Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU)

Naval Special Warfare Development Group, otherwise known as 'DEVGRU', is a Counter Terrorism unit within US Naval Special Warfare Command. An elite within an elite, the unit is made up of SEALs selected from existing SEAL Teams. DEVGRU is considered a 'Tier One' Special Operations unit on a par with the Army's Delta Force. DEVGRU is part of JSOC.

Seal Team Six Insignia

DEVGRU - History

DEVGRU's origin can be traced back to the aftermath of Operation Eagle Claw, the aborted 1980 attempt by US SOF to rescue American hostages from Iran. With the need for dedicated hostage rescue units stronger than ever, SEAL Team 6 was put together and commanded by Richard Marcinko, with the unit coming online in 1981. SEAL Team 6's remit included Maritime Counter Terrorism (MCT) and ship-boarding operations.

SEAL Team 6 was eventually disbanded and, in 1987, its role, minus non-CT ship boarding which was handed off the newly formed SEAL team 8, was given to the newly formed Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). Although ostensibly a new organization, DEVGRU was manned by many SEAL Team 6 operators and carried on with the same ethos and standard operating procedures.

DEVGRU - Roles

The primary missions of DEVGRU are:

• Counter Terrorism
  DEVGRU specializes in Maritime Counter Terrorism (MCT) - e.g. hostage rescue on ships, oil platforms etc - but is also capable of broader CT tasks. The unit is also able to carry out pre-emptive CT operations.
  
• Close Protection
  DEVGRU was believed to have provided Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai with close protection in the early days of his Presidency.
• Special Reconnaissance

DEVGRU operators pictured following an attempt on Afghan President Hamid Karzai's life, 2002. DEVGRU was providing close protection for the President at the time.
more DEVGRU photos

DEVGRU - Operations

• 1993 - Somailia - Operation Gothic Serpent
  A small number of DEVGRU operators are among US SOF deployed to Somalia as Task Force Ranger.
  
  
• Mid-late 90s - Former Yugoslavia
  Working under the auspices of NATO, DEVGRU arrested several suspected Serbian war criminals.
  
  
• 2001 - Present - Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom
  DEVGRU deployed to Afghanistan as part of a JSOC Joint Task Force (Task Force 11) with the remit of hunting down key Al Qaeda and Taliban figures.
  
  Operation Anaconda
  DEVGRU operators from TF-11 were assigned to the Advanced Force Operations (AFO) Task Force that deployed into the Shahikot region to prepare the way for a large scale US airborne assault. One small recon team of DEVGRU operators took out a DSHK 12.7mm heavy machine gun emplacement that would have posed a major threat to the planned helicopter landings.
  
  Prolonged clashes between US and Al Qaeda forces occurred during the eventual assault, code named Operation Anaconda. During the fighting, DEVGRU operators attempted a nighttime helicopter insert atop the peak of Taku Ghar. Unfortunately, enemy fighters were dug in on the mountain and the MH-47 carrying the SEALs took heavy fire. As the MH-47 tried to evade the incoming fire, a SEAL, Petty Officer First Class Neil C. Roberts, fell from the rear ramp. The 160th SOAR pilot managed to land the stricken helicopter further down the mountain. Further unsuccessful attempts to take the position and rescue Roberts were made, with more casualties taken. The initial SEAL unit was airlifted up the mountain by a reserve chopper and were this time able to get close to their target, although the resulting battle claimed the life of a USAF CCT. A force of Rangers later inserted in another MH-47, at the cost of another disabled helicopter and the lives of several soldiers and airmen. Sadly, Roberts also died on the mountain. Roberts is believed to have single-handedly fought off dozens of enemy before being killed. The landing zone would later become known as Roberts Ridge in memory of the fallen SEAL.
  
  
• 2003 - Present - Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom
  
  During the invasion of Iraq, SEALs from DEVGRU were part of a joint tast force sent to rescue PFC Jessica Lynch who had been captured and held at an Iraqi hospital.
  
  Post invasion, DEVGRU is believed to have contributed operators to a Combined Joint Task Force, often referred to as Task Force 88, tasked first with dismantling Saddam's Baathist regime and later the insurgency / Al-Qaeda. As in Afghanistan, DEVGRU has been targeting key nodes in the terrorist's network.

DEVGRU - Resources

• DEVGRU photo gallery

« Navy SEALs