SEAL
Period January 1, 1962 to present
Country United States
Branch United States Navy
Type Special Maritime Operations Force
Role Maritime Special Operations
Workforce 2,000
Part of Naval Special Warfare Command
United States Special Operations Command
Coronado Garrison, California
Little Creek, Virginia
Nickname Frogmen
Currency
(Unofficial) "Ready to Lead, Ready to Follow, Never Quit",
"The only easy day was yesterday",
"It's worth being a winner",
"Efficiency is silence"
Battles
Vietnam War
Multinational Force in Lebanon
Operation Urgent Fury
Hijacking of the Achille Lauro
Operation Just Cause
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Restore Hope
Battle of Mogadishu1
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Liberation
Operation Red Wing
Death of Osama bin Laden
The SEALs (acronym for Sea, Air, Land; in French "sea, air and land") or Navy SEALs are the main special force of the United States Navy (US Navy).
SEAL teams are trained to deploy on a variety of missions, including special reconnaissance operations, unconventional warfare, defense from abroad, hostage taking, counter-terrorism, ground preparation before a landing and capture of warlords. Without exception, all SEAL members are part of the Navy or Coast Guard.
Origins
The origins of the SEALs date back to World War II, when the U.S. Navy realized that in order for its assault troops to successfully gain a foothold on landing beaches, it would need soldiers to conduct reconnaissance of intended sites. , note the existing obstacles and defenses, then guide the assaulting forces. The follow-up was the creation of the Amphibious Scout and Raider School created jointly by the Army and the United States Navy in 1942 at Fort Pierce, Florida. It was planned to train experienced Army and Marine deminers and combat swimmers, creating the Naval Combat Demolition Unit (NCDU).
The NCDU was first employed during Operation Torch, during the invasion of North Africa in 1942. This unit became the first group specialized in amphibious tactics and incursions of the US Navy.
The year 1943 saw the program of the Amphibious Scout and Raider School expand with the integration of the underwater demolition specialty. Following the landing force disaster on Tarawa in November 1943, when coral reefs and other surface obstructions caused heavy Marine casualties, Vice Admiral Richmond K. Turner took charge of forming nine demolition teams. submarines, mostly made up of members of the US Navy's naval construction battalions, the Seabees (CB or Construction Battalion). These volunteers were organized into special teams and were responsible for reconnaissance and clearing obstacles on the beaches, to allow the amphibious assault troops to dismount, then later became combat swimmer reconnaissance units, eventually named UDT (for Underwater Demolition Team).
The President of the United States, John F. Kennedy (former member of the United States Navy during World War II), familiar with the situation in Southeast Asia, recognized the need for unconventional warfare in order to counter the guerrillas. In a speech to the United States Congress on May 25, 1961, Kennedy spoke of his deep respect for the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets). He announced in the same speech, in addition to the government's plan to put a man on the moon, the allocation of 100 million dollars for the reinforcement of special forces operations, in order to allow an increase in American capabilities in terms of unconventional warfare.
The UDTs participated directly during the Korean War in the landing of Inchon, as in many other raiding missions including the destruction of bridges and other works of art, warehouses and tunnels accessible by sea, river, or rivers. In addition to these destruction missions, there were missions to protect and secure port facilities. Thus, the missions gradually turned to the fight against insurgency, in the 1960s.
The Navy needed to determine its exact role within the special operations arena. In March 1961, Arleigh Burke, Chief of Naval Operations, recommended the establishment of guerrilla and counter-insurgency units. These units had to be able to operate at sea, in the air and on land. This was the beginning of the SEALs. Many of the SEALs came from UDT units, which had already gained commando war experience in Korea; however, UDTs remained necessary within the Navy's amphibious force.
The first two teams were both based on the American coast:the first, intended for the Pacific Fleet, within Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in San Diego, California, and the second, intended for the Atlantic Fleet, at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Newly formed SEAL men were trained in such unconventional skills as close combat, high-altitude parachute jumping, demolition, and foreign languages. SEALs completed UDT replacement training and spent some time in UDT training. To make them a SEAL team, they had to undergo SEAL-level indoctrination called SBI (for SEAL Basic Indoctrination), at Camp Kerry in the Cuyamaca Mountains. Following this training, they joined a platoon and continued training with it.
The very secret branch of the CIA, the Special Activities Division (SAD), and more precisely its Special Operations Group (SOG) sometimes employs SEAL5 operators. Joint SEAL/CIA operations began with the famous Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group during the Vietnam War6. This cooperation still exists today and was effective during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as for the elimination of Osama bin Laden.
Vietnam
Pacific Command designated the Republic of Vietnam as a potential location for unconventional forces. In early 1962, the UDTs began hydrographic studies and, together with other branches of the US military, formed the Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV). In March 1962, the SEALs were deployed to South Vietnam as advisers, to train the commandos of the Republic of Vietnam Army with the same methods used for their own training.
