The United States Navy SEALs are highly trained for various missions in different environments. They conduct special operations to capture or eliminate targets and gather intelligence. SEALs are skilled in direct action, reconnaissance, sabotage, and more. They work closely with the CIA's Special Operations Group and have a history of joint operations dating back to the Vietnam War.
In 1933, Draper Kauffman graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, but due to poor vision, he was unable to pass the commissioning physical. This event marked the beginning of his journey towards becoming a pivotal figure in the development of Navy frogmen and Navy SEALs.
In 1940, Draper Kauffman joined the Royal Navy after serving in the ambulance service in France and witnessing the army being overrun by the Germans. His decision to volunteer for ordnance-disposal work in England showcased his bravery and dedication to serving in dangerous roles.
On August 15, 1942, selected Army and Navy personnel gathered at Amphibious Training Base, Little Creek, to begin training as Amphibious Scouts and Raiders. Their mission was to reconnoiter objective beaches and guide assault waves during landings.
In November 1942, a naval demolition operation was launched just before H-Hour on 8 November. Men operated at night from an open Higgins boat in heavy seas under direct enemy fire. Despite injuries and an aborted first attempt, they succeeded on the night of 9 November, leading to the award of the Navy Cross Medal.
The first combat demolition unit successfully cut cable and net barriers across the Wadi Sebou River during Operation Torch in North Africa, enabling the insertion of U.S. Rangers.
On 6 May 1943, the 'Naval Demolition Project' was initiated in response to an urgent requirement outlined by the Chief of Naval Operations. The project had a two-phase structure to address critical needs.
Six officers and 18 enlisted men reported for training at Solomons on May 14, 1943. They were led by Navy Lieutenant Fred Wise and underwent a four-week course of instruction before participating in Operation HUSKEY.
Commander John C. Daniel submitted a letter report on May 27, 1943, proposing an outline for the second phase of the Operational Naval Demolition Unit. The report recommended an organization structure, core training syllabus, and equipment needs for an operational combat demolition unit.
On June 6, 1943, the Naval Combat Demolition Unit (NCDU) training school was founded at Ft. Pierce, Florida by LCDR Draper Kauffman. It brought together volunteers from various military units for specialized training.
Special Service Unit #1, also known as the second group of Scouts and Raiders, was established on July 7, 1943, as a joint and combined operations force. Their first mission was in September 1943 at Finschafen on New Guinea, followed by operations at Gasmata, Arawe, Cape Gloucester, and the East and South coast of New Britain.
UDT-1 and UDT-2 saw their first action on 31 January 1944 in the attacks on Kwajalein and Roy-Namur during Operation FLINTLOCK in the Marshall Islands.
On June 6, 1944, the NCDUs at Omaha Beach managed to blow gaps in the German defenses under heavy fire, with casualties suffered. Meanwhile, the NCDUs at Utah Beach cleared significant portions of the beach with lighter casualties. Not a single demolitioneer was lost due to mishandling of explosives during Operation Overlord.
The last UDT operation of the war took place on July 4, 1945, at Balikpapan, Borneo. The rapid demobilization after the war reduced the number of active duty UDTs, but they were one of the few special troops that avoided complete disbandment.
In August 1945, a new command organization was authorized, designating the collection of UDT teams at Oceanside as a UDT Flotilla with two subordinate UDT Squadrons. Captain Robert H. Rodgers served as the Commander for both the Underwater Demolition Flotilla and the Underwater Demolition Teams.
UDT 3 was designated TU 1.1.3 for Operation Crossroads. In April 1946, they embarked on a mission to retrieve water samples from ground zero of the Baker blast.
In 1947, UDTs adopted maritime sabotage techniques pioneered by OSS MU, including special-boat infiltration and tactical combat diving, which later became integral to the SEALs.
After the end of World War II, U.S. forces dramatically reduced their numbers, leading to the formation of four UDT teams comprising just over 200 officers and men by 1948. These teams later became crucial in the Korean War.
Frogmen of UDT-1 prepare to drop over the side of a rubber boat during an amphibious assault training operation in Lake Washington, Seattle, Washington. They swam ashore to blast obstructions impeding an assault.
