Clearance Diving Branch (RAN) explained

Unit Name:Clearance Diving Branch
Country:Australia
Type:Clearance diving
Branch:Royal Australian Navy
Dates:1951–present
Role:
Command Structure:Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Group
Size:Two AUSCDT
Garrison:HMAS Waterhen, New South Wales
HMAS Stirling, Western Australia
Nickname:Bubbleheads
Bubblies
Motto:United and Undaunted
Decorations:

The Clearance Diving Branch is the specialist diving unit of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) whose versatile role covers all spheres of military diving, and includes explosive ordnance disposal and maritime counter-terrorism. The Branch has evolved from traditional maritime diving, and explosive ordnance disposal, to include a special operations focus.[8]

History

The RAN has used divers on a regular basis since the 1920s, but it was not until World War II that clearance diving operations came to the fore, with RAN divers working alongside Royal Navy divers to remove naval mines from British waters, and from the waters of captured ports on the European mainland such as Hugh Syme, John Mould, George Gosse and Leon Goldsworthy all highly decorated.[9] RAN divers were also used in performing duties including reconnaissance of amphibious landing sites.[9] The skills learned in the European theatre were brought back to Australia, and used in the war against Japan.[9] After the war, RAN divers were used during the clean-up of Australian and Papua New Guinea waters of defensive mines.[9]

The utility of clearance and commando divers demonstrated during and after World War II prompted the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board to establish a clearance diving branch within the RAN in 1951.[10] [11] Divers were initially attached to the Underwater Research and Development Unit, based at .[12] In 1956, they were organised into a separate Mobile Clearance Diving Team.[10] [12] In March 1966, the divers underwent further reorganisation, splitting into two Clearance Diving Teams.[12] Clearance Diving Team 1 (CDT 1) was the operational team assigned to mine clearance and reconnaissance operations throughout the Australia Station, while Clearance Diving Team 2 (CDT 2) was dedicated to mine warfare in the Sydney area, but was not cleared for operations outside this area.[13]

In late 1966, Clearance Diving Team 3 (CDT 3) was established specifically for deployment to the Vietnam War to assist the overworked United States Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal units, and to give RAN personnel in clearance diving work in an operational environment.[14] Sending CDT 1 or CDT 2, in full or in part, would have impacted on the teams' existing commitments, along with the continuity of training and postings.[15] CDT 3 was formed from available personnel; this was sufficient to keep a six-man team on station in Vietnam from early 1967 until early 1971, with six-month deployments.[16] CDT 3 was disbanded at the end of the Vietnam War, but the designation is reactivated for overseas wartime deployments, including in 1991 for the Gulf War, and again in 2003 for the Iraq War.[17]

Structure

The Clearance Diving Branch consists of:

For overseas operational deployments, the designation of Clearance Diving Team Three (AUSCDT3) is used for a specifically formed team.

The Royal Australian Naval Reserve has eight Reserve Diving Teams (ANRDT) which provide supplementary or surge capability in support of regular CDTs in addition to localised fleet underwater taskings:[18] [19]

Role

The Clearance Diving Branch force elements are:[20] [21]

1. Maritime Tactical Operations (MTO):[22] [23] [24]

2. Mine Counter Measures (MCM):[23] [26]

3. Underwater Battle Damage Repair (UBDR):[23] [27]

4. Task Group Explosive Ordnance Disposal (TGEOD):[28] [8]

5. Maritime counter terrorism-explosive ordnance disposal (MCT-EOD):[20]

A Clearance Diver may be posted to a Clearance Diving Team, Huon Class Minehunter Coastal ship, training position in the Australian Defence Force Diving School at HMAS Penguin and can apply to serve in the Tactical Assault Group-East (TAG-E).[31]

Since January 2002, Special Duties Units of Clearance Divers from AUSCDT1 and AUSCDT4 have provided the maritime counter terrorism element of Tactical Assault Group-East (TAG-E), attached to the Australian Army 2nd Commando Regiment, which became operational on 22 July 2002 to respond to terrorist incidents in the Eastern States of Australia.[32] [33] [23] [34] [8] Clearance Divers need to successfully pass the Army Special Forces Screen Test and then successfully complete specific elements of Commando Reinforcement Training before serving in either the water platoon as an assaulter or in the water sniper team in the sniper platoon.[33] [32] [35] Service in TAG-E is normally 12 to 18 months online before rotating back into the Branch with divers able to rotate back into TAG-E after 12 to 18 months offline.[8]

