Destacamentos de Mergulhadores Sapadores
Encyclopedia
The Destacamentos de Mergulhadores Sapadores (Sapper Divers Detachments) are the Portuguese Navy's
combat divers unit.
), due to operational imperatives of the activities of Guinea’s
Maritime Defense Command. They were disbanded in 1975, after the extinction of this command; afterwards the operational activity of the divers was assigned to the Escola de Mergulhadores (Divers School).
The Destacamento de Mergulhadores Sapadores Nº1 (Nº1 Sapper Divers Detachment) was reactivated on June 1, 1988, because there was a need of an operational unit specially dedicated to the military diving area. Public interest activities, namely salvage diving and search-and-rescue were still assigned to the Divers School.
When, on January 1, 1995, the Destacamento de Mergulhadores Sapadores Nº2 (Nº2 Sapper Divers Detachment) was reactivated (with twenty elements instead of thirteen), all operational activity was assigned to the detachments; the Divers School became only dedicated to the instruction activities.
These units are based in the Submarine Fleet buildings in the Alfeite Naval Base; they are under Administrative Command of that Fleet and under Operational Command of the Naval Command in Oeiras.
High-profile missions:
Portuguese Navy
The Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the military defence of Portugal....
combat divers unit.
Overview
The unit was created and activated near the end of 1972 (during the Portuguese Colonial WarPortuguese Colonial War
The Portuguese Colonial War , also known in Portugal as the Overseas War or in the former colonies as the War of liberation , was fought between Portugal's military and the emerging nationalist movements in Portugal's African colonies between 1961 and 1974, when the Portuguese regime was...
), due to operational imperatives of the activities of Guinea’s
Portuguese Guinea
Portuguese Guinea was the name for what is today Guinea-Bissau from 1446 to September 10, 1974.-History:...
Maritime Defense Command. They were disbanded in 1975, after the extinction of this command; afterwards the operational activity of the divers was assigned to the Escola de Mergulhadores (Divers School).
The Destacamento de Mergulhadores Sapadores Nº1 (Nº1 Sapper Divers Detachment) was reactivated on June 1, 1988, because there was a need of an operational unit specially dedicated to the military diving area. Public interest activities, namely salvage diving and search-and-rescue were still assigned to the Divers School.
When, on January 1, 1995, the Destacamento de Mergulhadores Sapadores Nº2 (Nº2 Sapper Divers Detachment) was reactivated (with twenty elements instead of thirteen), all operational activity was assigned to the detachments; the Divers School became only dedicated to the instruction activities.
These units are based in the Submarine Fleet buildings in the Alfeite Naval Base; they are under Administrative Command of that Fleet and under Operational Command of the Naval Command in Oeiras.
Missions
The missions assigned to the unit are:- Naval operations of mine laying.
- Tactical coastal reconnaissanceReconnaissanceReconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
and obstacle clearing for the landing of amphibious forces.
- Underwater offensive operations, at seaSeaA sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
, in the shoreShoreA shore or shoreline is the fringe of land at the edge of a large body of water, such as an ocean, sea, or lake. In Physical Oceanography a shore is the wider fringe that is geologically modified by the action of the body of water past and present, while the beach is at the edge of the shore,...
line, in riverRiverA river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
access, and in portPortA port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
facilities.
- Explosive Ordnance DisposalBomb disposalBomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
.
- Salvage diving operations, namely survey, repair and recuperation of naval units.
- Search-and-rescue operations.
- Co-operation in the control of activities linked to the seabedSeabedThe seabed is the bottom of the ocean.- Ocean structure :Most of the oceans have a common structure, created by common physical phenomena, mainly from tectonic movement, and sediment from various sources...
.
- Co-operation in the scientific study of the sea.
High-profile missions:
- Inspection of the MetroLisbon MetroThe Lisbon Metro is the metro system of Lisbon, Portugal. Opened in December 1959, it was the first subway system in Portugal.As of 2011, the four Lisbon subway lines total about in length and comprise 52 stations.- History :- Idea :...
tunnel in Praça do ComércioPraça do ComércioThe Praça do Comércio is located in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. Situated near the Tagus river, the square is still commonly known as Terreiro do Paço , because it was the location of the Paços da Ribeira until it was destroyed by the great 1755 Lisbon Earthquake...
.
- Salvage of bodies of the Entre-os-Rios bridge collapseHintze Ribeiro disasterOn the night of March 4, 2001, the Hintze Ribeiro disaster occurred when the Hintze Ribeiro Bridge, made of steel and concrete, collapsed in Entre-os-Rios, Castelo de Paiva, Portugal, killing 59 people, including those in a bus and three cars that were attempting to get to the other side of the...
in 2001.
- Exercises of amphibious operations in the CONTEX national exercises.
- The recent certification for deep divingDeep divingThe meaning of the term deep diving is a form of technical diving. It is defined by the level of the diver's diver training, diving equipment, breathing gas, and surface support:...
up to 81 meters.