OFFICIAL DATA:
Back in 2018:
18 July 2018 - Britain Plans to Launch Covert Special Forces Operations Against Russia, China
The British Royal Marines are to take over some of the “traditional” roles of the nation’s special forces units – the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) – as they are preparing for some new “higher risk” counter-state tasks, Totten said.
The brigadier himself is in command of a 4,000-strong “future commando force” that is about to share the burden of the special forces such as in maritime counterterrorist missions or some “partnered operations” that involve some “higher risks".
The SAS and SBS will apparently hurl all effort into countering “big state adversaries” – Moscow and Beijing, the military official told the paper.
“What we will be able to do is allow [the special forces] to focus on more difficult, more complex, counter-Russia, counter-China [tasks]. It takes real specialist expertise, so we will allow them to have more time and people to address those and we can conduct some of the tasks,” Totten added.
The brigadier did not exactly elaborate on the nature of such future operations.
The nature of the UK Special Forces’ potential operations against Russia remains unclear, but The Times claims that they could involve surveillance of Russian intelligence and military units in cooperation with British MI6 intelligence.
Earlier, The Guardian reported that the most secretive parts of the British military are likely to get a new focus and a new remit that would involve countering Russia and other state actors through secret missions.
The paper added that the director of the special forces has drawn up a new ‘Special Operations Concept’ based on the pretense that the nature of modern warfare is changing and unconventional subtle military operations are becoming increasingly common.
The Guardian also cited the Chief of the General Staff General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith who said that peace and war were “two increasingly redundant states”, while accusing “authoritarian regimes” of “exploiting the hybrid space that exists in between".
Still, Totten’s comments were a rare instance of a British military official openly admitting that London plans to deploy the UK Special Forces on covert missions specifically targeting Russia and China.
UK sends SBS to Ukraine
The United Kingdom sent dozens of special forces to Ukraine amid fears of Russian invasion.
More than 100 British elite troops have been sent to Ukraine as military advisors. Soldiers from SAS (Special Air Service), SBS (Special Boat Service), Special Reconnaissance Regiment and Special Forces Support Group deployed to Ukraine last week.
The UK has sent more than 100 special forces advisors to Kiev to train Ukrainian soldiers as tensions reach boiling point over fears of a Russian invasion.
US and UK undersea demolition teams in Florida on a joint course:
One such briefing given by U.K. Royal Navy DTXG Commanding Officer Cdr. Sean Heaton, who described the investigation of a series of underwater bombings to oil tankers transiting near the Strait of Hormuz in 2019. Heaton — who was recognized in 2020 as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) after overseeing the safe disposal of a 500-pound World War II era Luftwaffe bomb found at London’s King George V Docks — discussed how the investigation into these series of bombings required not just his technical training as an EOD officer, but the necessary crime scene investigation techniques to collect evidence, interview witnesses, and make logical deductions into who and what was responsible for the attacks.Cdr. Heaton also stressed the collaboration with EXU-1 as a means of success and excellence for both countries, since exploiting these scenarios in the same way allows for good information to be gained and shared.
“In terms of our outlook on current geopolitical events, what helps is having both of our groups looking at the same problem sets. Working together, information exchange is quite easy and prevents numerous delays. We are often in the same places and operating jointly, so our partnership constantly sharpens our skillsets and allows us to be more prepared,” he said. “Different events tie into intelligence gathering which we can all share with each other. That is critical because it allows us to be on the same page with one another before conflict happens. So when conflict does happen, we are all prepared.”
UK Special forces - "Special Boat Services" (SBS) goes through reorganization:
The UK Royal Navy (RN) is reorientating and rebrigading its Fleet Diving Squadron into a new organisation known as the Diving and Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG).
The move, effective as of 31 January, is designed to deliver relevant, globally deployable specialist mission teams capable of contributing to maritime Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), mine countermeasures (MCM) diving, and underwater battlespace exploitation capabilities to operational commanders. The restructure aims to provide the fleet with diving, exploitation, and EOD force elements with greater availability, sustainability, and lethality.
According to the service, the DTXG will deliver operational effects in six key areas: naval special operations (specialist diving, maritime and land EOD, and maritime exploitation capabilities); Mine-Hunting Capability (persistent mixed-gas underwater EOD and exploitation capabilities); Maritime Task Group (persistent diving, in-water maintenance, and repair to carriers and wider task group, and capable of providing underwater force protection to the force); Littoral Response Group (LRG)/Future Commando Force (persistent mixed-gas diving and maritime and land EOD capabilities to the LRG or Joint Expeditionary Force [Maritime]); in-water maintenance and repair and battle/peacetime damage repair support to surface and submarine flotillas; and homeland defence (specialist diving, maritime and land EOD capabilities to support civil authorities, and EOD under the Ministry of Defence/Home Office service-level agreements and directives).
...“we are introducing, that large parts of the world are introducing, are to bring down the Putin regime.”
"For my unit this transformation means we can focus our attention on becoming experts in the field of maritime exploitation of conventional and improvised explosive devises and munitions – a capability that doesn’t exist anywhere else across UK defence."
The Diving & Threat Exploitation Group continues to evolve and move with the times.
"We recognise and embrace modern, innovative technology such as autonomous underwater vehicles and remotely operated vehicles (known as AUVs and ROVs) to deliver operations and enhance training."
Delta & Echo Squadron - globally deploys dedicated and motivated Clearance Divers...
...armed with world class expeditionary diving and explosive ordnance capabilities to defeat and exploit complex conventional and improvised threats.
