Underwater Missions Unit

Underwater Missions Unit
File:MYA Banner.jpg Emblem of the Underwater Missions Unit (MYA)
Active	1972 - present
Country	Greece
Branch	Hellenic Coast Guard
Type	Special forces, Police tactical unit
Role	Special operations, counter terrorism, hostage rescue, search and rescue, underwater diving, bomb disposal
Size	Classified
Garrison/HQ	Athens, Greece
Nickname(s)	"Βατραχάνθρωποι" (Frogmen) "Βατράχια" (Frogs)
Commanders
Current commander	Classified

Underwater Missions Unit - Hellenic Coast Guard

The Coast Guard Underwater Missions Unit (Greek: Μονάδα Υποβρυχίων Αποστολών Λιμενικού Σώματος), abbreviated as ΜΥΑ/ΛΣ, or simply MYA, is an elite counter-terrorism (Tier 1) unit of the Hellenic Coast Guard, tasked with visit, board, search and seizure, high-risk missions, hostage rescue and specialized diving down to a depth of 120 meters. MYA may operate within or outside the area of responsibilities of the Hellenic Police and Coast Guard upon request.

The Special Intervention Team of MYA/ΛΣ is a part of the Joint Special Operations Command of the Hellenic Ministry of Defense and is tasked with special operations during wartime.

Furthermore, MYA is part of the Internal Security Crisis Management Coordination Service, which falls under the direct command of the Greek Prime Minister and is the national authority for the combating of serious terrorist actions or threats inside Greece's territory.

History

MYA was founded in 1972 under the title of "Multipurpose Unit" and consisted of divers. The unit had a limited responsibility of search and rescue and underwater searches with the aim to retrieve evidence and missing persons using open-circuit systems.

In 1980 the unit was moved to a new base in Agios Kosmas as a result of the "Achille Lauro" and "City of Poros" terrorist attacks, during which the need arose for a unit specialized in maritime counter-terrorism. The training program and the organization of MYA were revised. Since then, members of the unit are trained at the Underwater Demolitions School of the Hellenic Navy's DYK.

In 1995, the unit was renamed to MYA/ΛΣ. The legal basis was also established through which the unit acquires its operational independence.

During the Easter of 1996, frogmen from MYA, upon request of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, carried out a waterborne landing on the island of Imia in order to de-escalate an ongoing Greco-Turkish crisis. The men of MYA could not fully carry out their task, however, as Turkish F-16s were overflying the small islet.

After the death of Marinos Zapatis, a Greek coast guard member who died during a firefight with Albanian drug traffickers near the island of Corfu, MYA took action to locate and neutralize illegal drug-trafficking networks, gaining a lot of operational experience which led to the unit's future upgrades.

Organization

MYA is divided into four teams, each specializing in a different field. The unit consists of the Special Intervention Team (OEE), the Special Diving Team (OEK), the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team and the Security Diver Team.

Special Intervention Team

The Special Intervention Team (Greek: Ομάδα Ειδικών Επεμβάσεων) abbreviated as OEE, is tasked with carrying out counter terrorism, hostage rescue, high-risk missions and protection of high-value ships and persons in a maritime environment. It specializes in VBSS, being authorized to board any ship inside Greek national waters by making use of waterborne and aerial vehicles of the Security and Defense Forces of Greece and allied nations.

OEE was first upgraded before the 2004 Olympics. The team was trained by French Commando Hubert on ship boarding operations and oxygen diving. After returning to Greece, the team soon took action, performing countless VBSS operations. Today, the team possesses the longest record of ship boarding missions amongst NATO countries.

Due to Greece's strategic position in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Coast Guard's role as a security service, MYA has been a major Military Assistance (MA) receiver from allied countries. A very important year for OEE was 2006, when the team received modern equipment and training. It was also decided that the team would focus on certain mission sets, which were picked after examining the orientation of global terrorism, organized crime but most importantly how countries act during a period when conventional warfare is limited and no government is willing to surpass the threshold of a full-scale war, following the strategy of the so-called "grey-zones".

2013 was an important year for OEE and MYA, as the investment and training put into VBSS operations had now been internationally recognized by law-enforcement agencies and militaries of all NATO countries. Upon examination of the capabilities of Greek Special Operations Forces, USSOCOM and NAVSPECWARCOM invested into MYA. In 2017, after 4 years of continuous training and operational activity, OEE successfully completed USSOCOM's evaluation program and was now regarded as an experienced unit regarding CQB, VBSS, SSE, Tactical Questioning and Mission Planning.

