Naval Special Forces Command, also called the Kampfschwimmer (KSM; English: Combat Swimmers, lit. 'combat swimmers"')[1]orVerwendungsgruppe 3402 (Deployment Group 3402), are an elite special operations unit of the German Navy, specializing in commando and amphibious warfare operations. They are the only special-purpose force of the German Navy. The Kampfschwimmer were set up when West Germany joined NATO in 1955 making it the oldest German SOF.
| Naval Special Forces Command | |
|---|---|
| Kommando Spezialkräfte Marine | |
 | |
| Active | 1 August 1958 – present |
| Country |  Germany (Marine) |
| Branch |  German Navy |
| Type | Special operations force Sea Land Air |
| Role | Combat diving |
| Part of | Einsatzflottille 1 |
| Garrison/HQ | Eckernförde |
| Nickname(s) | Kampfschwimmer, KSM |
| Motto(s) | Lerne leiden, ohne zu klagen! (Learn to suffer without complaining!) |
| Engagements | Gulf War Yugoslav Wars Operation Enduring Freedom International Security Assistance Force Operation Ocean Shield |
The first German frogman commando unit was formed under the direction of Alfred von Wurzian during World War II, an Olympic swimmer originally from Austria. Wurzian was initially an artilleryman. He had to overcome a lot of hurdles to form this specialized unit as many senior officers could not buy into the concept of such a specialized unit. The unit's name was Küstenjäger-Abteilung "Brandenburg".
The Kampfschwimmer were set up particularly because Germany joined NATO and there was felt to be risk of war with the Soviet Union. A unit was needed which could help to secure the Baltic Sea exits through the Danish straits. On 1 August 1958 Group 3402, as these commando frogmen were called by the navy, was set up. It consisted of men without a Nazi past, who had served in World War II in the small combat forces and the naval employment commands.
The first Kampfschwimmer were trained first with the Nageurs de combatinFrance. France had developed the role of the commando frogmen further in the Indochina war, to the modern single fighter.
The Kampfschwimmer should carry out their tasks both in the water and ashore, like German commando frogmen did in World War II. But now a new dimension was added: airborne operations. This three-role concept of the French became the basis of the commando frogmen of the German navy.
On 1 April 1964, the Kampfschwimmer appeared for the first time as an independent body. In the following years they extended their tasks, but lacked money. Thus e.g. they had to buy their own drysuit undersuits.
During the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, KSM reportedly deployed to Cyprus alongside the Army's KSK and the Federal Police's GSG 9 for possible evacuations or hostage rescues.[12][13]
In the Gulf War, German frogmen completed various operations that are classified by German Intelligence and such. Frogmen have decreased ten times in size as in the 1990s they had est. 3,500-4,000 troops.
The naval commandos were also active from 1994 to 1996, during the NATO arms embargo against former Yugoslavia. The frogmen conducted boarding operations of suspicious freighters from German frigates and destroyers. Due to insufficient berthing capabilities on board the German warships, the boarding parties were usually undermanned. The commandos had to train ordinary crewmembers as auxiliaries in tasks such as keeping watch and taking control of the engine room and bridge of the boarded vessels.[14]
Since 1974 the Kampfschwimmer have been stationed in the naval base at Eckernförde near Kiel. In October 1994 they were subordinate to the Flotilla of Mine Warfare. In Eckernförde a combat frogman group was set up, it consists of a mine clearance diver company and a commando frogmen company. Allegedly the weapon diver group has 250 men. The commando frogmen company had, according to strength and equipment records, 3 groups, each with 16 men. Of it, approximately 40 men are actively operational.
In 2001 the Waffentauchergruppe ("Armed Diver Group") became the Bataillon Spezialisierter Kräfte ("Specialised Forces Battalion").
By a transformation in 2003 the de:Spezialisierte Einsatzkräfte Marine ("Specialised Task Forces of the Navy") was formed. The SEK M was divided further into the Combat Swimmer Company, a mine clearance diver company, and two naval companies for special employments (e.g. to board ships), a training inspection group, and further support elements.
Success rate is approximately 30% which is up from the previous 5-10 percent over the three-year training period.[15] These minimum requirements must be fulfilled by all candidates, to become certified for training:[16]
During the training, it is less about the physical load than the psychological load, which causes many applicants to give up. The physical achievement can be trained, but overcoming the fear is the most important goal of the training. The training includes but is not limited to swimming, diving, navigation, close combat, weapons handling, and parachuting. In the special conclusion exercise their ability and hardness are equally demanded, before they join the circle of the commando frogmen. In further training sections they are trained as team leaders or specialists.
First there are four weeks of introductory training. In this time the applicants are pushed hard physically and psychologically by fixed exercises. All exercises have the goal to take away the fear of water and to make the applicant feel safe in the water. One of the exercises is called gefesseltes Schwimmen (the bound swimming). The applicant is placed on the starting block in the full combat suit, with his hands tied behind his back and his feet tied together, and then pushed in the swimming pool. He must stay for 30 seconds alone clearly; afterwards a safety diver pulls him back up.
In the so-called "hate week" the trainees are deprived of sleep. Between the night exercises, there are night runs. Meanwhile, the normal routine of the day continues: swimming, diving, and push-ups.
They also have to train to exit and enter a submarine through a torpedo tube. At the final examination they have to swim about 30 km with full equipment in the Baltic Sea to reach the beach after being discharged at the sea.
Eickhorn S.E.K. Marine knife (designed specifically for this unit)
Eickhorn knives, Various models
| Name | Type | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOWAG Eagle V | Armored Patrol-vehicle | 
|
|
| KTM 640 LS-E Military | Multi-purpose Enduro | 
|
|
| Wayland MkI 450 Commando | Folding-kayak | 
|
| Name | Type | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airborne-Systems MMS | Tactical-parachute | 
|
HAHO/HALO capable. |
| Airborne-Systems SOLR Mask | HAHO/HALO Oxygen-mask |
|
|
| Airborne-Systems SOLR 4500 | HAHO/HALO Oxygen-tank |
|
(site under construction)
Kommando Spezialkräfte – German special forces command Special Boat Service – Special forces unit of the Royal Navy United States Navy SEALs – U.S. Navy special operations force
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
54°28′34″N 9°51′49″E / 54.4762°N 9.8637°E / 54.4762; 9.8637