In 1955, the Underwater Demolition Teams provided funding and training for the Republic of Korea Naval Special Warfare Flotilla, also known as UDT/SEALs, influencing their formation and training.
In 1956, funding, training, and formation of the Philippine Navy Underwater Operations Team (UOT) were provided, modeled after the US Navy SEALs and UDTs.
In 1957, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Arleigh Burke tasked a group to create a Naval Guerrilla/Counterguerrilla force based on lessons from UDTs, aiming to have a versatile unit capable of operating on sea, air, and land.
In 1960, the Navy's Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) entered the Vietnam conflict by delivering small watercraft far up the Mekong River into Laos.
President John F. Kennedy spoke to Congress about the need to strengthen U.S. special operations forces and expand American capabilities in unconventional warfare, allocating over $100 million for this purpose. This speech also included the announcement of the government's plan to put a man on the moon.
On December 11, 1961, Chief of Naval Operations officially established SEAL Team One, a highly classified transition from UDTs to a specialized unit capable of diverse combat operations.
The United States Navy Sea Air and Land teams, also known as Navy SEALs, were established on January 1, 1962. They are the Navy’s primary special operations force specializing in small-unit maritime military operations.
In 1963, frogmen were seen on training exercises at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. They were leaving the submerged submarine USS Sealion through the forward escape trunk while carrying their demolition equipment.
On October 28, 1965, Comdr. Robert J. Fay became the first SEAL to be killed in Vietnam by a mortar round. This event marked a significant loss for the SEAL teams and highlighted the dangers they faced in active combat.
On August 16, 1966, Radarman second-class Billy Machen became the first SEAL to be killed in active combat during a firefight. His death underscored the harsh realities of war faced by the SEAL teams in Vietnam.
Established in 1967, the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, commemorates the history and contributions of the U.S. Navy's elite special operations forces, known as the SEALs.
In 1969, Richard went to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) after his commissioning. He completed training with Class 55 in April 1970.
In January 1970, an Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) recruit is depicted straining to assist in lifting a telephone pole during a training exercise at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in California.
In April of 1972, SEAL Lieutenant Tom Norris conducted an unprecedented ground rescue of two American airmen behind enemy lines in North Vietnam, risking his life. This heroic act led to him being awarded the Medal of Honor.
On June 6, 1972, Lt. Melvin S. Dry, the last Navy SEAL killed in the Vietnam conflict, died during an aborted operation to retrieve Prisoners of War by jumping from a helicopter into the water.
In October 1972, SEAL Petty Officer Mike Thornton rescued SEAL Lieutenant Tom Norris under heavy fire after Norris was severely wounded during a dangerous special reconnaissance mission in North Vietnam. Thornton's act of courage marked the only time in modern history that the Medal of Honor was awarded in a combat action for saving the life of another.
The U.S. Navy Parachute Team, also known as the Leap Frogs, was officially commissioned as the U.S. Navy Parachute Team in 1974 by the Chief of Naval Operations with the mission of demonstrating Navy excellence throughout the United States.
On May 1, 1983, all Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) were re-designated as SEAL Teams or Swimmer Delivery Vehicle Teams (SDVT), marking a significant change in their structure and operations.
SEAL Team Three was established on 1 October 1983 in Coronado, California, expanding the operational capabilities of the Navy SEALs.
On 24 October 1983, SEAL Team Six participated in the US invasion of Grenada, facing challenges during missions to extract Grenada's Governor-General and capture the radio tower.
In 1984, two of the four remaining Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) were converted to SEAL teams, while the other two became SEAL delivery-vehicle teams (SDV Teams). This marked a significant shift in the roles and responsibilities of these specialized units within the U.S. Navy.
In April 1987, the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) was established, overseeing special operations forces including the Naval component known as United States Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM).
The United States Navy contributed special operations assets including SEAL Teams 2 and 4, Naval Special Warfare Unit 8, and Special Boat Unit 26 to Operation Just Cause in Panama. Task Force White aimed to destroy Panamanian Defense Forces naval assets, Noriega's private jet, and isolate PDF forces on Flamenco Island.
SEALs were the first western forces to deploy to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield in August 1990. They played crucial roles in intelligence gathering, capturing Iraqi Prisoners of War, and diverting Iraqi forces during the Persian Gulf War.
