Snow Crab Ex is a two-week train designed to check and consider U.S. Navy EOD capabilities in a simulated Arctic surroundings and, finally, enhance Navy EOD’s fight effectiveness. Throughout the train, U.S. Navy EOD and Divers examined, evaluated, and refined ways, tools and operations in an austere surroundings.
“The Arctic area is present process a dramatic transformation, and our Navy EOD, diving and salvage forces are skilled and ready to deploy globally to help of the Fleet commanders. To this finish, the EOD power will proceed to develop and evolve our capabilities to contribute to U.S. nationwide safety in competitors and battle,” mentioned Capt. Karl Haywood, commander, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2. “SnowCrabEx skilled Navy EOD, diving and salvage forces to higher function and survive within the difficult Arctic surroundings. The coaching we conduct in austere environments simulates fight environments and accommodates inherent threat in order that our forces are ready to face any risk or problem.”
U.S. Navy forces should have the ability to function within the Arctic as a result of “the US is an Arctic nation, which instills duty for the stewardship and safety of this area,” in accordance with the White Home’s Nationwide Technique for the Arctic Area.
Throughout Snow Crab Ex, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Cellular Unit (EODMU) 12 and Cellular Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 exercised tactical management over EODMU 12 and EODMU 2, in addition to MDSU 2.
“Snow Crab Ex is a beneficial train to give attention to ways and tools wanted to function in Arctic situations,” mentioned Cmdr. Garrett Pankow, commander, Cellular Diving and Salvage Unit 2. “The Arctic presents difficult situations, and the teachings realized from Snow Crab Ex will enhance Navy EOD and cell diving and salvage groups’ readiness to function shortly and effectively anyplace, anytime, together with chilly climate environments.”
Navy EOD cleared simulated unexploded ordnance, secured essential infrastructure, realized essential arctic survivability and mobility expertise, and successfully communicated between distributed working models in a coaching surroundings, whereas additionally sustaining command and management (C2) of forces.
“The demolition ranges we sometimes have entry to don’t enable the identical vary of capabilities. Being in a brand new surroundings, and the sensible use of stay unexploded ordnance right here, constructed on our earlier coaching and is essential to constructing confidence and competence for our platoons,” mentioned Explosive Ordnance Disposal Senior Chief Calvin Quinn, lead chief petty officer of EODMU 12. “Each place is completely different; each piece of ordnance is completely different. This train gave us real-life coaching on what we simulate on a regular basis.”
Navy Divers additionally efficiently accomplished ice dive coaching, accomplished arctic survivability and mobility coaching, and utilized specialised tools just like the VR Defender, an unmanned underwater automobile that gives Sailors elevated security and dwell time when inspecting or surveying the underwater surroundings. The distinctive coaching surroundings at Camp Ripley allowed Navy divers to increase their capabilities for diving and salvage to an arctic surroundings.
“Ice diving operations at Snow Crab Ex gave us a singular alternative to get arms on, actual world expertise and information that you just simply can’t simulate in a pool,” mentioned Navy Diver 1st Class Keenan Foley, a diver assigned to EODMU 3. “The diver’s motto is, ‘Improvise, Adapt, Overcome.’ Diving underneath the ice launched new components to adapt to throughout arctic salvage operations.”
The MDSU groups are uniquely certified to help such a mission. Foley and the opposite divers used dry fits designed to guard divers towards hypothermia whereas submerged in 30-degree water. The staff additionally used a twin manifold/twin regulator system to make sure they might proceed to breathe from their tanks if certainly one of their regulators froze over and a particular software that helped maintain everybody protected underwater.
The Minnesota Nationwide Guard supplied air help for parts of the train. Air Drive EOD Technicians from the 148th Fighter Wing Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Flight supplied help to demolition coaching and operations.
The U.S. Navy routinely patrols on, above, under and round Arctic waters to make sure the safety of commerce and display freedom of navigation. Workouts like Snow Crab Ex 24-1 enable our groups to evaluate their readiness, improve their expertise within the area, take a look at new applied sciences, and advance our understanding of the Arctic surroundings.
Different Navy Expeditionary Fight Command models that participated in Snow Crab Ex 24-1 included: EOD Expeditionary Help Unit (EODESU) 2, Maritime Expeditionary Safety Squadron (MSRON) 4, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Help Group (NAVELSG) and Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Command (NEIC). All taking part Navy models are headquartered at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story except for NEIC, headquartered on Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex and NAVELSG, headquartered on Naval Weapons Station Yorktown.
EODGRU 2 operates as a part of Navy Expeditionary Fight Command and gives expert, succesful, and combat-ready deployable Navy EOD and Navy Diver forces across the globe to help a spread of operations.
For the complete assortment of photographs from SnowCrabEx 24-1, and information about U.S. Navy EOD and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group Two, go to https://www.dvidshub.internet/unit/EODG-2.
