Special Forces

THE MEM, THE WEAPONS AND THE OPERATIONS

vid Miller

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Special Forces

Special Forces

David Miller

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Salamander Books.

Salamander Books

Ltd.

CREDITS Project

managed by Ray Bonds

Designed by Megra Mitchell Picture research by

TRH

Pictures

Colour separation by Studio Technology Limited

Printed

in Italy

THE AUTHOR David Miller Islands.

a former

is

British

Army

officer,

who spent most

of his

service

in

the

Far East, Central

He subsequently worked as a freelance author and then spent three years

as

Group, where he was a staffer on International Defense Review, before producing the Warships. He

is

now

a freelance author once

many

Europe, and the Falkland

a journalist with Jane's first

edition

of Jane's

Information

Major Surface

again, writing on a wide variety of defense subjects. He has contributed to

international military journals and

has had some 35 books published.

ADDITIONAL CAPTIONS Jacket front:

US Army Ranger, a

variety of missions in

arctic,

member

of

an

elite

unit trained

to

conduct a

mountain, jungle, urban, and amphibious warfare.

Page

I:

Black-clad special forces with

respirator

masks

typify

the

deliberately

formidable appearance of such international units on a counter-terrorist training mission.

Jacket

back: Top,

Land Rover Multi-Role Combat Vehicle, specially designed

rapid-reaction forces. Bottom

left,

Operaciones (GEO) preparing to special

forces

member

a

fire

of Spain's

for

Grupo Especial de

during abseiling. Bottom right, French

trooper armed with silenced sub-machine gun.

Pages 2-3: Soldiers

Pages 4-5: terrorist

Endpapers:

Dutch Marines race ashore under realistic-looking

training exercise. This elite forces.

unit

is

fire

during a

an important element of NATO's amphibious

of the

French

Army

ler

RPIMA (Regiment de Parachutistes

d'lnfantene de Marine) storm a house during training for hostage rescue,

Members

unit.

of Canada's

300-strong Joint Task Force 2 counter-

Contents

Foreword

Page

6

Introduction

Page

8

Part

I:

Special Forces

Page 14

Part

2:

Operations

Page 74

Part

3:

Weapons & Equipment

ndex

Page Page

I

I

10

72

Foreword is not the first book that has been written about the elite forces that exist in various However, this countries throughout the world. highly researched and authoritative volume is

This

one of the most definitive of its kind written to date, and most likely will remain so for certainly

the foreseeable future.

The authors have compiled misunderstood

been

exaggerated, misrepresented.

The establishment

World War

recognized and documented by

many reasons

has greatly

forces

of elite

increased since the end of

for this growth,

or

II

-

a fact

book,There are

this

among them:

organizations,

process

selection

this

assessment system which helps determine whether individuals measure up to the as

an

standards of the organization.

meet those standards

to

In fact,

selection process that those

initial

during this

it is

who

aren't likely

are separated from the

unit.

Some

an extensive presentation of organizations that have

often

most

In

serves

when not

organizations,

selecting certain

whatever reason) return them to their parent unit or to another organization, usually a support type, with high praise and as much good will as possible. This is done to ensure that non-acceptable volunteers do not poison the recruiting well throughout the regular individuals within their ranks (for

formations. •

Improvements in the sophistication and lethality of weapons and the quantum jump in the complete spectrum of conducting conventional increased

warfare, concomitant with

required to

costs

sizable modern forces. •The recognition by many

man and equip

and judicious

committed

manner, could

in

a

possibly

deter an aggressor. This has the added benefit of preventing the

•

assistance to individual countries. This

whose

nation

commitment

of

much

larger

externally, they call

missions.

Some

respond to terrorist threats or

extensive

conflict

nations recognize the requirement to form,

and

peacetime so that they can do so, in all phases of pre-

directed to

conflict.

They must be prepared to conduct operations during this period of "violent peace," and they must also be ready to conduct their wartime missions without having to take the time for extensive training after conflict starts, as

World War Many of the requirements book which differentiate

was the case during

II.

are discussed elite

forces

in

this

from

should be since selection and training are so critically important to the successful performance of any elite unit. conventional forces.

This

is

as

it

these units are for the most part

Personnel

in

volunteers

who undergo some form

assist

in

when committing them strategic

forces are controlled and supported

commitment, there

of

exists

phases of special operations the need for

all

planning so that psychological and deception operations are an integral part of the

acts.

organize, equip, train and support elite or special in

to any

vital

to

upon them to perform

command. Whatever the mode

in

when

is

is

by operational commanders, while others may be committed independent of the conventional force chain of

operate,

it

nations control their elite forces at the

Recognition that a requirement exists to have a highly trained organization that can rapidly

operations forces

policy

highest national levels, and,

conventional forces at a later time.

Many

national

obtaining or preserving freedom.

Many nations that a highly

trained, truly professional force,

timely

the

Those who do go forward are language-trained, area-oriented forces capable of providing sustained

whenever possible. believe that most important factors in planning and

overall operation

some

of the

I

conducting these kinds of operations are the need

good security. The authors have done exceptional research on the various elite forces. While some information is readily available from open sources in the Western countries, the Communist nations have not been as

for timely, accurate intelligence and

open with information limitation, the

in

this

area.

Despite

this

work

that

authors have produced a

should be indispensable for the practitioner and student of elite forces and special operations organizations, I

predict that anyone

operations, terrorism

welcome

this

associated with

or

book and use

special

counterterrorism it

as a reference

will

many

times.

of selection

process which greatly tests individual physical

ability,

stamina and the capability to plan and operate under great mental and physical strain,

by Robert C. Kingston, US Army (Ret.)

General,

Robert C. Kingston, General, General Kingston enlisted

in

platoon, a company, a battalion, conflicts.

He wears

US Army

(Ret.)

the US Army in 1948 and has commanded a two brigades and special operations forces in two

16 battle stars

and also earned the

Combat

(two awards); the Master Parachutist Badge (US); Ranger Tab;

Badge

Infantry

Gliderman Badge;

Korean Parachutist Badge; Parachute Wing (UK); Cambodian Parachutist Badge; Vietnamese jumpmaster Badge;Vietnamese Ranger Badge; and 12 overseas His special operations experience includes a tour officer,

Far East

in

Korea

as

bars.

commanding

Command

the Ranger Mountain

Special Mission Group. He was executive officer of Camp, Dahlonega, Georgia (1954-55). In 1960-1961, he

served as the exchange airborne officer with the 16th Independent Parachute

Group, UK. General

Kingston

was

also

Command

(1966) and

1st Special

Forces, Fort Bragg,

In

senior

commander

advisor

to

the Vietnamese

of the 3rd Special Forces

North

Group

Ranger

(Airborne),

Carolina.

command

January 1973, General Kingston assumed

of the joint Casualty

Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, In October 1975, he became commander of the US Army John Kennedy Center for Military Assistance and the US Army Institute for Military Assistance at Fort Bragg, The general Resolution Center,

F.

pinned on

his

fourth star and assumed

command

Command,

MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, on

active duty

on November

30, 1985.

I

of the United States Central

January, 1983.

He

retired

from

Special Forces

INTRODUCTION

Above: The terrorist

airliner

image

traditional

attacks

is

a

of

burning on a Middle

East airfield. Constant vigilance

mission,

airlines

has reduced

the

prevalence of such attacks but the threat

is

ever-present.

who

dash

enemy territory, create utter havoc and, having successfully completed the return to camp to prepare for yet another foray. It is the stuff from which legend

deep

into

springs.

these warriors — — viewed with glamor attaches to —opprobrium comes

Even

and firm action by governments and

HAS always been a fascination with the exploits of uniformed warriors

There

hijacked

so,

formations of

members

usually

that success;

publicized

Make no mistake about

it:

all

when

too

there

is

they are not

unconventional

military

—

particularly

when

the failure

is

in

open and democratic elite

societies.

It is

a distrust

or special forces to wax and wane.

and "special" are simply ways to describe unconventional or supreme and

paramilitary formations.

commando, paratrooper, embracing

or

they are successful, a certain aura

an inherent distrust of secret or "special" operations

deep and which causes the fortunes of

"Elite"

special

When

swiftly.

and those associated with them, particularly that runs

of

skeptical ambivalence.

are

—

Other

labels that have

irregular, guerrilla,

special operations forces.

Whatever the choice

forces have always had an important role to play historical legacy

The Roman

is

been applied, with various relevance, are

even "cowboy," or simply

in

—and

perhaps more

of designation, however, these

their nations' defense forces, and their

particularly rich.

legions, for

example, were denied success by irregular African forces using

camels and arrows. They were also thwarted

in Great Britain by the guerrilla tactics of a America the sharpshooting Minutemen played an undeniably significant role in the outcome of the Revolutionary War. General George Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware on Christmas Eve just prior to the Battle of

female warrior

named

Boedicia.

In

in Britain, what we now know as the Special Air Service North Africa in 1941, where it performed daring raids behind German lines during World War That undeniably elite and special force performed just as spectacular feats toward the end of the 20th Century, notably alongside American Delta and

Trenton was a special operation. And (SAS) had

its

genesis

in

II.

other special forces

Today

it is

The

in

influential in

post- World

the Iraqi desert

in

1

99

1

,

and, undoubtedly,

the training, actual and by example, of

War

II

era saw a decline

in

in

many

the trouble-torn Balkans. elite units

special forces; in fact,

the world over.

many were disbanded.

Introduction

Without

argument went, there was no mission. Marry to that the distrust of uneasy tolerance accorded them by the regular forces, and it's

a war, the

special forces, as well as the

why

easy to see

elite

forces

seemed to be approaching

their nadir.

must be an

integral part of any nation's defense forces and, as such, will always have

defending the sovereign. These forces are

a role in

now

stronger than they ever were, and

the reasons for this are both practical and historical. In

the 1960s, a netherworld existed

war" developed. in

It

in

which

of revolutionary

a state of

neither "true peace" nor "true

it.

In

fact,

in

Africa, East Asia,

itself out.

By the

1

970s, these postwar

and the Middle East and hands previously

at the tiller

movements were now firmly on the reins of power. mean that the use of upheaval and instability had been abandoned. highly

will, this

dangerous situation

represented a more deliberate type of conflict with severe consequences for the security of nations, large and small.

In

the past 30 years, conflict

government them, in

like

in

many

in

one form or another has

countries. During the Cold

the Vietnam War, on

—

a large scale

War

led to violent

there were

many

in

particular, with the

States as the only

conflicts

changes of

—some

of

but the need to avoid global conflict resulted

a variety of pressures to localize their impact. With the ending of the

and,

Cold War, however,

demise of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the United

—and frequently

reluctant

— Superpower, such constraints have been

lifted

and conflicts of one sort or another continue unabated. In

the

words of one observer, "World War

III

has already begun and. ..is comprised of

brush-fire conflicts, assassinations, terrorist bombings, coups, revolutions, and

prophetic views of George Orwell

come

he

our time

claimed,

but

characteristics.

instantaneous, as

discovered

States

by

a

of

United

the

when

seriously

lorry-bomb

in

its

Beirut

damaged

1983.

the

peace

of

pretty close to the mark.

has

assumed

civil strife.

War may

"The

not be peace,

some unmistakably

Above: Typically fighters

man

clad

a

Beirut street

barricade,

wearing US webbing but

Far

the distorted and grotesque outrages of terrorism, state-sponsored and

otherwise, plagued the globe. As an instrument of national

many

lapses

of

are severe and

Embassy was

But that did not

from

vigilance

the never-ending terrorists, the

featured so-called "wars of national liberation" characterized by conflict

which the postwar process of decolonization played

spasms were over

left: In

war against consequences

But the mission for special forces can never truly go away for one very basic reason. They are and

Above

warlike

carrying Russian assault

rifles.

Kalashnikov

Special Forces

That

is

change

unlikely to

the near future. Just as

in

1999, the early decades of the 21st Century

number

seem

of situations requiring responses short of

One

it is

definition

elite

claims that low intensity conflict states or groups

among

below the states.

It

which to put low intensity

in

The spectrum conflict, readily

formed

in

1986. Like a number of such forces,

it

is

a

police

unit,

answering directly to the police chief in

Buones Ayres.

It

is

responsible for counter-terrorist duties and VIP

10

protection.

level

in

is

no

represents

is

critical

to

is

a

political-military

of conventional

in

confrontation

war and above the

involves protracted struggles of competing

political,

force.

It is

waged

economic, informational, and military

nature, but contain regional and global security

implications. Accepting this definition, imperfect

framework

it

from subversion to the use of armed

instruments. Such conflicts are often local

Halcon,

Kosova

forces and their roles.

by a combination of means employing

Argentina's

in

a universally appropriate definition of

although an understanding of what

conflict,"

routine, peaceful competition

These are from

and

I940s-style disgraceful "ethnic cleansing" characteristics), and special operations

principles and ideologies and ranges

forces.

1,

intensity conflict" (along

its

bewteen contending

operations

99

However,

understanding special and

special

1

conflict they represent.

need to be considered together. Nobody has devised

its

in

mobilization to address. There

full

way to categorize these crises and the types of clear that terrorism and what has been dubbed "low

"low intensity

Below: Virtually every country

the Gulf

clean and easy

with

now has

in

certain to bear witness to an increasing

though

it

may

be, at least provides a

working

conflict.

of potential conflict ranges from terrorism through mid- and high-intensity

recognized since they involve the application of conventional military power,

to strategic nuclear warfare. Terrorism, properly identified as a form of warfare, cuts across

the entire spectrum. So, too, can elite and special forces be employed anywhere across the

spectrum.

But even the most

elite

of special forces can deal with only a small portion of the threats

criminality, and terrorism. This is why more of these forces why nations are cooperating in framing strategies to deal with the why there is increasing recognition that terrorism is a form of

posed by subversion, international have

come

into being;

problems of conflict that

conflict;

it

is

must be met by forces

There are handful of

it is

literally

hundreds of

members, some with

specially trained for the counter-terrorist mission.

special

a cast of

and

elite

formations

in

— some

existence

with a

thousands. Many, despite the sensitive nature of

Introduction

their missions, are relatively easy to identify, explain, and describe

these units operate units

in Britain,

some

In

Army

in

open

societies

New

Australia, and

—the French Foreign Grenada

in

Most

detail.

of

1983.

in

two missions are combined

9 and the French

one

in

character

—

like

other cases, the mission

In

GIGN.

is

the

US

strictly

yet other

In

force, such as with the British

SAS

and American Delta. Units such as

Italy's

COMSUBIN

counter-terrorist activity second It

would be

guide to elite

elite

blatantly

—

are charged with military responsibilities

unless that mission

is

force truly

is

reversed

beyond the

—

fact that

generally

—

it

is

An

Italian

first

and

COMSUBIN

trooper with the highly

pistol.

