The Really Big List of International Elite Forces

[Dominique]

OK people here's a qucik and dirty list of international elite units. It will be added to slowly.

ALBANIA:
Commando Brigade
Naval Commandos
Reparti Eleminimit dhe Neutralizimit te Elementit te Armatosur (RENEA/88) (CT)
Reparti I Operacioneve Speciale (ROS) (CT)

ARGENTINA:
MILITARY UNITS:
Compania de Comandos 601 (Ca Cdo(s) 601/CC601) - The Army’s SF/Commando unit. Trained in parachuting, mountain warfare, SCUBA and amphibious ops.
Agrupación de Comandos Anfibios (APCA) - Infanteria de Marina (Argentine Marine Corps) special ops/recon unit.
Agrupacion de Buzos Tacticos (APBT) - Argentine Navy combat diver unit.
Escuadron de Apoyo Comando (EAC) - The Fuerza Aérea (Argentine AF) special ops unit. Conducts LRRP, CSAR, and anti-hijack operations. All the units members are qualified HALO parachutists.

GENDARMERIA NACIONAL UNITS:
Sección de Fuerzas Especiales de Gendarmería National - The Gendarmería’s parachute trained national CT unit.
Grupo Especial Alacran/Escuadron Alacran “Scorpions” - (Gendarmeria’s SF unit)
Sección Operaciones Especiales de Monte de Gendarmería National “Groupe Monte” - (Jungle Special Operations Section) - The Gendarmería’s parachute and SCUBA trained jungle unit.
Unidad Especial de Lucha Contra Narcotraficante (UELCON - Special Unit for the Struggle Against Narcotics Trafficers) – The Gendarmería’s elite parachute trained counter narcotics unit.
Equipo Antiterrorista (Antiterrorist Team) - Gendarmerie unit is located in Evita City. Responds to barricade situations throughout Argentina, but primarily operates in rural areas. They also provide limited dignitary protection for government officials traveling in these areas.

POLICE UNITS:
Brigada Especial Operativa Halcon (BEOH)/Grupo Halcon (Falcon Special Operations Brigade/Falcon Group) - “Brigada Halcon” - Buenos Aires Police national CT/SWAT unit.
Grupo Especial de Operaciones Federales (GEOF) - Guardia de Infantería de la Policía Federal national CT unit
Departamental de Seguridad de la Provincia de Buenos Aires.
Tropa de Operaciones Especiales (TOE) - Policía Provincial de Santa Fé SWAT Team.
Escuadrón Táctico Especial Recomendado (ETER) - Policía Provincial de Córdoba SWAT Team.
Grupo Albatros - Prefectura Naval - Maritime CT unit.
Grupo de Respuesta Inmediata de Alto Riesgo (GRIAR) - Immediate High Risk Response Group) - The Guardacostas (Coast Guard) SWAT/CT/anti-hijack unit - Located in Buenos Aires, conducts river and maritime operations in the lakes and rivers and anything close to the coast line. Specialized boarding, rescue, diving and maritime counter-terrorism unit.

FEDERAL PRISON SERVICE UNITS:
Grupo Especial Operaciones Penitenciarias (GEOP) - Servicio Penitenciario Federal (SPF) national SWAT team.
Grupo Especial de Intervención (GEI) - Servicio Penitenciario Federal SWAT Team.
Grupo de Acción Rápida (GAR) - SWAT Team. Only operates in the Complejo Uno Prison from Ezeiza. Servicio Penitenciario Federal.
Grupo de Elite de Traslados - Escorts dangerous criminals from prison to courtroom, or to another prison. Servicio Penitenciario Federal.

AUSTRIA:
Jagdkommando (Rangers)
Gebirgsjaegerbattalions (Mountain Warfare units)
Gendarmerie Einsatz Kommando (GEK - "COBRA" - CT)

AUSTRALIA:
Special Operations Command (SOCOMD)
Special Air Service Regiment (SASR)
-Base Squadron
-HQ
-Anti Terrorism Cell
-Training and Operational Support Squadron
-Instruction Wing
-Wings : Medical, Transport, Material, Supply
1, 2, 3 “Sabre” Squadrons
“A Troop” - HALO Troop
“B Troop” - Boat Troop
“C Troop” - Mobility Troop
Counter Terrorism and Special Recovery (CTSR) Teams -TAG (West)
A Squadron 5th Aviation Regiment
152 Signal Squadron
4th Battalion (Commando) Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) (4RAR Cdo)
-A (Reserve), B, C and D Companies
-Tactical Assault Group, East (composed of personnel for 4RAR and RAN personnel)
- Aviation Platoon from “B” Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment
Special Operations Combat Service Support Company (SOCSSC)
Army Reserve 1st Commando Regiment (1st Cdo Regt)
-HQ Company
-Signal Troop
-Maintenance Troop
-Training Troop
-Base Operation Section
-Base Radio Section
-1 Cdo Coy, 2 Cdo Coy
-126th Signal Squadron
Swan Island Special Warfare Detachment
Incident Response Regiment (IRR)
* Navy Clearance Diving Branch
CDT1, CDT4 and Reserve Diving Teams CDTs

Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) Covert Action Directorate - (Aussie version of the CIA's SAD)

RAAF Airfield Defense Guards (Counter SOF unit)

Regional Force Surveillance Units (RFSU):
-51 Far North Queensland Regiment (51 FNQR)
-Pilbara Regiment (Pilbara Reg.)
-North West Mobile Force (NORFORCE)
3RAR (Para)
- Recon Platoon

BAHRAIN:
U-Group

BANGLADESH:
1st Para-Commando Battalion

BELARUS:
5th Spetsnaz brigade
Almaz

BELGIUM:
Para-Commando Brigade:
-1Para Battalion
-2Cdo Battalion
-3Para Battalion
-Special Forces group
-Eskadron Der Gidsen (recce)
(The ESR and Pathfinders are now consolidaed in one company of the 3 Regiment de Lanciers Parachutiste)
-Eskadron Der Gidsen (recce)

Protectie Observatie Steun Arrestatie (POSA - National Police Regional SWAT units)
Escadron Special d'Intervention (ESI-National Police CT unit)

BOLIVIA:
Special Forces Training Centre
Balattion de Infanteria de Marina “Almirante Gran”

BRAZIL:
Força de Ação Rápida-FAR
Brigada de Infantaria Pára-quedista (Parachute Infantry Brigade)
Companhia de Precursorers Para-Quedista (CIA PREC - Parachute Pathfinder Company)
12ª Brigada de Infantaria Leve (Aeromovel)(12th Light Infantry Brigade-Airmobile)

Brigada de Operações Especiais (Bda Op Esp)
Base Administrativa (Adminstrative Base)
3ª Companhia de Forças Especiais (Pára-quedista) - sediada em Manaus (3rd Special Forces Co.)
Centro de Instrução de Operações Especiais (Special Operations Instruction Center)
Companhia de Defesa Química, Biológica e Nuclear (Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Co.)
1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais (Pára-quedista) (1° BFEsp - 1st Special Forces Battalion)
- Counter Terrorism Detachment
Destacamento de Operações Psicológicas (PSYOPS Det.)
1º Batalhão de Ações de Comandos (Pára-quedista) (1st Commando Bn, Airborne)

11o Batalhao de Infantaria de Montanha (11th Mountain INfantry Bn.)

Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais (CFN)-(Naval Rifle Corps-Marines)
-Brigada Anfíbia (BAnf) (Amphibious Brigade)
Comandos Anfibios-COMANFI (Amphibious Commandos)
Grupo Especial de Resgate (GER) - Special Rescue Group

Grupo de Mergulhadores de Combate-GRUMEC (Combat Divers Group)
Grupo Especial de Retomada e Resgate do Mergulhadores de Combate (GERR/MEC - Combat Divers Retake and Rescue Special Group) - GRUMEC’s MCT team

Esquadrão Aeroterrestre de Salvamento “PARA-SAR” - (Parachute Search and Rescue)

BULGARIA:
Mountain warfare Unit

BRUNEI:
Special Combat Squadron

CANADA:
Charlie Company (Para), 3rd Bn., Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR)
Charlie Company (Para), 3rd Bn. Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI)
Charlie Company (Para), 3rd Bn. Royal Vingt Deuxieme Regiment
Joint Task Force Two (JTF-2/CT)

CHINA (PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA):
15th Airborne Corps
6th Special Warfare Group
8th Special Warfare Group
12th Special Warfare SF Detachment
Naval Infantry Force

Special Police Unit, People's Armed Police

CHILE:
Special Forces Brigade
Escuela de Paracaidistas y Fuerzas Especiales (School of S.F.)
-Special Forces Battalion
-Parachute Battalion

1st , 2nd Comando Regiments

6th Comando Regiment (desert ops)
-Parachute Battalion
Pathfinders

Yungay (Mountain Infantry Unit) Nº 3
Talca (Mountain Infantry Unit) Nº 16
Los Angeles (Mountain Infantry Unit) Nº 17
Guardia Vieja (Mountain Infantry Unit) Nº 18

Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina (Chilean Marine Corps)
Agrupación de Comandos Infantería de Marina Nº 51 (Marines SOF unit)

Comando de Buzos Tacticos de la Armada (Navy SF commandoes)
Grupo de Abordaje y Registro de la Armada de Chile (GARA) (Naval Registry and Boarding Group)
Grupo de Respuesta Inmediata de Directemar (GIR - Immediate Response Group)

Escuadrilla de Paracaidistas de la Frueza Aerea de Chile (FACh) “Bionas Azules” (AF "Blue Beret" Pachute Bn.)

Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales (Air Force SF/Commando unit)
Paracaidistas de Busqueda, Salvamento y Rescate (PARASAR - Air Force SAR unit)
Agrupación Antisecuestros Aéreos de la FACh- (ASA - Air Force anti-hijack unit)

Unidad Anti-Terroristes (UAT) of the National Police Force “Cobra”
Grupo de Operaciones de Policia Especiales (GOPE) of the Carabineros

COLOMBIA:
Fuerza de Despliegue Rápido (FUDRA)
Brigada de Fuerzas Especiales (Special Forces Brigade)
Lanceros (Colombian Army "Rangers")

“Brigada de Fuerzas Especiales de Lucha Contra el Narcotrafico”/ Brigada Contra el Narcotrafico
- Batallón Contra el Narcotráfico N° 1
- Batallones Especiales Anti-Narcóticos (Special Anti-Narcotics Battalions)?

Agrupación de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas (AFEUR) (Urban Antiterrorist Special Forces Group)
Companias Contra Guerrillos Urbanos (CCGU - Urban Counter Guerilla Companies)
GAES (Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Groups of the Colombian Army)
Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marine (Naval Infantry Corps)
Grupo Operational Contra Extorsion y Secuestros (GOES) (Counter Extortion and Kidnapping Group)
Unidad Nacional Anti Secuestro y Extorsión (UNASE - National Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Unit)

Grupo de Comandos Anfibios (GCA - SEAL type unit)
Grupo Anti-Secuestro de Aviones (GASDA - (Aircraft Anti-Hijacking Group) (part of Colombian Air Force)

COSTA RICA:
Unidad de Intervencio Especial (UIE) (CT)

CROATIA:
Specijalna Policija

CUBA:
Comando de Missiones Especiales (CME)
BE PNR

CYPRUS:
Mobile Immediate Action Unit (Police Anti-terror Special Forces)
Greek Cypriot Commandos (LRRP type unit)
Greeh Cypriot OYK (Marine Commandos - SEAL type unit)

CZECH REREPUBLIC:
601. Skupina Specialnich sily (601.SSS - formally - Speciální Brigáda – “Generála Moravce” 6/6th Special Brigade - around 500 members - LRRP type unit) located in Prostejov
Speciální jednotka vojenské policie SOG (Military police SOG - small unit-around 60 members) (CT unit. Similiar to Delta)
102.Průzkumny Prapor (Reconnaissance battalion - around 450 members)
71 Vysadkovy Prapor - (Airborne unit)

Útvar Rychlého Nasazení (URNa - National Police CT unit - around 110 members)

DENMARK:
Jaegerkorpset. (SAS type unit)
Froemanskorpset (Frogman Corps – SEAL type unit)
Patruljekompagni / Hærens Operative Kommando. (A Home Guard LRRP unit)
Patruljekompagniet/Danske Division
Siriuspatruljen (Sirius Patrol)
Politiets Indsats Styrke / Danish Police counter terrorism force.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
Comando Especial Antiterrorista (Army CT unit)
Comandos Anfibios (NavyCombat divers tasked with, among other things, counter-narcotics and hostage-rescue operations

ECUADOR:
Brigada de Fuerzas Especiales N.- 9 “Patria”
Grupo Especial de Operaciones (GEO/ CT)
Puma Unit (Army SF)
Grupo de Intervencion y Rescate (GIR -Intervention and Rescue Group)
Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marine

EGYPT:
Unit 777/`Sa’aga “Thunderbolt Force”
UDT/SEAL-type unit (designation unknown)
`Special Operations Troops' of the Central Security Forces (a branch of the Ministry of the Interior) (VIP protection, SWAT-type etc)
Amphibious Brigade

EL SALVADOR:
Comando de Fuerzas Especiales (CFE)
Grupo de Operaciones Especiales (GOE)
- Patrullas de Reconocimiento de Alcance Largo (PRAL - LRRPs)
-Hacha “Hatchet” (SAS type direct action unit)
Comando Especial Antiterrorista (CEAT - “Special Anti-Terrorist Command”)
Battelion de Infateria de Marina
Compania de Comandos Marina (Marine Commando Company)
Batallon de Paracaidistas ( BAPAC - Parachute Battalion)
Grupo de Respuesta Policial (GRP - Police Response Group)

ESTONIA:
Special Operations Group (SOG)

FIJI:
Army First Meridian Squadron (CI) unit

FINLAND:
Laskuvarjojaakarikoulu (Airborne Ranger school)
Laivaston Erikoistoimintayksikko (Navy Special operation unit)
1.Rannikkojaakarikomppania (1st Marine commando company)
Sissikomppaniat (Ranger/Guerilla warfare companies)
Osasto Karhu “Bear Unit” of the Helsinki Police Department (SWAT/Hostage Rescue)
Frontier Guard readiness teams

FRANCE:
Commandement des Operations Speciales (COS-Special Operations Command)

Brigade des Forces Speciales Terre (BFST-Army Special Fores Brigade)
-1er Regiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine (1er RPI Ma) (Para-Commandoes - nearest French equivalent to SAS/SF)
Détachement Aviation Légère de l’Armée deTterre (ALAT) des Opérations Spéciales (DAOS - Army Light Aviation Special Operations Det) - 1st Escadrille des Operations Speciales , 2nd Escadrille des Operations Speciales
-13eme Regiment Dragoons de Parachutiste (LRRPs)

Force Maritime des Fusiliers Marins Commandos (FORFUSCO)
* Commando de Penfentenyo
* Commando de Montfort
* Commando Jaubert (Assault - includes the "Escouade de Combat en Milieu Clos/ECMC - former Goupement de Combat en Milieu Clos/GCMC- 17 man maritime CT team)
* Commando Trepel

* Commando d'Action Sous-Marine (CASM) Hubert (French naval combat swimmers)
1st Company
A section - HQ
B section - Maritime Counter-Terrorism (MCT)
C section - Swimmer Deliver Vehicle unit
D section - beach recon/naval commando/HALO/HAHO
E section - Boat support unit
2nd Company -Support, Communications, maintenance

Division des Operations Speciales (DOS) (French Air Force special ops aviation unit)
l'Escadrille des helicopters Speciaux (Special Helicopter Squadron) is controlled by DOS
Commando Parachutiste de l'Air 10 (CPA 10 -CCT, TACP, Airfield Seizure)

Commando Parachutiste de l'Air 20 (CPA 20 - Mesures Actives de Sûreté Aerienne -MASA/Aaviation security)

Groupe de Récupération au Sol (GRS) (Search and Recovery Groups)
Commando Parachutiste de l'Air 30 (RESCO - Frecn Air Force CSAR security unit)
Sauveteur-Plongeur RESCO (French Air Force CSAR Rescue-Divers)

*11eme Brigade Parachutiste (11th Parachute Brigade)
-2e Regiment Etranger Parachutiste (2e REP)
-1er Regiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (1e RCP)
-3e Regiment Parachutiste d’Infanterie de Marine (3e RPIMa)
-8e Regiment Parachutiste d’Infanterie de Marine(8e RPIMa)
-35e Regiment d’Artillerie Parachutiste (35e RAP)
-1e Regiment de Hussards Parachutiste (1e RHP)
-17e Regiment du Genie Parachutiste (17e RGP)
*Section Nautique d’Intervention Offensive (SNIO)
1er Regiment de Transmissions Parachutiste (RTP)
4e Battery, 57th Regiment d’Artillerie (4e Bat/57 RA)
11e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions Parachutiste (11e CCTP)
-Groupement de Commandos Parachutistes (GCP) (Formally CRAP- Commandos de Recherche et d'Action en Profondeur) (LRRP/Pathfinder unit)

Brigade de Renseignement
*2e Regiment de Hussards

27e Brigade d'Infanterie de Montagne (27th Mountain Infantry Brigade)
*URH-27 (Unite' de Recherche Humaine)

9e Brigade Legere Blindee d'Infanterie de Marine (9th Marine Light Infantry Brigade) *even though "Marine" (Navy/Naval) is in it's title, it's actually under control of the Army.
*Detachement d'Intervention Operationelle (DIO)

Foreign Legion (regiments are integrated within different brigades):
* 1er Regiment Etranger
* 2er Regiment d'Infanterie
* 3e Regiment d'Infanterie
* 4e Regiment Etranger
* 1er Regiment Etranger De Cavalerie (1e REC)
* 2er Regiment Etranger de Parachutiste (2er REP) (Also a part of 11e BP):
- 1ere CIE (Co) - specialists on night combat, anti-armor and at combat in built up areas.
- 2eme CIE - specialists at mountain warfare.
- 3eme CIE - specialists at amphibious warfare.
- 4eme CIE - specialists at demolition/sabotage, sniping.
- 5eme CIE - Maintenance of equipment
- CEA - Maintenance and recon company, (GCP- Groupment de Commandos Parachutiste, two platoons of MILAN anti-tank missiles, one anti-aircraft artillery platoon, and a mechanized reconnaissance platoon.)
* 5e Regiment Mixte du Pacifique
* Detachment Legion Etranger de Mayotte
* 13 Demi-Brigade Legion Etrangere
*1er Regiment Etranger de Genie (REG)
- DINOPS (Detachment d'Intervention Nautique Operations de Profondeur Subaquatique) (parachute and combat diver trained engineers)
* 2e REG

Groupe Plongeurs-Demineurs (GPD -French Navy EOD)

Groupement de Sécurité et d'Intervention Gendarmerie Nationale (GSIGN)
*Groupe de Sécurité de la Présidence de la République (GSPR)
*Groupe d'Intervention Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN- counter-terrorism)
-Equipe d'Infiltration et de Reconnaissance (EIR- Recconnaissance and Infiltration Team)
*Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention Gendarmerie Nationale (EPIGN-counter-terrorism/VIP escort/Special Ops)
- Groupe d'Observation et de Recherche (GOR)

Peloton de Surveillance et D'Intervention de la Gendarmerie (PSIG - Gendarmarie Nationale SWAT units: Montmorency, Cergy, Clermont, Corse(Corsica), Basque Country)
Equipes Légères d'Intervention (ELI - Light Intevention Teams/Riot control unit) ?

Recherche, Assistance, Intervention, et Dissuasion “Black Panthers” (RAID- National Police CT unit)
Groupe d'Intervention Police Nationale (GIPN- National Police SWAT units)

Peloton de Sécurité et de Surveillance Nucléaire (PSSN - Nuclear Security and Surveillance Platoon)

Équipe Régionale d'Intervention et de Sécurité (ERIS)

Groupe Aerien Mixte 56 (GAM56 - DGSE special ops aviation unit)

GERMANY:
Division für Spezielle Operationen (Special Operations Division)
Kommando Spezialkraefte (KSK - The Army's SAS type special ops unit)
Fernspählehrkompanie 200 (Army LRRP unit)
Fallschirmjaeger (Parachutists)

Gebirgsjaeger (Mountain Warfare troops)

SEKM Battalion (Spezialisierte Einsatzkräfte Marine - Navy Special Forces).
-Kampfschwimmer Kompanie (KS - Combat Diver)
- Minentaucherkompanie (MiTaKp - Mine Clearance Company)
-Marinesicherungstruppe (Naval Infantry Unit)
-----1st Company (Kampfschwimmer support/ NEO etc etc)
-----2nd Company (Naval Boarding Operations)
-Medical/ Logistics unit.

Grenzschutzgruppe 9 [GSG 9, Counter-Terrorists]
Spezialeinsatzkommando (SEK - German State Police SWAT units)
ZentralUnterstutzungseinheit Zoll (ZUZ - Customs Central Operation Support Group)

GREECE:
Eidiko Tmima Alexiptotiston (ETA “Special Parachute Unit - Greek Army LRRP/SAS type unit)

1st Sintagma Katadromon (1st Commando Regiment)
- B, D, E Commando Squadrons
2nd Sintagma Alexiptotiston (2nd Parahute Regiment)
-1st Parachute Squadron
-2nd parachute Squadron
13th Sintagma Amfivion Katadromon (13th Amphibious Commando Regiment)
- A,C Amphibious Commando Squadrons
32nd Taxiarhia Bezonafton (32nd Marine Brigade)

Monada Ypovrixion Kastrofon (MYK - “Underwater Destruction Unit”) now DYK
Dimoria Eidikon Apostolon (DEA - Special Mission Platoon) of the Athens City Police (CT)

Eidikes Katastaltikes Antitromokratikes Monades (EKAM - Police CT unit)

Special Operations Squadron “Achiles” - AF CSAR unit.

Coast Guard Underwater Operations Unit (MYA)
Klimakio Idikon Apostolon (KEA - Special Missions Detechments)

GUATEMALA:
Agrupacion Kaibil
Agrupacion Tactica de Seguridad (ATS)
Infanteria de Marina

HONDURAS:
2nd Airborne Infantry Battalion
Special Forces Battalion
Commando de Operaciones (COE) of the Honduras Army SF Command (CT)

HONG KONG:
Police Special Duties Unit (SDU) of the Hong Kong Police

HUNGARY:
1st Mixed Cavalry Regiment (Air Assault, Light Infantry, Mechanized, Peackeeping, Force Protection, etc)

24th "Bornemissza" Battalion
34th "Laszo Bercsényi" Battalion


ICELAND:
Viking Squad - SWAT unit

INDIA:
Para Commando Battalions (1st, 9th, 10th, 21st Special Forces Battalions)
Marine Commando Force (MCF)
- Quick Reaction Section (QRS- Maritime CT)
National Security Guards "Black Cats"
-Special Action Group (SAG- military personnel assigned to assault squadrons)
-Special Rangers Group (SRG-paramilitary & police personnel who form the perimeter security unit)

Special Frontier Force
Special Services Group of the Special Frontier Force
Special Security Group (Indian Secret Service)
Special Security Bureau (SSB)(2 - battalions)
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)
Special Group III

INDONESIA:
Special Warfare Command
Kommando Pasukan Khusus (KOPASSUS) - Army Special Forces
- Unit 81 (Army Special Forces CT unit)
Komando Pasukan Katak (KOPASKA) (Indonesian Navy - SEAL type unit)
Paskhas (AF Special Ops unit)
Satgas Atbhara (Counter-Terrorist Task Force of the Indonesian Air Force)
Detachment Bravo (AF CT unit)
Jala Menkara (Indonesian Marine Corps)
Taifib (Marine Corps amphibious recon unit)
Jala Mangkala (MCT unit drawn from Kopaska and Taifib)
Satgas Gegania (Counter-Terrorist Task Force of the Indonesian National Police)
Resimen Pelopor Brigade Mobil (BRIMOP)
Gegana (SWAT type under police command)
Detachment 88 (Police CT unit)

IRAN:
23rd Special Forces Brigade

IRAQ:
The Iraqi Special Operations Force
-36th Commando Battalion
-The Iraqi Counterterrorism Battalion
Emergency Response Unit (Iraqi National Police SWAT team)
Iraqi Intervention Forces - Anti-Guerilla Unit of Iraqi Army
Mechanized Police Brigade - Iraqi Police's Anti-Guerilla Unit
Special Police Commando Battalions - CT unit under reformed Interior Ministry.

IRELAND, REPUBLIC OF
Irish Army Ranger Wing (ARW)
Garda (police) Emergency Response Unit

ISRAEL:
T'zanhanim (Parachute) Brigade
Golani Brigade
Sayeret Golany (PALSAR 95), based in the Shrga army base.
Sayeret Givaty (PALSAR 8234), based in Mishmar HaNegev army base.
Sayeret NAHAL (PALSAR 374), based in the Beit Lead army base.
Sayeret T'zanhanim (PALSAR 5173), based in the Beit Lead army base.
Unit Rotem (LRRP unit stationed along Israeli/Egyptian border)
Sayaret Mat'kal [attached to General Staff] (counter-terrorism & intelligence)
Sayeret Duvdevan (occupied territories undercover unit)

Unit 5101 (Israeli Air Force special missions unit)
Unit 669 (Israeli Air Force CSAR unit)
Unit 5707 (Israeli Air Force TACP unit)

Sayeret Maglan/Unit 212 (Long range missiles warfare unit - attached to Armor)
Palsar 500 (aka Sayeret Sherion, attached to Armor)
Palsar 7 (aka Sayeret Sherion, attached to Armor)
Sayeret Egoz/Unit 621 - (Counter geurilla ops, attached to Golani brigade (Infantry)
Sayeret Yael (Combat Engineers SF demo unit)
Sayeret Yechida Lesiluk Pt'zat'zot (YACHSAP - Combat Engineers EOD unit)
Moran (Artillery Corps)
Meitar (Artillery Corps)
Special Command Teams (IDF Operational Command’s LRRP units)
Shayetet 13(Naval Commandoes)
LOTAR Eilat/Unit 7707 (CT unit based in Eilat, Israel)
Force 100 (MP SERT unit)
Unit Alpinistim (Alpine/extreme weather unit)
Unit Oket'z/ Unit 7142 (SF K-9 unit)
Unit Yechidat Modiyin Matara/Unit Nit'zan (Unit 636) (YACHMAM - Target Intelligence Unit )

Field Intelligence Corps:
-Unit T'ZASAM/Unit 869 (Field Intelligence Corps)

-Unit Gideonim/Unit 33 (National Police undercover unit)
-Unit YAMAM (Border Guard’s CT/hostage rescue unit)
-Unit YAMAS (Border Guard’s undercover unit)
-Modiyin T'azpiyot Yerut VeLohama Needed (MATILAN - Intelligence Observations Interception and Mobile - Warfare Unit/ Border Guard’s counter infiltration unit)

ITALY:
Brigata Paracadutisti "Folgore"

(C.O.FO.S. - The joint special operations command)

Nucleo Coordinamento Forze per Operazioni Speciali - Special Operations Forces Coordination Cell
9° Regimmento d’' Assalto Incursori Paracadutisti “Col Moschin”
- 1° Battaglione Incursori (110° Compagnie Incursori, 120° Compagnie Incursori )
- RAFOS (Reparto Addestramento Forze Operazioni Speciali)
* 101° Compagnia Allievi
*Base Operativa Incursori (BAI)

- 4° Reggimento Alpini Paracadutisti- “Ranger” - “Monte Cervino”

185° Reggimento Acquisizione Obiettivi (185° RAO)
- Batteria Comando e Supporto Logistico
- 1° Gruppo Acquisizione Obiettivi - GAO
- (3) Batteria Acqusizione Obiettivi (BAO), "Draghi" (ambiente artico e alpino/ arctic and mountain), "Aquile" (ambiente desertico/desert) e "Diavoli" (ambiente continentale /continental).
- Compagnia LRRP

26° Gruppo Squadroni Cavalleria dell' Aria REOS (Reparto Elicotteri Operazioni Speciali /Special Operations Helicopter Unit - The Army’s special ops avn. unit)

13 (GRACO) - disbanded

Comando Truppe Alpine
-Brigate Alpine “ Tourinese”
-Brigate Alpine “Julia”
-Brigate Alpine “Tridenta”

Reggimento Lagunari “Serenissima” (Army amphibious troops)
- Plotone Esploratore Anfibio (Amphibious Exploration/Reconnaissance Platoon)

Forza da Sbarco della Marina Militare (MARIFORSBARC)
Reggimento San Marco (Italian Marines)
- Reparto Comando (Command Unit)
*Nucleo Osservatori Tiro Contra Costa (NOTCC -Forward Observer Cell)
- Battaglione Assalto “Grado” (Assault Battalion “Grado”)
- (3) Compagnia Assalto
- Compagnia Armi (Arms Company)
- Compagnia Operazioni Navali (Naval Operations Company)
- Compagnia Operazioni Speciali (COS - Special Operations Company) former Recon/DOA (Demolitori Ostacoli Antisbarco) (obstacle clearance divers)

15° Stormo
-82nd Centro SAR
-83rd Centro SAR
-84th Centro SAR

Reparto Incursori dell’ Aeronautica Militare (RIAM - formally Squadre Supporto Operazioni Speciali - SSOS (Special Operations Support Squadron - Italian Air Force’s CSAR, LRRP, TACP specialists - equivalent of USAF Special Tactics Teams) “Aerosoccorritori”.

*It also includes COM.SU. BIN’s GOI incursori .

16° Stormo Fucilieri dell’Aria (new AF air base defense unit)
Battaglione Fucilieri dell'Aria
-1° Compagnia, 2° Compagnia

Raggruppamento Subacquei ed Incursori “Teseo Tesei” (COM.SUB.IN - Italian Navy combat diver/Special Ops unit)
-GOI (Gruppo Operativo Incursori)
-GOS (Gruppo Operativo Subacquei)
-GNS (Gruppo Navale Speciale)

2a Brigata Mobile
- 1° Reggimento Carabinieri Paracadutisti “Tuscania”
Regimental HQ
Command and Support Company
Training Unit
and Battaglione Tuscania, made up of:
1a Compagnia (Amphibious ops)
2a Compagnia (Mountain ops)
3a Compagnia (HALO/HAHO)
- Gruppo d’Intervento Speciale (GIS)
-7° Reggimento Carabinieri "Trentino Alto Adige"
-13° Reggimento Carabinieri "Friuli Venezia Giulia"

Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza (NOCS - National Police CT unit)
Gruppo Operativo Speciale (GOS - National Police SWAT unit)

AntiTerrorismo Pronto Impiego (ATPI - Anti-terrorism Quick Intervention) (Guardia di Finanza /Finance Guard SWAT/ riot control unit)

Gruppo Operativo Mobile (GOM) (Operational Mobile Group - Polizia Peniteziaria)

JAPAN:
1st Airborne Brigade
- “Guide Unit” (1st Airborne Bde’s NEO unit)
Western Army Infantry Regiment (GSDF counter SOF unit)
- Ranger Platoon (infantry regiment recon unit)
“S” GSDF CT/Special Ops unit
Special Guard Force - (SGF, MSDF/ Navy special ops unit)
Special Security Team (SST, Japanese Maritime Safety Agency’s -- Coast Guard-- maritime CT unit)
Special Assault Team (SAT, National Police Agency’s CT unit)
Special Investigaton Team (SIT)
Special Boarding Unit (SBU)

JORDAN:
Royal Jordanian Special Operation Command (RJSOC)
Special Forces Brigade
-Special Operations Unit 71 (SOU 71)
-81st Ranger Battalion
-91st Airborne Orientation Battalion
-101st Special Forces Battalion
Royal Jordanian Special Operations Aviation Squadron

-Fixed Wing Element
-Helicopter Element (Puma, UH-1, AH-1 Cobras)
-Special Forces Element
Royal Jordanian Navy Frogman Team
Royal Jordanian Navy Special Boat Unit

KENYA:
General Service Unit (GSU) of the Kenya Police

KUWAIT:
Special Forces Counterterrorist Unit - CT unit under Interior Ministry

10th Commando Battalion - Guards Falayka Island and Kuwait International Airport (in peacetime), and reportedly also has a special boat unit for maritime ops.

Special Forces Unit - revived by Allied forces after end of Desert Storm.

Fast Attack Unit - coastal patrol and maritime interdiction

Combat Swimmer Unit

LATVIA:
Specialo Uzdevumu Vieniba (SUV) (SF- green beret )
Izlukdesanta Bataljons (IDB) “Lynx Battalion” (Airborne/Parachute Reconnaissance Battalion)
VAP (Latvian Secret Service)
-Special Intervention Group (SIG-SF/CT unit)
-Escort Unit (Body Guards)

LEBANON:
Maokataha of the Lebanese Army

Marine Commando Regiment

LITHUANIA:
ARAS (police CT/SWAT unit)
Gelezinis Vilkas “Iron Wolves” (an Airborne Brigade)

MALAYSIA:
Grup Gerak Khas (GGK - Special Service Group)
-21st Commando Regiment
-22nd Commando Regiment
-11th Special Forces Regiment
Pasukan Khas Laut (PASKAL - Special Naval Force)
Pasukan Gerakan Khas (PGK) (Police special ops unit)
Special Operations Force
- Special Action Unit
- VAT 69
PASKAU
- CART (Combat Air Rescue Team)
- CT Team
- ABGD unit


MALTA:
C (Special Duties) Company, 1st Regiment, Armed Forces of Malta
Rapid Deployment Team, Maritime Squadron, 2nd Regiment, AFM
Special Assignment Group, Malta Police Corps
EOD Section, Ammunition & Explosives Company, 3rd Regiment, AFM

MEXICO:

Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas
- Precursor de asalto aéreo ( Pathfinder Platoons)

Cuerpo de Fuerzas Especiales
- Grupos Aeromóviles de Fuerzas Specials (GAFE)
*Intervention
*Attack
Escuela de Fuerzas Especiales

Patrullas Operaciones Especiales (POE)
“Agujas Negras” (Black Needles)
“Boinas Verdes” (Green Berets)
Kaibiles(Mexican "Kaibils")

Air Force Special Ops unit (euipped with UH-60)

Fuerzas Anfibias
Infantería de Marina Mexicano (Mexican Marine Corps)
* (2) Fuerza Reacción Anfibia (FRA - Amphibious Rapid Reaction Force)
* (1) Fusileros Paracaidistas de la Armada(naval airborne troops)
* (4) Agrupamientos de Infantería de Marina para la Seguridad de Instalaciones Estratégicas (ASIES - Groups for the Security of Strategic Facilities)
* (2) Grupos Anfibios de Fuerzas Especiales (GANFE)

Grupo Antiterrorista (GAT - Police CT unit)
Grupo Especial de Reaccion e Intervencion (GERI- Special Reaction and Intervention Group).

