The Clearance Diving Branch is the specialist diving unit of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) whose versatile role covers all spheres of military diving, and includes explosive ordnance disposal and maritime counter-terrorism. The Branch has evolved from traditional maritime diving, and explosive ordnance disposal, to include a special operations focus.[8]
The RAN has used divers on a regular basis since the 1920s, but it was not until World War II that clearance diving operations came to the fore, with RAN divers working alongside Royal Navy divers to remove naval mines from British waters, and from the waters of captured ports on the European mainland such as Hugh Syme, John Mould, George Gosse and Leon Goldsworthy all highly decorated.[9] RAN divers were also used in performing duties including reconnaissance of amphibious landing sites.[9] The skills learned in the European theatre were brought back to Australia, and used in the war against Japan.[9] After the war, RAN divers were used during the clean-up of Australian and Papua New Guinea waters of defensive mines.[9]
Inspecting clandestine naval mines in the Persian Gulf, 2003.
The utility of clearance and commando divers demonstrated during and after World War II prompted the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board to establish a clearance diving branch within the RAN in 1951.[10][11] Divers were initially attached to the Underwater Research and Development Unit, based at HMAS Rushcutter.[12] In 1956, they were organised into a separate Mobile Clearance Diving Team.[10][12] In March 1966, the divers underwent further reorganisation, splitting into two Clearance Diving Teams.[12] Clearance Diving Team 1 (CDT 1) was the operational team assigned to mine clearance and reconnaissance operations throughout the Australia Station, while Clearance Diving Team 2 (CDT 2) was dedicated to mine warfare in the Sydney area, but was not cleared for operations[verification needed] outside this area.[13]
In late 1966, Clearance Diving Team 3 (CDT 3) was established specifically for deployment to the Vietnam War to assist the overworked United States Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal units, and to give RAN personnel in clearance diving work in an operational environment.[14] Sending CDT 1 or CDT 2, in full or in part, would have impacted on the teams' existing commitments, along with the continuity of training and postings.[15] CDT 3 was formed from available personnel; this was sufficient to keep a six-man team on station in Vietnam from early 1967 until early 1971, with six-month deployments.[16] CDT 3 was disbanded at the end of the Vietnam War, but the designation is reactivated for overseas wartime deployments, including in 1991 for the Gulf War, and again in 2003 for the Iraq War.[17]
Clearance Diver preparing to conduct a maritime tactical operations dive using Divex Shadow Excursion rebreather during Exercise RIMPAC 2016 in Southern California
The Clearance Diving Branch consists of:
Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT1); assigned to the east of Australia and based at HMAS WaterheninNew South Wales
For overseas operational deployments, the designation of Clearance Diving Team Three (AUSCDT3) is used for a specifically formed team.
The Royal Australian Naval Reserve has eight Reserve Diving Teams (ANRDT) which provide supplementary or surge capability in support of regular CDTs in addition to localised fleet underwater taskings:[18][19]
Reserve Diving Team Five (ANRDT5) – based at HMAS Waterhen
Reserve Diving Team Six (ANRDT6) – based in Melbourne
Reserve Diving Team Seven (ANRDT7) – based at HMAS Stirling
Reserve Diving Team Eight (ANRDT8) – based in Brisbane
Reserve Diving Team Nine (ANRDT9) – based in Adelaide
Reserve Diving Team Ten (ANRDT10) – based in Hobart
Reserve Diving Team Eleven (ANRDT11) – based in Darwin
Reserve Diving Team Twelve (ANRDT12) – based in Cairns
Use of underwater tools including welders, explosive nailguns and pneumatic drills and chainsaws
4. Task Group Explosive Ordnance Disposal (TGEOD):[27][8]
Embarking on warships for Operation MANITOU rotations in the Middle East to provide specialist support for boarding parties with improvised explosive devices (IED) and explosive ordnance[28][29][8]
Provide explosive ordnance (EOD) and improvised explosive device disposal (IEDD) mobility support to the Tactical Assault Group at a rapid speed to maintain the momentum of a direct assault mission[20]
Since January 2002, Special Duties Units of Clearance Divers from AUSCDT1 and AUSCDT4 have provided the maritime counter terrorism element of Tactical Assault Group-East (TAG-E), attached to the Australian Army 2nd Commando Regiment, which became operational on 22 July 2002 to respond to terrorist incidents in the Eastern States of Australia.[31][32][22][33][8] Clearance Divers need to successfully pass the Army Special Forces Screen Test and then successfully complete specific elements of Commando Reinforcement Training before serving in either the water platoon as an assaulter or in the water sniper team in the sniper platoon.[32][31][34] Service in TAG-E is normally 12 to 18 months online before rotating back into the Branch with divers able to rotate back into TAG-E after 12 to 18 months offline.[8]
The RAN's diver training program is commenced with a 5-day Clearance Diver Aptitude Assessment, or CDAA, focused on demonstrating in-water confidence, physical endurance, mental resilience and attention, and supported through psychological assessment. CDAA is aimed to ensure officer and sailor clearance diver candidates have the right aptitude to commence the lengthy training program. Historically there have been a few variants, including the 10-day clearance diver acceptance test (CDAT), colloquially known as "hell week". During CDAT, candidates began each day at 02:00, and were put through over thirty staged dives designed to test their strength and endurance.[35] CDAT was shortened to a 7-day program, then into the current 5-day program with an increasing emphasis on in-water confidence and endurance.