The CIA began using SEALs in covert operations in early 1963. SEALs were associated with the CIA-sponsored Phoenix program, which was aimed at capturing and killing members of the North Vietnamese military. and Vietcong sympathizers.
SEALs were initially deployed in and around Da Nang, to train the South Vietnamese in combat diving, demolition, and guerrilla/counterinsurgency tactics. As the war continued, SEALs found themselves dispatched to the Rung Sat Special Zone to disrupt enemy supplies and troop movements, as well as to the Mekong Delta to aid in river operations, patrols and coastal attacks. ..
SEAL on patrol in the Mekong Delta in 1967.
The fight with the Vietcong was direct. Unlike conventional methods of combat with artillery fire in a given area, the SEALs operated within a few meters of their targets. By the late 1960s, the SEALs had mastered a new style of warfare, effective in counterinsurgency and guerrilla warfare. The SEALs brought hand-to-hand warfare to an area previously considered safe by the enemy. In Vietnam, the SEAL kill ratio was impressive with over 200 enemy killed for every SEAL killed in action. The Vietcong called them "the green-faced men", because of the camouflage paint the SEALs put on their faces during missions7.
The SEALs continued to make incursions into North Vietnam as well as Laos and more discreetly into Cambodia, led by the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG). The SEALs of Team Two began deploying some of their members, acting alone with the South Vietnamese (ARVN) commandos. In 1967, a SEAL unit named Detachment Bravo (Det Bravo) was formed to operate in these mixed teams of American and Vietnamese units, which were called Provincial Reconnaissance Units (PRU).
Naval Operations Support Groups were formed to assist UDTs, SEALs and two other units (Boat Support and Beach Jumpers) with management, planning and research and development, in a sprawling and complex military administration. During the Vietnam War, the UDTs and SEALs conducted numerous offensive and reconnaissance operations. In 1967, Naval Operations Support Groups were renamed Naval Special Warfare Groups (NSWG), as their involvement in low-intensity conflict and special operations grew.
At the beginning of 1968, the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong orchestrated a major offensive against South Vietnam:the Tet Offensive. The North hoped that this would bring about an American Diên Biên Phu, and help sway American public opinion in favor of the war. From a propaganda point of view, the Tet offensive was a success and added to American protests against the Vietnam War. However, North Vietnam suffered huge losses and from a purely military point of view, it was a major disaster for the communists.
In 1970, the president of the United States, Richard Nixon initiated a plan of vietnamization, which would allow a withdrawal of the American troops of the Vietnamese conflict and would return the responsibility of defense to the South Vietnamese. Conventional forces were withdrawn; the last SEAL advisers left Vietnam in March 1973 and the country fell to the Communists in 1975. The SEALs were among the most decorated units for their participation in this war. They were awarded two Navy Crosses, 42 Silver Stars, 402 Bronze Stars, 2 Legion of Merit, 352 Commendation Medals, 3 Unit Presidential Citations and 3 Medal of Honor.[ref. desired]
The Persian Gulf
During the latter days of the Iran-Iraq War, the US Navy began conducting operations in the Persian Gulf to protect US-flagged ships from attacks by Iranian naval forces. A secret plan was put in place and named Operation Prime Chance. SEAL teams 1 and 2 as well as several units of Special Boat Units and EOD teams were assembled on two mobile barges used for oil exploitation rented from KBR and transported by helicopters of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. During the operation, SEALs conducted VBSS (ship capture) missions to counter Iranian minelaying vessels. The only human loss occurred during the capture of Iran Ajr. Evidence collected on the ship by SEALs and EOD technicians later enabled the US Navy to trace the origin of the mines that struck USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58). This chain of events led to Operation Praying Mantis, the largest US Navy surface combat since World War II.
Panama
The US Navy actively contributed to extensive special operations during the invasion of Panama (code name Operation Just Cause). Participants included SEAL Teams 2 and 4, Naval Special Warfare Unit 8 and Special Boat Unit 26, all four of which belong to Naval Special Warfare Group 2 (called Task Force White), and Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) dependent on Task Force Blue. Task Force White had three main objectives:the destruction of Panamanian naval defense forces active in the port of Balboa and the destruction of Manuel Noriega's private jet at Paitilla airport, known as Operation Nifty Package, as well than the isolation of the Panamanian Defense Forces on Flamenco Island.
The attack on Balboa Harbor by Task Unit Whiskey is famous in SEAL history for being the first mission to use combat swimmers since World War II. Before the invasion began, five SEALs, Lt Edward S. Coughlin, EN-3 Timothy K. Eppley, ET-1 Randy L. Beausoleil, and PH-2 Chris Dye, swam underwater to port, using Draeger LAV-V rebreathers, and placed C4 explosive charges that destroyed Noriega's personal boat, the Presidente Porras.