MOROCCO:
Gruppe Intervention Gendarme Nationale (GIGN - CT)

NETHERLANDS:
11th Luchtmobiele Brigade
Korps Commando Troepen (KCT)
- 104th, 105th, 108th SOC
Koninklijke Nederlandse Corps Mariners (KMARNS) (Royal Netherlands Marine Corps - RNLMC)
Lange Afstand Verkenningscompagnie (LAVERCIE)
- Mountain Leader-Verkenningspeloton (MLVerkPel - Mountian Leaders” Reconnaissance Platoon)
- 7NL Special Boat Squadron (Amfibisch Verkenningspeloton/AmfVerkPel - Amphibian Reconnaissance Platoon)
Bijzondere Bijstands Eenheid (BBE - CT)
Brigade Speciale Beveilingsopdrachten (BSB)
Arrestatie Team (AT - Regional SWAT units)

NEW ZEALAND:
1 New Zealand SAS
Navy Operational Diving Team (ODT)
Armed Offenders Squad (AOS)
New Zealand Police Special Tactics Group (STG)
Specialist Search Group (SSG)
Diplomatic Protection Squad

NORTH KOREA:
Light infantry Guidance Bureau
Reconnaissance Bureau

22x Commando Brigades

NORWAY:
Special Operations Forces:
-Marinejegerkommandoen - Naval special forces unit. Based in Ramsund, N.Norway
-Spesialjeger/FSK - Army special forces and counterterror unit. Based in Rena, E.Norway
-(HV-016 - National Guard special unit. Regionally based)

Other,
-FIST/H (Forsvarets Innsatsstyrke/Hær
-KJK/Kystjegerkommandoen/(Marines)
-FJ/Fallskjermjegertroppen(Airborne Pathfinders unit)

Police:
-Beredskapstroppen, or Delta - Police counterterror unit. AFAIK has detachments in major cities (Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger)

OMAN:
Sultan's Special Force
Combat swimmer unit

PAKISTAN:
Special Services Group (SSG)
- Musa Company (CT)
Naval Special Service Group (SSGN)

PAPA NEW GUINEA:
Special Forces Unit

PERU:
Dirección Nacional Contra el Terrorismo
Division de Fuerzas Especiales (DIFE) del Ejército - (Army Special Forces Division)
Batallón de Comandos “Comandante Espinar” Nº 19
- “Delta Company”
Fuerza de Operaciones Especiales (FOES - SEAL type unit)
-GOE Norte, GOE Centro, GOE Nororiente
-EOD
- Salvage unit
Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales (GRUFE Peruvian AF special ops unit)

Fuerza de Infantería de la Marina de Guerra del Perú (FUINMAR - Peruvian Marine Corps)
*Primera Brigada (Anfibia) (5 Battalions)
- Batallón de Infantería de la Marina “Guarnición de Marina” Nº 1
- Batallón de Infantería de la Marina “Guardia Chalaca” Nº 2
- Batallón de Infantería de Marina “Vencedores de Punta Palpelo” Nº 3
- Compañía de Reconocimiento Anfibio
Agrupamiento de Comandos
- Compañía de Comandos Anfibios (CAM) - “Comando Anfibios”/ CONAF (40 - man unit) (Buzos de Combate)
- Unidad Especial de Combate (UEC - 25 man unit)
LJEC?

PHILIPPINES:
Philippine Army Special Operations Command (PASOCOM)
- Alpha Two Zero (A-20, CT unit similar to "Delta")
- First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR/"Scout Rangers" - LRRPs) (3 - battalions)
- Special Forces Regiment (SFR) (7 - battalions)
1st Special Forces (Riverine) Battalion
5th Special Forces Company
-Psychological Operations (Psyops) Group
Light Reaction Company (LRC - CT unit)

710th Special Operations Wing (SPOW - Airbase Defense/ABD, FAC/TACP, EOD, K-9)
-720th Special Operations Group - (Explosive and Ordnance Squadron, & K-9 Squadron)
730th SOG
-740th SOG
-Anti-terrorism team

Philippine Marine (PM) Corps
-Force Reconnaissance Battalion -61st, 62nd, 63rd Force Recon Companies

Special Warfare Group (SWAG - Navy SEALs)

Presidential Security Group (PSG) Special Reaction Unit (SWAT/CAT unit)

Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF)
PNP SWAT teams
Police Security Protective Office (PNP VIP protection unit)

Aviation Security Group Special Operations Unit (CT/anti-hijack unit)

POLAND:
Grupa Reagowania Operacyjno Mobilnego (GROM)
1 Pułk Specjalny Komandosów (1st Special Commando Regiment)
Grupa Specjalna Płetwonurków MW (FORMOZA - Special Naval Frogman Group)
6 Brygada Desantowo-Szturmowa im. Gen.Sosabowskiego (6th Air Asault Brigade)
1 Lotnicza Grupa Poszukiwawczo-Ratownicza in Bydgoszcz (1st Air Search and Rescue Group - (Polish AF CSAR unit)

Biuro Operacji Antyterrorystycznych (BOA-Antiterrorist Operation Bureu)

Grupa Realizacyjna Biura Dokumentacji Skarbowej - Polish Bureu of Tresury SWAT unit)

V WYdzial Zebezpieczenia Realizacji i Dzialan Antyterrorystycznych Agencji Bezpieczenstwa Wewnetrznego (V Counter-terrorist Activities and Realization's Safety Department of Internal Security Agency)

Wydzial Zabezpieczenia Dzialan Strazy Granicznej (Activities Safety Department of Polish Border Guard - main special unit of Polish Border Guard)

PORTUGAL:
Comando das Tropas Aerotransportadas (Airborne Troops Command)
- Brigada Aerotransportada Independente (BAI) (Independent Airborne Brigade)
Companhia de Precursores (Cprecs-Pathfinders)
- Saltadores de Operacionais de Grande Altitude - SOGA (The Pathfinder Company HALO/HAHO teams)
Centro de Instrução de Operações Especiais (CIOE) (Special Operations Instruction Center)
Batalhão de Elementos de Operações Especiais (BEOE)
-Comandos “Rangers”
-Patrulhas de Longo Raio de Accao (PLRA - LRRPs)

Equipa de Resgate de Combate (RESCOM - AF CSAR Teams)

Corpo de Fuzileiros (Rifle Corps -Marines)
Destacamento do Accoes Especiais (DAE)-(Marine Commandos/SBS type unit)

Destacamento de Merghuladores Sapadores (Portuguese navy diver/SAR det.)

Grupo De Operacoes Especiais (GOE -National PoliceCT unit)

Guarda Nacional Republicana Pelotão des Operaçoes Especiais (Republican National Guard Special Operations Platoon)

Grupo de Intervençao e Segurança Prisional (Prison Intervention and Security Group)

ROMANIA:
404 Recon Battalion
2nd Airborne Brigade
- Pathfinders
2nd Mountain Infantry Brigade

39 Combat Divers Center

1 Naval Infantry Battalion

Brigada Antiterorista (BAT) (CT unit of the Serviciol Roman de Formatii, SRF - Romanian Intelligence Service)

Antiterror Special Bn. of the Gendarmerie.
SIAS - (Police SWAT unit)

RUSSIA:
Ministry of Justice Spetsnaz
"Krechet"

Naval Infantry

103th, 104th, 105th Airborne Guards Divisions (VDV)
Independent Battalions
Independent Assault Brigades

GRU Spetsnaz:
* `Razvedchiki': 1 batt/division divided into 2 Coys (one for LRRP, one for airborne operations)
* `Rejdoviki': brigade sized: operate in bn. & co sized units in an independent recon role
* `Vysotniki': brigade sized: operate in 11man units and are the closest to US SF/UK SAS

16a Brigada Voyska Spetsial'novo Naznatcheniya
218 Battal'on Spetsial'novo Naznatcheniya
Morskaya Voiska Spetsial'nogo Naznachenia Brigada
Podvodniye Sapyory
Delfin (Dolphin – combat diver unit)
Osobogo Nazacheniya (ONAZ)
Otryad Militsi Spetsial'nogo Naznacheniya (OMSN)

Delta Brigade

FSB Spetsnaz:
Spetsgruppa Al'fa /“Spetsgruppa A”/ Alfa Brigade - (FSB-CT/special ops)
* Spetsgruppa Vympel (“Pennant” or “Banner” - formerly “Zenith” one of two sub-groups within “Al’fa” - disbanded?
Spetsgruppa Beta/ “Spetsgruppa B”
Spetsgruppa Zenit
Spetsgruppa Kaskad (Cascade)

The SVR- (russian CIA) has also its own Spetsnaz unit, called “Zaslon”, but nothing is known about them so far.

MVD (Interior Ministry Troops) Spetsnaz:
Spetsgruppa Vitjaz "Vityaz"
Kondor Division of MVD (Anti-Terrorist)
Spetsgruppa Vega (formerly Vympel - special ops/CT)
Otryad Militsii Osobennogo Naznacheniya (OMON - Special Purpose Militsiia Detachments) “Black Berets”
Spetsial'nye Otryady BystrogoReagirovanya (SOBR - Special Rapid Reaction Detachment)
Spetsgruppa Grom (Thunder)
"Rus`" (Anti-terror, Interior Troops)
"Rosich" (Anti-terror, Interior Troops)
"Skif" (Anti-terror, Interior Troops)

SAUDI ARABIA:
Special Forces (3 Special Forces Companies)
Special Security Force

SINGAPORE:
1 Commando Bn (Airborne)
Special Operations Force (SOF)(CT)
10 Commando Bn (Airborne, Reserve)
Naval Diving Unit (NDU)
-The Clearance Diving Group (CDG)
-Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EOD)
-Underwater Demolition Group (UDG)
-Combat Diving Group
Special Tactics and Rescue (STAR) Unit
- STAR Unit "MAC" (Maritime Assault Capability) (STAR's MCT team)
Police Coast Guard's Special Task Squadron (STS)
Singapore Prisons Emergency and Action Response (SPEAR) Force

SLOVAK REPUBLIC:
5. Pluk Specialneho Urcenia (5. PSU - 5th Special Forces Regiment)
2 Special Forces Companies (one based in Bratislava)
Utvar Osobitneho Urcenia (UOU - police CT unit)

SOLOMON ISLANDS:
National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force

SOUTH AFRICA:
Special Forces Brigade
- 1, 2, 4, 5 RECCE, Recconaissance Regiments “Recce Commandos/Recces/Specs Ops” (SAS type unit)
44 Parachute Brigade “Para Bats”
-1, 2(CF), 3(CF) PARA, Parachute Battalions
SAN Combat Divers (SEAL-type; although 4 RECCE has similar role)
SAPS Special Task Force (CT)

SOUTH KOREA:
Republic of Korea Special Warfare Command (ROKA SOCOM) The “Black Berets”
Special Forces Brigades (Airborne): Each brigade has Special Warfare Battalion, Antiterrorism Battalion and Maritime Reconnaissance Battalion.
- 707th Special Mission Battalion (CT and special missions unit)
“Strategic Units”
- 1st “Golden Eagle” Special Forces Brigade: Kimpo Peninsula - specializes in HALO/HAHO operations.
- 3rd “Flying Tiger” Special Forces Brigade: specializes in land infiltration.
- 5th “Black Dragon” Special Forces Brigade: specializes in SCUBA operations.
“Tactical Units”
- 7th “Flying Horse” Special Forces Brigade - Iksan, N. Cholla Province
- 35th Special Forces Battalion -Kunsan
- 9th “Ghost” Special Forces Brigade
- 11th “Golden Bat” Special Forces Brigade - Damyong, S. Cholla Province
- 62nd Special Forces Battalion
- 13th “Black Jaguar” Special Forces Brigade - N. Chungchong Province
- Special Warfare Center: Overall training center for ROKA Special Forces.

Special Assault Regiments: Deployed by each Corp. Similar to US Army Rangers.
8th, 701st , 702nd, 703rd , 705th , 706th , 708th Special Assault Regiment
35th Special Assault Battalion for CDC
201st Special Assault Brigade
203rd Special Assault Brigade
205th Special Assault Brigade
Special Missions Co. ?
Special mission units that specialize in counter-infiltration warfare.

Korean National Police SWAT unit (868 Unit- National Police Counter-terrorism)

ROK Marine Corps (ROKMC)
Special Reconnaissance Battalion “The Shark-men”
1st Marine Division Amphibious Reconnaissance Co.
2nd Marine Division Amphibious Reconnaissance Co.
6th Marine Brigade Amphibious Reconnaissance Co.

Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) 56 Special Warfare Squadron/Naval Special Warfare Brigade (Underwater Demolition Team/SEALs)
-EOD, UDT, SEAL, Special Missions Group (SMG)
Swimmer Delivery Vehicle Unit - (KSS-51 [mini-submarines], KSS-52, KSS-53 6 x Dolphin class [mini-submarines])
Small Boat Unit 20 x small hovercraft
SSU (Special Salvage Unit)(55 Squadron)

259 SOS [Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) Special Operations Squadron](S-70C/UH-60P)(Special Operations)
233 Search & Rescue Squadron (UH-60P / UH-1H)
ROKAF Para-Rescue Unit?
ROKAF Combat Control Team
MP Special Guard Team (MPSGT)

SPAIN:
Spanish Army:
Mando de Operaciones Especiales (MOE)
-Unidad de Experiencias (Experience Unit)
-Grupos de Operaciones Especiales Valencia III (GOE III)
-Tercio del Ampurdán IV

Fuerza de Acción Rápida (FAR)
Brigada de Infantería Ligera Paracaidista (BRIPAC)
JAE
* Reconocimiento/Sección Avanzada de Desembarco Aéreo (RECO/SADA) (Recon/Pathfinder)

*Unidad de Patrullas de Reconocimiento en Profundidad (UPRP - deep recon patrols/LRRPs)

Brigada de Infantería Aerotransportable (BRILAT)
BRILEG (Brigada Legionaria)
-5th Banderas
-6th Banderas
-10th Banderas

Brigada de Cazadores de Montaña (BRICZM)
Sección de Reconocimiento (SERECO)

Spanish Legion:
- 1 and 2 Tercio: Ceuta and Mellila
- 3 Tercio ] Combine to form basis of RDF
- 4 Tercio ] unit in Spanish Armed Forces with BOEL (infra)

Spanish Air Force:
* Escuadrilla de Zapadores Paracaidistas (EZAPAC -LRRPS, FAC, CT, CSAR etc)
Escuadrilla de Apoyo al Despliegue Aereo (EADA- CCT, ABD/ABGD, NBC defense)

Spanish Navy:
Unidad Especial de Buceadores de Combate (UEBC) (naval commandos)
Unidad Especial de Desactivado de Explosivos (UEDE- naval EOD)
Unidad de Buceadores de Medidas Contra Minas (naval counter mine unit)
Infanteria de Marina- (Naval Infantry)

Brigada de Infantería de Marina (BRIMAR)
Tercio de la Armada (TEAR-Spanish "Fleet Marine Force")
Sección de Reconocimiento (SERECO)
Unidad de Operaciones Especiales (UOE) (Spanish Marines SF)

Guardia Civil:
Unidad Especial de Intervencion (UEI - Civil Guard CT unit)
Grupo de Acción Rápida (GAR - Civil Guard SWAT units)

Grupo Especial de Operaciones (GEO -National Police CT unit)
GEOS (Grupos Especiales de Operaciones) (National Police SWAT teams)

Grup Especial d'Intervencio (GEI) (Catalonia Police SWAT)
Berroci Berezi Talda (BBT- Basque Police tactical unit)

SRI LANKA:
Army Commando Regiment
Special Forces Regiment

SUDAN:
144th Conter-Terrorist Unit (CTU)

SWEDEN:
Amphibious Battalions
KustJagare - Navy Coastal Rangers
Attack Dykarna (Attack Divers)
Rojdykare Division (Mine Clearance Divers)
Säkpluton Sjö (formerly Bassäk-Naval Security Platoon/counter SOF unit)

Flybasjagarna-(Swedish Air Force Rangers /SAFRs- Counter SOF unit)
Fallskärmsjägarskolans Insatskompani (FSJ IK - LRRP type unit)

Fallskärmsjägarskolan (FSJ- trains stundents in LRRP/Ranger type missions)
Särskilda Skydds Gruppen (SSG -Special Protection Group (Delta/SAS type unit)
Livregemente Husarer (ranger type unit)
K4/Norrland Dragoons (ranger type unit)
Militärpolisjägare (MPJ- MP Rangers/hunters counter SOF unit)

Ordningspolisens Nationella Insatsstyrka (ONI - National Rescue Unit - part of the Stockholm Police Dept)

SWITZERLAND:
Fallschirmaufklärerkompanie 17 (FSK 17)

Grenadiere
A Aufkl Det 10 (Armeeaufklärungsdetachement)
- motorize detachment
- para detachment
- mountain detachment
- amphibious detachment

Stern Unit (based in Berne) (CT)

TAIWAN:
Aviation and Special Warfare Command
-601st , 602nd , 603rd Air Cavalry Brigades
-862nd Special Operations Brigade
Army Ranger Training Unit
ROC Army 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion
Republic of China (ROC) Marine Corps (Chinese Marine Corps - CMC)
-Amphibious Reconnaissance Group (ARG - former Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit (Amphib Recon Battalion) & CMC Special Service Companie)
-2nd Special Task Squadron (100 man marine unit, part of the ARG)
ROC Military Police Command Special Service Company “Nighthawks” (CT)
ROC Military Police Command SWAT units
ROC Navy Underwater Demolition Units (UDU - -Underwater Demolition &
EOD
ROC Navy Fleet Salvage Unit (Navy SAR/salvage unit)

Wei-An (Security Task Force Headquarters):
National Police Administration (Police Corps) SWAT Units
- First Peace Preservation Police Corps Special Services Commando (CT)

*CMC Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit “Amphibious Recon Battalion” - deactivated
*CMC Special Service Company (CMC SSC) - deactivated
*ROC Army Airborne and Special Warfare Command Special Service Company/Army Air Special Services Commando? (deactivated)

THAILAND:
Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command
Royal Thai Army (RTA) 1st Special Forces (Airborne) Division:
RTA Second Special Forces Division
* 1,2,3,4,5 Special Forces (Airborne) Regiments
2nd Special Forces Regiment, PsyOps Battalion
* 5th Long Range Reconnaissance Company
Royal Thai Navy SEALS, Royal Thai Navy UDT, Royal Thai Navy EOD
Royal Thai Marine Corps Amphibious Recon Battalion
Special Unit of the Royal Thai Air Force ?
Police Aerial Reinforcement Unit (PARU)

TUNISIA:
Groupement de Commando of the Garde National (GCGN)

TURKEY:
Paracutcu (parachutist)
Paracutcu Komando (Parachute Commando)
1st Commando Brigade
2nd Commando Brigade
3rd Commando Brigade
Mountain Commando Brigade

Genelkurmay Ozel Kuvvetler Komutanligi - (General Staff Special Forces Command - SFC) “Red Berets”
Muharebe Arama Kurtarma (MAK - CSR/Combat Search and Rescue - Joint service Delta type unit)
Ozel Intihar Komando Birligi (OIKB - CT)

Amfibi Deniz Piyade (Amphibious Rifle Brigade)
- Reconnaissance Platoon
Sualty Alti Taaruz (SAT- Under Water Attack)
Sualty Alti Savunma (SAS-Under Water Defense)
Air Force Search And Rescue Group Command

UKRAINE:
Airmobile Division
Airmobile Brigade
Naval Infantry Brigade
Spetzsnaz
Naval Spetsnaz (combat swimmer unit)
Bars (Snow Leopard)
Yahuar (Jaguar)
Hepard (Leopard).

“Panther” The Panther unit is an anti-terrorist Spetsnaz team operating under the Ministry of the Interior (MOI).
Titan
Gboz MBC

UNITED KINGDOM:
16th Air Assault Brigade:
* Brigade HQ and 216 Signals Squadron
* The Parachute Regiment
* Pathfinder Platoon
* 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment
* 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
* 23rd Engineer Regiment
* 13th Air Assault Support Regiment, RLC
* 16th Close Support Medical Regiment
* 7th Battalion, REME, and 132d Aviation Support Unit, RLC
* 156th Provost Company, RMP
* 89 Intelligence Section Intelligence Corps
* Air Force Liaison Section, RAF
* 1x Armed Recce Regt from Household Cavalry Regt
* 658 Aviation Squadron, Army Air Corps
* 613, 614 Tactical Air Control Parties, RAF
* 10(Para) Field Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery, 5th Artillery Regiment (Surveillance & Target Acquisition Battery-STA Battery)
The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), Forward Observation Battery, Royal Artillery (TA equivalent of 148 Battery)

3rd Commando Brigade:
* Brigade HQ and Signals Squadron, RM
* 539 Assault Squadron, RM
* Tactical Air Control Parties, RAF
* Air Defence Troop, Royal Artillery
* 40, 42, 45 Commando RM
* Commando Logistic Regiment
* Commando Air Squadron
* 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery
* 59 Commando Squadron, Royal Engineers
* 845, 846 Naval Air Squadrons, Royal Navy
Brigade Patrol Troop (BPT- former Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre (M&AWC))
148 (Meiktila) Commando, Forward Observation Battery, Royal Artillery (Para, Commando, and diver trained FAC’s -support SAS, SBS, and Parachute Regiment)
Commando Helicopter Force (CHF)

Fleet Protection Group, Royal Marines (FPGRM-formerly Commacchio Group)/-Fleet Standby Rifle Troop (FSRT)
O, P, S


Special Forces Brigade:
* 21(TA)(Artists Rifles) Special Air Service (SAS)
* 63(TA)(SAS) Signals Squadron
* 22 Special Air Service:
- Sabre Squadrons (A, B, D, G, R Squadrons) (Includes Anti-terrorist Team)
- Royal Logistics Corps
- Army Air Corps `S' Flight
- 264 (SAS) Signals Squadron
- Operations Research Wing
- Operations Planning and Intelligence Wing (`The Kremlin')
- Demolitions Wing
- Training Wing
- Counter-Revolutionary Warfare Wing
* 23(VR) Special Air Service
* Special Boat Service, Royal Marines (SBS): “C” Squadron, “S” Squadron, “M” Squadron (Black Troop, Gold Troop, -Purple Troop)
Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR)

* Special Forces Flights: No. 7 Squadron, RAF (HC.2 Chinook), No. 47 Squadron, RAF (C-130J), “M” Troop 848 Squadron

The Increment
Army’s Special Intelligence Wing (SIW)
-Force Research Unit (FRU)/Joint Services Group
Intelligence & Security Group (N.I) or 14 Intelligence Company (now part of the SRR)

Brigade of Gurkhas
* 1st Bn, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
* 2nd Bn, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
* Gurkha Signal Bn.
* Gurkha Engineer Bn.
* The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers
* Queen’s Gurkha Signals
* Queen’s Own Gurkha Transport Regiment

UNITED STATES:
Central Intelligence Agency:
* Special Activities Division - Special Operations Groups

US Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
- Army Aviation Support Activity (AASE)
- US Special Operations Command Deployment Cell (D-Cell)

Special Operations Commmand Central (SOCENT)
Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR)
Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH)
Special Opeations Command Pacific (SOCPAC)

US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)
US Army Special Forces Command (USASFC)
US Army Special Forces “Green Berets”
* 1,3,5,7,10 Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Special Forces Det.-Korea
* 19th , 20th Special Forces Group(Airborne) (Army National Guard)
Chemical Reconnaissance Detachments
75th Ranger Regiment
* 1/75th Infantry, 2/75th Infantry, 3/75th Infantry, Regimental Recon Det. (RRD)
US Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (USACAPOC)
* 4th PSYOPS Group
* 96th Civil Affairs Battalion
Special Operations Support Command (SOSCOM)
112th Special Operations Signal Battalion (with detachments in Germany and Korea)
528th Special Operations Support Battalion
* 160TH SOAR (Special Operations Aviation Regiment) - (2) Battalions at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky ; (1) Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia; D/160th in Puerto Rico; E/160th in Korea

10th Mountain Division (Light)
82nd Airborne Division “All Americans”
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) “Screaming Eagles”
173rd Airborne Brigade “The Sky Soldiers”

US Army Long-Range Surveillance Units (LRSU):
E Co, (LRSD) 125th MI BN
C Co, (LRSD) 110th MI BN
LRSD, 102nd MI Bn
LRSD, 311th MI BN
F Company, 51st INF (LRS) (ABN), 519th MI BN (TE) (ABN)
E Company, 51st IN (LRS) (ABN), 165th MI BN
LRSD, 313th MI BN (82nd abn)
104th INF DET
E Company (LRSD), 629th MI Bn
134th INF DET (LRS)
160th INF DET (LRS)
H Company, 121st INF (LRS)
74th LRSD (173rd Abn Bde)
173rd Inf . Det (LRS) Rhode Island Army National Guard (ARNG)
207th Inf Grp (Scout) Light Recon Det.
F Co. 425th (LRS) Michigan ARNG
143rd Infantry Detachment (LRS) TX ARNG

US Army Pathfinders:
6/101st Avn Regiment Pathfinder Company, 101st Airbone Division
7/101st Avn Regiment Pathfinder Company, 101st Airbone Division
“en-route” Tactical Team B/1/58th Avn Regiment (XVII Abn Corps unit, supports 82nd ABN.)

Joint Special Operations Command (JSSOC):
Campaign Support Group
US Army 1st SFOD-Delta (Also known as “1stCombat Applications Group” or “Combat Development Branch“ )
- A, B, C Squadrons "Sabre Squdrons"
- Aviation Squadron
- “Funny platoon”

* NAVSPECWARDEVGRU (former ST-6):
- Red, Blue, Gold teams (assault)
- Gray team (special boat unit)
- Green team (training)
- Black (recon/surveillance)
- E&R cell
- Sniper Cell
- Force Pprtection Cell

24th Special Tactics Squadron
-Red Flight, Combat Control Element
- Silver Team
-Gold Flight (24th STS Combat Weather Flight)

Intelligence Support Activity (ISA)
-Operations Squadron
A,B,C, D Troops
-SIGINT Squadron
Exploitation Troop
-Communications Squadron

Joint Communication Unit (JCU)

66th Air Operations Squadron, New Beern, NC

66th Air Support Operations Group (?)

Special Intelligence Squadron, US Army Office of Military Support

Army Tactical Support Team

US Marines Corps:
Marine Corps Special Operations Command Detachment 1 (MCSOCOM Det 1)
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Force Reconnaissance Companies
Deep Recon Patrol Company, 3rd Recon Battalion
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Marine Recon Battalions
Bravo Company (Radio Recon), 1st Radio Battalion
Radio Recon Platoon, 2nd Radio Battalion
Radio Recon Llatoon, 3rd Radio Battalion
Scout Sniper Platoons (SSP) (one platoon per USMC Regt
1st , 2nd , 3rd (USMCR), 4th ANGLICO (USMCR) (Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company)

11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) - MEU (SOC)
13th MEU (SOC), 15th MEU (SOC), 22nd MEU (SOC), 24th MEU (SOC), 31st MEU (SOC)

Special Operations Training Group (SOTG) I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF)
- Special Mission Branch
- Amphibious Raid Branch
- Sniper
SOTG II MEF
SOTG III MEF

US Air Force:
Air Force Special Opertrions Command (AFSOC)
* Special Tactics Teams -Pararescue (PJ) Teams/Combat Controllers 720th Special tactics Group - 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 320th , 321st Special Tactics Squadrons (STS), 10th Combat Weather Squadron
* 16th Special Operations Wing
* 58th Special Operations Wing
* 193rd Special Operations Group
* 352nd Special Operations Group
* 353rd Special Operations Group
* 427th Special Operations Squadron (STOL, CASA-212)
* 919th Special Operations Wing
347th Rescue Wing (347th RQW) - 41st Rescue Squadron (HH-60G, CSAR), 71st Rescue Squadron (HC-130P, CSAR)
- 38th Rescue Squadron (Pararescue squadron)

Air Mobility Command Units:
437th Operations Group Special Operations Division (SOLL II C-17)
16th Airlift SQ (C-141's)
“Night Riders” (C-5 SOLL II) (disbanded)
421st Ground Combat Readiness Squadron (GCRS)

Air Combat Command Units:
Tactical Air Control Parties (TACP)
Special Operations Forces Tactical Air Control Parties (SOF TACP) -
Combat Weathermen - 18th Weather Squadron (Airborne qualified combat weather teams)

Security Forces Units:

Air Combat Command-
820th Security Forces Group: 822nd Security Forces Squadron (SFS), 823rd SFS, 824th SFS
Task Force 1041
99th Ground Combat Training Squadron (GCTS)
Airbase Defense School (Silver Flag Alpha/Expeditionary Readiness Training - ExPeRT)
204th SFS (Heavy Weapons unit also conducts FID missions in Spanish speaking countries)

USAF Europe Units:
786th SFS
USAFE Ground Combat Training Flight
USAFE Ground Defense School (Creek Defender)/USAFE Security Forces Training Flight (Creek Defender)
86th Security Forces Group: 568th SFS, 569th SFS

607th Training Flight (TRF)
PACAF Security Forces Regional Training Center (Commando Warrior)

Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM)
US Naval Special Warfare Groups (NAVSPECWARGRU)
* NAVSPECWARGRU ONE-
- SEAL Teams 1,3,5,7
-Training Det
-Logistics and Support Unit
- Combat Support and Service Team
- Naval Special Warfare Unit- ONE (NAVSPECWARUNIT) (1,based in Guam, a Detachment in Kodiak, AK--NAVSPECWARGRU-ONE DET KODIAK and 3 based in Bahrain )
* NAVSPECWARGRU THREE
- SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) Team One
- Special Boat Team 12 (SBT-12)
- SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One ASDS
* NAVSPECWARGRU TWO
- SEAL Teams 2,4,8,10
-Training Det
-Logistics and Support Unit
- Combat Support and Service Team
- NAVSPECWARUNIT (2, 4, and 10, located in Panzer Kasrene, Stuttgart, Germany, Naval Station Roosevelt Roads (NSRR), Puerto Rico, and Rota, Spain respectively)
*NAVSPECWARGRU FOUR
- SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) Team Two
- Special Boat Teams 20, 22 (NR)

USN Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)

VENEZUELA:
42nd Brigada de Infanteria Paracaidistas
Escuela de Operaciones Especiales “G/D Andres Rojas” (EOEAR)
507 Batallon de Fuerzas Especiales
- Buzos de Combate (Army special ops combat divers)
107 Batallon de Operaciones Especiales (107 BOE)

73 Brigada de Cazadores (Hunters/Rangers - Elite light infanty counter guerilla units)
- 232 Battalion de Cazadores “Vicente Campo Elias”
- 233 Battalion de Cazadores “ Juan Jose Rondon”

Grupo Aereo de Operaciones Especiales Nº 10 “Cobras” (AF special ops helo unit)
- Escuadrón 101 “Guerreros” (Bell 412, UH-1B, UH-1D, UH-1H)
- Escuadrón 102 “ Piaros” (AS332B1, AS532AC, SE3160)
- Escuadrón 103 (AF CSAR unit)
Grupo Aereo de Operaciones Especiales Nº 15 (AF special ops/COIN unit)
- Escuadrón 151 “Los Linces” (OV-10A, OV-10E)
- Escuadrón 152 “ Los Avispones” (AT-27 Tucano)

Infanteria de Marina (Naval Infantry/Marines)
Comando de Operaciones Especiales (COMPEMI -SEAL type unit)
- Buceadores de combate- combat divers
- Incursores Anfibios - amphibious raiders
- Para-Comandos- para-commandos
- Embarcaciones Especiales-special boats)

Brigada Acciones Especiales (BAE - National Police CT unit)

Grupo de Acciones de Comandos (GAC) (Guardia Nacional CT unit)
Grupos de Anti-extorsion y Secuestro (GAES) Nº 1, Nº 3 (Guardia Nacional anti-kidnap units)

VIETNAM:
"Dac Cong" (Special Forces)

ZIMBABWE:
Parachute Brigade

[Parzival]

Where is the list?

[-=TFN=-Karab]

lol, my thought exactly...

[mocking_loudly_died]

The list is deniable - hence there is no list (like there is no spoon).
Welcome to the shadowy world of spec ops.

Fart.

[Flagg]

The list is deniable - hence there is no list (like there is no spoon).
Welcome to the shadowy world of spec ops.

List? What list? There was no list and there never will be a thing called "list."

Ummmm...since I "didn't see" the "list" do I have to gouge my eyes out now, ya know to maintain that OPSEC thingy?

I hope not....

[mocking_loudly_died]

We must now perform self-induced lobotomies.
We know to much and cannot be trusted.

The horror.....the horror.

[Hullebullen]

What. Not me. People only tell me what I need to know and they don't tell me much. In fact, I know less and less every day. I've asked people if they could explain to me why it is so but they just say - you don't need to know...

[BOB1]

CANADA:
Special Service Force:
* 3rd Btn. Charlie Company (Para), Royal Canadian Regiment
* 3rd Btn. Charlie Company (Para), Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
* 3rd Btn. Charlie Company (Para), Royal Vingt Deuxieme Regiment
* Airborne Service Commando
Joint Task Force Two (JTF-2/CT)

your info here is outdated for canada....there is no longer any Special Service Force nor an Airborne Service Commando. All 3 Bn are light with only 1 compamy being an Airborne company.

[Dominique]

Thanks. That's what I need to know.

[Marsuitor]

Norwegian one is outdated too.
Should read something like,

Military units:
Special Forces,
-Marinejegerkommandoen - Naval special forces unit. Based in Ramsund, N.Norway
-Spesialjeger/FSK - Army special forces and counterterror unit. Based in Rena, E.Norway
-(HV-016 - National Guard special unit. Regionally based)

Other,
-FIST/H (Forsvarets Innsatsstyrke/Hær
-KJK/Kystjegerkommandoen/(Marines)
-FJ/Fallskjermjegertroppen(Airborne Pathfinders unit)

Police:
-Beredskapstroppen, or Delta - Police counterterror unit. AFAIK has detachments in major cities (Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger)

--------------
Also for the Solomon Islands,
-"Police Field Force, Recon detachment"

[Dominique]

Thanks. I'll make the changes. If anyone else spots outdated info or wants to make a suggestion, feel free to jump in.

[mack pl]

Dominique-i must correct you :| 1)In Poland we havent got Dowództwo Operacji Specjalnych(Special operations Command)yet.We have only -Oddział Operacji Specjalnych(Special Operations detachment)in General Staff.Its not like SOCOM,because its not independent Command,like Land Forces Command for example.2)We have -21 Brygada Strzelców Podhalańskich(21th Podhalan Rifles Brigade) and 22 Brygada Piechoty Górskiej Obrony Terytorialnej(22th Mountain Infantry Brigade Homeguard-i dont know exactly how to translate this last word :( ).3) 7Brygada Obrony Wybrzeża-im not sure but this brigade arent exist now,its only 1 Battalion,and this battalion is in Homeguard too.But im not sure :( 4) GROM-Mobilnego, not Mobilneyo ;) BTW rest is correct :) Regards :)

[Dominique]

Not a problem. I'll make the corrections to the list.

[DeZzErX]

Belgium is a lil' outdated too...

BELGIUM:
Para-Commando Brigade
-1Para Battalion
-2Cdo Battalion
-3Para Battalion
-Special Forces group
-Eskadron Der Gidsen (recce)

Escadron Special d'Intervention(french)/Speciaal Interventie Eskadron (dutch)
+ several smaller CT units off mayor cities.

[-Max-]

BELGIUM:
Para-Commando Brigade (3 battalions plus an artillery battery)
(The ESR and Pathfinders are now consolidaed in one company of the 3 Regiment de Lanciers Parachutiste)
Escadron Special d'Intervention of the Gendarme Royal (ESI-Gendermerie CT unit)

And the ESI/SIE is now part of the Belgian Federal Police, not the Gendarmerie (disbanded in 2001). The regional CT/SWAT units are called POSA.

[Kruglerek]

You should add to Poland:
V Counter-terrorist Activities and Realization's Safety Department of Internal Security Agency (V WYdzial Zebezpieczenia Realizacji i Dzialan Antyterrorystycznych Agencji Bezpieczenstwa Wewnetrznego) (translation could be wrong) - one of the most secretive units in Poland. When agents from other countries are localize in Poland this unit will be responsible for detaining them.
Activities Safety Department of Polish Border Guard (Wydzial Zabezpieczenia Dzialan Strazy Granicznej) - main special unit of Polish Border Guard.
Also Polish Bureau of Treasury Records maintain couple of small special units.

[gorg]

SWEDEN - I22 Lapplands Jageregmente

Sadly doesn't exist anymore.

