SSG COMMANDOS PAKISTAN

The Special Services Group (SSG) or Special Service Group is the primary special operations force of the Pakistan Army. The SSG is a regiment-sized group, and is headquartered
at Tarbela Cantonment. It is headed by a major-general and divided into eight battalions. Each battalion.consists of 700 men in four companies, with each company split into platoons and then into 10-man teams. Each battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel.

SSG Pak was raised by amalgamating 17/10th Baluch (19 Baluch)  and 312 Garrison Company. Based out of Cherat and Attock, the SSG was created in 1956.That year, 19 Baluch was selected for conversion to a special operation force. As a result of this, the SSG has inherited many of the traditions and insignia of the BalochRegiment. The 19th Baluch Regiment's first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) Aboobaker Osman Mitha who commanded it for six years till 1961. The first commander of its Alpha Company was Majo(later Lieutenant Colonel) Gaideen Khan Abdullai Mahsud. Their initial training and orientation as regards tactics was based on the US Special Forces pattern with whom they co-operated closely in the Cold War years. The SSG initially had 6 companies and each company had specialization units,specialized in desert, mountain, ranger, and underwater warfare.[ The desert companies participated in training exercises with US Army Special Forces Mobile Training Team in late 1964. In August 1965, scopeof SSG was raised from a battalion size force to larger Special Operations outfit and instead of 19 Baluch(SSG) they simply adopted the name Special Services Group. The scuba company in Karachi was renowned for its tough physical training. Later on, Chinese training, tactics, weapons, and equipment were also introduced.

Training 

Many in the SSG school are selected for additional specialist training. A HALO[citation needed] course is given at Peshawar with a "Skydiver" tab awarded after 25 freefall jumps. A "Mountain Warfare" qualification badgeis given after completing a course at the Pakistan Military Academy kakul,Abbotabad[citation needed]. A "Combat Diver"badge is awarded for the course held by the Naval Special Services Group SSGN at Karachi[citation needed].(Three classes of combat swimmers are recognized: 1st class to those completing an 18-mile swim, 2nd class to those finishing a 15-mile swim, and 3rd class for a 10-mile swim.) Due to the Siachen crisis,a High-Altitude Mountain Warfare School has been established at Khappalu to train the SSG and other Army units for operations on the Siachen Glacier.Other areas of the commando training include internal security, assault and small unit tactics,sniping, demolition, survival, languages, small arms familiarization, Fighting In Built Up Areas (FIBUA), Close Quarter Battle tactics (CQB), Long Range Recce Patrol (LRRP), Martial arts, espionage, psychoanalytic training, and criminal psychology courses
 
Weapons  

                                                         Stayer Aug

                                                                   Barret M82

 Operations

In May 1998, three members of the Baloch terrorists took over a PIA Fokker plane because they were angry at the government for conducting nuclear tests in Balochistan. As negotiations dragged, SSG commandos rushed the plane and apprehended all 3 hijackers. None of the passengers were harmed during the assault.In July 2007, the SSG was the main assault force which re-took the Lal masjid from extremists. The SSG suffered 11 killed and 33 wounded.On September 13, 2007, a suicide bomber killed at least 20 personnel of the SSG and injured dozens others at the officers mess of the sensitive cantonment area of Tarbela-Ghazi. The blast has reported to have been a vendetta attack by the Islamic fundamentalists who were attacked in the Red Masjid siege in July.According to reliable sources a civilian wearing a white cap with a long beard walked with his bicycle towards the SSG mess and blew himself up there 

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                                                             "I am violent "

 

ECHO COBRA AUSTRIA

Austria’s Special Operations Tactical Unit – EKO Cobra – has been active since 1978.  The major role for EKO Cobra, which has become one of the top special unit, is with Domestic Law Enforcement and Counter-Terrorism.  This tactical unit operates at a national and an international level – where it is formally recognized as an antiterrorist unit.Initially, the unit was formed under the name GEK (Gendarmerieeinsatzkommando) but in 2002 was changed by the Federal Ministry of Interior to EKO Cobra.  A need for this type of tactical unit became apparent during the 1972 Munich Olympics when the Israeli athletes were attacked.  EKO cobra units are set up throughout Austria at strategic points so the entire country can be accessed by at least one of these troops within 70 minutes.Recruits for EKO Cobra are taken from applicants from the Austrian Federal Police.  Those who apply first receive a medical evaluation, followed by several psychological assessments followed by a series of intense physical challenges.  Once these are all successfully completed, the recruits will spend six months in a specialized training course mastering marksmanship, tactical training exercises, driving courses, hand-to-hand combat and a variety of other pertinent skills.  Depending on the field to which they are assigned, additional training may be required in areas such as sniping, blasting techniques (explosives), parachuting and/or diving. 

