United States Navy Special Warfare Development Group

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SEAL Team SIX patch

The United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group; otherwise known as NAVSPECWARDEVGRU, the NSWDG, or simply as DEVGRU; is the premier Navy SEAL unit and the United States Navy's primary Counter-Terrorism and covert operation unit. It is officially stated to have been formed after United States Navy SEAL Team SIX was disbanded and SEAL Team 8 was tasked with maritime deployments and take-downs. Unofficial accounts say that DEVGRU is simply SEAL Team SIX and MARESFAC restructured and renamed, but officers deny this to this day; these rumors are supported by DEVGRU being under the command of NAVSOC and also a component of JSOC along with such units as the U.S. Army's 1st SFOD-D and and other Counter-Terrorism units.

1 Description
2 Time line
3 Games
4 External links

[edit] Description

DEVGRU is a naval counterpart to the Army's Combat Applications Group (CAG), commonly known as Delta Force. It is considered to be one of the world's premier Maritime Counter-Terrorism units. Its operators are drawn from the current SEAL,SWCC and EOD ranks. Navy EOD technicians assigned to DEVGRU are rumored to operate during counter-proliferation missions.

The DEVGRU compound, located on Fleet Training Center Dam Neck, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is similar to Delta Force's at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with a focus on operations at sea. It has firing ranges and shooting houses, a section of aircraft fuselage, and other likely hostage rescue locations. DEVGRU uses some unusual weapons because of their maritime environment, and the shooting ability of a DEVGRU operator is probably extremely good.

DEVGRU's mission is to provide intelligence and Counter-Terrorism services for the Department of the Navy and the overall U.S. Special Operations Command, and to create, test, and evaluate new tactics, weapons, and equipment for use by Naval Special Warfare forces such as SEALs. These responsibilities make it obvious that DEVGRU is the Naval equivalent of the Army's elite Delta Force. Both units train together from time to time and deploy together when the need arises. The unit is currently based in Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex, Virginia and administrative control is under Naval Special Warfare Command.

The US government has described the Naval Special Warfare Development Group as having been established to oversee development of NSW tactics, equipment, and techniques. This, is only partly true. The unit is under the direct command of NAVSPECWARGRU, however it is also a component of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC - Pope AFB, North Carolina), along with other CT units such as Delta Force. It is believed that DEVGRU maintains its own helicopter support unit (2 Sqns. with 18 HH-60H for SEAL transport and support), but trains frequently with the 160th SOAR, especially in support of ship assaults, which frequently make use of the small MH-6 Little Bird, operated exclusively by the 160th.

Organization and manpower of the Group is secret, and can only be guessed at. It is estimated that NSWDG now has about 200 operators, broken down by teams, much like the British SAS and Delta Force. Most recently, it has been reported that there are currently three such teams within the group, assault units Red, Blue, Gold; with Gold being the premier assault team. There is also a special boat unit, Gray, the transportation unit containing the SDVs and boats used to transport the assault teams. Green Team consists of the new operators who have just joined DEVGRU and are in training. Each operator inside the Teams has a specialty, but all are experts in underwater and HALO insertion. The missions of these units are, again, a cause for speculation, however it is logical that they are specialized amongst themselves, perhaps along the lines of the SAS; Mountain, Mobility, Boat, and Air (HALO) troops (within a single Squadron). It is also possible that these units may have a focus on specific target types instead, such as shipping, oil rigs, and structures, (although this scenario seems less likely due to the obvious need for all members of the Group to be current and proficient if a large scale operation arises).

What weapons and equipment DEVGRU uses has not been revealed. Given their tactical development goal and SEAL background, the HK MP5 submachine gun, the M4 Carbine, SOPMOD accessory kit, and the H&K USP probably figure highly in their weapons menu. Traditionally, units such as DEVGRU are allowed wide latitude in their choice of weapons, and often select weapons as appropriate for the specific mission or task. It is also common for information about issue weapons to be closely held.

There is also an administrative and testing section, which has about 300 personnel. These individuals are responsible for the testing and development of new NAVSPECWAR equipment, including weapons.

It has been reported that DEVGRU is one of only a handful of US units authorized to conduct preemptive actions against terrorists and terrorist facilities (NOTE: Red Cell once shared this charter, although it was never put into practice before the unit was apparently disbanded). DEVGRU operators reportedly fire an average of 2,500 to 3,000 rounds per week in training, amounting to more than the entire US Marines per year according to SEAL Team SIX creator Richard Marcinko.

In 1997, per 5 USC §7103(b) President Clinton signed Executive Order 13039 excluding NSWDG from the Federal Labor Management Relations Program.