H&K

PI

I

underwater

The 5-round weapon

electrically

is

operated, with power

provided by two 24-volt batteries.

Out

of

water the

weapon has a

similar effect to

a conventional

7.62mm

pistol.

the national interest.

in

presumptuous to claim that one has come up with

and special forces. To begin with, there

Above:

specialized

strictly military in

is

German GSG

counter-terrorist, such as that of the cases, however, the

some

Zealand are examples.

cases, the mission of an elite force

Rangers, and their operation

in

Legion, and the Special Air Service

no accepted

a

comprehensive

definition of

what an

has a quite different mission from that

of a conventional force. Moreover, these units are constantly being formed, disbanded, and realigned to

meet

security factor; for

individual

some time

circumstances. Bulking large

force. Delta, received the standard reply, "Delta

the

most famous

British

front of the world's

TV

in

the overall equation

is

the

questions about America's premier counter-terrorist special

SAS operation, the cameras,

it is

is

an

Iranian

airline,"

and because what was probably

Embassy Siege

in

1980,

was played out

in

quite understandable that there has been a reluctance

on the part of the authorities to provide information to the media

lest future

become compromised. This book is divided into three main sections, which describe, respectively, the elite forces, some of the major operations in which they have been involved, and

special

operations

of their weapons.

comprehensive.

unknown

must be appreciated that elite

coverage cannot, by definition, be

units are so secret that even their very existence

is

totally

number of operations, even by acknowledged units, some weapons and techniques are secret in order that an

classified. Similarly,

can achieve tactical surprise over

Four major points emerge from demonstrated, special forces have ability

this

and

a selection

to the general public, while a

remain highly elite unit

It

Some

special

to operate clandestinely

in

its

opponents.

this study. The first

is

that, as the

Gulf War conclusively

a firm place in conventional war. In

the enemy's rear enables

such conflicts, their

them to attack

targets which

11

Special Forces

I

I

1

r

Above:

A defining moment

counter-terrorist warfare was British

rescue

in

tale. This

the

to

to

tell

the

event was widely

TV, serving

terrorists

London

hostages; only one

terrorist survived

shown on

cannot be reached by any other means, and to exert an influence out of

notice

that

meted out

to

their victims.

proportion to

Secondly, elite forces involved

in

the counter-terrorist mission face a unique challenge.

Their successes dissuade their opponents from trying again, leading to long periods without action,

making

harder to maintain the essential high degree of training and readiness.

it

addition, protracted periods of apparent inactivity result

in

government

question the large expenditure necessary, sometimes even resulting that the terrorists strike again, often using Thirdly, there

would be treated with

same violence that they

all

the actual numbers deployed.

SAS attack on the

Embassy

Iranian

in

the

is

some

totally

a high degree of lateral cooperation

new

In

financiers starting to is

then

special forces, ranging

from

in

cutbacks.

It

technique.

between

exchanging information, through conducting joint exercises and the exchange of personnel to taking part

in

each other's operations.

the great majority of special forces traditionally find their recruits from elsewhere

Finally,

armed forces. This ensures that their operators have experience of the whole and are a known quantity when they start the selection process. However, the rapid down-sizing of most military forces since the end of the Cold War means in

their country's

armed forces

as a

that the size of the pool from which such volunteers can be found

As

this

book

will

value lying not just

show,

in

elite units

their capability

have a very important task in

is

in

also diminishing.

modern

conventional warfare, but also

in

society, their

the clandestine

world of counter-terrorism, where they must be ready to meet any threat at any time. In addition, while most counter-terrorist forces are confined to their national homelands, some others, like those of the

world.

It is

USA, UK, France, and

Israel,

may be committed anywhere

in

a daunting challenge.

12

M

the

Introduction

Special Forces Special Forces of the NATO Alliance countries were in early 1999 as war erupted in the Balkans

called into action

when

Europe,

in

War, 1999

the Balkan

in

NATO bombing

identify Serbian targets for

SAS

raids.

soldiers fluent in

Albanian and Serbian were said to have skirted minefields and Serbian

Serbian forces pursued a two-pronged campaign of forcing hundreds

patrols

of thousands of ethnic Albanians from the neighboring province of

Albania and Macedonia to enter the Kosovo province on surveillance

Kosovo and engaging

Army

Liberation

a brutal offensive against the rebel Kosovo

in

repeated threats that

would use

it

force

Serbia failed to comply with

if

ethnic-Albanian province of Kosovo and to agree to the deployment of

an

NATO-provided

international,

implementation. The Balkan Force)

monitoring

War (NATO

air

-

supervize

to

Operation Allied

and

forces

missiles

defense assets, including missile bases, radars, and

command/control centers. NATO's

was

their intention

force

designation

was launched during March, with NATO

striking Serbian air

from the

air,

and

the conflict. Cruise missiles were

aircraft into

US

entirely

aircraft

and surface warships, and from

British

and US submarines. The

power alone would not

attack aircraft

were

limited by a

was considered

launched

air

suffice.

number

targets

when

importance

Albanian

positively,

was

it

a

bomb from

observation,

First,

some

specifically

One

of

them

had happened

fiber

or

As

problems and

this

was being

it

had

forces

them almost

were

Kosovo.

NATO

forces

Milosevic had capitulated to

NATO

under K-FOR entered Kosovo to return the

in

Former Yugoslav

it

quickly

Serb "General" Radko Mlavic,

it

was

publicly

had been shrouded

activities

in

identified in

Kosovo

in

(also

known

as "Arkan")

in

who had formed

a paramilitary unit

which had reportedly been involved

Bosnia and Croatia

preparing to

become

NATO

in

who was

1991/92, and

involved

in

the

in

Kosovo

in

said to be

1999;

personnel and any hostages taken by the Serbs;

and advisory

roles,

by

NATO

special forces with the

Kosovo Liberation Army.

As NATO forces were

some

who was

1999, and possibly also the villainous Zeljko Raznatovic

most murderous ethnic cleansing operations against the Muslims

difficult.

essential to the resolution of

their mission could

April

called the "Tigers"

hilly

became apparent

and

• snatching war criminals, including Milosevic and the Bosnian-

had to

the

crucial,

include:

difficult or, at times, clear,

remained

role of the special forces

exodus of ethnic-

was not long before

KLA

trying to

keep the retreating Serbs and the

apart, attempting to disarm the latter,

and systematically clearing

the province of unexploded munitions, Serb-laid mines, and booby traps,

there task will be difficult and their deployment, and that of the

special forces, could last for decades.

deployed,

actually

Kosovo.

inside

certainly

Such forces were based

and the

written,

pressure and, after protracted negotiation, pulled his Serb forces out of

problem was further

This

the Gulf War,

although their

that,

special

which cannot be intercepted by signals

optics,

means.

intelligence

to possess,

pilots

Kosovo made target acquisition in

that special operations forces

of

use by special forces.

for

War) was to locate and destroy

Serb ground communications systems, particularly those using metal

over 10,000ft (3,000m).

realized that a massive

terrain over large parts of

some

designed

particular role (again, as in the Gulf

cables

since aircrew

known

even impossible. Then, even when the weather was

secrecy,

was as

markers,

• direct action,

these

the region

in

(FAC) using the latest range of laser target

• rescue of

acknowledged

and rescuing downed

air controllers

which made target acquisition and actual attacks

of

surveillance,

primary role of the special forces

complicated by the bad weather over the Balkans, especially clouds,

So, as

One

villages.

forward

which assumed even greater

factor

was under way.

refugees

became

rapidly

However, the Rules of Engagement (RoE) stipulated that identify

Apart from aircrew, a

a need to avoid shoulder-

defense missiles which the Serbs were

which meant that they had to

it

The capabilities of the

of factors.

was

there

vital,

but

initial effect,

clear that air

safety

the

in

province to order and to safeguard the returning Kosovo Albanians. The

had considerable

air strikes

and report on Serbian

said to be to locate

and patrols hidden

posts,

Kosovo to target Serbian "death squads."

ground attack, bomber, reconnaissance,

thrust thousands of fighter,

and electronic warfare

leaders proclaimed that

political

campaign

to conduct the

also launched from

command

unconfirmed report stated that 80 SAS soldiers had been sent deep into

requirements for internal self-government for the

United Nations'

was

missions. Their mission tanks,

(KLA).

hard-man President Slobodan Milosevic ignored NATO's

Serbia's

around the devastated villages along Kosovo's borders with

neighboring Albania Republic

(FYR)

of

Macedonia, with further bases across the Adriatic in Italy.

Among

the

first

special forces to be

were personnel and 1st Special

aircraft of the

Operations Wing

deployed before the

were able

7A SAMs 1 1

those

"

employed

Air Force's

SOW) which had

start of the operation

and

when a USAF bomber was shot down

to swing into action

stealth

"

fighter

over Bosnia early involved

in

in

the

rescue operation were

MH-60K

(1

US

the campaign.

totally

F-

by

Among

successful

HH-53H Pave Low

III

pilot

and

helicopters, both specifically designed for

such missions.

Other special forces deployed included units of varying

sizes

and

capabilities

from

»

France,

Germany, Norway, and the UK, although there

may in

well have been others. French special forces

the Balkans included elements of

Dragoon Regiment, Marine British sent in It

1

3th Airborne

Infantry,

and

parachutists,

while the

was reported

working under cover

that British in

and American

Men to

elements of the SAS. special forces

were

Kosovo with the Kosovo Liberation Army to

of the

US Army's Special Operations Forces undergo rigorous training

be ready for all-terrain, all-weather operations worldwide.

It

has been

reported that US S0F, together with other NATO special forces, have

operated

in

Serbia and

Kosovo.

13

Special Forces

X

14

Special Forces

Part

1

Special Forces Most

countries have at

forces, although

one

least

unit

"elite"

armed

their

in

there are various types of

Some

elite.

are

selected and trained for a special role, for which conventional troops

do not have either the are

elites

given

weapons or

special

meritorious performance

by

a

particularly

and are then expected to set an

battle

in

Other

training needed.

earned

designation

special

a

example which other elements should follow;

thus, for example, the

among

designation "guards" used by the British and Russian armies, others.

Other

elites are

known

best

formed on an ethnic or

units of foreigners: the French Foreign Legion

However, of

worth noting that both contain

it is

Frenchmen and Spaniards,

The majority of

which the

tribal basis, of

Two well-known

are the Gurkhas.

elites are

formed by

and the Spanish Legion. a substantial

proportion

respectively. units

special

however, associated

are,

with

countering modern terrorism, and there have been two events of great significance

was the

First

1

in this

some members

publicity.

terrorists kidnapped

Israeli team and then forced the German them with transport to a nearby airfield where

rescue attempt by the

considerable loss

i

which attracted huge

of the

authorities to provide

a

area, both of

972 Munich Olympic Games when

terrorists would,

of-

life.

German

and troops resulted

police

in

This gave the public the impression that

one way or another, achieve

their goal, but

also

it

spurred governments, armed forces and police into seeking an answer to this increasingly powerful threat. This resulted a

number

of totally

new

re-roling of existing units (eg, the British SAS).

that

some

in

the setting up of

German GSG

forces (eg, the

elite

It

9)

or

in

should be noted,

countries decided to place this role on their

the

also,

civilian forces,

rather on their military forces.

The second

significant

event was the British assault by the SAS on

the terrorists occupying the Iranian Embassy place it

in

was

the

full

glare of publicity but, unlike

London. This also took

many

earlier operations,

not only demonstrating the value of

totally successful, thus

special units but also giving

in

governments and the public some hope

that terrorists could be beaten.

Many role, are

I

special forces, particularly those with a counter-terrorist

shrouded

except that they existence

is

in

secrecy and

exist: indeed,

totally

little

is

known about some units whose

there must be other units

unknown. This

is

for security reasons

if

no

other,

and to maintain their surprise and shock elements of their actions.

An assault team

of

the

Brazilian Army's

during a training exercise. special

forces

to

In

1st

Special

Forces

Battalion about to rush a building

the absence of actual emergencies,

keep their units trained

in

it

is

a

major task

of

all

operations and use of weapons so that they

be at the peak of their performance when they are needed for

will

real.

15

Special Forces

Argentina Brigada Especial Operativa Halcon Argentina's

principal anti-terrorist unit

Special Operations Brigade

Falcon),

commander

answering directly to the

Apart from counter-terrorist

© m z H Z

-

duties,

of the police

The

unit

I

;

intelligence

wears

locally

& Koch HK G3

I

;

who

is

a police unit

are organized into five 15-man teams. The

negotiator -

I

medical -

;

;

I

and snipers -

manufactured uniforms and protective

Glock 17 and the Franchi SPAS

foreign and include

H

-

It

8 troopers and 7 specialists: communications

identically organized, with

explosives -

1986.

in

the national capital, Buones Ayres.

in

also responsible for VIP protection.

it is

Brigada Halcon has a strength of 75 men,

teams are

the Brigada Especial Operativa Halcon (=

is

which was formed

gear.

-

I;

2.

Weapons

are mostly

12 shotgun. The snipers use the Heckler

GS/I.

