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Submarine Parachute Assistance Group
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In 1967 the Royal Navy identified that a parachute rescue team could be needed to provide assitance to Submarines in difficulty, particularly those Submarines operating in remote areas. The Submarine Parachute Assistance Group (SPAG) was formed using members of staff serving at the Submarine Escape Training Tank (SETT). They are tasked to be able to rapidly deploy a team of people with Escape and Rescue knowledge to provide advice and assistance to the crew of a DISSUB, survivors on the surface and any other rescue forces involved in the rescue effort. The SPAG are trained in water descent parachuting using both round and square static-line parachutes. They are on 6 hours notice to take-off, 24 hours a day, all year round. They take with them the following equipment: The SPAG are on call to provide assisstance to any Submarine or major accident at sea.
They are able to provide various types of first aid and expertise in their field.
Should the Submarine accident happen where surface ships could be in the DISSUB area quickly, SPAG would then be deployed
as a SMERAT team. They would be despatched to the ships prior to sailing or by helo or parachute drop to offer on scene
rescue forces expert advice and assisstance. |
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The UK & Italian SPAG participate in the UK SMASHEX 2009.
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The UK SMASHEX was a Submarine Escape and Rescue exercise.
The exercise on the 5th May 2009 allowed the UK submarine escape and rescue authorities, equipment and callout
procedures to be tested in extreme and realistic conditions. The objectives for SPAG during the exercise
included; |
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The UK & Italian SPAG embarked a Chinook Helicoptor from Fort Blockhouse and travelled to RAF Lyneham where they boarded a C130 RAF Hercules aircraft. |
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The UK & Italian SPAG insert at the datum point of the DISSUB.
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When the escapee has been recovered from the water they would be medically graded and then continually monitored,
any escapees that may have suffered any form of decompression illness would be administered oxygen and provided with fluids by
Diver Medical Technicians that form part of the SPAG team.
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BFPS reports on SPAG in Gibraltar SPAG deploy in Australia - Exercise Pacific Reach - Dec 07 |
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Bold Monarch 08 UK & Italian SPAG deployEx Helo Splash - Mar 08 |
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©2006 Ian Callow