Brazilian commando frogmen

The Brazilian Navy has two frogman units:-
*The "GRUMEC" (Grupo de Mergulhadores de Combate - Combat Divers Group) attached to the Submarine Force.
*The "RECONANF" ("{Companhia} de Reconhecimento Anfíbio - Amphibious Reconnaissance Company) attached to the Special Operations Battalion (Batalhão "Tonelero") of the Fleet Marine Force (Brazilian Marine Corps).

Cronology

*1964: The first Brazilian MECs (Mergulhadores de Combate = Combat Divers) were two officers and two privates who had been through the USA UDT course.
*1970: From their experience, the Divisão de Mergulhadores de Combate (= Combat Divers Division) was created in the Base Almirante Castro e Silva.
*1971: Two more officers and three privates qualified for the French Navy as "nageurs de combat".
*1974: At what is now the Centro de Instrução e Adestramento Almirante Áttila Monteiro Aché (CIAMA) in Brazil was trained the first group of combat divers.
*1983: Because this frogman unit were getting more calls, Combat Divers Division was transformed into GRUMEC, as an integral part of the Comando da Força de Submarinos (= Submarine Force Command).
*1997 Dec 12: The Minister of the Navy created GRUMEC, whose headquarters are in Rio de Janeiro city and is directly subordinate to the Submarine Force Command.
*1998 March 10: GRUMEC was activated.

External links

*pt icon [http://www.tropaselite.t35.com Unofficial website]