Operating under the new banner of the Diving & Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG) – which replaces the long-standing Fleet Diving Squadron – the expert frogmen/bomb disposal experts aim to do more and be more agile, while using the latest tech, in order to keep the Navy’s fleet and the public safe, globally.
According to a Royal Navy statement, the restructuring represents the biggest shake-up since 1996. The divers, who were a part of the Fleet Diving Squadron, will now operate under the name of Diving & Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG). The Royal Navy Divers are based in Portsmouth, Plymouth and Faslane.
The latest changes will enable the personnel to carry out additional missions as well as continue training activities with Nato and other allies.
Diving & Threat Exploitation Group commanding officer Commander Sean Heaton said: “This once-in-a-generation transformation has enabled the Royal Navy’s Clearance Divers to be the most agile, lethal and technically advanced they have ever been.
“Capable of locating, exploiting, and disposing of threats to the Royal Navy and the UK’s interests, all while remaining ready to conduct emergency underwater maintenance to our ships and submarines.”
Echo Squadron (DTXG’s explosive exploitation experts) Lieutenant Commander Tom Forbes said: “For my unit this transformation means we can focus our attention on becoming experts in the field of maritime exploitation of conventional and improvised explosive devises and munitions, a capability that doesn’t exist anywhere else across UK defence.
10 March 2022 - Royal Navy’s DTXG: Revolutionizing Clearance Divers’ Capabilities
In what Royal Navy clearance divers describe as their biggest shake-up since 1996, the long-standing Fleet Diving Squadron has been reshaped into small, elite mission teams said to be better equipped to deal with the latest threats. They are now called the Diving & Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG). Based in Portsmouth, Plymouth and Faslane, RN divers’ tasks include explosive disposal of historic ordnance and rendering improvised explosive devices safe in the UK, as well as clearing sea mines and deterring terrorists overseas.
The DTXG’s explosives exploitation experts are Echo Squadron. Lt-Commander Tom Forbes said of his unit: “This transformation means we can focus our attention on becoming experts in the field of maritime exploitation of conventional and improvised explosive devises and munitions – a capability that doesn’t exist anywhere else across UK defence.
The Diving & Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG) is based in Portsmouth and Faslane, the UK's Royal Navy Divers
DTXG in Lithuania in June:
Delta Diving Unit from the Diving & Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG) based on Horsea Island in Portsmouth, practised identifying – and neutralising – a range of explosive devices in the water and ashore across Lithuania.
Boris Johnson and "Who dares wins":
...days after donning camo to hang out with soldiers - as PM's allies press for him to be allowed to STAY on in No10 and minister says he would be 'comfortable if he returned to Government
Mr Johnson's spokesman would not say if he was visiting the Special Boat Service (SBS), based in Poole, or the Hereford Based Special Air Service (SAS)- whose motto is 'who dares wins'.
2 Aug 2022 - Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Portsmouth Naval Base...
... to see Royal Navy’s state-of-the-art mine clearing team in action. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has visited the Diving & Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG) at the Defence Diving School, Horsea Island
4 Aug 2022 - Boris Johnson 'took control of bomb disposal robots' in Royal Navy visit
The Prime Minister Johnson visited the Diving and Threat Exploitation Group at the Defence Diving School on Horsea Island, Portsmouth, on Tuesday to hear about how the Royal Navy is modernising its minehunters and witnessed their capabilities.
During a two-week exercise in Lithuania, Royal Navy divers used robots and autonomous vessels to aid with their operations including Remus – a torpedo-shaped submersible which can survey and map possible ordnance.
Divers from Delta Diving Unit, from the Diving & Threat Exploitation Group trained alongside Canadian, Lithuanian, US, Dutch and Estonian colleagues in disarming improvised explosive devices.
Navy chiefs are dramatically increasing the number of robotic and autonomous minehunters which can be controlled from greater distances to protect Britain’s sailors.
Ukrainian Navy personnel have begun learning how to operate Royal Navy Sandown-class minehunters.
The Ukrainian Naval Capabilities Enhancement Programme was struck last year and includes selling two surplus RN Sandown class vessels to Ukraine.
There are currently approximately 80 Ukrainian trainees and support staff based in the UK.
Russia blames UK and names Special Boat Services (SBS):
29 Oct 2022 - Russia’s MoD: UK’s naval service is behind Sevastopol drone attacks and Nord Stream explosion
30 Oct 2022 - Russia 'unfriendly countries' list expands, UK territories added
1 Nov 2022 - Russia Considers Retaliation Against UK After Blaming Royal Navy For Nord Stream Blast
Russia said on Tuesday it was considering what “further steps” to take in connection with its allegation that Britain was responsible for an attack on the Nord Stream undersea gas pipelines.
Internal investigation declined:
3 Nov 2022 - UK’s Defence Committee refused access to UK Special Forces in heated debate with Defence Minister.
In a British Parliamentary Deference Select Committee on the 2nd November, 2022, the UK Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, has been challenged for his failure to permit members of the Defence Select Committee access to UK Special Forces.
In a heated exchanged, the Committee chair, Tobias Ellwood MP said that the UK Special Forces were not the best in the world ‘about scrutiny’, and that the Special Forces – including units such as the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Services (SBS) – were “not above scrutiny.”
When asked if the Ministry of Defence could facilitate a visit to Hereford, home of the SAS, the Deference Minister said “no” and went on to argue that “this committee does not have oversight of Special Forces and its operations.”
The chair of the Defence Committee disagreed, saying: “I’m sorry, we have oversight of the Armed Forces in the UK Defence.”
Mr Wallace then said the Special Forces were very busy in operational work.
...Earlier this year, Action on Armed Violence raised concerns about a lack of parliamentary oversight of the UK’s Special Forces...
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