EKO Cobra Weapons

 Austria produces the majority of weapons used by EKO Cobra including assault rifles and pistols.   The units are also issued special equipment such as specifically designed gear, camouflage suits, bavaclavas (ski-type masks), tonfa batons and pepper (oc) sprays.Overall, EKO Cobra’s success lies not only in each member’s dedication for continual improvement in their skills and performance, but also in Cobra’s highly motivated officers.  It is a combination of this dedication and motivation that makes Austria’s Special Operations – EKO Cobra - a swift and effective task force.

                                                          Pistol 

                                                        assault rifles 

                                                                 tonfa batons
                                                          

Training

 Any member of the Austrian Federal Police may apply for the Einsatzkommando Cobra – EKO Cobra. The various tests consist of medical examinations, psychological tests and vigorous physical tests for candidates. Upon successful completion of the tests, now-recruits attend 6 months of specialized training which include marksmanship, tactical training, sports, driver courses, abseiling/rappelling, hand-to-hand combat, language classes, etc. After recruits finish 6-month training, they are able to take a further specialization in fields, such as parachuting, diving, explosives or sniping.The Einsatzkommando Cobra was involved in a now-famous hostage rescue in the Graz-Karlau Prison in 1996 and numerous other dangerous operations.Although it has never participated in the same type of hostage rescue operations that the FBI HRT, GIGN, GIS, NSG, GSG 9, SAS and other similarunits have had, the EKO Cobra is still the only Counter-Terrorism unit to end a hijacking while the plane was still in the air. That happened on 17 October 1996 when four EKO Cobra officers were on board an Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-154 escorting deported prisoners to Lagos when a Nigerian man threatened the cockpit crew with a small knife and demanded a diversion to Germany or South Africa. The team overpowered the man and handed him over to the authorities.after landing. The officers received a decoration by then-Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin. The most recent large operations when 135 EKO Cobra operatives were involved was on September 17, 2013. The mission target was Alois Huber, who killed three police officers and one Red Cross paramedic in Lower Austria. The operation was search based, and when EKO Cobra located the suspect in the forest, he committed suicide.

Operation 

The EKO Cobra was involved in a hostage rescue in the Graz-Karlau Prison in 1996 and numerous other operations.Although it has never participated in the same type of hostage rescue operations that the HRT, GIGN, GIS, NSG, ERU,GSG 9 and the SAS have had, the EKO Cobra is the only Counter-Terrorism unit to end a hijacking while the plane was still in the air.On 17 October 1996, four Cobra officers were on board an Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-154 escorting deported prisoners to Lagos when a Nigerian man threatened the cockpit crew with a knife and demanded a diversion to Germany or South Africa. The team
overpowered the man and handed him over to the authorities after landing. The officers received a decoration by Russian prime minister Putin.[citation needed]135 EKO Cobra operatives were involved in the search for Alois Huber, who killed three police officers and one Red Cross EMT on September 17, 2013,in Lower Austria.

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                                          "Numquam retro ( "Never back down")"

SHAYETET 13

Israel’s Special Forces – the Shayetet 13 – is a branch of the Israeli Navy and one of the  top special forces in the world.  This elite commando group was first organized in 1948 and has participated in almost every major Israeli war since. The Shayetet 13, together with the Sayeret Matkal and Shaldag Unit, comprises the Special Forces units of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Initially, the Israel Defense Forces debated the need for a Special Forces unit, which initially restricted both the size and the budget of the Shayetet 13. Though started in 1948, their existence was not made public until 1960.



Wepons

                                                                        M4

                          M24

                                                                        Glock


The Shayetet 13 is composed of three specialized units –

Raids – This group is responsible for special recon and direct action on land, but on sea they are responsible for counter-terrorism and hostage rescues.

Underwater – This second group deals with underwater attacks and sabotage, Beach Recon and Beachhead Recon and Security

Above Water – The above water group in the Shayetet 13 is responsible for surface attacks and also the sea transportation of units both to and from a target area.

