Bangladesh Navy Special Warfare Diving And Salvage
(SWADS)
Special Warfare Diving and Salvage
Active
Country Bangladesh
Branch Bangladesh Navy
Type Special Operations Force
Primary tasks:
Special reconnaissance
Other roles:
Anti piracy.
Counter insurgency.
Role Counter narcotics.
Counter terrorism.
Covert insertions/extractions.
Hostage rescue and personnel recovery.
Hydro-graphic reconnaissance.
Intelligence gathering.
Raid.
Underwater demolition.
Size Classified
Garrison/HQ Chittagong
Nickname SWADS
1. Introduction. The Special Warfare Diving and Salvage or SWADS is an elite
Special Operations Force of the Bangladesh Navy.
2. Organization. The Bangladesh Special Warfare Diving and Salvage is a specially
organized and elite team of highly trained personnel who are equipped and trained using many of
the same guidelines as the United States Navy SEALs. The team is composed of the very best
members of the forces who are not only are employed in action in Bangladesh but around the
world through UN Peacekeeping missions.
3. History. The brigade began in the 1970s and adapted not only the techniques of the
United States Navy SEALs but also those of the Koreans as well. The SWADS, as they are
known, is considered to offer one of the most advanced and strenuous weapons training program
in the world.
4. Selection Process for SWADS. SWADS operatives are recruited
from the Navy and are Navy trained. Those who excel in their servies in the Navy and are
considered fit for this branch of the special service are recommended by their superiors to try out
for this special forces team.
5. SWADS specialization. The SWADS teams are well equipped to take on
several different types of challenging missions including hostage rescue, anti piracy,
counterinsurgency, counter narcotics, counterterrorism, covert extractions and insertions,
intelligence gathering raids and underwater demolition. SWADS are a division of the Navy in
Bangladesh.
6. Known Missions. Missions of the SWADS are domestic in nature and not
global. In addition to being a military special forces unit of the Bangladesh Navy, the SWADS
also help on land as well. During domestic crisis, they are called in for peace keeping as well as
personal recovery of individuals in the advent of natural disasters. Currently, their missions have
been of the domestic nature and do not currently involve other countries. However, during acts
of terrorism or global conflict, they are a sought after special forces unit known for being well
adapted to both land and sea as well as having the ability to engage in hand to hand combat with
the enemy.
7. Units. The SWADS are professional soldiers and are recruited through the
Bangladesh Navy. The Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS) is organized, trained and
equipped along the lines of SEAL/UDT teams of the United States Navy SEALs and the
Republic of Korea
The SWADS are composed of one unit. Although information about individual units is
classified, the size of the organization is believed to be of battalion strength and its command
centre is in the southern port city of Chittagong.
8. Duties. SWADS teams are employed both inside Bangladesh as well as overseas.
Their missions are including but not limited to:
Antipiracy
Counter-insurgency
Counternarcotics
Counter-terrorism
Covert insertions/extractions
Hostage rescue and personnel recovery
Hydrographic reconnaissance
Intelligence gathering
Raids
Underwater demolition
9. Training. To join this maritime special operations forces unit members of
Bangladesh Navy undergo some of the world’s most extreme mental, psychical and advanced
weapons training at special warfare schools in Bangladesh and abroad where the average failure
rate is over 90%.Instructors for this special forces team in Bangladesh come from Korea, Turkey
and the United States. Only 10 percent of those who are Navy trained in Bangladesh make it
through the rigorous training that also includes physical endurance training, mental training and
the weapons training
Instructors of these schools are known for their “brutality”, which are designed to mold
individual candidates into some of the finest warriors.
Advanced training for instructors are primarily conducted in the Republic of Korea, Turkey and
the United States with their respective SEAL/UDT’s.
10. Weapons & Equipments. The weapons training received by the
SWADS is more intense than that received in most other countries.
There is a whole host of weapons that are used for the SWADS. SWADS operators are not only
adept at handing all types of different combat weapons but can also handle ballistic helmets, are
equipped with night vision sights, as well as underwater gear. One of the aspects about the
SWADS that makes them so unique is that they not only operate on land, but also under water.
Some of the weapons that the SWADS use include the Colt M4 Carbine SOPMOD, the Daewoo
K2 5.56 assault rifles, HK MP5 9 mm submachine guns, sniper rifles, 9mm semi-automatic
pistols, HK M-416, M 16a4 and the MK 19. The SWADS generally handle more weapons than
any other special forces team across the world.The weapon's are listed below:
Specialized weapons, Night vision device, Ballistic vest, Diving equipment and vehicles are
available to SWADS teams for completion of their missions. A typical SWADS operator may be
seen armed with :
Colt M4 Carbine SOPMOD
Daewoo K2 5.56 assault rifles
HK MP5 9mm submachine gun
M24 sniper rifle
9mm semi-automatic pistols
HK M-416
M-16a4
MK19[1]