Selection and training

The RAN's diver training program is commenced with a 5-day Clearance Diver Aptitude Assessment, or CDAA, focused on demonstrating in-water confidence, physical endurance, mental resilience and attention, and supported through psychological assessment. CDAA is aimed to ensure officer and sailor clearance diver candidates have the right aptitude to commence the lengthy training program. Historically there have been a few variants, including the 10-day clearance diver acceptance test (CDAT), colloquially known as "hell week". During CDAT, candidates began each day at 02:00, and were put through over thirty staged dives designed to test their strength and endurance.[36] CDAT was shortened to a 7-day program, then into the current 5-day program with an increasing emphasis on in-water confidence and endurance.

Upon passing aptitude assessment, students must successfully pass the 60-week Clearance Diver Initial Employment Training course.[37] [38] In 2019, the first females graduated from the Clearance Diver Initial Employment Training course.[37] Clearance Divers who are promoted to Leading Seaman Clearance Diver complete the Intermediate Clearance Diver course and for Petty Officer Clearance Diver complete the Advanced Clearance Diver course.[37] [39] [40] Officers complete the Clearance Diving component of the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officers course.[37] [39]

The MCT-EOD role requires clearance divers to be familiar with Tactical Assault Group (TAG) specialist insertion techniques including diving, fast roping and parachuting to be able to integrate into the unit to provide IED expertise.[20]

