Wikipedia
Minentaucher (Mine Clearance Divers) are particularly trained military divers of the German Navy. Their operational areas are:
- Searching, identifying, and removing or salvaging underwater weapons such as mines or explosives in the water.
- Servicing underwater drones.
- Removing weapons in water and ashore, in particular removing explosives attached by enemies to hulls and underwater equipment.
- Rescuing and salvaging.
Mine Clearance Divers are highly qualified specialists, who are stationed partly on board schwimmenden Einheiten (= "swimming units"), which can be ordered to be in standby if necessary. A part of the trained mine clearance divers is available as a special-purpose force in the mine clearance diver company in Eckernförde.
In 2001 the Bataillon Spezialisierter Kräfte (= "Battalion of Specialized Forces") was separated from the German commando frogmen group.
The Bataillon Spezialisierter Kräfte (SEK M) (= "Specialized Task Forces Battalion" was formed by the transformation of 2003. SEK M was divided further into the Kampfschwimmerkompanie (= " combat diver company", one mine clearance diver company, and two naval companies for special employments (e.g. boarding ships), a training inspection, and further support elements. On 1 April 2014 the Minentaucherkompanie became an integral part of the newly formed Naval Force Protection Battalion (Seebataillon).
See :de:Bild:MiTa Wappen.JPG for the coat of arms of the Minentaucherkompanie.