An Cosantóir

18 | ARW Maritime by Cpl Paul Millar Photos by DF Photographer W hen the team surfaced there were no bubbles, they just appeared. The first thing to be seen was the black antenna of the Diver Propulsion Device (DPD), their chosen method of insertion for the days' exercise. The aerial protruded just enough to confirm their position and then the divers silently emerged to complete their Mission. The DPD extends the range and accuracy of the combat divers from the ARW Maritime Task Unit, just one of the tools and techniques that were practised during the week that the An Cosantóir spent with the ARW. To position the DPD within range of the target, the operators use one of their surface delivery methods, in this case, a military specification, high-speed rigid hull inflatable boat (RhIB). One of the Rangers gave us an insight of how they work, "We have two main types of insertion; surface and sub-surface and a variety of boats to do this." The surface methods range from small inflatable dinghies and two-man kayaks to the vessels and crews of our Naval Service. However, it's how the divers operate sub-surface that marks them out as members of a Special Operations Force. Apart from the DPD already mentioned, the Task Unit has a variety of breathing devices and equipment setups that can be adapted to suit the mission, but the teams prefer to use re-breathers. This system has defined modern day combat diving. Re-breathers are used as they leave no trace of bubbles and are virtually undetectable to many early warning systems. Every detail has been considered in opting for re-breathers, right down to their low magnetic signature which is essential for tactical reasons. The advantages offered by the re-breathers bring their own drawbacks as the pure oxygen in the system can lead to potentially lethal An Cosantóir September 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie oxygen toxicity if used incorrectly. This can lead to disorientation, breathing difficulties and seizures. Everything in the Maritime Task Unit is based around the combat diver; all the equipment and techniques are geared towards maximising their effectiveness, not the other way around. The ability to function with this equipment in a claustrophobic and disorientating environment and still accomplish the mission requires continuous training and personal dedication. One lapse in focus from maintaining a basic rubber seal, navigating to a target or handling a weapon system can lead to mission failure. Listening to the combat divers describe how they train and work is motivating and contagious. This doesn't even include the hours they spend on the range or training for their counter-terrorist and green roles. The training week to ingrain these skills in the new members of the Maritime Task Unit was described as, "hightempo." In reality what this meant was rapid turnarounds between dives and the immediate application of lessons learned on each dive to the next one. The divers spent as much time in or on the water as they did on land. The maritime environment is an obstacle in itself, as one of the team leaders said, "Nature and the sea are unpredictable and the machines we use can be just as complicated. If you combine a complicated task or machine with the unstable and rough sea, it's only the experience and knowledge of the divers that keeps everything on track". The simplest of tasks can be made extremely difficult. Although kitted out with dry suits, the cold is always an issue. Sometimes, divers are required to remain stationary for

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