ROKN SEALs
Encyclopedia
The Republic of Korea Naval Special Warfare Brigade, also known as ROKN UDT/SEALs, is regarded as one of the best, most capable and experienced naval special warfare
units in East Asia
. The ROKN UDT/SEALs are heavily influenced by the United States Navy SEALs
, which initially provided funding and expertise in the unit's creation, and still maintain a strong relationship by regularly undertaking joint cross training (JCET) several times a year, utilizing US helicopter and submarine assets, and enrolling students each year in US Naval Special Warfare
programs such as BUD/S
and EOD school.
s, and officers. Most petty officers and all conscripts now apply before basic training while officers apply after commissioning (NA, ROTC, or OCS), completion of Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS), and after they have been assigned to a ship. The BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School) selection process is almost identical to the US Navy program
, consisting of extreme physical and mental challenges such as Hell Week
. Historically, Korean military training has not been known for its regard for human rights
. The completion rate has been known to dip under 10% and usually hovers between 30-40%, leading to manpower problems as the unit continues to expand and has an increasing number of foreign commitments. Since 2010, most washouts have been retained as support personnel and equipment maintenance staff. Those who survive the first ten weeks are trained in open and closed circuit diving
, demolition, land warfare and tactics before receiving the special warfare pin.
(SR), direct action
(DA), advanced forces operations, hydrographic reconnaissance
and underwater demolition
, with a focus on infiltrating and fighting behind enemy lines in North Korea
. The Special Missions Bn specializes in visit, board, search, and seizure
(VBSS), maritime interdiction operations (MIO), and counter-terrorism
(CT) serving as the nation's maritime counter-terrorist and hostage rescue
unit. In addition to the two battalions, there is the EOD
unit which specializes in IED
disposal and shallow water mine
disposal and there are additional forward based units on both east and west coasts of the peninsula.
missions in North Korea until 1980 when a number of operators were broken away to form the UDU intelligence unit. In 1993 the UDT/SEALs were tasked with standing up a maritime counter-terrorism unit which later became the Special Missions Bn. In the late 1990s the main focus was on defense of the coast from frequent attempts by the North to infiltrate agents into the South using midget submarine
s. In 1996, ROKN UDT/SEALs were involved in hunting down North Korean agents that had been stranded off the east coast
of South Korea and in 1998 the unit was involved in the recovery and search of a North Korean midget submarine
that had been accidentally snared in some fishing nets. Since 2009 the ROKN UDT/SEALs have formed the core of the Cheonghae anti-piracy task group
deployed to the coast of Somalia
. In the early morning of January 22, 2011, as part of Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden
, 15 ROKN UDT/SEAL members boarded the 11,000-ton chemical freighter Samho Jewelry which was taken by 13 pirates 6 days prior; 21 sailors had been held hostages. ROKS Choi-Young, a 4600-ton destroyer, dispatched its UDT/SEAL team at 4:58AM along with a Lynx helicopter which then circled the ship and fired machine guns to distract the pirates. The boarding party of 15 UDT/SEALs killed 8 pirates and captured 5 without taking any casualties after 3 hours of intense firefighting. All 21 hostages were secured, with one hostage suffering a non-fatal gunshot wound to the abdomen.
The weapons and equipment of the ROKN SEALs are a mixture of indigenous and foreign manufacture. The Korean K1 carbine
, K201 grenade launcher, K3 SAW
, K5 pistol, and K7 suppressed submachine gun
are all widely used in addition to the Heckler & Koch MP5A5
and MP5SD6 submachine guns for VBSS and CT, the HK416 assault rifle, Beretta 92FS
, Sig Sauer P226 Navy, and Glock 17
pistols, various versions of the Remington 870
for door breaching
, and versions of the Remington 700
, Arctic Warfare
, Knight SR-25
, and Barrett sniper rifles in .308 Winchester
and .50 BMG
.
Frogman
A frogman is someone who is trained to scuba diving or swim underwater in a military capacity which can include combat. Such personnel are also known by the more formal names of combat diver or combatant diver or combat swimmer....
units in East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
. The ROKN UDT/SEALs are heavily influenced by the United States Navy SEALs
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
, which initially provided funding and expertise in the unit's creation, and still maintain a strong relationship by regularly undertaking joint cross training (JCET) several times a year, utilizing US helicopter and submarine assets, and enrolling students each year in US Naval Special Warfare
United States Naval Special Warfare Command
The United States Naval Special Warfare Command was commissioned on April 16, 1987, at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in San Diego, California...
programs such as BUD/S
United States Navy SEAL selection and training
The average United States Navy SEAL spends over a year in a series of formal training environments before being awarded the Special Warfare Operator Naval Rating and the Navy Enlisted Classification 5326 Combatant Swimmer or, in the case of commissioned naval officers, the designation Naval...
and EOD school.