[Dominique]

Thanks gents, I'll make the changes during the next update.

Also, was I22 cut during the last round of Swedish defense cuts? I read it was one of the units scheduled to be disbanded.

[Dominique]

And the ESI/SIE is now part of the Belgian Federal Police, not the Gendarmerie (disbanded in 2001). The regional CT/SWAT units are called POSA.

What does POSA stand for?

[mack pl]

POSA-Protection,Observation,Soutien,Arrestation(i guess its in flamand :| Soutien in english means support i guess.Rest is similar to english.Correct me if im wrong :) Regards :)

[Dominique]

I'm guessing it would be Protection, Observation, Support and Arrest in English. Thanks again gents.

[mack pl]

My flamand and english isnt good ;) Regards :)

[-Max-]

POSA-Protection,Observation,Soutien,Arrestation(i guess its in flamand Soutien in english means support i guess.Rest is similar to english.Correct me if im wrong Regards

Correct. But its the French name. The Flemish name is Protectie Observatie Steun Arrestatie (also POSA). ;)

[Dominique]

POSA-Protection,Observation,Soutien,Arrestation(i guess its in flamand Soutien in english means support i guess.Rest is similar to english.Correct me if im wrong Regards

Correct. But its the French name. The Flemish name is Protectie Observatie Steun Arrestatie (also POSA). ;)

Thanks to both of you. Mack pl, don't worry about your English, its my native language and I still mess it up. ;)

[mack pl]

THX :)

[Dominique]

I'll br going back through the posts tonight and updating the list. I'm working tomorrow and won't have my lap top, so If you want to get anything put added please post it before tonight.

[mack pl]

1)in polish Police we have central AT group-Biuro Operacji Antyterrorystycznych-Antiterrorist Operation Bureu.BOA have base in Warsaw.2)i guess Kruglerek wasnt right.Polish Bureu of tresury have only one small(less than 20 i guess) unit.Name of this unit is-VI Wydział Departamentu Kontrolno-Operacyjnego(VIth Detachment of Department Controll-Operational).Maybe i shouldnt translate it,because its not so important,VI WDKO is cool. 3)I guess Lithuania have Jeager Battalion-its something like green berrets.Alfa companie from this battalion was GROM-style unit :)Lithuania start modernized army in last yeras,so im not sure what happens with this unit now.I heard they want made from this battalion some air cavalry unit,i dont know exactly.4)I almost forgott,we have 25 Brygada kawalerii powietrznej-25th Air Cavalry Brigade(2 Air cavalry battalions and 2 dyons helos-Mi8/17 and W3 Sokol).Part of this brigade(infantry squadron and few helos)are in Iraq now-its Independent Air Assault Group in Al-Kut.Regards :)

[Mr. Nielsen]

DENMARK:
Jaegerkorpset. (Special ops/CT unit)
Froemanskorpset (Frogman Corps – SEAL type unit)
Aktionsstyrken (Police CT unit)
Saerlige Efterretning Patruljer (SEP) (Spec. Intel. Patrols)
Sirius Patruljen (Sirius patrol)
Patruljekompaniet Ved Jydske Division
Politiets Efterretningstejeneste (PE) of the State Police Intelligence Service




Saerlige Efterretning Patruljer (SEP) (Spec. Intel. Patrols)

Now called "Patruljekompagni / Hærens Operative Kommando". A Home Guard LRRP unit.

[ivandebono]

The section for France needs to be rewritten. The Force d'Action Rapide no longer exists and there are NO divisions, just brigades. Also, what's your criterion for including a unit in this list? Do parachute units automatically qualify?

Anyway, I corrected some mistakes for you (I deleted the details to make it short).

FRANCE:
----------------------
Commandement des Operations Speciales (Special Operations Command)

Brigade des Forces Speciales Terre (BFST)
-1er Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine (1er RPIMa)
Détachement Aviation Légère de l’Armée deTterre (ALAT) des Opérations Spéciales (DAOS) * 1st Escadrille des Operations Speciales , * 2nd Escadrille des Operations Speciales
-13eme Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes (LRRPs)

Force Maritime des Fusiliers Marins Commandos (FORFUSCO)
* Commando de Penfentenyo
* Commando de Montfort
* Commando Jaubert (Assault - includes the "Escouade de Combat en Milieu Clos/ECMC - former Goupement de Combat en Milieu Clos/GCMC- 17 man maritime CT team)
* Commando Trepel

* Commando d'Action Sous-Marine (CASM) Hubert
1st Company
A section - HQ
B section - Maritime Counter-Terrorism (MCT)
C section - Swimmer Deliver Vehicle unit
D section - beach recon/naval commando/HALO/HAHO
E section - Boat support unit
2nd Company -Support, Communications, maintenance

Division des Operations Speciales (DOS)
Escadrille des helicopteres Speciaux

Commando Parachutiste de l'Air 10
---------------------------------

Other units:

Commando Parachutiste de l'Air 20 (CPA 20 -mesures actives de sûreté Aerienne -MASA/Aviation security)
Groupe de Récupération au Sol (GRS) (Search and Recovery Group)
- Commando Parachutiste de l'Air 30 (RESCO - Frecn Air Force CSAR security unit)
- Sauveteur-Plongeur RESCO (French Air Force CSAR Rescue-Divers)


(if you want to include this....)
*11eme Brigade Parachutiste (11th Parachute Brigade)
-2e Regiment Etranger Parachutiste (2e REP)
-1er Regiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (1e RCP)
-3e Regiment Parachutiste d’Infanterie de Marine (3e RPIMa)
-8e Regiment Parachutiste d’Infanterie de Marine(8e RPIMa)
-35e Regiment d’Artillerie Parachutiste (35e RAP)
-1e Regiment de Hussards Parachutiste (1e RHP)
-17e Regiment du Genie Parachutiste (17e RGP)
*Section Nautique d’Intervention Offensive (SNIO)
1er Regiment de Transmissions Parachutiste (RTP)
4e Battery, 57th Regiment d’Artillerie (4e Bat/57 RA)
11e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions Parachutiste (11e CCTP)
-Groupement de Commandos Parachutistes (GCP) (Formally CRAP- Commandos de Recherche et d'Action en Profondeur)

Brigade de Renseignement
*2e Regiment de Hussards

27e Brigade d'Infanterie de Montagne
*URH-27 (Unite' de Recherche Humaine)

9e Brigade Legere Blindee d'Infanterie de Marine
*Detachement d'Intervention Operationelle (DIO)

Foreign Legion (regiments are integrated within different brigades):
* 1er Regiment Etranger
* 2er Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie
* 3e Regiment Etranger D'Infanterie
* 4e Regiment Etranger
* 1er Regiment Etranger De Cavalerie (1e REC)
* 2er Regiment Etranger Parachutiste (2er REP) (Also a part of 11e BP):
* 5e Regiment Mixte du Pacifique
* Detachment Legion Etrangere de Mayotte
* 13 Demi-Brigade Legion Etrangere
*1er Regiment Etranger de Genie (REG)
- DINOPS (Detachement d'Intervention Operationelle Subaquqtique) (parachute and combat diver trained engineers)
*2e REG

Groupe Plongeurs-Demineurs (GPD -French Navy EOD)

Groupement de Sécurité et d'Intervention Gendarmerie Nationale (GSIGN)
*Groupe de Sécurité de la Présidence de la République (GSPR)
*Groupe d'Intervention Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN- counter-terrorism)
*Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention Gendarmerie Nationale (EPIGN-counter-terrorism/VIP escort/Special Ops)

Recherche, Assistance, Intervention, et Dissuasion “Black Panthers” (RAID- National Police CT unit)
Groupe d'Intervention Police Nationale (GIPN- National Police SWAT units)

Groupe Aerien Mixte 56 (GAM56 -DGSE special ops aviation unit)
--------------------------------------------------

It's difficult to decide whether to include certain units. e.g. there are FO teams (EOP - Equipe d'Observation en Profondeur) within 11e RAMa, or Commandos d'Investigation within 1er RI. Each brigade has its own reconnaissance capability.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Sirius Patruljen (Sirius patrol) )

Siriuspatruljen patrols, with dog sledges, the uninhabitated north east part of Greenland.



Patruljekompaniet Ved Jydske Division


Patruljekompagniet/Danske Division. A LRRP unit manned by selected conscripts. The unit is trained by instructors from Jægerkorpset.



Politiets Efterretningstejeneste (PE) of the State Police Intelligence Service


Politiets Efterretningstjeneste (PET) is the police intelligence service. PET handles bodyguard functions, but is not a special unit like the others.

[Haiw]

If you include SWAT teams as well you might wanna include the AT (Arrestatie Team) as well for the Netherlands. There's several ATs, each with their own part of the Netherlands as their 'zone'.

[Dominique]

I've split the list in two seperate threads, with a seperate list for LE SWAT/CT/bodyguard and specialist units. So that should make it a little easier.

[Dominique]

The section for France needs to be rewritten. The Force d'Action Rapide no longer exists and there are NO divisions, just brigades. Also, what's your criterion for including a unit in this list? Do parachute units automatically qualify?

Anyway, I corrected some mistakes for you (I deleted the details to make it short).

Thanks for the update. I'll change the list on my next update.

[Maverick77]

I think that list is a little too free with the word elite

the Majority of those units, not taking anything away from them are not elite and are not used as elite units.

Crack extremely well trained units but not elite.

Elite is units like JTF2, Delta, SAS, Spetznaz.

very few are 'elite'

[Dominique]

The way I'm defining "elite" is any military, paramilitary, or law enforcent specialist unit. one that maintains a higher state of readiness, training, equipment, etc.

It does not neccessarily have to be a SOF unit to qualify.

[Kruglerek]

Mack pl I have to correct you :) VI WDKO is no longer exist. There is one cetral unit in Bureu of tresury (Grupa Realizacyjna Biura Dokumentacji Skarbowej) and couple of small units in major cities.

[Kruglerek]

Here is picture of this unit

[Kruglerek]

Activities Safety Department of Polish Border Guard (Wydzial Zabezpieczenia Dzialan Strazy Granicznej)

[mack pl]

Kruglerek-na szczęscie z Kontrolą Skarbową nie miałem do czynienia ;) Pozdro :)

[Dominique]

Updated once again. On the next go round I'll be updating the Spanish and Romanian stuff.

[Yeoman]

Canada:
3 PPCLI Para Company is Alpha Company. although it may be changing to Bravo Company soon. not sure about R22eR or RCR's. but I know 3 RCR's isn't Charlie company, as Charlie company is in 1 RCR.
Greg

[Lobo]

Spain

Military Special Operations Units

*Ejército de Tierra [Army]

-Mando de Operaciones Especiales (MOE) [Special Operations Command]
Formed by three Grupo de Operaciones Especiales (GOE) [Special Operation Group]
http://www.mde.es/mde/fuerzas/tierra/tierra14.htm

-GOE III "Valencia"
-GOE IV "Tercio del Ampurdán"
-GOE XIX "Ronda"

*Ejército del Aire [Air Force]

-Escuadrón de Zapadores Paracaidistas (EZAPAC) [Parachutist Sapper Squadron]
http://www.mde.es/mde/fuerzas/aire/aire12.htm

*Armada [Navy]

Unidad Especial de Buceadores de Combate (UEBC) [Combat Divers Special Unit]

*Tercio de Armada [Marines]
Attached to the Brigada de Infantería de Marina (BRIMAR) [Marine Brigade]
-Unidad de Operaciones Especiales (UOE) [Special Operations Unit]
http://www.terciodearmada.com/uoe.htm

Military Special Purpose Units

Belonging to the Army's Brigada Paracaidista (BRIPAC) [Parachutist Brigade]
-Unidad de Patrullas de Reconocimiento en Profundidad (Deep Reco. Patrols Unit)
-RECOnocimiento y Secciones de Apoyo al Despliegue Aéreo (RECOSADA) [Reco. and Air Deployment Support Sections]

Belonging to the Air Force
-Escuadrón de Apoyo al Despliegue Aéreo (EADA) [Air Deployment Support Squadron]
http://www.mde.es/mde/fuerzas/aire/aire11.htm

The civil special operation units later.

[Ichhabe]

Norwegian one is outdated too.
Should read something like,

Military units:
Special Forces,
-Marinejegerkommandoen - Naval special forces unit. Based in Ramsund, N.Norway
-Spesialjeger/FSK - Army special forces and counterterror unit. Based in Rena, E.Norway
-(HV-016 - National Guard special unit. Regionally based)

Other,
-FIST/H (Forsvarets Innsatsstyrke/Hær
-KJK/Kystjegerkommandoen/(Marines)
-FJ/Fallskjermjegertroppen(Airborne Pathfinders unit)



Police:
-Beredskapstroppen, or Delta - Police counterterror unit. AFAIK has detachments in major cities (Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger)

--------------
Also for the Solomon Islands,
-"Police Field Force, Recon detachment"

FIST-H, an Elite unit??? What have you been drinking?

[Marsuitor]

FIST-H, an Elite unit??? What have you been drinking?

The way I'm defining "elite" is any military, paramilitary, or law enforcent specialist unit. one that maintains a higher state of readiness, training, equipment, etc.

It does not neccessarily have to be a SOF unit to qualify.
Fits the description quite well if you ask me.

[Dominique]

Spain

Military Special Operations Units



Lobo,

I've already received and EXTENSIVE update on Spanish SOF, CT, and SWAT units, I just have to get it posted (I've been away for a couple of days for my reserve duty), but thank you for tahking the time to post the information. :D

[seventy6er]

you might need an update on the German SF/elite units; there's a new structure: we now have the so-called DSO ("Division für Spezielle Operationen" - special operations division ) which comprises the KSK and the paratroopers and Gebirgsjäger. Have to look that one up. Too late tonight.

[Brzeczyszczykiewicz]

.2)We have -21 Brygada Strzelców Podhala?skich(21th Podhalan Rifles Brigade) and 22 Brygada Piechoty Górskiej Obrony Terytorialnej(22th Mountain Infantry Brigade Homeguard-i dont know exactly how to translate this last word :( ).
3) 7Brygada Obrony Wybrze?a-im not sure but this brigade arent exist now,its only 1 Battalion,and this battalion is in Homeguard too.But im not sure :(

I'm not sure that 21st BSP and 7th BOW can be named 'special forces'.
They're well trained and equipped 'conventional' mechanised brigades with BMPs, tanks, SPHs etc.

[mack pl]

Brzeczyszczykiewicz, dzieki ,wiem,ze to nie siły specjalne,ale Dominique pisze o wszystkich jednostkach elitarnych.Poza tym to nie ja kazałem mu umieścić te jednostki na jego liście,ja go tylko poprawiam.Pozdro.

[Brzeczyszczykiewicz]

Brzeczyszczykiewicz, dzieki ,wiem,ze to nie si?y specjalne,ale Dominique pisze o wszystkich jednostkach elitarnych.Poza tym to nie ja kaza?em mu umie?ci? te jednostki na jego li?cie,ja go tylko poprawiam.Pozdro.

O ta 'elitarnosc' tez bym sie klocil :fork:

Ale dobra, konczymy z polskim bo nam bana zaloza :D

Sorry for Polish :oops:

[mack pl]

You have right :)

[hihihi_ch]

You can make this change for Switzerland :

SWITZERLAND:

Fallschirmaufklärerkompanie 17 (FSK 17)
Grenadiere
A Aufkl Det 10 (Armeeaufklärungsdetachement)
- motorize detachment
- para detachment
- mountain detachment
- amphibious detachment

Stern Unit (based in Berne) (CT) But that's a police unit, there is a dozen others like this one.

raph

[Dominique]

You can make this change for Switzerland :

SWITZERLAND:

Grenadiere
A Aufkl Det 10 (Armeeaufklärungsdetachement)
- motorize detachment
- para detachment
- mountain detachment
- amphibious detachment

raph

What's it mission?

[Royal]

Dominique - a few thoughts on the UK side of things...

Firstly, it is not England’s armed forces, it is Great Britain’s…

148 Bty, the Parachute Regiment, Pathfinder Coy, CHF and the AAC and RAF SF flights are not SF.

Commando Helicopter Force (not HCF)

846 NAS has served in Bosnia. The Gazelles are still extant and there are no plans to introduce the Merlin into CHF. It is used in the ASW role by the RN, although it is used as a troop carrier by the RAF.

SFAir/ Avn Spt

M Flight 848 NAS – Sea King HC 4
8 Flight of 9 Rgt AAC at Credenhill – Augusta 109, Gazelle and Lynx
7 Sqn RAF – Chinook
47 Sqn RAF - Hercules C1, 3 & 4

148 Bty

Bombardier is a RA rank not an RN one.
L119A1’s (Diemaco C8 SFW’s) have replaced the M16.

5 Abn Bde Pathfinder Pl

No comment – I’m a Bootneck, other than to say 5 Bde no longer exists – it became 16 Air Assault Bde. Last time I checked the Pathfinder Coy was not OpCom 16 Bde, but that may have changed.

SAS

The Mobility Troop details are way out of date, but equipment held is classified Restricted.

The blue on blue between the SAS and SBS in the Falklands was between two patrols and was caused by incorrect patrol traces being given to the SAS patrol. The idea that they recognised Argentine webbing from over 300m on a dark rainy night is laughable. They believed the SBS patrol were Argentines because according to their traces, they shouldn’t have been there.

RN, RM and RAF personnel also died in the Sea King crash mentioned.

R Sqn/L Det no longer exist

DSF

DSF has overall control of the SAS, SBS & a HumInt unit (name and details are classified Secret – and no, it’s not what you think it is).

[Dominique]

Dominique - a few thoughts on the UK side of things...

Firstly, it is not England’s armed forces, it is Great Britain’s…


148 Bty, the Parachute Regiment, Pathfinder Coy, CHF and the AAC and RAF SF flights are not SF.

Commando Helicopter Force (not HCF)

846 NAS has served in Bosnia. The Gazelles are still extant and there are no plans to introduce the Merlin into CHF. It is used in the ASW role by the RN, although it is used as a troop carrier by the RAF.

SFAir/ Avn Spt

M Flight 848 NAS – Sea King HC 4
8 Flight of 9 Rgt AAC at Credenhill – Augusta 109, Gazelle and Lynx
7 Sqn RAF – Chinook
47 Sqn RAF - Hercules C1, 3 & 4

148 Bty

Bombardier is a RA rank not an RN one.
L119A1’s (Diemaco C8 SFW’s) have replaced the M16.

5 Abn Bde Pathfinder Pl

No comment – I’m a Bootneck, other than to say 5 Bde no longer exists – it became 16 Air Assault Bde. Last time I checked the Pathfinder Coy was not OpCom 16 Bde, but that may have changed.

SAS

The Mobility Troop details are way out of date, but equipment held is classified Restricted.

The blue on blue between the SAS and SBS in the Falklands was between two patrols and was caused by incorrect patrol traces being given to the SAS patrol. The idea that they recognised Argentine webbing from over 300m on a dark rainy night is laughable. They believed the SBS patrol were Argentines because according to their traces, they shouldn’t have been there.

RN, RM and RAF personnel also died in the Sea King crash mentioned.

R Sqn/L Det no longer exist

DSF

DSF has overall control of the SAS, SBS & a HumInt unit (name and details are classified Secret – and no, it’s not what you think it is).

Thanks for the updated info. :D

I'll change it from "England" to "Great Briton" (grumble, grumble ;) ). The info Pathinder Plt., and 5 ABN BDE just never got changed after combined with 24 Air Mobile Brigade, but I will eventually update all of this stuff.


As far as the other units not being SF, I've said before I'm not just listing SF units. I'm concentrating on what I consider "elite" units and just to clarify it one more time here's a list of some of the units:

"Special Forces" type units (i.e. - SF, SAS, KSK, SASR, SEALs, SBS, etc.)
Commandos/Rangers
LRRPs
Pathfinders
LRS/Reece/Recon
CT units
Counter Insurgency units
Mountain troops
Airborne/Para
Marines/Naval Infantry
Paramilitary(CIA SAD, the "Increment", Al'fa, etc.)
Gendarmie special units

I also set up a seperate list for law enforcement specialist and CT units (SWAT, Counter Sniper, SAR, jungle units, etc.).

This is not a complete list but it should give you an idea.

[Royal]

As far as the other units not being SF, I've said before I'm not just listing SF units. I'm concentrating on what I consider "elite" units...

... but your site lists all of those I mention as "United Kingdom Special Forces".

http://www.specwarnet.net/sf.htm

In the UK to be SF you must receive SF pay - only the SAS and SBS on your list do.

[Lobo]

Oh, I see you're considering parachutist, marines, mountain warfare...

Then the list in Spanish armed forces is longer... But as you said you got information by other ways...

[EODSGT]

it's good to know bomb techs don't make the "elite" cut :(

[BMF_EOD]

it's good to know bomb techs don't make the "elite" cut :(

My thoughts exactly.....

[2RHPZ]

I am happy to ressurect such a great topic!

Indian Special Forces

National Security Guards
Some Info On them :

The National Security Guards (NSG) was raised by the Cabinet Secretariat under the National Security Guard Act of 1985 and has acquired considerable experience from the intense insurgency operations it has faced - from the present conflict in the state of Kashmir to the cradle of its birth, the state of Punjab. Adopting a variety of roles from counter-terrorism to hostage rescue to VIP protection, the NSG proudly wears the mantle of being one of the finest counter-terrorist units in all of Asia. Their goals include;

• Neutralisation of specific terrorist threats in vital installations or any given area

• Handling hijack situations involving piracy in the air and on the land.

• Engaging and neutralising terrorists in specific situations.

• Rescue of hostages in kidnap situations.

But being one of the finest counter-terrorist units in all of Asia, does not come without a price. The NSG simulates hundreds of realistic scenarios in daily drills - the key being fitness and surprise. "Surprise doesn't mean that the terrorists don't know we are coming. It is just that we have chosen the when, how and where. And it is with our chosen technique and weapon," says Colonel V.K. Dutta, who has been associated with the NSG since its inception. The unit is popularly known as the Black Cats, because of the black nomex coveralls and balaclavas (head gear) or assault helmets they adorn. Their motto is - One for All, All for One.


A 'Black Cat' Commando armed with an MP-5 sub-machine gun.


With a total strength of approximately 7500 personnel, the NSG is divided into two groups - the Special Action Group (SAG) and the Special Rangers Group (SRG). The SAG, which comprises 54% of the force, is the elite, offensive wing with members drawn from the Indian Army. The SRG, on the other hand, has members on deputation from central police organisations like the Border Security Force (BSF), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Rapid Action Force (RAF). The primary function of the SRG is to play a supportive role to the SAF, especially in isolating target areas. For maintaining the young profile of the force, troops are rotated and sent back to their parent organisations after serving in the NSG for three to five years. The basic training period at the organisation's training centre at Manesar, 50 km from New Delhi, lasts 90 days. Only those who complete the entire course successfully are inducted into the NSG and given further specialised training.

The probation grind saps the toughest of recruits and the drop out rate is 50 - 70%. For starters there is a 26-item, 780-metre obstacle course, with a qualifying time of 18 minutes. If a person completes the course in 25 minutes, he is deemed fit. The best do it in less than nine minutes. The obstacles have to do with heights, horizontal gaps and vertical scaling and are difficult to tackle in sequence. As if this is not enough, there's a target shooting session at the end of the obstacle course meant to test the aspirants' performance under severe stress and exhaustion. Those who complete this course are recruited to the unit and sent for advanced training. Some operators are sent to Israel for advanced training. Though it is not known exactly what training they receive, it could probably be the CT/HRT course with Unit 707. The unit also cooperates with Israel's Shabach, for training in VIP protection.


One of the hurdles in a 26-item, 780 meter obstacle course. The qualifying time is 18 minutes but experienced operators take around 9 minutes.


In the Combat Room Shoot, the combatant enters a dark room, adjusts to the darkness and engages the target with either a torch light or a compatible laser image intensifier - all within 3 seconds. And not just in darkness but under the strobe lights of a discotheque as well, which are some of the most difficult shots to take. "We train them to take only head shots. And two at a go - the double tap system. It's to ensure neutralisation of the target. In the close hostage-terrorist situations we face there is little scope for body shots," says Colonel Dutta. To hone shooting skills the training centre has an Electronic Combat Shooting Range built at a cost of over Rs.1 crore. Divided into 11 zones and spread over 400 metres, a recruit has to cover this distance in just six minutes, 30 seconds and fire at 29 targets along the way.

The target exposure time is between two and three seconds and the targets are of all kinds - vertically rising, popping out, moving and rotating. The faster a person engages the target the more points he scores. It is not just non-reactive targets that they practice against. In twin room shooting, rival combatants enter contiguous rooms and watch each other's movements on a screen. They are supposed to neutralise each other by shooting at the screen. The exercise test the combatants' response time and accuracy under near-field conditions. The men are also put through a battle inoculation program where they have to stand right next to the target while one of their partners shoots at it. "They have to become used to live bullets flying under their noses.

Also the person shooting is conscious that if he misses by even a couple of inches the bullet is going to hit his partner." says an instructor. They don't wear the kavach either, a bullet-proof vest, designed by Colonel Dutta himself. The vest can withstand an AK-47 or a 7.62mm carbine shot at point blank range. Members of the unit are assigned partners soon after completion of basic training and they train and even go on leave together. But as crack professionals, they are under orders to shoot their partner if he makes a single threatening step detrimental to the security of a VIP. On an average, a commando fires 2000 rounds of live ammunition during practice sessions throughout the year. This is apart from the two months that units have to spend in alert status and for whom it's a daily stint at the range. "I did more firing in a week of alert status than in my entire 10-year stay in the Army," says an NSG Officer. On average a person fires close to 14,000 rounds over a period of two months in alert status. The target strike rate has to be above 85% for a person to remain in the force.


NSG operators practising fast-reaction shooting from difficult angles at targets that pop up for split seconds to achieve absolute accuracy.


Some NSG personnel have received additional training in Israel and use weapons like the famed 9mm Uzi sub-machine gun. Their weapon of choice, however, is the Heckler & Koch family of 9mm sub-machine guns, the 7.62mm PSG-1 sniper weapon and the Heckler & Koch 512 12-gauge shotgun. Side arms include Glock 17 and Sig Sauer P226 9mm pistols. They are also armed with state-of-the-art surveillance gadgets and other sophisticated equipment. The unit is also parachute-trained, but is uncertain whether this capability includes free-fall (HALO/HAHO) and static-line or just the latter. The unit also has a superb bomb disposal squad.

The smallest combat unit in the NSG's counter-terrorist ops is a hit which comprises of five members - two pairs, or partners and a technical support member. Four hits make a team which is under the command of a Captain. The number of hits used for an intervention job depends on its complexity and the magnitude of the operation. In hostage rescue situations, a team of 50 to 90 NSG personnel and an IL-76MD strategic transport aircraft to transport them, are stationed on alert at New Delhi's Palam AFS and are ready to deploy within 30 minutes of being informed.

The NSG is an elite force providing a second line of defence to the nation. They have played a pivotal role in safeguarding the unity of India and have commendably foiled attempts of anti-national elements to tear apart the social fabric of the country. The NSG has maintained an edge over terrorist outfits in possession of latest technology and are considered among the finest special operations units in all of South Asia. However, as Colonel Dutta says, "We are like nukes. The ultimate back-up."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A partial list of previous NSG Operations;
{ Source: Counter Terrorism & Hostage Rescue }

• 30 April 1986: NSG commandos storm the Golden Temple in Operation Black Thunder I. No casualties on either side and no weapons are found.


A NSG Sniper armed with a H&K PSG-1 rifle.


• 12 May 1988: 1000 NSG commandos surround the Golden Temple for yet an other assault in Operation Black Thunder II. Sniper teams armed with Heckler & Koch PSG-1 rifles with night scope took up positions, including atop a 300-foot water tower. While commandos from the 51 SAG divided into assault squadrons, the SRG were used to seal off the area around the temple and for tactical support. On May 15th, the NSG began its attack. Machine gun fire and rockets were used to cut holes in the temple's minarets, followed by teargas canisters. Once it was determined that the towers had been abandoned, the SAG used explosives to break holes into the temple basement. By May 18th, all militants had surrendered at the cost of only two wounded Black Cats. In mid-1990 an NSG battalion was again deployed to Punjab to confront the Sikh rioters. There they began training the Punjab Police in counter-terrorism.

• 24-25 April 1994: NSG Commandos storm a hijacked Indian Airlines Boeing 737 with 141 passengers onboard at Amritsar airport during Operation Ashwamedh. The hijacker, Mohammed Yousuf Shah, is killed before he can react and no hostages are harmed.

• October 1998: As part of the implementation of the Union Home Ministry's decision to conduct pro-active strikes against militants, commando teams supported by IAF Mi-25/35 helicopter gun-ships began striking at terrorist groups deep inside the mountains and forests of Kashmir. After helicopter recces were conducted to pinpoint the militants, the commandos - comprising NSG and Rashtriya Rifles personnel - were para-dropped, along with supplies, into the area to hunt the militants. They had to rely on these supplies and their ability to live off the land until replenishment every fortnight or so. The operations were said to be highly successful although precise details are not being released in order to maintain a low profile. These missions are reportedly still ongoing.


NSG operators fast-rope on to the roof of a building from a Mi-17 transport helicopter, of the Indian Air Force, during a HRT (Hostage Rescue Team) drill.



• 15 July 1999: NSG commandos end a 30-hour standoff by killing 2 terrorists and rescuing all 12 hostages unharmed. The terrorists had attacked a BSF campus, killed 3 officers and the wife of an other. The 12 hostages were kept locked in a room. The NSG arrived the previous evening and positioned themselves around the apartment complex. At one point two militants tried to crawl out and one was shot dead. The other managed to crawl back. Finally at around 5:00 in the morning the NSG assaulted the apartment. The terrorists managed to move to another room, allowing the NSG to release all 12 hostages. At around 8:00 a.m., a 84mm rocket was fired into the roof of the room, collapsing it and killing one militant.

• 21 August 1999: After interrogating three captured terrorists, the Delhi Police Crime branch confirmed that two more terrorists were hiding in a one-storied house in Rudrapur, Uttar Pradesh. Since the terrorists were considered armed and dangerous (their colleagues were arrested with 100+ pounds of RDX), the Delhi Police decided to seek assistance from the NSG. A 16-man team arrived at the house at 4:45 a.m. They began their assault at 5:30 a.m., before first light. The first militant managed to fire at the commandos with a pistol he kept by his bed side, but was killed an instant later. The second terrorist was shot before he had a chance to fire and died 40 minutes later. No NSG personnel were injured in the operation.

• December 1999: Terrorists hijack Indian Airlines flight IC814 from Nepal, and land in Amritsar, Punjab. Within minutes of landing the Crisis Management Group (CMG), which authorizes the use of the NSG, is informed. But the CMG wastes precious hours and by the time the go-ahead is issued, it is too late. On the other hand, the NSG team on alert was elsewhere and no other team was raised during the delay. By the time the NSG reached Amritsar airport the hijackers became restless and ordered the plane to takeoff. Here too the NSG missed their opportunity by not blocking the runway or shooting out the planes tires. The plane lands in Kandahar, Afganisthan where one hostage is killed. Finally the Indian government agrees to the terrorists demands to release 3 jailed terrorists. The hostages are released and the terrorists escape to Pakistan.


NSG operators conducting a train assault.


• February 2000: Following the Flight IC814 fiasco, the Indian Government decided to implement an Air Marshal program. At least two NSG operators will be present on flights over select routes. These operators will be armed with weapons firing lethal but low-velocity fragmentation rounds to minimize danger to the passengers and prevent penetration of the aircraft. Another decision taken after the Flight IC814 fiasco, was to deploy NSG teams permanently at eight sensitive airports around the country, especially those bordering Pakistan and the North East. This decision will cut short reaction times for the NSG and eliminate hassles involved in flying the teams to the hijack site.

• Ongoing: The NSG is used extensively to guard VIPs and VVIPs, especially those in the 'Z-plus' category. Many NSG personnel are seconded to the Special Protection Group (SPG) which guards the Prime Minister. However, the use of NSG for VIP protection has spiralled out of control recently. More than 19 persons currently enjoy NSG protection, mainly as a status symbol. The Home Minister has clamped down on this misuse and is currently phasing out the use of the NSG for VIP protection in all but the most serious cases (Z-plus category). From now on, NSG coverage will be provided based on a persons threat perception rather than status. This move has freed up a large number of operators for other missions. The NSG is also in demand as security consultants and are known to be active in the Middle East.


Marine Commando Force
Some Info On them :

The Marine Commando Force (MCF) is a special forces unit, that was created by the Indian Navy in 1987. For many years, the Indian Navy wanted to establish an elite force for special maritime operations. Prior to this, Navy divers trained in explosive ordnance disposal and Army units were often assigned for maritime exercises. In 1983, the 340th Army Independent Brigade, which had a force of three infantry battalions at Trivandrum, was raised as a special maritime unit. They were assault operations in which both airborne and maritime forces participated. Since then, the Indian Navy has conducted various exercises as a show of force, notably in 1984 in the Andaman Islands and in 1986 off Goa.

QRS (Quick Reaction Section) operators fast rope from a Sea King Mk.42C helicopter during a GOPLAT (Gas and Oil Platform) assault drill. Weapons include 7.62mm AK-47 assault rifles and 9mm MP-5 sub-machine guns.

In April 1986, the Indian Naval Staff created a plan for a special force which would be able to conduct recon, raids and even counter-terrorist operations in a maritime environment. Three Naval Officers were sent for training with the US Navy SEALS and further training was conducted with British Special Forces. These three Naval Officers formed the first nucleus of the Indian Marine Special Force (IMSF) which was formally raised in February 1987. In 1991, the IMSF had its name changed to the Marine Commando Force (MCF), but they are more familiarly known as MARCOS (Marine Commandos).

OPERATIONS

The IMSF first went into action a few months after its raising, in Sri Lanka, to fight against the LTTE (Liberation of Tamil Tigers Eelan). During Operation Pawan, a single battalion of the 340th Army Independent Brigade left the Naval base of Vizag for Jaffna and Batticaloa on board landing ships, together with a detachment of the IMSF which was to provide the beach reconnaissance party. As one of the first IPKF units to be deployed, the 340th Brigade served until operations in the Tricomalee area were complete. Beside leading the beach landings, the IMSF also provided security patrols along the coastal road, west of Jaffna, until the Army's 41st Brigade was able to take charge. On 21 October 1987, a Indian Navy force conducted a successful amphibious raid against a LTTE base at Guru Nagar.

A MARCOS operator descends from a a Sea King Mk.42C helicopter to a Gemini raiding craft by means of a caving ladder.


Then in November 1988, mercenaries of the People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelan (PLOTE), a party used by the India to counter the LTTE, attempted a coup in the Maldives. The Indian Armed Forces quickly began an operation to re-establish the former government. Under the codename Operation Cactus, Indian paratroopers on 04 November 1988, swarmed on the capital. However 46 mercenaries with 27 hostages, including the Maldivian Minister of Education, managed to escape on board a merchant ship. The next day the merchant ship was detected by an Il-38 May MR aircraft and was then tracked by a Tu-142M Bear-F, another maritime recon aircraft, until two Indian Navy vessels were able to capture the absconding ship. Two Sea King Mk.42 helicopters, from the one of the naval vessels, dropped depth charges to deter evasion. Finally on the morning of 06 November 1988, IMSF commandos boarded the vessel and took control without any resistance from the mercenaries.

