frogmen

Frogmen are members of a special operations unit that originated in the Indian Ocean of the British Royal Navy in the early 20th century. The term "frogman" was first used to describe the unit assigned to clear shark-infested waters in the naval harbor at Aden, Yemen. The unit was later expanded to include underwater capabilities and was renamed the Royal Navy's Underwater Swimming Team, who would become the first homogenous frogman unit.

The primary function of frogmen is to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage underwater operations behind enemy lines. They are also trained to operate in hostile environments, and to rescue wounded comrades from various types of conflict zones. Frogmen training typically includes deep-sea diving, underwater navigation, and weapons handling.

As World War II began, the frogmen moved to the Mediterranean, and later to the Pacific, as Allied forces expanded their military campaign. They operated primarily in Japanese breaches in hulls and Southeast Asian coastal areas. Frogmen would often penetrate and destroy enemy ships using limpet mines, described as plastic "leaking iron containers."

In the 1950s, the Canadian, Australian, French, and American navies all developed frogman units with varying degrees of secrecy. The latter received significant attention due to their symbolic front as Presidential divers in groundbreaking polar exploration and non-combat force experiments. Since then, many countries have established their own specialized frogman units, training their forces to engage in covert reconnaissance, ship penetration, and civilian-focused underwater operations.

Today, the function of frogmen has evolved to reflect the changing requirements and technological advancements in military and military-related contexts. Despite differences in multiple branches of various military operations, the core operational premise of frogmen has remained generally consistent throughout history.