Australia

Special Air Service Regiment

Australian troops Communist British

in

the Malayan Emergency, the fight against the

insurgents which lasted from

1949 to 1961. During that campaign the

played a significant role

re-formed their Special Air Service

deep-jungle operations and the Australian

(it

Army

used

Company, on July SAS Company was absorbed I

(Royal Australian Regiment [RAR]), but separated again

Sarawak

in

in

1

for

1

into the regular infantry

964 and expanded to become the

Regiment (SASR) with three "Sabre" squadrons. Sub-units of the SASR

Special Air Service

took part

in

II)

model when it formed its first 957. With the termination of

this as a

special forces unit, 1st Special Air Service

the Malayan campaign, however, the

War

had been disbanded after World

Indonesia's Konfrontasi (= confrontation) campaign

Borneo, Brunei, and

in

the early 1960s, and then also took part, with other Australian troops,

in

the

Vietnam War, between 1966 and 1971. Following disengagement from Vietnam one squadron of the terrorist

bomb

not immune to such

activities

and on February 23 the SASR was formally designated the

national counter-terrorist unit.To help in

SASR was disbanded, but a showed that Australia was

attack on the Sydney Hilton on February 13 1978

meet the new

tasks the third squadron

was reformed

1982 and since then, while other elements of the Australian Defense Forces have been cut

back, the

SASR

has remained virtually untouched.

Recent operations have included the Gulf deployed to Kuwait

in

War when one SASR

February-May 1991 where

it

squadron (110 men)

men from

joined with 23

the

New

ANZAC

SAS Squadron, which was part of a joint force with British and US special forces. Another deployment was to Somalia, where a 10-man close-protection group from the SASR formed part of the 67-strong Australian Contingent. As of 1999 Australian special forces comprised: Zealand SAS to form the

Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), consisting of 1,2, and 3 "Sabre" Squadrons, 152

•

(SASR) 1st

•

Squadron.

Signal

Commando

(Commando)

Regiment

Signal

(I

Cdo

Regt), consisting of

Squadron. These are reserve

I

Commandos

and 2

and 126

units, consisting of mainly reservists

with a small regular cadre. •

4th Royal Australian Regiment,

Commando (4RAR Cdo)

(four companies), including

an air platoon. •

In

Navy Clearance Diving Branch (two

regular and

one reserve clearance

diver teams).

addition, each state and the capital territory (Canberra) has a counter-terrorist force,

known

variously as "special operations groups" or

"emergency response teams."

Organization

Above: Australian

coming

in

to

Air parachute silent

landings to

SAS trooper

land using a

and extremely precise be

made. Note pack under

16

Ram-

which enables

his

feet.

SASR is approximately 550 strong, with its main base at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne, Western Australia, and comprises a Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) and six squadrons. There are three "Sabre" squadrons, which operate a thee-year training/operational cycle, starting with a work-up year, during which volunteers are inducted and more experienced soldiers attend advanced courses. The second year sees the squadron training for overt commitments, including special operations in a conventional war, while in the third year it trains for clandestine tasks, and forms the counter-terrorist Tactical Assault Group (TAG) (see below). Base

Squadron provides administrative and

Support Squadron

is

logistic

responsible for specialist training and

support, while Operational

trials

equipment. The highly specialized communications needed by such 152 (SASR) Signals Squadron.

of

new

techniques and

a force are

provided by

Special Forces

ft

m z H Z

H

Tasks peace-time the SASR's main task

In

emphasis

in

is

counter-terrorism, which

2000. Prime responsibility for counter-terrorism "Sabre" squadron

in

bombers,

assassins,

the third year of

its

lies

being given special

is

the run-up to and during the Olympic Games, being held

in

Sydney

with the Tactical Assault

operational cycle).

the year

in

Group

The enemy could

hijackers, kidnappers, or snipers. Tasks to be

(ie.the

include

performed against such

targets could include the neutralization and/or capture of individuals or groups

on the land

or at sea; the neutralization of hostile aircraft or ships; the safe recovery of hostages; and terrorists

evicting

from

buildings,

an Australian interest

ships

installations,

captured. Such tasks could take place anywhere

or aircraft which they may have

continental Australia or overseas

in

Counter-terrorism training includes Close Quarter Battle (CQB) using frame or

water charges, tubular assaults as

rise structures,

(OAT)

where

involved.

is

in

tactics,

explosive entry

vehicles, buses, trains, aircraft

and high

and room and building clearance operations. The Offshore Assault Team

TAG

where the

terrorist

incident could involve ships, or gas/oil platforms, of which there are appreciable

numbers

part of the

is

and

is

responsible for similar tasks, but at sea,

around the Australian coastline.

The SASR

is

trained

in

counter-insurgency operations which provides troopers with the

in wartime such as the SASR did in Borneo to them gather information about the enemy or to help them fight the enemy.The SASR trained in Southeast Asian languages, customs and traditions and has many Southeast Asian

skills

necessary to recruit indigenous people

help is

experts

in

the regiment.

conventional war, most of the SASR's tasks

In

will

be

in

the enemy's rear areas, and would

include reconnaissance and surveillance, as well as ambushes, sabotage, raids

on important

HQs, airfields, communications centers), and target designation for air strikes. The SASR works and trains in close liaison with US, British, and New Zealand special forces. Since 1992 there has also been considerable, and politically more controversial, targets (eg,

contact with the Indonesian special forces, Kopassus, which has included annual special forces' exercises

in

the other's country.

Above:

for

Uniforms and Equipment SASR

parade, working and

field

uniforms are the same as those of the Australian Army, but

Special uniforms (eg, black coveralls) are

worn according

worn by

the British SAS.

to the tactical situation.

M 6A3 1

or the F88 Austeyr

66, or

SR98 Accuracy

(locally

H&K PSG

I

International

,

manufactured version of the Steyr AUG), but could

Parker Hale 82, Finnish Tikka Finlander .223, Mauser SP

AW-F

sniper

rifles,

or Beretta or Remington shotguns.

For road transport specially modified Nissan Patrol 4-wheel drive vehicles are used, while

most or

air insertions

Army UH-60

are

Black

done by

drink

atop a

helicopter, usually naval

Hawks or CH-47 Chinooks.

UH-60

Sea

Hawks or CH-3

getting the laden

pmnade

in

Seakings,

pack up must

have been quite a struggle. Note the

Equipment includes the whole range of normal Australian weapons and equipment, but with some specialist equipment according to the role. For example the normal rifle is either include Ta'as 7.62 Galil,

a

the Australian Stirling Range;

with a sand-colored beret, cap-badge and wings similar to those

the

An SASR trooper adopts a

nonchalant pose, as he pauses

7.62mm

Self-Loading

Rifle

(SLR).

Top; All

special

courses are

more

forces'

selection

rigorous, but few

so than for these

members

of Australia's

Special Air Service

aspiring

tough

Regiment

(SASR)

17

Special Forces

Austria Gendarmerieeinsatzkommando Cobra n the

late

1960s and early 1970s there was a wave of terrorist

incidents, particularly in Europe, with the small, neutral

country of

Austria being particularly badly affected. At that time Jewish refugees



H

were being allowed to

Union but they were not

leave the Soviet

permitted to travel direct to their ultimate destinations • Israel

(usually, either

or the USA) and the great majority staged through Austria.This

m r£

Austrian

09

occasion

led to several Palestinian terrorist operations

which resulted

in

the

government ordering the formation in 1973 of Gendarmeriekommando BadVoslau (BadVoslau was the name of the unit's base). It was put on high alert during several crises, once when terrorists seized hostages but were allowed to leave, and on another

50

ft

when

OPEC

several

the international terrorist, Carlos Sanchez, seized

oil

The assault

GEK operator with

Above:

SSG69 5.56mm

rifle,

Steyr

an Austrian

weapon proving very popular with special

around the world.

forces

Gendarmerie Royale.At

terrorist Italy's fire

GIS (see

team under

(left)

workshop" hosted by

(right) fire,

comes

p.

the

into

34). As the

brings the bus assault

action

team

from a

9

Games

first this

into forming

own

its

counter-terrorist unit as part of the

was given the cover-name "Diane" but although

changed to Escadron Special d'Intervention used

(ESI)

European nations, Belgium was shocked by the terrorist attack on the

1972 Munich Olympic

rescue exercise at an "anti-

German GSG

Mogadishu showed that determined action

Escadron Special d'Intervention Like many other

storm a bus during a hostage-

rescue mission at Entebbe and the airliner at

by well-trained and properly equipped men could overcome even the most fanatical terrorists. This led to a restructuring of Gendarmeriekommando Bad Voslau in 1978 and the new unit was redesignated Gendarmerieeinsatzkommando (GEK) (= police commando unit) "Cobra." The GEK's first commander, Oberst Pechter, established close ties with other counter-terrorist units, including, among others, the Israeli Sayeret Mat'kal and the (then) West German GSG 9.

Belgium Below: Belgian ESI troopers

Israeli

on the

who were meeting in Vienna, but was paid ransom and given a passage out of the country.

ministers

a multi-million dollar

(ESI) in

this

was

l974.The name "Diane" continues to be

unofficially.

ESI's

primary mission

is

counter-terrorist operations, but

also used to fight organized

it is

where the criminals are armed, and anti-narcotics work.Volunteers for the ESI must undergo a two-week selection process, following which they attend a three-month course. The ESI also has an amphibious capability. Weapons used include the Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machine gun. Remington 12-gauge shotguns and the SakoTRG-21 7.62mm sniper rifle. crime, particularly

Range Rover, with ladders being extracted for use

in

entering the

Para

Commando

Brigade

target vehicle.

The and

Belgian Army's

elite

military unit

is

the

Para-Commando

Brigade. Separate parachute

commando

were formed by the Belgian Britain during World War

units

government-in-exile

and continued

in

in

II,

existence after the war.

they were amalgamated into the

Regiment, which continued

when,

in

the

in

1952

Para-Commando

existence

reorganization

In

and

following the end of the Cold War,

until

1991

realignment

new

units

were

added, enabling the regiment to be upgraded to the

has

Para-Commando a

peacetime

Brigade.

strength

The of

brigade, which

about

3,000,

comprises:

I

NFANTRY 1st

and 3rd Parachute

Commando

Battalion,

Battalions and the

each

(despite the different titles identically).

18

all

2nd

some 500 strong three are organized

Special Forces

Reconnaissance: 3rd Lancers Parachutists Battalion

•

Para-Commando

•Artillery:

Field Artillery Battery, 35th

Para-Commando

Anti-Aircraft

Artillery Battery.

>

Support: Engineer, Logistics and Medical Companies.

•

fZ>

The Para-Commando Brigade

part of Belgium's contribution to

is

and Rapid Reaction Forces, but also takes part

in

H

NATO's Immediate

50

national and United Nations missions.

•

09

Selection and Training All

members

m r-

of the brigade are volunteers and after a thorough medical examination they

£

commando course. On graduation they are entitled to wear the They then proceed on a one-month parachute course, which involves seven jumps, which must include at least one balloon jump, one night jump, one from a C130 aircraft and one with full equipment.To remain current every member of the brigade must attend

commando

five-month

a

badge.

must carry out four jumps every During World

War

part of the British

SAS

I

950s,

when

Battalion

is

II

the Belgian

Army

Brigade. The Belgian

converted to

it

directly

raised an

SAS Regiment, which was an

SAS was reduced

descended from

and wears the SAS Dagger as

this unit

s

integral

r-

to battalion size until the early

conventional parachute battalion. The present

a

05 -

year.

its

1st

Parachute

cap-badge, but

with the paratroopers' red beret.

The Belgian Navy

T

he Belgian

men

Navy operates

strong and similar

in

a small

frogman section, which

is

believed to be about 30-

organization and training to the British SBS.

Brazil

Left: Special

Brazil's

/

forces'

troopers of

Batalhoo de

Forcas Especials undergoing training areas.

in

fighting

One man

is

in

built-up

spraying

chemical smoke into a man-hole,

which provides access to an

underground sewage system,

in

order to flush out terrorists sheltering there.

1st Special

The I

in

st

first

Brazilian counter-terrorist group was formed

Special Forces Battalion,

other armies,

civilians direct, is

Forces Battalion

/

was

raised

in

Batalhoo de Forcas Especials

I

(

983.

In

1st Special

but takes volunteers only from other units

very severe and

is

followed by

a

I

3-week

in

1

953 but the present

common

with

Forces Battalion) does not recruit in

the

Army.The

(=

combat

Especiais

(GOE)

selection process

divers group).

Comandos Anfybios (COMANFI) (= amphibious commandos). Comandos de Reconhecimento Terrestre (RECONTER) (=

PARASAR

unit,

units

training course.

Other Brazilian special forces units include: Grupo de Mergulhadores de Combate (GRUMEC)

commandos). Grupos de Operaces

CT

many other such

land

reconnaissance

(= special operations groups).

(paratroops).

19

Special Forces

Canada Joint Task Force

The present-day Canadian special operations force was formed

s?

z >

in

responsibility of the Royal

which

2),

were the

Canadian Mounted

War

Below: A stick of paratroopers

•

descend from a Canadian

Lockheed

team awaits ground. The

C-

1

30, as

a

their arrival

men belong Task Force

marker on the to Joint

2, a

new

organization, which was raised

in

the mid-1990s as a successor to the Canadian Airborne Regiment (CAR), which

had been disbanded.

(RCMP)

Special

Army

airborne

there were two Canadian

II

Parachute Battalion, raised at

F m

Police's

Emergency Response

(SERT).

During World

o X O

Force 2" (JTF

"Joint Task

is

of the past 50 years special operations

prerogative of the "Special Service Force," with counter-terrorist operations being the

Team

m z

most

1993. For

April

2

formed

later in

Camp

Shiloh

in

USA

the

in

units:

Canadian

1st

942; and 2nd Parachute Battalion,

1

Canada. Following the war the Canadian parachuting capability was reduced

when it was expanded and the Canadian Airborne Regiment (CAR) was formed, which was intended to be a light, independent, all-arms unit for deployment in low-intensity operations in jungle, desert or arctic warfare conditions. The capability was later expanded yet again with the formation of the Special Service Force, whose "teeth" elements comprised an armored battalion, an infantry battalion, the CAR, plus artillery and engineer battalions, and communications and logistics support. It also included the Canadian SAS, which had been formed in 1946 as a company-sized unit, closely modeled on the British to cadre level until 1968,

SAS.

The

CAR was

elements during

disbanded

its

in

some component

the mid- 990s as a result of an enquiry into activities of 1

participation

UN

the

in

operation

Somalia, and

in

its

three

companies were dispersed to form airborne companies

in

three

conventional infantry battalions. Joint Task Force 2 (JTF 2)

US

of

come

Volunteers can

whom

may government services believed that

(CSIS).