[edit] Time line

(In or before 1980): The existing SEAL teams, including all 12 platoons in SEAL Team One on the West Coast, began Counter-Terrorism training.
On the East Coast, elements of the SEAL Team Two went a step further and anticipated a scenario at sea needing a Counter-Terrorism response and formed a dedicated two-platoon group known as "MOB Six" (Mobility Six) and began training to that end.
1980: The failed 1980 attempt to rescue American hostages at the American Embassy in Iran (Operation Eagle Claw). During an assignment to the National Military Command Center during Operation Eagle Claw, Richard Marcinko saw the need for a unit focused exclusively on Maritime Counter-Terrorism.
October 1980: SEAL Team 6 was created as part of the Joint Special Operations Command. An accelerated training program made the unit mission-ready 6 months later. At the time there were only two SEAL Teams; popular knowledge and SEAL claims say the name was chosen to confuse Soviet intelligence as to the number of SEAL Teams in operation.
1981: SEAL team 6 became officially operational.
(later): Marcinko retired, and afterwards revealed much about SEAL methods in his autobiography Rogue Warrior and in its fictional sequels, causing public exposure which the Navy was not thankful for.
1989: Dec 20th operation Just Cause, DEVGRU led by CDR. Gilberto Perez, SEAL and SWCC personal jumped into and around La Pietia airfield, with the mission to detain Manuel Noriega, and to restore the rightful Government to power. Unfortunately, this mission was overshadowed by poor intel, and eventual ambush by PDF forces, which led to the death of four SEALs. Controversial to this day, many believe that this action was led in part, or at least planned by the C.I.A. Crucial to the mission's ultimate success was the never die attitude of the SEALS (which they are feared and revered for world wide). Several days before, ships from UNITAS XXX moored near Howard Air Base. Aboard the USS Manitowoc 1180 were a Mardet (18) and four US Coast Guard Liaison Officers, led by CDR Gilberto Montoya. The four included Ltjg Don Culkin, Ltjg P. Yamil Perez (previously assigned teaching and intell duties with Seal Teams Two and Six in Callao and Mira Flores El Peru), and a Chief Warrant Officer unamed. Months earlier arrangements had been made for a luncheon with General Manuel Noriega at his headquarters. The significance of this small event cannot be overlooked. The four drove up to the Headquarters building but were told that General Noriega was not present. No indication of what was to come was revealed to the four so as to play out their part without "telegraphing". Two nights before the invasion, an evening reception was held at a venue that was changed that afternoon for the ships officers; invited were several dignitaries (including Chinese Embassy Personnel) and members of Seals Teams. The commander of one Seal team was commended for changing the venue for security reasons at such short notice. The building was patrolled by Marine Gurads. Several members were issued beepers and specific instructions that evening. Weeks before, while on patrol in El Peru, the four USCG Officers and the two Seal Teams were the target of Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria, each with a $25,000 bounty.

The introduction of SWCC personnel in the role of force multiplier working side by side and integrated with their teammates, SWCC personnel led by "Enlisted Boat Captain" GM William Mitiu provided direct combat support, and the necessary firepower for the SEALs to re-group and complete their mission.

1990: "OPERATION DESERT SHIELD" Due to concern that the U.S. Army would be drastically out numbered in the coming days leading to "OPERATION DESERT STORM". It was decided that U.S. Navy SEALs would be best used to eliminate the threat of the Iraqi Republican Guard, further more Special Warfare personal were strategically utilized to plan and carry out one of history's greatest diversions, Drawing the Iraqi military away from U.S. Army ground forces, and effecting the most devastating military victory in modern history.
1991: In the Persian Gulf DEVGRU men raided and occupied oil rigs to defend against Iraqi forces.
1993: Special warfare personal deploy to Liberia, and Sierra Leone to defend local populations, and to neutralize the threat from local warlords.
1996: DEVGRU men were active in Bosnia, where they helped hunt down PIFWC's (Personnel Indicted For War Crimes: pronounced "piff wic"); see war criminals.
2003: DEVGRU men are believed to have participated in Task Force 121, the secretive group of elite troops charged with the capture of high-ranking Iraqi personal. Similarly, many believe that DEVGRU was the primary assault force involved in the rescue of Army PFC Jessica Lynch.

[edit] Games

SEAL Team 6 appears in the computer game Counter-Strike and its variants.
SEAL Team 10 appears in the Playstation 2 game Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and its ports, although the mission they are tasked with is more in line with SEAL Team 6's real life operations.
SOCOM Series for Playstation 2 and PSP.