Special Operations.Com
Special
Boat Squadrons Overview
Special Boat Squadrons
Special
Boat Squadrons (SBR) are echelon II Captain’s major
commands established by NAVSPECWARCOM at NAB Coronado
and NAB Little Creek to equip, support, and provide
trained and ready special operations ships and craft
to the geographic CINCs. Each command is comprised
of one or more active or reserve component Special
Boat Units (SBUs) and CYCLONE Class Patrol Coastal
(PC) ships.
Special Boat Units
Special
Boat Units (SBUs) are organized, trained and equipped
to operate a variety of special operations surface
craft in both the maritime and riverine environments.
Their unique capabilities in the littoral battle space
includes the ability to transition from the blue water
open ocean to beach landing sites, to operations within
inland maritime lines of communication (i.e. the riverine
environment).
Special Boat Unit Mission
The
mission of an SBU is to employ, operate and maintain
a variety of surface combatant craft to conduct and
support naval and joint special operations, riverine
warfare, and coastal patrol and interdiction.
Special Boat Unit Capabilities
The
SBU is capable of infiltrating and exfiltrating forces,
providing small-caliber gunfire support, conducting
coastal patrol, surveillance, harassment, and interdiction
of maritime lines of communication, FID operations,
deception operations, search and rescue operations,
and armed escort.
Special Boat Unit Limitations
SBUs
are limited in range based on fuel, sea state, and
currents. They are limited in size and amount of equipment
and weapons that can be carried, require a support
base or platform for an extended deployment, and require
extensive air or sealift to deploy to a forward theater
of operations.
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