DEVGRU

The U.S. Navy Special Warfare Development Group (NAVSPECWARDEVGRU, or NSWDG, or more frequently, just DEVGRU) is the United States Navy's premier counterterrorism unit, a counterpart to the Army's Combat Application Group (CAG), commonly known as Delta Force. Formerly known as SEAL Team SIX and MARESFAC, DEVGRU is considered to be one of the world's premier maritime counterterror units.

Related Topics:
United States Navy - Counterterrorism - Delta Force - SEAL Team SIX - MARESFAC - Maritime

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DEVGRU was the brainchild of Richard Marcinko, author of the "Rogue Warrior" series of novels. During an assignment to the National Military Command Center during Operation Eagle Claw, Marcinko immediately saw the need for a unit focused exclusively on maritime counterterrorism. In 1980, SEAL Team Six was formed. After Marcinko's retirement and subsequent literary exploits, the Navy changed the name of SEAL Team Six to DEVGRU to drop the unit out of the public eye. This effort has been surprisingly successful, with most people unaware that SEAL Team Six no longer exists within the Navy.

Related Topics:
Richard Marcinko - National Military Command Center - Operation Eagle Claw

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The DEVGRU compound is similar to Delta's at Fort Bragg, with a focus on maritime operations. It has firing ranges and shooting houses, a section of aircraft fuselage, and other likely hostage rescue locations. DEVGRU uses some unusual weapons because of their maritime environment, and the shooting ability of a DEVGRU operator is probably among the best in the world. DEVGRU firearms training has become famous throughout the world, possibly due in part to the entrepreneurial savvy of a few retired SEALs.

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DEVGRU operators saw action in the Persian Gulf in 1991, when they raided and occupied oil rigs to defend against Iraqi forces. Operators were also active in Bosnia in 1996, where they helped hunt down PIFWC's (Personnel Indicted For War Crimes: pronounced "piff wic"); see war criminals.

Related Topics:
Persian Gulf - Bosnia - War criminal

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DEVGRU operators are believed to have participated in Task Force 121, the secretive group of elite troops charged with the capture of high-ranking Iraqi personalities in 2003. Similarly, many believe that DEVGRU was the primary assault force involved in the rescue of Army PFC Jessica Lynch.

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The US government has described the Naval Special Warfare Development Group as having been established to oversee development of NSW tactics, equipment, and techniques. This, of course, is only partly true. The unit is under the direct command of NAVSPECWARGRU, however it is also a component of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC - Pope AFB, North Carolina), along with other CT units such as Delta Force and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). It is believed that DEVGRU maintains its own helicopter support unit (2 Sqns. with 18 HH-60H for SEAL transport and support), but trains frequently with the 160th SOAR, especially in support of ship assaults, which frequently make use of the small MH-6 Little Bird, operated exclusively by the 160th.

Related Topics:
Joint Special Operations Command - Pope AFB - 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment - MH-6 Little Bird

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Organization and manpower of the Group is a classified, and can only be guessed at. It is estimated that NSWDG now numbers approximately 200 operators, broken down by teams, much like the British SAS and Delta Force. Most recently, it has been reported that there are currently four such teams within the group, assault units Red, Blue, Gold, and a special boat unit, Gray. The missions of these units are, again, a cause for speculation, however it is logical that they are specialized amongst themselves, perhaps along the lines of the SAS -- Mountain, Mobility, Boat, and HALO troops (within a single Squadron). It is also possible that these units may have focus on specific target types instead, such as shipping, oil rigs, and structures, (although this scenario seems less likely due to the obvious need for all members of the Group to be current and proficient should a large scale operation arise).

Related Topics:
British SAS - HALO

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There is also an administrative and testing section, which numbers approximately 300 personnel. These individuals are responsible for the actual testing and development of new NAVSPECWAR equipment, including weapons.

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It has been reported that DEVGRU is one of only a handful of US units authorized to conduct preemptive actions against terrorists and terrorist facilities (NOTE: Red Cell once shared this charter, although it was never put into practice before the unit was supposedly disbanded). DEVGRU operators reportedly fire an average of 2,500 to 3,000 rounds per week in training.

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