Operations

Notes

Footnotes
Citations

References

. Jeffrey Grey . Up Top: the Royal Australian Navy and Southeast Asian conflicts, 1955–1972 . 1998 . The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975 . Allen & Unwin . St. Leonards, NSW . 1-86448-290-7 . 39074315.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kuwait (Gulf War 1990-91), Clearance Diving Team 3 . Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat . 28 July 2018.
  2. Web site: Operation Falconer (Iraq), Clearance Diving Team 3 . Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat . 28 July 2018.
  3. News: Brooke . Michael . Citation at last for our divers . Navy news: the official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy . 56 . 1 . 31 January 2013 . Directorate of Defence Newspapers . Canberra . 9 . 2209-2242 . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20190209120755/http://www.defence.gov.au/Publications/NewsPapers/Navy/editions/5601/5601.pdf . 9 February 2019 . dead.
  4. News: McPhedran . Ian . Vietnam heroes recognised after 44 years . 8 August 2021 . News.com.au . News Corp Australia Network . 30 November 2012.
  5. Web site: Navy Unit Commendation CDT 3 Gulf War 1991 . Royal Australian Navy Clearance Divers Association . 28 July 2018.
  6. Web site: Rago . LCDR Lauren . Navy Clearance Diving Team 3 receives US Commendation . Royal Australian Navy . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20201115075027/https://news.navy.gov.au/en/Jun2018/Events/4691/Microsoft.XMLHTTP . 15 November 2020 . 28 June 2018 . dead.
  7. Web site: Meritorious Unit Commendation CDT3 Vietnam 1967 . Royal Australian Navy Clearance Divers Association . 28 July 2018.
  8. Book: Linton and Donohue.. Commander E.W. (Jake) and Commodore H.J (Hec). United and undaunted : the first 100 years : a history of diving in the Royal Australian Navy 1911–2011. 2015. Grinkle Press Pty Ltd. Queanbeyan, New South Wales. 9780980282153.
  9. Grey, Up Top, p. 280
  10. Perryman & Mitchell, in Oldham (ed.) 100 Years of the Royal Australian Navy, p. 73
  11. Grey, Up Top, pp. 280–1
  12. Grey, Up Top, p. 281
  13. Grey, Up Top, pp. 281–2
  14. Grey, Up Top, p. 282
  15. Grey, Up Top, pp. 282–3
  16. Grey, Up Top, pp. 282–3, 290–1, 318–9
  17. Perryman & Mitchell, in Oldham (ed.) 100 Years of the Royal Australian Navy, p. 74
  18. Ryder . LCDR Andrew . RESERVE DIVING TEAMS – what they do, where they are and how to join . RAN Reserve news . 18 May 2006 . 13 . 4 . 2–3 . Office of Director General Reserves - Navy . Victoria Barracks, QLD. Libraries Australia ID 26772142. https://web.archive.org/web/20061013155031/http://www.navy.gov.au/reserves_new/reserveNews/Reserve_News_18_May_2006_Vol13_No4.pdf. 13 October 2006.
  19. Web site: Naval Diver . Defence Jobs . https://web.archive.org/web/20080130125232/http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/navy/jobs/NavalDiver/ . 30 January 2008 . 4 July 2019 . dead .
  20. News: Kelly. LEUT Ryan. Clearance divers go on show. 8 July 2016. Navy news: the official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy. 56. 13. 15 August 2013. Directorate of Defence Newspapers. Canberra. 2209-2242 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160825230858/http://www.defence.gov.au/Publications/NewsPapers/Navy/editions/5615/5615.pdf . 25 August 2016 . dead.
  21. Since 2015, new force element names have been used such as "Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Clearance" indicating a recent restructure of the Clearance Diving Teams. In 2012, the Clearance Diving Teams had been restructured into five force elements.
  22. Web site: Hardman. Wes. The men who are trained to be invisible: Meet Australia's navy clearance divers. Channel Nine News. 13 July 2015 . 13 July 2015. 8 July 2016.
  23. Web site: Clearance Diving Teams. Royal Australian Navy. 8 July 2016.
  24. News: Ker. LCDR Glenn. Float exercise first for Collins Class. Navy news: the official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy. 46. 9. 5 June 2003. Directorate of Defence Newspapers. Canberra. Libraries Australia ID 26771706. https://web.archive.org/web/20070912012247/http://raaf.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/4609/topstories/STORY13.HTM. 12 September 2007.
  25. News: Navy divers plunge into Army course. Navy news: the official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy. 23 July 2001. 44. 14. Directorate of Defence Newspapers. Canberra. Libraries Australia ID 26771706. https://web.archive.org/web/20030124214559/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/2001/07_23_01/story15.htm . 24 January 2003.
  26. Web site: Clearance Diver. Defence Jobs. 8 July 2016.
  27. Web site: Underwater Battle Damage Repair. Defence Jobs. 8 July 2016.
  28. News: Burkhart. Barnes. John. Michael. Divers ready for Slipper. 29 October 2016. Navy news: the official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy. 56. 21. 7 November 2013. Directorate of Defence Newspapers. Canberra. Libraries Australia ID 26771706.
  29. Web site: Operation MANITOU. Australian Defence Force. 28 October 2016.
  30. Web site: Operation MANITOU. Royal Australian Navy. 28 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161029044052/http://www.navy.gov.au/operations-and-exercises/manitou. 29 October 2016. dead.
