 2nd rank of the US Navy,
- headquarters:
⚓ - Chief of Staff of the Detachment with the rank of Lieutenant Commander (or Navy Lieutenant) (Operations, N3),
⚓ - operational officer (Plans and Targeting, N5),
⚓ - head of the intelligence unit (Intelligence, N2),
⚓ - Deputy Detachment Commander for Combat Training (Administrative support, N1),
⚓ - deputy detachment commander for the rear (Logistics, N4),
⚓ - head of the MSS / medical service of the detachment (Air / Medical, N8),
- groups of support for the control of the detachment:
⚓ - two security platoons of 16-20 soldiers each with a MTO company,
- 3 separate squadrons of 40 fighters each:
⚓ - company commander (naval officer with the rank of lieutenant commander),
⚓ - two deputies (naval officers with the rank of naval lieutenant).
The standard size of the personnel of a separate special forces detachment of the US Navy with support units is up to 300 people.
Locations of SEAL bases
The main base of deployment of the US Navy SEAL units are:
— on the Atlantic coast of the United States:
⚓ - Military unit "Little Creek" of the Airborne Forces of the Navy (as part of the main military unit of the US Navy "Norfolk"),
⚓ - Naval Aviation Garrison of the Okeana military unit (Dam Neck, Virginia), where a separate Navy Special Forces regiment is stationed to combat terrorism at sea.
— on the US Pacific coast:
⚓ - Military unit "Coronado" of the airborne forces of the Navy (as part of the military unit of the US Navy "San Diego".
It houses the control units of the Naval Special Warfare Command and the Naval Special Warfare Center.
SEAL history
It is believed that the history of the "seals" began as early as the Civil War (1861), when the northern troops used swimmers to find mines.
The first special units of the US Naval Forces were created in 1943, when the Americans made an attempt to learn from the experience of the military who were fighting against the Japanese in the jungles of Burma at that time, and create a similar force. It is quite justified that the first instructors of the new unit were the British military. In those years, US seals were active participants in the bloodiest operations of World War II, including on the island of Iwo Jima and during the Allied landings in Normandy.
The modern corps of naval special forces was formed in 1962 after the US military handed the then US President John F. Kennedy an analytical note, which explained the need to create a special unit on the basis of the US Navy, capable of performing sabotage missions on the territory of the conditional enemy - the Warsaw countries. treaty, Cuba and Vietnam.
Since 2001, the US government has committed approximately $ 10.5 billion to the Special Operations Headquarters. At the same time, the number of business trips has also increased (approximately 4 times).
Admiral W. McRane, who commanded this special unit, asked the authorities many times to grant him more resources and autonomy. According to some sources, the admiral wanted to expand his forces in Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as to achieve the ability to personally make decisions on the movement of military equipment and manpower, if necessary, in order to increase the flexibility and speed of operations.
Training of US fur seals
The physical training of US seals is of paramount importance.
The main SEAL training methods were borrowed from combat swimmers - UDT (Underwater Demolition Teams). Until 1983, when the UDT was disbanded, the core of SEAL was formed from the fighters of this squad, and those who planned to become a "Navy Seal" were trained in it. 
Only 10% of recruits go through all stages of the rigorous training process and receive the coveted SEAL emblem, which in slang is commonly called "budweiser" (an eagle with an anchor in its claws, a trident and a flintlock pistol).
The SEAL physical training program is divided into several multi-week cycles, which are based on the principle of increasing loads. Thus, if in the first week of a nine-week course, recruits do 3 sets of 15 push-ups and run 2 miles, then in the ninth week they run 6 miles and do 6 sets of 30 push-ups.
At week 18 (the second nine-week cycle), the fighters are already pushing up 20 sets of 20 times.
The seals' physical training program includes a large number of special trainings, marches in conditions close to combat. 
In order to instill in the "seals" the understanding that the aquatic environment is not hostile to them, special attention is paid to actions in the water. The soldiers of this special unit are constantly improving their swimming skills: they are taught to swim in extreme conditions, with long breath holdings, with a load, with tied hands and feet.
Equally important is the psychological training of "fur seals", during which they are taught to remain calm in the most extraordinary situations, deliberately overestimating the level of stress.