Applicants and selection
The ROKN UDT/SEAL teams take applicants among conscripts, petty officerPetty Officer
A petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotion OR-6. They are equal in rank to sergeant, British Army and Royal Air Force. A Petty Officer is superior in rank to Leading Rate and subordinate to Chief Petty Officer, in the case of the British Armed...
s, and officers. Most petty officers and all conscripts now apply before basic training while officers apply after commissioning (NA, ROTC, or OCS), completion of Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS), and after they have been assigned to a ship. The BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School) selection process is almost identical to the US Navy program
United States Navy SEAL selection and training
The average United States Navy SEAL spends over a year in a series of formal training environments before being awarded the Special Warfare Operator Naval Rating and the Navy Enlisted Classification 5326 Combatant Swimmer or, in the case of commissioned naval officers, the designation Naval...
, consisting of extreme physical and mental challenges such as Hell Week
Hell Week
Hell Week may refer to:*During United States Navy SEAL selection and training, a period of 132 hours of continuous physical activity, which usually occurs during week four*Hell week , multiple uses...
. Historically, Korean military training has not been known for its regard for human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. The completion rate has been known to dip under 10% and usually hovers between 30-40%, leading to manpower problems as the unit continues to expand and has an increasing number of foreign commitments. Since 2010, most washouts have been retained as support personnel and equipment maintenance staff. Those who survive the first ten weeks are trained in open and closed circuit diving
Rebreather
A rebreather is a type of breathing set that provides a breathing gas containing oxygen and recycled exhaled gas. This recycling reduces the volume of breathing gas used, making a rebreather lighter and more compact than an open-circuit breathing set for the same duration in environments where...
, demolition, land warfare and tactics before receiving the special warfare pin.
Units
Bn One consists of more traditional special warfare tasks, such as special reconnaissanceSpecial reconnaissance
Special reconnaissance is conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units or military intelligence organisations, who operate behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detection by the enemy. As a role, SR is distinct from commando operations,...
(SR), direct action
Direct action (military)
In the context of military special operations, direct action consists of: "Short-duration strikes and other small-scale offensive actions conducted as a special operation in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and which employ specialized military capabilities to seize, destroy,...
(DA), advanced forces operations, hydrographic reconnaissance
Amphibious reconnaissance
The concept of amphibious reconnaissance, or commonly amphib recon, are used primarily in conjunction with ground and naval reconnaissance concerning the littoral area bordering coastal or maritime areas of interests...
and underwater demolition
Underwater demolition
Underwater demolition refers to the deliberate destruction or neutralization of man-made or natural underwater obstacles, both for military and civilian purposes.-John G. Foster:...
, with a focus on infiltrating and fighting behind enemy lines in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. The Special Missions Bn specializes in visit, board, search, and seizure
Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure
Visit, board, search, and seizure is the term for maritime boarding actions and tactics, designed to capture enemy vessels, to combat terrorism, piracy and smuggling, and to conduct customs, safety and other inspections, as employed by modern navies, marine and maritime services, military and...
(VBSS), maritime interdiction operations (MIO), and counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
(CT) serving as the nation's maritime counter-terrorist and hostage rescue
Hostage crisis
A hostage crisis develops when one or more terrorists or criminals hold people against their will and try to hold off the authorities by force, threatening to kill the hostages if provoked or attacked....
unit. In addition to the two battalions, there is the EOD
Bomb disposal
Bomb 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:...
unit which specializes in IED
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
disposal and shallow water mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
disposal and there are additional forward based units on both east and west coasts of the peninsula.
Missions
The ROKN UDT/SEALs were involved in reconnaissanceReconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
missions in North Korea until 1980 when a number of operators were broken away to form the UDU intelligence unit. In 1993 the UDT/SEALs were tasked with standing up a maritime counter-terrorism unit which later became the Special Missions Bn. In the late 1990s the main focus was on defense of the coast from frequent attempts by the North to infiltrate agents into the South using midget submarine
Midget submarine
A midget submarine is any submarine under 150 tons, typically operated by a crew of one or two but sometimes up to 6 or 8, with little or no on-board living accommodation...
s. In 1996, ROKN UDT/SEALs were involved in hunting down North Korean agents that had been stranded off the east coast
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
of South Korea and in 1998 the unit was involved in the recovery and search of a North Korean midget submarine
Midget submarine
A midget submarine is any submarine under 150 tons, typically operated by a crew of one or two but sometimes up to 6 or 8, with little or no on-board living accommodation...
