Special Boat Squadrons
are echelon II Captain's major commands established
by NAVSPECWARCOM at NAB Coronado and NAB Little Creek
to equip, support, and provide trained and ready
special operations ships and craft to the geographic
commands. Each command is comprised of one or more
active or reserve component Special Boat Units and
CYCLONE Class Patrol Coastal ships.
Special Boat Units
SBU's are organized, trained and equipped to
operate a variety of special operations surface
craft in both the maritime and riverine
environments. Their unique capabilities in the
littoral battle space includes the ability to
transition from the blue water open ocean to
beach landing sites, to operations within
inland maritime lines of communication (i.e.
the riverine environment).
Special Boat Unit Mission
The mission of an SBU is to employ, operate and
maintain a variety of surface combatant craft to
conduct and support naval and joint special
operations, riverine warfare, and coastal patrol
and interdiction.
Special Boat Unit Capabilities
The SBU is capable of infiltrating and
exfiltrating forces, providing small-caliber
gunfire support, conducting coastal patrol,
surveillance, harassment, and interdiction of
maritime lines of communication, FID operations,
deception operations, search and rescue
operations, and armed escort.
Special Boat Unit Limitations
SBUs are limited in range based on fuel, sea state,
and currents. They are limited in size and amount
of equipment and weapons that can be carried,
require a support base or platform for an
extended deployment, and require extensive air or
sealift to deploy to a forward theater of operations.
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Task Unit
The SDV Task Unit is an operational element
employed to plan, coordinate, and command
submersible systems operations from
specially configured submarines equipped with
Dry Deck Shelters. The SDV Task Unit is
normally commanded by a SDV Team commanding
officer or executive officer and comprised of
one or more SDV or SEAL Platoons. When embarked
in a submarine with DDS attached, the DDS
platoon commander reports to the submarine
commanding officer as a department head and
does not fall under the operational control of
the SDV Task Unit commander.
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Task Unit Mission
SDV Units are organized, trained and equipped to
operate and maintain combat submersible systems
and conduct specialized missions utilizing the
Dry Deck Shelter/Host Submarine as an insertion/
extraction platform.
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Task Unit Capabilities
SDV Unit capabilities include limited DA missions
such as port and harbor anti-shipping attacks and
raids. Special mission units, using the SDV from
the DDS, or the DDS alone, can conduct a variety
of Direct Action missions in the maritime
environment. SDV Task Units conduct hydrographic
reconnaissance and other intelligence-gathering
missions and infiltrate, exfiltrate, and resupply
SOF.
NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE GROUP ONE
Naval Special Warfare Group ONE in Coronado,
California, is one of the six major operational
components of the Naval Special Warfare Command.
It is commanded by a Navy Captain. NSWG 1 has
under its operational and administrative control,
SEAL Team ONE, SEAL Team THREE, SEAL Team FIVE,
and SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE.
Administrative control of NSWU-1 AND NSWU-3 is
with Naval Special Warfare Group ONE. The group
deploys Naval Special Warfare forces worldwide to
meet the training, exercise, contingency, and
wartime requirements of the theater Commanders.
Naval Special Warfare Group ONE is capable of
task-organizing to support worldwide commitments
as a deployed Naval Special Warfare Task Group, as
they did during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. NSWG1
geographically concentrates on the Pacific and
Central Commands areas of responsibility.
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE, is based in
Pearl Harbor, HI. Commanded by a Navy Commander,
it has three operational SEAL Delivery Vehicle,
Dry Deck Shelter Task Units and a headquarters
element. Each SDV/DDS Task Unit is designed to
operate independently from a host submarine in
the conduct of Naval Special Warfare missions.
SDV/DDS Task Units normally deploy only aboard
host submarines, but may be deployed from shore
or surface ships. SDVT-1 conducts operations
throughout the Pacific and Central commands
geographic areas or responsibility.
Naval Special Warfare Unit ONE
Naval Special Warfare Unit ONE, is based in Guam.
Commanded by a Navy Commander, it consists of a
headquarters element and has operational control
of SEAL platoons and Special Boat Unit Detachments
from the Naval Special Warfare Group ONE and from
Special Boat Squadron ONE that forward deploy to
NSWU-1 on a six month rotational duty. Currently,
NSWU-1 maintains operational control of five
forward deployed SEAL platoons and two SBU Rigid
Hull Inflatable Boat (RIB) Detachments. NSWU-1
is under the administrative command of Naval
Special Warfare Group ONE, but operationally
reports to Special Operations Command, Pacific
and US Navy Seventh Fleet for operational tasking.
NSWU-1 provides operational support to forward
deployed platoons and conducts theater planning
for contingencies and exercises for Naval Special
Warfare forces in the Pacific area of operations.
NSWU-1 is capable of forming the nucleus of a
Naval Special Warfare Task Unit.
Naval Special Warfare - Group ONE Detachment Kodiak, Alaska
It is a small training command consisting of a
six man training cadre that specializes in
training SEAL platoons and Special Boat Unit
Detachments in maritime cold-weather
operations. Units train in long range maritime
navigation, across the beach operations, and
other cold weather operations.