It

is

it

lines

maintains close contact.

only from those already within the Canadian

Forces (CF) and their tour length is

on the

a counter-terrorist unit

is

Delta and British SAS, with

it

is

normally 4-5 years, although

also include people eg,

it

from other Canadian

Canadian Security Intelligence Service

approximately 300 strong and

commanded by

is

a

lieutenant-colonel.

Volunteer Standards Volunteer standards are not normally specified, but the Canadian

Forces

made

have

(CANFORGEN

requirements

their

JTF

for

078/97 Adm(per) 056 30I330Z

Jul

2

public

97) and these

are summarized below: •

Ranks: Volunteers must be soldiers

-

warrant

in

officer,

the ranks

of: officers

captain only;

-

sergeant, master-corporal, corporal,

private. •

General qualifications: At engaged for

a

years' service and

least three

re-

second three-year engagement; no known phobias

of heights, water or enclosed spaces); a valid civilian

(eg, fear

driving license; and a

demonstrated wish and

ability

to learn a

second language. •

Physical requirements:

demonstrated

A

high standard of medical fitness

capability of: running

1.5

and a

miles (2.5km) inside

I

I

minutes; 40 consecutive push-ups; five consecutive overhand grip, straight-arm pull-ups; 40 sit-ups

in

60 seconds; 1431b (65kg) bench

press. •

Commanding

Officer's recommendation:

volunteer has achieved

assessment of

•

A

statement that the

the above requirements plus a general

his suitability for special forces, in

maturity, stability •

all

lifestyle,

and

areas such

as:

financial.

Preliminary screening: by a qualified JTF recruiting team.

Phase

3:

course

Those passing Phase

in

which their

2 then participate

levels of physical fitness,

in

a

three-week

weapons

handling,

and confidence are improved, following which they undergo a one

week assessment

of suitability for special forces. Officers have an

additional four-day assessment of their planning and leadership skills. •

20

Phase

4: five

months of

training.

Special Forces

Operations not known for certain where and when JTF 2 may have been deployed, although press

It is

reports suggest that elements were sent to (but not used

on stand-by for

Grupo

Grupo

operation

a possible

Operations) was formed

and

in

1

commitment

Especiales

is

UAT

to support the

(GOPE)(= Group

for

Special

forces/commando duties but

(see below)

counter-terrorist operations

in

it

in

Police

m

Its

also has a

government

O z

and diplomatic buildings.

Unidad Anti-Terroristes (UAT)(= anti-terrorist the National Police Force.

It

is

unit), also

known

approximately 120 strong and

teams, each led by an officer.The unit

based

is

as "Cobra," belongs to

divided into seven-man

is

S

German

currently believed to be approximately 100 strong.

to undertake military special

is

Z

Chile

980. Chilean personnel were originally trained by

instructors and the unit

Israeli

principal task

was

crisis

Operaciones Policiales Especiales

de

Operaciones Policiales

de

Bosnia, and that the unit

in)

Peru during the Japanese Embassy hostage

in

s» SO

just outside Santiago.

comprise two groups:

Military Special Forces

BuzosTacticos del Ejercito (Army SF commandos). BuzosTacticos de

la

Armada (Navy SF commandos).

Denmark

Jaegerkorptset

Left:

An observation post (OP)

manned

by

men

of the

Danish

Jaegerkorptset (Ranger Corps).

Faced

with a growing threat of international terrorism

Army

number

sent a

in

the

late

1950s, the Danish

US Ranger School and on attachment to the 960/6 .These officers were then used to raise a new body, the

of officers to the

British Special Air Service in

1

1

Jaegerkorptset (= Ranger Corps), which was trained for counter-terrorist duties

in

support

of the Danish police's Aktions-Styrken (Action Force) and for long-range patrol and sabotage duties

in

conventional war.

The Jaegerkorptset

is

based at Aalborg

in

North

Jutland,

with other special forces, particularly the British SAS.

from the

British Royal Air

from Danish sources

Weapons known

H&K

MP5,

H&K

is

the

German Army, Hughes MD-500 Force and

to be used include: pistols

MP53;

rifles

-

H&K G4

1

;

-

sniper

It

works and

and

trains closely

also receives helicopter

support

since the largest helicopter available

SIG P-210 7.65mm "Neuhausen;"

rifle

-

H&K

PSG-

1

7.62 sniper

SMC

-

rifle.

Froemandskorpset (Frogman Corps)

The

Royal Danish Navy's Froemandskorpset was created

diving

school,

headquarters diving;

in

1

but

it

was taken

away

and

made

in

1957 as part of the naval

directly

subordinate

to

naval

970. The unit's tasks include: beach reconnaissance; boarding suspect ships;

underwater demolition; and ship underwater

the Gulf War aboard ships of the Royal Danish

security.

The

unit

was deployed during

Navy 21

Special Forces

Egypt Task Force 777

Faced with had

split

credible threats from extremists such as the

PLO

from the

in

strength of three officers, four in

Si

Below: The aftermath of a rescue

attempt that went wrong. This Egyptair Boeing 737 was hijacked to Malta, where

50

assaulted

it

was 777.

by Egypt's TF

Scorch marks show where the

n m

engineers blew a hole roof, but

in

they added so

extra explosive as

the

much

went

in

the rear

cabin were killed. A further 37

passengers were killed

main

in

the

assault.

into action

and

on February

The

incident resulted

19 1978,

1977, with an

in

initial

PLO,

an Egyptian newspaper

killed

and then seized 30 hostages. Task Force 777

Guard and in

in

actually reinforcements for the terrorists, an

police resulted

members ofTF

the deaths of 15

in

major row between the governments, with the Egyptians

a

accusing the Cypriots of a lack of cooperation and

accused the Egyptians of

777

the terrorists but then, due to misunderstandings on the spot

killed

attack by Cypriot National

777.

Nidal Organization (which

soldiers. They received an early baptism of fire

terrorists, claiming to represent the

Nicosia, Cyprus,

in

NCOs, and 40

which the Cypriots thought the Egyptians were

to inform

failing

killing their

them of the

troops, while the Cypriots

arrival of

Task Force 777 and of

blatantly disregarding their national sovereignty.

Unfortunately, even worse

insurance that

some 20 passengers

when Arab

1978

editor

Abu

1974), Egypt established Task Force

aftermath of the airliner. Flight

was to follow

Achille Lauro hijacking

its

a

second operation

way.

October 1985

in

in

Palestinians hijacked an Egyptair Boeing

648, and forced the pilot to land at Luqa

in

the

737

Malta. Egypt promptly ordered the

knew that it The operation was botched, however, probably due to pressure on the commander of TF 777 to

despatch of Task Force 777 and

was on

in

when

this

time ensured that the Maltese authorities

effect

very rapid

a

solution.

Although TF 777 did not have a plan of the internal layout of

the Boeing 737, even though

belonged

to

national airline,

create

to

blowing a

diversion

hole

would

which

was decided

it

a

in

the

distract

by roof

the thus

attention,

terrorists'

it

own

Egypt's

enabling the main attack to go in

through

doors.

the

The

explosives team got on to the

roof without being detected

by

the

Unfort-

terrorists.

unately, they then

explosive

to

added extra

ensure

success

with the result that the blast

was so

violent that

passengers

immediately killed.

At

this,

commenced

some 20

the

in

beneath

rows were

the main attack

but the

TF 777

men used high-explosive grenades and fired indiscriminately into the interior of the cabin, while some of the passengers who did actually get out of the aircraft were then mistaken for fleeing terrorists byTF 777 snipers outside the aircraft and several were shot. The result of all

these errors was that 57 hostages were

killed,

making

it

one of the most

costly rescue

operations ever undertaken. failure of these two missions, however, it was clear that the Egyptian were determined to take immediate and forceful action against terrorists and it should be noted that there has been no major airliner hijacking incident since. Nevertheless, Task Force 777 has been kept busy by Egypt's internal war against the "Brotherhood" in which they have undertaken numerous actions and lost several men.

Despite the

authorities

Weapons and Equipment Like

all

such

units, Task

Force 777 maintains a "rapid reaction force" at very short notice to

move, with further elements Westland

Commando

Task Force 777

is

at longer notice. The unit

is

supported by

a

number

of dedicated

troop-carrying helicopters at similar degrees of notice.

known

to have received training from

US

special operations forces

(Delta and SEALs) as well as from European forces, including the British SAS, French

and the

22

German GSG

9.

GIGN,

France HAS TRADITIONALLY

FRANCE

created

armed forces 50 years the two

groups within

elite

and over the past

its

groups have been the Legion

leading

Etrangere (Foreign Legion) and

paras

/es

There are also a number of "marine" units, which despite (the

"paratroops").

their

name

as

are not amphibious troops

understood

American and

in

British

usage, but are elite units which

Century were raised

19th

One example

for overseas land service. er Regiment

de

6

is

Marine

de

d'lnfanterie

Parachutistes

size

in

Armed

Parachute

(6th

Regiment of the Marine French

the

in

specifically

Infantry).

The

Forces are being reduced

and reorganized according to Plan 2002. While

have

this will

some

on the

effect

size

of the Foreign Legion and the Paras, they will be affected less than other parts of the army.

The French

police counter-terrorist unit

the Groupe

is

d' Intervention

de

la

Gendarmerie

whose most recent success was the rescue of hostages from airliner at Marseille-Marignane airport in December 1994. French military special forces are under the command of Commandement des Speciales (COS) (= Special Operations Command), which was formed after the Nationale (GIGN),

War, and comprises units from Army, Navy, and Air Force. of the Joint er (

I

special force

1991 Gulf

answerable direct to the Chief

the Premier Regiment de Parachutistes d'lnfanterie de

is

most respects to the British SAS.This is not surprising, stem from the French SAS units raised in England during World War

RPIMa), which

similar in

is

II.

Missions include counter-terrorist operations

below) and special operations

SOFD-Delta and the

commando

in

in

conjunction with

GIGN

and RAID (see

conventional war, similar to those conducted by the

US

SAS.

British

forces

special

(GROUFUMACO)(= of four assault

in

a specially adapted training

house. A grenade has been

board by the man

the

in

center,

while his two colleagues cover

doorway, ready

the

arrest or

to

shoot anyone emerging. GIGN,

since their traditions

Naval

French

the

of

GIGN attack a simulated target

thrown into an understair cup-

Operations

Staff.

The primary Army Marine

It is

a hijacked

Members

Above:

Nationale,

terrorist

known

Groupement des Fusiliers-Marins which is composed

Commandos

one

is

professional

of

designated

are

part of France's Gendarmerie of

units,

its

the most

counter-

of all

most recent

success being the

rescue

hostages from a French

airliner at

Marseille

1994.

in

Commando Group)

Naval

commandos

(= teams or companies), plus a special

of nageurs de combat (- underwater swimmers). Their

missions and tactical methodology are similar to those used by

SEALs and

British SBS, with

The Gendarmerie

whom

Nationale

is

US

they have frequent exchanges.

a national paramilitary police force

administered by the Ministry of Defense. This organization includes its

own

special

Gendarmerie

forces,

Nationale

Groupement

(GSIGN) which

Gendarmerie),

National

Speciale

(Special

has

d'lntervention

de

la

Action

Group

three

company-sized

of

the

components: Groupe d'lntervention de strength of 87, the

la

Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN). With

GIGN

is

commanded

by a

a

commandant

(major).

Groupe de Securite du President de

la

Republique (GSPR) which

is

responsible for the personal safety of the president.

Escadron Parachuttste d'lntervention de

la

Gendarmerie Nationale

(EPIGN).

RAID

Above: Marines

naval

RAID

is

a highly secretive group,

among

formed

in

1985, and appears to counter the general

special

of the

French

forces

GROUFUMACO (Groupement de

counter-terrorist forces by recruiting direct from the public, rather

Fusiliers-Manns

Commandos)

than from already-trained soldiers or police. The unit has a strength of 60: headquarters and

coming ashore

in

support

dinghy. These

practice

-

10

-

1

each.

0; special

elite

task group (negotiators, explosives disposal, etc)

The normal operational uniform

is

a

-

1

black coverall and

0;

four assault teams

mask (hence

their

roles

an

inflatable

men have

similar

the US SEALs and

to

nickname "Black Panthers") and the operators are permitted to make personal selections of

British

weaponry, either foreign or French. The selection tests are very severe and are followed by

conduct frequent training.

a

SBS, with

which they

nine-month training course.

23

Special Forces

Legion Etrangere

The

Legion Etrangere (= Foreign Legion) forms

soldiers at the center of the French

Army.

In

a

core of highly professional

solid

March 1988 the French government

announced the outcome of a thorough review of the nation's defense requirements, as a result of which the Army is being reduced from 200,000 to 36,000 (-47 percent). Of this, however, the Legion's share of the cut is only from 8,300 to 7,500 (-10 percent), although Legion units will withdraw from many overseas bases. The Legion continues to attract I

and according to current

recruits,

the national origins of

statistics

roughly divided into: Eastern Europe - one-third; France

n

-

itself

its

manpower

can be

one-third; and the rest of the

world (103 nations) - one-third.

Training the Legion The Legion

is

responsible for

its

own

administration, including recruiting, recruit training,

specialist training (eg, radio operators),

To achieve er l

this,

there are

NCO

training,

career management, and discharges.

two regiments:

Regiment Etranger (IRE) (1st Foreign Legion Regiment). Located at Caserne Vienot

in

RE is responsible for the administration of the whole Legion. It also runs the band and the museum, and administers the large training camp. Of even greater importance, RE

Aubagne,

I

I

the senior regiment of the Legion and the custodian of the Legion's traditions and keeper

is

of

its relics.

For the individual legionnaire,

service begins and ends at Aubagne.

his

4 er Regiment Etranger (4th Foreign Legion Regiment [4RE]).

where

responsible for recruit and

it is

NCO

4RE

is

based at Castelnaudary,

training.