  31. News: Ragless. Leut. Andrew. Navy and Army divers under one roof. 25 December 2016. Navy news: the official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy. 59. 16. 8 September 2016. Directorate of Defence Newspapers. Canberra. Libraries Australia ID 26771706.
  32. Web site: Clearance Diver. 2nd Commando Regiment. Australian Army. https://web.archive.org/web/20171213024639/http://2commando.gov.au/careers/employment-roles/attached-specialists/clearance-diver. 13 December 2017.
  33. Book: O'Brien. Hugh. Undaunted: From Clearance Diver to Mercenary: An Australian Man's Life on the Edge. 2014. Random House Australia. North Sydney, NSW. 9780857983480.
  34. News: Davis . Graham. Action Team TAG – Sailors form integral part of anti-terrorist unit . Navy news: the official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy. 45. 19. 26 September 2002. Directorate of Defence Newspapers. Canberra. Libraries Australia ID 26771706 . https://web.archive.org/web/20021017083326/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/4519/topstories/story01.htm . 17 October 2002.
  35. Web site: Team History – Tactical Assault Group (TAG)-East. RAN Clearance Divers Association. https://web.archive.org/web/20170630224322/http://www.rancd-association.com/old/id55.htm. 30 June 2017.
  36. Hell Week. 1. Navy Divers. Navy Divers. ABC. Sydney. Television production. 2009. 696000553.
  37. Web site: Long . LEUT Geoff . Navy welcomes latest cohort of Clearance Divers . Royal Australian Navy . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20201113010104/https://news.navy.gov.au/en/Dec2019/Fleet/5636/Microsoft.XMLHTTP . 13 November 2020 . 17 December 2019 . dead.
  38. Web site: Navy Diver . ADF Careers . 28 March 2024.
  39. Watt. David. The Clearance Diving Team. The Navy . Navy League of Australia. 61. 4. 23–25. 1999. 1322-6231. https://web.archive.org/web/20130410212135/https://navyleague.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/The-Navy-Vol_61_Part2-1999.pdf . 10 April 2013 . dead.
  40. Web site: Clearance Diver - Sailor Training . Royal Australian Navy . https://web.archive.org/web/20010501131353/http://www.navy.gov.au/9_sites/mw/cdcourse.html . 1 May 2001 . dead.
  41. Farrell . John Hunter. CDT Vietnam 69–70 Brown Water War. Australian & NZ Defender. 4. Fullbore Magazine. West End. Libraries Australia ID 25036046. https://web.archive.org/web/20030403051334/http://australiandefender.com.au/stories/cdtnam.pdf. 3 April 2003.
  42. Web site: Tony. Ey. RAN Clearance Diving Team 3's War Service in South Vietnam, 1967–1971. RAN Clearance Divers Association. https://web.archive.org/web/20170330233436/http://www.rancd-association.com/old/id83.htm. 30 March 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  43. Web site: Maxwell. Eugene. A Clearance Diver in the Gulf War – 1991. RAN Clearance Divers Association. https://web.archive.org/web/20170331180305/http://www.rancd-association.com/old/id49.htm. 31 March 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  44. RAN Clearance Divers (CDT3) in 91 Gulf War. Australian & NZ Defender. 16. Fullbore Magazine. West End. Libraries Australia ID 25036046.
  45. Web site: Australian involvement in the Gulf War . Department of Veterans' Affairs . https://web.archive.org/web/20030626071101/http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat/2003/gulfwarhs/html/ch2.htm . 26 June 2003 .
  46. Web site: CDT3 Report of Proceedings First Gulf War. Australian War Memorial. 13 October 2017.
  47. Web site: CDT3 Kuwait '91. RAN Clearance Divers Association. https://web.archive.org/web/20161231025942/http://www.rancd-association.com/old/id53.htm. 31 December 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  48. Web site: Williams . LEUT Emma . AUSCDT4 Clears Beaches and Conducts Clandestine Ops in East Timor . Royal Australian Navy . https://web.archive.org/web/20010428204413/http://www.navy.gov.au/1_fleet/pstory35.htm . 28 April 2001 .
  49. Web site: Caton . LEUT Richard . AUSCDT4 hands over to AUSCDT1 . Royal Australian Navy . https://web.archive.org/web/20010428204933/http://www.navy.gov.au/1_fleet/pstory36.htm . 28 April 2001 .
  50. Web site: Smith . Walker . Simon . Maxy . Team Four in Timor – Divers do Dili . Royal Australian Navy . https://web.archive.org/web/20010428205147/http://www.navy.gov.au/1_fleet/pstory11.htm . 28 April 2001 .
  51. Web site: CDs in E. Timor. RAN Clearance Divers Association. https://web.archive.org/web/20161230192108/http://www.rancd-association.com/old/id54.htm. 30 December 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  52. Hunter Farrell . John. CDT3 at Umm Qasr & Az Zubayr. Australian & NZ Defender. 43. Fullbore Magazine. September 2003. West End. Libraries Australia ID 25036046. https://web.archive.org/web/20060821114529/http://www.australiandefender.com.au/stories/cdtiraq/ad_cdtiraq.htm. 21 August 2006.
  53. Web site: Craig. LCDR Scott. Operation Iraqi Freedom. RAN Clearance Divers Association. https://web.archive.org/web/20170331180325/http://www.rancd-association.com/old/id60.htm. 31 March 2017. dead. dmy-all.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Clearance Diving Branch (RAN)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.