Submarine Parachute Assistance Group

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:
2 x inflatable boats (MIBs) twin engines, 8 x 25 man inflatable liferafts, Hot and cold rations, First aid equipment, Surface oxygen therapy equipment, Submarine compatible underwater communications, Surface to air communications, GPS navigation equipment, Ship to shore communications.

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.

Sorbet Royal 2005 - Taranto - Italy

The UK SPAG participate in exercise 'Sorbet Royal 05' alongside the Italian SPAG team.

The NATO exercise Sorbet Royal 2005 was a Submarine Escape and Rescue exercise. The exercise allowed international submarine escape and rescue personnel, equipment and procedures to be tested in extreme and realistic conditions. Submarines from Italy,Spain, Netherlands and Turkey were positioned on the seabed, rescue forces with a range of sophisticated rescue vehicles and systems, together with medical teams and support from salvage ships worked together to solve complex disaster scenario's.

BFPS reports on SPAG in Gibraltar

SPAG deploy in Australia - Exercise Pacific Reach - Dec 07

The UK SPAG team participating in Leesplash 05 and Sorbet Royal 2005 & Leesplash 06.

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