The idea to use kayaks for missions came from the British Special Forces. Today, forces from the United States, Canada, and Great Britain have all used kayaks on missions. Some examples of their use are publicly available while others are still classified. Two missions that we know about are the British in the 1982 Falklands War and a 1992 raid in Somalia by the US Marines.
Why does the military use kayaks when more modern alternatives are available? Kayaks are essentially silent and fast enough to not be too much of a sacrifice in the name of stealth. They are also very easy to store as they are relatively small and can be folded up.
And on a less militant note, kayaking aso has a Patron Saint. It was a favorite hobby of Pope John Paul II, who even participated in some races before becoming pope.