The psychologists who work with them identify 4 main factors that fighters must take into account in critical situations:
- clearly and correctly set goals;
- visualize the stages of achieving these goals;
- be able to maintain a positive attitude and conduct an internal dialogue;
- be able to keep stress under control.
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SEAL Attributes
Sources of information:
1.Wikipedia site
2.the official website of the special forces
Over the entire history of its existence, humanity has evolved in many areas of its direct activity. Regrettably, not all of them are positive. One of these is war. Through violence, people for many centuries in a row achieved their goals, whether it was the seizure of new territories or the extraction of resources. Almost any conflict subsequently became a military one.
Today, the trends in international politics have changed significantly. However, practically none of the existing states has yet abandoned its military power, that is, the armed forces. On the contrary, in many countries there are special military units, about the art of which real legends are made. As a rule, formations of this kind carry out rather specific tasks, which, in turn, are practically unrealistic to be performed under the conditions of using standard forces and means. Such divisions include the "Navy Seals" (USA). In the article, we will consider the features of this unit, as well as the process of its formation and the history of its appearance.
What are SEALs?
As already indicated by the author earlier, in each country there are elite units that are engaged in the implementation of specific tasks. The US Navy SEALs are one such military force. But speaking in a purely scientific language, these units are part of the structure of the special operations forces. These formations, in turn, are endowed with a number of unique functions. Their implementation requires special training of fighters and the use of special means.
Functions of special military units
Their main functions include the following tasks, namely:
Implementation of special and sabotage measures;
Search and rescue operations;
Performing tasks of a different nature that are assigned to
Thus, SEALs (USA) are carrying out intelligence and sabotage activities. In conditions of hostilities, the role of such units is simply irreplaceable. Because they work stealthily and quietly. In this case, it should be noted that in addition to sabotage and the physical elimination of enemy personnel, "Navy SEALs" are often used, for example, to accurately target artillery fire, as well as to cover the retreat of the main forces.
The difference between "Seals" and "Delta"
Very often, the functional tasks and the essence of the unit mentioned in the article are confused with a similar formation, namely "Delta". The last name has nothing to do with "Navy Seals". The fact is that Delta is a special unit that, in its activities, implements, for the most part, tasks aimed at combating terrorism and performing special operations, such as rescuing hostages and invading the territory of other states. However, like the "Navy Seals", the presented unit is also part of the special operations forces.
Prehistory of the appearance of the unit
The special forces "Navy Seals" (USA) did not always exist. The formation of this unit was preceded by a rather long history. The initial prototype of the Navy SEALs were special combat swimmers that were created within the structure of the United States Naval Forces. They were actively used during the Second World War. The combat swimmers were faced with tasks that today are mostly performed by "Navy Seals".
It should be noted that over the entire period of their existence, swimmers have participated in such well-known military operations as "Torch" and "Overlord". It was during this period in the history of the development of the United States as a whole that the great potential and effectiveness of sabotage units, which later became the "Navy Seals", were revealed. However, the experience of conducting hostilities behind enemy lines also showed that not every soldier is capable of performing tasks that are carried out by the aforementioned combat swimmers and other similar formations. This fact largely determined the strict selection of candidates for the service, which will be discussed later in the article.
Division creation
Special Forces SEALs (USA) was created in 1962, after a meeting of the Committee of the Chiefs of Staff of the US Army. The main problem at that time was the strained relations with the Soviet Union. In fact, it was the Cold War that for the most part led to the creation of sabotage squads. At the meeting already mentioned earlier, the top officials of the US Army put forward the idea of forming special units that could conduct military operations behind enemy lines. From this moment, the admission of candidates to the Marine Seals squad begins. As for the selection criteria, they mainly paid attention primarily to good endurance in the water, the ability to handle cold weapons and firearms. Foreign language proficiency was also a positive factor.
During its existence, the "Navy Seals" (USA) have been reorganized more than once in connection with a change in the geopolitical situation. That is, initially there were detachments that were supposed to land in Cuba, later European detachments appeared, and later - Near Asian ones. The soldiers of the “Navy Seals” unit played a fairly significant role in the process. It should be noted that the existence of a military formation was initially rejected. But since the 1980s, the presence of Navy SEALs in the American Armed Forces has not been a secret to anyone, which cannot be said about the operations carried out by them.
