Brazilian commando frogmen
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The Brazilian Navy has two frogman units:-
- The "GRUMEC" (Grupo de Mergulhadores de Combate - Combat Divers Group) attached to the Submarine Force.
- The "RECONANF" ("{Companhia} de Reconhecimento Anfíbio - Amphibious Reconnaissance Company) attached to the Special Operations Battalion (Batalhão "Tonelero") of the Fleet Marine Force (Brazilian Marine Corps).
[edit] Cronology
- 1964: The first Brazilian MECs (Mergulhadores de Combate = Combat Divers) were two officers and two privates who had been through the USA UDT course.
- 1970: From their experience, the Divisão de Mergulhadores de Combate (= Combat Divers Division) was created in the Base Almirante Castro e Silva.
- 1971: Two more officers and three privates qualified for the French Navy as "nageurs de combat".
- 1974: At what is now the Centro de Instrução e Adestramento Almirante Áttila Monteiro Aché (CIAMA) in Brazil was trained the first group of combat divers.
- 1983: Because this frogman unit were getting more calls, Combat Divers Division was transformed into GRUMEC, as an integral part of the Comando da Força de Submarinos (= Submarine Force Command).
- 1997 Dec 12: The Minister of the Navy created GRUMEC, whose headquarters are in Rio de Janeiro city and is directly subordinate to the Submarine Force Command.
- 1998 March 10: GRUMEC was activated.
[edit] External links
- (Portuguese) Unofficial website