Task Unit Papa was tasked with capturing Paitilla airfield and destroying Noriega's plane. Several SEALs were surprised by the nature of this mission assigned to them, since the capture of an airfield is generally the domain of the 75th Ranger Regiment. The assault by the 48 SEALs was almost immediately met with fire from the Panamanian Defense Forces stationed at the airfield. Noriega's plane was ultimately destroyed, after the SEALs suffered heavy casualties:four dead and thirteen wounded in their ranks.
Gulf War
.
During Operation Desert Shield, a Naval Special Warfare Task Group (NSWTG) was formed around Naval Special Warfare Group 1 (NSWG-1) to direct naval special forces operations. Its commanding officer, Captain Ray Smith, had under his command two sections of SEAL Team 1, two sections of SEAL Team 5, a detachment of fast boats and a detachment of zodiacs from the Special Boat Unit (SBU-12), a detachment of fast boats from the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, a section of Swimmer Delivery Vehicle Team 1 (SDVT-1) and a Mobile Communications Team (MCT). This force of 256 men was organized into three NSW Task Units. In addition, the NSWTG had operational control of the Free Kuwait Navy (comprising 124 sailors, the motorized barge Sawahil, the launch Istiqlal (P 5702) type Lürssen FPB 57 and the launch Al Sanbouk (P 4505) type Lürssen TNC 45) and the Free Kuwaiti Marine Infantry (100 soldiers).
In addition, other SEAL units were assigned to US Navy fleet units. These units were not under the command of SOCCENT but of NAVCENT (naval component of CENTCOM).
During Operation Desert Shield, SOCCENT was tasked with assisting in the creation of a coalition of countries. The first mission in this context was to deploy elements of the NSWTG on the Kuwaiti-Saudi border from August 19, 1990 to serve as an "alarm bell" and guide close air support in the event of an invasion of the Saudi Arabia by Iraq. They began to be relieved by the 5th Special Forces Group from 5 September. Special forces also trained Saudi naval forces in special operations. Some Saudi soldiers had passed BUD/S screening at Coronado, and their commander had worked with SEALs during Operation Earnest Will. The training created three sections of Saudi SEALs. Other elements of the NSWTG trained Saudi fast craft pilots as well as conventional naval forces. From September, they also trained the forces of the Kuwaiti navy under the authority of the NSWTG.
SEALs and detachments from the Special Boats Units conducted night surveillance missions of the Persian Gulf from August 23 to September 12 from the port of Al Jubayl. In late January, SEALs photographed an Iraqi T-43 minelayer laying mines in Kuwaiti waters.
One of the roles of the SEALs and other allied forces during the Desert Shield was to participate in the embargo decreed against Iraq through Maritime Interception Operations (MIO). In seven months, 165 ships from 19 coalition nations contacted more than 7,500 civilian ships and searched 964. MEB) and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) [13th MEU (SOC)]. Among these interventions, a few in particular:
The Iraqi tanker Amuriyah was stormed on October 28 by Marines of the 13th MEU(SOC) off the coast of Oman. The crew put up strong resistance and reinforcements were sent in including SEALs from USS Ogden (LPD-5), US Coast Guard and Royal Australian Navy sailors;
SEALs from the USS Saratoga (CVA-60) assaulted the Sudanese ship Omduran by rappel from three SH-3 Sea King helicopters on November 9, 1990 in the Red Sea. Once the ship was under control, a Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) from the US Coast Guard took care of the search of the ship;
Saratoga's SEALs carried out another helicopter assault, on the Iraqi vessel Khawla Bint Al Zawra, on November 27, 1990 in the Red Sea. As the state of the sea prevented the boarding of the LEDET, the search of the ship was carried out by the SEALs;
On December 26, SEALs and Marines of the 4th MEB boarded the Iraqi ship Ibn Khaldoon by helicopter. Above all, they were confronted with about sixty women activists who put up passive resistance by forming a human chain on the deck of the ship.
The maritime interdiction operations seem to have been very effective but they also highlighted a lack of means:an assault typically required three SH-3s and SH-60 Seahawks in fire support. These needs pushed the fleet's fleet of helicopters to the limit. Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) and zodiacs were more effective than the ships' standard craft for boarding, but they were not available in sufficient numbers.
After the start of Operation Desert Storm, the SEALs took part in more offensive missions. On January 18, aircraft came under fire from oil rigs in the Al Dourrah oilfield. In response, American forces organized an operation to neutralize the platforms used by the Iraqi army. It began with a helicopter attack followed by artillery preparation by the USS Nicholas and the Istiqlal on nine of the eleven platforms in the field. Next, a SEAL section approached seven of the RHIB platforms. The search resulted in the capture of portable surface-to-air missiles and long-range radios.
