More Branch History

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#111111" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>RAN Clearance Divers Association</B></FONT><B>     |   </B><B>  </B><A HREF="articles.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Articles"><U><B>Articles</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>More Branch History</B>   |   <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bomb Mine Disposal WWII"><U>Bomb & Mine Disposal - WWII</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CDT1 in PNG"><U>CDT1 in PNG</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CDT2"><U>CDT2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CDT3 in South Vietnam"><U>CDT3 in South Vietnam</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CDs who served on the Gunline"><U>CDs who served on the 'Gunline'</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CDT3 in KUWAIT"><U>CDT3 in KUWAIT</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CDT3 in Iraq"><U>CDT3 in Iraq</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Operation Iraqi Freedom"><U>Operation Iraqi Freedom</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recollections of a Clearance Diver"><U>Recollections of a Clearance Diver</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Aussie CD with the USN"><U>An Aussie CD with the USN</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="History of Demolitions training"><U>History of Demolitions training</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personnel Exchange Program with USN"><U>Personnel Exchange Program with USN</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Past Team/School COs, XOs and WOs of the"><U>Past Team/School CO's, XO's and WO's of the CD Branch</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MCDOs reaching Star Rank"><U>MCDOs reaching Star Rank</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Indonesian Confrontation"><U>Indonesian Confrontation</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IRAQ 2007"><U>IRAQ 2007</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#111111" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="6aeb4030.jpg" border=0 width="180" height="259" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="6b0b4b10.jpg" border=0 width="180" height="177" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#99FFFF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <I>More Branch History</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>THE AUSTRALIAN CLEARANCE DIVING BRANCH</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>by LCDR Scott Craig</I></div> <bR> <div> Australian Clearance Divers have always been the Australian Defence Forces' specialist divers and have, since the inception of the Branch, operated all in-service diving equipment to the full extent of its operational capacity. Nevertheless, the primary focus of a Clearance Diver is to perform Explosive Ordnance Disposal. This role is conducted at sea in ships, in the oceans (particularly the vulnerable approaches to ports and anchorages), and onshore in port facilities, installations and the littoral environment associated with amphibious operations. The Australian Clearance Diving community represents the largest single ADF organisation with a direct and primary interest in the conduct of EOD. </div> <bR> <div> The RAN established its Clearance Diving Branch in 1951. Initially, the Branch drew on experience of the Royal Navy Combined Operations Pilotage, or P Parties, of World War Two that had been responsible for clandestine reconnaissance and obstacle clearance in a maritime environment. Similar Combined USN and RAN units operated in the South Pacific theatre and also provided further examples of potential tasking and methods of operation. </div> <bR> <div> In its infancy, the Branch also found inspiration in the exploits of many RANR (Reserve) officers who served with British Forces during World War Two. Pioneers in render safe and disposal of enemy sea mines and other ordnance, these Officers were amongst the most decorated of all Australian servicemen in the War. Several of these men served on in the RAN after the War and were directly involved in establishing the Clearance Diving Branch.</div> <bR> <div> Between its inception and the war in Vietnam, the Clearance Diving Branch was kept busy growing its numbers and meeting the demands of domestic diving and peacetime EOD tasks. In Vietnam, Clearance Divers served from bases in Vung Tau and DaNang providing specialist EOD and diving support to the Australian and Allied forces. Apart from the more recognisable tasking of providing ships with defence against enemy swimmer attack, these personnel were frequently assigned in support of US operations in the Vietnamese delta region and later in Military Region 1.. They conducted numerous operations in the field, often coming under fire. Several Clearance Divers were decorated for, amongst other things, capturing an enemy diver and conduct of high-risk tunnel clearances. Australian Clearance Diving Team Three received a United States Congressional Unit citation for its conduct during the Vietnam War.</div> <bR> <div> In peace and wartime, the Clearance Diving Branch continued to provide support to the RAN's non-warlike activities. Most notably, the Branch often responded at short notice to calls for specialist high-risk and psychologically demanding dive tasks such as deep diving in the high altitude dams of the Snowy River project and body recoveries post the West Gate and Tasman Bridge disasters and Cyclone Tracy.</div> <bR> <div> Following the 1978 Sydney Hilton bombing, and the establishment of an ADF counter-terrorist (CT) capability, Clearance Divers were tasked with performing CT duties with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). This was to prove an enduring task that would extend for the next 15 years and result in over 120 Clearance Diver Sailors and Officers serving in SASR CT Squadrons.</div> <bR> <div> In 1991, with war imminent in the Persian Gulf, a Clearance Diving Team was tasked with support of coalition forces involved in planning for amphibious operations. The USN specifically requested Australian Clearance Divers whom they recognised as world leaders in conduct of clandestine reconnaissance and clearance operations in a mine-threat environment. Like its predecessor in Vietnam, the Clearance Diving Team that deployed to the Gulf war was recognised with a Unit Citation as well as many individual decorations for conspicuous service.</div> <bR> <div> Clearance Diving detachments and individuals have supported almost all post-Gulf War ADF operations including; the search for and destruction of chemical filled ordnance in Iraq and RAN operations in the Persian Gulf, Somalia and Bougainville. Australian Clearance Diving Teams conducted clandestine reconnaissance and explosive ordnance disposal operations in direct support of Australian led UN Forces in East Timor. Several Clearance Divers were also decorated for their efforts during the early days of the UN deployment. </div> <bR> <div> In the year 1999, the first Mine Hunter Coastal entered service with the RAN. These ships represent a major contribution to the war fighting capability of the ADF and incorporate state of the art technology for conducting mine countermeasures operations at sea. Each ship has one Minewarfare Clearance Diving Officer (MCDO) and five Clearance Divers posted as part of the ship's company.  These Officers may also be posted to any of the other Officer billets in these ships, including Commanding Officer and Executive Officer. </div> <bR> <div> Following the terrorist strikes of 11 September 2001, the Australian government moved to establish a second counter-terrorism Tactical Assault Group. This unit mirrors that maintained by the Special Air Service Regiment and is part of 4RAR Commando. Like their predecessors of two decades ago, young Clearance Divers and Officers are meeting the selection criteria for service in this Special Forces unit and are contributing to the defence of Australia against terrorism. </div> <bR> <div> Only the most dedicated of the Navy's personnel choose to pursue the path of a Clearance Diver. Sailors transferring from any other Navy category must revert in rank to Able Seaman if they want to become a Clearance Diver. Additionally, all personnel joining the Branch, including Officers, must undergo acceptance testing and complete the arduous requirements of the Clearance Diving qualification course. These demands placed on potential applicants to a category are probably not seen anywhere else in the ADF outside of the Special Forces. In the present international climate of uncertainty and widespread threat of terrorism, Clearance Divers represent a valuable and extremely flexible asset for both the ADF and the nation. </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>