hobbnob wrote:Do any conventional armies actually use fastropes?
Yes.
[quote=""'[R-MOD"]Spec;1906207']No, nobody uses fastropes. Why would they?[/quote]
In a US Marine Expeditionary Unit's Battalion Landing Team, one of the rifle companies is the designated "helo company." They are trained in helicopter rope suspension, including fast-roping. The battalion's 81mm mortar platoon is also trained to fast-rope because they are the designated TRAP (tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel) ground element. Elements of the Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Companies are also fast-rope qualified and some are also SPIES qualified. Also, Marine Reconnaissance Battalions and their contained Force Recon Companies are still considered conventional rather than SOF; they are also trained in fast-roping.
US Navy Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadrons have Helicopter Visit Board Search and Seizure (HVBSS) Teams that conduct Level III VBSS (non-compliant boarding with high free-board); as their name would suggest, they are trained in HRST, including fast-roping.
These are not SEALs. They are typically Masters-at-Arms, the US Navy equivalent of military police officers. Also, Navy EOD technicians receive fast-rope training as part of their basic qualification. Yes, some EOD units specifically support Naval Special Warfare, and their techs can be attached to SEAL Platoons, but most are assigned to EOD Mobile Units. And there's also the Diving and Salvage Units and the Very Shallow Water Mine Countermeasures Detachment.
US Army Air Assault school has "fast-rope familiarization" in the curriculum. They rope without combat equipment. They do conventional rappelling with it, though. The conventional Army units who are entirely fast-rope qualified are Pathfinder Companies and Long Range Surveillance Companies (which are actually called "Troops," despite being infantry and not cavalry, because their parent unit is a cavalry squadron- a battalion sized unit).
Not sure about conventional British Army units, aside from Pathfinder Troop, but Royal Marines Commandos (not considered SOF, except for SBS; that is not to take anything away from them, they are exceptional) have fast-rope qualified units, though I'm not sure if entire Commandos (battalions) have this qualification or just certain companies or troops within them. 43 Commando (Fleet Protection Group) has boarding teams that are so-qualified and the Brigade Patrols Troop is qualified.
[quote="hobbnob""]Faster deployment maybe? Seems like a bit of a stupid tactical decision to me since they've got to get back out somehow, but I figure if so many people want it then there's got to be a reason besides watching too much black hawk down
[/quote]
Correct, they do it to get on the ground faster. Yes, it's dangerous as fuck. How dangerous? Three of the five known fatalities of the FBI Hostage Rescue Team were from fast-rope training. I think the only reason there aren't more deaths or injuries training for it than for airborne is because hundreds more people go through the airborne course each year.
They get back up after the assault is over and the helicopter lands, or they do this:
The dog is optional.
But all that having been said, yes, most people want it so badly because they watched too much Black Hawk Down.