Below: Foreign Legionnaires at

range practice with their

5.56mm The MAS normally

FA

is

MAS

unusual

fired

assault in

that

rifles.

it

is

using the built-in

bipod, which compels the firer to

There are 2

er

five

major combat

units:

Regiment Etranger d'lnfanterie (2REI) (2nd Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment). Stationed at

Nimes,

France, 2REI has had a very busy time.

in

virtually

It

was

raised

in

1841 and has served

firing

3 er Regiment Etranger d'lnfanterie (3REI) (3rd Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment)

than with other

rifles.

at

Note the flash suppressor at the

Kourou

although

it

in is

French Guyana.

composed

carrying handle/sight protector,

French missile launching

handle beneath.

er I

the

of

specializes

It

normally reinforced by a

end of the barrel and the long

with the prominent cocking

in

every one of France's colonial campaigns since then.

adopt a rather higher

position

24

The Combat Units

two

infantry companies, site,

in

fifth

whose

is

company from another Legion

basic responsibility

plus an air defense

is

company and an

unit.

in

6

eme

3REI

is

that of the security of the

administrative company.

Regiment Etranger de Cavalerie (IREC) (1st Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment)

two armored regiments

stationed

jungle warfare and consists of four companies,

Division Legere Blindee (6th Light

Armored

is

one of

Division) and

SPtCIAL roRtts

Leu:

Combat frogmen

of the

Detachment d'lnter/ention Operationelle Subaquatique, a special

forces

manned

unit

by

engineers from the Legion's 6th

Engineer Regiment. One frogman is

SB S»

Z m

P5

checking their direction with

his

compass, while the other

stands guard, carrying a

standard FA MAS assault

is

stationed at Orange, France.

consists of three

It

5.56mm

rifle.

armored car squadrons and an APC-borne

infantry company. It is one of the spearhead units for the French rapid deployment force. er Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2REP) (2nd Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment) is a 2

rapid

deployment airborne-commando regiment, stationed

The regiment

is

form of combat, although there

particular

are six companies:

mountain and

Company

Company

I

is

Company

sabotage,

-

sniping,

is

island of Corsica.

specially trained in a

between companies. There

regular cross-training

night combat, anti-tank, urban

-

warfare; 3

arctic

demolition,

-

on the

at Calvi

divided into specialized companies, each of which

combat; 2

Company

Below: Like other special forces, the

Foreign

operate

in

Legion

-

terrains. In

this

amphibious warfare, combat swimmers; 4

desert, the

legionnaire

unconventional

warfare;

HQ

Company

-

carries

but the second

support company.

and

5 er Regiment Etranger (5RE) (5th Foreign Legion Regiment). The Legion's 5th Regiment

7.62mm

in

Indochina, but

labor duties on French islands

in

where French nuclear weapons

tests

6 eme

Regiment

Regiment)

is

recently as

the

Etranger

1984, although

it

is

former 6 eme Regiment Etranger

when

it

in

man

armed with sniping

a

is

front rifle,

a sniper

French

rifle.

security and

Mururoa

were carried out. de Genie (6REG) (6th Legion

the most junior unit

France, until recently

now performs

Pacific, including

is

rock-strewn

an FA MAS assault

administration, communications, medical, maintenance, and supply; and reconnaissance and

served with distinction

ready to

is

a wide variety of

Atoll

Engineer

the Legion, having been raised as

in

the bearer of the traditions of the

d'lnfanterie.

moved

which was formerly the base for

6REG was

based at Nimes,

camp on the Plain d'Albion, the French IRBM missiles. 6REG to the

maintains engineer detachments overseas and includes Detachement

d 'Intervention

Operationnelle

Subaquatique

which

is

responsible

for

combat swimmer operations and underwater explosive ordnance disposal. It

It is

the engineer regiment for 6th

DLB

(= 6th Light Division).

consists of five companies: three field engineer companies; a bridging

company; and command/support company. I3 eme Demi-Brigade Legion Etrangere

the Foreign Legion)

"Horn of

is

stationed

Africa," a location of

in

(I3DBLE) (13th Half-Brigade of the Republic of Djibouti on the

major strategic importance.

13

DBLE

armored car squadron; an infantry company; and a headquarters and support company, armed with mortars and anti-tank

consists of an

missiles (Milan),

and

a

medical section.

Detachement de Legion Etrangere a Mayotte (DLEM) (Foreign Legion

Detachment the Indian

-

Mayotte).

Ocean

The DLEM

is

responsible for the security of

island of Mayotte, in the

Comoros group

of islands,

an important staging post on the route to the Pacific.

Selection and Training Legionnaires come from any country

except,

in

theory, France

always contained a large proportion of Frenchmen, claiming to

who

itself.

However, the Legion has

circumvent the regulations by

On enlisting the new recruit is whose use is mandatory for three years. If he survives the first and he may either leave or be expelled in that period - he is then

be Belgians, Swiss or French Canadians.

immediately given an

alias,

three weeks of training

-

25

Special Forces

remaining

a legionnaire for the lasts for

one

year, being

island of Corsica. it is

five

years of his contract. Training

conducted by 4RE

Great importance

camp

at a

at Bonifacio,

extremely thorough and

is

on the southern

claimed, goes through Legion training without soaking his socks

in his

own

once. Forced marches are frequent and a high standard of marksmanship live firing

two days

taking place

a

tip

of the

placed on obedience and physical condition; nobody,

is

week

is

blood at

least

required, with

for 13 weeks.

39

and Advanced Training

Specialist

Once

the basic training has been completed selected legionnaires proceed to advanced

training (for example, as a

communicator or

one of the

as an engineer) at

special schools in

or near Castelnaudary. Potential non-commissioned officers must attend the Corporal's course, which

lasts for eight

demanding courses

week course

weeks and

considered to be one of the physically most

is

any army. The successful corporal would then expect to attend a 14-

in

prior to promotion to sergeant.

Uniform The Legion wears standard French Army uniform, but with famous of which are the greatly prized

most worn on parade, and

several special items, the

kepi blanc (= white hat),

which

is

the green beret used for daily and operational wear and by the Legion's paratroops,

not wear a red beret. The kepi blanc

is

actually a standard blue kepi, with a red top

badge, but with a white cloth cover, which officer.

is

who do

and gold

permanently removed on promotion to sous-

Special items of parade dress are the kepi blanc, green shoulder-boards with red

tassels, a

green

waistcoat.

tie,

white belt over a blue sash, and white gauntlets. Officers also wear a green

Members

of the assault pioneer platoon also

wear

a white, hide apron, carry a

ceremonial axe with a chromed blade, and are permitted to grow a beard.

Paratroops

Below: French paratroops

deploying from a helicopter. Apart

Puma

from conducting

more operational parachute

parachute corps

drops than any other army, the

with others since

French paras also pioneered the

detriment.

tactical

use of helicopters

in

ground wars during their

campaign against the Algerian FLN

26

The French paratroops have probably carried out more operational jumps than any other

in

the

late

1950s.

in

(eg,

the world

in

their campaigns

Kolwezi).They have also

They were among the

units in the French

156 operational drops, but were defeated

in

at

in

times

campaign

Indochina, Suez (1956) and Algeria,

become in

Indochina and carried out

the battle of Dien Bien Phu

Following the Indochina ceasefire and the French withdrawal

went to

Algeria, arriving just as the

heavily politicized, to their

war there

started.

in

1

in

some

1954-55.

955, the paratroop units

Special Forces

n m

Left:

French special forces on a running civilian.

patrol, passing

Note the black helmets with the built-in

radio, giving

communications

to

every

man

in

the unit. The black uniforms,

covered faces, and aggressive attitude are a

intended to present

daunting impression.

was virtually two months restored control. Their methods were seriously questioned, however, and there were many allegations of torture. To this day, an element of distrust of /es paras remains; for example, the number of years an officer may In

January

1

957

I

Oth Parachute Division took over the city of Algiers which

the hands of the FLN, and inside

in

serve with paratroop units

now

is

limited.

war the paratroops returned to France, but the French have

After the Algerian

maintained a strong parachute capability, and have regularly used these excellent troops

overseas

in

what

pursuit of French diplomatic policies. Units of

Division have served

in

Zaire, Mauretania, Chad, and Lebanon,

now

is

among other

Nth Parachute locations. Below: Close-up of a French

Organization

special

The approximately 14,000-man Nth Parachute Division is based atTarbes.At least one-third of the Division is abroad, either on training missions of one kind or another, or maintaining a visible

presence

in

Africa or the Indian Ocean.

force, together with 9th

It

is

part of the French rapid-intervention

er RPIMa)

is

under

trooper. Note

his

the

large

silencer

on

his

sub-

machine gun.

Marine Light Infantry Division, 27th Alpine Division, 6th

Armored Division, and 4th Airmobile Division. Nth Parachute comprises two brigades, with seven battalion-sized parachute units, one Light

(l

forces

face-mask, personal radio, and

Division of which

and has a para-commando/special forces

divisional control

role.

The other

six units are: 3,

paratroop

units);

parachute

unit).

I

6 and 8

RCP

and 9

RPIMa

(equivalent to the former "colonial"

(chasseurs or light infantry); and 2

REP

(the Legion

Selection and Training All

French paratroops are volunteers and undergo the same sort of selection

and training as other parachute forces. The standard of training certain volunteers can er l

go on to

join

high and

is

one of the para-commando

units (eg,

RPIMa).

Weapons and Equipment For many years the French have

FA

now

MAS

receive

Army was

using the

MAS

re-equipped with the revolutionary short,

"bullpup" assault

rifle,

49/56 7.5mm light

rifle,

but they

but effective

5.56mm

with the parachute units being

among

the

first

to

it.

Uniforms French paratroops wear standard French is

Army

uniforms. Their parachute status

indicated by their red beret (except for Foreign Legion paras

green beret). Para wings are large and

in silver,

and are worn on the

who wear

a

right breast.

27

Spk

ial

Forces

Germany GSG

AN

appropriate characterization of the special operations forces

"defensive," both with respect to

and

company),

reconnaissance

Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (GSG

The Fernspahkompanie,

Army

C5

m

9

corps.

It

is

paramilitary

its

in

Germany would be

Fernspahkompanie (long-range

military elements,

its

border

national

arm,

police

the

9).

said to

be about 140-150 personnel,

assigned to each

is

German

oriented toward stay-behind operations against forces that have passed

beyond them, or insertions behind

enemy

reconnaissance, they

out sabotage missions

Apart from

lines.

performing

long-range

30 Below: GSG 9 troopers descend

from a balcony using an ikar descender during a training exercise.

The

men

are

all

wearing "flak jackets" and carry

MPS sub-machine in

GSG

9

guns. The

men

are required to be

physically very tough, but also

receive in

intense academic training subjects as diverse as law

and

terrorist theory

and

practice.

can

carry

also

required.

if

US

operational concepts closely parallel those of the missions of the Forces. Basic training training

is

conducted

is

conducted

parachute and ranger course

at the

Special Operations

in

Schongau. Further

Long Range Reconnaissance Training Center

at the

their

fact,

In

at

Neuhausen ob

Eck.

West

Following the Black September terrorist attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics, the

Germans

created

a

new

totally

group,

counter-terrorist

Bundesgrenzschutz (the Federal Border

and designated

Police),

but

part

as

of

the

Grenzschutzgruppe 9

it

(GSG 9). This unit proved itself in October 977 at Mogadishu in Somalia when a team of 27 men took part in a six-minute assault on a hijacked Lufthansa airliner and released all 87 1

GSG

no overt

hostages. Since then there have been

9 operations, although there have been

rumors of clandestine successes.

Organization The

was 180 strong at the time of Mogadishu and as a result of it was decided to increase it to 300, but recruiting difficulties kept the strength at about 160 to 200 for some time. unit

that operation

GSG

9

is

combat unit; a

the process of increasing the unit strengths of

in

units to

42 each. Overall,

GSG

communications and documentation

training unit that can be used as another flight

unit.

of three helicopters and

GSG

pilots

unit;

9/3 specializes

GSG

an engineer

combat

unit; a

9/2 specializes

GSG

in

unit; a

a supply

9/1, the counter-

maritime operations;

airborne missions. Total strength

in

four

helicopter

and mechanics; and

9 has three operational sub-units:

terrorist assault group;

GSG

I

I

its

9 consists of a headquarters

about

is

250.

Selection and Training All

members

Police or first

of

GSG

Border

leave the

9 must be volunteers from the ranks of the

Police. Thus,

Army and

22 weeks long and

is

weeks are devoted to

any soldier

join the

Border

who

wishes to join must

Police. The training

course

The first 13 weapons skills,

directed at mind and body.

is

police duties, legal matters,

and karate. Training takes place

in a

variety of locations as befits a unit which

does not necessarily know

in advance where it will be committed. The second part of the course comprises a detailed examination of terrorist movements combined with a final development of

individual

skills,

communications

including industries.

new developments in The students become

the optics and

acquainted with

sharpshooter tools such as night vision devices, observation glasses

and the

like.

Failure

Evasive driving techniques are also taught.

rate

on the course

stronger emphasis on academic

is

about 80 percent. There

work

than

in

is

a

most such counter-

terrorist units.

Weapons and Equipment A

wide variety of weapons are used, but the basic weapon is the - the Heckler and Koch MP59mm

standard police sub-machine gun -

I

but ,

when used

sniper missions.

28

by

GSG

9

it is

fitted

Mauser SP-86. and Mauser SP-66,

The men

with a silencer.The

7.62mm

H&K

PSG-

caliber,

are used for

are allowed to select their

own model

all

Special Forces

pistol, a rare

9mm

P7

release

degree of choice

pistol

and the gun

it

such

in

units.

Most unusual

of the

weapons

is

the

H&K

P9P

which features a unique cocking device operated by gripping the gunframe

-

totally safe!

is

Below:

GSG

position

building. His

silenced

Uniforms GSG 9 members wear standard Bundesgrenzschutz uniform a green battledress with a dark worn, together with green beret. On operations the standard German paratrooper helmet a flak jacket where necessary. No special unit identification is worn, although the wearing of -

is

a

at

parachute qualification badge by a policeman may be an indication of

his role.

trooper

9

a

in

fire

corner of a

the

weapon

Heckler

is

a

& Koch MP5,

one of the most widely used special

pages

forces'

weapons

(see

116-117).