MARCOS is currently very active in Jammu & Kashmir as part of the army's counter-terrorist efforts. Their main task is to control the infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan to Jammu & Kashmir through Jhelum River and Wullar, a 65 sq. km freshwater lake. Clad in wet suits or BDUs and riding on inflatable raiding craft, they interdict arms supplies and fresh militants who are crossing over. Some MARCOS personnel have been seconded to Army special forces units conducting CT operations in the area. They operate similar to the Israeli Mistaravim units by sporting beards and wearing the firan (Kashmiri suit), thus making them indistinguishable from the locals. The unit has gained a fearsome reputation among nervous terrorists and are variously referred to as the Dadiwali Fauj (Bearded Army) since MARCOS are the only non-Sikh personnel allowed to grow them, Jal Murgi (Water Hens) for the speed in which they assault from the water and Magarmach (Crocodiles) for their amphibious capability.

TRAINING

MARCOS trainees have to complete a two-year course, the first phase of which lasts one month, in which they undergo many rigorous physical tests of which only 50% pass. Then for the next nine months, they are taught how to use different types of weapons, conduct special warfare techniques and how to gather intelligence from the enemy. MARCOS also conducts operational reconnaissance training which includes a variety of external environments; beach, coastal, riverine and jungle. This part of training is conducted in sync with other Indian special forces at the Combined Commando School at Sirsawa. They also have to undergo a parachute training course and a diving course at Agra and Cochin.

A MARCOS operator armed with an MP-5, grenades and crossbow. The crossbow was used for sentry elimination and silent killing with cyanide tipped arrows and has been replaced by less cumbersome silenced pistols. Note the trademark beard - the Indian Navy is the only branch of the military that permits beards for non-Sikh members.


Once trainees have completed their first nine months of these rigorous tests, they join groups - on a probational basis - where additional specialized training is carried out. This combat ready qualification takes another year. Most of the training deals with counter-terrorist operations, such as protecting oil platforms off Mumbai and also with anti-hijacking/piracy operations. All MARCOS personnel are static line parachute qualified and a number are freefall qualified (HALO/HAHO). MARCOS is one of only a handful of units in the world that is capable of para-dropping into the sea with full combat load and equipment. By the end of two years, only 10% - 25% of the candidates remain. As with other Indian Special Forces units, all MCF personnel attend the four week high-altitude commando course run by the Parvat Ghatak School in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.

THE MARCOS TODAY

The strength of the unit is a closely guarded secret, however sources say that the number could be close to 2000 personnel, in 10 groups of 200 personnel each. Currently there are three main groups detached to the three naval commands; Mumbai (West), Cochin (South) and Vizag (East). INS Abhimanyu, in Mumbai, is where most of the specialised training is now done. The unit's quick rise has changed the unit's role - it was intended to be dedicated to special maritime operations, but a considerable part of the MARCOS is doubling as marine infantry, assigned to the 340th Brigade, with the usual flexibility of commando forces.

QRS operators assault a hijacked bus during CT/HRT (Counter Terror/Hostage Rescue Team) drills. The handgun is a 9mm Browning Hi Power.


That means that they have the capability of conducting swift amphibious raids and co-operating with Indian airborne units, in joint assault operations. Each of the three main groups have smaller units within them known as the Quick Reaction Section (QRS), which is the size of a large platoon. They are given the task of counter-terrorism and specialized warfare. Unlike standard MARCOS units, which are armed with weapons like the 7.62mm assault rifle and the Sterling Mk.4 sub-machine gun, the QRS use AK-47 assault rifles and MP-5 sub-machine guns which are more suited to close-quarter engagements. Silenced pistols or crossbows with cyanide tipped, fibreglass arrows are used extensively for silent killing.

MARCOS training is far more rigorous, better than any standard Indian Army unit and even better than their Western counterparts, who are only given the task of amphibious assault. Although all MARCOS members are qualified parachutists and even undergo a combat divers course (which is not a common practice in other commando forces), only a few manage to complete the free-fall (HALO) parachute training and it is these few that are selected for operations with Cosmos CE-2F/X100 two-man subs. When the unit's role was expanded to include attacks on harbour facilities and the sabotage of enemy ships, the Indian Navy chose the Italian Cosmos CE-2F/X100 and eleven vehicles were bought in 1990. It has a length of 7 meters, a weight of 2100kg, and a maximum underwater combat range of 25 nautical miles. It carries two operators and is fitted with a forward compartment for carrying special equipment like heavy explosive charges or limpet anti-ship mines.

For the amphibious assault role, the Indian Navy relies on a small fleet based at Vizag. Two new 5600+ ton landing vessels of the Magar Class offer a good transport capability, thanks to the four Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) on davits, the beaching capability and a stern helicopter platform with hangar. Although locally built, the Indian Navy's original plan for eight of the class seem to have been shelved because of budgetary constraints. Eight smaller landing ships of the Polnochny Class are scarcely operational for lack of spare parts; they are 10 to 20 years old. The last four vessels support a small helicopter platform. Seven 500-ton landing craft utility (LCU), locally built between 1978-1987, are also in service.

MARCOS operators undergoing CQB (Close Quarter Battle) training with MP-5 sub-machine guns.


The Indian Navy also shows great interest in air-cushion craft and a few are on order for fast, short-range assault operations. Although most of the naval inventory is of Russian origin and the Russians are the largest operator of air-cushion craft, the new hovercrafts are being procured in the West. The MARCOS is supported also by six Sea King Mk.42C and a few HAL Chetak helicopters. Because of the lack of midget submarines, whose delivery was denied by the Italian authorities, the Cosmos are transported close to the target on the back of parent submarines, most probably on Foxtrot Class submarines. The CE-2F/X100 can withstand a transit depth of 100 metres. Also surface ships like, surface combatants or naval auxiliaries, can be used for delivering these crafts, although with less discretion.

FUTURE

The presence of a significant marine component within the Indian Navy fits very well with the declared intention of expanding the role of the fleet to establish a credible blue-water intervention force. An effective, yet dimensionally limited, capability of power projection is clearly available already and is coupled with a reasonable capability to conduct covert operations and specialized warfare. The armed forces have demonstrated an amazing quick-reaction capability and the willingness to establish an area of exclusive interest well beyond India's borders. That makes the Marine Commando Force (MCF) a flexible force for facing peace-time contingencies and making effective the intentions expressed by India's policymakers.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A partial list of previous MARCOS Operations;
{ Source: Counter Terrorism & Hostage Rescue }

• October 1988, Operation Pawan: The IMSF saw action in SriLanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) during Operation Pawan in 1987. The unit was attached to the 340th Independent Brigade whose task was amphibious missions. The IMSF provided beach reconnaissance for the amphibious landing. It also provided security patrols along the costal road west of Jaffna. On 21 October 1988, the IMSF conducted a successful raid against a coastal LTTE base. The IMSF also helped capture the Jaffna and Trincomalee harbors from the LTTE.

• November 1988, Operation Cactus: The IMSF took part in Operation Cactus in which Indian troops thwarted a coup attempt in the islands of Maldives. When the islands were liberated, a ship containing 46 mercenaries and 27 hostages (including the Maldivian Education Minister) escaped. The next day the ship was spotted by Indian maritime reconnaissance aircraft. IMSF operators fast-roped on the ship from helicopters and took control without any resistance.

• Ongoing: The MCF has also been very active in Kashmir as part of Counter-Terrorist efforts. Their main task is to control the infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan to Kashmir through Jhelum River and Wullar, a 65 sq. km freshwater lake. Clad in wet suits or BDUs and riding on inflatable raiding craft, they interdict arms supplies and fresh militants who are crossing over. Some MCF personnel have been seconded to army special forces units conducting CT operations in the area. MCF operators also operate similar to Israeli Mistaravim units by sporting beards and local dress, making them indistinguishable from the locals.



Para-Commandos
Some Info On them :

During the 1965 Indo-Pak War, an ad hoc commando unit comprised of volunteers from various infantry regiments was organized by Lieutenant Colonel Megh Singh of the Brigade of the Guards. The unit was nicknamed, Meghdoot Force, and performed well in combat. Thus in June 1966, the Indian Government authorised the Parachute Regiment to form a permanent commando unit. Known as the 9th Battalion, it was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Megh Singh and he used members from the Meghdoot Force as its backbone. In June 1967 elements of the 9th Battalion, were taken to form a second commando unit, designated as 10th Battalion, at Gwalior. However in July 1967, both units left Gwalior with the 9th Battalion, operating in the northern mountains and the 10th Battalion, operating in the western desert. In 1969, these battalions were renamed as the 9 and 10 Para Commando battalions.

Para Commandos had their first taste of combat in the 1971 Indo-Pak War where they performed gallantly. The 9 Para Cdo saw action through a daring raid on a Pakistani gun position at Mandhol. This raid resulted in the destruction of six 122mm guns belonging to the Pakistan Army's 172 Independent Battery. Apart from the destruction of guns, ammunition and other vital equipment, the Pakistanis suffered 37 killed, 41 wounded and a great loss of face. This raid, launched at a crucial time which enabled the 25th Infantry Division to progress their operations on Daruchian (a Pakistani occupied post), won the 9 Para Cdo the Battle Honour of Mandhol.

The 10 Para Cdo was baptised in combat with successful raids on enemy posts at Chachro and Virawah, under H.H. Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh Bahadur who won a Maha Vir Chakra for these daring raids. By the late 1970s, Indian paratroopers began experimenting with High-Altitude, Low-Opening (HALO) techniques. At the same time, the 1 Para Battalion was selected for conversion into the Army's third Para Commando unit. In the mid-1980s, there were plans of bringing the three Para battalions together under a new aegis of a Special Forces Regiment. However these plans were abandoned, and they continue to be trained and recruited by the Parachute Regiment.


A Para Commando armed with the Indian version of the 7.62mm FN-FAL, called the Self Loading Rifle. The weapon is fitted with a US-made AN/PVS4 Starlight night vision device used for passive night vision and aimed fire using ambient light (moonlight or starlight) for illumination.


1984 saw the Para Commandos being involved in Operation Bluestar, the eviction of Sikh militants from the Golden Temple in Punjab. 80 members of 1 Para Cdo was given the task of assaulting two areas of the temple, one of which required divers. However, poor intelligence on the strength of the militants, the broad daylight, conventional manner of the raid and the lack of high precision CQB (close quarter battle) skills gave the commandos a hard time. The diver mission was aborted after the first team got bogged down. The commandos eventually achieved their aims but at the cost of 17 dead and many more wounded.

The late 1980s saw the Para Commandos in action in Sri Lanka. However, lack of proper planning by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) and insufficient intelligence on the LTTE's whereabouts, led the initial heli-borne assault on 11 October 1987 to be a tragic failure. Six Para Commandos losing their lives in that ill-fated mission. After the failed assault into Jaffna City, the 10 Para Cdo participated in November 1987 for a heli-borne assault in the town of Moolai, 14 miles to the north-west. 25 guerrillas were killed and an arms depot sized. In order to give the commandos battle experience, 10 Para Cdo was rotated home in early 1988 and replaced by 9 Para Cdo. This battalion was scheduled to return home in June 1988, but the tour of duty was extended due to a planned air assault into the coastal swamps around Mullaittivu. The mission was a great success, in that it located several arms caches. The 9 Para Cdo also provided 12 men for the security of the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka.

With the capture of Maldives, an island-nation of the coast of south-western India on 03 November 1988 by PLOTE mercenaries, the Para Commandos were once again called into action. 10 Para Cdo along with the 6 Para flew in on 04 November 1988 in a fleet of IL-76s, An-32s and An-12 transport aircraft. Later that morning, Mi-8 helicopters were used to fly the 10 Para Cdo to the outlying islands to search for escaping mercenaries. Operation Cactus, as it was called, was successful and ended without any loss of life for 10 Para Cdo or the other Indian troops. Since the mid-90s the role of Para Commandos as a counter terrorist force has increased substantially. They are now actively involved in counter terrorist operations in Kashmir as an essential part of the Home Ministry's decision to conduct pro-active raids against militants in the countryside and mountains. The practice of take-the-fight-to-them involves extensive aerial reconnaissance followed by para-dropping operators into the target area. These missions continue for weeks at a stretch and include raids on terrorist camps and ambushes along infiltration routes.


Outfitted for a High Altitude, Low Opening (HALO) parachute jump, this commando wears a black jumpsuit, helmet, wrist altimeter, and square-canopy parachute with US leaf pattern camouflage cover. He has a 7.62mm Self Loading Rifle as his primary weapon. Close examination of his badge on the upper left shoulder, reveals the insignia of the Western Army Command.



Personnel include Para Commandos, NSG and special units of the Rashtriya Rifles - a paramilitary unit created to deal with the Kashmir insurgency. They may also include MARCOS personnel, many of whom are seconded to the Army for CT operations. Despite the Army's insistence, the government has not sanctioned cross border raids on terrorist camps in Pakistan. There have been some claims in the press of Para Commandos taking part in hostage rescue missions in Kashmir but no definite details are available. The 9 Para (SF) took active part in the 1999 Kargil conflict, where they conducted a number of raids to remove a combined force of Pakistani special forces (SSG), light infantry and militants who had infiltrated across the border and had dug in on the mountaintops. They typically operated in 6 man teams (5 men and 1 officer) and collected intelligence, such as the number of sentries and gun placements, on mountaintop bunkers using pitch black darkness and night vision as help. They also took part in the follow up raids.

The Para Commandos were recently involved in Operation Khukri, in Sierra Leone in June 2000 where Indian troops were part of a multinational UN peacekeeping force. About 120 operators commanded by Major Harinder Sood were airlifted from New Delhi to spearhead the mission to rescue 223 men of the 5/8 Gorkha Rifles who were surrounded and held captive by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels for over 75 days. The operation, involving Mi-25/35 helicopter gun ships of the Indian Air Force and other infantry battalions, was a complete success with no Indian casualties other than a few shrapnel wounds. The SAS (Special Air Service), who were present as part of the British force, loaned the Para Commandos their Chinook transport helicopters for the initial assault.

The Para Commando battalions have been re-designated as the 1, 9 and 10 Parachute (Special Forces). On 01 February 1996, the 21 Maratha LI became the youngest battalion to join the Parachute Regiment and was raised as the 21 Para (SF) by Colonel V.B. Shinde. Previously, each Para (SF) battalion had a geographical specialization and remained assigned to that sector, i.e. 1 Para (SF) was specialized for mountain warfare, 9 Para (SF) was specialized for jungle warfare and 10 Para (SF) was specialized for desert warfare. Today, all the Para (SF) battalions are capable of operating under any circumstances - anywhere. The concept of 'geographical specialization' for each Para (SF) battalion has ceased to exist.


Para commandos parade through Rajpath, in full battle gear, during the annual Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. Their coveted maroon beret is a trademark for Para Commandos worldwide.


Para (SF) operate in companies or sometimes even at the battalion level. They are trained in special tactics, unarmed combat and survival in their natural surroundings. They have access to all types of infantry weapons required for a particular mission. All Indian paratroopers are volunteers; some enter the regiments direct from civilian life, while others transfer in from regular army units. There is a probationary period of three months when trainees undergo various physical and mental tests, during which many are rejected. This three month probationary period, is when an individual is tested physically, mentally and psychologically. The individual is subjected to the most harshest of physical and mental stress and strain. During this time the biological clock of the individual is also subjected to changes. As one Para Commando puts it, "Only the 'hard-nuts' are able to stay put, the squeamish get separated out. An alert mind with a 'never-say-die' attitude is what the Para Commandos look for."

Those who pass are sent to the PTS (Paratroopers Training School) at Agra, Uttar Pradesh where five static line jumps at 1250 feet, including one at night, entitle the trainee to wear the coveted parachute wings on the right chest and the maroon beret, with the parachute badge attached to it. A commando patch, in light blue letters on a maroon background, is also worn on the right upper sleeve. After receiving their badge, Para (SF) undergo further specialized training to suit them for their role. They return to PTS to undergo the free-fall course, which in order to successfully pass requires at least 50 jumps from altitudes up to 22,500 feet. Both HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) and HAHO (High Altitude High Opening) techniques are learnt. The ability to use the HAHO method and specially designed manoeuvrable parachutes called HAPPS (High Altitude Parachute Penetration System) to conduct stealth insertions over distances up to 50 km is also perfected

Daily routine begins with a 5 km morning run in BDUs (Battle Dress Uniforms) and combat boots after which weapons, land navigation and field craft training is conducted. Infiltration, assault and ambush tactics are refined and perfected. Special attention is given to CQB, urban warfare, counter terror warfare and unarmed combat. Night training involving 20 km treks with 60 kg (132 lb.) loads and live ammo is conducted once a week. Monthly forced marches with 65 kg combat loads over 30 km and quarterly night drops with full combat loads are also conducted. In addition to this in-house training the commandos also attend a number of schools run by the Army that specialize in unconventional warfare. These include the Junior Leaders' Commando Training Camp in Belgaum, Karnataka, the Parvat Ghatak School (for high altitude mountain warfare) in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Sonamarg, Kashmir and the Counter Insurgency Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) in Vairengte, Mizoram. These schools are among the finest of their kind anywhere and routinely host students from other countries.

Recently the Indian government has allowed USSOCOM (United States Special Operations Command) personnel to attend courses held by CIJWS and may grant access to HAWS as part for further military cooperation between the two countries. In reciprocation, many operators are sent to the US to train with the Army Rangers and other units. U.S. Army Special Forces have conducted joint HAHO training with the Para Commandos in 1992, underwater training in 1995 and anti-terrorism training in 1997. Para Commandos can also undergo a complete Combat Divers course, in which they earn a combat diver badge. They are also experienced in launching heli-borne assaults and typically employ Mi-8 / Mi-17 type helicopters for this purpose. The Bali-Dan (Sacrifice) badge is conferred after a stint of one year with the Para (SF), or a six month stint with the battalion if it is involved in active operations.


An army recruitment advertisement illustrates a Para Commando, to bring the point home to potential young candidates eager to join the Indian Army.


The goals of the Para Commandos are;

• To function as elite battle units of the infantry.
• To establish commando superiority in a battle zone.
• To disrupt enemy operations by clandestine means.
• To sabotage enemy lines of communication via the command means.
• To subvert & sabotage enemy vital areas & points by clandestine attacks inside enemy lines

[bloddyaxe]

Argh you people forget Icelands glorious elite and utterly undefeatable anti terrorist unit, the ,,Sérsveit ríkislögreglustjóra'' or the Viking-squad. It is a 50 something man police spetsnaz team, which has an 100% operational success rate. They are also extremely secretive, so secretive that they do not tell anything about their armory, except that they have a few MP5s.

[2RHPZ]

The Airborne Brigade and Royal Guard Brigade are normally deployed near Riyadh. The
Airborne Brigade has two parachute battalions and three Special Forces companies. The
Special Forces companies report directly to Prince Sultan. The Royal Guard Brigade has
three battalions, and is equipped with light armored vehicles. It reports directly to the
King and is recruited from loyal tribes in the Najd. The Army also has an Army Aviation
Command, which was formed in 1986, and that operated Saudi Arabia’s Bell 406 armed
helicopters and AH-64s. There also were security garrisons at most major Saudi cities,
including Dhahran, Jeddah, and Riyadh.

More on Saudi Military:

Saudi Paramilitary and Internal Security Forces
http://csis.org/burke/saudi21/SaudiMilBook_09.pdf
A 55-page analysis of the structure and effectiveness of Saudi internal security forces and the role of the Saudi legal system in enforcing internal security. (updated 12/19/02)

Saudi Military Forces and Development: Challenges & Reforms
http://csis.org/burke/saudi21/saudimilforces.pdf
(May 30, 2004)

[2RHPZ]

Malaysian Special Operation Forces at forum http://www.acig.org/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=1491&forum=16&58

[Yosy]

Argh you people forget Icelands glorious elite and utterly undefeatable anti terrorist unit, the ,,Sérsveit ríkislögreglustjóra'' or the Viking-squad. It is a 50 something man police spetsnaz team, which has an 100% operational success rate. They are also extremely secretive, so secretive that they do not tell anything about their armory, except that they have a few MP5s.

rofl

Undefeatable? No CT unit is undefeatable.

100% sucess rate? What operations did they go to?

And being very secretive doens't mean being very sucessful. Israeli Shayetet 13 was very secretive in the beginning, but that's because they screwd up every op they went to. So, to avoid public humilliation, they were very secretive about themselves, letting the public thinking that they were a super commando team.

[2RHPZ]

Special operations of Serbia

http://club.guns.ru/eng/specops_yugo.html

SPECOPS OF YUGOSLAVIA
Author: Branko Bogdanovic, military historian, Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia has a long tradition of operating its Forces of Special Designation: the first four units of Special Task-Force, known as "komite" were formed by the Royal Serbian Supreme Command back in 1912, shortly before commencement of the war with Turkey. The best skilled and experienced officers headed the units: Vojislav Tankovic, Dusan Simic, Dusan Sekulic and Pavle Blazaric. The four units were submitted to the Third Army of Serbia.
It is hardly expected that the units had any special types of small arms at their disposal, since at that time hardly any special-purpose small arms existed at all.

The enlisted were armed with the 7-mm Mauser rifles, 7.63-mm Mauser or 9-mm Luger pistols, fighting knives and Vasic-VTZ hand grenades. The main tactical mission for the newly organized Serbian SPECOPS was operations inside the territories controlled by the Turkish troops. Such raids were effective as a means of not only psychological, demoralizing warfare. Quick, unexpected attacks on the enemy's echelons created havoc and disorder and helped regular Army in larger operations.

Remembering the numerous successful operations of SPECOPS, in July 1914 the Serbian Army chiefs decided to organize 4 new units of special deployment. However, despite their skills and maneuverability, the units sustained extremely heavy losses in the actions against enemy's regular forces, which were significantly superior in numbers.
To increase the potential of their special troops, in the middle of 1917 the Serbs organized 2 volunteer battalions of special purpose. Two years after, probably under the impression of Italian "Arditi" and Austrian "Sturmtruppen", the battalions were restructured into assault companies. Following the then doctrine, members of the assault troops were armed with the 7.65-mm Ruby pistols, 8-mm Lebel and .351 Winchester semi-automatic carbines, OF and F1 (model 1915) hand grenades and model 1916 fighting knives made in France by Societe General Coutellerie et Orfeverie a Thiers.

After WW1, the Yugoslav forces of special designation were dismissed. Only in April 1940, when the Nazi troops had already captured a substantial part of Europe, the Yugoslav Ministry of Army and Navy had to hurriedly revitalize Special Task Force by organizing 6 assault battalions, each being 210 men strong. Why 6? The idea was to provide each of the 5 Armies of Yugoslavia with a unit of special deployment, while the sixth assault battalion was submitted to the Yugoslavian Supreme Command. Members of the Special Battalions had a new officially registered badge: a silver scull and two crossed bones. Their armament consisted of a 7.92 Mauser carbine, a fighting knife and various types of hand grenades.

When the German air descent was dropped on Yugoslavia on 6th April 1941, the 1-st Yugoslav Assault Battalion was the first to oppose the enemy. The combat at the Bijeljina airfield appeared to be the heaviest fight, and most of the Yugoslav soldiers were killed in action. The bravery of their comrades-in-arms inspired troops in the fight against Nazis. It is well known that Yugoslavs were able to create a lot of problems for Germans and their allies in the Balkans during WW2.

In the post-war Yugoslavia, the troops of special designation were treated as unnecessary, again. Neither the People's Army nor Militia (the Yugoslav National Police) had any units for special operation. However, the bloody incident in June 1972 made Army bosses think differently. On 21 June 1972 an armed group of 19 Croatian extremists were infiltrated inside the Yugoslav territory near mount Radusa (operation "Phoenix"). Yugoslavs had no other means to counter the gang than the Militia force. As a result of clashes 15 Croatian nationalists were killed and 4 captured. Militia lost 13 men as killed and a lot more wounded.

Analysis of the incident revealed the necessity of restoring mobile and effective anti-terrorist units and groups of special deployment. A new status was given to the 63-rd Airborne Brigade of the Yugoslav Armed Forces. Several battalions of Special Operations were also formed as part of the Military Police and Territorial Defense. In November 1977 in Belgrade a Federal Group of SPETSNAZ was formed to insure security for citizens in the times of unrest. In addition to this, each of the six Republics that were members of the Yugoslav Federation had their own battalions of Special Police.

In December 1978, the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs organized a force that was commissioned to suppress any terrorist activity that might occur in their territory. Later the group was given an abbreviated name of "SAJ". "SAJ" had three sub-units located in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Pristina. The group's badge and shoulder patch had a Serbian two-headed eagle and a sword striking a snake into its head.
The Military Police too had a Guards Brigade as part of their structure, with two anti-terrorist groups called "Cobra" and "Eagle". Later in 1983 the group "Cobra" acquired a status of a special-purpose platoon. In May 1992 the Yugoslav Ministry of Interior organized the "PJP" units of special-purpose police. Later in August 1993 said units were restructured into a Maneuver Force of the Serbian Ministry of Interior, their main missing being similar to Russia's OMON - the Group of Police of Special Designation: insuring order and security for citizens in the times war and peace, escorting public demonstrations and gatherings. The PJP emblem bears a laurel wreath, sword and shield with the Serbian "tri-color" in the background: red, blue and white.

After the break-up of the SFRY (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) the Army restructured its Special Forces into the Special Operations Corps. The Corps is submitted to the General Staff and consists of the 63-rd Airborne Brigade "Sky Otters", the 72-nd SPECOPS Brigade "Mighty Hawks". The latter has a dedicated anti-terrorist group "Hawk".
As one can see, units of special deployment exist in the Yugoslav Army, Military Police and Ministry of Interior.

All the units are trained in accordance with the most stringent modern standards. Their members are equipped with all required weapons, both firearms and blades, as well as with other necessary accessories of both Yugoslav and international origin.

[Parzival]

The list is good but there is a lot of incorrect information in it.

[anonymous individual]

Maybe you can write it down and make the list better.

[n4292936]

Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) Covert Action Directorate - (Aussie version of the CIA's SAD)

RAAF Airfield Defense Guards (Counter SOF unit)


for the record, ASIS is forbiden by legislation to undertake covert military or paramilitary actions (what is the source on this listing???), and ADGs are NOT sf. The formal proclamation on the latter is that "they are not now, nor will they ever be" special forces.

[RomanS]

Russian STUFF IS ALL WRONG !

[Caraway]

FINLAND:
Laskuvarjojaakarikoulu (Airborne Ranger school)
Laivaston Erikoistoimintayksikko (Navy Special operation unit)
1.Rannikkojaakarikomppania (1st Marine commando company)
Sissikomppaniat (Ranger/Guerilla warfare companies)
Osasto Karhu “Bear Unit” of the Helsinki Police Department (CT)
This means that I'm part of the Finnish elite forces. p-)

You could add KOVA (http://www.mil.fi/maavoimat/joukot/utjr/sopsot.dsp) into your list. It's a professional antiterrorist force from Laskuvarjojääkärikoulu (Airborne Ranger School). Also the Finnish Frontier Guard has it's special team, can't remember it's name though. :cantbeli:

To add something more I'd say that 1.Rannikkojaakarikomppania (1st Marine commando company) and Sissikomppaniat (Ranger/Guerilla warfare companies) are not really elite forces.

[UoUo]

ISRAEL:
T'zanhanim (Parachute) Brigade
Golani Brigade
Sayeret Golany (PALSAR 95), based in the Shrga army base.
Sayeret Givaty (PALSAR 8234), based in Mishmar HaNegev army base.
Sayeret NAHAL (PALSAR 374), based in the Beit Lead army base.
Sayeret T'zanhanim (PALSAR 5173), based in the Beit Lead army base.
Unit Rotem (LRRP unit stationed along Israeli/Egyptian border)
Sayaret Mat'kal [attached to General Staff] (counter-terrorism & intelligence)
Sayeret Duvdevan (occupied territories undercover unit)

Unit 5101 (Israeli Air Force special missions unit)
Unit 669 (Israeli Air Force CSAR unit)
Unit 5707 (Israeli Air Force TACP unit)

Sayeret Maglan/Unit 212 (Long range missiles warfare unit - attached to Armor)
Palsar 500 (aka Sayeret Sherion, attached to Armor)
Palsar 7 (aka Sayeret Sherion, attached to Armor)
Sayeret Egoz/Unit 621 - (Counter geurilla ops, attached to Golani brigade (Infantry)
Sayeret Yael (Combat Engineers SF demo unit)
Sayeret Yechida Lesiluk Pt'zat'zot (YACHSAP - Combat Engineers EOD unit)
Moran (Artillery Corps)
Meitar (Artillery Corps)
Special Command Teams (IDF Operational Command’s LRRP units)
Shayetet 13(Naval Commandoes)
LOTAR Eilat/Unit 7707 (CT unit based in Eilat, Israel)
Force 100 (MP SERT unit)
Unit Alpinistim (Alpine/extreme weather unit)
Unit Oket'z/ Unit 7142 (SF K-9 unit)
Unit Yechidat Modiyin Matara/Unit Nit'zan (Unit 636) (YACHMAM - Target Intelligence Unit )

Field Intelligence Corps:
-Unit T'ZASAM/Unit 869 (Field Intelligence Corps)

-Unit Gideonim/Unit 33 (National Police undercover unit)
-Unit YAMAM (Border Guard’s CT/hostage rescue unit)
-Unit YAMAS (Border Guard’s undercover unit)
-Modiyin T'azpiyot Yerut VeLohama Needed (MATILAN - Intelligence Observations Interception and Mobile - Warfare Unit/ Border Guard’s counter infiltration unit)



T'zanhanim (Parachute) Brigade is not an Elite Unit.
Golani Brigade also not an Elite unit.

[FDF_Hemppis]

FINLAND:
Laskuvarjojaakarikoulu (Airborne Ranger school)


LJK formerly trained both special jaegers (function: counter-SF) and recon parajaegers (function: LRR*), but the organization changed recently. Formerly separate Laskuvarjoääkärikoulu (airborne Jaeger school) and Sotilaspoliisikoulu (MP school) joined their forces, and as a result, a new specialjaeger battalion was formed.

The new battalion trains laskuvarjojääkäreitä, or airborne jaegers, whose main function is counter-SF activity, and secondary function LRR and behind-the-lines sabotage.

*LRR=Long Range Reconnaissance



Laivaston Erikoistoimintayksikko (Navy Special operation unit)


Never heard of this one. But that, on the other hand, that doesn't guarantee anything ;)



1.Rannikkojaakarikomppania (1st Marine commando company)


Marine commando? rofl
Rannikkojääkärikomppania translates to "coastaljaeger company" which, even by our standards, in pretty far away from any SF force...
They're more like marines, not commandos :)



Sissikomppaniat (Ranger/Guerrilla warfare companies)

Damn! If sissicompanys count as SF, we have a ****load of them, then :P

Sissikomppania translates roughly to "guerrilla company". Their main job is to harass, and to spread panic, fear, and destruction among the enemy. Also gathering intel is a part of what they do.

Hiding and living in the endless Finnish forests, a sissigroup chooses where, how and when it will face the enemy. Appearing from nowhere sissi's strike fast and hard, and disappear without leaving a trace, just as fast as they appeared. Fearsome opponents, but hardly SF :|



Osasto Karhu “Bear Unit” of the Helsinki Police Department (CT)


A rarely mentioned group, of which little is known. Apparently trained by the French GIGN. Weaponry includes all the often-seen pieces ranging from Glocks to MP5's and SIG 552 Commandos. The main HRT team in Finland.


Regards, Hemppis


EDIT: ...and Caraway beats me to it, again :( :cantbeli:

[Caraway]

Laivaston Erikoistoimintayksikko (Navy Special operation unit)
Never heard of this one. But that, on the other hand, that doesn't guarantee anything ;)It trains combat divers.




Sissikomppaniat (Ranger/Guerrilla warfare companies)
Damn! If sissicompanys count as SF, we have a ****load of them, then

Sissikomppania translates roughly to "guerrilla company". Their main job is to harass, and to spread panic, fear, and destruction among the enemy. Also gathering intel is a part of what they do.

Hiding and living in the endless Finnish forests, a sissigroup chooses where, how and when it will face the enemy. Appearing from nowhere sissi's strike fast and hard, and disappear without leaving a trace, just as fast as they appeared. Fearsome opponents, but hardly SF It's GREAT to be a sissi! :D



EDIT: ...and Caraway beats me to it, again :( :cantbeli: Your post was more informative. :petting:

[Hullebullen]

Even if they are not "true" SF, the sissi unit intrigues me. How big would a sissi unit on deployment be: squad/platoon? And how independent would they be?

[Ike]

Army:

63rd parachute brigade - deep reccon, diversions

72nd military police brigade "Hawks" - deep reccon, diversions, assasinations, explosives

Special batalion of military police "Cobra" - VIP securing, CT strikes

----------------------

Police:

Special Antiterorist unit "SAJ"- first to strike in hostage situation

Gendarmerie CT unit "PTJ" - SAJ support

Gendarmerie - low profile clashes (Iraq type - no visible enemy)

Unit for Special Operations "JSO" or "Wolves" - disbanded under alegations of assasinating the prime minister on march 2003. Those who were not arested transfered to Gendarmerie. This unit was famous due to the fact it has never lost a battle.
-------------------------------------------------------
some pics:

SAJ - 3 pages

http://community.webshots.com/album/152914133dsWmGa

Gendarmerie - pictures from the Kosovo '99 war

http://avijacija.freeservers.com/buj02d_full.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/buj08d_full.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/buj08d_full1.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/pjpkratki.jpg


JSO pictures

http://avijacija.freeservers.com/jsoAT.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/srpskihummer.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/jsoabg.jpg

COBRA

http://avijacija.freeservers.com/kobra1.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/sig.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/vjnovasara.jpg

[2RHPZ]

Commander of Unit 8200 confident that military service
remains a good offer.

Intelligence unit fights for tomorrow's engineers

By Yuval Dror
Ha'artez - November 8, 2000

"The high-tech companies have to realize that it's not worth
their while 'to steal' all of our people, because if they do,
they'll get an unripe work force and the high-tech industry
will have to pay the price," said Brigadier General B., the
commander of intelligence unit 8200.In recent years, the number
8200 has come to signify the prospect of opening doors for
Israeli and foreign investors. This military unit is the most
important one for the Israeli economy, for it is this unit
that produced Shlomo Dovrat, who sold Oshap Technologies to
Sunguard for $210 million; Ehud Weinstein, who sold his shares
in Libit Signal Processing for $40 million; the Zisapel brothers,
who sold and floated more than ten companies for hundreds of
millions of dollars; and Didi Arazi, who set up Nice Systems.

Cautious estimates indicate that in the past few years, unit
8200 veterans have set up some 30 to 40 high-tech companies,
including 5 to 10 that were floated on Wall Street. This
correlation between serving in the intelligence unit 8200 and
starting successful high-tech companies is not coincidental:
Many of the technologies in use around the world and developed
in Israel were originally military technologies and were
developed and improved by unit veterans.

The unit's commander, Brigadier General B., attended a ceremony
Monday where prizes were awarded to the winners of the CodeGuru
competition, involving some 2,000 high school students from all
over the country. The computer challenge contest was rumored to
have been sponsored by the 8200 unit, together with the high-tech
company, Aladdin. Although 8200 never confirmed that it was a
sponsor, its human resources department set up a booth at the
competition. 8200 representatives were more than happy to help
the students in attendance fill out forms about their
"suitability for development jobs in the computer field."

Brigadier General B., from his seat in the last row, applauded
the winner and left at the end of the ceremony.

The reason why the commander of one of the army's busiest units
took the time to attend a civilian ceremony is not top secret:
The IDF is losing in its struggle with high-tech and start-up
companies, as more talented people prefer to earn a fat salary
and options than to serve in the unit. Public relations
opportunities like the CodeGuru competition help the unit to
keep competitive with the high-tech companies' head-hunting.

