U.S. NAVY MOBILE SECURITY FORCES

By Robert Bruce

“Under present day threat, Navy leadership recognized the need for a light, rapid deployable security force to provide point defense for Navy assets worldwide. Thus was born the Navy Mobile Security Force.” CDR David Somers III, Commander, Mobile Security Squadron TWO

The threat that Commander Somers refers to became horribly clear on the 12th of October 2000, when the USS COLE was ripped apart by suicide bombers as it was refueling in the Middle Eastern port of Aden, Yemen. Fanatical Muslim terrorists, pretending to be part of the native mooring crew, detonated their explosives-packed small boat right alongside the multimillion dollar Guided Missile Destroyer. The powerful blast punched an enormous hole at the water line, killing seventeen sailors and wounding thirty-nine more.

13 Jun 2004, Iraq. Engineman 2nd Class Joe Pearson, of Mobile Security Squadron Two, Detachment 21, stands watch at the northern end of Al Basrah Oil Terminal, armed with the compact and handy Colt 727, the Navy’s version of the M16A2 carbine. Due to the extreme heat and humidity, Pearson has apparently been authorized to wear his body armor over an issue brown tee shirt. (US Navy photo by J2C Wes Eplen)

Plenty of things were wrong about the COLE being ordered to make a refueling stop in a country known for supporting terrorists and the failure to fully implement established security procedures, but the tragedy sparked resolve at the highest levels.

The first significant protective elements to reach the COLE were FAST Marines – Fleet Antiterrorism Security Teams. These heavily armed and highly trained men threw a tight and formidable barrier around the stricken warship, ensuring that no follow-up attack would succeed.

But countless other US Navy ships and aircraft were routinely operating in hostile territory, often alone and largely unprotected. There weren’t enough FAST Marines to cover them all and Naval Security had their hands full with patrolling established ports, bases and airfields.

Mobile Security Forces

Five members of Mobile Security Squadron Two line up in front of one of their new Safe Boats in a storage building on the sprawling Norfolk Naval Shipyard, giving us a look at the guns and gear used for various missions. (Left to right): Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (MA2) Anthony Diaz with M240 machine gun. His body armor and woodland camouflage BDU are for landside security missions in North and South America. Master-at-Arms 1st Class (MA1) Stanley Kubat with Colt 727 (M16A2 carbine). His tactical floatation vest and Pro-Tec light helmet are usually worn by boat crewmen. MA1 Sandra Plunkett with 727 carbine. Her flight suit and M9 pistol in a shoulder holster are used by members of “Sea Raven” aircraft security escorts. MA2 Demetrius Vaultz carries a Mossberg 500A shotgun. Worn with a desert pattern uniform and boots, his “H-Gear” harness and tan-painted TC2000 helmet are typical for landside security in the Middle East. MA1 Eric Shotter is armed with the Colt 727 carbine and M203 grenade launcher combo. Worn with a desert pattern uniform and boots, his “H-Gear” harness and tan-painted TC2000 helmet are typical for landside security in the Middle East.
*(**Robert Bruce Military Photos**)*

“Provide light, mobile, short-term point defense against terrorist attacks in locations where U.S. shore infrastructure does not exist or requires augmentation for:US Navy ships and Military Sealift Command ships, moored or at anchor.US Navy aircraft (single or several) at unsecured airfields or Department of Defense High Value Assets.Provide augmentation of continental United States US Navy installation security forces or support to lead federal agency for maritime homeland security in non-Navy ports.” MSF Mission Statement

Necessity is the mother of invention, it is sagely observed, and obvious necessity led to creation of Navy Mobile Security Forces soon after the COLE disaster. As of this writing there are four squadrons in place, two each on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Their worldwide responsibilities are carried out as ordered with dispatch of detachments or subunits tailored to meet specific missions.

Each squadron has three 76-man detachments consisting of a command, control and logistics element, three 15-man security teams, and three patrol boats with two 4-man crews each. This well-thought-out structure allows maximum flexibility in accomplishing a variety of taskings. Whole detachments are deployed to provide security to HVAs (High Value Assets) like aircraft carriers or oil terminals. Smaller forces escort submarines or ride along with other warships at vulnerable times, provide additional muscle to local security, or protect Navy aircraft flying VIPs into danger spots.

October 2000, Aden, Yemen. A gaping 40 foot hole in the side of the guided missile destroyer USS Cole provides testimony to the powerful explosion set off by suicide bombers in a small craft that pulled alongside during refueling. This incident, in which 17 sailors were killed and 39 more were injured, spurred the Navy to develop and field its new Mobile Security Squadrons for worldwide deployment. (**US Navy photo**)

This last is the interesting “Sea RAVEN” program, modeled after the Air Force’s very successful Phoenix RAVENs. The Navy operates a fairly large fleet of commercial-type passenger planes to shuttle its personnel around the world. This valuable asset is sometimes made available to government VIPs on official business such as Congressional Delegations (CODEL) making fact-finding trips abroad. Depending on the situation, between two and four specially trained Sea RAVENs will fly along, providing a tangible deterrent to those who might desire to make themselves martyrs in the war against the infidels.

