Cambodian Navy SEALs
| Cambodian Navy SEALs | |
|---|---|
| Active | September 1973 - 17 April 1975 |
| Country |
 Cambodia |
| Allegiance | Khmer Republic |
| Branch | Khmer Naval Forces |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Size | 90 men (at height) |
| Main Base | Chrui Chhangwar Naval Base, Phnom Penh |
| Nickname(s) | CNS |
| Engagements |
Battle of Oudong Battle of Kampot Fall of Phnom Penh |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Set Chan |
The Cambodian Navy SEALs were the main elite Maritime Special Operations Force of the Khmer National Navy (French: Marine National Khmère – MNK) during the 1970-75 Cambodian Civil War.
Origins
In mid-1973 the Khmer National Navy raised its own special warfare unit, the Cambodian SEALs. An initial group of recruits was drawn from an existing Combat Swimmer Unit (French: Nageurs de Combat)[1] and sent to the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, at San Diego, California in the United States and to Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines for basic training.
Parachute courses were conducted at the Pochentong Airborne Training Centre, while the Olympic pool at the Cércle Sportif complex in Phnom Penh was used for diving courses.
Structure and organization
Headquartered at the Chrui Chhangwar Naval Base opposite Phnom Penh, the unit fielded by mid-1974 a total of 90 ‘Commandos’ divided according to the US Navy SEALs practice into three teams led by Chief Petty Officer (French: Premier Maître) Set Chan.[2] They were structured as follows:
- SEAL Team 1 was allocated in Phnom Penh, where it served both as Headquarters (HQ) for the MNK Amphibious Operations Command and training cadre for the basic SEAL course. It was also tasked of monitoring the security of naval facilities in the Cambodian capital and carried out counter-insurgency operations along the lower Mekong-Bassac corridors.
- SEAL Team 2, also stationed at Phnom Penh, was frequently deployed on the lower Mekong.
- SEAL Team 3, based at Ream, was given responsibility for operations around the port city of Kompong Som and adjoining naval base, and along the Cambodian coastline.
Operations
The Cambodian SEALs provided valuable intelligence for the MNK while acting as reconnaissance teams along the banks of the Mekong and as shock troops on amphibious assault operations.[3]
They defended the Chrui Chhangwar Naval Base until the final days of the war.
Weapons and equipment
The weaponry and equipment employed by the Cambodian Navy SEALs was basically FANK standard issue, being mostly of US origin supplemented by captured Soviet or Chinese weapons drawn from enemy stocks seized in the course of their operations.
.svg.png)
Belgium FN GP35 Pistols
United States Colt.45 M1911 Pistols- United States Smith & Wesson Model 39 Pistols
Soviet Union TT-33 Pistols
China Type 56 Assault rifle- China Type 56-1 Assault rifle
- Soviet Union AKM Assault rifle
- United States M16A1 Assault rifle
- United States CAR-15 Assault carbine
- United States Ithaca Model 37 pump-action shotguns
- Soviet Union RPD Light machine gun
- China Type 56 LMG Light machine gun
- United States M1918A2 BAR Light machine gun
- United States M60 General purpose machine gun
- Soviet Union RPG-2 Rocket-propelled grenade
- Soviet Union RPG-7 Rocket-propelled grenade
- United States M72 LAW Anti-tank rocket launcher
- United States M79 Grenade launcher
- United States M203 Grenade launcher
See also
- Cambodian Civil War
- Cambodian Marine Corps
- Khmer National Armed Forces
- Khmer Special Forces
- United States Navy SEALs
- 911 Special Forces
Notes
References
- Kenneth Conboy, FANK: A History of the Cambodian Armed Forces, 1970-1975, Equinox Publishing (Asia) Pte Ltd, Djakarta 2011. ISBN 978-979-3780-86-3
- Kenneth Conboy, Kenneth Bowra, and Mike Chappell, The War in Cambodia 1970-75, Men-at-arms series 209, Osprey Publishing Ltd, London 1989. ISBN 0-85045-851-X
- Kenneth Conboy and Simon McCouaig, South-East Asian Special Forces, Elite series 33, Osprey Publishing Ltd, London 1991. ISBN 1-85532-106-8