B., 44, started his military career in a pilot training course.
"After a few months, they said goodbye to me and I switched to
the Sayeret Matkal (elite reconnaissance unit)," he says. After
serving in the Sayeret, he was discharged and only after six
years as a civilian - following the request of the current
deputy chief of staff, Moshe Ya'alon, who was then the commander
of the Sayeret Matkal - did B. re-enlist as the deputy commander
of the unit.

"He promised that it would only be for one year. That year has
gone on until now," says B.

In 1988, B. was offered the option of switching to intelligence
and since then, he has worked his way up in the 8200 unit.
Three years ago, he took command of the intelligence corps'
elite unit, which is referred to in foreign reports as "the
central [intelligence] gathering unit."

According to B., "our areas of operation are very interesting
and complex and create a real challenge for those who serve here.
No civilian company can offer such a wide variety of challenges
as our unit offers."

B. therefore refuses to accept the claim made last August by the
head of the personnel directorate, Major General Yehuda Segev
that "we are in the middle of a war. The civilian economy has
gone all out."

B. sees the current fight to attract the top talent as a
competition, not a battle. "We are managing to keep in the
unit those whom we favor and surveys we conducted among our
soldiers found that salary isn't everything." B. believes that
challenge, personal fulfillment, interest, promotion track,
work environment and service conditions are no less important
than the high salaries offered by high-tech companies.

"It should be said to the chief of staff's credit, that he
understands that at least as far as work environment and
service conditions are concerned, there has to be progress,"
he says. "The army, as a rule, understands that it has to
invest special resources in technological manpower, that they
need to get conditions, service plans, benefits."

B. stresses that he does not feel that the members of his unit
are rushing to join high-tech companies: "There is a natural
flow from the army to civilian jobs, and even I wouldn't want
everyone to remain in the unit. You have to remember that
every year I get a new work force, that is young and better
than their predecessors, and that is because, among other
reasons, huge resources have been invested in finding and
training a suitable work force."

Nevertheless, B. also has some complaints about the high-tech
companies. "The IDF units are the biggest generators in the
country of technology personnel. Whoever grabs unripe people
today, will pay the price tomorrow," he says, adding that the
only way to overcome the problem is to establish a balance
between civilian and military life. "We are looking into ways
of cooperating, reaching an understanding and creating joint
programs for us and high-tech companies."

At this stage, he says that there are still no practical
proposals for such joint programs, but that various ideas
are being reviewed with the aim of benifiting all parties,
including and especially the Israeli economy and national
security.

When asked how it is possible to attract so many people to a
unit where no one is permitted to say what it does, B. smiles
and replies: "The reputation of the unit's veterans in creating
high-tech companies gives us great ratings. It makes young
people want to serve here."

B. adds that the unit tries to reach out to the public, not only
for recruiting purposes: "We promote projects for studying Arabic
in schools. While we hope to benefit from the results, the
projects are for the net benefit of the community, such as the
Yachdav (together) project, in which 250 soldiers and officers
from the unit volunteer to tutor and mentor children having
trouble with their studies."

The CodeGuru competition is a similar public relations venture
in the spirit of the unit - a computer challenge where students
must achieve the goal at all costs.

"Unlike civilian companies, we have to stick to missions at
all costs," says B. "The prevailing atmosphere here lets us
use work methods that are not acceptable everywhere in the IDF.
We allow free thinking and creativity in order to allow the
technology people to deal with their task."

A senior commander in the unit with a master's degree in
computer science admitted that his subordinates are more
talented than he: "I'll never say to them, here's the problem
and solve it this way - because then I would be restricting
them to the limits of my knowledge.

[2RHPZ]

New team of terrorism experts established under NPA

Thursday, July 1, 2004 at 14:09 JST
TOKYO — The National Police Agency has compiled an outline for the overseas dispatch of a new team of terrorism experts to deal with terrorist activities involving Japanese citizens, NPA officials said.

The new Terrorism Response Team, or TRT-2, will consist of 70 to 80 members, including private-sector specialists in various fields such as languages. They will be sent overseas when terrorist activities that involve or may involve Japanese citizens occur. The team will engage in information gathering and investigative support with the consent of the countries concerned. (Kyodo News)

[Phil642]

Thank you for having started this topic Dominique.

Even with a few mistakes it has the merit to exist!

[Caraway]

Even if they are not "true" SF, the sissi unit intrigues me. How big would a sissi unit on deployment be: squad/platoon? And how independent would they be? I'll put up a post about it.

[PALADIN]

What about Del.....
*Muffled Gunshot*

[soetopo1]

Some corrections on the Indonesian units. At present, Indonesia has the following elite formations:

1. Kopassus, the army special forces. Within Kopassus is a CT element known as Unit 81 (previously known as Detachment 81).
2. Paskhas, the air force special forces. Within Paskhas is a CT element known as Detachment Bravo.
3. Kopaska, naval combat swimmer unit.
4. Within the Marine Corps are amphibious reconnaissance teams known as Taiphib.
5. There is a maritime CT task force known as Jala Mangkala. Members of this task force are drawn from Kopaska and Taiphib.
6. Within the army's strategic reserve are two airborne brigades (the 17th and 18th). Also in the strategic reserve are combat reconnaissance platoons known as Tontaipur.
7. Within the police force is a Mobil Brigade known as Brimob. I would not rate them as elite. Within Brimob is an EOD task force known as Gegana. Many Brimob members are airborne and "pelopor" (ranger) qualified.
8. There is a new CT unit within the police known as Detachment 88. They were trained with instructors and funds provided through the U.S. Anti-Terrorist Assistance program.

[Mitch Rapp]

Army:

63rd parachute brigade - deep reccon, diversions

72nd military police brigade "Hawks" - deep reccon, diversions, assasinations, explosives

Special batalion of military police "Cobra" - VIP securing, CT strikes

----------------------

Police:

Special Antiterorist unit "SAJ"- first to strike in hostage situation

Gendarmerie CT unit "PTJ" - SAJ support

Gendarmerie - low profile clashes (Iraq type - no visible enemy)

Unit for Special Operations "JSO" or "Wolves" - disbanded under alegations of assasinating the prime minister on march 2003. Those who were not arested transfered to Gendarmerie. This unit was famous due to the fact it has never lost a battle.
-------------------------------------------------------
some pics:

SAJ - 3 pages

http://community.webshots.com/album/152914133dsWmGa

Gendarmerie - pictures from the Kosovo '99 war

http://avijacija.freeservers.com/buj02d_full.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/buj08d_full.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/buj08d_full1.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/pjpkratki.jpg


JSO pictures

http://avijacija.freeservers.com/jsoAT.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/srpskihummer.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/jsoabg.jpg

COBRA

http://avijacija.freeservers.com/kobra1.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/sig.jpg
http://avijacija.freeservers.com/vjnovasara.jpg

72nd Special Brigade is not military police. Their elite CT batallion is called "Hawks" and is considered Military Police.

Gendarmerie PTJ is basically the remains of the disbanded JSO. Or most probably of their Antiterrorist Group (ATG). I think they might also respond in hostage situation, not only in support role, because they are said to be very capable.

[Ike]

72nd Special Brigade is not military police. Their elite CT batallion is called "Hawks" and is considered Military Police.

Gendarmerie PTJ is basically the remains of the disbanded JSO. Or most probably of their Antiterrorist Group (ATG). I think they might also respond in hostage situation, not only in support role, because they are said to be very capable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

72. specijalna brigada vojne policije, 72. spbVP

which translated means 72nd. special military police brigade. By formation and by name. Of course that they are not doing regulary everyday MP's job chasing drunk soldiers :)

Their CT batallion called "Cobra" is considered and dedicated to CT and securing VIP's.

"Hawks" is the name for whole brigade and you have probably seen pictures of CT practice with guys wearing hawk on their shoulder. They all do. But when they are really good and after several years of training, war expreirnce and etc. they become "Cobra".

http://www.vj.yu/publikacije/Vojska/ob565.htm

http://www.aeronautics.ru/nws002/museum/photos/images/mu-surcin-06_jpg_jpg.jpg Military police withing 63.th Parachute brigade

I agree that PTJ has lots of members of disbanded JSO. Almost all of them except Legia (comander), Snake, Leonid, Rambo, Pele, Gumar (their war nicknames) which have been accused for several assasinations including Serbian PM Zoran Djindjic.

But I doubt that PTJ will react in hostage situation because SAJ (police CT unuit) took the best members of disbanded JSO members (AT group primarily) which are very cappable and have a lots of war exprience. Even if they didnt join, SAJ would be definelty first to react. It is its purpose of existance more than 27 years.

http://avijacija.freeservers.com/jsoAT.jpg

During annual police meeting I met several members of JSO in the SAJ unit. They still wear their JSO dog tags with their nicknames.

Regards.

[Mitch Rapp]

72nd Special Brigade is not military police. Their elite CT batallion is called "Hawks" and is considered Military Police.

Gendarmerie PTJ is basically the remains of the disbanded JSO. Or most probably of their Antiterrorist Group (ATG). I think they might also respond in hostage situation, not only in support role, because they are said to be very capable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

72. specijalna brigada vojne policije, 72. spbVP

which translated means 72nd. special military police brigade. By formation and by name. Of course that they are not doing regulary everyday MP's job chasing drunk soldiers :)

Their CT batallion called "Cobra" is considered and dedicated to CT and securing VIP's.

"Hawks" is the name for whole brigade and you have probably seen pictures of CT practice with guys wearing hawk on their shoulder. They all do. But when they are really good and after several years of training, war expreirnce and etc. they become "Cobra".

http://www.vj.yu/publikacije/Vojska/ob565.htm

http://www.aeronautics.ru/nws002/museum/photos/images/mu-surcin-06_jpg_jpg.jpg Military police withing 63.th Parachute brigade

I agree that PTJ has lots of members of disbanded JSO. Almost all of them except Legia (comander), Snake, Leonid, Rambo, Pele, Gumar (their war nicknames) which have been accused for several assasinations including Serbian PM Zoran Djindjic.

But I doubt that PTJ will react in hostage situation because SAJ (police CT unuit) took the best members of disbanded JSO members (AT group primarily) which are very cappable and have a lots of war exprience. Even if they didnt join, SAJ would be definelty first to react. It is its purpose of existance more than 27 years.

http://avijacija.freeservers.com/jsoAT.jpg

During annual police meeting I met several members of JSO in the SAJ unit. They still wear their JSO dog tags with their nicknames.

Regards.

I am now at work but as far as I remember "Sokolovi" was the name of the 72nd Brigade CT unit. At first it was just a platoon (vod). Maybe they named the hole brigade after it, ok. But I haven't heard that the Brigade was designated Military Police. Do you have sources? I think the Brigade consists of three batallions: one is "Hawks" and the other two are called reconnaissance-sabotage. They are classical commando unit, not MP.
Besides every Military Police has its own small SWAT-like group.

I know "Cobras" are elite unit although their tasks are somehow unclear. I know they guarded until recently Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadjic. And even read that they shot down US helicopter during the war in Kosovo. Who knows?

About PTJ and SAJ - probably you are right. I think it depends on how the responsibilities of Gendarmerie and Police are divided.

Cheers

[Thor]

Thanks gents, I'll make the changes during the next update.

Also, was I22 cut during the last round of Swedish defense cuts? I read it was one of the units scheduled to be disbanded.

Yes, Lapplands jägarregemente I22 (literally meaning Lapland Ranger Regiment I22 but a more common translation was just Army Arctic Rangers) was disbanded in june 2000.

A photo for remembrance:

[irra!]

OK people here's a qucik and dirty list of international elite units. It will be added to slowly.


ITALY:
Brigata Paracadutisti "Folgore"
- Reggimrnto Tuscania (Carabinieri Parachute Regiment)

Coordinamento Forze per Operazioni Speciali (COFOS)
9° Regimmento d’' Assalto Incursori Paracadutisti “Col Moschin”
-Compagnia LRRP
-Battaglione Alpini Paracadutisti “Monte Cervino”

185° Reggimento Acquisizione Obiettivi (185° RAO)
13 (GRACO) - disbanded

Comando Truppe Alpine
-Brigate Alpine “ Tourinese”
-Brigate Alpine “Julia”
-Brigate Alpine “Tridenta”

Reggimento Lagunari “Serenissima” (Army amphibious troops)
- Plotone Esploratore Anfibio (Amphibious Exploration/Reconnaissance Platoon)

Reggimento San Marco (Italian Marines)
- Reparto Comando
- Battaglione Assalto “Grado” (Assault Battalion “Grado”)
- Compagnia Operazioni Navali (Naval Operations Company)
- Compagnia Operazioni Speciali (COS - Special Operations Company) former Recon/DOA (Demolitori Ostacoli Antisbarco) (obstacle clearance divers)

15° Stormo
-82nd Centro SAR
-83rd Centro SAR
-84th Centro SAR
- Aerosoccorritori (Italian Air Force’s CSAR specialists - equivalent of USAF PJs)

Raggruppamento Subacquei ed Incursori “Teseo Tesei” (COM.SUB.IN - Italian Navy combat diver/Special Ops unit)
-GOI (Gruppo Operativo Incursori)
-GOS (Gruppo Operativo Subacquei)
-GNS (Gruppo Navale Speciale)

Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza (NOCS - National Police CT unit)
Gruppo Operativo Speciale (GOS - National Police SWAT unit)
Gruppo di Interventio Speciale (GIS) (Carabinieri CT unit)
AntiTerrorismo Pronto Impiego (ATPI - Anti-terrorism Quick Intervention) (Finance Guard CT unit)



-Tuscania is now in 2°moblie brigade (Carabinieri)

-Col Moschin has 2 battalion : 1. RAFOS (reparto addestramento forze operazioni speciali, training unit)
2.operative battalion with 3 company

-lrrp company (for strategic mission) is now under 185° RAO , RAO has also 3 operative company (desert,continental,mountain/artic)

- Monte cervino is now 4° reggimento alpini paracadutisti - ranger- Monte Cervino since 9/25/04

-brigade alpine Taurinense and not Tourinense

-brigade alpine Tridentina and not Tridenta disbanded

-aerosoccorritori are now SOSS (special operations support teams) : lrrp,FAC , C-SAR missions

- now there is also a joint special forces command

- now there is also army's REOS (special operations air squad.)

-GIS is now in 2°brigade mobile (Carabinieri) like Tuscania

-ATPI is not a CT unit like NOCS or GIS but SWAT like police's GOS

-Comsubin is ok

bye ;)

[2RHPZ]

During the 1965 Indo-Pak War, an ad hoc commando unit comprised of volunteers from various infantry regiments was organized by Lieutenant Colonel Megh Singh Rathore of the Brigade of the Guards. The unit was nicknamed, Meghdoot Force, and performed well
in combat. Thus in June 1966, the Indian Government authorised the Parachute Regiment to form a permanent commando unit. Known as the 9th Battalion, it was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Megh Singh and he used members from the Meghdoot Force as its backbone. In June 1967 elements of the 9th Battalion, were taken to form a second commando unit, designated as 10th Battalion, at Gwalior. However in July 1967, both units left Gwalior with the 9th Battalion, operating in the northern mountains and the 10th Battalion, operating in the western desert. In 1969, these battalions were renamed as the 9 and 10 Para Commando battalions.

Para Commandos had their first taste of combat in the 1971 Indo-Pak War where they performed gallantly. The 9 Para Cdo saw action through a daring raid on a Pakistani gun position at Mandhol. This raid resulted in the destruction of six 122mm guns belonging to the Pakistan Army's 172 Independent Battery. Apart from the destruction of guns, ammunition and other vital equipment, the Pakistanis suffered 37 killed, 41 wounded and a great loss of face. This raid, launched at a crucial time which enabled the 25th Infantry Division to progress their operations on Daruchian (a Pakistani occupied post), won the 9 Para Cdo the Battle Honour of Mandhol.

The 10 Para Cdo was baptised in combat with successful raids on enemy posts at Chachro and Virawah, under H.H. Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh of Jaipur who won a Maha Vir Chakra for these daring raids. By the late 1970s, Indian paratroopers began experimenting with High-Altitude, Low-Opening (HALO) techniques. At the same time, the 1 Para Battalion was selected for conversion into the Army's third Para Commando unit. In the mid-1980s, there were plans of bringing the three Para battalions together under a new aegis of a Special Forces Regiment. However these plans were abandoned, and they continue to be trained and recruited by the Parachute Regiment.

10th Para or Special Forces is the oldest and most decorated of all the Para units, it has Rajputs of Rajasthan as it fighting troops.


Link (http://www.rajputsamaj.net/lestweforget/10para.htm)

[2RHPZ]

Padmanabhan proposes spl forces' elite training for all jawans

Friday, December 15, 2000

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 14: The elite training and quick response of the special forces should be adopted by the entire army, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Sundrarajen Padmanabhan said today.

At a function to celebrate the release of Major General (retd) O.P. Sabharwal's book The Killer Instinct on special forces operations the world over, Padmanabhan had all praise for the 9 Para Special Forces. He called them his ``secret weapon'' while he was heading the Army in Jammu and Kashmir.

``They were one of my secret weapons and had a near cent per cent success rate,'' he said at a gathering dominated by elite paratroopers of the Indian Army.

Author Sabharwal, a paratrooper himself, was in midst of counter-insurgency operations in Mizoram and Nagaland from 1955-68. He is among the first to go on helicopter-borne operations against insurgents and has fought in Indo-Pakistan wars.

``Terrorism in J&K is not a war by Pakistan. More than 15,000 lives have been lost in the past seven years. If this is not war, what is,'' Sabharwal asked.

Speaking about this undeclared war, Lt General Thomas Mathews said: ``Between 1986 and 1998, approximately 4,000 soldiers have been killed and around 9,000 injured. The casualties have been more than those suffered by the troops in all the wars it has fought in the past.''

The soldiers discussed what they considered are mistakes by the political leaders in the past and now. ``The return of the Haji Pir Pass to Pakistan was a mistake, so was the return of 93,000 Prisoners of War (PoW) from Pakistan after the Simla Agreement. And that too without even delineating the border,'' he said.

On the IC-814 hijack, the soldiers said that even though the aircraft was parked at Amritsar for two hours, special forces were not sent and the government had to set free top militants to save the lives of passengers. ``Terrorism is the new enemy in the 21st century,'' Sabharwal said.

The speakers also called for special laws to tackle militancy in J&K so that insurgents caught by the armed forces were not permitted to stay in jail and then return to create more terror on ``soft targets''. Former generals demanded that the Army be allowed to go on ``hot pursuit'' of fleeing terrorists, across the Line of Control.

Asked why he chose to write about the special forces, Sabharwal said that India lacked heroes. ``All the heroes, including the cricketers have fallen by the way side.'' Referring to the heroes of Kargil and those fighting terrorists every day in J&K, he said that soldiers who fight fate and snatch life from the jaws of death deserve to be known.

Link (http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/20001215/ina15036.html)



At a function to celebrate the release of Major General (retd) O.P. Sabharwal's book The Killer Instinct on special forces operations the world over, Padmanabhan had all praise for the 9 Para Special Forces. He called them his ``secret weapon'' while he was heading the Army in Jammu and Kashmir.

Questions to our Indian friends: Any more info on 9 PARA? Is there any difference between 9 PARA and 10 PARA as to the task?

[Dominique]

OK people here's a qucik and dirty list of international elite units. It will be added to slowly.


ITALY:
Brigata Paracadutisti "Folgore"
- Reggimrnto Tuscania (Carabinieri Parachute Regiment)

Coordinamento Forze per Operazioni Speciali (COFOS)
9° Regimmento d’' Assalto Incursori Paracadutisti “Col Moschin”
-Compagnia LRRP
-Battaglione Alpini Paracadutisti “Monte Cervino”

185° Reggimento Acquisizione Obiettivi (185° RAO)
13 (GRACO) - disbanded

Comando Truppe Alpine
-Brigate Alpine “ Tourinese”
-Brigate Alpine “Julia”
-Brigate Alpine “Tridenta”

Reggimento Lagunari “Serenissima” (Army amphibious troops)
- Plotone Esploratore Anfibio (Amphibious Exploration/Reconnaissance Platoon)

Reggimento San Marco (Italian Marines)
- Reparto Comando
- Battaglione Assalto “Grado” (Assault Battalion “Grado”)
- Compagnia Operazioni Navali (Naval Operations Company)
- Compagnia Operazioni Speciali (COS - Special Operations Company) former Recon/DOA (Demolitori Ostacoli Antisbarco) (obstacle clearance divers)

15° Stormo
-82nd Centro SAR
-83rd Centro SAR
-84th Centro SAR
- Aerosoccorritori (Italian Air Force’s CSAR specialists - equivalent of USAF PJs)

Raggruppamento Subacquei ed Incursori “Teseo Tesei” (COM.SUB.IN - Italian Navy combat diver/Special Ops unit)
-GOI (Gruppo Operativo Incursori)
-GOS (Gruppo Operativo Subacquei)
-GNS (Gruppo Navale Speciale)

Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza (NOCS - National Police CT unit)
Gruppo Operativo Speciale (GOS - National Police SWAT unit)
Gruppo di Interventio Speciale (GIS) (Carabinieri CT unit)
AntiTerrorismo Pronto Impiego (ATPI - Anti-terrorism Quick Intervention) (Finance Guard CT unit)



-Tuscania is now in 2°moblie brigade (Carabinieri)

-Col Moschin has 2 battalion : 1. RAFOS (reparto addestramento forze operazioni speciali, training unit)
2.operative battalion with 3 company

-lrrp company (for strategic mission) is now under 185° RAO , RAO has also 3 operative company (desert,continental,mountain/artic)

- Monte cervino is now 4° reggimento alpini paracadutisti - ranger- Monte Cervino since 9/25/04

-brigade alpine Taurinense and not Tourinense

-brigade alpine Tridentina and not Tridenta disbanded

-aerosoccorritori are now SOSS (special operations support teams) : lrrp,FAC , C-SAR missions

- now there is also a joint special forces command

- now there is also army's REOS (special operations air squad.)

-GIS is now in 2°brigade mobile (Carabinieri) like Tuscania

-ATPI is not a CT unit like NOCS or GIS but SWAT like police's GOS

-Comsubin is ok

bye ;)

anks for all the info. I'm FINALLY pdating some getting around to updating some stuff (see the history section). I'll definately be updating the Italian, Spanish, Greek, Portuguese, and Polish info over the next weeks.

A couple of quick questions.

Any info on REOS?

Is CO.F.O.S. the joinst special operations commad?

[FDF_Hemppis]

anks for all the info. I'm FINALLY pdating some getting around to updating some stuff (see the history section). I'll definately be updating the Italian, Spanish, Greek, Portuguese, and Polish info over the next weeks.


Don't forget us Finns! :(
*tsk tsk*

[conscript]

Information about Latvian elite force have some mistakes.
Like Izlukdesanta bataljons/ ReconisanceAirborne batalion
Linx have been transformed to infantry batalion and now is
first batalion of our Infantry brigade. Specialo uzdevumu vieniba
Special task unit (green berets) is corect but its divided in 3 subunits
Rangers (diversions, reconisance, and other stuff like that),
Combat divers ( similar to SEALs), and Counter terorrism unit.
Police counter terorrism unit "Omega" (SIG/CT).
Other are under inteligence services and I dont have any info about
them for now. :)

[sunnysandy]

Indian Army special forces Battalions are part of the Para Regt.
All SF personel wear maroon berets and uniforms simmilar to Para Regt guys except they wear a commando badge the SAS winged Dagger with Balidaan(sacrifise) instead of who dares wins.And they wear a commando shoulder Patch.

9PARA is a special forces battalion simmilar to the others 10 para,1,5,22etc ,I think 4 & 3 PARA will or have been converted to SF.

9 para is more famous as it is in TV and News reports most of the time.
They have been given the title "Bravest of the Brave" by the Army chief of staff.

[Dominique]

anks for all the info. I'm FINALLY pdating some getting around to updating some stuff (see the history section). I'll definately be updating the Italian, Spanish, Greek, Portuguese, and Polish info over the next weeks.


Don't forget us Finns! :(
*tsk tsk*

All in good time. ;) I can only work so fast (plus0 the National Guard is eating up a lot of my "free time" lately).

[rajkhalsa]

Exercise Airborne Africa 2004 just concluded recently and India was placed second overall. Individually they were placed 1st in shooting and 'Speed march'. Last year they placed first overall:
Results 2004 (http://www.aba.mil.za/results.htm)

The South African defence forces have brought out a web-site with lots of information on this exercise.
http://www.aba.mil.za

The countries that participated this year were
South Africa
India
The Netherlands
Pakistan
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Senegal
Tanzania
United Kingdom
Zambia
Nigeria
Germany
Egypt
Malaysia

[rajkhalsa]

Questions to our Indian friends: Any more info on 9 PARA? Is there any difference between 9 PARA and 10 PARA as to the task?

Well, the Paracommandos are technically part of Parachute Rgmt of the Indian army.

The first Indian airborne formation, 50 Independent Para was raised in 1945. After Independence, this, plus specially trained parachute units from the Punjab, Maratha Light Infantry and Kumaon Rgmts were transferred to the newly raised Parachute Regiment in 1952.

In the 1965 Indo-Pak War, an ad hoc commando unit comprised of volunteers from various infantry regiments was organized by Lieutenant Colonel Megh Singh of the Brigade of the Guards. The unitm nicknamed "Meghdoot Force" named for the divine cloud messenger from Indian mythology) and also an appreciatve pun from the good LCol's name ;) ), performed well in combat.

As a result, in 1966, the Indian Government authorised the Parachute Regiment to form a permanent commando unit. This unit was designated 9 battalion Parachute Rgmt, and used soldiers from Meghdoot force as its backbone. 10 battalion was raised soon after.

In 1967 both these units were renamed 9 and 10 Paracommando battalions, and unlike other battalions of the Parachute Rgmt, developed a geographical specialty (mountain and desert warfare respectively.) In the 1971 India-Pakistan war, 9 Para Cdo fought in Jammu and Kashmir, and 10 Para Cdo fought in the liberation of Bangladesh. The battalions of Parachute Rgmt performed exceptionally in the war, and the the Paracommando units in particular, and earned many unit, battle and theatre honors.

After the war, 1 battaion Punjab Regiment was selected for conversion into Parachute Rgmt as 1 Para Cdo., but was not given a geographic specialty and was designated the Parachute Rgmt's strategic reserve. In the 1990s 2 battalions from Maratha Light Infantry Rgmt were coverted to Para Cdo. battalions.

The Para Cdo battalions also were involved in Operation Bluestar, Operation Pawan (battle of Jaffna, in IPKF), Operation Cactus (Maldives) and the Kargil War, as well as fighting cross-border terrorism in Kashmir and in the Northeast, where they have won many individual and unit citations.

The unit goes through an intense training, and the most selective of any special forces unit in the world, and only 1 in 150 applicants in the final stage of selection qualify.


Thus, of the 10 Parachute Rgmt battalions, 5 of them are designated SOF Paracommando. The structure of the regiment is as follows, with the paracommando battalions having the designation "Para Commando":

1st Battalion [former 1 Punjab] => 1 Para (SF)
2nd Battalion [former 3 Maratha LI] => 2 Para (SF)
3rd Battalion [former 1 Kumaon]
4th Battalion
5th Battalion
6th Battalion
7th Battalion
8th Battalion => 16 Mahar => 12 Mech. Inf.
9th Battalion => 9 Para (SF)
10th Battalion => 10 Para (SF)
21st Battalion [former 21 Maratha LI] => 21 Para (SF)


The badge of the Parachute Regiment is:


Additionally, members of Para Cdo. units sport the following badges as well:



Hope this helps :)

[rajkhalsa]

Some rare pics of 9 Para in action.


^ "An Indian Army solder moves through a forested area during a search operation after three suspected Lashkar-e-Tayyaba terrorists were killed in Hill Kaka area near village Bhagla, 131 miles northwest of Jammu, India, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2004, after they crossed the LoC"






^ Displaying arms recovered from the terrorists to the press

[FDF_Hemppis]

anks for all the info. I'm FINALLY pdating some getting around to updating some stuff (see the history section). I'll definately be updating the Italian, Spanish, Greek, Portuguese, and Polish info over the next weeks.


Don't forget us Finns! :(
*tsk tsk*

All in good time. ;) I can only work so fast (plue th National Guard is eatting up a lot of my "free time" lately).

Just reminding you, mate ;)
Go on with your own pace, this thread is already a source of info :D

[Dominique]

OK gent's I'm finally getting around to updating this stuff, but I'm only one man so I'd appriciate any help you guys could provide. Just a quick reminder, no flaming. :bash: Keep it nice and polite or I'll ask the mods to shut down the thread.

[irra!]

[quote="Dominique
anks for all the info. I'm FINALLY pdating some getting around to updating some stuff (see the history section). I'll definately be updating the Italian, Spanish, Greek, Portuguese, and Polish info over the next weeks.

A couple of quick questions.

Any info on REOS?

Is CO.F.O.S. the joinst special operations commad?[/quote]

REOS (reparto elicotteri operazioni speciali) is based in Viterbo AB has AB-412 and CH 47 modified for special operations

COFOS , i think that is the joint special forces command , there is also F.O.S. the army's special forces command in Firenze , COFOS is basd near Roma and the commander is General Bertolini in the past commander of Col Moschin and Folgore brigade

p.s. the new name of SSOS is now RIAM (reparto incursori aeronautica militare)

[GAFES]

Mexico its outdated too.

Here are the main SF in Mexico.

GAFE (Airborne Special Forces Groups)
GANFE( Amphibious Groups of Special Forces)
KAIBILES ( mexican kaibils)
AGUJAS NEGRAS( Black Needles )
Fusileros Paracaidistas ( army airborne)
Fusileros Paracaidistas de la Armada( naval airborne )
FRA (Amphibious Rapid Reaction Force)
ASIES (Groups for the Security of Strategic Facilities)

[n4292936]

The only Special operations forces in Aus are all llisted here (www.AusSpecialForces.com)

Our intel agencies DO NOT have special paramilitary forces at all - the military would be utilised if they need arose.

[Dominique]

[quote="Dominique
anks for all the info. I'm FINALLY pdating some getting around to updating some stuff (see the history section). I'll definately be updating the Italian, Spanish, Greek, Portuguese, and Polish info over the next weeks.

A couple of quick questions.

Any info on REOS?

Is CO.F.O.S. the joinst special operations commad?

REOS (reparto elicotteri operazioni speciali) is based in Viterbo AB has AB-412 and CH 47 modified for special operations

COFOS , i think that is the joint special forces command , there is also F.O.S. the army's special forces command in Firenze , COFOS is basd near Roma and the commander is General Bertolini in the past commander of Col Moschin and Folgore brigade

p.s. the new name of SSOS is now RIAM (reparto incursori aeronautica militare)[/quote]

Here' s what I've got for Italy so far:

ITALY:

(C.O.FO.S. - The joint special operations command)
9° Regimmento d’' Assalto Incursori Paracadutisti “Col Moschin”
- 1° Battaglione Incursori (110° Compagnie Incursori, 120° Compagnie Incursori )
- RAFOS (Reparto Addestramento Forze Operazioni Speciali)
* 101° Compagnia Allievi
*Base Operativa Incursori (BAI)

Reparto Incursori dell’ Aeronautica Militare (RIAM - formally Squadre Supporto Operazioni Speciali- SSOS (Special Operations Support Squadron - Italian Air Force’s CSAR, LRRP, TACP specialists - equivalent of USAF Special Tactics Teams)
“Aerosoccorritori”.

*It also includes COM.SU. BIN’s GOI incursori .

Forze Operazioni Speciali (FOS -The Army’s special operations command)
- 4° Reggimento Alpini Paracadutisti- “Ranger” - “Monte Cervino”

185° Reggimento Acquisizione Obiettivi (185° RAO)
- Batteria Comando e Supporto Logistico
- 1° Gruppo Acquisizione Obiettivi - GAO
- (3) Batteria Acqusizione Obiettivi (BAO), "Draghi" (ambiente artico e alpino/ arctic and mountain), "Aquile" (ambiente desertico/desert) e "Diavoli" (ambiente continentale /continental).
- Compagnia LRRP

26° Gruppo Squadroni Cavalleria dell' Aria REOS (Reparto Elicotteri Operazioni Speciali /Special Operations Helicopter Unit - The Army’s special ops avn. unit)

Brigata Paracadutisti "Folgore"

Comando Truppe Alpine
-Brigate Alpine “ Taurinese”
-Brigate Alpine “Julia”

Reggimento Lagunari “Serenissima” (Army amphibious troops)
- Plotone Esploratore Anfibio (Amphibious Exploration/Reconnaissance Platoon)

Forza da Sbarco della Marina Militare (MARIFORSBARC)
Reggimento San Marco (Italian Marines)
- Reparto Comando (Command Unit)
*Nucleo Osservatori Tiro Contra Costa (NOTCC -Forward Observer Cell)
- Battaglione Assalto “Grado” (Assault Battalion “Grado”)
- (3) Compagnia Assalto
- Compagnia Armi (Arms Company)
- Compagnia Operazioni Navali (Naval Operations Company)
- Compagnia Operazioni Speciali (COS - Special Operations Company) former Recon/DOA (Demolitori Ostacoli Antisbarco) (obstacle clearance divers)

15° Stormo
-82nd Centro SAR
-83rd Centro SAR
-84th Centro SAR

16° Stormo Fucilieri dell’Aria (new AF air base defense unit)
Battaglione Fucilieri dell'Aria
-1° Compagnia, 2° Compagnia

- Raggruppamento Subacquei ed Incursori “Teseo Tesei” (COM.SUB.IN - Italian Navy combat diver/Special Ops unit)
-GOI (Gruppo Operativo Incursori)
-GOS (Gruppo Operativo Subacquei)
-GNS (Gruppo Navale Speciale)

Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza (NOCS - National Police CT unit)
Gruppo Operativo Speciale (GOS - National Police SWAT unit)

AntiTerrorismo Pronto Impiego (ATPI - Anti-terrorism Quick Intervention) (Guardia di Finanza /Finance Guard SWAT/ riot control unit)

Gruppo Operativo Mobile (GOM) (Polizia Peniteziaria)

2a BRIGATA MOBILE (Mobile Brigade - Carabinieri)
- Gruppo di Interventio Speciale (GIS) (Carabinieri CT unit)
- Reggimrnto Tuscania (Carabinieri Parachute Regiment)

[Dominique]

The only Special operations forces in Aus are all llisted here (www.AusSpecialForces.com)

Our intel agencies DO NOT have special paramilitary forces at all - the military would be utilised if they need arose.

As I stated before, this thread's not only for special ops units, but for units that would be considered "elite" (SOF, airborne, ranger, commando, CT, HUMINT, etc.)

As far as aussie paramilitary units go IIRC the ASIS had a unit called the Covert Action Directorate. It was mainlycomposed of Army Reserve commandos from the 1 Commando Regiment. Thye got into some trouble for running triaing operations without informing the local authorities in advance.

I'll did around and pull up my old info on them.

[Dominique]

OK, here' s one of the little excursions that got the ASIS team in trouble:

At about 8 pm on Wednesday, 30 November 1983, the Manager of the Sheraton Hotel in Melbourne was alerted by a guest to a disturbance on the 10th floor. The Manager entered a lift and upon reaching the 10th floor, he was accosted by a stranger who said 'Come with me, you're not going to get hurt, but come with me.' The Manager retreated back into the lift, the stranger followed and pressed the appropriate button to return to the lobby. The two scuffled while descending. The stranger's repeated insistence that 'nobody would be hurt' was not entirely reassuring. When the lift reached the lobby, the Manager ran out and called for his staff to ring the police. The stranger retreated to the 10th floor.

