Special Boat Unit

On Sept 31 1978, Coastal River Squadron One dis-established, and on 1 Oct. 1978 Special Boat Squadron ONE was established spawning 3 Operational Units SBU-11, SBU-13 and SBU-12. At its establishment Special Boat Unit 12 was comprised of all active duty personnel and its assets were 2 PTFs ,5 MkIII PBs (two on det.) and numerous MK11 LCPLs. and the ASDV-1 which was a mothership to support Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) training. Its tasking was to support in CONUS, simulated ship attacks, and UDT/SEAL support and and evaluation of special boat projects.

It maintained a constant commitment to provide Special Boat Detachments (SBDs) to NSWU-1/MST-3 Subic Bay P.I. as well as ARGs supporting NSW operations deployed in the Western Pacific. In 1982 SBU-12 took delivery of its first SEAFOX (SWCL) to replace the aging LCPLs as the prime SEAL support craft on ARG deployments, and to MST-3. SBU-12 would deploy 2 MKIII PBs to support NSW ops.

Patch final version	In 1987 SBU-12 from MST-3 would deploy to the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Earnst Will and would continue to operate in the Gulf to curtail Iranian maritime terrorism against oil tankers in the northern Persian Gulf until 1989. The 1990s were an evolutional period for type craft and in Desert Shield/DesertStorm1990/91 SBU-12 provided The HSB (High Speed Boats) for combat operations, SBU-12 would also support NSW Cold weather training with 24' RHIBS in Kodiak Alaska. During the 1990s the Rigid Inflatable Hull Boat (RHIB) would become the mainstay in overseas deployment with the 24' RHIB, 10 meter RHIB, and the 30' IRHIB.
SBU-12 would be involved in Somalia operations and other real world events during this period, It would continue to support the Western Pacific with ARGs even after NSWU-1 transferred from Subic bay to Guam. In 1994 SBU-12 would integrate the veteran disestablished SBU-13 Reservists into its organization and become NR SBU-12, and support the active duty on operations and backfill.
	In the early 1990s the HSB and PBMKIII would be phased out for the MKV SOC and 11 meter SOCRHIB. SBU-12 would continue supporting NSWU-1 and also support the new NSWU-3 in Bahrain. SBDs from SBU-12 can be found serving on MTT Exercises all over the Far East, in Korea, Thailand, Australia, and Singapore, as well as Kuwait and Bahrain.
In OCT. 2, 2002 Special Boat Unit -12 became Special Boat Team TWELVE and has served with distinction in Iraqi Freedom and continues to serve in the Global War on Terror (GWOT) to bring the fight to our nations enemies.


01-16-07 Mal Flisk mal.flisk@MarshCreekLLC.com Best tours I ever spent. '83-'89. Have some great pics of pier in Subic with Seafox, MkIII and LCPL tied up, etc. Let me know if you need 'em. Only served in SBU-12, trained with 13, and with 11 up in Vallejo. Served in the Gulf 2 times with SBU-12 (Wim Brown 7). Read More Here

16 Mar 2007 - Jim, Thanks for passing this on to me. It's truly an excellent site. It's good to see you and others are keeping the history and culture of "the boats" alive. Keep me informed if you organize any SBU or CSBR reunions. Best regards, Tom Campbell [C.O. SBU-12 and CO of SBR-1 - Jim]

Rick Doughman - I have a ton of Pictures from SBU13 I know you will recognize....I knew I remembered you...you and Jeff Maddox Pictures of just about the entire SBU 13 Admin Guys....I also have some great Pictures from being part of MST3 Det Juliette as a SOC (Special Operations Crew Member) and some ship attack shots of seal team doing their thing and we had a Photographers mate with us who was filming it. . . View Here

06-24-07 Mike Price RMC - I read your story. I remember RADM Richards quite well. I deployed to Korea for either Team Spirit or Foal Eagle (I went to all of them for 4 years) when I was CPOIC of NSWG-1 Mobile Comm Team and he was Team One's CO. I saw your pics & remember seeing you when you came in for drill weekends and I had SBR-1 OOD before I put on the "Hat". I was with Rorey Towne on his deployment and will forward the "complete" Malaysia trip story soons as I have time to write it out along with a couple of SOC memories. I had some great times, met some great people and, I hope did some good work. I like to think that we had a big part in getting SWCC to where it is today and am quite proud to have been part of that lineage. I don't have many pictures of those days. Unfortunately I lost a bunch of that stuff during a PCS move so some of Rorey's and Mal Flisk's pictures are real memory joggers. If you want to know who yer talkin to go to Roreys SBD story and look at the picture of the Det on libs in Olongapo, I am front row, 3rd form the left (With goatee). (To the right of LT Colvin) I'll be in touch, and great job with this site. Run, Shoot, Communicate - Mike Price Read More Here

