Special Operations.Com
Combat
Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC)
US Navy SEALs embarked on CRRCs for
training insertion. (Photos copyright Steven Bronson
2000)
The mission of the Combat Rubber Raiding
Craft (CRRC) is clandestine surface insertion and
extraction of lightly armed amphibious forces.
They are employed to land and recover SEALs and U.S.
Marine Corps reconnaissance squads from over the horizon.
The CRRC is capable of surf passages. It may
be launched by air (rubber duck/helo-cast), or by
craft (LCU, LCM). It may also be subsurface
or deck-launched from submarines. It has a low
visual electronic signature, and is capable of being
cached by its crew once ashore.
SEALs use cargo air drop techniques
(see photo below) to deliver small re-supply
bundles to ground forces, or inserting CRRC's.
The inflated CRRC is lashed down to a platform, with
all necessary operational equipment inside the CRRC.
This equipment includes outboard engines, gasoline,
weapons, radios and individuals' gear. A G-12
cargo parachute is then rigged on top of the load.
The CRRC is released from the aircraft and rolls off
the ramp, followed by the jumpers (either static line
or free fall). The cargo parachute brings the
CRRC safely down in the water, and the SEALs land
close to the CRRC. After the CRRC is derigged
the outboard engine is installed and the SEALs start
the transit.
Characteristics