Naval Special Warfare Unit THREE
Naval Special Warfare Unit THREE, based in
Bahrain and under the administrative control
of NSWG-1, is commanded by a NSW Commander.
It consists of a small headquarters element
which forms the core of a NSWTU when deployed.
It plans, coordinates, and supports the
activities of SEAL platoons and SBU detachments
deployed to the US Central Command, exclusive
of those organic to amphibious ready groups and
carrier battle groups. In view of the maritime
character of the area of responsibility and
nature of the operations supported, day to day
OPCON is exercised by COMNAVCENT. OPCON may be
shifted to Special Operations Command, Central
when required by operational tasking.
NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE GROUP TWO
Naval Special Warfare Group TWO, located in
Little Creek, VA, is the one of the six major
operational components of the Naval Special
Warfare Command. NSWG-2 is commanded by a
Navy Captain. NSWG-2 has under its operational
and administrative control, SEAL Team TWO,
SEAL Team FOUR, SEAL Team EIGHT, SEAL Delivery
Vehicle Team TWO, Naval Special Warfare Unit
FOUR and Naval Special Warfare Unit TEN.
Administrative control of Naval Special Warfare
Unit TWO and Naval Special Warfare Unit EIGHT
is with Naval Special Warfare Group TWO. The
group deploys Naval Special Warfare forces
worldwide to meet training, exercise,
contingency, and wartime requirements of the
theater Commanders. Naval Special Warfare Group
TWO is capable of task organizing to support
worldwide commitments as a deployed Naval
Special Warfare Task Group, NSWTG, as they did
during Operation JUST CAUSE. Naval Special
Warfare Group TWO geographically
concentrates on the Atlantic, Europe and
Southern Command areas of responsibility.
Naval Special Warfare Unit TWO
Naval Special Warfare Unit TWO is based in
Stuttgart, Germany. Commanded by a Navy
Commander, it consists of a headquarters
element and has operational SEAL platoons
and Special Boat Unit Detachments from the
Naval Special Warfare Group TWO and from
Special Boat Squadron TWO that forward
deploy to NSWU-2 on a six month rotational
duty. Currently, NSWU-2 maintains
operational control of two forward deployed
SEAL platoons and a Special Boat Unit RIB
Detachment. NSWU-2 is under the
administrative control of Naval Special
Warfare Group TWO, but operationally
reports to Special Operations Command, Europe
for operational tasking. NSWU-2 provides
operational support to forward deployed
platoons and conducts theater planning
for contingencies and exercises for Naval
Special Warfare forces in the EUCOM theater
of operations. NSWU-2 is capable of forming
the nucleus of a Naval Special Warfare Task
Unit.
Naval Special Warfare Unit EIGHT
Naval Special Warfare Unit EIGHT is based in
Rodman, Panama. Commanded by a Navy Commander,
it consists of a headquarters element and has
operational SEAL platoons from Naval Special
Warfare Group TWO that forward deploy to NSWU-8
on a six month rotational duty. Currently,
NSWU-8 maintains operational control of two SEAL
platoons and Special Boat Unit TWENTY-SIX. NSWU-8
is under the administrative control of Naval
Special Warfare Group TWO, and operational
control of Special Operations South and Atlantic
Fleet, South. NSWU-8 provides operational support
to forward deployed platoons and conducts theater
planning for contingencies and exercises for Naval
Special Warfare forces in the SOUTHCOM theater of
operations. NSWU-8 is capable of forming the nucleus
of a Naval Special Warfare Task Unit.
Naval Special Warfare Unit TEN
Naval Special Warfare Unit TEN is based at Naval
Station Rota, Spain. Commanded by a NSW Commander,
it has three operational SDV Task Units and a
headquarters element. SDVT-2 conducts operations
throughout the US Atlantic, Southern, and European
commands. Its mission is to provide tactical type
training opportunities for NSW forces deployed
aboard Sixth Fleet ships during slack periods while
on routine deployments, so NSW forces can maintain
perishable skills. NSWU-10 is responsible for all
NSW exercises conducted in Spain. NSWU-10 is under
the operational and administrative command of Naval
Special Warfare Group TWO. NSWU-10 conducts close
coordination with Special Operations Command, Europe.
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team TWO
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team TWO is based at
Little Creek, VA. Commanded by a Navy Commander,
it has three operational SDV/DDS (Dry Deck Shelter)
Task Units and a headquarters element. SDVT-2 conducts
operations throughout the Atlantic and Southern, and
European command geographic areas of responsibility.
SDVT-2 places special emphasis on providing the Sixth
Fleet Commander a SDV/DDS capability.