GMG1 Brian Eschbuagh, OIC of a Fountain 33' HSB for SBU-12 in 1991. Tactics: Generally patrols are conducted with two boats running in a 7/1 formation, that is at 7 o'clock and one boat length away. Seal Support, Zodiac carried on Bow of HSB. Read More Here


								25mm Chain Gun on low profile stabilized mount on SBU-12 PB MKIII

From Jim Gray:

Aerial view Of WIMBROWN VII in Persian Gulf 1988 base of NSTWU Middle East Forces Pacfic. Note MKIII PBs	Sand Storm in the Persian Gulf at sea 1988		SBU-12 24' RHIB conducting gunshoot San Clementi Is.		24'RHiBs underway


SBU-12 Reserves on MKIII PB supporting Army 12th Special Forces Group 1994	PB775 typical day in Gulf 1988		Maintenance on SOCRHIB Maintenance while not glamorous plays a major roll in the SBU world		PB776 The Bat Boat 1988 Op.Earnst Will.			MKIII PBs tied to WB7 Persian Gulf 1988. Note Weapons positions on Barge.


SBU-12 SWCC (BoatGuys) train with hand guns at La Posta 1997	Practical jokes were common place amongst boatguys		SBU-12 detachment Operation Earnst Will, Persian Gulf 1987		10 meter RHIBs prep for ops, background is Squadron One building and static display of 23mm guns taken off of an Iranian gunboat.			Matt Knight In Persian Gulf 1988


SBU-12 new MKV SOC arrive 1996 NAB	10meter RHIBs with Coronado bridge in background		Pat Shima photo of his 120lb Cobia in the Persian Gulf in 1988, caught on the 776 BAT boat.		Beer Mess Directive Letter submitted by Pat Shima.			SBU-12 MKIIIPB off San Clemente Is


SEAFox Recovering Combat Swimmers - SBU-12	SBU-12 with UDT-12 Aboard at San Clementi Is		Barge Hercules Captured Iran Ajar alongside taken from SBU-12 PBMKIII		SBU-12 Op Earnst Will, MKIIIPB at Harqus Island			SBU-12 Op Earnst Will, 1987 note SWCLs & 57' MSB

More SBU-12 photos

SBU-12 SWCL of Southern Calif.Coast in 1987	SEAFOX idling, note its low-profile in water 1987		SEAFOX was a WET RIDE at speed and worse in heavy seas!		a 30'RIB towing a Zodiac Refuels alongside a PC 1996			24' Rib with all the "gear" on Board where do we put the SEALs?? 1996


1996 SWCC crewman shoots a M-60 mg off 24'RIB at SCI 1996	30' RIB with Consol aft		10Meter RIB of Pt Loma		The Brand New MKVs arrive			30' RIB with SEALs on Board

The 33' Fountain HSB (High Speed Boat.) They were the cutting edge for NSW boats in Desert Storm/Desert Shield in 1990-91.

06-23-07 LCDR Jack Spratt (Biography Here) Here is a couple of photos I scanned. Two are the effects of running the boats in the oil slick. There are two are pix of Thanksgiving barbecue on the pier at Ras Al Mishab. And last, I'm adding two pix of the swari (sp) patrol boat that was in Kuwait Harbor the day of the cease fire. I believe the gun on the front is a ZSU-24, like the one that SBU 12 had in their old compound. Visit Jacks PCF-48 Website at http://www.geocities.com/swift48rvn/ and to his Navy Mustang website at http://www.geocities.com/sprattj/





The Case for High Speed Boats in Fleet Support			Headed back to NAB Coronado


	SBU-12 Scorpian HSB		Desert Shield/Storm 1990 Scorpian and Setton HSBs transfer gear along side "Happy Duck" the mother ship and one of the survivors from the Kuwaiti Navy that escape Iraqi Invasion.		The Setton and Scorpian would be the First Boats in the Gulf during Desert Shield. Later 33' Fountains and 24'RIBs would follow.			Scorpian HSB would receive major hull damage trying to rescue a downed pilot in heavy seas during DESERT STORM

			Added 01-05-08 ->
Desert Storm 33' Fountain HSB rehearsing SEAL Support Op. Note Zodiac on Bow.	Towed 33' Fountain HSB in Post Desert Storm Victory Parade in Downtown Coronado Calif.				24' Hurricane RIB took 4 of these craft to support a Seal PLT.			30' RIB det. holding comm. checks at dusk. 90% of all SWCC ops are done at night.