Bottom: Unusual

ball-mounting

in

m

the armored-glass windscreen of

KOMMANDO

SPEZIALKRAFTE

a

Mercedes-Benz

enabling an

Kommando

Spezialkrafte (KSK) (= special

became operational year 2000. Unlike

wartime

GSG

in

1997, although

9, this

it

a military unit,

is

commando

unit)

not reach

its full,

will

was formed

which serves two functions. The

military function of long-range patroling, with surveillance, sabotage,

missions against command-and-control and logistics targets deep

second, however, conflict

is

in

1994 and

trained strength until the

in

first

is

and disruption

hostile territory.

German

the peacetime mission of protecting or rescuing

the

The

citizens in

zones overseas, with special emphasis on rescuing hostages or downed aircrews.

gun

to

of the

Z

field-car,

MPS sub-machine

be fired straight ahead vehicle

(the

distance

between the mounting plates shows how thick the glass This

mounting would be

great value driving

into

when

is).

of

deliberately

a terrorist position.

The KSK was formed by removing the commando companies from the two of the three independent long-range

three airborne brigades and

reconnaissance and

(LRRP) companies, one of which had been

patrol

allocated to each corps (the third a brigadier-general, will

company,

reconnaissance logistic

was disbanded). The KSK, commanded by

comprise four a

commando

companies, a long-range

headquarters/communications

company, and a training center. Within the

companies the organization

The KSK

will

be the

company, a

commando and LRRP

be based on four-man teams.

will

German

equivalent of the

US

Delta and British SAS,

with similar organization, and selection and training procedures. The unit

will

probably use the black operational outfit pioneered by the British SAS and

German weapons, although the German adaptation of the Accuracy International AW (known in Germany as the G22 Sniper Weapon System). The difficulty with GSG 9 has been that it is a unit of the German

will

be armed with predominantly standard

sniper

rifle will

be a

Bundesgrenzschutz interpretation of the

though

it

however,

(Border

German

Security

Police)

and

thus,

undertook the Mogadishu operation). Being

KSK overcomes

German government and Delta and the SAS.

by

a

strict

Law, ineligible for overseas missions (even

this legal nicety.

It

will also,

a

military

unit,

of course, enable the

military to deploy a direct national equivalent of

^K

St

29

Special Foiu is

Hungary Police Special Force

The Police Special Force (PSF) was formed

two

1991 with

in

terrorist activities, and, second, to aid conventional police

crime. The PSF service,

who

is

recruited only from police officers

are physically and mentally

and, as

fit,

who

have given three years unblemished

usual

is

counter any

roles: first, to

their fight against organized

in

in all

such forces, pass stringent

security checks.

The PSF looked to Israel for much Israeli equipment.

help

in

forming and training the

which, as a result,

unit,

now

uses 30

i

India

a

AS

IS

TO

BE expected in such a large

also large, with 1,100,000

and every one of them Below: Special forces of India's National Security Guard

Sikhs'

Since Independence

a volunteer.

Kashmir to numerous

involving terrorist tactics. Finally, there has

in

many such

to

action,

10.000

I

1947 the Indian

in

India are

the Air Force,

in

Army its

has seen a traditional

enemies, Pakistan and China. There are also numerous internal problems, ranging from the long-running dispute

As

the Navy and

in

great deal of active service and aggressive confrontation, particularly against

Golden Temple at Amritsar

operations they are awaiting the call

and populous country, the armed forces of

the Army, 55,000

on deployment outside the

May 1988.

in

1NSG1

in

including operations Indian

armed

in

in Sri

many

internal anti-guerrilla campaigns,

of

them

been a variety of other military commitments,

Lanka and the Maldives.

not surprising, therefore, that the

is

It

number

forces should have given birth to a large

of special forces.

which sometimes

Commandos

Para

can be a long time coming and, without good leadership, can result

in

a loss of morale

here are three Parachute/Commando battalions, the

and

efficiency.

T:Cdo Bn

in

1

966, followed by

1

Cdo Bn

0th Para

in

1

converted from

1

Cdo Bn

0th Bn

st

I

Some

mid-1970s. Para

to be raised being the 9th Para

first

967; the third, 1st Para

in

the

years after being formed 9th

specialized

desert warfare and

in

mountain warfare, but

in

Cdo Bn.was

Parachute Battalion

Cdo Bn

Para

I

has not specialized and remains as a strategic reserve.

The primary mission battalions

in

operations

in

disrupt

his

of the Para

wartime

Commandos

conduct covert

to

is

the enemy's rear areas

and

operations

command-and-control and peacetime their mission

order to

in

attack

to

logistic

enemy In

facilities.

to serve as a highly

is

capable and flexible, rapid-reaction force. All

the para

Commandos part

of

commandos saw

active service in

Indo-Pakistan war. 9th and

the 1971

deployed to

the

beleaguered

Indian

Lanka

Sri

government's

government

in

in

0th Para

1

1987-88 as aid

to

the

Colombo, where

they conducted several heliborne assaults, albeit with varying degrees of success. 10 Para also

took part

in

the Maldive islands

commandos

have also taken part

in

numerous

Cdo Bn

the peace-keeping operation in

November

1

988.

in

The para

internal security operations including the

1984 attack on the Sikh Golden Temple, although they lost 17

and many wounded.

killed

National Security Guards The National forces groups

Security Guards in

(NSG) were

raised

in

1985 and form one of the largest special

the world, with a current strength of

whereas other countries have

units

which are either

all

some

7,000.

military

or

It

all

also unusual police, India's

in that,

NSG

is

two elements: the Special Action Rangers Group (SRG).The SAG, which is slightly the larger of

a mixture of the two. In overall

terms

it

is

divided into

Group (SAG); and the Special two and composed entirely of soldiers, is responsible for offensive action, while the SRG, whose task is to support the SAG, particularly by cordoning off the area of the intended action, is entirely composed of policemen. Men serve with the NSG for 3-5 years and are the

30

l^^^H

Special Forces

then rotated back to their parent

The main operations

in

NSG

of the

tasks

many other modern units they wear an them the nickname of the "Black Cats."

unit. Like

operational uniform, which has earned

counter-terrorist

include:

to an incident depends upon the

SAG

and so on. The

which

on

commanded

is

in "hit

hijacking

by a captain. The

one occasion has

visits.

The

specialist.

NSG

scale of

SAG commitment

of terrorists, the surrounding situation,

teams," each of which

support

a technical

number

the

site,

committed

is

and

pairs,

at least

resolving

the air or the ground, rescuing hostages, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD),

VIP protection, and anti-sabotage checks prior to VIP

two-man

action,

all-black

Four

"hit

is

composed

of five men:

can, however, deploy in

much

larger units and

fielded an entire battalion.

most

other countries and

some

are

Indian Navy's Marine

(MCF) was

known

maintains close links with similar organizations

to have visited Israel for additional training.

in

Army paratroopers

await to emplane for the the

flight

Maldives, following the

attempted coup

in

October

1988. Indian armed forces have

been involved

in

many

operations since Independence

in

1947, with the special forces being kept particularly active.

Commando Force

Marine

The

NSG

special forces, the

J* Below: Indian

to

Three occasions when the NSG is known to have deployed were twice against the Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1986 and 1988 when they deployed in considerable strength, and once in an aircraft hijacking incident at Amritsar in 1994 where a lone hijacker was successfully overcome. Like

O

two

teams" make an "action team"

raised

for special operations

Force

elite

force

maritime environment,

a

in

Commando

1987 as an

in

with tasks which include reconnaissance, raids,

and

operations

counter-terrorist

coastal,

in

beach, and riverine environments.

MCF

Volunteers for the

month

following training

over a period of

which

start

they

course. This

operational

a

followed

is

on

unit

undergo further

on

posting

probation which,

training,

to

an

where they they pass, ends

if

qualified

fully

some

after starting.

Strength of the

over

a

by

with them being declared

two years

undergo arduous

nine-month

physical tests

MCF

is

believed to be well

and these are divided into three

1,000

each naval command:

groups, one with

West

(Bombay); South (Cochin), and East (Vizag). Each

group

includes

Reaction

a

Quick

platoon-sized

small

(QRS), responsible

Section

the

for

counter-terrorism commitment.

One

of the

unusual

MCF

elements of the

is

undertaken

roles

sabotage, for which they are equipped with

two-man

submarines

by

harbor attack and ship capable

of

I

I

carrying

explosive charges or magnetic anti-ship mines,

and being delivered to the operational area by conventional,

MCF

diesel-electric

submarines. The

can also deploy using the Indian

Navy's

small force of landing-ships, landing-craft, and air-

cushioned vehicles, as well as helicopters.

Group

Special Protection

The

not without lost

its

two prime

Gandhi

in

Group (SPG)

Protection

Special

responsible

guarding

for

difficulties in a

VIPs,

is

task

a

country which has

ministers by assassination: Indira

1984

and

Rajiv

Gandhi

1991.

The SPG numbers approximately

who

are

believed

to

come

principally

in

3,000,

from

the police.

31

Spicial Forces

Indonesia KOMANDO PASUKAN

The 6000 strong

KlHUSUS

Komando Pasukan Khusus (KOPASSUS)

command)

(= special forces

has been at the center of Indonesian counter-terrorist activities, recent operations including those

in

the disputed territory of Irian Jaya.

Movement (FPM) kidnapped months of negotiations although the terrorists

a

number

1996 the Free Papua

January

In

of Indonesian citizens and foreigners and after four

was successful

special forces attacked the terrorist hideout. This killed

two of the Indonesian

hostages.

Republic of Ireland Army Rangers Wing he

Defence Forces started to send

Irish

t:number Army

the early 1970s.

in

the

establish

Rangers

Some

US Army Ranger

conventional warfare and Missions

operations

roles can

fully

operational

be divided into

counter-terrorist missions.

conventional

a

in

were used to Airm (= Army

an

Wing [ARW]), which became

March 1980, The ARW's

war comprise

hostile territory, such as raids,

in

small

of these

Fianoglach

Sciathan

a

branches of the Army,

all

Air Corps, and Navy to the

School

in

men from

of

offensive

ambushes,

sabotage, and the capture of key personnel, as well as

long-range gathering.

surveillance,

patrols,

and

the counter-terrorist role

In

intelligence

ARW's

tasks

could include: VIP protection; anti-hijack operations

Above:

Men

of

the

forces, the

Irish

special

Army Rangers

Wing, on exercise Irish

in

the

Republic.

operations; pursuit operations; and the

offshore gas/oil rigs or buildings. The in

other countries, including

GIGN

in

buses or trains; hostage rescue; search

ships, aircraft,

recapture of terrorist-held objectives such as

ARW

is

regular contact and trains with similar units

in

GSG

(France),

9 (Germany), and Royal Dutch Marines

(Netherlands), although political sensitivities probably exclude contacts with the British SAS.

The ARW uses the same weapons as the Irish Army, in particular the Austrian-manufactured 5.56mm Steyr Aug A assault rifle, which came into service in 988. The sniper rifle is the latest 1

I

Accuracy International .308-caliber AI96, which

is

an improved version of the L92AI.

Zahal

As A

result OF

experiences, Israel has devised

its

an organization

units

placed

are

which

in

counter-terrorist

its

one

into

of

three

functional

categories:

"First-on-scene" units are those with a secondary

counter-terrorist function, but which, because of their

geographical spread, are

likely

terrorist incident. Their task

control

in

to arrive

first

pending the scene" unit

possible, to

arrival of is,

stabilize

an "assault"

the

situation

A

"first-on-

unit.

however, allowed to take direct action

the terrorists actually start

killing

hostages before

the arrival of an "assault" unit. There are nine

on-scene"

at a

to exert immediate

the general area, to cordon off the scene,

and, wherever

if

is

units,

three

in

each of Zahal

(Israel

"first-

Defense

Forces [IDF]) territorial commands. "Assault" units are those with counter-terrorism as their principal task and action.

32

they

will

normally carry out the direct

There are three known

units

in this

category:

Special Forces

Sayeret Matkal, which

•

and

chief-of-staff,

Included within the cover

name

Shayetet 13

•

is

is

ranks

its

known

also

is

as "Unit 262,"

most important,

given the

is

is

under the direct control of the IDF

highly classified,

a specialist counter-terrorist

and

difficult

missions.

and hostage-rescue team with

O Z m

Commandos and

>

"Unit 269."

the

Israeli

the qualifying course

is

Navy

elite unit.

It is

known

also

as the Naval

reputed to be even more exacting than that for land-based

units.

As with Sayeret Matkal, there is an integral hostage-rescue and counter-terrorist team. Yamam, a civilian-manned group under police command. The basic division of responsibilities is that the civilian Yamam group undertakes

•

operations inside

borders; Sayeret Matkal external land operations; and Shayetet 13

Israeli

external maritime incidents.

Not

Weary

left:

paratroops

in

Israeli

Sidon

front of a Centurion

passing

in

m •a e CD

tank and

an armored personnel carrier.

"Support" units provide direct on-scene support to the "first-on-scene" and "assault" units.

50 Below

surprisingly, these units are highly classified, although several have

been

identified.

They are heavily armed with a variety

weapons, including

of

53

Sayeret Yael

is

an engineer corps special unit which provides "hot entry," demolition, and

explosive ordnance disposal support to the IDF's "assault" units, Sayeret Matkal and Shayetet

There

13.

is

a

similar,

trooper from front) the

(third

Israeli-built

communications, and electronic warfare.

Below: Naval Shayetet

Other

Elite Units

the IDF maintains three regular paratroop brigades (202nd, 890th and 50th

Na'ha'l) as well as three reserve brigades.

branch that the proliferation of sayeret (reconnaissance) units,

were

outgrowth of regular paratroop

command

unit of the paratroops. Sayeret

elite units

has taken place.

formed for

originally

units.

within these formations and the infantry

It is

They are

Tzanhim

Most of these are designated border defense, and were an

set up according to their roles

of the brigade. Sayeret

Orev

is

in

special

the reconnaissance anti-tank

the unit employed

is

13

m

rifle.

commandos are

among

most highly trained special

operations under the

assault

but separate, police-manned unit which supports Yamam. Other

specialist units provide intelligence,

Today,

Galil

in

forces. All

are

of

of

the all

Israeli

armed

33 £»

m

with the Russian AK-47 assault rifle.