On January 23, the pilot of a US Air Force F-16 Falcon ejected over the Persian Gulf. An SH-60B Seahawk with two SEALs on board took off from the USS Nicholas and found the pilot 6 miles off the Kuwaiti coast. The SEALs jumped into the sea and attached a life-saving harness to the pilot. It was recovered quite cold but in good condition. It was one of only three successful combat search and rescue operations in the Gulf War.
A reconnaissance mission entrusted to the SEALs was to photograph the Mina al-Ahmadi oil terminal after Iraq released a gigantic oil spill in the Gulf from January 23. SEALs and combat camera teams on board US Army and US Air Force MH-60 helicopters provided information on the extent of the oil spill and verified the effectiveness of the bombardments carried out on the terminal for the stop.
From October 14 to January 29, 1991, a continuous “alarm bell” SEAL platoon presence was established north of Ras-ak-Khafji. On January 17, four hours after airstrikes began on Iraq, SEALs guided an airstrike on an Iraqi border crossing. Early in the Battle of Khafji, the SEAL section guided airstrikes and provided intelligence on Iraqi movements, before being forced to withdraw in the face of the Iraqi ground offensive.
On January 24, OH-58 Kiowa helicopters came under fire from Qaruh Island. They returned fire, and after several attacks, the pilots saw Iraqi soldiers waving to surrender. A composite SEAL section was created from elements of USS Curts, Leftwich and Nichols and dropped by helicopters. At 5:07 p.m., Ensign SEAL John Pugh raised the Kuwaiti and US flags over the island. Qaruh was the first part of Kuwaiti territory to be liberated.
A mine search mission was assigned to SEALs who used a SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) to do so. The SDV is a "wet" mini-submarine, which requires the SEALs on board to wear a diving suit. Between January 30 and February 15, six mine search missions were conducted in the northern Persian Gulf from the Kuwaiti barge Sawahil, with the SDV crew using various sonars to detect orine mines. The excavated areas covered 70 km². The SEALs did not detect any mines there. SEALs also participated in mine action aboard Navy helicopters. These aerial patrols searched for floating mines, and when they found them, the SEALs jumped out of helicopters, swam to the mine, and attached a time-demolition explosive charge to it. The SEALs thus destroyed 25 floating mines; members of the Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units and clearance divers from other coalition nations destroyed more than 145 mines.
Beginning in late 1990, a CENTCOM special planning group trained Kuwaiti military in unconventional operations with the idea of later infiltrating them into Kuwait. When Operation Desert Storm began, the Iraqis closed the borders. As a result, from February 14 to 20, SEALs trained 13 Kuwaitis for maritime infiltration. They did a rehearsal on February 21 and attempted to infiltrate five Kuwaitis the next day on a beach south of Kuwait City. SEAL swimmers went to reconnoitre the coast and then escorted the Kuwaitis to the wharf, but they could not establish contact with the reception committee; they made the signal requesting an extraction and were picked up 500 m from the beach. Examination of the beach after the war establishes that there were undetected obstacles and a concentration of Iraqi troops higher than expected.
For the ground offensive, the possibility of an amphibious landing had been considered but abandoned because the Kuwaiti beaches were too well defended. These preparations were, however, reused to deceive the Iraqis into believing that the offensive would arrive partially from the sea. swimming to the beaches, simulating the first stages of a landing. On the night of February 23-24, SEALs from Task Unit Mike under the command of Lieutenant Tom Deitz set out from their base at Ras-al-Mishab in four High Speed Boats (HSBs) to conduct the final phase of the diversionary operation on the beach of Mina Saud. Seven miles off their objective, they stopped and used zodiacs to approach 500m from the beach, where six swimmers got into the water. Each deposited a load of 10 kg of C4 on the beach. Next, the zodiacs anchored orange buoys intended to mark a channel. At 12:30 a.m., two HSBs rushed towards the beach, opening fire with their machine guns and grenade launchers. At 1:00 the charges exploded. All of these actions persuaded the Iraqi defenders that the swimmers had begun preparations for a landing at Mina Saud. This operation was combined with other elements including the presence of a strong landing fleet in the Gulf and the intensification of air strikes on the coastal defences. In the hours that followed, elements of two Iraqi divisions moved towards Mina Saud.
On February 28, 1991, American, British and French special forces conducted a simultaneous operation to liberate their embassies in Kuwait City. A section of the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company had captured the US Embassy on its own initiative and reported that it was secure, but the operation was maintained. A ground convoy of SEAL Fast Attack Vehicles (FAV) buggies and 3rd SFG soldiers surrounded the Embassy while a helicopter assault was led by Green Berets on the building.
