Who are these guys?

[BK101484]

In Maine there ahs been an arrival of what appears to be SDV's and some boats at the Naval Reserve center. There is a rumor that the SEALs are training up here and it seems true considering the build up. Just curious what team these guys would be from?
Any input would be appreciated.

[Nissan]

Well if its a build up of SDVs I'd have to guess SDV Team 2...outa Little Creek

[Dittohd]

BK,
If you check out a copy of the Portland Press Herald from last Friday or Saturday there is a small write up that mentions that the unit is from VA. On a side note there has been a slight build up or so it would seem at the NAS in Maine. In the last 3 or 4 days there have been C-141 and C-5 flights almost daily.

[Mike]

here is the article.

Portland (ME) Press Herald
May 19, 2000

SEALS To Tackle Maine's Coastline

By David Hench, Staff Writer

Tourists head for the Maine coast for the scenic views and delicious lobster.

The Navy SEALS will land here today for the huge tide swings, freezing water, treacherous submerged rocks and mud flats like wet cement.

"This area provides a number of challenges to us that we want to test our capabilities on,'' said Master Chief (SEAL) Brian Brackett, who is overseeing the training mission in the waters and islands of Casco Bay.

The two dozen SEALS will stage nighttime shore landings and test advanced equipment, including the Seal Delivery Vehicle, a mini-submarine. They will bivouac for two weeks at the Naval Reserve Center on Commercial Street in Portland.

The name SEAL is an acronym that comes from the warriors' capability of striking from sea, air or land. They use boats, submarines, other battle vehicles and sometimes parachute from aircraft. They are among the military's most elite fighting forces.

But it is unlikely that the public will get a chance to glimpse the SEALS in action during their Portland stay.

"Most, if not all, is going to be at night,'' said Brackett, who explained that SEAL missions usually depend on getting into an area and out again undetected. "We're successful in that we're not seen and we're not compromised.''

Residents also won't be able to get too close. Diving can be dangerous, as can low-level helicopter operations. Brackett urged mariners to stay at least 500 yards away from Army helicopters working close to the water and other operations. Safety boats will be on hand to keep onlookers at a safe distance.

This is essential training, after all.

"We go into harm's way. The defining difference between success and failure is how prepared we are,'' Brackett said.

This is the second time that the SEALS have trained off the Portland coast, which is much more rugged than their home base in Virginia, which has flat sandy beaches and pleasantly warm water.

The military units will be in and around Portland until June 6. All the training locations and schedules have been cleared with local officials and property owners, and will pose no danger to residents or wildlife, said Brackett, who grew up in South Portland.

The local Naval Reserve Center has willingly given up its lawn for the large tents that house the visiting forces, said Mark Sutherby, lead logistician for Naval Special Warfare Group 2.

Units from the Brunswick Naval Air Station will help enhance the realism of the exercises, though Brackett would not elaborate. He did emphasize that no live ammunition would be used.

The men training here are members of Seal Delivery Vehicle Team 2. The team's name comes from the small submarines, or SDVs, used to move teams into high-risk areas.

Designed for stealth, the darkened subs are filled with water and the six-man crew inside uses SCUBA tanks to breathe.

"It's like sitting in your bathtub, in the dark, playing Nintendo,'' said Master Chief (SEALS) Jeff Luce.

Combat swimmers leave the sub, swimming to shore. Then they march, or trudge, from the water carrying 100 pounds of electronics, weaponry and other equipment on their backs.

The training exercise also may call for them to hide out for days to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance before sneaking away.

Under one set of circumstances, which will be practiced over the next two weeks, a large MH-47 Army helicopter will deposit the sub into the waters near its destination.

Other exercises will involve different types of surface boats and Army units, including Blackhawk helicopters.

Has the military deployed the sub in global conflicts? Iraq maybe? Or Bosnia?

That's classified information. "Any operation – past, present or future – I cannot discuss,'' Brackett said.

[SOF Chick]

They are doing training, its on the internet. Nothing too exciting.

------------------
SOF Chick
"The worst it could be is a miserable failure."

[Dittohd]

As a side note to this little discussion, last night (5/23) a MH-47 and a what I believe was a blackhawk buzzed my work place at about 2300. They were low enough to shake the building and prompt people into believing that we were recieving a lifeflight helicopter. Very interesting.

Dittohd