DEMOLITION FROGMEN

Today’s US Navy SEALs have their origins in various WWII amphibious warfare units that fought in North Africa, France and the Pacific

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Hitler’s subsequent declaration of war, the United States found itself fighting on two fronts: in Pacific Asia and Europe.

To prepare for these arduous campaigns, with the expectation that amphibious landings would certainly form part of the coming battles, the US Navy founded the Amphibious Training Base at Little Creek, Virginia, in August 1942. Two naval special forces units known as the Amphibious Scouts and Raiders (S&R) were established to prepare for Operation Torch in North Africa. They were tasked to conduct beach reconnaissance and lead night assaults on landing beaches.

At the same time, Little Creek developed a specialised team under the Naval Demolition Project. Consisting of 19 men, including two officers, the team was made up of experienced naval frogmen who had trained in salvage diving. Their skills were expanded to include training in demolitions, rubber boat use, cable cutting and commando combat. For the rest of 1942 and into early 1943, these frogmen were known as the Special Mission Naval Demolition Unit (SMNDU).

From 6 June 1943, the S&R and SMDNU inspired the formation of the Naval Combat Demolition Units (NCDUs) whose training school was established at Fort Pierce, Florida. Every NCDU team consisted of one officer and five sailors that would operate from a single boat. They paid particular attention to destroying submerged enemy beach obstacles. A majority of NCDU teams were deployed to the Pacific while the others were sent to the Mediterranean and Britain.