Special Boarding Unit
Encyclopedia
The is a special forces unit
established by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces
on March 27, 2001 in response to a previous spy ship incursion that occurred on the Noto Peninsula
in 1999. The unit was created to perform similar roles to those undertaken by American Navy SEALs
and the British SBS
. Its structure is based on the SBS.
Their field involves maritime anti-terrorist duties, including operations where arms are known to be involved. However, their duties and responsibilities overlap with those of the Special Security Team
, the Japan Coast Guard
's counter-terrorist unit.
Since the SBU is a special forces unit, any kind of matters regarding acquisition of information on personnel, training and weapons are forbidden since they are highly classified.
mission to stop North Korean spy ships that were in the territorial waters of the Noto Peninsula
, the SBU was established with its headquarters based in Etajima, Hiroshima
. The unit had conducted some covert training in Etajima
without any public knowledge after its creation, including exercises on boarding tactics
to enter ships. Training was completed in 2000, a year after the SBU was created. A reported ship
that illegally entered Amami Ōshima
was seen nearby, which led to the mobilization of the SBU. The ship, however, was said to have been scuttled while the unit waited for orders from the Japanese Defense Agency. The unit had made its existence known to the public during a training exercise, which involved the deployment of Howa Type 89
-armed SBU operators via RHIBs
and SH-60J helicopters.
When the unit was created, it had requested training with the US Navy SEALs
, but had not been able to do so due to schedule problems. To resolve this, the SBU had requested training assistance from the SBS
to help in founding the unit.
Due to the nature of their duties and responsibilities, an amendment had been passed to raise their salaries.
It was announced recently by Yasukazu Hamada
that the SBU will be possibly deployed for its first mission to Somalia
to engage in anti-Somali piracy operations
. SBU operators had left Japan on March 14, 2009 deployed on board the Murasame-class destroyer JDS DD-106 Samidare
and the Takanami-class destroyer JDS DD-113 Sazanami
.
Prior to the SBU's overseas deployment to Somalia, the unit had practiced alongside Japan Coast Guard
units in simulating a raid on a pirate vessel played by JCG officers without any warning shots fired by SBU operators off the coast of Kure, Hiroshima
with a total of 250 people participating, 60 from the JCG.
cadet had died during a supposed training exercise prior to admission to the unit, which had consisted of 15 levels of unarmed combat training. The JMSDF has refused to provide more details on the incident, calling them classified material. However, a special committee was established to determine whether the cadet's death was either under murder or an accident. Investigators of the Criminal Investigation Command had assessed the incident.
Reports on the incident have classified the events as a case of bullying by senior JMSDF sailors against junior sailors. But the committee had suggested that the deceased cadet was killed accidentally after receiving a right hook punch by his 14th opponent during the exercise, specifically to the chin. A JMSDF official has told reporters that even though similar exercises are done by other elite forces, the incident itself can be considered as a severe case of bullying. A statement from the JMSDF Staff Office had suggested that the cadet had died in an accident in the course of the exercise. The trainer was fined ¥
500,000 for his negligence.
A report released to the public by the JMSDF concluded that the "dangerous drill was conducted under trainers who were ‘‘not skilled enough to guide sailors’’ and ‘‘failed to take precautionary measures to ensure safety.’" 21 officers were punished as a result of the incident.
and the MP5SD6
as their primary submachine guns. Their main rifle is the Howa Type 89
, while their sidearm is the Sig Sauer P226
. Sniper rifles were purchased for the SBU under the 2004 defense budget under the JMSDF, but the model has not been revealed to the public.
The SBU has access to the use of RHIBs
in maritime operations while SH-60J helicopters are used for aerial insertions during shipboarding missions
.
for around 36 weeks including the Special Security Program, which is taken for a year and 3 months before one is recruited to the unit. The basic education is done at the school while the rest is done with the unit prior to recruitment.
The SBU does exchange training with the ROKN SEALs
.
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
established by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
The , or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II....
on March 27, 2001 in response to a previous spy ship incursion that occurred on the Noto Peninsula
Noto Peninsula
thumb|right|240px|Landsat image with high-resolution data from Space Shuttle.Noto Peninsula is a peninsula that projects north into the Sea of Japan from the coast of Ishikawa prefecture in central Honshū, the main island of Japan...
in 1999. The unit was created to perform similar roles to those undertaken by American Navy SEALs
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
and the British SBS
Special Boat Service
The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
. Its structure is based on the SBS.
