| Naval Special Forces Command | |
|---|---|
| Kommando Spezialkräfte der Marine | |
 | |
| Active | 1 August 1958 – present |
| Country |  Germany |
| Branch |  German Navy |
| Type | Special operations force |
| Role | Combat diving |
| Size | 250 |
| Part of | Einsatzflottille 1 |
| Garrison/HQ | Eckernförde |
| Nickname | Kampfschwimmer |
| Mottos | Lerne leiden, ohne zu klagen! (Learn to suffer without complaining!) |
| Engagements | Gulf War Yugoslav Wars Operation Enduring Freedom International Security Assistance Force Operation Ocean Shield |
| German Navy Deutsche Marine |
|---|
 |
| Components |
| Command |
| Equipment |
| History and traditions |
| Awards, decorations, and badges |
TheKommando Spezialkräfte der Marine (KSM; Naval Special Forces Command), also called theKampfschwimmer (combat swimmers)[1] orVerwendungsgruppe 3402 (Deployment Group 3402),[citation needed] are thespecial operations unit of theGerman Navy, specializing incommando andamphibious warfare operations. The Kampfschwimmer were set up when West Germany joinedNATO in 1955, making it the oldest Germanspecial operations force.
The Kampfschwimmer were set up particularly because Germany joinedNATO and there was felt to be risk of war with theSoviet Union. A unit was needed which could help to secure theBaltic Sea exits through theDanish straits. On 1 August 1958 Group 3402, as these commando frogmen were called by the navy, was set up. It consisted of men without aNazi past, who had served inWorld War II in the small combat forces and the naval employment commands.
The first Kampfschwimmer were trained first with theNageurs de combat inFrance. France had developed the role of the commando frogmen further in theIndochina war, to the modern single fighter.
The Kampfschwimmer should carry out their tasks both in the water and ashore, like German commando frogmen did in World War II. But now a new dimension was added: airborne operations. This three-role concept of the French became the basis of the commando frogmen of the German navy.
On 1 April 1964, the Kampfschwimmer appeared for the first time as an independent body. In the following years they extended their tasks, but lacked money. Thus e.g. they had to buy their owndrysuitundersuits.
During theGaza war, KSM reportedly deployed toCyprus alongside the Army'sKSK and theFederal Police'sGSG 9 for possible evacuations orhostage rescues.[2][3]
In the Gulf War, German frogmen completed various operations that are classified by German Intelligence and such.
The naval commandos were also active from 1994 to 1996, during the NATO arms embargo against formerYugoslavia. The frogmen conducted boarding operations of suspicious freighters from German frigates and destroyers. Due to insufficient berthing capabilities on board the German warships, the boarding parties were usually undermanned. The commandos had to train ordinary crewmembers as auxiliaries in tasks such as keeping watch and taking control of the engine room and bridge of the boarded vessels.[4]
Since 1974, the Kampfschwimmer have been stationed in the naval base atEckernförde nearKiel. In October 1994 they were subordinate to the Flotilla ofMine Warfare. In Eckernförde a combat frogman group was set up, it consists of a mine clearance diver company and a commando frogmen company. Allegedly the weapon diver group has 250 men. The commando frogmen company had, according to strength and equipment records, 3 groups, each with 16 men. Of it, approximately 40 men are actively operational.
In 2001, the Waffentauchergruppe ("Weapons Diver Group") became the Bataillon Spezialisierter Kräfte ("Specialised Forces Battalion").
By a transformation in 2003, thede:Spezialisierte Einsatzkräfte Marine ("Specialised Task Forces of the Navy") was formed. The SEK M was divided further into the Combat Swimmer Company, amine clearance diver company, and two naval companies for special employments (e.g. to board ships), a training inspection group, and further support elements.
Success rate is approximately 30% which is up from the previous 5-10 percent over the three-year training period.[5]These minimum requirements must be fulfilled by all candidates, to become certified for training:[6]
During the training, it is less about the physical load than the psychological load, which causes many applicants to give up. The physical achievement can be trained, but overcoming the fear is the most important goal of the training. The training includes but is not limited toswimming,diving,navigation,close combat, weapons handling, andparachuting. In the special conclusion exercise their ability and hardness are equally demanded, before they join the circle of the commando frogmen. In further training sections they are trained as team leaders or specialists.
First there are four weeks of introductory training. In this time the applicants are pushed hard physically and psychologically by fixed exercises. All exercises have the goal to take away the fear of water and to make the applicant feel safe in the water. One of the exercises is calledgefesseltes Schwimmen (the bound swimming). The applicant is placed on the starting block in the full combat suit, with his hands tied behind his back and his feet tied together, and then pushed in the swimming pool. He must stay for 30 seconds alone clearly; afterwards a safety diver pulls him back up.
In the so-called "hate week" the trainees are deprived of sleep. Between the night exercises, there are night runs. Meanwhile, the normal routine of the day continues: swimming, diving, andpush-ups.
They also have to train to exit and enter a submarine through atorpedo tube. At the final examination they have to swim about 30 km with full equipment in the Baltic Sea to reach the beach after being discharged at the sea.
Eickhorn S.E.K. Marine knife (designed specifically for this unit)
Eickhorn knives, Various models
| Name | Type | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOWAG Eagle V | Armored Patrol-vehicle |  | |
| KTM 640 LS-E Military | Multi-purpose Enduro |  | |
| Wayland MkI 450 Commando | Folding-kayak |  |
| Name | Type | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airborne-Systems MMS | Tactical-parachute |  | HAHO/HALO capable. |
| Airborne-Systems SOLR Mask | HAHO/HALO Oxygen-mask | | |
| Airborne-Systems SOLR 4500 | HAHO/HALO Oxygen-tank | |
(site under construction)
Kommando Spezialkräfte – German special forces commandSpecial Boat Service – Special forces unit of the Royal NavyUnited States Navy SEALs – U.S. Navy special operations force
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
54°28′34″N9°51′49″E / 54.4762°N 9.8637°E /54.4762; 9.8637
