About this Unit
**Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit 1920 (MIUWU 1920)** was a United States Navy Reserve unit established during the Cold War to provide harbor and coastal defense. Based out of the Naval Reserve Center in Buffalo, New York, MIUWU 1920 was tasked with deploying quickly to protect U.S. ports and shorelines from enemy submarine and special operations threats using mobile radar, sonar, and communications systems. The unit participated in numerous training exercises and joint operations, supporting both national and NATO maritime security objectives. MIUWU 1920 was decommissioned as part of a broader reorganization of Navy coastal warfare forces in the early 2000s.
Historical Facts
• Unique Composition: MIUW-19 and MIUW-20 are two separate Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Units (MIUWUs) in the U.S. Navy Reserve, specializing in coastal surveillance and harbor defense.
• Cold War Origins: These units were established during the Cold War to counter potential Soviet submarine and sabotage threats in U.S. and allied ports.
• Deployable Operations Centers: MIUWs are known for their mobile operations centers, which can be rapidly deployed to any coastline for surveillance and command operations.
• Joint Exercises: MIUW-19 and MIUW-20 have participated in numerous joint exercises with other U.S. military branches and allied nations, enhancing interoperability and response capabilities.
• Harbor Defense Legacy: The units are direct descendants of World War II Harbor Defense Units, carrying forward the mission of protecting vital ports and harbors.
• Advanced Surveillance: MIUWUs utilize sophisticated electronic sensors, including radar, sonar, and night vision equipment, to detect surface and sub-surface threats.
• Operation Desert Storm: MIUW detachments, including personnel from MIUW-19 and MIUW-20, were deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm to provide harbor security.
• Reservist Expertise: The units are primarily composed of Navy Reservists, many of whom bring civilian expertise in engineering, communications, and security to their roles.
• Community Engagement: MIUW units often participate in community outreach and disaster response, using their mobile command capabilities to assist in natural disasters and local emergencies.
• Transition and Modernization: With changing military priorities, some MIUW units have been reorganized or decommissioned, but their legacy continues in modern coastal and littoral defense operations.