Shortly thereafter another lift reached the ground floor. A group of hotel employees were gathered near the door of the lift, and the Manager equipped himself with a nightstick - a 30 cm metal rod covered with heavy duty red tape - which was normally kept behind the reception desk. As the lift door opened, a group of men stepped out. Some were wearing masks, some were carrying weapons, ranging from Browning 9 mm automatic pistols to the formidable Heckler and Koch submachine gun. The intruders moved through the lobby into the kitchen, menacing the kitchen staff on the way, and departed in two getaway cars waiting outside a kitchen exit.

One of the cars was stopped by officers of the Victoria Police a short distance from the hotel and its occupants were taken into custody. When other police officers arrived at the hotel, they encountered a bystander, who rather strangely claimed that he could explain everything that had happened, and that he was willing to pay for any damages incurred. Hotel staff may have assumed that they were the victims of an armed robbery; in fact they were unwilling parties to an incident culminating a year of acute embarrassment for the new Hawke Labor government. The episode in question turned out to have been a resoundingly unsuccessful training exercise by officers of the super-secret Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS).

ASIS, unknown to most Australians prior to its having been thrust, reluctantly, into the public spotlight, is Australia's equivalent of the United States' CIA and Britain's MI6. Although its primary function was the collection of foreign intelligence, it was also required, as a result of decisions taken by the Fraser government and continued by their successors, to maintain a 'covert action capability'. While the precise contours of this minor role remain secret, it appears that such a function involved paramilitary activities - for example, the rescue of hostages (Wright 1989).

To this end, a small group of part-time agents were recruited and brought together for periodic training exercises. The ill-fated visit to the Sheraton Hotel was for the purpose of rescuing a 'hostage' being held in a room by two 'foreign intelligence officers of a major power'. In an effort to make training activities as realistic as possible, it was decided to conduct the exercise in a public place, without notifying hotel staff, local police or bystanders. The trainees were equipped with weapons, albeit without live ammunition.

The episode caused considerable distress to a number of unwitting individuals. One member of the hotel staff at whom a submachine gun was pointed gave evidence to the Royal Commission that the experience was so traumatising he afterwards felt 'emotionally unstable', suffered from a 'lack of sleep' and experienced 'recurring headaches' (Australia 1984, p. 30). Moreover, the potential for physical harm to members of the public was substantial. As luck would have it, what could have resulted in tragedy came to be regarded by many members of the public as farce. In addition to the cost of their accommodation, the make-believe captors and their hostage incurred expenses of $70 for alcoholic beverages. Their hotel room door, moreover, had been smashed in with a sledgehammer.

[moughoun]

The Irish ARW could do with some updating

[tvi]

Osasto Karhu “Bear Unit” of the Helsinki Police Department (CT)

A rarely mentioned group, of which little is known. Apparently trained by the French GIGN. Weaponry includes all the often-seen pieces ranging from Glocks to MP5's and SIG 552 Commandos. The main HRT team in Finland.

Pistol H&K USP (not Glock) + Sniper Sako TRG

"Karhu" win some years ago european police tactical units games.

[Dominique]

The Irish ARW could do with some updating

I'll eventually get to it and adda couple of new pics I got.

[Deminer from Sarajevo]

Hello Dominique,what about data of Yugoslavia,which I had sent to you?

[2RHPZ]

Special Warfare, Feb, 2004:

Former Polish commandos set to fill security billets in Iraq

Polish contract security guards intended to protect selected buildings and other infrastructure in Iraq and to support the creation of Iraqi security forces are being readied for deployment pending the completion of arrangements. At least two Polish commercial security companies have prepared security groups for the mission, drawing heavily on former military and security personnel. One of these, the Ipel Security Company, has hired 25 former members of the elite Polish GROM (Operational Mobile Reaction Group) and individuals from other special security organizations. Ipel and another firm anticipate working in support of U.S. and British commercial security firms, but as late as November 2003, they had not made final arrangements.

New Philippine force to help protect capital

A new 6,000-man special Philippine military command, designated the National Capital Region Command, or NCRC, has the mission of countering terrorist attacks and coups against the administration. The command's area of responsibility includes Manila and 16 adjacent suburbs. The NCRC will include air, ground and maritime components and will be headed by the former commander of the Philippine Army's 7th Infantry Division.

Russian customs committee has special-designation forces

The occasional media focus on one or another of the smaller Russian special-designation forces recently provided additional information on Russian Customs spetsnaz. These units, available to the Russian leadership for armed actions including counterterrorism, are designated "Special Rapid Response Detachments," or SOBR, of the State Customs Committee. First organized in 1993, SOBR units--armed principally with light automatic weapons--train to undertake assault actions of various types against armed criminal groups. Force preparation includes conducting specially prepared ambushes. SOBR training also emphasizes camouflage and concealment of a type normally associated with military special-operations forces. SOBR is required to conduct air, maritime and ground operations, and its transport resources include Mi-8 and Ka-32 helicopters, at least one Mercury-class 99-ton 50-knot fast patrol boat, and land transport. SOBR elements also work with other security components of the State Customs Committee, including frogmen, when required. The reason for creating paramilitary SOBR and support elements is explained by the requirement for these forces to operate in situations that are more "unusual" than those found in foreign countries.


Nepal establishing new special-operations unit - Foreign SOF
Special Warfare, August, 2003

A new battalion-sized Nepalese special-operations unit--termed a ranger unit--will be subordinate to the Royal Nepalese Army. According to media reports, the 1,000-man airborne-qualified battalion is being trained to conduct "commando" style missions, especially counterinsurgency and counterterrorist operations, and operations against armed criminal groups, such as drug traffickers. The unit is expected to be the beneficiary of foreign training, drawing on the earlier elite-force traditions of British, Israeli and U.S. special-operations units.

[Dominique]

Hello Dominique,what about data of Yugoslavia,which I had sent to you?

I've got that and a lot more stuff I need to get around to posting. Sorry it's taking so long to get to it.

[lorenzo]

OK people here's a qucik and dirty list of international elite units. It will be added to slowly.
ITALY:
Brigata Paracadutisti "Folgore"
- Reggimento Tuscania (Carabinieri Parachute Regiment)

Coordinamento Forze per Operazioni Speciali (COFOS)
9° Regimmento d'assalto Incursori Paracadutisti “Col Moschin”
-Compagnia LRRP
-Battaglione Alpini Paracadutisti “Monte Cervino” (Rangers)

185° Reggimento Acquisizione Obiettivi (185° RAO)
13 (GRACO) - disbanded

Comando Truppe Alpine
- Brigata Alpina “ Taurinese”
- Brigata Alpina“Julia”
- Brigata Alpina “Tridentina” now converted in "Comando Divisione Tridentina" (projectable HQ for national and international missions)

Reggimento Lagunari “Serenissima” (Army amphibious troops - lagoon warfare operations)
- Plotone Esploratore Anfibio (Amphibious Exploration/Reconnaissance Platoon)

Reggimento San Marco (Navy Italian Marines)
- Reparto Comando
- Battaglione Assalto “Grado” (Assault Battalion “Grado”)
- Compagnia Operazioni Navali (Naval Operations Company)
- Compagnia Operazioni Speciali (COS - Special Operations Company) former Recon/DOA (Demolitori Ostacoli Antisbarco) (obstacle clearance divers)

15° Stormo
-82nd Centro SAR
-83rd Centro SAR
-84th Centro SAR
- Aerosoccorritori (Italian Air Force’s CSAR specialists - equivalent of USAF PJs)

Raggruppamento Subacquei ed Incursori “Teseo Tesei” (COM.SUB.IN - Italian Navy combat diver/Special Ops unit)
-GOI (Gruppo Operativo Incursori)
-GOS (Gruppo Operativo Subacquei)
-GNS (Gruppo Navale Speciale)

Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza (NOCS - National Police CT unit)
Gruppo Operativo Speciale (GOS - National Police SWAT unit)
Gruppo di Interventio Speciale (GIS) (Carabinieri CT unit)
AntiTerrorismo Pronto Impiego (ATPI - Anti-terrorism Quick Intervention) (Finance Guard CT unit)



Sorry, only for your info...

Ciao!

[Jedburgh]

Here is the link to archived news articles from the quarterly JFKSWC professional bulletin Special Warfare dating from 1992 - 2001: Foreign Special Operations Forces (http://fmso.leavenworth.army.mil/sof/sof.htm)

[Dominique]

OK people here's a qucik and dirty list of international elite units. It will be added to slowly.
ITALY:
Brigata Paracadutisti "Folgore"
- Reggimento Tuscania (Carabinieri Parachute Regiment)

Coordinamento Forze per Operazioni Speciali (COFOS)
9° Regimmento d'assalto Incursori Paracadutisti “Col Moschin”
-Compagnia LRRP
-Battaglione Alpini Paracadutisti “Monte Cervino” (Rangers)

185° Reggimento Acquisizione Obiettivi (185° RAO)
13 (GRACO) - disbanded

Comando Truppe Alpine
- Brigata Alpina “ Taurinese”
- Brigata Alpina“Julia”
- Brigata Alpina “Tridentina” now converted in "Comando Divisione Tridentina" (projectable HQ for national and international missions)

Reggimento Lagunari “Serenissima” (Army amphibious troops - lagoon warfare operations)
- Plotone Esploratore Anfibio (Amphibious Exploration/Reconnaissance Platoon)

Reggimento San Marco (Navy Italian Marines)
- Reparto Comando
- Battaglione Assalto “Grado” (Assault Battalion “Grado”)
- Compagnia Operazioni Navali (Naval Operations Company)
- Compagnia Operazioni Speciali (COS - Special Operations Company) former Recon/DOA (Demolitori Ostacoli Antisbarco) (obstacle clearance divers)

15° Stormo
-82nd Centro SAR
-83rd Centro SAR
-84th Centro SAR
- Aerosoccorritori (Italian Air Force’s CSAR specialists - equivalent of USAF PJs)

Raggruppamento Subacquei ed Incursori “Teseo Tesei” (COM.SUB.IN - Italian Navy combat diver/Special Ops unit)
-GOI (Gruppo Operativo Incursori)
-GOS (Gruppo Operativo Subacquei)
-GNS (Gruppo Navale Speciale)

Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza (NOCS - National Police CT unit)
Gruppo Operativo Speciale (GOS - National Police SWAT unit)
Gruppo di Interventio Speciale (GIS) (Carabinieri CT unit)
AntiTerrorismo Pronto Impiego (ATPI - Anti-terrorism Quick Intervention) (Finance Guard CT unit)



Sorry, only for your info...

Ciao!

Not a problem. And thanks for the assist. I' make the corrections this weekend.

[Ominae]

Dominque,

Allow me to make major changes about my mother country.

1. First things first, you spelled PHILIPINES wrong. It should be PHILIPPINES.

Then on with the rest:


Philippine Army Special Operations Command (PASOCOM)
- Alpha Two Zero (A-20, CT)
- First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR - LRRPs) (3 - battalions)
- Special Forces Regiment (SFR) (7 - battalions)
1st Special Forces (Riverine) Battalion
5th Special Forces Company
-Psychological Operations (Psyops) Group


The FSRR are also known short handed as Scout Rangers

PASOCOM has recently established the Light Reaction Company (LRC) and was designated as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)'s Anti-Terrorist unit.


505th Search and Rescue Group (505th SRG)
-5051st Search and Rescue Squadron (5051st SRS), 5052nd SRS, 5053rd SRS

These Squadrons are only utilized mostly for disasters and thus, are not spec ops units.


Special Warfare Group (SWAG-Navy SEALs)

These guys are under the Philippine Navy, not Marines. The Special Reaction Group (SRG) in a counterpart of SEAL Team Six. They consist of personnel from the Philippine Navy and Marine Corps and operate under guidance of Naval Intelligence


Presidential Security Group, Philippine Armed Forces (Philippine Secret Service)

The PSG is a unit under the AFP and the Special Reaction Unit is the elite unit under the PSG and they operate similarly to the US Secret Service's CAT Squad.


Philippe National Police (PNP) Special Action Group (SAG)
PNP Aviation Security Group
Police Security Protective Office (PNP VIP protection unit)

The SAG does not exist anymore, the Special Action Force (SAF) now takes its place. Oh yeah, and it's Philippines, not Philippe. Learn to spell right, will ya?

The Aviation Security Group is not a special forces unit, but a unit under the Philippine National Police.

I'm not sure if you would consider the Regional Mobile Groups. They are highly rapid reaction forces augmenting regular PNP officers in case rebels, higly armed criminals or terrorists gave them a hard time.

Now for 2


JAPAN:
1st Airborne Brigade
- “Guide Unit” (1st Airborne Bde’s NEO unit)
Western Army Infantry Regiment (GSDF counter SOF unit)
- Ranger Platoon (infantry regiment recon unit)
“S” GSDF CT/Special Ops unit
Special Guard Force - (SGF, MSDF/ Navy special ops unit)
Special Security Team (SST, Japanese Maritime Safety Agency’s -- Coast Guard-- maritime CT unit)
Special Assault Team (SAT, National Police Agency’s CT unit)


The Special Investigaton Team (SIT) operates under the National Police Agency and unlike their brothers in the SAT, they operate as an anti-crime unit tackling cases involving kidnappers, hostage takers and drug/hostage smugglers.

Did you forget to put the Special Boarding Unit (or was that Boat) Unit too under Japan?

There you go.

PS - What does NEO mean anyway?

3. Include Kuwait too

Special Forces Counterterrorist Unit - CT unit under Interior Ministry

10th Commando Battalion - Guards Falayka Island and Kuwait International Airport (in peacetime), and reportedly also has a special boat unit for maritime ops.

Special Forces Unit - revived by Allied forces after end of Desert Storm.

Fast Attack Unit - coastal patrol and maritime interdiction

Combat Swimmer Unit

4. China


CHINA (PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA):
6th Special Warfare Group
8th Special Warfare Group
12th Special Warfare SF Detachment
Naval Infantry Force

Don't forget to include too.

Special Police Unit - CT unit of People's Armed Police

Immediate Action Unit - CT unit of People's Liberation Army

Airborne Corps Unit - Special Forces Unit of People's Liberation Air Force

As for Indonesia, Detachment 81 is "dead". Detachment 88 is a CT unit of the Indonesian police.

On Iraq, allow me to update


IRAQ:
The Iraqi Special Operations Force
-36th Commando Battalion
-The Iraqi Counterterrorism Battalion


Iraqi Intervention Forces - Anti-Guerilla Unit of Iraqi Army

Emergency Response Unit - Iraqi Police's "SWAT" team

Mechanized Police Brigade - Iraqi Police's Anti-Guerilla Unit

Special Police Commando Battalions - CT unit under reformed Interior Ministry.

Note these units are post-Saddam units.

About Canada, will you consider the Emergency Response Teams (ERT)? Thanks.

That's it for now.

[Dominique]

Dominque,

Allow me to make major changes about my mother country.

1. First things first, you spelled PHILIPINES wrong. It should be PHILIPPINES.


:oops: I will DEFINATELY correct that mistake, and thanks for the info.

[Ominae]

FYI folks, the Canadian Ministry of Defense has plans to get rid of JTF-2 from the Canadian Forces.

Don't forget the Navy Boarding Party of the Canadian Navy.

[EvanL]

FYI folks, the Canadian Ministry of Defense has plans to get rid of JTF-2 from the Canadian Forces.

Don't forget the Navy Boarding Party of the Canadian Navy.
and where did u hear that from?

[Germaine]

FYI folks, the Canadian Ministry of Defense has plans to get rid of JTF-2 from the Canadian Forces.

Don't forget the Navy Boarding Party of the Canadian Navy.
and where did u hear that from?
Doesnt seem likely and wouldnt make any sense at all, id have to ask (just as Evan did) were did u hear that?

[moughoun]

FYI folks, the Canadian Ministry of Defense has plans to get rid of JTF-2 from the Canadian Forces.

Don't forget the Navy Boarding Party of the Canadian Navy.
and where did u hear that from?
I would take that with a ton of salt, for 1, it's dumb, 2 anyone who say's Canada has a "ministry" of defence :roll: 3, a navy boarding team are not an elite force

[memphiz]

FYI folks, the Canadian Ministry of Defense has plans to get rid of JTF-2 from the Canadian Forces.

Don't forget the Navy Boarding Party of the Canadian Navy.
and where did u hear that from?
Doesnt seem likely and wouldnt make any sense at all, id have to ask (just as Evan did) were did u hear that?
Well this gu sounds likea joke, so Ill say he heard it from his mom

[Ominae]

From a CBC Documentary (Correct me if I'm wrong) about the Airborne Regiment.

[EvanL]

From a CBC Documentary (Correct me if I'm wrong) about the Airborne Regiment.
airborne regiment is not JTF2.
and CBC reports what the left wants them to report.

[Ominae]

I know. The reporter mentioned that they were plans to disband JTF-2. I know that the AR was disbanded since 1995.

[memphiz]

I know. The reporter mentioned that they were plans to disband JTF-2. I know that the AR was disbanded since 1995.
There would never be plans to disband them, its probably just the reporter being a dumbass

[Ominae]

Update....

The PAP Special Police Unit is subordinate to the Internal Guard Corps. Unit.

[Dominique]

OK, I made the changes to the Philippines and yes I did forget Japan's SBU. As far as the other Iraqi units go, I forgot about the SWAT unit. I'll dig around and see what I can find out about some of the other units.

[Ominae]

Dom,

Hope you do make the changes with the rest with my findings.

Here are the following that I hope you can fix up:

Iceland

Viking Squad - SWAT unit

JAPAN:
1st Airborne Brigade
- “Guide Unit” (1st Airborne Bde’s NEO unit)
Western Army Infantry Regiment (GSDF counter SOF unit)
- Ranger Platoon (infantry regiment recon unit)
“S” GSDF CT/Special Ops unit
Special Guard Force - (SGF, MSDF/ Navy special ops unit)
Special Security Team (SST, Japanese Maritime Safety Agency’s -- Coast Guard-- maritime CT unit)
Special Assault Team (SAT, National Police Agency’s CT unit)
Special Investigaton Team (SIT)
Special Boat/Boarding? Unit

IRAQ:
The Iraqi Special Operations Force
-36th Commando Battalion
-The Iraqi Counterterrorism Battalion
Emergency Response Unit (Iraqi National Police SWAT team)
Iraqi Intervention Forces - Anti-Guerilla Unit of Iraqi Army
Mechanized Police Brigade - Iraqi Police's Anti-Guerilla Unit
Special Police Commando Battalions - CT unit under reformed Interior Ministry.

CHINA (PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA):
6th Special Warfare Group
8th Special Warfare Group
12th Special Warfare SF Detachment
Naval Infantry Force
Special Police Unit - CT unit of People's Armed Police
Immediate Action Unit - CT unit of People's Liberation Army
Airborne Force Unit aka 15th Airborne Corps - Special Forces Unit of People's Liberation Air Force

Kuwait
Special Forces Counterterrorist Unit - CT unit under Interior Ministry
10th Commando Battalion - Guards Falayka Island and Kuwait International Airport (in peacetime), and reportedly also has a special boat unit for maritime ops.
Special Forces Unit - revived by Allied forces after end of Desert Storm.
Fast Attack Unit - coastal patrol and maritime interdiction
Combat Swimmer Unit

PHILIPPINES:
Philippine Army Special Operations Command (PASOCOM)
- Alpha Two Zero (A-20, CT unit similar to "Delta")
- First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR/"Scout Rangers" - LRRPs) (3 - battalions)
- Special Forces Regiment (SFR) (7 - battalions)
1st Special Forces (Riverine) Battalion
5th Special Forces Company
-Psychological Operations (Psyops) Group
Light Reaction Company (LRC - CT unit)

710th Special Operations Wing (SPOW - Airbase Defense/ABD, FAC/TACP, EOD, K-9)
-720th Special Operations Group - (Explosive and Ordnance Squadron , & K-9 Squadron)
-740th Combat Group
-Anti-terrorism team

Philippine Marine (PM) Corps
-Force Reconnaissance Battalion -61st, 62nd, 63rd Force Recon Companies

Special Warfare Group (SWAG - Navy SEALs)

Presidential Security Group (PSG) Special Reaction Unit (SWAT/CAT unit)
Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF)
Police Security Protective Office (PNP VIP protection unit)

[Ominae]

Dom,

I forgot that the Aviation Security Group has a specs ops unit called the Special Operations Unit. Their mandate include CT security mainly in airports in the Philippines, mainly in the international/domestic airports in metropolitan Manila.

Their VIP Unit is called POLICE SECURITY AND PROTECTION OFFICE, but it's just a unit and not a special unit.

[Dominique]

OK, I'm once again trying to update this stuff. Please let tme know if you see any mistakes. I'll be updating the US info next.

[AROUETLJ]

Well, you can add this:

Malta:

C (Special Duties Company), 1st Regiment, Armed Forces of Malta
Rapid Deployment Team, Maritime Squadron, 2nd Regiment, AFM
Special Assignment Group, Malta Police Corps

[Dominique]

Taken care of . There are a few things I'd still like to clear up. Mainly Italian and Greek SOF units. I'd be grateful for any help.

[AROUETLJ]

What do you want to know about Italian SF?

[AROUETLJ]

And of course that should read

C (Special Duties) Company.

[Dominique]

What do you want to know about Italian SF?

Exactly how they are organizie. I've got a rough Idea, but I'm still not sure what headquarters they fall under.

[AROUETLJ]

OK here goes.

Italy has recently set up a joint special forces HQ, with the name COFS - Comando Operazioni Forze Speciali (Special Forces Operations Command). Units under this command are divided into Special Forces units, and Special Forces Support units (much the same way as in the French COS).

Special Forces units are:
9o Reggimento d'Assalto 'Col Moschin' - Army
made up of:
110a, 120a, 130a Compagnia Incursori, and 111a Compagnia Supporto Operativo

Reparto Incursori Aeronautica Militare (RIAM) - Air Force
Gruppo Operativo Incursori (GOI) - Navy, falls under COMSUBIN command
Gruppo Intervento Speciale (GIS) - Carabinieri [probably, since no details have been published]

Special Forces Support Units:
185o Reggimento Acquisizione Obiettivi (RAO) - Army
made up of:
1a Batteria 'Draghi' - Mountian ops
2a Batteria 'Aquile' - Desert ops
3a Batteria 'Diavoli' - amphibious ops
4a Batteria - Special Reconnaissance

4o Reggimento Alpini Ranger 'Monte Cervino' - Army
1o Reggimento Carabinieri Paracadutisti 'Tuscania' - Carabinieri
made up of:
Regimental HQ, Command and Support Company, Training Unit
and Battaglione Tuscania, made up of:
1a Compagnia (Amphibious ops)
2a Compagnia (Mountain ops)
3a Compagnia (HALO/HAHO)
Reparto Elicotteri Operazioni Speciali (REOS) (26o Gruppo Cavalleria dell'Aria 'Giove') - Army Aviation

[Dominique]

Thanks. Just a few more quick questions. Is there a seperate Army special operations cell (nucleo)? I thought GIS was now under the Carabinieri 2nd Moble Brigade, along with the Tuscania' parachute regiment. Am I mistaken?

Also, anyone else see any changes that need to be made.

[AROUETLJ]

Very good question.

The Special Forces Support Regiments, including Tuscania are under "double command", being organically attached to their respective brigades. Tuscania, for instance, is attached to the 2a Brigata Mobile. I'm not sure about GIS though.
There are some doubts about 185o RAO too. In some publications I've seen it listed with the Special Forces units (e.g. on the Corpidelite website). However, I'm going along with the recent RAIDS article.

In practice, the units would operate under an ad hoc command, as was the case in Afghanistan (Task Force Nibbio) and Iraq. It's a bit like the SBS, which is part of the Royal Marines, but also falls under the UK SFG.


Regarding a separate army SF cell, I'm not aware of it, but the Army does have its own special forces training centre: RAFOS - Reparto Addestramento Forze Speciali (Special Forces Training Unit).

[AROUETLJ]

You can also add these:

Hungary:

1st Mixed Cavalry Regiment (Air Assault, Light Infantry, Mechanized, Peackeeping, Force Protection, etc)

special forces units:

24th "Bornemissza" Battalion
34th "Laszo Bercsényi" Battalion

There was a thread about Hungarian special forces.
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=35489&start=0


And if you're including prison/penitentiary security units, we have:

France:
ERIS ( Équipes Régionales d'Intervention et de Sécurité) [10 teams]
http://gign.org/unites-francaises/eris.php

[AROUETLJ]

Oh and German naval special forces have undergonew reorganisation. They are all grouped under the

SEKM Battalion (Spezialisierte Einsatzkräfte Marine - Navy Special Forces). This comprises the following units:
-Kampfschwimmer Kompanie (Combat Diver)
- Minentaucherkompanie (MiTaKp - Mine Clearance Company)
-Marinesicherungstruppe (Naval Infantry Unit)
---- 1st Company (Kampfschwimmer support/ NEO etc etc)
-----2nd Company (Naval Boarding Operations)
-Medical/ Logistics unit.

The Waffentauchergroupe therefore no longer exists.

[Dominique]

You can also add these:

Hungary:

1st Mixed Cavalry Regiment (Air Assault, Light Infantry, Mechanized, Peackeeping, Force Protection, etc)

special forces units:

24th "Bornemissza" Battalion
34th "Laszo Bercsényi" Battalion

There was a thread about Hungarian special forces.
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=35489&start=0


And if you're including prison/penitentiary security units, we have:

France:
ERIS ( Équipes Régionales d'Intervention et de Sécurité) [10 teams]
http://gign.org/unites-francaises/eris.php

I'll make the changes soon, along with adding PSIGN to the French info.

[Dominique]

Oh and German naval special forces have undergonew reorganisation. They are all grouped under the

SEKM Battalion (Spezialisierte Einsatzkräfte Marine - Navy Special Forces). This comprises the following units:
-Kampfschwimmer Kompanie (Combat Diver)
- Minentaucherkompanie (MiTaKp - Mine Clearance Company)
-Marinesicherungstruppe (Naval Infantry Unit)
---- 1st Company (Kampfschwimmer support/ NEO etc etc)
-----2nd Company (Naval Boarding Operations)
-Medical/ Logistics unit.

The Waffentauchergroupe therefore no longer exists.

I didn't know that. Cna you give me a little background on teh Naval Security Forces?

[Dominique]

Very good question.

The Special Forces Support Regiments, including Tuscania are under "double command", being organically attached to their respective brigades. Tuscania, for instance, is attached to the 2a Brigata Mobile. I'm not sure about GIS though.

There are some doubts about 185o RAO too. In some publications I've seen it listed with the Special Forces units (e.g. on the Corpidelite website). However, I'm going along with the recent RAIDS article.

In practice, the units would operate under an ad hoc command, as was the case in Afghanistan (Task Force Nibbio) and Iraq. It's a bit like the SBS, which is part of the Royal Marines, but also falls under the UK SFG.

Regarding a separate army SF cell, I'm not aware of it, but the Army does have its own special forces training centre: RAFOS - Reparto Addestramento Forze Speciali (Special Forces Training Unit).

Is that the French or Italian issues of RAIDS? (I miss the old English language version. My Frech REALLY sucks.)

[Cygnus]

You can scratch out the Alpha2Zero..... This unit does not exist.

The Philippine Air Force has the 710 Special Operations Wing, under it is 3 SOG and 4 Special Ops Sqdrns.

The Philippine Army has the PASOCOM it is composed of the Scout Ranger Regiment, Special Forces and the new Couter Terrorist Unit LRC[Light Reaction Company]. The LRC has been successful in fighting the terrorist down south there is talk of increasing this to Battalion. Then there is also the Psy Ops.

The Philippine Navy has the SWAG [Special Warfare Group], our version of the Navy SEALs. The Marines have the Force Reccon Battalion.

The PSG [Presidential Security Group] is composed of elements from the three services and the PNP [Philippine National Police]. Their special unit is called the SRU - Special Reaction Unit.

The Coast Guard also has its own special unit that I forgot... sorry...

The PNP has SWAT and the SAF [Special Action Force]

[AROUETLJ]

It's the French issue.

I haven't got any more info about the German naval infantry. Why don't you ask Fantassin? There was a huge article in RAIDS about German combat swimmers a few months ago.

[Dominique]

You can scratch out the Alpha2Zero..... This unit does not exist.

The Philippine Air Force has the 710 Special Operations Wing, under it is 3 SOG and 4 Special Ops Sqdrns.

The Philippine Army has the PASOCOM it is composed of the Scout Ranger Regiment, Special Forces and the new Couter Terrorist Unit LRC[Light Reaction Company]. The LRC has been successful in fighting the terrorist down south there is talk of increasing this to Battalion. Then there is also the Psy Ops.

The Philippine Navy has the SWAG [Special Warfare Group], our version of the Navy SEALs. The Marines have the Force Reccon Battalion.

The PSG [Presidential Security Group] is composed of elements from the three services and the PNP [Philippine National Police]. Their special unit is called the SRU - Special Reaction Unit.

The Coast Guard also has its own special unit that I forgot... sorry...

The PNP has SWAT and the SAF [Special Action Force]

Other than the additional info on the 710th SOW, I could swear I already posted that info. Do you know the names of the units assigned to the 710th?

[Cygnus]

You can scratch out the Alpha2Zero..... This unit does not exist.

The Philippine Air Force has the 710 Special Operations Wing, under it is 3 SOG and 4 Special Ops Sqdrns.

The Philippine Army has the PASOCOM it is composed of the Scout Ranger Regiment, Special Forces and the new Couter Terrorist Unit LRC[Light Reaction Company]. The LRC has been successful in fighting the terrorist down south there is talk of increasing this to Battalion. Then there is also the Psy Ops.

The Philippine Navy has the SWAG [Special Warfare Group], our version of the Navy SEALs. The Marines have the Force Reccon Battalion.

The PSG [Presidential Security Group] is composed of elements from the three services and the PNP [Philippine National Police]. Their special unit is called the SRU - Special Reaction Unit.

The Coast Guard also has its own special unit that I forgot... sorry...

The PNP has SWAT and the SAF [Special Action Force]

Other than the additional info on the 710th SOW, I could swear I already posted that info. Do you know the names of the units assigned to the 710th?

Units under the 710th are:

720th SOG < has a unit in Villamor but now based mostly in Clark
730th SOG> can't recall which one of these my freind serves in, just that
740th SOG> one of these is based in Batangas

The 4 Special Operations Squadron's I can't recall the units. I'll try to check my notes or wait till my freind comes back.

The news of a young LT that died from the PAF in Batangas a few months ago was from the same outfit as my friend. Another fact that I know is they pick men with college backgroud for the 710th SOW. Even if you did not finish college and had atleast 2 years you will be assigned to this unit after basic training. Then the real training in Spec Ops takes place. Oh, the guys with college background, they preffer people with engineering or Bachelor of Science type course.

My friends unit is heavely armed. The distribution of M-16/AR-15/M-4 with a M203 40mm GL, is at 50-60% of the unit strenght the rest LMGs, M-14 as sniper and basic M-16A1/AR-15.

There are a few females in the 710th SOW, I saw them when I went to Villamor to take my exam with Lufthansa Technik, Philippines

[Dominique]

Do you know which units are assinged which tasks (EOD, K-9, airbase defense), or would telling me violate the unit's OPSEC?

[Cygnus]

Do you know which units are assinged which tasks (EOD, K-9, airbase defense), or would telling me violate the unit's OPSEC?

All are capable and multi-task...

The 720th are definite jungle fighters and so are the other units... As I said can't recall if my friend is with the 730th or the 740th... The unit he is not in would either be the air base defence unit and K-9. With 4 SOS units I doubt if they remain independent in the long run, they may be the 750th... [just my speculations]

[Dominique]

Thanks. Anyone have any photos?

[Dominique]

ANyone else see anything that needs to be updated or changed?

[FDF_Hemppis]

Anyone else see anything that needs to be updated or changed?

FINLAND:
Laskuvarjojaakarikoulu (Airborne Ranger school)

Trains the following personnel:
Paratroop jaegers (conscripts, serve for 12 months)
Special jaegers (Receive additional training for more demanding missions, contracted to the army for the duration of the 14 month long course. All reservists can apply for this course)

There's also a unit of full-time professional soldiers in the forming, as reported here (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=29704). Only those who have completed the special jaeger course can apply for this unit.

Laivaston Erikoistoimintayksikko (Navy Special operation unit)

Never heard of this, but then again, that really doesn't mean ****. Might be that this exists, or it might not. In any case, I suppose it deals with combat divers, who are (not offically, I think) regarded as SF here :)

1.Rannikkojaakarikomppania (1st Marine commando company)

If such company exists, it's not SF...

Sissikomppaniat (Ranger/Guerilla warfare companies)

If guerilla companies would be counted as SF, we'd probably have the biggest SF forces in Europe :lol:
(read: doesn't belong to this list ;))

Osasto Karhu “Bear Unit” of the Helsinki Police Department (CT)

Main HRT team in Finland, not so sure about the CT part...

*new* Frontier Guard readiness teams

Training said to be "somewhat similar" to Unit Karhu's, but more focused to the threats concerning the Fortier Guard. For example when in 2001 a Russian conscript (armed) crossed the border illegally, the readiness team were alerted to track him down.

[ellion 86R*]

Cyprus:
+ Mobile Immediate Action Unit (Police Anti-terror Special Forces)

Russia:
+ Ministry of Justice Spetsnaz (Many teams like: "Krechet")
+ "Vitjaz`" (Anti-terror, Interior Troops)
+ "Rus`" (Anti-terror, Interior Troops)
+ "Rosich" (Anti-terror, Interior Troops)
+ "Skif" (Anti-terror, Interior Troops)

Sorry if I repeated anything, didnt read the whole topic.

[ellion 86R*]

Russian STUFF IS ALL WRONG !

Shall we correct it? Im not an expert, but lets try? (Maybe some assistance from bratishka.ru if we wont make it..?)

[Dominique]

Russian STUFF IS ALL WRONG !

Shall we correct it? Im not an expert, but lets try? (Maybe some assistance from bratishka.ru if we wont make it..?)

Any help on the russian stuff would be good. Anyone familiar with the Ukraine's elite units?

[Dominique]

Anyone else see anything that needs to be updated or changed?

FINLAND:
Laskuvarjojaakarikoulu (Airborne Ranger school)

Trains the following personnel:
Paratroop jaegers (conscripts, serve for 12 months)
Special jaegers (Receive additional training for more demanding missions, contracted to the army for the duration of the 14 month long course. All reservists can apply for this course)

There's also a unit of full-time professional soldiers in the forming, as reported here (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=29704). Only those who have completed the special jaeger course can apply for this unit.

Laivaston Erikoistoimintayksikko (Navy Special operation unit)

Never heard of this, but then again, that really doesn't mean ****. Might be that this exists, or it might not. In any case, I suppose it deals with combat divers, who are (not offically, I think) regarded as SF here :)

1.Rannikkojaakarikomppania (1st Marine commando company)

If such company exists, it's not SF...

Sissikomppaniat (Ranger/Guerilla warfare companies)

If guerilla companies would be counted as SF, we'd probably have the biggest SF forces in Europe :lol:
(read: doesn't belong to this list ;))

Osasto Karhu “Bear Unit” of the Helsinki Police Department (CT)

Main HRT team in Finland, not so sure about the CT part...

*new* Frontier Guard readiness teams

Training said to be "somewhat similar" to Unit Karhu's, but more focused to the threats concerning the Fortier Guard. For example when in 2001 a Russian conscript (armed) crossed the border illegally, the readiness team were alerted to track him down.

Thanks for the updated and detailed info (the only place you get anyhting on Finland here is from RAIDS or an upcoming issue of Special Ops).