Afghanistan
The Invasion
One of the immediate consequences of the attacks of September 11, 2001 was that SEALs were sent to Camp Doha, and those already on board US Navy ships in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters began to conduct boarding actions. and inspection (VBSS) of boats suspected of having links with Al-Qaeda or of transporting men from the terrorist network. SEAL Teams 3 and 8 arrived from the United States to take up positions in Oman on the island of Masirah, the bridgehead for operations in Afghanistan. One of the first problems that the SEALs had to face was the lack of suitable means of transport to conduct special reconnaissance missions (Special reconnaissance or SR) on the rocky terrain of Afghanistan. After borrowing and adapting Humvees from the Rangers, the SEALs advanced into Afghanistan to conduct SRs where Camp Rhino would later be set up as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The first stages of this operation were commanded by a SEAL officer, Vice Admiral Albert Calland.
The special reconnaissance mission in the Camp Rhino area lasted for 4 days, after which two US Air Force Combat Controllers executed a high altitude night jump to assist the SEALs in their mission to guide the Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit who had taken control of the area and established a forward operating base. The SEALs continued to conduct reconnaissance for the Marines before departing after spending 45 days in the field.
A SEAL attached to the British Special Boat Service, Stephen Bass, was present at the Qala-e-Jangi mutiny and was decorated with the Navy Cross for his actions during the battle.
Subsequent SEAL operations during the invasion of Afghanistan were conducted as part of Task Force K-Bar, a multinational special operations task force comprised of SEALs, Special Forces, Air Force Special Tactics units as well as special forces from Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Turkey, under the command of Captain (SEAL) Robert Harvard. Task Force K-Bar conducted combat operations in the vast underground complex of Zhawar Kili, Kandahar City and surrounding territories, the city of Prata Ghar, and hundreds of miles of rocky terrain in the South and eastern Afghanistan. In February 2002, a CIA Predator drone operating in Paktia province spotted a prominent Taliban, Mullah Khairullah Khairkhawa, as he left a building in a convoy. SEALs and Danish Jægerkorpset commandos boarded US Air Force Pave Low helicopters and captured Khairkhawa on the road less than two hours later. Over the course of six months, Task Force K-Bar killed or captured more than 200 Taliban and al-Qaida fighters, and destroyed tens of thousands of tons of weapons and military equipment.
The Iraq War
Iraqi Oil Infrastructure and Al Faw
Plusieurs jours avant le commencement de l’invasion de l’Irak, deux équipes à bord d’un SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) Mk 8 mod 1 furent mises à l’eau depuis un Mark V Special Operations Craft (petit bateau rapide utilisé par les SWCC) dans le Golfe Persique. Leur objectif était la reconnaissance hydrographique des terminaux pétroliers appelés Mina Al Bakr Oil Terminal (MABOT) et Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT). Après s’être infiltrés sous les terminaux et avoir ancré leur SDV, les SEAL passèrent plusieurs heures à prendre des photos et à noter l’activité irakienne sur les deux plates-formes avant de retourner à leurs bateaux.
Le 20 mars 2003, les SEAL lancèrent ce qui fut la plus grande opération menée par les SEAL dans l’histoire, à partir de navires de la marine américaine, depuis la base navale Ras al-Qulayah et la base aérienne Ali Al Salem au Koweït, et dans le cadre d’une force mixte des SEAL, avec les Polonais du GROM et les britanniques des Royal Marines. Leurs cibles n’étaient pas seulement les plates-formes MABOT et KAAOT mais aussi l’arrivée de leurs tuyaux de pompage, ainsi que le port et la raffinerie de Al Faw. Chacune des forces devait être amenée par hélicoptère ou par bateau dans le périmètre des cibles, puis d’attaquer les installations principales. Les premières attaques eurent lieu au niveau des tuyaux de pompage de chacun des terminaux. Pour MABOT, la zone d’atterrissage prévue était couverte de fil barbelé, ce qui n’avait pas été rapporté par les renseignements, et les SEAL ainsi que les Royal Marines furent forcés de rester en vol stationnaire à quelques mêtres du sol. Les Britanniques, menés par un sergent, furent les premiers hors de l’hélicoptère suivis par les Américains, mais tous se trouvèrent immédiatement empêtrés dans les obstacles. Depuis cette position exposée, les SEAL et les Royal Marines commencèrent à essuyer le feu de la garnison de la plate-forme. L’atterrissage au niveau de KAAOT se fit dans des conditions similaires, puis les deux équipes se regroupèrent et prirent d’assaut les tuyaux de pompage, capturèrent les bâtiments principaux et plusieurs bunkers. Après avoir sécurisé les installations, un véhicule blindé irakien approcha de la position des SEAL. Le Combat Controller les accompagnant coordonna une frappe avec un avion A-10 de l’US Air Force qui détruisit le véhicule. Au total cinq irakiens furent tués et seize capturés.
