Getting to know special forces from around the world (14 photos). Elite troops of Russia: names, list and rating. How to get into Russia's elite troops
The successful implementation of any military campaign depends on the availability of information about the enemy’s forces, their weapons and numbers. Since ancient times, before the start of a large-scale offensive, detachments of spies were formed from volunteers and infiltrated into enemy territory to collect data or carry out sabotage. The development of weapons and the enrichment of military experience have improved the methods of conducting reconnaissance and sabotage work and served as an impetus for the creation of various paramilitary formations, each of which performs its own highly specialized task.
Specialized army unit
The fighting involves numerous casualties and destruction of houses and buildings. Victory in wars often comes at a very high price. Based on this and already having decent centuries-old combat experience, the army leadership realized the urgent need to create special professional groups to complete special tasks. So in regular armies different countries a special unit appeared - army special forces.
What is it intended for and how does it work?
Army special forces from different countries, with differences in the specifics of training, weapons and camouflage, have one task assigned to them - the quick and silent elimination of the enemy.
For this purpose, the most vital organs of the enemy are affected, which eliminates any possibility of resistance and guarantees instant death.
Army special forces use camouflage techniques in their work, which have certain differences in units of different countries. It all depends on the environment, characteristic of a particular area, weather and seasonal conditions in which you have to operate. Based on this, army special forces are equipped with a special uniform, adapted to the colors of the terrain, and special equipment for firearms - silencers and flame arresters, allowing them to be freely used behind enemy lines, without fear of being betrayed by the sounds of gunfire or flashes of flame.
The detachments carry out reconnaissance work, regardless of environmental conditions and the situation in the enemy camp. The end result is considered to be the information obtained about the enemy’s weapons, his numbers, and the characteristics of the terrain on which further open combat operations will take place.
What information does the special forces obtain?
Reconnaissance carried out by detachments is considered effective if it is able to provide the army leadership with the necessary information:
- Information about the enemy.
This is information about the topographical location of those objects that are subject to capture, and an assessment of the degree of their security. The report must contain data on the quantity, quality and location of enemy fire weapons, on the possible proximity of reserve combat units, on the distance from them to captured objects, on the time and methods of approach of enemy reserves in the event of a direct combat clash.
- Location data.
The report contains information about the passability of the territory, the presence of natural obstacles (gorges, reservoirs), their nature and the possibility of overcoming them. This also includes data on populated areas, which must be taken into account in order to ensure a discreet approach to the capture objects of interest.
History of creation
In order to identify, neutralize and eliminate terrorist groups, carry out sabotage and counter-terrorist combat missions behind enemy lines, in Russian Federation special combat units and units of special services, armed forces and police are used.
Russian special forces have their own history.
On July 29, 1974, Directorate “A” was formed in the USSR, which until 1991 belonged to the seventh directorate of the KGB. This unit is still active today. This is a special counter-terrorist unit “A” of the FSB, known to everyone as the “Alpha” special forces, recognized in the world as one of the most effective.
In 2011, the team of Detachment “A” under the FSB of Russia participated in the world championship of special forces, where they received the first two places and were recognized as the best international team.
Special forces: division “A”. Functions
Its main task is to carry out specific military security measures to search and identify terrorist organizations, neutralize and further destroy armed criminals. Alpha special forces are engaged in the release of hostages and negotiations with terrorists. The detachment is intended to capture aircraft and water vessels, ground transport and storming buildings with hostages held there. The services of Detachment “A” are often used during riots in prisons and colonies, since the unit is considered elite and is highly effective. This made it in demand when carrying out military operations in “hot spots” and in other situations that are complicated or out of control.
World analogues
Such a special unit is not the only one in the world. American special forces have shown high effectiveness in the fight against terrorism. Good material support for the groups made it possible to conduct numerous experiments, which allowed them to achieve high results. During an assault on fortified buildings, fighters from such detachments penetrate inside unexpectedly for terrorists - at points that, unlike door and window openings, are not controlled by them. This significantly reduced the mortality rate in American special forces.
Almost all developed countries have similar anti-terrorism units, which differ little from each other. They also perform the function of anti-terrorism in their state and their tactics are similar.
About combat training
Completing tasks requires each member of the squad to special purpose enormous physical and psychological stress. This is due to the fact that the special forces detachment carries out its functional tasks primarily either behind enemy lines, or in terrain completely unsuitable for normal human life.
