Navy SEALs

SEAL trident

SEALs are a U.S. Navy special operations unit. The name SEAL refers to their versatility in operating by sea, air and land.

Navy SEALs - Role

Counterterrorism
Unconventional Warfare
Foreign Internal Defense
Direct Action
Special Reconnaissance

Whilst Navy SEALs specialize in operations on, in or underwater, they are equally at home on dry land, be it in the jungle, desert, mountains or arctic conditions.

A Navy SEAL armed with a M60E3 belt-fed machine gun.
(view larger image)

photo : US Dod

Navy SEALS - Organization

SEAL teams are split into 2 groups:

Naval Special Warfare Group One (West Coast)
Naval Special Warfare Group Two (East Coast)

Both groups come under the control of The United States Naval Special Warfare Command (NSW) which itself comes under the SOCOM umbrella.

There are 8 SEAL teams (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 10). Each SEAL team comprises:

Staff Head Quarters element
3 40-man Task Units comprising:
- Headquarters element
- 2 SEAL Platoons of 16 men
  The SEAL platoons are the primary fighting element of the SEAL teams
  read more on SEAL Platoons
- Combat support staff
  - N1-Administrative support
  - N2 Intelligence
  - N3 Operations
  - N4 Logistics
  - N5 Plans and Targeting
  - N8 Air/Medical

Aside from the standard SEAL teams, other NSW units include:

Naval Special Warfare Development Group' (DEVGRU)
SEALS specialists in counter terrorism, formerly known as 'SEAL team six'. The men of DEVGRU are all experienced SEALs, trained in the demanding field of Maritime Counter Terrorism (MCT) and considered on a par with the Army's Combat Applications Group (CAG) (Delta Force).
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams
specialists in the use of underwater Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs)
read more on the SDV Teams

Supporting Units

The SEALs are supported by other Naval Special Warfare (NSW) elements:

Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman (SWCC)
sailors who drive the boats used to ferry SEALs to and from their targets

Navy SEALs - Notable Operations

1963 - Vietnam
1983 - Grenada - Operation Urgent Fury
1989 - Panama - Operation Just Cause
1991 - Persian Gulf - Operation Desert Storm
Navy SEALs carried out special reconnaissance missions along the Kuwaiti coastline in the build up to the ground war. When allied ground operations began, SEALs swam ashore and planted a series of explosive devices. The detonation of these explosives, coupled with machine gun fire from Special Boat Teams, convinced the Iraqi defenders that an amphibious landing was imminent, causing them to commit men to defend the coast. This deception resulted in the USMC thrust, coming over land instead of from the sea, to be met with less troops than it otherwise might have.
2001 - present - Operation Enduring Freedom
2003 - present - Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom
- During the invasion of Iraq, Navy SEALs, working with British Royal Marines, secured the beaches of the Al Faw Penninsula, which served as a major bridgehead for coalition forces.
- SEAL / SWCC units secured several offshire oil platforms, preventing their destruction by the Iraqis
- SEALs continue to carry out operations against the Iraqi Insurgency and Al Qaeda in Iraq.

Navy SEALs Links & Resources

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