L’assaut sur les plates-formes fut réalisé avec l’aide des SWCC (Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen) qui emmenèrent les SEAL à bord de bateaux semi-rigide type Zodiac, pendant que d’autres SWCC utilisant des Mk V emmenèrent les hommes du GROM polonais. Les SEAL avaient pour objectif MABOT tandis que le GROM s’occupait de KAAOT. Deux jours avant le lancement de l’opération, les irakiens remplacèrent la garnison habituelle de MABOT par des troupes d’élites de la Garde Républicaine. Avec ce changement de dernière minute en tête, ajouté à la crainte que la Garde Républicaine fasse sauter la plate-forme pendant l’attaque, les SEAL décidèrent de changer leur plan afin de maîtriser rapidement toute opposition avant de sécuriser physiquement MABOT. Dès que l’attaque fut lancée, les forces de la Garde Républicaine commencèrent immédiatement à se rendre. Le GROM sur KAAOT rencontra la même réticence au combat de la part des irakiens, permettant aux deux plates-formes d’être prises sans perte humaine. Les inspections ultérieures de MABOT montrèrent que les forces irakiennes n’avaient pas amorcé leurs explosifs, n’ayant pas voulu détruire les installations.
L’attaque sur les positions irakiennes de la péninsule d’Al Faw consistait en une force SEAL utilisant des Desert Patrol Vehicles (DPV) au niveau de la raffinerie et du port, ainsi qu’une force importante de Marines du 5th Regimental Combat Team et de la 1st Marine Expeditionary Force attaquant les positions irakiennes plus au Nord, par les champs pétrolifères de Rumaila. Avant l’opération, les SEAL levèrent des objections à propos du risque de rencontrer un terrain impraticable pour les DPV, mais les renseignements indiquaient que le terrain au niveau de Al Faw devrait être praticable. Les équipes partirent et furent déposées avec leurs DPV par les hélicoptères mais leurs craintes furent confirmées quand le sol boueux et imbibé de pétrole rendit leurs véhicules inutilisables. Dorénavant à pied et encerclés par environ 300 soldats irakiens retranchés et des véhicules blindés, les SEAL demandèrent via leur Combat Controller l’appui de frappes aériennes. En coordination avec le soutien aérien rapproché, les SEAL traversèrent toutes les installations à pied, tout en combattant les forces ennemies présentes, jusqu’au coucher du soleil, avant d’être relevés par le 42 Commando des Royal Marines. Au total, plusieurs centaines d’Irakiens furent tués, 100 capturés et tous les véhicules blindés détruits.
Le barrage de Mukarayin
Les planificateurs militaires de la coalition craignaient que les forces irakiennes en retraite puissent détruire le barrage hydro-électrique de Mukatayin, au Nord-Est de Baghdad, dans le but de ralentir l’avancée des troupes américaines. De plus, sa destruction priverait la zone alentour d’électricité et causerait une énorme inondation qui conduirait à la perte de civils irakiens. Une force mixte SEAL/GROM fut mise sur pied pour capturer le barrage. Ils furent transportés sur place par des hélicoptères MH-53 Pave Low de l’US Air Force. Les SEAL souhaitaient utiliser les DPV pour faire barrage à une éventuelle contre-attaque ainsi qu’à des bandes errantes de bandits iraniens qui avaient traversé la frontière et dépouillaient les villes irakiennes. Mais comme à Al Faw, les DPV furent inefficaces et ce fut la dernière fois que les SEAL les déployèrent en Irak.
Les SEAL et les éléments du GROM dorénavant à pied, descendirent en rappel depuis leurs hélicoptères et prirent immédiatement d’assaut le barrage. Les quelques forces de sécurité irakiennes présentes sur site se rendirent et, à l’exception d’un opérateur du GROM qui se brisa une cheville lors de l’attaque, l’opération se termina sans blessé. Après plusieurs heures de recherches dans le barrage afin de trouver de potentiels ennemis ou explosifs dissimulés, les SEAL avaient complètement sécurisé l’ouvrage et furent relevés plus tard par des éléments avancés de l’US Army.
Contre-insurrection
Les SEAL ont ensuite participé aux opérations de contre-insurrection en Irak. Ces opérations étaient parfois intenses; ainsi, lors d’un déploiement de six mois en 2006, Chris Kyle, un sniper du Charlie Platoon, SEAL Team 3 abattit 137 adversaires, à l’époque le plus grand nombre de « kills » de l’USSOCOM. En septembre 2006, le SEAL Michael A. Monsoor, fut tué en se couchant sur une grenade lors d’un accrochage dans le secteur de Ramadi pour sauver ses camarades. Il reçut la Medal of Honor à titre posthume et un destroyer de la classe Zumwalt portera son nom.