To become a member of this elite commando group, recruits must first endure a 20-month training program and is comprised of the following:

The Selection Process – The selection process takes place twice a year. During this process, cadets will endure both physically and mentally challenging tests. This process is overseen by physicians and psychologists in order to prevent mental burnout and to prevent physical injuries. The selection phase further evaluates the cadet’s capacity of operation in both stressful and fearful situations.

 Basic and Advanaced Infantry Training - Once the selection process is successfully completed, recruits advance to the next phase of the process – six months of basic and advanced infantry training.

 Preparation Phase - The next phase is three months long and is known as the Preparation phase. During this portion of the training, recruits are given advanced infantry and weapons training and demolitions. They are also given parachute training and additional schooling in the basic elements of maritime warfare. Before the course is completed, they will have also learned how to operate small vessels and endure long swims and forced marches.

Advnaced Combat Diving - The group receives four weeks of advanced training of combat diving, where in addition to the basics of combat diving, they will learn to cope with various ‘extreme’ situations including cold, dark and/or clouded water as well as surviving underwater in high-risk situations.

 Dedicated Phase - Finally, those who are still in the program will undergo the final phase – The Dedicated Phase. This training lasts for approximately one year and further trains recruits in advanced diving techniques, underwater demo, parachuting into the sea and various other sea-to-land excursions. Three weeks are dedicated to counter terrorism at the IDFs school. During this final phase, recruits are assigned to one of three specialty groups based on their strengths and interests, where they receive specific training in the specialized area of their group.

Israel’s Special Forces – Shayetet 13 is highly respected throughout the world and considered by many to be comparable to the US Navy SEALs.


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                                                      כשהגלים מתחזקים החזקים מתגלים             
                     (When the waves grow stronger, the strong men are revealed).
 

DELTA FORCE

 "Delta Force," officially known as 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), is one of the U.S. special missions units primarily focused on the counter-terrorism mission.  SFOD-Delta has been through a few name changes over the years, and even though it will likely always be known as SFOD–Delta, it was recently renamed the Combat Applications Group (CAG) and is now officially known as Army Compartmented Elements (ACE).Though Delta Force is primarily a tier-one counter-terrorist unit, specifically directed to kill or capture high value units (HVU) or dismantle terrorist cells, Delta Force remains extremely flexible and can engage in direct action missions, hostage rescues, and covert missions working directly with the Central Intelligence Agency, as well as high ranking protective services of our senior leaders during visits in war torn countries.  Delta is under operational control of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) though administratively supported by the Army Special Operations Command (USASOC).Delta Force History.Compared to our nation's military history, Delta is relatively young, having been formed in 1977 by its first commander, Colonel Charles Beckwith. With the growing threat of terrorism around the world,Beckwith saw a need for a precision strike force within the Army after working with the British Special Air Service (SAS) in the early 1970's.  Beckwith was tasked to form the new unit and pulled largely from the Special Forces Groups.  The type of missions the SFOD-Delta has been involved with over the past few decades are classified but some have been de-classified and noted publicly in media reports and books written by Delta Operators.  Here is a list of several of the declassified engagements: Operation Eagle Claw - In 1980, during the Iran Hostage Crisis a failed attempt at a rescue due to aviation equipment/operator error led to the death of eight Americans;as a result the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment was created.

Weapons

                                                                  colt M4 commando

                                                                Glock pistol

                                                            
                                                                  Berret M9
         
 

Operation Urgent Fury - Grenada prisoner rescue from the Richmond Hill prison.

Operation Just Cause - Panama invasion to capture Noriega and protect some 35,000 Americans living in Panama.

Gulf War - Iraq invades Kuwait and the US-led alliance defeats Saddam Hussein and his Army, pushing them back into Iraq.

Operation Gothic Serpent - Part of the Battle of Mogadishu (1993) where U.S. helicopters were shot down and two Delta Operators SFC Randall Shughart and MSG Gary Gordon were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their efforts that day.

War in Afghanistan -Within a month of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Special Forces operators aided in defeating and dismantling the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Battle of Tora Bora - A massive joint engagement to kill or capture Osama bin Laden.

Operation Red Dawn - Locating and capturing Saddam Hussein.

