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Special Boat Team Warriors Return From Iraq

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030421-03
Release Date: 4/21/2003 9:33:00 AM

From Special Boat Team 20 Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH,Va. (NNS) -- Naval Special Warfare warriors returned home April 18 after playing a vital role in Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF) and the War on Terrorism (WOT).

Special Boat Team (SBT) 20 Detachment Alfa, stationed in Virginia Beach, Va., departed Oct. 15, 2002, to support OEF and WOT, before being called upon to execute special operations missions during the beginning of OIF.

In the beginning of the deployment, the detachment conducted several Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) in the Arabian Gulf. As OIF came to a head, the detachment's unique mission of maritime special operations gave military planners another avenue to utilize Special Operations Forces.

Using Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RIBs), the Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) of SBT 20 assisted in the capture of the Iraqi port city, Umm Qasr, with follow-on force protection of the port. As the waters came under the protection of the coalition forces, SBT 20 detachments served a crucial role in securing oil delivery stations along the gulf throughout the myriad of mine fields.

In addition to preserving the rich resources of the Iraqi people, SBT 20 detachments conducted several Leadership Interdiction Operations, preventing the escape of suspected Iraqi regime members and suppressing the threat of terrorists.

As the only special boat team on the East Coast, SBT 20's mission is to employ, operate and maintain a variety of surface combatant craft to conduct and support naval and joint special operations, including maritime interdiction missions, insertion and extraction of Navy SEALs (Sea, Air, and Land) and Special Operations Forces, direct action missions, and special reconnaissance.

SBT 20 is comprised of SWCC. SWCC special operations coxswains operate and maintain the state-of-the-art, high performance maritime boats used to conduct special operations interdiction, interception and insertion missions throughout the world.

For more information about Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen, Special Boat Team 20, and Naval Special Warfare, visit their Web site, www.swcc.navy.mil