Also, as I've said previously, this is not just a SF thread. I said it's for elite and/or specialist units (SOF, CT, SWAT, COIN, Marine, Airborne, Ranger/ Commando, CSAR, Mountain, Arctic, Counter SF, VIP protection, etc.). So I feel that the units list fit that bill.

Lastly, don't be scared guys. If you feel you have anything useful to contribute, updates, additional info, pics, etc., feel free to post them. I'm not going to bite your head off. I'm far from perfect, and some of my material is old, outdated, and/or flat out wrong, but I won't know that unless you tell me.

Just out of curiousity, how do you guys like the way this is going so far?

[Zerodivider]

Also, as I've said previously, this is not just a SF thread. I said it's for elite and/or specialist units (SOF, CT, SWAT, COIN, Marine, Airborne, Ranger/ Commando, CSAR, Mountain, Arctic, Counter SF, VIP protection, etc.).


Isn't every unit a "specialist" one in a certain area? EOD, signals, cooks... ;)

[Dominique]

Also, as I've said previously, this is not just a SF thread. I said it's for elite and/or specialist units (SOF, CT, SWAT, COIN, Marine, Airborne, Ranger/ Commando, CSAR, Mountain, Arctic, Counter SF, VIP protection, etc.).


Isn't every unit a "specialist" one in a certain area? EOD, signals, cooks... ;)

I think you know what I mean. :roll:

Also I updated the Brazilian units.

[Kruglerek]

POLAND:
Grupa Specjalna Płetwonurków MW (FORMOZA - Special Naval Frogman Group)


It is now called: Sekcja Działań Specjalnych Formoza (Special Activities Section Formoza)



Biuro Operacji Antyterrorystycznych (BOA-Antiterrorist Operation Bureu)

now it is ZOA - Zarząd Operacji Antyterrorystycznych (Counterterrorist Operations Directorate)

[Dominique]

POLAND:
Grupa Specjalna Płetwonurków MW (FORMOZA - Special Naval Frogman Group)


It is now called: Sekcja Działań Specjalnych Formoza (Special Activities Section Formoza)



Biuro Operacji Antyterrorystycznych (BOA-Antiterrorist Operation Bureu)

now it is ZOA - Zarząd Operacji Antyterrorystycznych (Counterterrorist Operations Directorate)

Thanks, once again. Also, when did GSP change it's name? and would it be called SDSF now?

[Zerodivider]

Well, actually not... ;) What precisely makes mountain troops "elite" (hate that word..). , as opposed to regular infantry who are specialised in fibua?

[Ominae]

You made a mistake with Japan's Special Investigaton Team (SIT)

It should be Investigation, you forgot the "i". My bad.

Also for the Canada part, I think you really should update the info. It's kinda old. Maybe you can update them in your website.

Don't forget the Immediate Action Unit (IAU), it's a secretive unit since it's the main CT unit of the People's Liberation Army.

And here's more...

KUWAIT

Special Forces Counterterrorist Unit - CT unit under Interior Ministry

10th Commando Battalion - Guards Falayka Island and Kuwait International Airport (in peacetime), and reportedly also has a special boat unit for maritime ops.

Special Forces Unit - revived by Allied forces after end of Desert Storm.

Fast Attack Unit - coastal patrol and maritime interdiction

Combat Swimmer Unit

BTW, what does NEO mean under

JAPAN:
1st Airborne Brigade
- “Guide Unit” (1st Airborne Bde’s NEO unit)

Thanks.

Before I go, the PNP VIP Protection Office is called the POLICE SECURITY AND PROTECTION OFFICE. It's just a division of the PNP, not a spec ops unit. The SAF (and other necessary units) would probably take care of that.

[Kruglerek]

Thanks, once again.
No problem.


Also, when did GSP change it's name?
I don't remember precisely, but for sure more than year ago.



and would it be called SDSF now?
No, it would be called SDS Formoza.

[Mitch Rapp]

BTW, what does NEO mean under

NEO - Noncombatant Evacuation Operations

[Gnist]

One more thing for Denmark.

Politiets Indsats Styrke / Danish Police counter terrorisme force.

[shadower]

You are missing few countries.

[Dominique]

You are missing few countries.

I only listed the countries I could find information on. Also, I've made a few more updates. If you see anything else that needs to be changed or updated let me know.

[Ominae]

You are missing few countries.

I only listed the countries I could find information on. Also, I've made a few more updates. If you see anything else that needs to be changed or updated let me know.

Here's one that you missed:

KUWAIT

Special Forces Counterterrorist Unit - CT unit under Interior Ministry

10th Commando Battalion - Guards Falayka Island and Kuwait International Airport (in peacetime), and reportedly also has a special boat unit for maritime ops.

Special Forces Unit - revived by Allied forces after end of Desert Storm.

Fast Attack Unit - coastal patrol and maritime interdiction

Combat Swimmer Unit

CHINA

Immediate Action Unit (IAU) - CT unit of People's Liberation Army

[Kontra1]

Turkish stuff is pretty good but not 100%...and unfortunatelly, I can't provide the most updated structure.

One thing I can say for sure is that; no such thing as "Özel Intahar Komando Birligi"(ÖIKB-CT) is in existance and never did.That literally reads " Special Suicidal Commando Brigade" and we don't have such thing... :roll: Would you mind sharing where you got that info please?... you can PM it if you like and not too much trouble.

Here is a link to "unofficial" site to SAT/SAS teams if you're interested. Click where "command display loaded" on the top right corner points for a tour of the site.

http://www.dzkom.net/SAT-SAS.htm


Kontra1

[Ominae]

For Canadian special forces junkies, here's some news

The Canadian Department of Defence will soon raise a new spec ops groups called "Light Force". According to the Globe and Mail last Monday (May 2), the Light Force would be Canada's Ranger Regiments and would perform many duties similarly to the late Canadian Airborne Regiments.

The Light Force will soon be integrated into the Special Operations Group, which would be a unified special operations command.

Here is the structure:

SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP:

Joint Task Force 2 (JTF-2)
Light Force
Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence Company based in Trenton, Ontario
Naval/Air Elements

[Dominique]

OK, I updated some info on US LRS units and a few others.

[MARINO]

Well Maderal Oleaga was a Legionnaire SF unit now deactivated, you have post some brigades with special character( mountain, airborne,) wich are not SF, but you say elite so OK. There's anything about mountain and Marine SERECO. MOE is like SOCOM but only for army SF there 3 GOE's nowadays. FAR is just rapis raction force composed by many brigades.

[Dominique]

Well Maderal Oleaga was a Legionnaire SF unit now deactivated, you have post some brigades with special character( mountain, airborne,) wich are not SF, but you say elite so OK. There's anything about mountain and Marine SERECO. MOE is like SOCOM but only for army SF there 3 GOE's nowadays. FAR is just rapis raction force composed by many brigades.

I'll add the SERECO today. By the way, what does SERECO stand for?

[Dominique]

Once again, I've made a few minor additions. Let me know if anything else changes.

[Knutsen]

One thing I can say for sure is that; no such thing as "Özel Intahar Komando Birligi"(ÖIKB-CT) is in existance and never did.That literally reads " Special Suicidal Commando Brigade" and we don't have such thing... Would you mind sharing where you got that info please?... you can PM it if you like and not too much trouble.

It's usual to have this kind of mistakes when talking about not so famous countries like the US, UK, France, etc etc.
For example, when checking specwarnet.com or specialoperations.com and similar sites i've found huge mistakes about Spain, like having GAL as a special operations unit, when the GAL was a terrorist group against ETA funded with illegal money from the government , or having Ertzaintza on the list when Ertzaintza is a regional police corps, just like state police in the US.
So don't worry that much. That's why Dominique started this thread, to get his facts correct with our help.

[Knutsen]

By the way, what does SERECO stand for?

Seccion de Reconocimiento, in english means Reconaissance Section.

[n4292936]

AUSTRALIA:
Special Operations Command (SOCOMD)
Special Air Service Regiment (SASR)
-Base Squadron
-HQ
-Anti Terrorism Cell
-Training and Operational Support Squadron
-Instruction Wing
-Wings : Medical, Transport, Material, Supply
1, 2, 3 “Sabre” Squadrons
“A Troop” - HALO Troop
“B Troop” - Boat Troop
“C Troop” - Mobility Troop
Counter Terrorism and Special Recovery (CTSR) Teams -TAG (West)
A Squadron 5th Aviation Regiment
152 Signal Squadron
4th Battalion (Commando) Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) (4RAR Cdo) 126th sig squadran belongs here
-A (Reserve), B, C and D Companies
-Tactical Assault Group, East (composed of personnel for 4RAR and RAN personnel)
- Aviation Platoon from “B” Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment
Special Operations Combat Service Support Company (SOCSSC)
Army Reserve 1st Commando Regiment (1st Cdo Regt)
-HQ Company
-Signal Troop
-Maintenance Troop
-Training Troop
-Base Operation Section
-Base Radio Section
-1 Cdo Coy, 2 Cdo Coy
-126th Signal Squadron 301 sigs squadran
Swan Island Special Warfare Detachment
Incident Response Regiment (IRR)

* Navy Clearance Diving Branch
CDT1, CDT4 and Reserve Diving Teams CDTs

Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) Covert Action Directorate - (Aussie version of the CIA's SAD) No longer exists though ASIS personel can carry firearms overseas for protection

RAAF Airfield Defense Guards (Counter SOF unit) definitely not SF

none of the groups below are considered SF. They are either normal infantry or the reservist equivelant with a slightly different role
Regional Force Surveillance Units (RFSU):
-51 Far North Queensland Regiment (51 FNQR)
-Pilbara Regiment (Pilbara Reg.)
-North West Mobile Force (NORFORCE)
3RAR (Para)
- Recon Platoon

[MSR]

Don't put us ADG'S in there for ****'s sake. I can hear the whinging now from all the choco's and reg's.

[digrar]

:P

Recon 3RAR don't need any encouragement either, they're just the same as the other RAR recon platoons except they jump from planes.

[MSR]

I don't like the way you :P at me dig :lol:

[Itamajus]

LITHUANIA:
ARAS (police CT/SWAT unit)
Gelezinis Vilkas “Iron Wolves” (an Airborne Brigade)

Gelezinis vilkas is "Iron Wolf" and its an motorized infantry brigade(And its not SF)

Airborne are other guys...

[Dominique]

OK, gents I 'll make the corrections later today.

[enfe]

VENEZUELA:
42nd Brigada de Infanteria Paracaidistas
Escuela de Operaciones Especiales “G/D Andres Rojas” (EOEAR)
507 Batallon de Fuerzas Especiales
- Buzos de Combate (Army special ops combat divers)
107 Batallon de Operaciones Especiales (107 BOE)

73 Brigada de Cazadores (Hunters/Rangers - Elite light infanty counter guerilla units)
- 232 Battalion de Cazadores “Vicente Campo Elias”
- 233 Battalion de Cazadores “ Juan Jose Rondon”

Grupo Aereo de Operaciones Especiales Nº 10 “Cobras” (AF special ops helo unit)
- Escuadrón 101 “Guerreros” (Bell 412, UH-1B, UH-1D, UH-1H)
- Escuadrón 102 “ Piaros” (AS332B1, AS532AC, SE3160)
- Escuadrón 103 (AF CSAR unit)
Grupo Aereo de Operaciones Especiales Nº 15 (AF special ops/COIN unit)
- Escuadrón 151 “Los Linces” (OV-10A, OV-10E)
- Escuadrón 152 “ Los Avispones” (AT-27 Tucano)

Infanteria de Marina (Naval Infantry/Marines)
Comando de Operaciones Especiales (COMPEMI -SEAL type unit)
- Buceadores de combate- combat divers
- Incursores Anfibios - amphibious raiders
- Para-Comandos- para-commandos
- Embarcaciones Especiales-special boats)

Brigada Acciones Especiales (BAE - National Police CT unit)

Grupo de Acciones de Comandos (GAC) (Guardia Nacional CT unit)
Grupos de Anti-extorsion y Secuestro (GAES) Nº 1, Nº 3 (Guardia Nacional anti-kidnap units)


I'd like to make a couple of corrections... Venezuela has no "official" CT units as our country has no inmediate terrorist threats, most SF units, usually excluding what we call "green units" (jungle units), get CT training;
these are the "grey units" (units that mostly work on urban terrain) such as the anti-kidnap units. Venezuela's biggest problems are the guerrillas, drug trafficking and kidnapping; these three are usually caused by the same people. All SF get counter-guerrilla training, some more than others, while some units focus mostly on counter-drug operations, such as COPEMI (our version of the SEALs) , since a big percentage of drugs are moved through the waterways. The most "intelligence oriented" unit is the Special Operations Batallion, it focuses mostly on "espionage" (sabotage, explosives and demolition, intelligence gathering, sniping , "kidnapping", etc.).
There are a lot of units missing on the list, but since they're not really known by the public, it should be kept that way :)

[BiZ]

:P

Recon 3RAR don't need any encouragement either, they're just the same as the other RAR recon platoons except they jump from planes.

Many would disagree........don't you know they're the "pathway to the west"? ;)


n4292936 is right.........get rid of ADGies and the 51FNQR etc..... ADGies think because they play with MP5's and "stop" (muhahahahhaaha) SASR during exercises that they're "SF"........ they're bloody far from it though.

[MSR]

Get your hand off it Biz. As I have said before, every unit has their fair share of cocks. ADG's are no different.
As for the MP-5 call, sounds like you are a bit green with envy to me mate.

"stop" (muhahahahhaaha) SASR during exercises that they're "SF"........
That's our real time role champ. So if we are stopping these guy's on exercise we are training the right way, it doesn't make us SF though. I haven't heard any ADG's refer to themselves as SF. If you are refering to the guy's using chest rigs and getting around with all the gear, then have a look at the recent photos from Iraq. Plenty of Infantry and Cav troops getting around in the same kit. I suppose we still sit in pits too.
What's your trade? PM me if you don't want to let everybody know you are a clerk :D

[BiZ]

Get your hand off it Biz. As I have said before, every unit has their fair share of cocks. ADG's are no different.
As for the MP-5 call, sounds like you are a bit green with envy to me mate.

"stop" (muhahahahhaaha) SASR during exercises that they're "SF"........
That's our real time role champ. So if we are stopping these guy's on exercise we are training the right way, it doesn't make us SF though. I haven't heard any ADG's refer to themselves as SF. If you are refering to the guy's using chest rigs and getting around with all the gear, then have a look at the recent photos from Iraq. Plenty of Infantry and Cav troops getting around in the same kit. I suppose we still sit in pits too.
What's your trade? PM me if you don't want to let everybody know you are a clerk :D

Ouch..... MSR, I'm certainly not green with envy at ADGies use of stock MP5s, far from it.

I'd love to be a clerk...... probably better pay, more time to hit the piss, and certainly no chance of getting anything dirty.

With reagrds to 3RAR Recon while the original stab was made at them by some..... how many of 3RAR have since gone to 4 as opposed to ADGies? ;) 100-1 in the shade I say. :D

[MSR]

Wouldn't have a clue. You seem to be in the know champ. So you could tell me how many ADG's have attempted the barrier? Does that prove something though?
All i'm saying is we are nowhere near being SF. Don't tell me you never get Infantry guy's talking it up either. It's gonna happen wherever you are. Maybe not in the Q store though ;)

[BiZ]

Come on, even Q boys talk themselves up......

As for spouting ****e, Infantry is where it is at for talking yourself up.
Inf boys do't deny it though. ;)

I'm only stirring MSR, no harm intended.

Re: Barrier testing, last time I checked there was an AirForce F-18 pilot on the course....so the AirForce guys do get in on the act....

[MSR]

No harm done mate. A bit of stirring keeps me keen.
:D Yeah there are one or two RAAFies out west. Unsure about 4, maybe one that comes to mind.

[AROUETLJ]

I noticed you included some EOD/EOD diver units in your list, Dominique. I suppose we could add this then:

Malta
EOD Section, Ammunition & Explosives Company, 3rd Regiment, AFM.

[Dominique]

Alright gents, I've made a few more changes to the list. As far as dropping some of the units becuase they are not "special forces", as I've said before, if it meats my definition of an "elite" unit, it stays.

Also one additional request. I'm looking for some accurte info on Malaysian SOF, SWAT, and CT unit. The stuff I have a is a few years old and I've heard they have reorganized, so any info updated info would be good.

[AROUETLJ]

The list for the United Kingdom needs a bit of a revamp after April 2005.

First of all, apparently there is a Z Squadron within the SBS, tasked with the operation of the unit's RIBs and swimmer delivery vehicles.

Secondly, R Squadron in 22 SAS was renamed L Detachment. There used to be an R Troop in 264 Signal Squadron, but this unit, together with 63 Signal Squadron (and this is the third bit of news) were incorporated into 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, formed in April 2005 around the same time as the SRR. I still don't know if 18 Signal Rgt personnel will be wearing the sand-coloured beret, but (and this is official MOD info), they qualify for special forces pay.

Finally, there is no such thing as a "Special Forces Brigade". There is a "Directorate of Special Forces", with a Brigadier as commander, which comprises all the special forces units (SAS, SBS and SRR).

All the information I have is obviously public domain, so details are sketchy, but regarding the total number of troops within the DSF, in a recent lecture on Coalition Special Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, the deputy director of British special forces (Col David Hopley) said that 3 squadron-sized British formations were operating simultaneously as part of Task Force 20, together with British aviation units.

Any information on this subject , especially from British armed forces members, would be welcome.

[Dominique]

Thanks for the updated info. I'll make the changes this weekend. Anyone else spot anything that needs updating or correcting?

[Royal]

Any information on this subject , especially from British armed forces members, would be welcome.

The only bit I'm going to comment on the 18 Reg and the Directorate. 18 Reg do not receive SF Pay, they receive SF Communications Pay. Big difference. There is no SF Bde, BUT it is a Bde minus sized organisation with a Bde HQ, headed by a one star - semantics.

As to the rest, OPSEC. If you don't know, you don't need to know. Tough.

[AROUETLJ]

You're right. In fact the MOD press release says "SF C pay". I should've guessed that "C" meant Communications.

Any rumours/details about the composition of the SRR? And does anybody know where I can find a picture of the new SBS cap badge?

[Tim Nice But Dim]

And does anybody know where I can find a picture of the new SBS cap badge?

[Clearday-TRForce]

I have seen some wrong and long lists which s not special units in their countries...If you wanna largen ur list, we can do it also.but u must only add some real "elit" units instead of full of army lists... ;)





Turkey



*Special Forces Command (SFC) “Red Berets”
*Combat Search and Rescue (C.S.R. or M.A.K. in Turkish) special selected among “Red Berets” - like its US counterpart Delta Force –
*UNDERWATER DEFENSE TEAMS (UDT) – like its US Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) -
*UNDERWATER ASSAULT TEAMS (UAT) – like its US counterpart Navy Seals -
*4 Army HQs
*10 Corps HQs
*2 Mechanized Divisions (Tactical HQs)
*2 Infantry Division
*14 Armored Brigades
*14 Mechanized Brigades
*12 Infantry Brigades
*5 Commando Brigades
-KAYSERI
-BOLU
-ISPARTA (Mountain Commando) Some US Rangers come this school for further training,especially on high mountains
-MANISA
-FOCA (Gendairme Commando)
*5 Training Divisions
*7 Training Brigades
*1 Special Operations Division
*1 Mech Infantry Division (with 1 armored and 1 mechanized brigades)+1 commando Brigade and support units have been assigned for NATO multi-national forces
*Naval Forces Command HQs and 4 sub commands:
-Turkish Fleet Command
-Northern Sea Area Command (Black Sea and Sea of Marmara)
-Southern Sea Area Command (Aegean and Mediterranean)
-Naval Training Command
*Four main commands: 1st Tactical Air Force Command (HQ Eskisehir)
*2nd Tactical Air Force Command (HQ Diyarbakir)
*Air Training Command
*Air Logistics Command
*The General Command of The Gendarmerie Headquarters and its Attached Units
*Internal Security Units
*The Gendarmerie Commando Units
*The Gendarmerie Aviation Units
*Gendarmerie Regional Commands (at regimental level)
*City Center and District Gendarmerie Commands
*Gendarmerie Station Commands
*Gendarmerie Guard Units
*Gendarmerie Public Order Commando Units
*Border Units
*Schools, Training and Educational Units
*Administrative and Logistics Support Units

etc...



regards

[Dominique]

I have seen some wrong and long lists which s not special units in their countries...If you wanna largen ur list, we can do it also.but u must only add some real "elit" units instead of full of army lists... ;)

How accurate is the Turkish stuff?

Also, I know the Greeks have reorignaized their SOF, ansd special purpose units. Does anyone have any up to date info on how they are now organized?

[M1A2U2]

You forgot the Bahamas. They have a special forces unit.

[Dominique]

I didn't forget it, I just don't have any info on it. Care t oprovide us any?

[EvanL]

You forgot the Bahamas. They have a special forces unit.
Its not a special forces unit, its a SWAT type unit that performs mainly marine operations.

[EvanL]

Special Operations.Com

Bahamas

Special Operations and Counterterrorist Forces



The Bahamas maintain no special operations or counterterrorist forces. All defense activities are carried out by the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only) and the Royal Bahamas Police Force.



Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA) is a dedicated non-profit voluntary organization committed to saving the lives of distressed seamen or airmen in the Bahamas. BASRA has one full time administrator Monday thru Fridays 0900 to 1700 who, in addition to administrative duties monitors the radios, and a Controller who monitors the radios at headquarters on weekends. Volunteer Control Teams continue coverage through the Police Control room in the evenings with volunteer Captains and Crews on duty at all times. Control Officer courses are generally held every two years and the Fleet Captain ensures that vessels are maintained and the Captains are trained. The Air Pilots of the Nassau Flying Club act as their Air Wing and many persons in the family islands monitor the VHF for BASRA. The Royal Bahamas Police Force and their Radio room are still covering our answering service. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the DEA, Autec and the United States Coast Guard are still helping BASRA with air and boat searches, etc.

[Dominique]

Anyone want to give me a hand updating the Russain and Ukrainian SOF material? Also, I'm trying to get a detailed list of the new structure of the new Greek SOF and special purpose units.

[WKD]

New Zealand:

AOS is a part-time police SWAT unit. Elite? Ok.
Diplomatic Protection is also part of the police force I believe, and act as bodyguards for politicians when they need them.

1NZSAS can be broken down into mountain, boat and air troop also (sabre squadrons), I'll look something up when I have time. Same org as the SAS and SASR basically (funny that).

Also, CTTAG needs to be added. (Army) Counter-Terrorist Tactical Assault Group, a full time counter-terrorist unit. I am pretty sure they are part of the SAS (only difference now is entering CTTAG directy as it has it's own selection course, and then doing a second selection three years later to do the rest), but some people disagree with me. At the Army Museum in Waiouru CTTAG were in the SAS display and the exihibit made no mention of them being a seperate unit or being badged differently. Also ads in Army News use the SAS badge and state that members get the Ecru beret (this is were I got the three year thingy).

[Yosy]

Pics of the portuguese GOE (Special Operations Group) - Police:


















For when the massive update to specwarnet.com, Dom?

[Dominique]

I'm gettin there, just hold your horses folks. Tracy White and I both have alot of irons in the fire at the moment.

[Dominique]

Hey, does anyone know how I can edit my original post, or has the limit expired? I need to revise the list yet again.

[n4292936]

Hey, does anyone know how I can edit my original post, or has the limit expired? I need to revise the list yet again.
Im not sure Dom but if you PM me what you want in it I can update it for you.

Do you mind if I copy it into a page for another site? Coincidentally AusSpecialforces.com is being updated too

ala http://ausspecialforces.com/index_trial_2trial.htm

and

http://ausspecialforces.com/index_trial_4.htm

Tell me what you think. I'd like to link your site when it's done btw

[Telnyashka]

anyone have info on Nepalese special forces? (government)

[Turre]

FINLAND:
Sissikomppaniat (Ranger/Guerilla warfare companies)


Heh heh!

I`m not feeling so elite :)

Somebody had asked about independency of Finnish Ranger units.

Usually we did our combat exercises in squad-level.

Each squad was given their own operating-area,which was during exercises about 20-30 squarekilometres.And into this area we putted up our main camp and caches for mines and food etc..Was also planned places for ambushes.

After all this we patrolled our area and if we saw "enemy" vehicles on the roads we "destroyed" them,or at least we tried.

Honestly speaking,we lacked good OpFor.

Our "enemies" were too lazy to pursue us.

We many times dreamed about joint-exercises for example with Norwegian or Swedish army.

It would had been very interesting work against them..

I have a norwegian cousin,who have been a helicopter-mechanic during his military-service.Now he is working in SAS (not the British one :))


Turre

[ICUS]

ZIMBABWE:
Parachute Brigade

I know this is a very, very old thread, but if anybody is still monitoring it there should be some changes to Zimbabwe. They do not have a Parachute Brigade, but rather a battalion. The unit is known as the 1st Parachute Battalion, and there is also a 1st Commando Battalion which I believe traces its lineage to the RLI. Also, the Presidential Guard Group can be considered to have an "elite" function, depending on how you define the term.

[Ea$y-8]

Dominique, very nicely done.

[mikeytwo]

On September 1st 2004 a new unit was raised called Bijzondere Bijstandseenheid Snelle interventie eenheid (BBE-SIE). The unit is used in cases of special counter terror actions and the arrest of extremist with possible suicidal intentions.
The unit with a strength of 30 men consists of two parts:
Assault unit with men from BBE-M (BBE SIE)
Sniper and recce unit with men from police (BBE-P), Koninklijke Marechaussee, Korps Mariniers and Korps Commando Troepen (BBE-K)

Since 2005 The netherlands have a new command called Dienst Speciale Interventies. The unit consists of:

Staff
Bijzondere Bijstandseenheid Snelle interventie eenheid (BBE-SIE)
Snipers and recconnaisance unit
Ad hoc units under this command are

Aanhoudings- en ondersteuningseenheden politie
Aanhoudings- en ondersteuningseenheden Brigade Speciale Beveiligingsopdrachten Koninklijke Marechaussee
Bijzondere Bijstandseenheid Mariniers (BBE-M)

[goat89]

I think you can add, to the Singapore list, the Gurkha Contingent. Disciplined, dedicated; and feared and respected by the common people in my country. Always keeping us safe. I thank you.

[hauptman]

Nice list. Good work.

But regarding to the Austrian units, some extra information:
The Jagdkommando are not Rangers. The most important tasks of the Jagdkommando are:
Special Intelligence
Counter-terrorism (Hostage Rescue and CRW)
personal protection
CSAR
They are more like a mix of United States Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), Hostage Rescue Team and SAS.

There are 3 Gebirgsjaegerbattalions (they're assigned to the 6th Jaegerbrigade): JgB 23, JgB 24 and JgB 26. These are somehwat very tough guys and they're still using horses to transport stuff. (Haflinger)

There is another police commando in Austria the so called Einsatzeinheiten. (Operational Units). These are specially trained police units for use in "situations with a higher exposure than usual" for example Demonstrations or situations involving Hooligans. However, hostage rescue or personal protection is still handeld by the COBRA units.
The Einsatzeinheiten are organized in States and are subordinated to the according State Police Department.

The next police commando is the newest unit: The Wachkörper Bundespolizei.
(Wachkörper translates to something like Watch Unit Federal Police)
It was founded by the merging of the Bundessicherheitswachekorps (a unit formed in 1869) and the Kriminalbeamtenkorps. The unit has a military style organization. It's american aequivalent would actually be the FBI. The Wackkörper has large-scale authority for example to in the use of force and so on.

Another special air unit is the Flugpolizei (Air police). Like the name says they're used mainly for enforcing air missions but they have mostly civilian tasks for example SAR or helping Fire Brigades. However, they're trained and able to search and catch criminals from air -.-

But however, because Austria is a rather small country every military unit has it's own speciality and there are actually no real units which focus only on combat. They all have "special" forces. (For example the Jeagerbrigade 25 is an Austrian Air Cavalry Unit)

[Deminer from Sarajevo]

Today Russian SF units
Every regional center (region-oblast or very often more little regions rayon (district), especially near Moscow) of Russian Ministry of Interior has unit of OMON (a few tenth people).Moscow has one brigade of OMON. Member of unite privates, sergeants and officers. But in every Regional center has department for counter organized criminal activities and these department have own SF unit SOBR(specialjnij otrjad po borbe s orgprestupnostju)More of member of these units are officers
Russian secret service FSB has own Chief Center of SFO and the same regional center. Chief center has two unit Wympel and Alfa and regional center have only Alfa (www.specnaz.ru )
Russian Army has a few brigades of "spetcnaz". More famous in 5 brigade on Marjina Gorka
Russian Navy has group PDSS and ОМРП (http://dss.army.lv/)
Command of troops of Ministry of Interior (http://www.bratishka.ru ) has SF unit Vityaz (http://vityaz.sensey.ru ) under command of HQ of these troops under HQ of division Dzerzhinsky which is near Moscow.
HQ or Paratroopers forces (http://www.desantura.ru) has own SF unit 45 special paratrooper regiment
Russian secret service SVR has SF group “Zaslon”
Also Ministry of Justify which secured prisons in Russia has own SF units and Department of customs and Department of taxes as well Ministry of Emergency( unit Lider)
Russian border troops (http://www.pvrf.narod.ru/ )also have own SF units
More information on http://www.vrazvedka.ru
All of links are not official links of these units

[Deminer from Sarajevo]

History of SF unit Wympel
SF unit Vimpel was made on base of Special Forces school of KGB which had name KUOS (Kursi usovershenstvovanija oficerskogo sostava). “KUOS-Vimpel”.
worked for researching of military history as well strategy and tactic of SF units. This center made by Starinov who was led soviet specialist about using and IOD in during SF and guerilla’s operations in war in Spain and in WW (in first in Ukraine) and after war he prepared many handbooks and issued for training SF units in former USSR.First director is Boyrinov who was killed in during assault of President Palace in Kabul in 1979.
After Boyrinov Pyotr Nischev was director of KUOS .Personnel finished this school had been sent to different detachment of KGB but with beginning of war in Afghanistan were made SF units Kaskad, Zenit and some another ones by using of this personnel on temporary contracts (about 6 months) for service in Afghanistan. Latter was made SF unit Vimpel with constant personnel.
In 1993 year SF unit Vimpel had been dissolved and latter they were restored but with used personnel recruited from warrant-officers and officers from SF units, paratroopers, marines and border troops because KUOS in beginning of 90 was closed.
More information(for sorry only on Russian) on http://www.kuos-vympel.ru/
Now SF unit Vimpel as well SF units Alpha have been under command of Special Operation Center of FSB Russia.

Fotos from http://www.kaskad.odessa.net
Association of veterans of SF unit Cascade from Odessa (Ukraine)

[lightfire]

LITHUANIA:
ARAS (police CT/SWAT unit)
Gelezinis Vilkas “Iron Wolves” (an Airborne Brigade)
absurd..
why to put Police CT unit here?oh well,let it be,but "Iron Wolves" brigade?:roll: ...rofl
No,it's just rapid reaction mechanised brigade,not special forces. They are NOT paratroopers or any form of airborne(though some used to be, and some guys in the brigade do specialise in para jumps.),despite the fact some companies can be transported by helicopters.
Special forces within the army is the SOU(SOJ)-Special Operations Unit
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=76507&highlight=lithuanian
,that is composed from Zaliukai (smth like green berets or SAS model), Jaeger batalion, Underwater action team(smth like navy seals) and Air wing(smth like 160th regm.). Unit/squadron formed for operations is called "Aitvaras" which is basically a task force of SOU. This is the structer,that modern SF is moving to-a combined SF of various kinds,with own coordinated command. Smth like another kind of the armed forces(i.e. land forces,naval forces,air force..so here's the SF). An example could be UKSF.

[cinoeye]

Damn, I protest! THere is no Serbia;)

[Vlacheg]

As a first, my english is not so good as yours, but I`ll do my best. So, hehe, a cute list, really... Big list of these elite units, looks scary... And that reminds me on one thing I am going to tell you, maybe some of you find something interesting in it. I know one thing, very unusual news for you guys....... There`s a place, a very little place, a piece of someone`s state, where next units have been killed by a host: French Foreign Legion and some other kind of mercenaries, some Nato special units, mujahedins ("mudzahedins", I don`t know how it`s spelling but those are Islam`s fanatics, extremists, terrorists, whatever you like it to call them...), albanians and their special units, famous Delta Force, and others (they were found dead after host`s actions upon them, with their signs of each unit that I said and that`s how it`s known and reliable fact...) And all these units and people together and united attacked (simultaneous supported by NATO Air Force`s airplanes, bombs and other dirty and banned by law some kinds of weird bombs...) and fought for a two weeks against host`s land, against one people, one race, one nation hehehe oh yeah and those people defended themselves, hardly and with a numerous casualties but at the end they successed to defend their country against these so special, elite and famous units... Unbelievable I know, but it`s all archived and recorded by a one man who is a war reporter and journalist... And it`s just a bit. Well, now I am going to leave you folk, it`s espresso time hehe and don`t object me because of that have nothing with a present topic, but it`s good to mention this things sometimes... And also it`s not even important whose country was that... at all...




"Beware of unknown, dog who doesn`t bark & peaceful water"

[n4292936]

As a first, my english is not so good as yours, but I`ll do my best. So, hehe, a cute list, really... Big list of these elite units, looks scary... And that reminds me on one thing I am going to tell you, maybe some of you find something interesting in it. I know one thing, very unusual news for you guys....... There`s a place, a very little place, a piece of someone`s state, where next units have been killed by a host: French Foreign Legion and some other kind of mercenaries, some Nato special units, mujahedins ("mudzahedins", I don`t know how it`s spelling but those are Islam`s fanatics, extremists, terrorists, whatever you like it to call them...), albanians and their special units, famous Delta Force, and others (they were found dead after host`s actions upon them, with their signs of each unit that I said and that`s how it`s known and reliable fact...) And all these units and people together and united attacked (simultaneous supported by NATO Air Force`s airplanes, bombs and other dirty and banned by law some kinds of weird bombs...) and fought for a two weeks against host`s land, against one people, one race, one nation hehehe oh yeah and those people defended themselves, hardly and with a numerous casualties but at the end they successed to defend their country against these so special, elite and famous units... Unbelievable I know, but it`s all archived and recorded by a one man who is a war reporter and journalist... And it`s just a bit. Well, now I am going to leave you folk, it`s espresso time hehe and don`t object me because of that have nothing with a present topic, but it`s good to mention this things sometimes... And also it`s not even important whose country was that... at all...




"Beware of unknown, dog who doesn`t bark & peaceful water"


What a wonderful tale os fanciful woe and daring do. I, for one, consider myself fortunate to be privy to such important, and shaking information. That an unnamed nation has defended itself so gallantly aginst such a range of talented foes, and prevaled over them all is a feat worthy of being retold on this forum. May the closet to Narnia you've ventured into never close for you my friend ;)

[Vlacheg]

Ha, ha, ha... That`s a good one :lol:... And don`t hate me immediately man, may God be with you :hug:

[Jelle H.]

While I was going through that big list I was wondering when forces are or become elite?

And what about comparability, can you compare, for example Albanian 'elite' forces with British SAS for example!?

There a lots of contries who call their forces 'elite' or 'special' but are they really!?