that had been accidentally snared in some fishing nets. Since 2009 the ROKN UDT/SEALs have formed the core of the Cheonghae anti-piracy task group
Cheonghae Unit
The Cheonghae Anti-piracy Unit was established by the Republic of Korea Navy to protect civilian ships near the coast of Somalia under Combined Task Force 151...
deployed to the coast of Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. In the early morning of January 22, 2011, as part of Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden
Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden
Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden was a naval operation by the Republic of Korea Navy against Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea. The operation was spurred by the pirates' seizure of the South Korean chemical tanker Samho Jewelry. In response, the South Korean government sent a destroyer and 30 naval...
, 15 ROKN UDT/SEAL members boarded the 11,000-ton chemical freighter Samho Jewelry which was taken by 13 pirates 6 days prior; 21 sailors had been held hostages. ROKS Choi-Young, a 4600-ton destroyer, dispatched its UDT/SEAL team at 4:58AM along with a Lynx helicopter which then circled the ship and fired machine guns to distract the pirates. The boarding party of 15 UDT/SEALs killed 8 pirates and captured 5 without taking any casualties after 3 hours of intense firefighting. All 21 hostages were secured, with one hostage suffering a non-fatal gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Weapons
Daewoo K1
Daewoo Precision Industries K1/K1A assault carbine is the first modern firearm developed by Agency for Defense Development and manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries, and entered service in Republic of Korea Armed Forces in 1981.-Development:...
, K201 grenade launcher, K3 SAW
Daewoo K3
The Daewoo Precision Industries K3 was the third indigenous firearm developed in South Korea, following the K1A and K2. The K3 is inspired by the FN Minimi and the United States-issued M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. It is manufactured by S&T Daewoo.-Description:...
, K5 pistol, and K7 suppressed submachine gun
Daewoo K7
The Daewoo Precision Industries K7 was announced in 2003 as a 9 mm silenced submachine gun for use with the South-Korean special forces. It is based on the K1A infantry rifle, from which the receiver and telescopic buttstock was copied...
are all widely used in addition to the Heckler & Koch MP5A5
Heckler & Koch MP5
The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....
and MP5SD6 submachine guns for VBSS and CT, the HK416 assault rifle, Beretta 92FS
Beretta 92
The Beretta 92 is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The model 92 was designed in 1972 and production of many variants in different calibers continues today...
, Sig Sauer P226 Navy, and Glock 17
Glock pistol
The Glock pistol, sometimes referred to by the manufacturer as Glock "Safe Action" Pistol, is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Glock Ges.m.b.H., located in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria. The company's founder, engineer Gaston Glock, had no experience with firearm design or...
pistols, various versions of the Remington 870
Remington 870
The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms Company, Inc. It is widely used by the public for sport shooting, hunting, and self-defense. It is also commonly used by law enforcement and military organizations worldwide.-Development:The Remington 870 was...
for door breaching
Breaching round
A breaching round or slug-shot is a shotgun shell specially made for the purposes of door breaching. It is typically fired at a range of 6 inches or less, aimed at the hinges or the area between the doorknob and lock and door jamb, and is designed to destroy the object it hits and then disperse...
, and versions of the Remington 700
Remington 700
The Model 700 series of firearms are bolt-action rifles manufactured by Remington Arms since 1962. All are based on the same centerfire bolt action. They often come with a 3, 4 or 5-round internal magazine depending on caliber, some of which have a floor-plate for quick-unloading, and some of which...
, Arctic Warfare
Accuracy International Arctic Warfare
The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare rifle is a family of bolt-action sniper rifles designed and manufactured by the British company Accuracy International...
, Knight SR-25
SR-25
The SR-25 is a semi-automatic sniper rifle designed by Eugene Stoner and manufactured by Knight's Armament Company. The SR-25 uses a rotating bolt and a direct impingement gas system. It is loosely based on Stoner's AR-10, rebuilt in its original 7.62×51mm NATO caliber...
, and Barrett sniper rifles in .308 Winchester
.308 Winchester
The .308 Winchester is a rifle cartridge and is the commercial cartridge upon which the military 7.62x51mm NATO centerfire cartridge is based. The .308 Winchester was introduced in 1952, two years prior to the NATO adoption of the 7.62x51mm NATO T65...
and .50 BMG
.50 BMG
The .50 Browning Machine Gun or 12.7×99mm NATO is a cartridge developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910s. Entering service officially in 1921, the round is based on a greatly scaled-up .30-06 cartridge...
.
- WWW http://udtseal.or.kr/