[Great Britain]: Exercise Seaworthy

[Jamie]

---

​

Exercise Seaworthy Private & Encrypted​

​

---

Deployment List​

---

[1] HMS Illston (River Class Patrol Vessel) Full Complement (Crew, Supplies, Fuel & Ammunition) 50 Experienced Royal Navy Sailors [1] HMS Reach (River Class Patrol Vessel) Full Complement (Crew, Supplies, Fuel & Ammunition) 50 Experienced Royal Navy Sailors [1] HMS Westminster (River Class Patrol Vessel) Full Complement (Crew, Supplies, Fuel & Ammunition) 50 Experienced Royal Navy Sailors

---

Operation Staging Areas​

---

Designation	Location	Status
HMNB Portsmouth	HMNB Portsmouth	Active

---

Operations​

---

Operation	Location	Objective(s)	Status
Seaworthy	HMNB Portsmouth	Fleet Diving Group Training	In Progress

The Royal Navy has been slacking in one department that could be considered crucial to future operations; Diving Teams that specialize in submerged operations to tackle terrorism and counter-mine operations. This realm is unexplored in previous years and the MOD have confirmed three units were to be created, each compiling of 50 personnel ready to respond both at land and at sea to bomb threats. Fleet Diving Group 1, 2 and 3. Training was to begin in the coming days from the basics up to the advanced capabilities that will allow these already-experienced sailors to be Britain's first diving teams in over 10 years.

---

 

[Jamie]

Orientation had begun of the 150 experienced seamen from the Royal Navy, this covering the basic requirements for SCUBA diving, ensuring full safety and equipment briefings are carried out and ensuring all crew members could, competently, set up, maintain and use their equipment whilst on land. This was to take place over the duration of a week of continuous training on ground environment to make sure no mistakes were left to be made with multiple exams and physical 'show and tell' segments to make sure all hopefuls had the same understanding before proceeding with the physical aspects of diving, then counter terrorism operations.

 

[Jamie]

Over the lasst week, multiple exams; both written and physical, had taken place for the 150 men and women that will be forming the Fleet Diving Group. Ensuring they were competent in knowledge and understanding of using the SCUBA equipment, how to save themselves in a variety of issues. The process next was to test this in a swimming pool. The pool had been dedicated to the Diving Group Training and in small teams, would work through SCUBA Diving to give the sense of what it feels like, running through drills. This was to continue for a few days before EOD training was involved. After a few days, it begun with dummy explosives in the pool, briefings with EOD specialists and instruction on how to handle them which would make the rest of the second week. The current training steps included:

[CURRENT] SCUBA Diving in a swimming pool & EOD Training
SCUBA Diving at Sea

 

[Jamie]

Almost a couple of weeks in intensive training, utilising their SCUBA Equipment in swimming pools, running through EOD training and had numerous talks and experiences with more experienced members of EOD units, ranging from the Army and Police units to discuss their recommendations. Even though in a different environment, the way the situation can be handled can often be transferable. Training had become more involved now. Sailors manning the River Class Vessels had become the launch vehicles for the diver units as they'd be entering the sea on exercise. Carrying out back to back dives in the sea, at day and night over the next week. If successful, scenarios would then get setup for EOD Exercises mimicking 'live' situations. A Video has been released of snippets from the training:

 

[Jamie]

Training had been considered a success for those that had been SCUBA Diving in the sea, supported by River Class Patrol Vessels and alternating between who was diving, learning to navigate with limited visibility and generally get the feel of how diving is when in a much less controlled environment compared to those used in swimming pools. The final stage was a series of mock tests in the sea with situations configured to provide a realistic insight into a real job. Taking it in turns with each member alternating job, they'd respond to an 'incident' as if it was a live device, dive, and disarm it in one way or another. These tests were to be staged back to back to give them the best experience that could be earned until the real thing. The tests were monitored by senior officials of the Royal Navy, marking the progressive training as a "stepping stone for future mine hunter missions", highlighting that "The UK has avoided this particular subject, but we should return our Mine Hunting capability to prepare for future threats."

 

[Jamie]

⌈ NATIONAL ECONOMICS ⌋ Billed

THREAD HAS BEEN CHARGED​

 

[Jamie]

A number of training exercises had taken place with a small quantity of final exams to ensure all 150 participating in the Diving Program were competent to engage in operations. A final test took place with a number of senior Royal Navy Officers monitoring it before each candidate was interviewed individually, marked and a decision made about them. All candidates were put into a drill square and presented a 'pass' mark, confirming their new roles as Royal Navy Divers and a hugely successful course which has returned the Royal Navy to it's commitment to counter sea mines and be ready for any future conflict.