Underwater Defence (Turkish Armed Forces) Explained

Unit Name:	Underwater Defence Group Command
Native Name:	Su Altı Savunma Grup Komutanlığı (SAS)
Start Date:	1963
End Date:	present
Country:	Turkey
Allegiance:	Turkish Armed Forces
Branch:	Turkish Naval Forces
Type:	Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Motto:	"Fire, Gunpowder and Us."
Battles:	Battle of Tillyria (allegedly)Operation Atilla Imia/Kardak Military crisisKFOR mine clearance operationUNIFIL Operation Euphrates Shield Operation Olive Branch Operation Peace Spring
Identification Symbol:	S.A.S.
Identification Symbol Label:	Abbreviation

The Underwater Defence (Turkish: Su Altı Savunma), or SAS, is the one and only EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) unit of the Turkish Navy, based in the Foça Naval Base near İzmir, on the Aegean coast of Turkey

The missions of the Su Altı Savunma (SAS) include coastal defence operations, such as clearing mines or unexploded torpedoes, and disabling enemy IEDs.

History

The first S.A.S. unit was established in 1964 in the city of Istanbul, The original name of the S.A.S. unit was Su Altı Müdafaa (S.A.M.) and is bound to the Kurtarma ve Sualtı Komutanlığı (K.S.K.), or Rescue and Underwater Command.

Mission

Their main tasks are:^[1]

Deactivation or disposal of explosive material, mines and/or unidentified ordnance under the water off the friendly ports and coasts.
Deactivation or disposal of explosive material, mines and/or unidentified ordnance under the water off the target coasts or ports. That includes clearing of the target beaches of mines, explosives, booby traps and tank traps, prior to the amphibious assault of the friendly forces.
Deactivation or disposal of explosives and mines that might be present on the course of the friendly troops and/or VIP military personnel.
Consultancy in defending the strategic facilities against stealth assaults by enemy commandos.

SAS units do not perform assault, counter-terrorism, recon or CQC missions. A real-time duty executed by the SAS has been the clearing of the Girne Beach, Cyprus, prior to the amphibious assault of the Turkish Armed Forces to the island in 1974.

Equipment

Handguns

Submachine Guns

H&K MP5A3

Assault Rifles

M4 carbine
MPT-55

Machine Guns

Sniper Rifles

Anti-Materiel Rifles

Rockets & Explosives

References

Web site: Su Alti Savunma (SAS). Shadow Spear. 18 May 2014. 19 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140519002625/http://www.shadowspear.com/2009/01/su-alti-savunma/. dead.

External links

Promotional/Training video of unit