30' RIB with SEALs onboard towing a Zodiac	SBU-12 Halter HSB		Halter HSB showing console, gun and pax positions		Some of SBU-12's HSB BOYZ			SBU-12 first type HSB the Setton. This flying boat is driven by Jack Spratt.

Added 05-08-08
	SBU-12 combatant craft formation circ 1998.IN SBU-12 inventory MKVSOC, 11meter RHIBs 10meter RHIBs, 30' IRHIB, and 24' Hurricane RHIB		The clean lines and cool cammo of a Halter HSB		A SBU-12 armed Halter HSB and rigged for a fast tow.

Added 07-23-08

A HSB Crew of a 40'Fountain making preps to get underway.	The FIRST MKVSOC of SBU-12 1996		A SWCC in tactical flotation and gortex circ 1997		30'IRIB with SWCC and SEALs			50 Cal ammo ready to go

10-20-08 Craig Chapman BMCS I was Command Senior Chief off and on, for over four years from 1982 to 1986 at Special Boat Unit 12. During this time we were going through extraordinary growth, increasing from 100 to 250. and the introduction of many new craft and concepts like the Special Operations Crew (SOC) making us the largest command in SPECWAR on the strand. I made numerous deployments world wide and three deployments as Leading Chief of the Special Boat Detachment (SBD) WestPac in Subic Bay P.I. Some of the Best years of my life.

BMCS Craig Chapman CSC SBU-12	SBU-12 UNIT Photo circ 1984-86		Zoom for faces		SBU-12 Officers and Chiefs of SBU-12 Circ 1984-86			Zoom for faces


Special Boat Detachment Office Subic bay	Officer in Charge PB 775		Two Budwisers and a Acorn...CMC Davis(SEAL) CSC Chapman, CMC Star (SEAL)		SEAFOX in a C-141			Special Boat Detachment WESTPAC ...BMCS Chapman, Lt Sherrill, Lt Walden


Off Duty Bar Olongapo	Craft Master ASDV-3 kelp beds San Clementi Is.		Me outside CPO barracks NAB Coronado		Me on PB751 tied up San Clementi Island.			CraftMaster ASDV-3 SOCAL SCPO Craig Chapman.

	More photos HERE of SBU Det1.
Alongside the Fuel Pier, Point Loma, Calif on ASDV-3			Predeployment Riverine Training with SBUXI		12 guy riding in a PBR			SBUXI trainers debriefs SBU-12


SBU-XI PBRMKII with SBU-12 crew and XI trainers	MKVs of SBT-12

(01-05-09) Bill Sherrill, CDR USN, Retired I served with SBU-12 from November 1983 to August 1985. I served initially as the maintenance officer, before becoming OIC of DET Bravo. The most significant maintenance issue I can remember had to do with the Detroit Diesel's turbo chargers. Read More Here

(01-24-09) Tim Curry, GMC, SWCC. 1996 SWCC Class 20, 1996-2001 SBU-12, 2001-2005 SBT-12, retired 2006.

SWCC Class 20 Graduation Day at NSWCenter		Receiving my diploma from Cmdr Mike Howard. C.O. SBU-12 SWCC was a Tough School.		SBU-12 Pier too high, boat too small, and sun too hot,....Saudi Arabia		30' IRHIB, Heck they will let anybody drive, should I say .... Damn broke down again	But Sir ..its my sandwich.. Take the Gatoraid. The LT a great OIC

RIB det Delta, ARG Alpha, on USS Duleuth LPD-6 and ST-1 Hplt. GREAT DET.		Me on a another fly away.		Korea and ROK SEALs Foal Eagle 99 LNO with ST-5 NSTWU		MkV Fit Team Instructors	On MkV Fit Team Training

MkVs and another beautiful sunset.		Catching afew ZZZZs where ever you can.					MKV and 11 meter Ribs

(04-05-09) SBC Robin McKinney USNR Ret - The Great Baby Powder Capper 1995 One summer some of us found ourselves down at SBU-26 “filling-in” while SBU-26 dets were forward deployed down South. Mr. Kessel, our XO, and Mr. Maxim, our Ops Boss, made the trip with us. One morning while we were doing some work on one of 26’s PBL’s (a Boston Whaler), Read More Here

