TIL Navy SEALs began as a Naval Combat Demolition Unit eliminating obstacles on enemy-held beaches at Normandy prior to invasion. The NCDUs at Omaha Beach blew 8 complete gaps and 2 partial gaps in the German defenses by clearing 700 yds of beach in 2 hours, another 900 yds by the afternoon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_SEALs#Scouts_and_Raiders



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 08:22PM by gnarledout http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32t6rh/til_navy_seals_began_as_a_naval_combat_demolition/