Army Divers

[sailorbear]

Hi there, I was recently reading a book called Combat Frogman by Michael Welham and in a section on the selection and training of specialist units he mentions a 5 week basic course for Royal Engineers and a 3 week course for divers from the Royal Corps of Transport, Commando Gunners and REME?

I know that the present day Royal Logistics Corps have their own specialist dive team as part of 17 Port & Maritime Regiment and before that the RCT had seamen trained as ships divers but who/what/why are there divers from the REME, what do they do (besides dive!) and who are they attached to?

Additionally why are there Commando Gunner Divers? are these within 29 Commando or are they the Gunners from 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery who I suspect would have to be diver trained for purposes of covert insertion? If so what of the Royal Navy Communicators attached to each team, do they do the Army or an RN diving course? and if so which one as there is no longer a Ships Diver course in the RN?

Finally I presume that the Army personnel all wear (or are entitled to wear) the relevant grade of army diver badge but what about the RN guys of 148, do they wear an RN diving helmet?

Any replied gratefully received, images even more welcome!

Regards Tony

[Mike_2817]

Both the RLC (RCT before them) and REME Divers are part of 17 Port & Maritime Regiment and are trained by the Royal Engineers (I have never heard of RA divers, Commando or otherwise) and are deployed on Landing Ships Logistic (currantly Bay Class 'Landing Ship Dock)

https://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/units/28788.aspx

and wear the Army Shallow Water Divers Badge

[Fatboy Ken]

Hiya guys,

Here is an image of a few of the RLC divers taken from the RLC Open Day at Deepcut last year.

I was told the RLC have 12 on their strength, and this is 6 of them, so a very rare site indeed, and a great bunch of lads to boot, ........

It was a great day out, and also is about to take place again this year on Saturday 6th July 2013 @ Deepcut Bks, all are welcome and I fully reckonmend it as a full day out for the whole family, and the beer tents are excellent as well. "hic" lol

P6300863.jpg

All smile please, then all their cameras came out for me to take more for them lol but I was pleased to oblige them, well done you guys.

PS
Will you be going again this year Mike ? if so we can meet up !! =-D

[Mike_2817]

I am going for the whole weekend Ken, lets arrange to meet up this year, but not in the water tank LoL

[Fatboy Ken]

OK Mike, it's a date, but I'll be bringing my wife as well, ........

[Postwarden]

Just to add an extra to this thread, many years ago I owned a No2 Dress jacket to an NCO in the Blues and Royals which had an anodised diver's helmet badge on the cuff. It was clearly original. Any thoughts?

Jon

[Mike_2817]

Originally Posted by Fatboy Ken

OK Mike, it's a date, but I'll be bringing my wife as well, ........

Well if you insist mate but I'm not normaly into this group nonsense..... but if you feel you need a bodyguard to protect you!

[sailorbear]

Originally Posted by Mike_2817

Both the RLC (RCT before them) and REME Divers are part of 17 Port & Maritime Regiment and are trained by the Royal Engineers (I have never heard of RA divers, Commando or otherwise) and are deployed on Landing Ships Logistic (currantly Bay Class 'Landing Ship Dock)

https://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/units/28788.aspx

and wear the Army Shallow Water Divers Badge

Hi Mike, Cheers for that. Many years ago (1987 I think) I worked at HM Gunwharf in HMS Nelson (Vernon Site) where 20 Maritime Regiment RCT moored their vessels (HMAVs Arakan, Ardennes, St George and Yarmouth Navigator) also there was located the Royal Engineers Diving Establishment (REDE) where I saw plenty of RE Divers (both para & Commando as well as blue beret REs) and Queens Gurkha Engineers divers training as well as some divers from the RCT (to be ships divers on the RCT vessels) and the occasional SAS soldier who kept very low profiles.

On the RN side of Vernon there were plenty of RN clearance divers, Ships divers and Ships divers being trained as Search & Rescue (SAR) divers and divers who were part of the Portsmouth Command EOD team, Fleet Diving Group and Admiralty Experimental Diving Unit But I never saw anyone from the Royal Artillery! I never saw any REME divers either, but 20 Maritime Regiment RCT did have an attached REME workshop at Gunwharf (as part of 17 Port regiment RAOC if I remember right?) so can see that REME could be trained as divers.

Some time ago there was a magazine called the Elite, in which I remember an article on the REDE written by captain Hugh McManners RA (who served with 148 Commando FOB) and was author of "Falklands Commando" in which I recall him mentioning 148 Cdo Gunners training at gunwharf as divers and that he himself was a qualified Army Diving supervisor, I think these must be the gunner divers referred to by Michael Welham in his book, I have never seen or heard of any other RA soldiers being trained as divers? Maybe one of the RA experts like 54 Bty or Tynesideirish might know?

The blues and Royals jacket with the divers badge is an intriguing mystery though?

Regards

Tony

[Mike_2817]

Like Ken I will be at the RLC Open Day in July, and 17 Port & Maritime Regiment (The only remaining real maritime unit by the way, 65 Port Regiment (V) TA being a sub-unit as is 75 Port Clearance Sqadron (Railways) normaly have a good turnout including the divers tank, and I will speak to one re 'REME Divers' and if they currantly have any.

[grumpy]

Originally Posted by Mike_2817

Both the RLC (RCT before them) and REME Divers are part of 17 Port & Maritime Regiment and are trained by the Royal Engineers (I have never heard of RA divers, Commando or otherwise) and are deployed on Landing Ships Logistic (currantly Bay Class 'Landing Ship Dock)

https://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/units/28788.aspx

and wear the Army Shallow Water Divers Badge

Shark wrestlers to any girls that enquire, of course.

[Fatboy Ken]

Hmmmm ??

I've wrestled with a few sharks in my time, and I never got a badge.

But then again they never issued "Whale Shark" badges to us in the RCT, cos it was always expected of us. ........... lol

I've also been with a few "Pigs" in my time as well, did they ever issue "Pig Badges ?? ................. Nope !!!!

Fatbot Ken (Whale Shark, Piggy Wrestler) WSPW

[tynesideirish]

Being a diver is not a requirement of 148. However they are very much SF pay collecting members of the closed Special Forces community. They work alongside and within very close proximity of, and share cross training with the SBS. This means quite a few members got/get the opportunity to attend SW Diving courses amongst other SB related skills.

The parent unit of 148 is of course 29, therefore that answers the query about Gunners from 29 attending Diving courses. It is improbable that a Tom from a Gun Bty of 29 would attend a Diving course.

As for the Blues and Royals Diver badged tunic? A probable answer: Since the early 90's the SBS like the SAS has been open to all services and is no longer the sole domain of RM. If he was SBS his parent Regiment would remain B&R.

[Mike_2817]

I suspect the same for a few REME with RCT/RLC Maritime slipping into course slots rather than a tactical need!

Alpha Troop, 11 EOD Regiment has a need for parachute trained EOD/IED to deploy with specail forces, and they cross train and attend basic parachute course, but do not do P Company.

[JerryBB]

I am not sure how or if this relates, maybe someone here knows?

[sailorbear]

Originally Posted by JBBOND

I am not sure how or if this relates, maybe someone here knows?

Well that's interesting! Instow in north Devon is home to Arromanches Camp where the Amphibious Trials & Training Unit Royal Marines (ATTURM) is based. Never considered that they may have divers working there!

Being an RM base I would think they would be Royal Navy Clearance Divers?

It would be very interesting if anyone has more information?

Regards Tony