Skip to main content

Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron And Gibraltar Clearance Diving Element

17 January 2025
Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron And Gibraltar Clearance Diving Element

The Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron (RNGS) and the Gibraltar Clearance Diving Element (CDE) have once again joined forces to conduct a series of diving exercises within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters for a period of capability development.

A statement from British Forces Gibraltar follows below:

Following the successful joint deployment to Tangier in November, which saw HMS DAGGER escort Diving Support Boat CRABB across the Strait of Gibraltar to conduct a historical joint dive with the Royal Moroccan Navy, the two resident Royal Navy units within British Forces Gibraltar have come together for more joint training. Aptly named Project AUGMENTRA, which translates from Latin to mean ‘augment’, the aim was to see how RNGS could complement the Gibraltar CDE’s existing capabilities in support of diving operations.

Following a period of planning and extensive harbour trials, all preparations were in place for
HMS CUTLASS to sail from His Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Gibraltar. Embarking a team of six divers, along with their state-of-the-art Clearance Divers Life Support Equipment (CDLSE), HMS CUTLASS sailed from HMNB Gibraltar to test the ability of RNGS to deploy clearance divers.

Anchoring close to Gibraltar Airport runway, HMS CUTLASS was soon ready to act as the
mother ship to her newly embarked clearance divers. To ensure all eventualities were covered, the first serial was a diving casualty exercise which saw HMS CUTLASS test her ability to recover an injured diver in a variety of configurations. The success of this first serial
was a good sign of things to come. Deploying the divers shortly after, the Gibraltar CDE conducted multiple waves of diving under the careful watch of HMS CUTLASS. Renewing their currency, practicing their own individual emergency procedures, and getting used to working in close proximity to a Royal Navy Patrol Launch (RNPL) was a success for both units.

Lt Cdr Davies RN, the CO of HMS DAGGER and a Clearance Diver by trade said: “As a Very High Readiness Squadron, we have now added another skill set to our portfolio. Being able to join the capabilities of the already well established units has provided UKSTRATCOM with an enhanced capability. This has the potential to contribute positively to our existing maritime security operations. .”

Recovering the divers and weighing anchor, HMS CUTLASS returned to HMNB Gibraltar to
reflect on their successful training and future cooperation.

CPO Roberts, the Officer in Charge of the Gibraltar CDE said: “It was great to see RNGS and the CDE come together to prove a concept of utilising the RNPL as a dive platform. This has never been achieved before but has proven that the CDE can deploy and safely recover divers to the RNPL during diving operations. This certainly now offers our Command more options when undertaking future tasking”.

Already a successful start of the year, the two units will continue to work together throughout
2025 to further develop their capabilities and build on their unique relationship.