Special

variety

of

forces use

a wide

weapons, partly

to

obtain the best weapons, but also

to

avoid leaving a

"signature."

the

capacity of "shock troops"; and the Sayeret Shaldag handles infiltration

and demolition.

There are numerous other paratroop-trained connected to the paratroop brigades, one of which which in

manned by Druze Muslims and serves

is

units that are

not

Sayeret Hadruzim,

is

as a reconnaissance unit

border areas under the IDF Northern Command.

sensitive

Selection and Training There

a six-month basic training course for

is

the training for those training

geared

is

proficiency. In the

in

the sayeret units

towards physical

is

all

regular paratroops and

similar.The

fitness

and

first

phase of the

personal

two months of the second phase, the

weapons soldier

is

assigned his role within the unit (machinegunner, ammunition carrier, or in that task, and learns to apply it. APC and helicopter training are introduced - with heavy emphasis on night

whatever), becomes proficient

fighting

and urban area combat. The

Nof Jump becomes

phase of training

paratrooper. Advanced training

a full-fledged

with the units and

it

is

is

at this stage that the relationship

commanding

soldier and first

last

is

at the Tel

School. After five static line jumps the soldier earns wings and carried out

between the

addressed by their

officer relaxes. Officers are

names.

For the infiltration,

HALO

Naval

Commandos,

training

given

is

in

Scuba

diving,

demolitions, sabotage, intelligence gathering, parachuting and

techniques. Medical techniques and driving

skills

are also taught

at an intense pace.

Air Force Special Operations Units

The

Israeli

One

is

Air Force maintains at least four special operations units.

Unit 5101,

whose primary mission

is

laser designation of

targets for air attack, with a secondary, counter-terrorist capability.This

believed to have been responsible for marking the targets during

unit

is

the

Israeli

669, which

attack is

on an

Iraqi

nuclear reactor

responsible for rescuing pilots

in

1

98

downed

1.

in

Another

is

Unit

hostile territory.

33

Special Forces

Italy Gruppo d'Intervento Speziale Italy's primary counter-terrorist team, the IOO-strong Gruppo d'Intervento Speziale (GIS) (= Special Operations Group) was raised

in

1978 and

is

found from volunteers from the paramilitary

police force, the Carabinieri.

groups

any

in

It

is

having

country,

one of the most experienced been involved in numerous

operations against the Red Brigade, the Mafia and,

3

more

recently,

northern separatists. The most recent known event took place

in

May 1997 when

in

St.

a

Mark's Square

group of separatists occupied the belltower in

Venice.

Selection The

selection

process

rigorous

is

and,

with

as

any

elite

organization, starts with an exhaustive security check, which

is

followed by a stringent medical examination and an interview with a panel of GIS officers.

More

unusually,

it

also includes an

interview with a psychiatrist. Successful candidates then undergo

two-week

a

selection board and the relatively few

who

pass that

hurdle then attend a 10-month training course.

Weapons GIS operators have a large choice of weapons for their counter-

& Koch weapons such as the Beretta and the Beretta Model 92 SB 9mm automatic pistol. Some

terrorist operations, including the widely used Heckler Above: Italian

GIS troopers carry

out a simulated building assault

MP5 sub-machine gun SC70/90 5.56mm

family.

assault

rifle

The group

also uses

Italian

& Wesson .38 caliber and .357 & Koch PSG-I, Mauser SP86 7.62 rifle and the

in

a training area, using

operators prefer revolvers, using such types as the Smith

specially

adapted Range Rovers

magnum. Sniper

with ladders to climb the wall.

Barret

M82

.50in

rifles

include the Heckler

(12.7mm)

caliber.

Note the helmets and army

COMSUBIN

combat uniforms. Some are

armed with Beretta SC90 assault

rifles,

others with

MPS

The USE OF swimmers

in

ancient times. But the

sub-machine guns.

combat Italian

can rightfully be considered

is

anything but

new -

it

has been a part of warfare since

Naval Assault Divisions of World

among

the pioneers of

War

modern warfare

I

and World

War

II

of this type. Their

record at Trieste, Pola, Suda Bay, Gibraltar, and Malta only serves to under-score the point. Heirs to this legacy are the as

and Raiders Group.

Right:

COMSUBIN trooper

immediately after landing from an Italian Navy Agusta-Sikorsky AS-61

Sea King.

COMSUBIN

descended from the Navy's

I

Oth MAS,

is

Italian

known

as

"Decimo," one of the most successful

special

World War

II,

forces unit in

which had many

spectacular raids against British targets

34

to

its

credit.

Italian

Commando Raggruppamento

Navy's current special operations force,

Subacqui ed Incursori

(COMSUBIN), or

known

formally

the Navy Frogmen

Special Forces

Left:

A major development sniping business

the

in

5

this

is

command

station, using Sinco

and

equipment, which

Elbit

takes video feeds from

individual

sniperscopes to enable the

commander

to

control

and

coordinate his men's shooting. is

It

being used by GIS; note their

black balaclava helmets, black

uniforms, and the distinctive GIS unit shoulder badge.

As

operations force,

special

a

missions

its

and underwater obstacles from

explosives

include

mines,

clearing

waters; landings

Italian

on

friendly or foreign territory for reconnaissance purposes; clearing beaches

commando

of obstacles prior to amphibious landings; and ships,

Rumors surface

was

raids to destroy

dry-docks, and fuel storage areas. of a counter-terrorist role for

COMSUBIN

1978 and were substantiated the following

in

out when a hijacked

called

Involvement

in this

deployed on

Italian

from Beirut was brought to Rome.

role continues: for example,

vessels near

COMSUBIN

Elements of

airliner

COMSUBIN

Lebanon during the

have taken

part

headquartered

COMSUBIN

elements were

Achille Lauro incident.

recent operations

in

Albania, the Lebanon, Persian Gulf, Ruanda, Somalia, and

Organ ization The 200-man strong

came to the when the unit

first

year,

reports to the Navy Chief of Staff and

just outside La Spezia.

From an

in

former Yugoslavia.

is

organizational standpoint,

Group has responsibility for offensive operations, Group provides Italian coastline support. Personnel for are drawn primarily from the crack San Marco naval infantry the 1,000-man Italian "marine corps." San Marco battalion

the Raider Operations

while the Frogman

both units battalion

-

personnel receive general

commando training from the COMSUBIN but when they volunteer for service with The -

they must leave the battalion

Operations

Raider

it.

Group (Gruppo Operativo Subacqui) support

is

provided by a schools group, research and study group, and a special naval group.

Selection and Training Currently, the all-volunteer Incursori (mostly from the San

Marco

battalion)

are required to complete a 10-month training course. Rigorous physical tests are a part of it

and,

in fact,

remain

in

are required every three

the

months

for everyone

in

the unit for as long as they

The program includes ranger, parachute, hand-to-hand combat, weapons training, of course. These are in addition to Scuba and other

unit.

demolitions, and

swimming skills. Those who go on to be part of the Raiders Group get an additional 42 weeks of specialized training with emphasis on parachuting, mountain climbing and vigorous physical endurance tests. This is capped off with a six-week command course. The COMSUBIN unit, not surprisingly,

The

9mm

is

rated quite highly by those

Incursori use the

Model

12

same weapons

sub-machne gun

as

who

other

have observed Italian units in

a particular favorite

because of

it.

the main, with the Beretta its

compactness.

Above:

COMSUBIN troops on

training

range,

a

armed with

ubiquitous Heckler

the

& Koch

5.56mm MP5 sub-machine

gun.

Most COMSUBIN personnel come

from the San Marco marine battalion, in

some from elsewhere

the navy, but

volunteers and

all

all

are

must pass the

very demanding entry tests and training course.

35

Special Forces

North Korea Communists ruling North Korea is number of special forces, estimates of

he paranoid nature of the

t:reflected whose

by the large

vary from 50,000 to 100,000, the width of the bracket

size

knowledge about

reflecting the lack of

most

this

secretive regime.

Within the Ministry of Defense there are two bodies involved Infantry Training

The

Guidance Bureau.

Bureau

Reconnaissance

responsible

is

each (normally divided into 2-10

brigades,"

six

Staff

some

men teams) and

supporting units.

which are airborne, two amphibious and

of

appears much more for

self-

10 battalions

Directorate controls the efforts of 14 "sniper

conventional. These brigades could,

battalions

collecting

and small teams. The bureau also controls four

contained reconnaissance brigades, consisting of

The General

for

which involves despatching and controling both

strategic intelligence, individual agents

in

Reconnaissance Bureau and the Light

special forces operations: the

would disperse

that they

likely

independent

six

theory, fight as an entity, but

in

The

operations.

it

their

5-10

airborne

and

conventional brigades are approximately 3,500 strong, but the two

amphibious brigades are somewhat stronger

men Above: A forces'

is

kept afloat

by flotation bags. The hatches

were sealed from inside and the South Koreans eventually gained access through the

torpedo

all

occupants dead; most

had been colleagues, while

killed

supported by

suicide.

Below: South Koreans struggle to

keep the captured Sang-0 in

class

September

war

for

engineered" Yugoslav prototypes six

purpose" brigade, with,

enemy

infiltrating

communications and submarines

in

These

positions,

and

one

addition,

in

"special

"special

purpose" battalion

purpose" troops would be responsible

attacks

in

enemy command-control-and-

on

logistics facilities.

Navy: There are a

number of

naval special forces units, including those

which operate

support of Reconnaissance Bureau operations.

Selection and Training The North Korean and 21, and

combat swimmers.

soldier

is

a highly disciplined

Korea since childhood, he

will

remain

in

is

likely

and well trained

fighter.

Indoctrinated

to be conscripted between the ages of 17

service until the age of 27. Annual training

is

between March and

August and consists of a month-long basic training program. Once assigned to

his unit,

the

trainee goes through further basic unit, small unit and large-scale unit training exercises. Soldiers

1996. These small submarines

were developed from "reverse

and carry

a "special

allocated to each infantry division.

against South

submarine afloat

the "special purpose" units are roughly

levels

by their

the final few

committed

tactical

equivalent to the "Spetsnaz" units of the former Soviet Army. Each forward corps would be

tubes to find a gruesome scene with

approximately 5,000

-

with one brigade on each coast.

-

Corps: At the operational and

North Korean special

submarine

each

in

the special warfare units get special emphasis on

gathering, sabotage,

infiltration, Intelligence

underwater demolition, hand-to-hand combat, night operations, surprise

attack and political education. Specific indoctrination and information sessions on

of

communist ideology are carried out on

all

aspects

a daily basis.

Weapons and Equipment Equipment

Common

flexible

is

to

all

pistols, including

9mm

and varies considerably.

are a dagger and/or bayonet:

the silenced versions of the

Browning automatic and the Soviet

Tokarev 7.62mm automatic; the AK-47 or

MI6

rifle;

hand grenades and demolitions;

rocket launchers, either the 3

Sagger; and

60mm

RPG-7 or

the AT-

mortars.

Uniforms The

light

infantry,

during

are

training,

provided with the same standard uniforms as the infantry of the North Korean People's

Army. However, during combat operations they can be attired

Korean

Army

in civilian

uniforms

clothing.

(usually

South with

incorrect ranks for the personnel wearing

them), mottled

camouflaged

summer, and an

all-white over

winter.

36

uniforms

garment

in in

Special Forces

Republic of Korea 707th Special Missions Battalion

ROK Army first

The

raised "special warfare" units

but the dedicated counter-terrorist

O 1958,

in

707th Special

unit,

was not formed until hostage-taking at the Munich Olympic Games showed the need for such a unit. The unit was on stand-by throughout the Seoul Olympics in 1988, but was not used. The unit is about 200 strong and Missions Battalion,

comprises

headquarters, support and specialist

a

two companies, each Warfare"

come from elsewhere

and

all

men

undergo

and

organization

Once

selection and training procedure. particularly tough

00

5

and

re

the

00

m o

consisting of four 14-man teams.

Volunteers for the unit must "Special

staff,

o

a

in

rigorous

the unit, training

in

is

are trained as underwater

swimmers.

©

707th Special Missions Battalion uses Korean weapons

wherever

Daewoo

and

Daewoo 9mm

the

including

possible,

and K2 assault

Kl

so

pistol

However, foreign

rifles.

weapons, such as the Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machinegun, are also used.

National Police Unit 868 IN

ROK

the lead-up to the 1988 Seoul Olympics

National

Force formed a special counter-terrorist squad,

Police

868, intended

Unit

designated

counter-terrorist

for

hostage rescue missions. Strength

about

is

1

and

00, with the bulk

organized into 12 seven-man teams.

Special

Warfare Brigades

Above:

Korean special forces,

S.

having come ashore from

The

ROK

has seven special warfare brigades organized on the same

whom

forces groups, with

brigades are often used

in

there

is

a close

working

The

enemy

lines as

The

US

special

battalions of these

the ranger role for the destruction of tactical targets. These

ROK

continuous guerrilla operations from bases

special forces units are capable of using either

within

relationship.

canoes, ascend a soldier

is

cliff

armed with

face. Lead

Uzi

SMG,

designed for police and special forces

use.

Below:

All

or carrying out single operations from bases within friendly territory.

territory,

usual allocation of the special forces

is

one

battalion to each

Army

corps.

members

of the

South

Korean special forces must

Selection and Training

reach "black belt" standard

Following the usual physical and psychological tests, the volunteers undergo a hard training

the

traditional

course which includes weapon handling

Do

or similar martial

All

ROK

similar martial art,

skills

to a very high standard and parachute training.

troops must also reach black belt standard

special forces

and when not on operations some four to

They are

practise of such arts.

also trained

five

in

Tae-Kwon-Do or

hours

a

day are spent

a in

are

required

several

to

in

Korean Tae-Kwonart.

practise

They

for

hours every day.

in

tough, realistic exercises for dangerous missions

along the

DMZ,

such as clearing North Korean

tunnels. They have also

when North Korean

been used

as pursuit units

raiders have infiltrated the

South.

Uniform Normal uniform

is

with the SF badge

equipment are

all

combat suit.The mark is a black beret

a camouflage

Special Forces distinguishing in silver.

of

US

Weapons and

origin.

sometimes worn for each brigade: special

warfare

Brigade's; a

7th's;a

patch;

an

dragon on the

winged cat on

I

a lion

on the

on the 3rd Pegasus on the

eagle

5th's; a

a parachute

bat over a lightning bolt on the

panther on the

personal

Pocket patches are

on the I

Ith's;

9th's; a

and a

3th's.

