Underwater fighting

[captain]

Navy diver covers a number of specialties, construction and salvage, Seabee's, SEAL's, EOD, etc and there is limited cross over from one to the other. In my avator photo I am wearing a set of twin 90 cu/ft non magnetic tanks used by EOD in the
1960's

Navy Diving | We Dive The World Over

Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Naval Special Warfare :: Official U.S. Navy Web Site

https://www.seabee.navy.mil/index.cfm/7268

 

[tarponchik]

I've read that such hand-to-hand fighting took place in 1986 between South African and Soviet underwater commandos in Angola. Supposedly, the SAfricans damaged some Soviet ships but after underwater skirmishes with the Soviets they made no further attempts.

 

[40Fathoms]

From diving with military divers, I know that there are various techniques to take an enemy underwater. However, they are generally reserved for the off-chance that you run into an enemy diver while approaching your goal underwater, not for big underwater battles, like the one in "Tunderball". Generally, military divers view diving as a was of approaching the enemy's fortifications or ships in a stealthy manner, not as a battleground. Do love the scene from "Thunderball" though.