101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion
中華民國陸軍101兩棲偵察營 (Chinese)
Republic of China Army 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion Insignia
Active1949-Present
Country Republic of China
Branch Republic of China Army
TypeSpecial operations force
Role
Garrison/HQKinmen
Nickname(s)Sea Dragon Frogmen or Frogmen
Sea Dragon Frogmen practice small boat drills in an indoor training center
ROCA Frogmen Stand on the stairs of the National Concert Hall

The 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (Chinese: 中華民國陸軍101兩棲偵察營), known as the Sea Dragon Frogmen; not to be confused with other frogman unit within the ROC Armed Forces which is the Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit of the Republic of China Marine Corps, is a SCUBA trained combat swimming & diving as well as underwater demolitions focused special operations forces of the Republic of China Army.

The members of the 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion are commonly known as Sea Dragon Frogmen. The unit specializes in underwater, amphibious, and coastal reconnaissance operations.[1][2]

Although they along with their ROC Marine counterpart (the ARP) often gets compared to the United States Navy SEALs because of their shared "Frogman" moniker, their role is quite unique being the only known official, relatively high-profile “frogman” unit under the branch of the Army. The closest analogous comparison for the 101st to their US counterpart would be the combat divers of the US Army Special Forces "Green Berets" or any other US Army special forces soldiers (e.g: US Army Ranger RRC) who have completed the Combat Diver Qualification Course. Along with other Taiwanese special operations forces they are expected to play a key role in any conflict with China especially in regards to land warfare.[1]

History

The 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion was founded in 1949 with American assistance as a special purpose coastal surveillance, infiltration, and covert operations unit.[2]

Unit members received a pay raise in 2017.[3]

In 2019 the MoD commenced construction on two new bases on Kinmen and Penghu to support rapid deployments by the 101st.[4]

In 2020 the US Army 1st Special Forces Group released a video which showed themselves training with the 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion in Taiwan.[1]

Training

Applicants undergo a 15-week training course known as "the iron-man road"[2] which follows a five-day qualification course.[5] Only twenty percent of applicants make it through training. Inducted recruits receive their unit badge pinned to their bare chest.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Trevithick, Joseph (29 June 2020). "Army Releases Ultra Rare Video Showing Green Berets Training In Taiwan". www.thedrive.com. The Drive. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Charlier, Phillip (24 February 2019). "Army Sea Dragons receive badges of honor pinned to their chests". taiwanenglishnews.com. Taiwan English News. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  3. ^ Tien-pin, Lo; Chin, Jonathan (19 June 2017). "Pay raise for more military units". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  4. ^ DeAeth, Duncan (21 April 2019). "Taiwan plans new forward bases for Army Frogmen on Kinmen and Penghu". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Fit for duty". taiwantoday.tw. Taiwan Today. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
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