Menelusuri sejarah Detasemen Jala Mangkara (Denjaka), bermula pada 4 Nopember 1982, ketika KSAL membentuk organisasi tugas dengan nama Pasukan Khusus AL (Pasusla). Keberadaan Pasusla didesak oleh kebutuhan akan adanya pasukan khusus TNI AL guna menanggulangi segala bentuk ancaman aspek laut. Seperti terorisme, sabotase, dan ancaman lainnya.

Pada tahap pertama, direkrut 70 personel dari Intai Amfibi (Taifib) dan Pasukan Katak (Paska). Komando dan pengendalian pembinaan di bawah Panglima Armada Barat dengan asistensi Komandan Korps Marinir. KSAL bertindak selaku pengendali operasional. Markas ditetapkan di Mako Armabar.

Melihat perkembangan dan kebutuhan satuan khusus ini, KSAL menyurati Panglima TNI yang isinya berkisar keinginan membentuk Detasemen Jala Mangkara. Panglima ABRI menyetujui dan sejak itu (13-11-1984), Denjaka menjadi satuan Antiteror Aspek Laut. Merunut keputusan KSAL, Denjaka adalah komando pelaksana Kormar yang mempunyai tugas pokok melaksanakan pembinaan kemampuan dan kekuatan dalam rangka melaksanakan operasi antiteror, antisabotase, dan klandesten aspek laut atas perintah Panglima TNI.

Pola rekrutmen Denjaka dimulai sejak pendidikan para dan komando. Selangkah sebelum masuk ke Denjaka, prajurit terpilih mesti sudah berkualifikasi Intai Amfibi. Dalam menjalankan aksinya, satuan khusus ini dapat digerakkan menuju sasaran baik lewat permukaan/bawah laut maupun lewat udara. TNI AL masih memiliki satu pasukan khusus lagi, yaitu Komando Pasukan Katak (Kopaska). Kedua satuan pernah beberapa kali melakukan latihan gabungan dengan US Navy SEAL.

The history of Jala Mengkara Detachment (Denjaka) started on November 4, 1982 when the Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff formed a unit called Navy Special Forces (Pasusla). The existence of Pasusla was urgently needed to counter the terrorism activities in the sea.

In the initial phase, 70 personnels from Amphibious Reconnaissance Unit and Underwater Special Unit were recruited to form Pasusla. The trainings for this new unit was under the command of Western Fleet commander with the assistance from the Marine Corps commander. The Navy chief of staff was the operational commander for Pasusla. Western Fleet Command Headquarter became the units base.

Upon further development of this unit, Navy chief of staff requested Indonesian Armed Forces commander to form Denjaka. The armed forces commander agreed to this request and since then Denjaka became the Naval Anti-Terror Unit. According to Navy chief of staff direction, Denjaka is a Marines special unit that has the responsibilities to be capable to conduct anti-terror, anti-sabotages, and naval clandestine operations under direct command of armed forces commander.

Denjaka recruitment process started after the conclusion of Para and Commando trainings. Before enrolling in Denjaka training, the troop must have been qualified to become an amphibious surveillance unit member. In its operation, this special forces unit must be able to reach the operational target via sea, underwater, or airborne. This unit has been conducting several joint-practices with the US Navy SEAL teams.