Countless Hostage Rescues around the world

selection

Eric Haney's book Inside Delta Force described the selection course and its inception in detail. Haney wrote that the selection course began with standard tests including push-ups, sit-ups, and a 2-mile (3.2 km) run, an inverted crawl and a 100-meter swim fully dressed. The candidates are then put through a series of land navigation courses to include an 18-mile (29 km), all-night land navigation course while carrying a 40-pound (18 kg) rucksack. The rucksack's weight and the distance of the courses are increased and the time standards to complete the task are shortened with every march. The physical testing ended with a 40-mile (64 km) march with a 45-pound (20 kg) rucksack over rough terrain that had to be completed in an unknown amount of time. Haney wrote that only the senior officer and NCO in charge of selection are allowed to see the set time limits, but all assessment and selection tasks and conditions were set by Delta training cadre.The mental portion of the testing began with numerous psychological exams.The men then went in front of a board of Delta instructors, unit psychologists, and the Delta commander, who each ask the candidate a barrage of questionsand then dissect every response and mannerism of the candidate with the purpose to mentally exhaust the candidate. The unit commander then approaches the candidate and tells him if he has been selected. If an individual is selected for Delta, he undergoes an intense 6-month Operator Training Course (OTC), to learn counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence techniques, in which the individual maintains little contact with friends and family for the duration. Training includes firearm accuracy and various other munitions training.In a recent interview, former Delta operator Paul Howe talked about the high attrition rate of his Delta selection course. He said that out of his two classes totaling 240 men, only 12 to 14 candidates completed the course.

Training

The trainees shoot without aiming at stationary targets at close range until they gain almost complete accuracy, then progress to moving targets.Once these shooting skills are perfected, trainees move to a shooting house and clear rooms of "enemy" targets – first one only, then two at a time, three, and finally four. When all can demonstrate sufficient skill, "hostages" are added to the mix.Trainees learn how to pick many different locks, including those on cars and safes.Advanced demolition, and bomb making using common materials.The new Delta operators use demolition and marksmanship at the shoothouse and other training facilities to train for hostage and counter-terrorist operations with assault and sniper troops working together. They practice terrorist or hostage situations in buildings, aircraft, and other settings.All trainees learn how to set sniper positions around a building containing hostages. They learn the proper ways to set up a  TOC and communicate in an organized manner. Although Delta has specialized sniper troops, all members go through this training.The students then go back to the shoothouse and the "hostages" are replaced with other students and Delta Force members. Live ammunition is known to have been used in these exercises, to test the students, and build trust between one another.Students learn different espionage-related skills

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                            "These are the precincts of pain. A goddess lives here. Her name is victory."