SPECIAL BOAT SQUADRON ONE
Special Boat Squadron ONE located in Coronado, CA
is one of the six major operational components of
Naval Special Warfare Command. It is commanded by
a Navy Captain. Special Boat Squadron ONE has under
its operational and administrative control Special
Boat Unit ELEVEN, Special Boat Unit TWELVE and four
Patrol Coastal Class ships, USS HURRICANE, USS
MONSON, USS SQUALL, and USS ZEPHYR. The Squadron
deploys PCs and Special Boat Unit, SBU, detachments
worldwide to meet training, exercise,
contingency, and wartime requirements of theater
Commanders. Special Boat Squadron ONE geographically
concentrates on the Pacific and Central areas of
responsibility.
Special Boat Unit TWELVE
SBT-12 is based in Coronado, CA.
It is commanded by a
Navy Commander, and consists of
a headquarters element and eight
Rigid Hull Inflatable, RIB,
Detachments. SBT-12 has 5 MK V
Special Operations Craft, SOC,
Detachments. Each Detachment
normally consists of two boats with
crews. SBT-12, supports open-water
special operations missions for
West Coast Naval Special Warfare
forces and deploys detachments aboard
amphibious ships, to Naval Special
Warfare Unit ONE, and on DFTs
throughout the Pacific and Central
areas of operation. SBT-12 is under
the operational and administrative
control of Special Boat Squadron ONE.
SPECIAL BOAT SQUADRON TWO
Special Boat Squadron TWO is based in Little Creek,
VA and is one of the six major operational
components of Naval Special Warfare Command. Special
Boat Squadron TWO is commanded by a Navy Captain.
Special Boat Squadron TWO has under its operational
and administrative control Special Boat Unit TWENTY,
Special Boat Unit TWENTY-TWO, and 9 Patrol Coastal
Class ships. The PCs under Special Boat Squadron TWO
are USS CYCLONE,
USS TEMPEST, USS TYPHOON, USS SIROCCO, USS CHINOOK,
USS FIREBOLT, USS WHIRLWIND, USS THUNDERBOLT and USS
SHAMAL. SBT-26 reports administratively to Special
Boat Squadron TWO. The squadron deploys PCs and SBU
detachments worldwide to meet training, exercise,
contingency and wartime requirements of theater
Commanders. Special Boat Squadron TWO geographically
concentrates on the Atlantic, Southern and Europe
areas of responsibility.
Special Boat Unit TWENTY
SBT-20 is based in Little Creek, VA.
It is commanded by a Navy Commander , and consists of a
headquarters element and 13 Rigid Inflatable Boat,
detachments and two MK V Special Operations Craft, SOC,
Detachments. SBT-20 has 5 MK VSOC Detachments. Each
-detachment normally consists of two boats.
SBT-20 supports open-water special operations missions
for East Coast Naval Special Warfare forces and deploys
detachments aboard amphibious ships and to NSWU-2 and
NSWU-10. SBT-20 focuses on providing operational
support to the European and Atlantic theaters of
operations. SBT-20 is under the operational and
administrative control of Special Boat Squadron TWO.
Special Boat Unit TWENTY-TWO
SBT-22 is based at John C. Stennis Space Center,
Pearl River, LA. It is commanded by a Navy Commander,
and consists of a headquarters element and 2
Patrol Boat Riverine detachments, 2 Mini Armored
Troop Carrier detachments and 2 Patrol
Boat Light detachment. Each detachment
normally consists of two boats with
crews. SBT-22 is mainly a reserve
organization with over 70% of the
command being Naval reservists.
SBT-22 focuses on providing riverine
support in Southern and European
theaters of operations. SBT-22 is
under the operational and
administrative control of Special
Boat Squadron TWO.
US Naval Psychological Operations Forces
The US Navy possesses the capability to produce
audiovisual products in the Fleet Audiovisual
Command, Pacific; the Fleet Imagery Command,
Atlantic; the Fleet Combat Camera Groups;
Naval Imaging Command; various film libraries;
and limited capability from ships and aircraft
of the fleet. A Naval Reserve PSYOP audiovisual
unit supports the Atlantic Fleet. Navy personnel
assets have the capability to produce documents,
posters, articles, and other material suitable
for PSYOP. Administrative capabilities exist
ashore and afloat that prepare and produce
various quantities of printed materials.
Language capabilities exist in naval intelligence
and among naval personnel for most European and
Asian languages. The Fleet Tactical Readiness
Group provides equipment and technical
maintenance support to conduct civil radio
broadcasts and broadcast jamming in the
amplitude modulation frequency band. This unit is
not trained to produce PSYOP products and must
be augmented with PSYOP personnel or linguists
when necessary. The unit is capable of being
fully operational within 48 hours of receipt of
tasking. The unit's equipment consists of a
10.6kw AM band broadcast radio transmitter; a
broadcast studio van; antenna tuner; two antennas
(a pneumatically raised 100 foot top-loaded
antenna mast and a 500 foot wire helium balloon
antenna); and a 30 kw generator that provides
power to the system.
US Marine Corps Psychological Operations Forces
The USMC has the capability to execute observable
actions to convey selected impressions to support
PSYOP objectives. This support may include aerial
and artillery leaflet dissemination, combat camera
documentation, and the use of motion picture
projection equipment.
(Excerpt from the JCS SOF Reference Manual)
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