[Military Story] "No Mistakes" Powerful UDT Training Experience [Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club]

Naval East Sea 1st Fleet Special Forces Battalion Maritime Training Accompanied Coverage
"Hostage Rescue Requires Stealth and Speed Above All"

This year marks the 13th anniversary of the Cheonghae Unit’s flawless execution of the “Aden Bay Dawn Operation.” The Dawn Operation refers to the mission in which the Cheonghae Unit safely rescued all 21 crew members of the Samho Jewelry, a vessel owned by Samho Shipping, who had been captured by pirates near the Aden Bay off Somalia. This operation elevated the status of not only the Navy but also the Republic of Korea Armed Forces on the global stage. To meet the Naval Special Warfare Brigade (UDT/SEAL), who are still sweating it out for a “Second Dawn Operation,” we visited the 3rd Special Warfare Battalion of the 1st Fleet in the East Sea.

Wearing a bulletproof vest, a pistol, and an MP5 submachine gun, the weight easily exceeded 8kg. (Photo by the Navy)

The sky was overcast. Dark clouds filled the air, and a cold wind blew. Raindrops seemed about to pour down at any moment. Across from the UDT battalion headquarters, the soldiers’ training ground?a rock climbing wall?came into view. It looked to be at least 10 meters high. On the opposite side of the rock wall was a training area for helicopter rappelling. Entering the dim briefing room, a briefing was underway. Even in the darkness, the eyes of about 20 UDT soldiers dressed in their distinctive gear were alive and alert. The training simulated a situation where three terrorists had taken three hostages aboard a ship. The assault team leader began explaining the personal details of the terrorists and hostages.

Special Equipment Worn on the Body Weighs 8kg

After the briefing, I strapped on a belt equipped with a special tube that can float on water, feeling its weight. Wearing a bulletproof vest, pistol, and MP5 submachine gun pushed the total weight over 8kg. With a helmet and headphones on, it felt as if I was wearing a suit of metal all over my body. We took a bus to the location where a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) was waiting. Seeing the mounted K6 medium machine gun, it was clear this boat was for special missions. Through the headphones came a voice with a strange static noise, like something from a movie: “Toad, Toad. Frog boarding complete!” This was the signal reporting that 16 UDT members had boarded the command ship and that the operation was starting.

The ladder, unlike a regular ladder, has a palm-sized foothold attached to the rod. (Photo by Navy)

The inflatable boat reversed, then gradually increased speed, weaving between ships. A soldier beside me gave up the middle seat. The reason soon became clear. When the speed hit 30 knots, the boat surged over the waves like a ride at an amusement park. Both hands gripped the handles tightly, leaving no room to hold a rifle. The sea wind fiercely hit my face. After about 10 minutes, the Donghae-class 4th ship, the new frigate Donghae (FFG-II, 2800t), stood firm on the sea. As the inflatable boat approached the captured vessel, someone shouted “Alert.” The UDT members, divided into two teams, assumed alert postures starting from 100 meters away. On the ship’s deck, the terrorists seemed ready to aim their guns at any moment. Unlike the soldiers, I struggled to keep my balance on the rocking inflatable boat.

Entering the Snake Formation on Deck, Suppressing Quickly

Upon reaching the stern, the soldiers connected a suppression ladder between the deck and the boat. Since the ladder’s end was not fixed to the ground, a soldier held it firmly with his whole body. Unlike a regular ladder, this one had small footrests about the size of a palm attached to rods. Nervous about falling into the sea, I gripped it so tightly that my legs cramped. The ship was quiet. Once all soldiers were on deck, they pressed against the wall and formed a snake formation (a long line resembling a snake’s body). The team leader led the way, with the 3rd marksman following behind. One squad headed to the bridge, and another to the engine room. To avoid detection by the terrorists, they minimized their footsteps, walking on their heels. Although wearing helmets, they had to be careful not to make noise by bumping into the narrow corridors. Only then did I understand why the soldiers had secured their equipment tightly with straps all over their bodies. One soldier turned his MP5 rifle behind his back, slinging it over his shoulder, while aiming a handheld pistol forward as he climbed the stairs. Narrow passages made cautious infiltration difficult.

The boat sped across the water, pushing the waves away as if riding an amusement ride, reaching speeds of up to 30 knots. (Photo by the Navy)

Kim, the anti-terror assault team leader, said, “The most important factors in a hostage rescue operation are stealth and speed,” adding, “One mistake could put all soldiers in danger.” Kim stood guard with the 1st and 2nd marksmen beside a nearby mess hall. They maintained security until all other soldiers had passed through. Kim emphasized, “When standing guard, if the enemy appears, you must think of protecting the rest of the team with your whole body.” The interior of the ship became more complex the deeper we went, like a maze. But the UDT members navigated it as if it were their own home.

Lieutenant Colonel Lim Dong-il, battalion commander, said, “UDT soldiers regularly train on merchant and passenger ships even during peacetime,” adding, “They must know the ship’s interior as well as the palm of their hand in case of suspicious vessels.”

Active Domestically and Internationally, Including the Aden Bay Dawn Operation

Communication came through that the soldiers who entered the bridge first had quickly subdued the terrorists. The soldiers waited. The identities of the hostage-takers were being confirmed. A radio transmission of “Clear” came through. The mission was a success.

The Cheonghae Unit, with UDT soldiers aboard, has been active not only domestically but also internationally. They have completed missions such as the 2011 Aden Bay Dawn Operation, the 2012 Gemini ship hostage rescue, the 2015 evacuation support operation for Korean nationals in Yemen, and the 2018 rescue operation for hostages in Ghana waters. Currently, the 43rd Cheonghae Unit ship, Wang Geon (DD-II, 4400t class), departed for the Aden Bay area in June. The Dae Jo-yeong ship has been on its eighth overseas deployment mission since starting as the 2nd Cheonghae Unit in 2009.