The Underwater Demolition Command (DYK) is the Greek Navy's elite special warfare unit. It was established in 1957 with help from the US Navy to conduct operations such as unconventional warfare, sabotage, boarding operations, and counter-terrorism. DYK is organized into sections called Underwater Demolition Teams (OYK) that specialize in areas like reconnaissance, demolition, and reserve forces. OYK candidates undergo a grueling 7-month training program. In 2015, OYK generated controversy for chanting a nationalist refrain about entering Constantinople, raising concerns from opposition politicians.
1. Underwater Demolition Command
The Underwater Demolition Command (Greek: Διοί-
κηση Υποβρυχίων Καταστροφών), abbreviated as
DYK (Greek: ΔYK,Greek pronunciation: [ðik]) and
known until 2001 as the Underwater Demolition Unit
(Greek: Μονάδα Υποβρυχίων Καταστροφών), ab-
breviated as MYK (Greek: ΜYK,Greek pronunciation:
[mik]), is the Greek Navy's elite special warfare unit.
1 History
Carrying on the tradition of the Hellenic Navy in naval
special operations , the unit was established in 1957 with
help from the United States Navy's Underwater Demoli-
tion Team, when two Greek officers were sent to Little
Creek in Virginia to evaluate a UDT operational capabil-
ity for the Hellenic Navy. On their return, they trained a
dozen men who formed the nucleus of the MYK cadre.
Several diver teams (OYK) of MYK have been deployed
on numerous occasions. They were deployed during the
first Gulf War in 1991, providing assistance for the naval
embargo against Saddam Hussein, boarding 217 suspect
vessels. In 1996, the OYK were involved in the Imia cri-
sis when Turkish commandos infiltrated the Greek rocky
island of Imia. Small OYK teams dispersed in on a neigh-
boring islet to acquire Turkish targets with the order to
eliminate them if the pending political solution to the cri-
sis and withdrawal of Turkish forces would fail.
In 1997, during the violent unrest that erupted in neigh-
boring Albania, the OYK were responsible for taking
control of the international airport of Tirana and the evac-
uation of 240 foreign dignitaries from Albania (Operation
Kosmas).[1]
2 Structure
The DYK is organized into sections called Underwa-
ter Demolition Teams (Greek: Ομάδες Υποβρυχίων
Καταστροφών), commonly known in their abbreviated
form as OYK (Greek: ΟΥΚ,Greek pronunciation: [oik]),
that specialize in a particular area. Each section consists
of 25 men split into five teams of five or alternatively in
to two subsections of twelve. Each OYK diver is awarded
with the occupational specialty of Underwater Demoli-
tionist (Greek: Υποβρύχειος Καταστροφέας) abbrevi-
ated Y/KT upon the successful completion of his train-
ing.
OYK-1 and OYK-2 are the main assault sections of the
OYK that conduct unconventional warfare, sabotage, DA
raids, naval boarding and maritime counter-terrorism..
OYK-3: This section specializes in reconnaissance and
hydrographic survey. Establishing and reconnoitering
beach landing sites prior to a main amphibious assault,
battlefield preparation and providing shore intelligence in
the area of interest.
OYK-4: are responsible for planting explosive charges
on enemy shipping, EOD and naval mine clearance by or-
ganic means or in conjunction with a minesweeper vessel,
as well as underwater demolition of obstacles that may
prevent an amphibious landing.
OYK-5 is a reserve section that is only activated in
wartime or a declared state of emergency. It is made up
of reservist personnel from the DYK and Officers and
Petty Officers from the instructor body. ΟΥΚ−5 is a de-
ceptively small unit since it is manned by the all the previ-
ous OYK specialty schools, the Underwater Demolition
school, the Unconventional War Boat school, the Under-
water Swimmer Delivery school, and the Underwater De-
molition Base (Greek: ΟΑΠ, ΟΑΕ, ΟΕΝ, ΣΥΚ, ΣΑΠ,
ΥΠΟΧ & ΒΥΚ) respectively, effectively the rest of the
DYK.
3 OYK training
The selection and training course lasts roughly seven
months and is divided into three phases similar to that of
the US Navy SEALs BUD/S course. The course has an
extremely high failure rate similar to that of its US coun-
terparts. The candidates will go on to airborne school
and then continue to learn advanced naval special warfare
techniques.
4 2015 Independence Day Parade
Controversy
The OYK generated controversy at the Greek Indepen-
dence Day parade of 2015, when it chanted a nationalis-
tic refrain: «Και το όνειρο μας είναι / στην Πόλη εμείς
να μπούμε / σημαία να υψώσουμε / τον ύμνο εμείς
να πούμε», roughly translated as 'Our dream is to enter
the City (Constantinople) to raise our flag and sing our
anthem'. Opposition ministers from the PASOK party
1
2. 2 7 EXTERNAL LINKS
launched attacks on the defence Minister Panos Kam-
menos, accusing him of mishandling matters of vital for-
eign policy. Concerns were also expressed by the govern-
ment (SYRIZA) MP Vassiliki Katrouvanou, who called
the chants 'a clear offense to our republic', and high-
lighted the ongoing need to remove certain far-right el-
ements from the Greek armed forces.[2]
5 See also
• Zeta Amphibious Raider Squadron abbreviated
(Z' MAK), the Hellenic Army elite amphibious re-
connaissance and amphibious strike unit attached to
the 13th Special Operations Command in the 1st
Raider/Paratrooper Brigade (Greece).
6 References
[1] Greek Army. “EVACUATION OF 240 FOREIGN DIG-
NITARIES FROM ALBANIA OPERATION “KOS-
MAS"".
[2] http://www.tovima.gr/politics/article/?aid=689036
7 External links
• Underwater Demolition Command
• Naval Training Command
• Hellenic Navy
3. 3
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