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Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 Hunt for Live Ordnance

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS141104-27
Release Date: 11/4/2014 6:33:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jared Aldape, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 Public Affairs

BOGUE, N.C. (NNS) -- When members of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2's Area Search Platoon (ASP) participated in a controlled exercise with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 12, EOD technicians were able to execute their mission in a fraction of the time.

EODMU 12 was tasked to find mine shapes off the coast of Key West, Fla., as part of their routine training cycle, and the ASP was on hand with their team of robotics experts to cut down the unit's search time.

'The reports we hand the unit detail the type of mine and its location,' said Chief Operations Specialist William Earp, leading chief petty officer of MDSU2's ASP. The EOD technicians were able to execute their mission quickly by using the data from an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), and turned a four day process of finding mine shapes into a two hour scenario.

According to Earp, the concept of using a team that can operate unmanned systems (UMS) comprised of UUVs to locate live ordnance is the latest platform in underwater mine counter-measures (MCM). Much like members of the ASP, robot operators will conduct searches with their UUVs and underwater remote operated vehicles (ROV) to locate items on the ocean floor, but with a focus on the MCM mission. These personnel will deploy with EOD units on missions and assist them in locating ordnance so they can execute their mission safely.

MDSU 2's ASP does not typically engage in MCM though they are participating exercise Bold Alligator along with EODMU 6 to showcase the capabilities of how this new breed of platoon operates.

'We are attached with MU 6 to assist in the mine countermeasure mission through the use of robotics, a future capability,' said Earp. 'We are filling that gap until they are up and ready and using the new procedures to let people see what it brings to the table.'

This is a change for the Area Search Platoon that is called out to search and recover items like aircraft wreckage and salvage. MDSU 2's Area Search platoon is the only ASP that salvages. In these instances MDSU 2 will get a call from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 with a set of directives. Often times depending on the severity or urgency of the item in need of recovery there is little detail. This is where the Area Search Platoon comes in as it is ready to respond at all times.

As soon as the call is received, members head out to find their mark while the navy divers assigned to MDSU 2 prepare their gear and portable dive chamber to meet up and salvage the item in question.

In an ideal scenario, the ASP can use the initial details to locate the item in question in a matter of time using a three-phase search sweep with highly technological equipment, and turn those details over to Divers to assist in their salvage.

'Normally, the initial reports we get are not very detailed. Last year we received a request that involved a downed F-16C aircraft, we knew that it was 11,000 feet in the air, that's all the information that we had,' said Earp.

When ASP Sailors arrive at their location, they unload their advanced systems, and begin to create a search area. 'The first sweep is done with a towed system that will narrow down the area we believe the salvage to be,' said Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jason Manning, also assigned to MDSU 2's ASP. 'The advantage is that you're looking at a console and can see what you are towing over.'

The second sweep is done with a autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). This device is untethered, and controlled through a program that allows operators to specify a search to a designated area of sea floor. The AUV maps out the ocean floor with pinpoint accuracy, capturing longitude and latitude information as well as processing high resolution images of any potential salvage. ASP members then extract the data using specialized software allowing them to mark and chart items believed to be wreckage.

'Once we sweep with the AUV, our third phase involves using an ROV to capture video of salvage in as many different angles possible,' said Manning. 'This way we can give our divers a better idea of what they're looking for and assist them in that way.' This is MDSU 2's mission to search, locate, and allow the navy divers to salvage.

Chief Navy Diver Joshua Baker, formerly assigned to MDSU 2's dive locker with over a decade of Navy diving experience, reflects on the role robotics have played in fulfilling the dive and salvage mission.

'ASP uses robotics to find targets without putting divers in the water, and keeps divers out of harm's way.' Baker explains that divers are used in Navy anti-terrorism force protection scenarios, where MDSU 2 divers make ready piers and waterways for oncoming ships and other high valued assets to safeguard their passage from any potential threats. 'In the event that we should find anything that could be considered a suspected mine or live ordnance, we will mark its location, contact EOD technicians, and they will dispose of the threat,' said Baker.

According to Earp, a shift in the way the ASP operates will allow them to scan waters for these threats safely.

'You do not want to tow in an MCM scenario,' said Earp. These are currently the practices the ASP has put into play while searching for live ordnance in exercise Bold Alligator.

'Today we went out and searched a 2,000 meter box of ocean. We scanned a third of it today, and will go back out tomorrow to find live ordnance for the EOD technicians. We spent all day out there; we're downloading all the data we've collected at which point we will know what is out there.'

MDSU 2's Area Search Platoon consists of eight personnel when fully manned and is capable of fulfilling each other's positions in a search scenario.
'We are very small,' said Earp. 'Because we are so small in our numbers, we cross train all our personnel. On bigger jobs I can split teams to cover more area in half the time.'

Bold Alligator is intended to improve Navy and Marine Corps amphibious core competencies. Working with coalition, NATO, allied and partner nations is a necessary investment in the current and future readiness of our forces. The exercise takes place Oct. 29 - Nov. 10, 2014, afloat and ashore along the Eastern Seaboard.