Special Diving Team

The Special Diving Team (Greek: Ομάδα Ειδικών Καταδύσεων) abbreviated as OEK, is tasked with underwater activities down to a depth of 120 meters, for the exploration of shipwrecks, the retrieval of crime evidence and missing persons. The team uses both open-circuit scuba and close-circuit rebreather systems.

OEK was created when the need arose for a team specializing in deep diving for an extended period of time. The team was formed in 2009, following the acquisition of diving equipment by MYA and the training of its members by contractors regarding diving using nitrox and trimix gasses.

In 2014, OEK performed the deepest dive ever carried out by Greek Armed Forces or Law-Enforcement. The team took part in the retrieval of a ship named "Gonzuru" and the bodies of dead immigrants which sunk with the ship. After repeated dives down to 70 meters and the successful retrieval of the ship, the men of OEK were decorated with the A' Class Naval Medal. At the same time, the unit's diving depth limit was increased to 120 meters. For dives over 100 meters deep, the unit is required to use close-circuit rebreather devices.

Geopolitical Role and International Recognition

In 2013, after having received modern equipment, having updated its legal basis and having taken part in countless high-risk missions, the unit was regarded as a key geopolitical tool for Greece.

Personnel of MYA are graduates of the Greek military's most challenging school (Underwater Demolition School). MYA is not limited unlike its Armed Forces counterparts, which possess no significant operational experience as the Greek law does not allow them to operate during peacetime. MYA is considered a national weapon exactly because, in the case of a military crisis, the usage of the unit will not be regarded as an escalation. Its members are experienced in real life combat operations and the long operational history of MYA presents Greek leadership with a useful weapon whenever it is needed.

The recognition of MYA's geostrategic role has been highlighted after the unit's operational successes in 2017 by the world's largest news networks, like The Washington Post and the BBC.

Operational History

MYA has conducted a vast number of operations since its establishment in 1972. These operations include counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, high-risk missions and the management of shipwrecks. Each year, the unit conducts over 200 missions, most of which remain classified. On a monthly basis, MYA performs underwater checks for explosives and boards suspicious ships which are under surveillance by foreign and domestic authorities. List of MYA's known successful operations:

Counter-Terrorism - High Risk Operations
Operation "Erato"	Sea region of Spetses. A family of three is held hostage by a Czech veteran of the French Foreign Legion on a boat. The men of MYA approached the boat and neutralized the hostage-taker. One member of MYA was severely injured during the brief firefight.
Operation on the Island of Kos	The men of MYA chased an illegal migrant smuggler. The suspect was killed during a brief exchange of fire.
Operational Readiness during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games	24-hour readiness for the suppression of any terrorist acts throughout the duration of the games.
Operation "Baltic Sky"	Friendly approach and boarding of a ship in the region of Astakos and seizure of 680 tons of dynamite and detonators and arrest of crew members.
Operation "KCL BANNER"	Ship boarding and seizure of a large amount of mortar shells and weapons.
Operation "BRUSTEL"	Ship boarding and seizure of a large amount of mortar shells and weapons.
Operation in the sea region off the island of Hydra	Ship boarding and rescue of Libyan police officers held hostage by Muslim activists.
Operation "Sveltana"	Ship boarding and seizure of a large quantity of illegal tobacco and arrest of crew members.
Operation in Laurium	Ambush in a gulf near Laurium, seizure of a large amount of drugs and arrest of smugglers.
Operation in Sagiada	Ambush at the Greco-Albanian border, seizure of a large amount of drugs and arrest of Albanian smugglers.
Operation in Igoumenitsa	Multiple ambushes to locate escapees of the Trikala prison.
Operation "DIALA"	Ship boarding, arrest of crew members and seizure of illegal tobacco in the sea region of Methana.
Operation "NOOR ONE-Filothei"	Raids on a villa in Filothei and a moored ship. Arrest of foreign and Greek drug smugglers and seizure of 1 tone of heroin, the largest amount ever seized in Greece.
Operation "ATLAS"	Ship boarding following multiple hour-long surveillance and seizure of the largest amount of illegal tobacco ever seized in Greece.
Operation "BARIS"	Boarding and seizure of boat carrying 594 illegal migrants and arrest of smugglers.
Operation "KRITI II"	Ship boarding and rescue of woman being held hostage. The men of MYA used rubber bullets and arrested the hostage-taker.
Operation "Deus"	MYA snipers onboard a Coast Guard Dauphin helicopter opened fire on the engines of a smuggler boat traveling at 55 knots in the sea region south of the Peloponnese. The boat was forced to stop and the men of MYA arrested the smugglers and seized 2 tones of drugs.
Operation "Kerkira - Tzia"	The men of MYA exchanged fire with drug smugglers during a speedboat chase which lasted over 40 minutes. Snipers of MYA boarding a Coast Guard Dauphin helicopter opened fire on the engines of the boat, rendering them useless. The smugglers were arrested and 1,6 tones of drugs were seized.
Operation "Andreas"	MYA boarded a tug boat south of Crete, following a firefight. 7 tones of cannabis heading towards Europe were seized.