**Above Left**: Details of Kubat’s London Bridge Trading Company “Vest, Floatation, Tactical, Model LBT 1620A-R,” specially developed for Navy Special Operations requirements. Another model with provision for ballistic plates is also available but not currently issued to Security Forces. His Colt 727 carbine features a handy tactical sling, also made by London Bridge. (**Robert Bruce Military Photos**)
**Above Right**: Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (MA2) Anthony Diaz with M240 machine gun. His body armor and woodland camouflage BDU are for landside security missions in North and South America. Diaz is also armed with an M9 Beretta pistol carried in a Safariland 6004 holster thigh rig. Issue “Sun, Wind, Dust” goggles are worn on his regular Kevlar PASGT helmet with the new suspension system.
*(**Robert Bruce Military Photos**)*

Selected MSF Detachments are expected to launch a mission within just six hours of tasking. All 72 tons of men, boats and gear can be carried anywhere in the world in two C-5A cargo planes or three C-17s. Once on the ground, they are almost fully self-sustaining for up to ten days, requiring only fuel for patrol boats, vehicles and generators.

Tough Training

Sequence showing training on techniques for team movement when boarding and searching ships. Armed with M16A2 rifles and carbines, the Security Force team charges into a ship’s compartment. An instructor yells out on-the-spot corrections as a Security Force team runs up the stairway between decks. Maintaining front and rear security, the team pauses at the base of a stairway. Note the positions of their weapons as team members climb the stairway between decks. This ensures immediate response to a security threat from any direction.
*(**US Navy photos**)*

MSF commanders take pride in leading highly trained and very motivated sailors. Most members undergo more than eight months of specialized individual and team Force Protection instruction that includes crew served weapons, advanced boat tactics, surveillance and security techniques, as well as hand-to-hand combat.

Tools of the Trade

The Navy is not new at the job of providing security to ports, ships and planes. Today’s MSF hails back to World War Two’s Harbor Defense Units, then Vietnam’s Inshore Undersea Warfare Units. Naval bases are well secured by their own specialized police units. All of these have contributed to a good understanding of what guns and gear it takes to do the job well.

Perhaps taking a cue from the Coast Guard, MSFs are rapidly trading in their old collection of patrol craft for the fast and nimble new Oswald Class 25 footers from Safe Boats International.

*The fast, stable and nimble new Oswald class Safe Boat RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat)*
*(**US Navy Photo**)*

Small arms include standard 9mm M9 semiauto pistols (Beretta M92F) , 12 gauge pump shotguns (Mossberg 500A) , and 5.56mm M16A3 rifles and carbines (Colt 727). While some of the old M60 machine guns are still in use, they are quickly being replaced with the fine M240 (FNMI) general purpose machine guns. Heavy hitting comes in the form of 40mm grenade launchers of the M203 and Mark 19 variety, and venerable .50 caliber M2HB machine guns.

11 Oct 2003, San Francisco, California. A speedy 25 foot Boston Whaler “Guardian” patrol boat from Mobile Security Squadron Three contributes to waterside security during Fleet Week activities. Such large public events can provide cover for terrorists intent on hitting Navy ships and sailors. (**US Navy photo by PHM3C Ramon Preciado**)

Low to no light operations are essential and the usual helmet-mounted PVS-7 goggles work quite well. While official documents do not specifically mention them, most all the other military NVDs are likely to be in use including PVS 4 and 5 “starlight scope” weapon sights and some newer thermal imagers.

A special piece of gear has been developed for, and is being issued to, those who crew and operate out of the Navy’s tactical small boats. This is London Bridge Trading Company’s well-designed Force Protection Tactical Vest, cleverly combining floatation with a lot of gear compartments. London Bridge has a companion piece, with built-in ballistic protection, that is in limited issue in the Navy Special Warfare community, and may also be under consideration for MSFs. But for right now, these security sailors depend on the Tactical Armor Products flak plate vest.

London Bridge also provides their load bearing equipment, which they call “H Gear.” Officially, this is because it is a “Harness,” but saltier terms may also apply. This is sturdy, tough and well designed stowage for ammo and all sorts of other things that, quite practically, also has compartments for floatation pads. Drop leg Safariland 6004 series holster rigs carry their Berettas. Tactical lights and knives are private-purchase items with lots of leeway in selection to meet personal standards.

13 Jun 2004, Iraq. Naval Mobile Security Force Detachment 21 Engineman 2nd Class Robert Looney and Engineman 2nd Class Joe Pearson stand watch at the northern end of Al Basrah Oil Terminal. Their new unit arrived about a week earlier to relieve men of Interim Marine Corps Security Force Bahrain, on duty since April when an attempted insurgent attack was foiled. The sailors carry standard length and carbine versions of the M16A2 rifle, as well as 9mm Beretta pistols in thigh holsters. Due to the extreme heat and humidity, they have apparently been authorized to wear body armor over issue brown tee shirts.
*(**US Navy photo by J2C Wes Eplen**)*

How to Join

Navy Mobile Security Forces are manned by a variety of ratings (the Navy term for occupational specialty). Most are MAs (Master-at-Arms) and BMs (Boatswain’s Mates) who skipper the patrol craft. ENs (Enginemen) do the maintenance and others handle communications, emergency medical, and support. Applicants must meet strict guidelines. Additional schooling is available for Sea Ravens and other skills. Expanding from 1,500 to 9,000 in the next few years, Master-at-Arms is one of the Navy’s fastest-growing career fields so now is the time to get on board. Contact your local recruiter and be sure to ask if enlistment bonuses are available. US Navy on the Internet – www.navy.mil

This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V9N11 (August 2006)