An Cosantóir

September 2013

An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.

Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/160974

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Along with the other responsibilities already assigned to the ARW, the Maritime Task Unit has roles that encompass everything from the traditional role of coastal recce to countering the worldwide resurgence in piracy. But this week was about the boats, from handling them to assaulting them and all the skills and drills in between. An opposed ship boarding is one task that could potentially use all of the tools and procedures available to the ARW in one operation. The methods of insertion remain the same. Practically, this could mean coordinating the arrival of teams fast roping from a helicopter, interdicting the target at high speed using RhIBs or covertly approaching for a sub-surface assault. For every problem that a particular type of ship presents, a solution has been designed and rehearsed. Once on board, the teams move to their objectives, clearing level by level and room by room, drawing on their training and experiences in the unit to ensure that the mission succeeds. The long periods of time, suspended in the sea, waiting for the right time to progress to the target. The aches and pains that result from this are not allowed to interfere with their mission. Numb hands and fingers are needed to shoot and cramping muscles are needed to climb ladders or fin into a recce location. A particular type of fitness and attitude is needed to overcome these discomforts. Underwater currents and tides can be just as daunting. A combination of tide tables, charts, the latest underwater navigation tools and in some cases local knowledge are all part of the detailed research and planning that goes into each dive. There are, of course, limits to the technology. Even on a bright day visibility can be limited to one meter making it difficult to see the other members of the dive team. At night, when the combat divers perform most of their operations, the glow of a compass is all the diver has to guide him onto the target. | 19 training and commitment necessary to pull all these variables together, the sub-surface insertion, the assault and the successful extraction, is what makes membership of the Maritime Task Unit one of the most difficult goals to achieve in the Defence Forces. Asked why someone would choose diving as a discipline, considering it's harsh reputation, one operator replied, "it's one of the few places in the world that this type of diving is practised." With 40% of the worlds population considered coastal and 90% of our trade carried by sea, there will be plenty of opportunities to practice. www.military.ie the defence forces magazine

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