US Navy Special Warfare Units in Korea and Vietnam: UDTs and SEALs, 1950–73 (Elite)

This fully illustrated study describes the vital combat roles of the US Special Warfare units, latterly including the renowned SEALs, during two of the deadliest conflicts of the Cold War. During the Korean War and the Vietnam War, US Navy Special Warfare units played a variety of vital combat roles amid two of the deadliest conflicts of the Cold War. In Korea, underwater demolition teams (UDTs) surveyed beaches for amphibious operations, cleared sea mines from harbors, conducted seaborne raids against inshore targets, and served as scouts for the infiltration of Korean guerrillas and British Royal Marine Commando raids along the North Korean coast. In South Vietnam, UDTs surveyed beaches and demolished Viet Cong bunkers, supply caches, and river obstacles in the Mekong Delta. The SEALs (Sea Air Land teams) deployed entire platoons into the Mekong Delta and the Rung Sat Special Zone to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Viet Cong that included ambushes, reconnaissance, and capturing leaders and supply caches. In addition, the SEALs also played important roles in the Phoenix Program and in rescuing prisoners of war. Fully illustrated throughout, this study explores how the US Navy's specially trained naval commandos accomplished their missions in Korea and Vietnam. Cover Contents Introduction US Navy UDTs In The Korean War:Organization And Equipment Diving gear, weapons, and communications Transportation UDT Operations In Korea North Korean invasion The Special Operations Group Inchon Wonsan Chinnampo Hungnam Kamak Bay The siege of Wonsan Infiltrating agents and guerrillas Operation Fishnet US Navy UDTs In The Vietnam War:Organization And Equipment Diving gear, weapons, and ordnance Transportation UDT Operations In Vietnam Detachment Bravo – overt beach surveys Detachment Charlie – covert beach surveys Detachments Delta, Golf, and Hotel – UDT in-country PCF‐43 Operation Deep Channel II Detachments Echo and Foxtrot – The Amphibious Ready Groups US Navy SEALs In The Vietnam War:Organization And Equipment Weapons and ordnance Communications and signals Transportation SEAL Operations In Vietnam Advising the South Vietnamese Deployment of the SEAL teams SEAL squads in the field Intelligence gathering Ambushes Capture operations The raid on Hon Tam Island Provincial Reconnaissance Units Rescuing prisoners of war Tet 1968 Drawdown The rescue of BAT-21 Operation Thunderhead Saving Lieutenant Thomas R. Norris Aftermath Select Bibliography Index Imprint