Upon passing aptitude assessment, students must successfully pass the 60-week Clearance Diver Initial Employment Training course.[36][37] In 2019, the first females graduated from the Clearance Diver Initial Employment Training course.[36] Clearance Divers who are promoted to Leading Seaman Clearance Diver complete the Intermediate Clearance Diver course and for Petty Officer Clearance Diver complete the Advanced Clearance Diver course.[36][38][39] Officers complete the Clearance Diving component of the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officers course.[36][38]
The MCT-EOD role requires clearance divers to be familiar with Tactical Assault Group (TAG) specialist insertion techniques including diving, fast roping and parachuting to be able to integrate into the unit to provide IED expertise.[20]
1999: In the East Timor independence crisis as part of INTERFET, CDTs clandestinely mapped harbours and beaches in preparation for the arrival of peacekeepers.[47][48][49][50]
2003: In Operation Falconer (the invasion phase of the Iraq War), CDTs were attached to Commander Task Unit 55.4.3, along with US and British partners, tasked with conducting deep/shallow water mine counter measure operations to clearing shipping lanes. CDTs notably participated in opening up the port at Umm Qasr.[51][52]
2003–2009: In Operation Catalyst (post-invasion Iraq), CDTs were attached to Coalition counter improvise explosive device (IED) task forces.
2008–2013: In Operation Slipper – CDTs deployed explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians in Afghanistan and provided tactical boarding parties for ships combating smugglers and piracy.
^Since 2015, new force element names have been used such as "Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Clearance" indicating a recent restructure of the Clearance Diving Teams. In 2012, the Clearance Diving Teams had been restructured into five force elements.
^Brooke, Michael (31 January 2013). "Citation at last for our divers"(PDF). Navy news: the official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy. Vol. 56, no. 1. Canberra: Directorate of Defence Newspapers. p. 9. ISSN2209-2242. Archived from the original(PDF) on 9 February 2019.
^ abcdeLinton and Donohue., Commander E.W. (Jake) and Commodore H.J (Hec) (2015). United and undaunted : the first 100 years : a history of diving in the Royal Australian Navy 1911–2011. Queanbeyan, New South Wales: Grinkle Press Pty Ltd. ISBN9780980282153.
^ abcdKelly, LEUT Ryan (15 August 2013). "Clearance divers go on show"(PDF). Navy news: the official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy. Vol. 56, no. 13. Canberra: Directorate of Defence Newspapers. ISSN2209-2242. Archived from the original(PDF) on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
^Ker, LCDR Glenn (5 June 2003). "Float exercise first for Collins Class". Navy news: the official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy. Vol. 46, no. 9. Canberra: Directorate of Defence Newspapers. Libraries Australia ID 26771706. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007.
^"Navy divers plunge into Army course". Navy news: the official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy. Vol. 44, no. 14. Canberra: Directorate of Defence Newspapers. 23 July 2001. Libraries Australia ID 26771706. Archived from the original on 24 January 2003.
^Burkhart, John; Barnes, Michael (7 November 2013). "Divers ready for Slipper"(PDF). Navy news: the official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy. Vol. 56, no. 21. Canberra: Directorate of Defence Newspapers. Libraries Australia ID 26771706. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
^Ragless, Leut. Andrew (8 September 2016). "Navy and Army divers under one roof"(PDF). Navy news: the official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy. Vol. 59, no. 16. Canberra: Directorate of Defence Newspapers. Libraries Australia ID 26771706. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
^ abO'Brien, Hugh (2014). Undaunted: From Clearance Diver to Mercenary: An Australian Man's Life on the Edge. North Sydney, NSW: Random House Australia. ISBN9780857983480.
^Farrell, John Hunter. "CDT Vietnam 69–70 Brown Water War"(PDF). Australian & NZ Defender. No. 4. West End: Fullbore Magazine. Libraries Australia ID 25036046. Archived from the original(PDF) on 3 April 2003.
^Hunter Farrell, John (September 2003). "CDT3 at Umm Qasr & Az Zubayr". Australian & NZ Defender. No. 43. West End: Fullbore Magazine. Libraries Australia ID 25036046. Archived from the original on 21 August 2006.
Grey, Jeffrey (1998). Up Top: the Royal Australian Navy and Southeast Asian conflicts, 1955–1972. The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975. St. Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN1-86448-290-7. OCLC39074315.
Perryman, John; Mitchell, Brett (2011). "Naval Operations in Vietnam". In Oldham, Charles (ed.). 100 Years of the Royal Australian Navy. Bondi Junction, NSW: Faircount Media Group. OCLC741711418. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
Royal Australian Navy