(04-20-09) Photos from ET2 Stephen Pryor SBU-12 1986-1989

ARG at Range in PI L to R ET Naranjo, BM2 Jones, back L to R EN3 Castro, ETSN Pryor, EN3 Sheer, EN1 Perry		SEAFOX 8214 in PI		ETSN Pryor firing 50cal MG on SWCL 8214		ET3 Jerry Naranjo working in Conex Box	Persian Excursion Patrol Boat MKIII

WIMBROWN VII		On Patrol. Note 81 mortar round and crew is SBU-13		Pouncer duty on Barge WBVII		Familiar sight the Arab DHOW	The Ill Designed, and Ill Fated SEA VIking...SWCM of the Mid 80s. Here is the not finished Hulk

(added 10-20-09) 1984 Photos from John Lockhart - For the ARG platoon Skip, Bob and I were assigned to SEAL Team One Hotel Platoon. To start the six-month tour we put the Sea Fox and two Zodiac's to the test. We started at SD1 off Point Loma and went 100 miles out to San Clemente Island in a sea state 5 then turned around without stopping and returned to base. read more here

Jeff Maddox and John Lockhart		PL on Ops in PI		Watching Demo blow in PI from a PL		Body surfing behind PL	John Lockhart on PL in Subic Bay PI.

Launching SEAFOX on our ARG deployment		Another view of Seafox		SWCL Crew in Coastie survival suits		The ARG Mothership

(01-20-10) Photos from B. Meland see also SBU12 and SBT-12

Promotion and Pinning to Chief Petty Officer (left) C.O. SBU-12 Capt Mike Howard (middle) CPO B. Meland (right)CMC Mike Thompson		MK-19 training at Camp Pendleon 1997		Combat Medic training 1997		RIB Det Golf underway training Kodiak Alaska Nov 1997	Off loading 24'Rib from C-130 Feb 1998

MP5 training at La Posta April 1997		24'Zodiac Hurricane RHIB		Launching Ribs for the USS Fort McHenery some where in South China Sea.		Rib Det GOLF underway near Guam	Rib Det Golf in the port of Rota, Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Is. Sept 98. Rib Det Golf also went to Malaysia, and Brunei.

(Added 04-31-2010) BMC Thomas Schmidt, (ret) I was at SBU-12 from May 1987 - May 1991, during that time we were involved with operations around the globe, working independently, and hand in hand with the Navy SEALS. It was by-far the most challenging, rewarding and memorable command of my 20 year career. Read his great history lesson HERE.


PB776 Crew Photo May 1988 Det LT Hildebrand in the middle.		Stormy day in skids WBVII, note MK-19 GL used as barge defense when in skids		Heavy seas in the Persian Gulf during Earnst Will. We rode out 25 Ft seas and 70 knot wind for days, finally they sent us to Kuwait.. 10 hours later they sent back out with 15-20 seas and 50 knot winds It was the 5 most miserable days of my life.		WB VII Lifting a PB out of water PG 1988.	Lifting a PBMKIII out of water the hull shows hard duty in Gulf.

Preparing to Lift a Pb on to Barge.. Joaquin the rigger in blue coveralls, Lt Oberholtzer in foreground		PB tied alongside Wimbrown VII.		Tom Schmidt in water behind 776 holding on swimmers platform.		The PB Dets of WIMBROWN VII	Tom Schmidt with M-60 the John Wayne photo.

Sunset in Gulf GMG1 Jose Garcia flashing the Peace Sign.		Old encrusted Myan Mine came floating by the barge after storm, looked like a bag of trash we got a closer look it was a mine. EOD came out and Blew it up.		The mine explodes in background.		Schmidt shooting M-16/203 during Det Training Camp Pendleton... "say hello to my leeetle friend".	PBMKIII on step in Philippines.

The 12 Boys in Korea on PB.		Schmidt and his Boys.		Earnst Will map.		Sunset in Gulf, PB and Wimbrown in background.


		(06-05-2010) Tim Sanchez (QMSN/SBU-12) Chief Gray, I don’t know if you remember me or not (probably not, LOL) but I was deployed with you in the PG in 1988. I was with SBU 12 on the 775 with Matt Knight. Anyway, I have some photos from that deployment if you all would like to have them for your site. View about 50 more photos HERE.

Roy Cantrelle photos
		The HSB BOYZ from SBU-12.		SBU-12 Halter HSB.		SEALs and HSB doing VBSS

(Added 06-01-2010) Citation for meritorious achievement in response to the 14 April 1988 USS Samuel B. Roberts striking an Iranian mine in international waters of the Persian Gulf.

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Special Boat Unit - 12