Submarine Parachute Assistance Group
The Royal Navy's Submarine Parachute Assistance Group (SPAG) is a team who provide a rescue support capability to submarine sinking incidents worldwide, available at short notice. History The Submarine Parachute Assistance Group was originally formed from staff of the RN Submarine Escape Training Tank (SETT) at HMS Dolphin in Gosport, Hampshire. The SETT was part of the RN Submarine School, providing wet training in submarine escape drills for both new submariners and those requiring periodic requalification. With the move of the school to HMS Raleigh in Cornwall, in 1999, the SPAG remained at the SETT until the cessation of wet training in 2009. At that point the SPAG was moved to HMS Raleigh. On 19 November 2017, the SPAG were deployed to HMS Protector in aid of international search efforts for the missing Argentinian submarine . Personnel The team is made up of instructor personnel from the Royal Navy Submarine School. Members of the group are trained submariners or medical staff posted to the school, subsequently trained in water entry parachute skills. While the SETT was still active, some members of SPAG were trained in diving skills. Deployment and role The SPAG can be activated at 6 hours notice, to