PARA COMMANDOS INDIA

 Para (Special Forces) is a special forces unit of the Indian Army's Parachute Regiment and is tasked with missions such as special operations,direct action, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, counter-proliferation,counter-insurgency, seek and destroy and personnel recovery. The unit's heritage stems from World War II, with the creation 50th Parachute Brigade. The unit's heritage stems from World War II, with the creation 50th Parachute Brigade in October 1941.The parachute units of the Indian Army are among the oldest airborne units in the world. The 50th Indian Parachute Brigade was formed on 27 October 1941, comprising the British 151st Parachute Battalion, and the British Indian Army 152nd Indian Parachute Battalion and 153rd Gurkha Parachute Battalion.The Parachute Regiment was formed from these and several other units in 1952. This brigade consisted of three distinguished battalions personally nominated by the then C-in-C, namely 1 PARA (Punjab), 2 PARA (Maratha) and 3 PARA (Kumaon). During J&K operations of 1947-48 these battalions had distinguished themselves with glory in the battles of Shelatang, Naushera, Jhangar and Poonch,wherein they were awarded the respective Battle Honours.On 15 April 1952, the three battalions serving with the Parachute Brigade were taken away from their respective Infantry Regiments to form the Parachute Regiment.Since then the Parachute Regiment has grown to comprise ten battalions including Parachute (Special Forces) battalions. In that while, 8 PARA became a Mechanised Infantry Battalion, 21 PARA (Special Force) joined us from Maratha LI. During their short but eventful existence so far, battalions of the regiment have had extensive operational experience and singular achievements to speak of their level of professionalism.During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, an ad hoc commando unit, named Meghdoot Force, consisting of volunteers from various infantry units was organized by then Major Megh Singh of the Brigade of the Guards. The unit performed well in combat and the Government authorized the formal raising of a commando unit.Lt Col Megh Singh was selected to raise the unit which was originally intended to be a part of the Brigade of the Guards. However, recognizing parachute qualification as an integral element of special operations, the unit was transferred to the Parachute Regiment and raised as its 9th Battalion (Commando) on 1 July 1966. The erstwhile members of the Meghdoot Force formed the nucleus and the new unit was based in Gwalior. In June 1967 the unit was split equally into two to form a second commando unit, designated as 10th Battalion, both with three Companies each. 10th Battalion was mandated to operate in the Western Desert and 9th Battalion in the northern mountains. In 1969, these battalions were redesignated as 9 and 10 Para (Commando) battalions.[In 1978, the 1 Para, as an experiment, was converted to become the first special forces unit of the Indian army and was kept as the tactical reserve. Already a recipient of the Chief of Army Staff Unit Citation twice and GOC-in-C Eastern Command Unit Citation once, the unit was originally 1 Punjab which was later re designated as 1 PARA (PUNJAB) and in 1978 was converted to 1 PARA (SF). The unit is well over 200 years old.On 15 January 1992, the Parachute Regiment Training Centre along with the Records and PAO(OR), the Para Regiment moved to Bangalore and occupied the erstwhile location of Pioneer Corps and Training Centre. Bangalore is the new Key Location Project of the Centre.1995 saw the formation of the fourth commando battalion when 21 Maratha Light Infantry was selected to convert to special forces and slated for the Eastern Command.After stringent selection and training process that spanned more than a year, on 1 February 1996, the unit under Col VB Shinde, was formally inducted as the 21st Battalion (Special Forces), The Parachute Regiment. The unit has done well in its short lifespan and is the proud recipient of the Chief of Army Staff Unit Citation twice (1992 and 2006) and GOC-in-C Eastern Command Unit Citation once (2008) among a host of individual gallantry awards. With the changing scenario in military operations and the need for more special forces units, 2 Para began the conversion process from parachute to special forces role, followed closely by the 3 Para and the 4 Para in the year 2004 and 2005 respectively. The attempt did see a little success the reason it failed to achieve its goal was due to the stringent selection process.

Weapons 

                                                                     Tavor

                                            

                                                                     Vz 58

Operation Cactus 1988, Maldives

With the capture of Maldives, an island nation off the south western coast of India on 3 November 1988 by PLOTE mercenaries, the army turned to the 50 (Independent) Parachute Brigade to carry out an airborne/air. transported operation to liberate the country and return power to the legal government. Thisoperation had 6 PARA spearheading the mission. 6 Para flew in on 4 November 1988 in a fleet of IL-76, An-32 and An-12 transport aircraft. One team rescued the president, another took over the airfield and a third rescued Maldivian security personnel besieged in their NSS HQ. Later 7 Para & part of 17 Para Fd Regt were also deployed to the Maldives. When mercenaries tried to escape by sea along with hostages, they were intercepted by the Indian navy. Thus, 6 Para, 17 Para Fd Regt conducted the first ever international intervention by the Indian army without any loss of life The Parachute Regiment presently has seven Special Forces, six Airborne, two Territorial Army and one Counter-Insurgency (Rashtriya Rifles) battalions in its fold. The regiment has tried raising new battalions to augment the strength of the special forces however the task hasn't been completed due to the tough selection phase.In the mid-1980s, there were plans of taking away the three para commando battalions from the Parachute Regiment and bringing them together under an individual specialized organisation, the Special Forces Regiment. However, after several logistic and administrative obstacles, these plans were abandoned and they continue to be trained and recruited by the Parachute Regiment.Para (SF) operate in assault teams, which work individually behind enemy lines whereas the Paratroopers (Airborne) work in large teams and coordinate with other units as their role involves occupying large areas behind enemy lines. The total strength of the regiment stands about to 4500 with the majority being in the Paratroopers(Airborne), while the Para (SF) stands about 1200 operators. They have to hide their identity from general public.