Musée
Le National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum est situé au 4400 North A1A, North Hutchinson Island, à Fort Pierce en Floride29.
Training
Des stagiaires en plein exercice CQB pendant le SEAL Qualification Training armés de Mk.18 Mod 0 CQBR en décembre 2009.
L’entraînement des SEAL est très rigoureux, un des plus difficiles au monde parmi les forces spéciales. Le taux de recalés à chaque session est régulièrement de 70 à 80 %. La plupart des SEAL passent plus d’un an dans des séries d’environnements de formation avant de se voir attribuer le badge de Special Warfare Operator Naval Rating et le niveau Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) 5326 Combatant Swimmer (SEAL) ou, dans le cas d’officiers de marine, l’appellation Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) Officer. Tous les SEAL doivent participer et sortir diplômés de leur 24 semaines à la "A" School, connue sous le nom de Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) school, une formation de base en parachutisme suivie du programme de 18 semaines du SEAL Qualification Training (SQT). Tous les marins entrants au SEAL s’entraînent parallèlement pour obtenir la qualification Hospital Corpsman et ceux choisis par le Naval Special Warfare Command doivent aussi suivre la formation de 57 semaines de United States Army Special Forces Medical Sergeant et obtenir par la suite le niveau NEC SO-5392 Naval Special Warfare Medic avant de rejoindre une équipe opérationnelle. Une fois sortis de l’environnement de formation classique, les SEAL entrent dans une nouvelle équipe, au début d’une rotation opérationnelle, et peuvent s’attendre à 18 mois de formation, entrecoupés de congés et autres repos avant chaque déploiement de 6 mois. Au total, entre le moment où un candidat SEAL entre au service de l’armée, et le moment où il finit son premier cycle de formation préalable au déploiement, il peut s’écouler plus de 30 mois pour que son entraînement soit complet et lui permette enfin son premier déploiement.
En 2008, l’US Coast Guard a annoncé que quatre volontaires (dont deux officiers) allaient être sélectionnés chaque année pour intégrer le cursus de formation des SEAL. S’ils réussissent, ils seront affectés dans un SEAL Team pendant cinq à sept ans puis ne reviendront servir dans leur corps d’origine que s’ils l’acceptent. De nombreux Gardes-côtes de toutes les spécialités ont exprimé leur intérêt mais l’on s’attend à ce que les candidats choisis soient ceux qualifiés en tant que nageurs de sauvetage. Ce sera la première fois que des personnels n’appartenant pas à l’US Navy seront admis à s’entraîner avec les SEAL. En mai 2010, les deux premiers officiers de l’US Coast Guard ont été brevetés et certifiés opérateur NAVY SEAL. À cette cadence, jusqu’en 2016, 28 membres de l’US Coast Guard pourraient ainsi intégrer une équipe SEAL.
Organigramme
Un SEAL portant son CAR-15 en 1987.
SEAL émergeant de l’eau pendant un entraînement aux tactiques militaires en 1986.
SEAL sur le sous-marin USS Toledo (SSN-769).
Groupes Naval Special Warfare
Le Naval Special Warfare Command a été créé le 16 avril 1987 sur la base navale de Coronado (Californie) avec pour mission de préparer les opérations spéciales navales, de mener la recherche et le développement de doctrines, de stratégies et de tactiques pour la lutte anti-terroriste, en héritant de la tradition des Seabees, le travail en équipes et les improvisations heureuses.
Le Naval Special Warfare Command est organisé selon la configuration suivante :
Naval Special Warfare Group 1 :Équipes SEAL 1, 3, 5, 7;
Naval Special Warfare Group 2 :Équipes SEAL 2, 4, 8, 10;
Naval Special Warfare Group 3 :Équipe SEAL Delivery Vehicle 1;
Naval Special Warfare Group 4 :Équipes Special Boat 12, 20, 22;
Naval Special Warfare Group 11 :Équipes SEAL 17, 18 (anciennement Operational Support Teams 1, 2)
Le nombre total de SEAL assignés au Naval Special Warfare Command est d’approximativement 2 000 sur un effectif total de 6 500. Environ la moitié du contigent de SEAL est basé à la Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base et la Dam Neck Annex à Virginia Beach en Virginie. Les autres se trouvent au quartier général de la Naval Amphibious Base Coronado en Californie ou avec le SDVT-1 à Pearl Harbor à Hawaï.
Les équipes SEAL
Les équipes SEAL (SEAL Teams) sont réparties en deux groupes :le Naval Special Warfare Group One (NSWG-1) et le Naval Special Warfare Group Two (NSWG-2), placés sous la tutelle du Naval Special Warfare Command, basé à Coronado en Californie. Depuis 2006, il y a huit équipes SEAL, portant les numéros 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, et 10. Le SEAL Team 6 est une équipe spécifique, attachée au Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), et également connue sous le nom de Naval Special Warfare Development Group.