Shipwrecks
Operations "Dystos"	Retrieval of missing persons from a capsized bulk carrier in the region of Kymi, Evia.
Operation "Express Samina"	Retrieval of missing persons from the MS Express Samina.
Operation "Sea Diamond"	Underwater dive to locate two missing persons inside a sinking ship. The men of MYA were decorated as a result of the difficulty of the mission and the fact that the ship completely sunk during their dive.
Operation "A1"	Retrieval of a ship captain trapped inside a sunken ship.
Operation "MV EROL SENKAYA"	Retrieval of a ship captain trapped inside a capsized ship.
Operation in Farmakonisi	Underwater dive down to 73 meters for the exploration of a crime scene by members of the Special Diving Team. Retrieval of immigrants and sunken boat. Decoration of the men of OEK as a result of the high risk involved in the mission.

Training

Members of the Hellenic Coast Guard willing to join MYA undergo a long selection and training process. Upon signing up, they attend the Hellenic Navy's Underwater Demolition School. The selection process of this school has an extremely high attrition rate and is very similar to the US Navy's BUD/S. Graduates of the Navy's school then enter MYA's own training program. This program consists of:

• Operational Adaptation School: candidates are taught the basics regarding the responsibilities of the Special Intervention Team and Special Diving Team. Depending on performance, the candidate is either directed to the Special Intervention School or the Special Diving School.
  • Special Intervention School: advanced training regarding the mission set of the Special Intervention Team. This includes:
    • Weapons
    • Close Quarters Combat
    • VBSS
    • Oxygen Diving
    • First Aid
    • Crime Scene Securement
    • Communications
    • High-risk arrests
    • Ambushes
  • Special Diving School: advanced training regarding the mission set of the Special Diving Team. This includes:
    • Technical Diving
    • Diving using NITROX
    • Diving using TRIMIX
    • Shipwreck Exploration
    • Diving inside close environments

Equipment

MYA is in possession of a large number of modern equipment which enables them to conduct complex operations in any environment. List of known equipment used by MYA:

Assault Rifles

• M4 Carbine 5.56x45mm NATO
• M4A1 5.56x45mm NATO: Standard issue rifle. Equipped with holographic sights, suppressors, rail-mounted flashlights and IR lasers.
• M16
• H&K G3

Pistols

• Glock 17 9x19mm
• Glock 18 9x19mm

Light Machine Guns

• FN Minimi 7.62x51mm

Shotguns

• Beneli M3 12 Gauge

Sniper Rifles

• Barrett M82 .50 BMG
• Accuracy International Arctic Warfare .338 Lapua Magnum

Submachine Guns

• H&K MP5SD
• H&K MP5

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

• RQ-20 Puma

Cooperation with Foreign Units

On a yearly basis, MYA conducts joint training exercises with allied nations' counter-terrorist units, such as:

• Seal Team Two
• Seal Team Four
• Seal Team Eight
• Seal Team Ten
• US Army Special Forces
• Yamam
• Commando Hubert
• RAID
• FBI - HRT

MYA conducts joint training with Cyprus's MMAD and the Hellenic Presidential Security Agency and also provides instructors for the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center.

References

This article "Underwater Missions Unit" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Underwater Missions Unit. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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