Special Warfare Diving and Salvage

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Special Warfare Diving and Salvage
Active Late 2008 (Formation)
2009 - Present (Official creation)
Country  Bangladesh
Branch Naval Ensign of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh Navy
Type Special Operations Force, SEALS / UDT
Role Primary tasks:
  • Special reconnaissance

Other roles:

  • Anti piracy.
  • Counter insurgency.
  • Counter narcotics.
  • Counter terrorism.
  • Covert insertions/extractions.
  • Hostage rescue and personnel recovery.
  • Hydro-graphic reconnaissance.
  • Intelligence gathering.
  • Raid.
  • Underwater demolition.
Size Classified
Garrison/HQ Chittagong
Nickname SWADS

The Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (Bengali: স্পেশাল ওয়ারফেয়ার ডাইভিং অ্যান্ড স্যালভেজ) or SWADS is an elite Special Operations Force of the Bangladesh Navy. The SWADS are professional soldiers and are recruited through the Bangladesh Navy. The Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS) is organized, trained and equipped along the lines of SEAL/UDT teams of the United States Navy SEALs and the Republic of Korea Navy UDT/SEAL.[1]

The SWADS are composed of one unit. Although information about individual units is classified, the size of the organization is believed to be around thousand and its command centre is in the southern port city of Chittagong.[2] Its base is formally known as "Nirvik".[3]

Contents

History [edit]

Although Bangladeshi navy personnel were trained in American soil since the 1970s, American navy instructors were instrumental in creating SWADS in late 2008.[4] SWADS was formally created in 2009 with 150 commandos and 200 divers recruited.[3] US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena provided assistance in the creation of the unit.[3]

The unit's lineage is traced back to the Nau Commandos during the country's Liberation War against Pakistan.[5][6] SWADS operators have participated alongside American Navy SEALs in Joint Combined Training Exchange programs under Tiger Shark exercises.[5]

Selection [edit]

A SWADS trainer is photographed demonstrating an action with an M-4 Carbine, equipped with M68 CCO and AN/PVS-4 night vision, in an undisclosed military facility inside Bangladesh.

SWADS operatives are recruited from the Navy and are trained in Bangladesh and abroad. They are also trained by various navy special forces instructors from South Korea, Turkey and the United States.[1]

Duties [edit]

SWADS personnel at a joint military exercise with the US Navy in 2011.

Their missions are including but not limited to:[1]

Weapons & Equipments [edit]

The SWADS are equipped with the following weapons/equipment:[1]

  • Daewoo K5 pistol
  • Colt M4 Carbine
  • Daewoo K2 assault rifle
  • Daewoo K7 submachine gun
  • Heckler and Koch MP5 submachne gun
  • Norinco Type 56 assault rifle
  • BD-08 assault rifle
  • Defender-class boats (Around 21)

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d http://www.bdmilitary.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=324&Itemid=138
  2. ^ http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/uploads/images/O2_Gg5Y8TfNJPE8t1ec3wQ/25_may_09_Moriarty_Balance_Buffalo_Closing_Ceremony.pdf
  3. ^ a b c http://news.priyo.com/politics/2011/12/27/pm-inaugurates-naval-aviation-44644.html
  4. ^ http://www.asianewsnet.net/news-30451.html
  5. ^ a b http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/12_nov_2009_moriarty_remarks_closing_tiger-shark_1.html
  6. ^ http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/uploads/images/hSceCcaxqZek1JcQr1LWmQ/12_nov_09_Closing_Tiger-Shark.pdf
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