US method for extracting special forces from maritime situations

Fluctus
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1 Video View·Nov 6, 2026
Hello everyone
and welcome back to the Flectus channel.
Few things are more terrifying to a
land-based fighting force than the sight
of an incoming amphibious assault, particularly
when launched
by the United States military.
Since World War II,
the U.S. has established
itself as one of the world's most
formidable water-to-land attack forces.
These operations are much more complex today,
often involving many
personnel, equipment,
and vehicles.
For instance, aircraft carriers are the cornerstone
of the US Navy's ability
to protect power globally.
They serve as mobile air bases,
allowing the US to launch air operations worldwide.
Often amphibious assault ships accompany these aircraft carriers
and are equipped with amphibious
crafts like the landing craft air cushion
and the amphibious assault vehicles which can transport
troops and equipment from ship
to shore under combat conditions.
For smaller operations patrol
boats and combat rubber raiding crafts
or CRRCs may be used to move troops from ship to shore
These small, flexible,
and easily deployable boats are frequently used by Navy SEALs and other
special operations forces for covert operations,
including reconnaissance, direct action,
and personal recovery as their low profile
makes them ideal for stealth missions.
Also known as
Zodiac boats or rubber raiding crafts,
CRRCs are generally lightweight, inflatable boats.
Depending on the mission, these boats are prized for their versatility
and can accommodate between
six to eight fully
equipped soldiers.
However, for short distances
and in emergency situations,
they can carry more.
The size
of CRRCs can vary,
But those most often used
by the U.S. military typically measure around 15 to 17 feet.
The size ensures a good balance between carrying capacity
and the ability to remain low-profile
and maneuverable.
Due to their inflatable design,
CRRCs are usually powered
by interchangeable outboard
motors.
This means that the type of engine installed can vary depending
on the mission's specific
requirements, such as a preference for stealth, speed, or range.
US soldiers typically practice with their CRRCs regularly
to ensure they can confidently
handle almost any situation.
This includes learning to inflate the boat,
operate it properly, and use the included equipment
to maximize their and their comrades' safety.
What?
One of the key advantages of CRRCs is their portability.
They can be compactly stored and quickly
deployed from various platforms.
Even with an engine installed,
an empty boat typically weighs around 550 pounds,
so a team can easily lift and carry it from place to place.
This is also crucial when it comes to flipping
the vessel. This technique involves using
pull lines and personnel acting
as counterweights to capsize the boat purposely.
This can aid everything from preventing detection
to dealing with rough sea conditions.
Amphibious transport docks are essential
to many sea-to-land operations,
even more so than aircraft carriers.
These large vessels have sea-level
open areas called well decks,
which feature ramps for easily deploying
and recovering amphibious vessels.
The decks can be flooded to allow boats to drive out and in.
Because they are so versatile,
CRRCs are also used by explosive ordnance disposal divers
and underwater construction personnel.
Tackle surface!
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This is mainly
because their ultra-lightweight construction
allows the CRRCs to operate in shallow waters, near rocky coastlines,
or in environments where other vessels might be at risk of damage.
During dive operations,
they can position personnel right above the target spot,
allowing them fast and easy access
to whatever lies beneath them.
That said,
perhaps one
of the most important uses of CRRCs
is in helocasting operations.
As one of the most
important and dangerous missions of all,
helocasting leaves very little room for error.
Generally, helocasting is designed
to rapidly insert special operations forces.
Because it involves jumping into the water from a
moving aircraft, helocasting requires intensive
training. Most soldiers will be fully armed
and equipped when performing the jump, so it's
essential that they know what to expect.
This training
is typically accomplished at a large
It's a large pool facility.
Trainees must be proficient in swimming
and comfortable operating in various water environments.
From a technical standpoint,
helocasting falls under an operational umbrella known
as Special Patrol Insertion and Extraction,
or SPI. The SPI rigging system involves a
heavy-duty rope attached to a hard point
on the underside of the helicopter.
This rope extends down to a series of loops or
harnesses where troops can be securely fastened.
Once everyone is secured and ready,
the helicopter lifts off,
carrying the personnel beneath it.
Similar extraction methods are used in the civilian arena,
particularly by the U.S. Coast Guard and other rescue organizations.
In situations where a helicopter cannot safely land
to provide aid to persons in distress,
they can deploy a harness, cage,
or even an individual rescuer to pull the endangered
individuals out of the situation.
This is particularly helpful
during rescues at sea,
where it would be impossible
for a helicopter to touch down.
Helicopters are essential to a
wide range of military
and non-military operations for one specific reason.
Their ability to hover and move vertically.
One of the specialized capabilities of helicopters is vertical
replenishment, or vert rep, which is crucial for logistical support.
This is a method of supply transfer used
by the military to move cargo from supply ships to
naval vessels at sea without the need for docking.
In this case, helicopters transport goods,
which is particularly useful in situations where time
is of the essence or where traditional
resupply methods are impractical.
Some of the larger
helicopters used by the military are even capable
of moving heavy weapons and armored vehicles,
like Humvees.
On average, the curb weight
of a standard unarmored Humvee
is about 5,200 to 5,900
However, when equipped with armor
and other combat-ready configurations,
the weight can increase substantially, with
some armored variants exceeding 8,000 pounds.
In order to get these essential vehicles where they need to go,
helicopter pilots will need to attach tow ropes to the vehicle,
lying low over the landscape.
It's just another example
of the US military using
high-powered aircraft to
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