Selection

All Indian paratroopers are volunteers. Some enter the Para regiments fresh from recruitment, while others transfer in from regular army units. They are put through a probationary period / selection process of three months for Paratroopers (Airborne) Battalions (5,6,7) and seven months for Para (Special Forces) battalions (1,2,3,4,9,10,11,12,21 PARA), in order to be a Para (Special Forces) all personnel are first required to qualify as Paratroopers; once selected the candidates may choose to advance to the SF selection, which takes place twice a year in the spring and the autumn term. It is one of the longest and toughest phases in world where the applicant is exposed to sleep deprivation, humiliation, exhaustion, mental and physical torture. The selection has reported deaths in the process itself.   

Training 

The initial training to be a special forces operator is 3.5 years, the longest anywhere but the training is also a continuous process, in the special forces, the members are imparted both basic and advance training. They are taught specialised mode of infiltration and exfiltration, either by air (combat freefall) or sea (combat diving). Some trainees return to PTS to undergo the free-fall course, which requires at least 50 jumps from altitudes up to 33,500 feet to pass. Both HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) and HAHO (High Altitude High Opening) techniques are learned. The ability to use the HAHO method and specially designed maneuverable parachutes called HAPPS (High Altitude Parachute Penetration System)/AMX-310 to conduct stealth insertions over distances up to 50 km is also perfected.For combat diving training, the commandos are sent to the Naval Diving School, Kochi.Like other special forces, these para commandos are trained for land, airand water.Daily routine begins with a 20 km morning run. Infiltration, exfiltration, assault, room and building intervention,intelligence gathering, patrolling, ambush tactics,counter-ambush tactis,counter insurgency, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, guerilla warfare, asymmetric warfare, raids & sabotage, martial arts training, tactical shooting, stress firing, reflex shooting, buddy system drills, close quarter battle, tactical driving, advance weapon courses & handling, sniping, demolition training, survival skills, linguistic training, logistic training, trade-craft training is imparted by the intelligence agencies. The training drills involve live ammunition at all times which has also become a reason for fatal accidents at times leading to death.Night and weapons training and field craft involving 20 km treks with 60 kg (132 lb) loads and live ammunition are conducted. Weekly forced marches with 65 kg combat loads with distances over 50 to 80 miles 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 terrain and environment 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, Desert warfare school in Rajasthan, the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Sonamarg, Kashmir and the Counterinsurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) in Vairengte, Mizoram, Indian special forces training school in Nahan, Himachal Pradesh. These schools are among the finest of their kind anywhere and routinely hoststudents from other countries.Members of USSOCOM (United States Special Operations Command) and UKSF (United Kingdom Special Forces) have conducted joint training exercises with the Indian Paras, and SOF members from the three nations routinely train at each other's facilities to improve military cooperation and tactical skills. This allows the SOF operators from each nation to see tactics and perspectives offered by other top-notch organizations.U.S. Army Special Forces have also conducted joint HAHO training with the Para (SF) in 1992, underwater training in 1995 and anti-terrorism training in 1997. It is thought that the French Foreign Legion also has approached CIJWS regarding the courses taught by them.[citation needed] Para (SF) can also undergo a complete CombatDivers course, in which they earn a combat diver badge.They are also experienced in conducting SHBO (special heli-borne operations) and typically employ Cheetahs, MI-8/MI-17 or HAL (Dhruv) helicopters for this purpose

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"Men apart, every man an emperor"

 

RUSSIAN SPETSNAZ

 During the 1970’s, when the Cold War was at its height, the West became aware of the existence of Soviet Spetsnaz troops, which were grouped into what were known as “diversionary brigades.”  Although the Cold War is over, Spetsnaz units are still part of the Russian order-of-battle, although their missions have changed. The Spetsnaz (Troops of special purpose) were raised as the troops of the Main Intelligence Department – GRU and in the 1980s numbered 30,000 soldiers.These were deployed: one Spetsnaz company per Army; one Spetsnaz regiment in each of the three “theaters of operations”; one Spetsnaz brigade in each of the four Soviet Fleets; and an independent Spetsnaz brigade in most military districts of the USSR. There were also special Spetsnaz intelligence units, one to each Front and Fleet: total 20. A Spetsnaz company was 135 strong, normally operating in 15 independent teams, although they could also combine for specific missions. A Spetsnaz brigade was 1,000-1,300 strong and consisted of a headquarters, three or four parachute battalions, a communications company, and supporting troops. It also included an anti-VIP company, composed of some 70-80 regular troops whose mission was to seek out, identify and kill enemy political and military leaders.A naval Spetsnaz brigade had a headquarters, two to three battalions of combat swimmers, a parachute battalion, supporting units, and an anti-VIP company.It also had a group of midget submarines designed to deliver combat swimmers to distant targets. The existence of Spetsnaz was a closely guarded secret within the Warsaw Pact and individual troops were not allowed to admit membership, to the extent that army Spetsnaz wore standard airborne uniforms and insignia, while naval Spetsnaz wore naval infantry uniforms and insignia.