Their field involves maritime anti-terrorist duties, including operations where arms are known to be involved. However, their duties and responsibilities overlap with those of the Special Security Team
Special Security Team
The is the official counter-terrorist unit of the Japanese Coast Guard. Formerly known as the Kansai International Airport Marine Guard, it was renamed after a period of reorganization...
, the Japan Coast Guard
Japan Coast Guard
The , formerly the Maritime Safety Agency, is the Japanese coast guard. Comprising about 12,000 personnel, it is under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and is responsible for the protection the coast-lines of Japan...
's counter-terrorist unit.
Since the SBU is a special forces unit, any kind of matters regarding acquisition of information on personnel, training and weapons are forbidden since they are highly classified.
History
After a failed Japanese Maritime Self-Defense ForcesJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force
The , or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II....
mission to stop North Korean spy ships that were in the territorial waters of the Noto Peninsula
Noto Peninsula
thumb|right|240px|Landsat image with high-resolution data from Space Shuttle.Noto Peninsula is a peninsula that projects north into the Sea of Japan from the coast of Ishikawa prefecture in central Honshū, the main island of Japan...
, the SBU was established with its headquarters based in Etajima, Hiroshima
Etajima, Hiroshima
is a city located on the island of Etajima in Hiroshima Bay in southwestern Hiroshima, Japan.The city was formed on November 1, 2004 from the merger of the town of Etajima from Aki District with three towns from Saeki District: Nōmi, Ōgaki, and Okimi.As of March 1, 2008 population data, the city...
. The unit had conducted some covert training in Etajima
Etajima, Hiroshima
is a city located on the island of Etajima in Hiroshima Bay in southwestern Hiroshima, Japan.The city was formed on November 1, 2004 from the merger of the town of Etajima from Aki District with three towns from Saeki District: Nōmi, Ōgaki, and Okimi.As of March 1, 2008 population data, the city...
without any public knowledge after its creation, including exercises on boarding tactics
Boarding (attack)
Boarding, in its simplest sense, refers to the insertion on to a ship's deck of individuals. However, when it is classified as an attack, in most contexts, it refers to the forcible insertion of personnel that are not members of the crew by another party without the consent of the captain or crew...
to enter ships. Training was completed in 2000, a year after the SBU was created. A reported ship
Action of 22 December 2001
The Battle of Amami-Ōshima or the was a six-hour confrontation between the Japan Coast Guard and an armed North Korean vessel, taking place near the island of Amami-Ōshima, in the East China Sea...
that illegally entered Amami Ōshima
Amami Oshima
is a semi-tropical island in the Amami Islands, which is part of the larger Nansei Islands in Japan. Ōshima literally means big island, and it is the largest of the Amami Islands. It lies roughly halfway between the islands of Okinawa and Kyūshū. Briefly part of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, in 1624 it was...
was seen nearby, which led to the mobilization of the SBU. The ship, however, was said to have been scuttled while the unit waited for orders from the Japanese Defense Agency. The unit had made its existence known to the public during a training exercise, which involved the deployment of Howa Type 89
Howa Type 89
The , referred to as the , is a Japanese assault rifle used by the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Japan Coast Guard's Special Security Team units, and the Special Assault Team. It was never exported outside of Japan due to its strict anti-hardware export laws...
-armed SBU operators via RHIBs
Rigid-hulled inflatable boat
A rigid-hulled inflatable boat, or rigid-inflatable boat is a light-weight but high-performance and high-capacity boat constructed with a solid, shaped hull and flexible tubes at the gunwale. The design is stable and seaworthy...
and SH-60J helicopters.
When the unit was created, it had requested training with the US Navy SEALs
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
, but had not been able to do so due to schedule problems. To resolve this, the SBU had requested training assistance from the SBS
Special Boat Service
The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
to help in founding the unit.
Due to the nature of their duties and responsibilities, an amendment had been passed to raise their salaries.
It was announced recently by Yasukazu Hamada
Yasukazu Hamada
is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Futtsu, Chiba and graduate of Senshu University he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1993.In the Cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso, appointed...
that the SBU will be possibly deployed for its first mission to Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
to engage in anti-Somali piracy operations
Piracy in Somalia
Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been a threat to international shipping since the second phase of the Somali Civil War in the early 21st century...