Notable unit operations
There are many theories and assumptions about the operations in which the SEALs (US Navy) participated. As mentioned earlier, many of the operations of these units are strictly classified, which in some cases does not give a full assessment of the essence of their work. However, to date, the most striking moments of the participation of "Navy Seals" in some military conflicts and specific operations are known, for example:
- The Vietnam War showed the excellent efficiency of the unit in the implementation of sabotage missions, as well as hydrographic reconnaissance. The problem is that the landscape of the state's terrain did not allow full combat operations against enemy forces, which in most cases used partisan methods of warfare. It was thanks to the Navy SEALs that many combat operations were crowned with success.
- The invasion of Grenada, as well as the military operation "Main Chance", was a well-known case of the involvement of the Navy SEALs. In the first case, the subunit distinguished itself by conducting combat operations and holding positions under fire from superior enemy forces. During Operation Main Chance, the unit hijacked ships in the Persian Gulf.
- Also, the unit mentioned in the article participated in from the very beginning until its completion. One of the most successful operations in this conflict involving the SEALs was the seizure of the Hawr El-Amaya and El-Basra oil platforms.
It is also necessary to mention that it is a separate regiment of the special unit "Navy Seals" involved in the physical elimination of one of the most important terrorists in the world, namely Osama bin Laden.
Subdivision structure
"Navy SEALs" (special forces - a separate battalion within the special operations forces. In this case, the headquarters consists of the following structural elements:
Commander;
Chief of Staff;
The head of the reconnaissance detachment and the operational officer;
Deputies for the rear and combat training of the Marine Seals;
The head of the medical service.
It should also be noted that the headquarters also includes special sabotage groups. As a rule, each of them includes about 4-5 fighters.
Candidate selection criteria
If we do not talk about the process of direct preparation, which not all candidates withstand, then the selection for admission to the initial period is carried out quite scrupulously. The main factors are health and US citizenship. Foreigners, as we understand, are not hired at all to serve in an elite special unit. All candidates, who, in turn, are exclusively male, must be between 18 and 28 years old. Moreover, they should not have absolutely any negative health indicators. Any physical defect or chronic illness is unacceptable because the SEALs (US Navy Special Forces) perform complex tasks that involve prolonged exposure to water, as well as in cold or hot conditions. Therefore, a sick person simply cannot cope with such loads. In addition, all candidates undergo special checks and tests, according to the results of which the lucky ones get to the educational and maritime training centers.
Training "Navy Seals" (USA)
The training process of "Navy Seals" is known all over the world. They are distinguished by their cruelty and hellish grueling, but this is the approach that allows them to nurture the most professional fighters. In the first weeks of preparation, general physical training of candidates is carried out. Exercising in the water is an important part of this stage. Candidates are taught to swim in any setting, up to situations with tied hands and feet. The purpose of this stage is to instill in the fact that water is the closest friend of the Navy SEAL fighter. In addition, special combat is also carried out and All cadets are tested for their ability to act in critical situations.
"Hell week"
"Navy seals" (USA), whose training is particularly cruel, in the process of training go through such a stage as "hell week". It lasts five days, during which the cadets are given only 4 hours of sleep. The passage of the entire stage is accompanied by tests with cold and ice water, as well as grueling marches. At this stage, more than 50% of all candidates are eliminated.
US SEAL equipment
The unit uses the latest achievements in the field of military equipment and weapons. The SEALs have the right to use absolutely all the resources of the United States Army. For example, for hidden movements on water and under water, special breathing isolation devices are used. In addition, the small submarines Mark 8 Mod 1 SDV are actively used. For covert disembarkation of fighters, surface means such as boats "Cyclone" and Mk-5 "Pegas" are used. They can move directly through the water to their destination or be transported by CH-47 helicopters. As for personal safety, the members of the special forces use LaRue assault rifles, multifunctional computers MTS C4ISTAR, as well as a device that everyone rightly calls the "Navy Seals knife" (USA), the Marc Lee "Glory" combat knife.
Conclusion
So, in the article we examined the structure and features of the functional tasks of such a unit as "Navy Seals" of the United States Army. It should be noted that today these formations are actively used by America in various military conflicts, and quite effectively, which indicates a high level of their training. But even taking into account the fact that in the media today you can find many photos of "Navy Seals" (USA), their real activities are still shrouded in state secrets.