Weapons

                                                                     
                                                                        AKS 74u



                   

                                                                         RPG 16


                                                

                                                                  
                                                                         NRS 2


                                            

                    

Training

Spetsnaz soldiers function in much the same way as the British SAS or the United States Delta Force. They specialize in reconnaissance, sabotage and assassination. Spetsnaz as a military organisation does not advertise it self or promote its existence, so it is in many ways a secret organisation. In most cases the uniforms of Spetsnaz soldiers is not distinctive from that of the ordinary Russian soldier. Spetsnaz soldiers are not always of Russian extraction either and they will employ selected operatives from foreign counties, usually as agents. There are an estimated 15,000 Spetnaz operatives worldwide. Due to the very harsh standards of their training the Spetsnaz have created a fierce reputation as one of the best special forces in the world today Those joining Spetsnaz with no previous military experience must be given the normal recruit's basic training in discipline, marching, fieldcraft, weapons handling, and range work. Once the recruit moves on to proper Spetsnaz training, however, the pressure intensifies. The training that they go through is all based upon pain from start to finish, where they exert themselves to the limits of human endurance including assault course fitness and martial arts training with real knives where trainees may receive minor stab wounds and cuts. Skills and tactics that are employed by the Spetsnaz teams include the following: Parachuting in all weather conditions with high altitude low opening "Halo jump", sky diving, swimmingunderwater. Unarmed combat and silent-killing techniques, including judo, karate, and knife-fighting. Sabotage using explosives, incendiaries, acids, chemicals and anything else that is available, Infiltration techniques, including the defeat of locks and high tech security systems. Foreign language and culture, including "sleeping" in a foreign country for years to learn about the country they infiltrated. Foreign weapons, tactics, skills and vehicles knowledge Survival in all environments including desert, jungle, open spaces and confined spaces Reconnaissance and map reading, including satellite navigation aids. They swear an oath of loyalty and this is on pain of death if they reveal the secrets that they have learned whilst in the service.Naval Spetsnaz must, in addition, learn combat swimmer techniques, the use of underwater weapons, canoeing, arrival and exit over beaches, exit and entry to submerged submarines. 

Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis

The crisis took place from 14 June to 19 June 1995, when a group of 80 to 200 Chechen separatists led by Shamil Basayev attacked the southern Russian city of Budyonnovsk, where they stormed the main police station and the city hall. After several hours of fighting and Russian reinforcements imminent, the Chechens retreated to the residential district and regroupedin the city hospital, where they took between 1,500 and 1,800 hostages, most of them civilians (including about 150 children and a number ofwomen with newborn infants).After three days of siege, the Russian authorities ordered the security forces to retake the hospital compound.The forces deployed were elite personnel from the Federal Security Service's Alpha Group, alongside MVD militsiya and Internal Troops. The strike force attacked the hospital compound at dawn on the fourth day, meeting fierce resistance. After several hours of fighting in which many hostages were killed by crossfire, a local ceasefire was agreed, and 227 hostages were released; 61 others were freed by the Russian forces.A second Russian attack on the hospital a few hours later also failed and so did a third, resulting in even more casualties. The Russian authorities accused the Chechens of using the hostages as human shields.Shamil Basaev, mastermind behind the Moscow theater hostage crisis, was killed by FSB operators.According to official figures, 129 civilians were killed and 415 were injured in the entire event (of whom 18 later died of their wounds). This includes at least 105 hostage fatalities. However,according to an independent estimate 166 hostages were killed and 541 injured in the special forces attack on the hospital. At least 11 Russian police officers and 14 soldiers were killed. Basayev's force suffered 11 men killed and one missing; most of their bodies were returned to Chechnya in a special freezer truck. In the years following the hostage-taking, more than 30 of the surviving attackers have been killed, including Aslambek Abdulkhadzhiev in 2002 and Shamil Basayev in 2006, and more than 20 were sentenced, by the Stavropol territorial court, to various terms of imprisonment

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