37

Special Forces

Mexico Force

m x n c

Force

F

is

an all-volunteer

unit of the

F

Mexico City

Police and

was formed

in

the early

1980s as a specialist unit to counter drug-related crime and armed gangsters, but has since also been tasked with counter-terrorist and hostage rescue missions.

between 300-400 strong, and

is

It is

quite large,

divided into three special-to-task elements, responsible for

explosive disposal, snipers and assault missions. The unit has the nickname "The Zorros."

Netherlands a

N

Right:

The Royal Dutch Marines

are one of the most efficient

marine troops

in

NATO and,

together with the British Royal Marines, form the Anglo-Dutch

Amphibious Warfare Group. Here they assault over dunes on the

North Sea coast, watched by observers

in

a Dutch Navy

Westland WG.I3 Lynx.

BlJZONDERE BlJSTANDS EENHEID

The main Special

Dutch counter-terrorist group

Support Unit) which

is

is

the Bijzondere Bijstands Eenheid (BBE) (=

part of the Royal Dutch Marines'

I

a small

man

specialists,

teams.

The

unit includes the usual

explosives experts, but

is

also

known

complement of

the Royal Dutch Marines

week course. The BBE uses

who must complete

a variety of

headquarters and

to include psychologists, trained

terrorists, particularly in hostage-taking situations. The

BBE

is

Amphibious Combat

st

Group. The unit has three 30-man platoons, organized into

five 5-

such as snipers and

in

communicating with

composed

of volunteers from

the usual selection process, followed by a 48-

weapons, although

it

has a publicly declared policy of seeking

possible. Weapons used include Lawman .357 revolver or SIG-Sauer P-226 pistol, and the almost inevitable Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machinegun. Snipers use either the Heckler & Koch G3 MSG or Steyr SSG. The BBE has seen action on a number of occasions. In 1974 it regained control of

to solve terrorist situations by non-violent means,

wherever

the Colt

Scheveringen prison from armed Palestine terrorist prisoners, using only stun-grenades and

hand-to-hand combat.Then.on June

I

I

1977, they rescued hostages

who

South Moluccan terrorists. Six terrorists and two hostages were hostages were released. Small elements of the ships to the Adriatic

38

in

the early 1990s.

had been seized by

killed,

but over 200

BBE were deployed aboard Royal Dutch Navy

Special Forces

Amfibisch Verkennings Peloton

The Royal Dutch Marines have

working closely with the

British Royal is

mission and structure to the British Special Boat Service (SBS).The Dutch unit

is

similar

in

strong and

25

a long tradition of

Marines, and the Amfibisch Verkennings Peloton (amphibious reconnaissance platoon)

divided

is

teams for boat-handling; underwater

mission-oriented

into

operations; and counter-terrorist operations.

As with the

British

SBS, the

responsible for the security of Dutch passenger-carrying vessels and

and for intelligence gathering and sabotage missions including

Glock and Browning

the Steyr

SSG

sniping

A

war.

in

Uzi and Heckler

pistols,

s c

oil

variety of

Dutch

rigs in

unit

is

X m

peacetime,

weapons

& Koch MP5 sub-machine

is

used,

guns, and

so Left:

Dutch marines storm

ashore under simulated artillery

rifle.

fire.

Mk2.

The landing craft

> D

an LCA

is

which can carry either 25

troops or one vehicle (Land-

Rover or BV-202 tracked over-

snow transporter) and a

number

of

lesser

N

men. Alongside the

LCA are two inflatable two-man canoes.

Below: A

New Zealand

SAS

moment

trooper at the

his

drogue parachute deploys. This unit has

carried

out

many

overseas deployments, for

example,

to

Emergency,

Malaya during the to

Thailand and

South Vietnam during the Indochina War, and to Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War.

Many exchanges (eg,

New Zealand

Special Air Service

initial

in

Malaya. As

volunteers were taken straight from

accepted from a

some

of

list

they were trained

when

Squadron was formed

SAS

to join the British and Rhodesian

New

in

and

Zealand from June

until

1

954

38 were

I

800. With 40 regular officers and

were sent to Singapore

the survivors

in

Rhodesia, the

in

civilian life

take place

New Zealand

Special Air Service

The

also

with the British SAS).

NCOs,

November 1955 complete their

to

parachute and jungle training. They soon deployed onto operations

and spent

1

7 months out of the next

two years

in

the jungle,

own soldiers. New Zealand in November

killing

26 terrorists for the loss of just one of their

The squadron returned to

be disbanded, but was resuscitated

men was

sent to Korat

support of SEATO. Squadron,

New

In

in

in

August 1958.

Thailand from

A

1957 to

troop of 30

May to September 1962

1963 the unit was redesignated

1st

in

Ranger

Zealand Special Air Service, and shortly afterwards

Borneo where it served, once again, along-side from time to time with Britain's SBS. 4 Troop NZSAS served in Vietnam from November 1968 to February 1971, where it served with the Australian SAS Squadron. The unit is now stationed near Auckland, New Zealand. It has five

the unit deployed to

the British SAS.

It

also operated

troops, a headquarters, and a separate small training establishment. Its

task

is

to

operations and,

commitment

New

support like

the

New SAS

in

Zealand

defense

forces

in

their

the United Kingdom, has a major

to counter-terrorist missions. The uniform

is

standard

Zealand Army, but badges are similar to those of the British

Special Air Service.

39

Special Forces

Norway Army

o so

Forsvarets

Spesial

Kommando

(FSK) (=

Armed

Commando)

Forces' Special

the Army's

is

manned mainly by former members of the Fallskjermjeger Kommando (parachute-hunter commando) and the Marinejeger Kommando (naval hunter commando). The FSK has close links with the British SAS. Its roles include hostage rescue and the protection of North Sea oil rigs. counter-terrorist team, and

is

Navy

Marine •v

Jegere (= naval hunters) are equivalent

British

o

function and organization to the

in

whom

SBS and US Navy SEALs, with both of

they regularly

enemy

missions are deep penetration reconnaissance and sabotage on

and during the Cold

War

their main targets

train.

would have been Soviet Northern

on and around the Kola Peninsula. They can be delivered to submarine or canoes.

Their main

naval installations

Fleet bases

their targets by parachute,

o H e >

Police

There

ISA special unit of the National Police Force which specializes

and hostage-rescue missions.

Pakistan

It is

Group

Special Services

Since the acrimonious India spilled

split

when

counter-terrorist

in

designated the Beredskaptrop.

the

two countries obtained

independence

their

in

1947,

and Pakistan have maintained a state of armed confrontation, which has sometimes

over into actual warfare. This has dominated Pakistani defense thinking for the past

50 years, but problems on

its

northern and western borders have also begun to merit

made

greater attention, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

paramount geostrategic importance. Pakistan has developed

its

Pakistan

country of

a

special forces in this context,

although the long periods of military rule have also affected the way

in

which such forces

have developed.

There

is

one

Special Forces

terrorist company.

The

Group

of three battalions and an independent counter-

tasking of these units

is

the responsibility of three top-level bodies:

the Army's Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence Intelligence

Bureau

[IB].

Military Intelligence [Ml],

(ISI),

and the

Ever since their inception there has been a large degree of overlap

between them. A further complication has been that they have tended to become involved in political

Poland

1999 and

March

equipment

is

military

its

I

becoming Western-

permit.

GROM's international

and

1994.

Democracy

in

Haiti

estimated

is

number

rescue

and VIP

are trained as

Despite

appearance

their

on

GROM

are

the

the

trained

40

994,

in

including

protection.

A

combat swimmers. recent

relatively

counter-terrorist

participated

the USA's

in

Operation Restore Democracy 1

great

four-person

techniques,

counter-terrorist

hostage

in

The

some 300

women,

whom work

The operators

teams.

scene,

have

to

including

majority of in

Przez-

Commando

(1st

Regiment) and combat swimmers from

members,

Restore

PSK)

in

from

7th Lujcyka Naval Assault Division.

when

provided VIP protection

forces'

of volunteers

consists

(I

unit

during the US-led Operation

armed

Polish

Komandosow Specalnego

Pulk

naczenia

reputation was strengthened it

the

counter-terrorist unit was formed 1991

in

oriented as rapidly as finance will

GROM,

and AK-74 assault

Poland joined NATO

rifle.

Grom

paratrooper with

Right: Polish flak jacket

matters, particularly during the periods of military rule.

where one of their main

in Haiti in

roles

was

in

.

Special Forces

VIP protection.

It

also believed that approximately

is

50 members of

GROM

accompanied

o -

the Polish battalion to Bosnia.

Weapons Tantal

5.45mm

assault

& Koch MP5

Heckler

include

rifle.

Sniper

rifles

sub-machine guns and

Polish-designed

the

are usually either the Mauser 86 or Heckler

& Koch

PSG-I

I

Portugal

o

o so H ft

Grupo De Operacoes

Especials

Above: Four RIBs (rubberized inflatable

Portugal took

several years to absorb the lessons of the 1972 Munich Olympic

disaster and did not start to

Operations Group)

until

groundwork, most of

it

form

its

Grupo De Operacoes becoming

1979, with the unit

in

fully

Especiais

operational

in

(GOE) (= 983. The 1

Games

its

relatively

Following the end

careful

colonial wars, Portuguese forces

Personnel are they

undergo

an

all

intensive

eight-month

training

course. This

aircraft, buildings, buses,

and

covers

their

off,

and special forces (Grupo de Operacoes Especials) are now totally

volunteers and after the usual rigorous vetting and selection process

techniques against targets such as

of

short existence.

believed that close ties with Israeli special forces have also been established.

It is

of the

Special

close liaison with the British Special Air Service (SAS), did pay

however, and the unit has established a fine reputation during

boats)

Portuguese Marine Battalion.

committed

to

national

and NATO missions.

hostage-rescue

trains, as well as

maritime

assault and VIP protection.

Weapons used PSG-I sniper

rifle,

include Heckler

although

some

& Koch MP5 sub-machine guns and

Israeli

weapons, such

may also be used. The only known GOE operation was

the

same company's

as the sniper version of the

7.62mm

Galil,

terrorists holed-up in the Turkish terrorists

blew themselves

Embassy

a in

hostage rescue attempt against a group of Lisbon. This

ended unsuccessfully because the

up, apparently by accident.

41

Special Fori

i

>>

Russian Federation

-

Right: Russian

deplane from a

en

> z

n m O m 30

armed

helicopter

Spetsnaz troops Mi-8

Mil in

"Hip"

mountainous

country. The (then) Soviet

Army

brought such operations to a high degree of efficiency during the

war

in

Afghanistan, even

though they

H

overall

lost

the

campaign.

Below: Spetsnaz troops

undergoing urban warfare training. These

troops established

a fearsome reputation during the latter years of the Cold

War

Spetsnaz

and would have been a major threat to NATO,

particularly to

HQs and nuclear conflict

units,

had

broken out.

During the

1

970s,

when

the Cold

War was

at

its

height, the

West became aware of the known as

existence of Soviet Spetsnaz troops, which were grouped into what were 'diversionary brigades." Today, although the still

part of the

Cold

War

is

long since ended, Spetsnaz units are

order-of-battle, although

Russian

their

missions have

changed.

Spetsnaz (Spetsialnoye nazranie = troops of special purpose) were raised as the troops of the

Glavnoe razvedyvatel'noe upravlenie (GRU) (=

main intelligence directorate [of the General

Staff])

and

in

the

1980s

numbered some 30,000. These were deployed: one Spetsnaz company per Army; one Spetsnaz regiment in each of the three "theaters of operations"; one Spetsnaz brigade in each of the four Soviet Fleets; and an independent Spetsnaz brigade in most military districts of the USSR. There were also special Spetsnaz intelligence units, one to each Front and Fleet: total 20. A Spetsnaz company was 135 strong, normally operating in 15 independent teams, although they could also combine for specific missions. A Spetsnaz brigade was 1,000-1,300 strong and consisted of a headquarters,

three

or

four

parachute

company, and supporting troops.

It

battalions,

a

communications

also included an anti-VIP

company,

composed of some 70-80 regular troops (ie, not conscripts) whose mission was to seek out, identify and kill enemy political and military leaders. A naval Spetsnaz brigade had a headquarters, two to three battalions of combat swimmers, a parachute also had a

It

battalion, supporting units,

and an anti-VIP company.

group of midget submarines, designed to deliver combat

swimmers to distant targets. The existence of Spetsnaz was a closely guarded secret within the Warsaw Pact and individual troops were not allowed to admit membership, to the extent that army Spetsnaz wore standard airborne uniforms and insignia, while naval Spetsnaz wore naval infantry uniforms and insignia.

Spetsnaz in 1999 Some of the republics which

broke away from the old Soviet Union took

over the Spetsnaz units within their borders or have converted parachute units to the Spetsnaz role. Within the Russian Federation Spetsnaz units are less well trained

and equipped, at

a

lower strength, and at a lesser degree of readiness than during the 1970s

and 1980s. Despite

that,

they continue to exist, although their numbers are not

known

for

certain.

Naval Spetsnaz also continue to serve

in

the Northern, Baltic, Black Sea, and Pacific

fleets.

Most of these are subordinate to the Fleet commanders, but some are under the direct control of the Naval Commander-in-Chief in Moscow. Again, their manning levels are not known and it may be that, like other areas in the Russian armed forces, they are seriously under strength.

42

Special Forces

Missions Although Spetsnaz units may be used for other purposes during peacetime, their primary to carry out strategic missions during the

role

is

war

itself.

These wartime tasks would

days prior to

final

war breaking out and

deep reconnaissance of

include:

in

strategic targets; the

destruction of strategically important command-control-and-communications (C3)

facilities;

50

the destruction of strategic weapons' delivery systems; demolition of important bridges and

transportation routes; and the kidnapping or assassination of important military and political

Many of these missions would be some even before war had actually broken

carried out before the

leaders.

enemy could

C/5

react and

out.

m D m

Uniforms The Russian Federation now acknowledges the existence

t:

of Spetsnaz units and, as a result,