Les équipes portant un numéro impair sont affectées au NSWG-1 à Coronado sur la côte Ouest des États-Unis, et celles aux numéros pairs sont sous les ordres du NSWG-2 sur la base navale de Little Creek en Virginie, sur la côte Est.
Il existe également une équipe spécialisée dans la mise en œuvre des mini-sous-marins SEAL Delivery Vehicle appelée SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE (SDVT-1), qui est affectée au NSWG-3 et qui opère également un détachement à Little Creek.
Insigne Équipe Nombre de sections QG
SEAL-TEAM1.jpg SEAL Team 1 6 sections Coronado en Californie
SEAL-TEAM2.jpg SEAL Team 2 6 sections Little Creek en Virginie
SEAL-TEAM3.jpg SEAL Team 3 6 sections Coronado en Californie
SEAL-TEAM4.jpg SEAL Team 4 6 sections Little Creek en Virginie
SEAL-TEAM5.jpg SEAL Team 5 6 sections Coronado en Californie
Seal team-6 Naval Special Warfare Development Group.jpg SEAL Team 6
Naval Special Warfare Development Group Organisation spécifique en escadrons36 Dam Neck en Virginie
SEAL-TEAM7.jpg SEAL Team 7 6 sections Coronado en Californie
SEAL-TEAM8.jpg SEAL Team 8 6 sections Little Creek en Virginie
SEAL-TEAM10.jpg SEAL Team 10 6 sections Little Creek en Virginie
L Delivery Vehicle Team 1 4 sections[réf. nécessaire] Pearl Harbor, Hawaï
Chaque équipe SEAL est commandée par un commander (O-5, grade équivalent à capitaine de frégate), et possède normalement un élément d’état-major et trois SEAL Troops (SEAL TP). Chaque SEAL Troop comprend un élément de commandement, composé lui-même d’un chef de groupe (O-4)[réf. nécessaire], d’un sous-officier en chef (E-8), d’un officier responsable des opérations (O-2/3) et d’un premier maître d’opérations (E-6/7) , et deux SEAL Platoons (sections) comprenant 3 officiers et 12 à 14 sous-officiers SEAL.
Les sections sont appelées de manière alphabétique de Alpha Platoon à Foxtrot Platoon. Une section SEAL comprend un officier responsable (OIC), généralement un lieutenant (O-3), un officier responsable en second (AIOC), généralement un O-2, un chef de section (E-7), un maître principal (LPO) et d’autres hommes allant du E-6 au E-4 (la plupart étant E-5). Occasionnellement, il y a un "troisième O", un O-1 lors de son premier déploiement opérationnel. Ce qui fait que la section comprend 3 officiers et 13 membres spécialisés. Les principaux "leaders" dans la section et le groupe sont l’officier responsable et le chef en second spécialisé (Chef/Chef principal). La section SEAL est divisée en deux escouades (squads), chacune commandée par un des officiers.
Le personnel d’une section SEAL est qualifié plongeur, parachutiste, et artificier, et formé aux tactiques de petites unités et aux opérations maritimes. Les hommes de rang se voient affecter une ou plusieurs spécialité parmi les sept suivantes :renseignement, plongée, transmissions, premier lieutenant (véhicules terrestres et maritimes), matériel (armes, munitions, optiques), opérations aériennes (rappel, parachutes) et médical.
Les compétences de base dans un groupe sont :le tir de précision, les communications, le génie maritime, l’appui aérien rapproché, brancardier, éclaireur/navigateur, interrogateur, conducteur principal/navigateur, opérateur en armes lourdes, l’exploitation des sites sensibles, la maîtrise en opérations aériennes, l’escalade, le pilotage de pointe/navigation, le déminage, la surveillance technique et les opérations spéciales avancées
Les SEAL Teams fonctionnent sur un cycle de 2 ans à quatre étapes :un an d’entraînement individuel puis collectif, 6 mois de préparation au déploiement et 6 mois de déploiement. Lors des deux dernières phases, les SEAL Teams reçoivent le contrôle opérationnel des éléments d’appui et de soutien, formant un Naval Special Warfare Squadron (NSWRON, escadron d’opérations spéciales navales). Les éléments d’appui comprennent un détachement de soutien en matière de renseignement, un détachement de contrôle aérien tactique et d’autres moyens de forces spéciales, de la flotte ou interarmées. Les éléments de soutien peuvent comprendre un détachement de Seabee, un détachement mobile de transmissions ou des militaires affectés temporairement. Un NSWRON peut former une ou plusieurs Naval Special Warfare Task Unit à un NSW Task Group, une Special Operations Task Force (SOTF), une Task Force ou autre unité expéditionnaire ad hoc.