[Mitch Rapp]

Today Russian SF units
Every regional center (region-oblast or very often more little regions rayon (district), especially near Moscow) of Russian Ministry of Interior has unit of OMON (a few tenth people).Moscow has one brigade of OMON. Member of unite privates, sergeants and officers. But in every Regional center has department for counter organized criminal activities and these department have own SF unit SOBR(specialjnij otrjad po borbe s orgprestupnostju)More of member of these units are officers
Russian secret service FSB has own Chief Center of SFO and the same regional center. Chief center has two unit Wympel and Alfa and regional center have only Alfa (www.specnaz.ru )
Russian Army has a few brigades of "spetcnaz". More famous in 5 brigade on Marjina Gorka
Russian Navy has group PDSS and ОМРП (http://dss.army.lv/)
Command of troops of Ministry of Interior (http://www.bratishka.ru ) has SF unit Vityaz (http://vityaz.sensey.ru ) under command of HQ of these troops under HQ of division Dzerzhinsky which is near Moscow.
HQ or Paratroopers forces (http://www.desantura.ru) has own SF unit 45 special paratrooper regiment
Russian secret service SVR has SF group “Zaslon”
Also Ministry of Justify which secured prisons in Russia has own SF units and Department of customs and Department of taxes as well Ministry of Emergency( unit Lider)
Russian border troops (http://www.pvrf.narod.ru/ )also have own SF units
More information on http://www.vrazvedka.ru
All of links are not official links of these units

1. Moscow has OMON regiment, not brigade

2. Marina Gorka is in Belarus and there 5th Specnaz Brigade of Belarussian Army is based

3. 'Lider' consists of former members of 'Vympel', ok, but it doesn't have any CT tasks whatsoever. Although there were rumors that they were armed with VSS Vintorez

4. In 2000-2001 SOBR units were renamed OMSN

And there is a mess about the FSB special forces

[Mitch Rapp]

As a first, my english is not so good as yours, but I`ll do my best. So, hehe, a cute list, really... Big list of these elite units, looks scary... And that reminds me on one thing I am going to tell you, maybe some of you find something interesting in it. I know one thing, very unusual news for you guys....... There`s a place, a very little place, a piece of someone`s state, where next units have been killed by a host: French Foreign Legion and some other kind of mercenaries, some Nato special units, mujahedins ("mudzahedins", I don`t know how it`s spelling but those are Islam`s fanatics, extremists, terrorists, whatever you like it to call them...), albanians and their special units, famous Delta Force, and others (they were found dead after host`s actions upon them, with their signs of each unit that I said and that`s how it`s known and reliable fact...) And all these units and people together and united attacked (simultaneous supported by NATO Air Force`s airplanes, bombs and other dirty and banned by law some kinds of weird bombs...) and fought for a two weeks against host`s land, against one people, one race, one nation hehehe oh yeah and those people defended themselves, hardly and with a numerous casualties but at the end they successed to defend their country against these so special, elite and famous units... Unbelievable I know, but it`s all archived and recorded by a one man who is a war reporter and journalist... And it`s just a bit. Well, now I am going to leave you folk, it`s espresso time hehe and don`t object me because of that have nothing with a present topic, but it`s good to mention this things sometimes... And also it`s not even important whose country was that... at all...




"Beware of unknown, dog who doesn`t bark & peaceful water"


This is not the place to launch your nationalist campaign

[Deminer from Sarajevo]

Lider was made from officers of Naro-Fominsk paratrooper regement and he seems by Russian official like SF unit.I cannot dispute about quality.
I made mistake when write about SF of GRU,because I miss word former.Yes Mariina Gorka in Belarussia now,bu this brigade in former USSR was more famause unit
What about OMON my friend in 98-99 served in brigade of OMON,but may be now it is changed.The same about SOBR
I am going to make widest information about Ruussian SF units latter,but if somebody can do it now I shall be glad

[Deminer from Sarajevo]

Former USSR had in evry military district one brigade specnaz GRU,except Zakavkazski district(Kaukaz-Georgia,Armenia,Azerbajdzan) where were two brigade(in Perekichkul near Baku and Lagodehi in Georgia,near border with Nothern Osetia).Before Afghan war was made 154 special batalion all of members of which were muslims.
First step of Afgan war was captured of President Palace in abul where particepated SF groups of KGB Zenit(latter Cascad and latter Wympel) and Grom(latter Alfa) and 154 "muslim" bataljon of specnaz GRU and

[Dominique]

It's been quite a while since I've checked in on this thread, and it appears that I once again need to update the list. I'll get arond to doing it sometime in the near future, and once again thanks to everyone that's provided me with info, photos, caught my spelling mistakes, etc. Also, if anyone has more up to date info, either post it to the thread, or PM me.

The first changes I'll be making are to the US units (MARSOC, USN Riverine, USCG SRT, info), then it's on to Canada, and the UK.

[Dominique]

Okay, I cant seem to edit my original list. Can any of the mods help me out here?

[Universe]

This is a great list thanks.

[Dominique]

Okay, here's what I have on MARSOC. Next I'll be adding info on USASOC (75th Ranger Regiment, 160th SOAR, active and reserve CA units), and then on the new USN Riverine Squadron.

2nd Force Recon Company (disbanded) – Used to form Company G, 1st MSOB and (2) Deep Recon Platoons (DRP) at the 2nd Recon Battalion.

Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC)

Marine Special Operations Regiment - (2 Marine Special Ops Battalions)

1st Marine Special Operations Battalion (MSOB) - Four Marine Special Operations Companies, 1st Special Missions Training Branch (To be formed from 1st Force Recon Co.)

2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion - Five Marine Special Operations Companies, 2nd Special Missions Training Branch, Small Craft Company (SCCo.)

- Co. F., 2nd MSOB
- Co. G. 2nd MSOB (formerly 2nd Force Recon Co.)

Foreign Military Training Unit (FMTU)
- Alpha Company -12 teams
- Bravo Company -12 teams

Marine Special Operations Support Group

- Support Company - ANGLICO Platoon, Security Platoon, Communications Platoon, K-9, EOD (16 EOD personnel)
- Intelligence Company - CI/HUMINT Platoon, SIGINT Platoon, Analysis Platoon
- Logistics Company

[Deminer from Sarajevo]

Well done,thank you

[sup_tech]

About Russian SF units...
SPETSNAZ is a generic acronym for Russian "SPETSial'noe NAZnachenie" ("Special Purpose"). This name was originally used by MOD for it's units and latter on adopted by others. Novo days almost every ministry in Russia has it's own "SPETSNAZ".

Now some details:
OMON ("Otryad Militsii Osobogo Naznachenia") is a kind of SF unit. Its main purpose is to be a riot police force. However, due to bad criminal/terrorist situation these units have all kinds of personal and heavy weapons and APCs/AFVs and their main specialization is FIBUA. Usually every big city has it’s own OMON battalion.

The main AT and hostage rescue force of MVD (Ministry of Internal Affairs) is SpetsNaz MVD (“Otryad Militsii Specialnogo Naznachenia” – OMSN) which is an elite force within paramilitary units of MVD. Paramilitary forces of MVD include 16 divisions, 24 brigades, 104 regiments and 4 training centers. They are charged with responsibilities of guarding nuclear power plants installations, security sensitive closed cities, main railroad and river transportation routs and some costal guard duties. MVD also has a SF frogmen regiment in Murmansk city. The purpose of this unit is to guard the stand with nuclear icebreakers in Murmansk port. Paramilitary forces of MVD have main battle tanks, towed artillery, MLRSs, multi-role transport helicopters, some transport planes and small patrol boats.

The most famous division is stationed in Moscow. It is ODON (“Otdelnaya Diviziya Osobogo Naznachenia”, former “Dzerzhinskaya”, named after the first minister of ChK-NKVD-KGB-FSB, who was btw Polish) whose main purpose is to protect the federal government officials and infrastructure in case of a war. It has: 5 armored infantry regiments (1 with AFVs and 4 with APCs), 1 Spetsnaz unit, 1 armored battalion (31 T-62), attached air wing with Mi-24s and Mi-8s.

There are about 16 SpetsNaz units within paramilitary forces of MVD, the most famous, that have own names are: "Vityaz", ”Rus’ “,"Rosich" and “Skif”. Within MVD there is a special qualification course called "Kraapovy Beret" (Scarlet Beret). All MVD personal is eligible to take this test; however, because of its difficulty mainly SpetsNaz MVD and soldiers and officers from ODON (DON) are represented on these tests. All who successfully pass the test receive this scarlet beret and some extra money in the monthly paycheck. One big difference between this test and other such qualifications in the rest of the world is that to have the right to wear this distinct beret one has to pass this test every year. That is why one can be seen in say SpetsNaz MVD uniform but with a regular (olive) beret and another would wear "Kraapovy" beret.

SOBR is an acronym for "Spetsialny Otryad Bistrogo Reagirovania". It is usually one-time, one-duty temporary unit of undetermined proportion – it could be a battalion size, could be 10-20 people. Duration of its existence depends on the difficulty of the task. Its purpose is the same is of SpetsNaz groups.

RUBOP ("Regionalnoe Upravlenie po Borbe s Organizovannoy Prestupnostyu") is a special detachment within every province MVD structure whose main task is to fight an organize crime. A couple of years ago it has been renamed RUOP, which is basically the same name just shorter.

MVD SF units “Vostok” (East) and “Zapad” (West) are stationed in Chechnya and are entirely made of Chechens. Their main purpose is to fight United Arab Emirates sponsored and The West morally supported Chechen terrorists. They all have blood oath because terrorists killed some of their relatives. Personally I like an American saying about “Good Indians…”

[Dominique]

Thanks for the updated Russian info, but lets leave the politics to the rants thread.

[mtonu]

Brigada Antiterorista (BAT) (CT unit of the Serviciol Roman de Formatii, SRF - Romanian Intelligence Service)

Not "Serviciol Roman de Formatii, SRF", but "Serviciul Roman de Informatii, SRI"

[siberian tiger]

In the Portuguese forces is almost all ok but it is an old orbat...


Portuguese Army:

The Comando das Tropas Aerotransportadas (Airborne Troops Command)
is extint.

The Brigada Aerotransportada Independente (BAI) (Independent Airborne Brigade) is now renamed Brigada de Reacção Rápida (BRR) (Rapid Reaction Brigade) the main diferent is the extintion of the 3rd Paratrooper Battalion and the integration in the Brigade of the Comando Battalion and the BEOE

The Companhia de Precursores (Cprecs-Pathfinders)
- Saltadores de Operacionais de Grande Altitude - SOGA (The Pathfinder Company HALO/HAHO teams) is ok, it is a sub-unit of the BRR.

The Centro de Instrução de Operações Especiais (CIOE) (Special Operations Instruction Center) is now renamed Centro de Tropas de Operações Especiais (CTOE) (Special Operations Troops Center)

I Think that if you want to put CTOE you should also put the Centro de Tropas Comando (CTC) (Comando Troops Center) and the Escola de Tropas Paraquedistas (ETP) (Paratroopers School)

The Batalhão de Elementos de Operações Especiais (BEOE)
-Comandos “Rangers”
-Patrulhas de Longo Raio de Accao (PLRA - LRRPs) is wrong.

The Batalhão de Elementos de Operações Especiais (BEOE) (Special Operations Elements Battalion) also known as Rangers, is trained and garrison in the CTOE, they are part of the BRR, its sub-units are:
- Group Alpha 1 (only oficers and sargents in the army for life)
- Group Alpha 2 ( " " )
- Group Bravo (Sniper)
- Group Charlie (LRRP)
- Group Delta (Support)

The Comando Battalion is a chock infantry unit like US Army Rangers or French Foreign Legion but they are not SOF, trained and garrison in the CTC, they are part of the BRR.


Portuguese Air Force:

Equipa de Resgate de Combate (RESCOM - AF CSAR Teams), is fine.

The Air Force also has a TACP working with the Army Comandos in Afghanistan but i don`t know if they have any kind of special training.


Portuguese Navy:

Corpo de Fuzileiros (Rifle Corps -Marines)
Destacamento do Accoes Especiais (DAE)-(Navy Seal/SBS type unit)
plus:
Pelotão de Reconhecimento (PelRec) (Recon Platoon)
Pelotão de Abordagem (PelBoard) (Boarding Platoon)

The DAE is more like a Navy Seal unit, CT, etc, PelRec is to support regular marine units is anphibious operations, the PelBoard replace DAE in boarding ships when they are doing other things.

Destacamento de Mergulhadores Sapadores (Portuguese navy "sapper" diver/SAR det.)


Police units:

Grupo De Operacoes Especiais (GOE -National Police CT unit) they belong to PSP, civilian police, work in the main citys.

Guarda Nacional Republicana Pelotão des Operaçoes Especiais (Republican National Guard Special Operations Platoon), they belong to a paramilitary police, work in rural areas.

Grupo de Intervençao e Segurança Prisional (Prison Intervention and Security Group), they belong to the Prision Guard, anti-riot unit.

Unidade de Resposta Tactica (Tactical Response Unit), they belong to PJ (Judiciary Police) investigation police, like FBI.

[IsrTor]

mitar and moran is the same thing (israeli artillery corps) and are not elite forces but are special forces. They employ a very secret artillery weapon which is their special training however do not have any special training in infantry warfare, CT, ect...

[Snoshi]

Awesome list thanks

[Dominique]

Unfortuantely, I can't go back and edit the original list, but thanks for the additional/ipdated information.

[Dominique]

Here's a few more changes to the US SOF/Elite units list -

Air Combat Command assumed the CSAR mission from AFSOC and all of the Rescue Wings, and Squadrons transfred back to them.

AFSOC's reactivating the 1st Special Operations Wing (1st SOW) at Hulbert Field and moving the 16th SOW to Cannon AFB. It may also be adding another AC-130 unit.

The 3rd Special Operations Squadron is AFSOC's "new" Preadator UAV unit.

The 6th Special Opearations Squadron (SOS) will be doubling in size. It's adding over 120 people to the unit.

In Nov. 2006, the 8th SOS will convert from MC-130E to CV-22 Osprey.

The 73rd SOS will activate flying MC-130W aircraft, and the 319th SOS will activate flying U-28 aircraft.

The 75th Ranger Regiment added 4th Battalion, the Ranger Special Troops Battalion (RSTB). Plus a Ranger Support Company (RSC -Compnay E), to each Battalion.

USASOC disbanded the 528th Special Operations Support Battalion and added a Special Operations Sustainment Brigade (Airborne) (SOSBDE), and a Special Forces Groups Support Battalion (GSB) to each SF Group.

the 160th SOAR disbanded E/160th in Korea, formed a 4th Battalion (Provisional) at Ft. Lewis Washington (currently composed of - F/160th, G/160th).

The USMC formed 5th ANGLICO (-), disbanded the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) Anti-Terrorism (AT), and formed a Reserserve AT Battalion from one of the 4th Recon Battalion's companies.

The Small Crafts Company (SCCo.) has been disbanded and replaced with the Dam Security Unit. But their are plans to either reform it under MARSOC, or in the USMCR.

The US Navy formed Riverine Group one (RIVGRU1) with one active duty squadron (Riverine Squadron 1 -RIVRON 1). They both fall under the Navy's new Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC).

[aneep]

Alright gents, I've made a few more changes to the list. As far as dropping some of the units becuase they are not "special forces", as I've said before, if it meats my definition of an "elite" unit, it stays.

Also one additional request. I'm looking for some accurte info on Malaysian SOF, SWAT, and CT unit. The stuff I have a is a few years old and I've heard they have reorganized, so any info updated info would be good.
well, i'll try to update some of units considered elite in Malaysia

Army
10 Para Brigade - 14 units totals (light armor, engineer, etc), 3 airborne infantry bn, all must be airborne qualified
-8 Rejimen Renjer Diraja RRD
-9 Rejimen Askar Melayu Diraja RAMD - also trained in amphib ops
-17 Rejimen Askar Melayu Diraja RAMD
-Platun Pandura - pathfinder platoon

GGK
-11 Rejimen GeraKhas (RGK) - UW, HR, CT
-22 Rejimen Komando (KDO) - DA
-23 Rejimen Komando (KDO) - DA
-SOPASUS (Special Operation Cell)
-PULPAK (Pusat Latihan Peperangan Khas/Special Operations Warfare School)

Navy
-PASKAL - maritime CT, HR, DA
--Unit 1
--Unit 2

AirForce
-PASKAU
--Skuadron Sayap Tempur - HR, CT, DA
--Skuadron Penyelamat Tempur Udara - Combat Air Rescue Team
--Skuadron Kawalan Medan - Field Protection Team

Police
Pasukan Gerakan Khas PGK - police SF, domestic CT, HR
-VAT 69 - jungle warfare
-Unit Tindak Khas UTK - super SWAT, also VIP protection

Unit Tindak Cepat UTC - SWAT type, trained by PGK, manned by ex PGK

all are also considered SF (and get the same SF allowances, even the police SF), except 10th Para Brigade (have airborne allowance) and UTC (SWAT are not SF!)
omitted some units manned by SF personnel under military intel
also omitted some small specialised units under Prison Dept, Marine Police, Police Field Force, etc, who are trained by PGK for their specialised roles (combat divers, CIW, etc)
pls tell if you would like the whole list Dom :D, coz your list inspired me to compile my own list (for Malaysian elite units)

-aneep-

[Rob1bureau]

There are many updates to do about the French SF :

* the DAOS includes now six EOS (Escadrille des Operations Speciales, special operations flight) :
EOS 1 : transport, 8 Cougar Mk.1
EOS 2 : fire support, 10 Gazelle Canon (20-mm gun) and Gazelle Viviane (HOT ATGM and Night IR sight)
EOS 3 : created in june 2006, received 8 Cougar HUS
EOS 4 : GIH "Terre" flight, 4 Puma from ALAT
EOS 5 : GIH "Air" flight, 2 Puma from the ESH
EOS 6 : now 4 Gazelle Viviane, will receive Tigre later in the summer

The GIH (stands for Groupement interarmées d'hélicoptères, joint helicopter force) is a joint air force/ALAT (army aviation) unit dedicated to GSIGN support.

ALAT is creating one Peloton de Reconnaissance et Balisage (PRB, pathfinding and beaconning platoon) per RHC (régiments d'hélicoptères de combat, combat helicopters regts, there are 3 RHC, all in the 4th airmobile brigade : 1er, 3e and 5e RHC, 6e will be desactivated in july). PRBs plants beacons on and provide security to LZ and FARPs used by the RHC helos. They have also developed "IMEX" (immediate extraction) CSAR missions procedures. IMEX aims at immediately recovering the crew and the passengers of an downed helicopter. During a mission of helicopters, a Puma follows stand-off behind with a PRB IMEX team. If one chopper is down, IMEX is immediatly started, without stand for intelligence nor communication/identification of the crew. Circa 50 men per PRB, including two 6-men IMEX teams.

The ECMC is not the former GCMC but a Navy law enforcement unit, not very a elite force. The GCMC became the ECTLO (Escouade de Contre-Terrorisme et de Libération d'Otages, counter-terrorism and hostages rescue squad) in 2001, and now it includes circa 30 men, split in two groups of 15 people, one form Commando Jaubert, the other from Commando Trepel.

The Division des Operations Speciales (DOS) doesn't exists anymore. It became the ET 3/61 "Poitou" (Escadron de transport, airlift squadron) for planes and ESH for the helicopters. ESH is under command of the EH 1/67 "Pyrenees".
ET 3/61 "Poitou" has two flights :
- VB-118 (don't ask me why such a name) : 4 C-160R Transall
- VB-119 : 2 C-130H-30 Hercules
The ET 3/61 will probably receive more aircraft soon. It requested C-130J some years ago but air force lacked funds for S.O. (was already heavily engaged in the Cougar Resco program).

The EH 1/67 "Pyrenees" is the air force CSAR unit, but it has expanded more and more to special operations. The EH 1/67 "Puma SAR" have been replaced by 4 Caracal (formerly called Cougar RESCO), and the ESH received 2 Cougar HUS (in fact, nearly same as the Caracal, the name stands for the primary mission : SO for HUS and CSAR for RESCO/Caracal)

It seems that the 11e CCTP of the 11th Parachute Brigade (11e BP) has been disbanded.
Each regiment of the 11e BP has one or two Commandos Parachutistes teams, and the GCP commands all teams of the brigade.

The Brigade de Renseignement (BR, intelligence brigade) includes six units :
- 2e Régiment de Hussards : long range armored patrols
- 61e Régiment d'Artillerie : UAVs
- Groupement Aéromobile de Renseignement : 4 Cougar Horizon (J-STARS radar-style on Cougars) and some Gazelle Viviane (IR imaging) helicopters
- 54e Régiment de Transmissions : tactical EW regiment
- 44e Régiment de Transmissions : EW regiment (not strategical but higher level than tactical, called "operatif" in French)
- Le Groupement de Recueil de l'Information : HUMINT by agents and POW examination, wartime only.

27e Brigade d'Infanterie de Montagne (27th Mountain Infantry Brigade) includes several URH (Unite de recherche humaine) :
* URH 7 (7e Bataillon de chasseurs alpins, 7e BCA, 7th alpine chasseur battalion)
* URH 13 (13e BCA)
* URH 27 (27e BCA)
* URH 2 (2e regiment etranger du genie, 2e REG, 2nd foreign engineer regt)
I don't know if other 27e BIM units have also their URH (these units are 4th chasseur regt, 93th mountain artillery regt, 27th mountain command and communications co.)

Artillery regiments have also their own recon/forward control units called EOP (équipes d'observation dans la profondeur, long-range observation teams).

Army has also expanded its divers, known as PCG (plongeurs de combat du génie, engineering combat divers). Previously known as SAF they were only trained to support engineering ops, and only SNIO and DINOPS were NIO-qualified (offensive intervention swimmers).

The 9e RIMa (Marine infantry regt) is based in French Guiana and maintains since 1998 a unit called CRAJ section (Commandos de Recherche et d'Action en Jungle) specialised in tropical/equatorial jungle warfare. The CRAJ section is divided in two commandos, each having two 5-men teams. Their mission is to maintain a high-level of jungle warfare skills. Their train other units, take part to rescue of personel lost in jungle, and since last year, along other army units, work together with gendarmerie to counter clandestine gold washing and traffics in Guiana.

The GSIGN commands a fourth unit besides GIGN, EPIGN and GSPR : the GISA (Groupe d'Instruction et de Sécurité des Activités, training and security of activities group, formerly known as GSIGN training center).
The EIR doesn't exists anymore. The GSPR is a mixed police-gendarmerie unit since 1995. GSPR is alternately commanded by a policeman or a gendarme (with a gendarme or policeman as deputy, respectively). GSIGN commands only what is know as DET GEND/GSPR (gendarmerie detachment).

An important change of the GSIGN is planned for september 2007. The GSIGN will be renamed GIGN, and GIGN, EPIGN, DET GEND/GSPR and GISA (circa 400-men ) will be merged in that GIGN.
GIGN will become "intervention section" and may be reinforced by some EPIGN personnel, maybe up to create a fifth operational section.
EPIGN protection team and gendarmerie component of the GSPR -> "protection section"
GOR (EPIGN intelligence team) -> still GOR, will be expanded (was understaffed for many years)

The Equipes Légères d'Intervention and Pelotons Légers d'Intervention (ELI/PLI) have been replaced by PIs (Pelotons d'Intervention, intervention platoons). Each gendarmerie squadron has three standard platoons and one PI. PI and PSIG teams have not high-level qualifications and I think you had better to drop them from your list of "elite forces".
Pelotons d'Intervention Inter-régionaux de la gendarmerie (PI2G) are now being created. They would be gendaremerie equivalents of GIPNs (local SWAT teams : low-level hostage rescue, high-risk arrests...)

The Paris CID service (DRPJ of the Prefecture of Police) has a unit called BRI (Brigade de recherche et d'intervention, intervention and research brigade) nicknamed "brigade antigang" or just "l'antigang", which is tasked of interventions similar of those of the GIPNs inside Paris. There are other BRI in France under regionals CID services but they are not as qualified in interventions.

The police Service de protection des hautes personnalités (SPHP, VIP protection service) protects ministers and other government personnel. GSPR policemen are selected from SPHP.

The fate of GSPR is unclear. Following the election of Nicolas Sarkozy as president, it has been said that the GSPR would become a fully police unit (Sarkozy was Interior minister during nearly 5 years, and is suspected to be pro-police against the gendarmerie which is under command of ministry of defense), but there are official denials. Wait and see...

DGSE (direction generale de la securite exterieure) has a directorate charged of clandestine operations called "service action" (officially "division action" since the early 1980s, but "service action" stuck). The service action has a "tank" of paramilitary operatives coming mainly from the Army (paras and some SF). Since the early 1980s, the service action is organised in three main parts :
- Commandos
- Combat divers
- Air support

Commandos belong to two "training centers" of the French army : the CPIS and CPES (Centre parachutiste d'instruction/d'entrainement specialisé, specialized schooling/training parachutist centers). Between 1946-1963 and 1985-1993, the commandos belong to the "11e Choc" (11th shock parachute batalion/demi-brigade/regiment).
The combat divers, created in the early 1950s, were first merged in the CINC (combat divers training center), assigned to the 11e Choc. After the disaster taht the Rainbow Warrior affair represented for the French government, the CINC was officially disbanded, and the DGSE combat divers were transfered in the CPEOM (seaborne operations training parachutist center).
The air support of DGSE ops is provided by an French air force unit, called since the late 1960s the Groupe Aérien Mixte 56 "Vaucluse" (mixed air group). The unit currently uses DHC-6 Twin Otters, C-160 Transall and Cougar aircrafts, and can also borrow C-130 Hercules from air force units. Surprisingly, the unit has a page at the official French air force website : http://www.defense.gouv.fr/air/decouverte/l_organisation/les_unites_aeriennes/cfap/groupe_aerien_mixte_56_vaucluse



About UK, SFSG and 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment have been created. FRU, 14 Int. and Intelligence & Security Group (NI) have probably been disbanded. Air support units allegedly also includes two AAC units : 8 Flight (Agusta A.109) and 657 Sqn (Lynx AH.7).
See http://www.eliteukforces.info/

The Belgian "Diane" group/ESI (escadron spécial d'intervention) has been renamed DSU (direction of special units). Antwerp and Liège cities police services have their own groups, called respectively BBT (Bijzonder Bijstand Team) and PAB (Peloton Anti-Banditisme).

Switzerland is a federal state without national CT/intervention unit (and I believe without national police as well). Each Canton (and some towns) has its own police and most have a intervention group. Some of them :
- Tessin canton : (ReS-GI - Reparti Speciali Gruppo d’Intervento in italian)
- Vaud canton : DARD (Détachement d'Action Rapide et de Dissuasion, rapid action and detachment deterrence, "dard" also means stinger)
- Geneva canton : "GI" (gendarmes d'intervention, but in Switzerland "gendarmes" is synonymous of police)
- Bern canton : Enzian (Gentian)

It is planned to merge Kantonspolizei Bern (Bern canton police) and Stadtpolizei Bern (Bern town police), and Enzian with Bern town intervention group Stern as well in 2008.
and others.

[Luno]

i think the swedish Militärpolisjägare are called MP/Säk today but i can be wrong now

[aneep]

hi,
with all the changes, do u mind to post the unit under 1st circle and 2nd circle of COS again?
13eme RDP is still under COS right? any new addition to the 1st and 2nd circle?

-aneep-

[Rob1bureau]

hi,
with all the changes, do u mind to post the unit under 1st circle and 2nd circle of COS again?
13eme RDP is still under COS right? any new addition to the 1st and 2nd circle?

-aneep-

There's no unit added/dropped from the 1st circle, but some changes insides those units as I detailled.
1st circle is still :
- BFST with 1er RPIMa, 13e RDP and DAOS
- the five commandos marine and ECTLO
- CPA 10, ESH and ET 3/61 "Poitou" (former DOS)

In fact, 13e RDP is in the 1st circle since 2002 only (when BFST was created). Previously it was in 2nd circle and under intelligence brigade command, although heavily tasked by COS in former Yugoslavia (and probably elsewhere).

Well, 2nd circle includes at least GCP, URH, GISGN units. Sometimes a 3rd circle is quoted. But 2nd/3rd circle units are not clearly specified, and COS can ask all units of French military (1st circle is defined as units normally under command of the COS). Police and DGSE units aren't part of COS.
COS is restricted to "overt" special opertions abroad. Covert ops are work of the DGSE. Law enforcement ops are for police and/or gendarmerie usually (commandos marine are also tasked for Navy "law enforcement" duties, for special protection of Navy ports, to stop Spanish fishers in French territorial waters, and SAR for example).

[Maktab]

You need to correct the S.Africa info as well:

SOUTH AFRICA:
Special Forces Brigade "Recces" (SAS type unit)
- 4 Special Forces Regiment (air/sea)
- 5 Special Forces Regiment (air/land)
44 Parachute Regiment “Parabats”
- Pathfinder platoon
- 1 Parachute Battalion
- 3 Parachute Battalion (Reserve) [apparently 2 Parachute Batt. has been closed for the medium term]
South African Air Force
- 500 Squadron (SAAF Task Force)
South African Navy
- SAN Combat Divers (SEAL-type; although 4 SFR has similar role)
South African Military Health Service
- 7 Medical Battalion Group (Specialised unit dedicated to supporting para regiments, special forces and SAPS Special Task Force)
South African Police Service (SAPS)
- Special Task Force (CT)
- Counter Assault Team (CAT)

[ggk]

any reason why france and italy have so many type of SF?

[Rob1bureau]

any reason why france and italy have so many type of SF?

About the French, it's mainly because all regiments are listed, not only brigades (there is no longer division in French army). On the contrary, the US units part about mountain and paratroops lists only divisions/brigades.

Moreover, the list includes "elite forces", not only SF, so a wide range of units is included. Paratroopers, marine troops, mountain troops, légion étrangère, secret services units, gendarmerie and police specialized services (while US law enforcement services are not listed).
If you list only true SF acting independently of other forces, and under the special operations command, it is restricted to :
- BFST with 1er RPIMa, 13e RDP and DAOS
- the five commandos marine and a MCT squad
- CPA 10, ESH and ET 3/61 "Poitou"

I don't know much about italian units, but I guess it is the same problems. It seems that all para and mountain troops are listed.

The Légion étrangère is a true elite force, but in the sense comparable to the USMC. The two units are often compared because they share the "élite" status, having duty, honor and courage worships. All Légion regts are listed here, it has as much sense as if all USMC regts were listed.

Besides, French army has really a number of "special operations capable" forces, especially because of the growing number of recon units for each kind unit : GCP for Para regts, URH for mountain units, EOP for artillery regts, PRB for ALAT regts... It also planned to develop a unit with special skills (including MOUT) for all infantry regts. The fact that both French police and gendarmerie have comparable units (GIGN - RAID, PI2G - GIPN), and add more units to the list.

[valtrex]

GREECE:
Eidiko Tmima Alexiptotiston (ETA “Special Parachute Unit - Greek Army LRRP/SAS type unit)

1st Sintagma Katadromon (1st Commando Regiment)
- B, D, E Commando Squadrons
2nd Sintagma Alexiptotiston (2nd Parahute Regiment)
-1st Parachute Squadron
-2nd parachute Squadron
13th Sintagma Amfivion Katadromon (13th Amphibious Commando Regiment)
- A,C Amphibious Commando Squadrons
32nd Taxiarhia Bezonafton (32nd Marine Brigade)

Monada Ypovrixion Kastrofon (MYK - “Underwater Destruction Unit”) now DYK
Dimoria Eidikon Apostolon (DEA - Special Mission Platoon) of the Athens City Police (CT)

Eidikes Katastaltikes Antitromokratikes Monades (EKAM - Police CT unit)

Special Operations Squadron “Achiles” - AF CSAR unit.

Coast Guard Underwater Operations Unit (MYA)
Klimakio Idikon Apostolon (KEA - Special Missions Detachments)

Just a minor correction..
after the 1988 reorganization, Greek SF consist of:

*Eidiko Tmima Alexiptotiston (ETA "Special Parachute Unit"-Greek Army LRRP/SAS type unit)
*1 Syntagma Katadromon (1st Commando Regiment/1 SK)
- B, Δ/D, E Moira Katadromon (B-Δ/D-E Commando Squadron/B,Δ,E MK)
*2 Sintagma Alexiptotiston (2nd Parachute Regiment/2 SAL)
-1 Moira Alexiptotiston (1st Parachute Squadron/1 MAL)
-2 Moira Alexiptotiston (2nd Parachute Squadron/2 MAL)
*13 Dioekesis Eidikon Epichereseon (13th Special Operations Command/13 DEE)
-A, Γ/C, Z Moira Amphivion Katadromon (A,Γ/C,Z Amphibious Commando Squadron/Α,Γ,Ζ MAK).
NOTE: 32nd Marines Brigade, according to some reports from the Ministry of Defence (& according to reliable sources), will be reorganized to bridge the gap between mechanized infantry and airborne/special forces (combined arms unit). There are even some thoughts to form a second Marines Brigade.
Since 2006, when a conscript is called-up for his military service, and fills out the form for a service in the Special Forces, Marines are no longer ranked among the SF Units.
The rest of the list is correct.

[AROUETLJ]

hi,
with all the changes, do u mind to post the unit under 1st circle and 2nd circle of COS again?
13eme RDP is still under COS right? any new addition to the 1st and 2nd circle?

-aneep-


The 1st and 2nd circle do not exist. It's a misconception which arose when COS was formed, but in fact there is no command structure for the so-called 2nd circle units. All you have is COS, then you have the recce element for each brigade, and the ISTAR brigade, whose units can come under COS command for specific operations. But then again, in specific circumstances, that could apply to any unit. I would imagine, for instance, that during the recent high-altitude insertion over Birao, with a 3e RPIMa GCP team participating, COS was in overall command. You also had the CIMIC team in place, whose members participated in the three-day firefight*. So who was in command? I'd say COS, for that specific action.

(*One female nurse from the Medical Service was even awarded the French equivalent of the Military Cross.)

One small correction for Maltese special forces folliwing the 2007 AFM reorganisation: The Rapid Deployment Team no longer forms part of 2nd Regiment. Thiis has been dissolved and the Maritime Squadron is now under direct AFM HQ command, with the RDT of course still operating as part of the Maritime Sqn.

[växelvisframmåt]

SWEDEN:
Amphibious Battalions
KustJagare - Navy Coastal Rangers
Attack Dykarna (Attack Divers)
Rojdykare Division (Mine Clearance Divers)
Säkpluton Sjö (formerly Bassäk-Naval Security Platoon/counter SOF unit)

Flybasjagarna-(Swedish Air Force Rangers /SAFRs- Counter SOF unit)
Fallskärmsjägarskolans Insatskompani (FSJ IK - LRRP type unit)

Fallskärmsjägarskolan (FSJ- trains stundents in LRRP/Ranger type missions)
Särskilda Skydds Gruppen (SSG -Special Protection Group (Delta/SAS type unit)
Livregemente Husarer (ranger type unit)
K4/Norrland Dragoons (ranger type unit)
Militärpolisjägare (MPJ- MP Rangers/hunters counter SOF unit)

Ordningspolisens Nationella Insatsstyrka (ONI - National Rescue Unit - part of the Stockholm Police Dept)



There are only 2 units in the Swedish armed forces that can be described as special forces, The SSG and the FJS IK (SIG = Special intelligence group). The others are just units where you can serve your conscription witch is "compulsory" here in Sweden.

Units like kustjägarna, fallskärmsjägarna, röjdyk and flygbasjägarna uses an extra phase of selection that you have to pass to be accepted and thereby draw motivated people.


Mp-säk, AJB (Armens jägarbatallion) former K4, Säkpluton sjö, K3 Rangers, Kustjägarna, Röjdyk etc are all VERY physically and mentally demanding conscriptions that probably will take you to the edge of what you can handle. However, to claim they reach the heights of special forces or "elite" forces operators by international standards is ridiculous.
They are all extremely competent conscripts that serve for 11 or 15 months, nothing beyond that.

[Navor]

Does this mean,that SASR Sabre Squadrons no longer rotate through TAG Duties but that they estabkished a special Unit for TAG Duties?