A New Breed of Swimmer-Soldiers
In the 1940s, with the Pacific Ocean’s depths largely uncharted, the U.S. Navy turned to a new and daring group—the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT). These “frogmen,” trained in Maui, faced dangerous missions, swimming unarmed and camouflaged only by blue paint to scout enemy beaches and clear obstacles ahead of Allied assaults.
Tactical Skills in Dangerous Waters
Trained in stealth, the UDT men swam using silent strokes to avoid detection. They gathered depth measurements with fishing lines and recorded them on slates tied to their knees. To navigate enemy fire, they learned that bullets slowed just below the surface, allowing them to dive and sometimes catch bullets as souvenirs.
Resourceful Improvisation
Lacking specialized gear, the frogmen improvised. They used fishing line reels made from milk cans and kept equipment dry with condoms, creating unexpected demand in the supply chain. To prevent dive masks from fogging, they spit into them, a trick still used by divers today.
Into Battle
UDT swimmers played critical roles in nearly every major Pacific battle. From Saipan to Okinawa, they braved intense enemy fire and rough seas to ensure Allied troops knew what awaited them on shore. The men of UDT are remembered today as the forefathers of the Navy SEALs.
The Frogmen Who Paved the Way for Navy SEALs 🤿
In the 1940s, with the Pacific Ocean’s depths largely uncharted, the U.S. Navy turned to a new and daring group—the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT). These “frogmen,” trained in Maui, faced dangerous missions, swimming unarmed and… pic.twitter.com/cq8Ej0UmSw
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) November 6, 2024