Mine Warfare, Clearance Diving and Geospatial Force (MDGFOR) is responsible for leading and developing the Royal Australian Navy's capabilities in mine warfare, clearance diving, underwater engineering and geospatial intelligence. MDGFOR is made up of the following groups:
- Australian Mine Warfare & Clearance Diving Group
- Hydrographic Meteorological & Oceanographic Group.
Mine Warfare, Clearance Diving and Geospatial Force
Australia is dependent on maritime trade, and mining an Australian port or its approaches would effectively close that port to shipping. The defence of Australia requires an effective and balanced mine warfare force incorporating a combination of mine hunting, minesweeping and clearance diving. The Mine Warfare, Clearance Diving and Geospatial Force (MDGFOR) group is responsible for the management, delivery and reporting of mine warfare and clearance dive capability.
Clearance divers are the Australian Defence Forces’ specialist divers. Their tasks include specialist expeditionary (clandestine and overt) and domestic diving missions to depths of 54 metres, surface and underwater demolitions, and disarming and disposal of conventional explosive ordnance and improvised explosive devices.
Hydrographic Meteorological & Oceanographic Group
This group is responsible for delivering seaworthy materiel to meet statutory obligations for delivery of hydrographic and meteorological capability to Navy, Defence and Government.