Australian SEALS "Clearance Diver" Mission: 1999 East Timor Crisis

It should not be forgot that one of the most sensitive roles of submarines is to get close enough to enemy shores to permit special forces, variously called SEALS or clearance divers to swim or driver delivery vehicled to shore, for a mission.

In that vein during the 1999 East Timor Crisis Australian Collins-class submarine, HMAS Waller reportedly expedited a clearance diver mission for the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET). INTERFET liberated East Timor from harsh Indonesian occupation.

Compared to nuclear submarines Australia’s conventional, diesel-electric, Collins-class submarines are relatively small and quiet – making them better suited to close, inshore, SEAL/clearance diver missions. 

HMAS Waller had overtly docked in Darwin during the INTERFET naval buildup in September 1999. This was shortly before the mainly Australian Army and Navy and US Navy INTERFET Force sailed to East Timor.^[19][20] 

Map shows East Timor's Oecussi/Ambeno Enclave (main town Pante Makasar) on left (Map courtesy Encyclopedia Britannica. Inc)

---

On 21 October 1999 Australian Navy clearance divers from HMAS Waller infiltrated into East Timor's then Indonesian dominated Oecussi/Ambeno Enclave, to conduct a covert beach reconnaissance...^[21]

This was partly in preparation for a 11 November 1999 landing by 600+ Australian troops from 3RAR (Third Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment) deployed to liberate East Timor’s Oecusse/Ambeno enclave. [see last paragraph of Oecusse History subsection].

Further Details

Clearance Diving Team Four (AUSCDT4), conducted the Oecussi/Ambeno Operation. AUSCDT4 is assigned to Australia's Fleet Base West, HMAS Stirling, Western Australia (source (from original source http://www.navy.gov.au/1_fleet/pstory35.htm ):

"In addition they have conducted two clandestine operations at night in Aidabeleten, East Timor and in the Oecussi[/Ambeno] enclave located within West Timor."

"Prior to the dive in the Oecussi enclave INTERFET had received unconfirmed reports of people being killed in the area. As we approached the beach we could hear shots being fired in the distance so there was a lot of tension, especially when a vehicle drove up the beach and stopped only a half a kilometre short of where we were in the water."

[Probably in recognition of the Oecussi/Ambeno Operation] “March 25th 2000: [Able Seaman Clearance Diver] “ABCD Brown receives his Commendation for Gallantry from the Queen. "The Queen has presented a Commendation for Gallantry to a RAN diver who swam to an East Timor beach to reconnoitre the area for a subsequent INTERFET landing. ABCD Justin Brown stayed put and provided support for his submerged teammates despite hearing shots and explosions nearby and seeing a two-vehicle patrol sweep the beach with powerful lights."

As a very secret unit, the bravery and operations of Australia's clearance divers don't get much media appreciation.

Pete