. SBU operators had left Japan on March 14, 2009 deployed on board the Murasame-class destroyer JDS DD-106 Samidare
Murasame class destroyer
The Murasame class destroyer is a third-generation general purpose destroyer in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force .The Murasame was a successor to the , and like its predecessor, it mainly tasked with ASW and ASuW...
and the Takanami-class destroyer JDS DD-113 Sazanami
Takanami class destroyer
The Takanami class destroyer is the newest class of Japanese guided-missile and ASW destroyer, serving with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force...
.
Prior to the SBU's overseas deployment to Somalia, the unit had practiced alongside Japan Coast Guard
Japan Coast Guard
The , formerly the Maritime Safety Agency, is the Japanese coast guard. Comprising about 12,000 personnel, it is under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and is responsible for the protection the coast-lines of Japan...
units in simulating a raid on a pirate vessel played by JCG officers without any warning shots fired by SBU operators off the coast of Kure, Hiroshima
Kure, Hiroshima
is a city in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 240,820 and a population density of 681 persons per km². The total area is 353.74 km².- History :...
with a total of 250 people participating, 60 from the JCG.
Controversy
Controversy had interrupted from the SBU involved when a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense ForcesJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force
The , or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II....
cadet had died during a supposed training exercise prior to admission to the unit, which had consisted of 15 levels of unarmed combat training. The JMSDF has refused to provide more details on the incident, calling them classified material. However, a special committee was established to determine whether the cadet's death was either under murder or an accident. Investigators of the Criminal Investigation Command had assessed the incident.
Reports on the incident have classified the events as a case of bullying by senior JMSDF sailors against junior sailors. But the committee had suggested that the deceased cadet was killed accidentally after receiving a right hook punch by his 14th opponent during the exercise, specifically to the chin. A JMSDF official has told reporters that even though similar exercises are done by other elite forces, the incident itself can be considered as a severe case of bullying. A statement from the JMSDF Staff Office had suggested that the cadet had died in an accident in the course of the exercise. The trainer was fined ¥
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
500,000 for his negligence.
A report released to the public by the JMSDF concluded that the "dangerous drill was conducted under trainers who were ‘‘not skilled enough to guide sailors’’ and ‘‘failed to take precautionary measures to ensure safety.’" 21 officers were punished as a result of the incident.
Foreign relations
The SBU has been involved in matters involving Asia-Pacific Defense, with representatives sent to the Asia Pacific Defense Forum Summer 2002 and the Asia Pacific Defense Forum 2004.Weapons and equipment
It is known that the SBU uses the MP5A5Heckler & Koch MP5
The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....
and the MP5SD6
Heckler & Koch MP5
The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....
as their primary submachine guns. Their main rifle is the Howa Type 89
Howa Type 89
The , referred to as the , is a Japanese assault rifle used by the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Japan Coast Guard's Special Security Team units, and the Special Assault Team. It was never exported outside of Japan due to its strict anti-hardware export laws...
, while their sidearm is the Sig Sauer P226
SIG P226
The SIG P226 is a full-sized, service-type pistol made by SIG Sauer. It is chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .22 Long Rifle. It is essentially the same basic design of the SIG P220, but developed to use higher capacity, staggered-column magazines in place of the...
. Sniper rifles were purchased for the SBU under the 2004 defense budget under the JMSDF, but the model has not been revealed to the public.
The SBU has access to the use of RHIBs
Rigid-hulled inflatable boat
A rigid-hulled inflatable boat, or rigid-inflatable boat is a light-weight but high-performance and high-capacity boat constructed with a solid, shaped hull and flexible tubes at the gunwale. The design is stable and seaworthy...
in maritime operations while SH-60J helicopters are used for aerial insertions during shipboarding missions
Boarding (attack)
Boarding, in its simplest sense, refers to the insertion on to a ship's deck of individuals. However, when it is classified as an attack, in most contexts, it refers to the forcible insertion of personnel that are not members of the crew by another party without the consent of the captain or crew...
.
Training
SBU candidates are schooled at the Naval Academy EdashimaNaval Academy Edashima
Etajima base in Etajima city, Hiroshima prefecture is located in the Etajima-cho government building and is the base of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Beside the housing the 1st Technical School and the Officer Candidates School, it is home to the local Kure Naval District, LCAC training...
for around 36 weeks including the Special Security Program, which is taken for a year and 3 months before one is recruited to the unit. The basic education is done at the school while the rest is done with the unit prior to recruitment.
The SBU does exchange training with the ROKN SEALs
ROKN SEALs
The Republic of Korea Naval Special Warfare Brigade, also known as ROKN UDT/SEALs, is regarded as one of the best, most capable and experienced naval special warfare units in East Asia...
.