As part of Operation Restore Hope, U.S. Navy SEALs conducted reconnaissance operations in Mogadishu ahead of UNITAF's deployment. They later participated in the 'Battle of Mogadishu' as part of Task Force Ranger, displaying bravery and receiving awards for their actions.
The book 'Scouts and Raiders - The Navy's First Special Warfare Commandos' by John B. Dwyer, published in 1993, provides insights into the early history of special warfare units in the U.S. Navy.
Since 2000, SEALs have deployed with their own integral command, control, and support organizations—the SEAL squadron, which has enhanced SEAL and Naval Special Warfare capabilities in operational theaters.
Following the 9/11 attacks, Navy SEALs and other Special Operations Forces played crucial roles in the War on Terror, adapting their skills and capabilities to combat the new kind of enemy through targeted missions.
On June 21, 2002, Navy SEALs supported the Philippine Naval Special Operations Group in an operation that resulted in the killing of Abu Sabaya, a senior leader in the ASG terrorist group.
SEALs from SEAL Team 8 and 10, along with GROM operators, successfully seized the MABOT and KAAOT Oil Terminals in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The terminals were quickly secured with no casualties.
SEALs, along with other special forces units, attempted a waterborne approach to Basra but were intercepted by Iranian patrol craft. They later successfully infiltrated the area, conducting missions and engaging enemy forces.
In September 2004, a SEAL sniper element was tasked with establishing an overwatch and surveillance position overlooking Haifa Street in Iraq. They were engaged by insurgents but successfully notified the Bradleys for support and were extracted without casualties.
In June 2005, Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor after his team was almost wiped out during Operation Red Wings. The operation resulted in casualties, including eight Navy SEALs and eight Army Night Stalkers.
On 29 September 2006, Petty Officer Michael A. Monsoor sacrificed his life by leaping upon an enemy grenade during a rooftop firefight in Ramadi. His heroic actions saved the lives of his fellow SEALs and Iraqi Scouts, earning him the Medal of Honor and the Silver Star.
On April 12, 2009, three Navy SEALs from DEVGRU successfully engaged and killed three Somalian pirates who were holding Captain Richard Phillips hostage on the Maersk Alabama ship.
In October 2010, SEAL candidates were seen training in the surf off Coronado, California. The modern SEALs are capable of fulfilling various sea, air, and land missions, unlike the original task assigned to the 'father' of the force in World War II.
On May 2, 2011, Navy SEALs from DEVGRU conducted a mission in Abbottabad, Pakistan, resulting in the death of Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda.
On August 6, 2011, seventeen U.S. Navy SEALs were killed when their helicopter was shot down by Taliban militants in the Tangi Valley while en route to support U.S. Army Rangers capturing a senior Taliban leader.
On August 16, 2012, SEALs in Uruzgan Province suffered the loss of a Black Hawk helicopter when it was struck by an insurgent RPG in the Shah Wali Kot Valley, resulting in the death of 11 servicemen.
In May 2013, Rear Admiral Sean Pybus announced the plan to halve the number of SEAL platoons in Afghanistan by the end of the year, transitioning back to sea-based missions.
On March 16, 2014, thirty Navy SEALs from SEAL Team 2 successfully took control of the MV Morning Glory tanker loaded with oil from a rebel-held port in Libya.
Until December 2015, female sailors were barred from becoming Navy SEALs. However, the ban was lifted, and women were allowed to join the elite SEAL teams.
On May 3, 2016, Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Keating IV was killed by ISIS small arms fire during an ISIS assault in northern Iraq. He was part of a Quick Reaction Force sent to rescue U.S. advisors.
As of 2018, all active SEALs are male members of the United States Navy. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)’s highly secretive and elite Special Operations Group recruits operators from SEAL teams.
In 2019, the Navy announced that an unnamed female officer was the first to successfully complete the SEAL Officer Assessment and Selection program (SOAS). She opted not to start BUD/S afterwards, instead choosing another assignment in the Navy.
In July 2021, the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) training program graduated its first woman operator, who would go on to become a Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman (SWCC). This marked the first time a woman graduated from the NSW assessment and selection pipeline.
SEAL Team 1 commemorated 60 years of their rich history by hosting a ceremony at Silver Strand Training Complex, where past and present frogmen gathered to celebrate.