Special Warfare Unit One

• Origins in the Vietnam War: Special Warfare Unit One (SWU-1) traces its roots to the U.S. Navy's early riverine and special warfare operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, particularly the famed "Brown Water Navy." • Task Force 116: SWU-1 was closely tied to Task Force 116, also known as Operation Game Warden, which patrolled the Mekong Delta's rivers and canals to disrupt enemy supply lines. • Pioneers of SEAL Delivery Vehicles: SWU-1 played a key role in developing and deploying the SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV), allowing covert underwater insertion of SEAL teams. • Based in the Philippines: After Vietnam, SWU-1 was headquartered at Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines, serving as a forward-deployed special operations force in the Pacific. • Direct Action Missions: The unit conducted clandestine raids, reconnaissance, sabotage, and intelligence gathering throughout Southeast Asia, often behind enemy lines. • Joint Operations: SWU-1 frequently worked alongside other U.S. and allied special forces, including South Vietnamese commandos and Australian SAS units. • Counterinsurgency Expertise: Members of SWU-1 were known for their skills in counterinsurgency, jungle warfare, and unconventional operations, making them highly sought-after advisors. • Involvement in Operation Thunderhead: SWU-1 participated in Operation Thunderhead, a daring 1972 mission to rescue American POWs from North Vietnam, which included one of the only SEAL combat deaths in North Vietnam. • Influence on Modern NSW: Tactics and lessons learned from SWU-1 directly influenced the formation and doctrine of modern Naval Special Warfare (NSW) units, including today's SEAL Teams and Special Boat Teams. • Disbandment and Legacy: SWU-1 was eventually disbanded in the late 1970s, but its legacy lives on in the traditions, tactics, and esprit de corps of current U.S. Navy special operations forces.