Staying in an extreme environment, in harsh conditions, without communication with outside world requires from each participant in the special unit physical and psychological health, fitness and moral readiness to withstand possible loads.
Many feature films, documentaries and TV series have been made about the airborne special forces, which colorfully show how effectively and efficiently the special squad works. But behind the side visible to the audience, there is another, which consists of daily and tedious briefings and training, high demands placed on the fighters by their leadership.
Special forces training is carried out under the supervision of experienced instructors. The purpose of the training is to transfer knowledge to the wards and develop in them the practical skills necessary to perform combat missions. During the exercises, fighters are taught both standard and highly specialized skills.
What does special forces training include?
1. Standard skills:
- hand-to-hand combat;
- fire, psychological and general physical training.
2. Highly specialized knowledge and practical skills:
- silent movement behind enemy lines, which includes the ability to covertly overcome water and engineering barriers, swamps, and navigate the terrain at night;
- performing tasks for observation and collection of information in urban environments and populated areas;
- effective camouflage: the special forces uniform is selected for the soldiers depending on the conditions of the terrain in which the work is being carried out - it can be mountains, forests, desert, swampy terrain or a surface covered with snow;
- orienteering with the help of topographic map, and without it, the ability to notice and distinguish traces;
- the ability to carry out radio reconnaissance and use other means of technology for this purpose;
- survival skills in difficult conditions for the human body;
- psychological training and obtaining the knowledge necessary to provide emergency medical assistance.
Tasks and structure of the Russian Navy
The naval special forces of the Russian Federation are engaged in:
- mining ships, militarized naval bases and hydraulic structures of the enemy;
- search for and further physical destruction of enemy weapons intended for nuclear attack and the points that carry out their operational control;
- detection of other enemy objects and accumulations of manpower in the coastal zone;
- providing landing operations in the coastal zone;
- directing and adjusting air and naval artillery strikes against identified enemy forces.
In peacetime, he is engaged in the fight against terrorism and exchanging experience with other special forces.
The staff of the naval special detachment includes 124 people - 56 of them are fighters, the rest are technical personnel. The fighters in the squad are divided into units and act autonomously. Each of these groups consists of 12 people. They are divided into groups of 6 people: an officer, a midshipman and four sailors.
The Russian naval special forces are represented by three detachments, each of which performs its own task:
- The first detachment is intended to destroy enemy targets located on land. The detachment's tactics consist of a discreet underwater approach to targeted enemy targets with further sabotage. The fighters act as divers and act on the spot as saboteurs of the Main Intelligence Directorate.
- The second detachment is engaged in reconnaissance work.
- The third detachment of naval special forces carries out underwater mining of ships, naval bases, manpower locations and other important enemy targets. The detachment's fighters train especially intensively for the role of combat divers, since they operate primarily not on land, but under water - they conduct sabotage work and carry out attacks.
Internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia
In the Russian Federation, these troops belong to and are subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Following the law “On Internal Troops”, the special forces of the Internal Troops perform the following tasks:
1. In peacetime:
- ensure public order;
- carry out protection of nationally important objects and cargo during transportation;
- release hostages;
- assist other units in the fight against crime.
2. In wartime and regime emergency, according to a certain law “On Internal Troops,” the special forces of the Internal Troops receive additional responsibilities - providing assistance to border security forces in ensuring the territorial defense and security of the country, protecting the state’s borders.
Features of the work of special forces in urban conditions
To carry out combat missions in populated areas, Russian special forces use the following equipment:
- overcoming obstacles;
- covert inspection of the area;
- silent penetration into the building;
- fast and effective storming of buildings;
- clearing occupied buildings.
1. Overcoming obstacles in urban areas. The work is carried out after a thorough examination of the situation. Before overcoming an obstacle along the way, special forces soldiers inspect the territory for the possible presence of a hidden enemy. Before overcoming the wall, its opposite part is inspected.
2. Inspection of the urban area. Buildings are ideal for this task; observation is recommended from behind their corners. The main thing is to do this carefully, without revealing yourself with weapons or equipment.
3. When entering a building, window openings pose a particular danger; you must move under them at a fast pace and bend low. The fighter must be below the level of the window cut. It is recommended to step over window openings in semi-basements.
4. During the assault, the advance of the special forces is carried out along the walls, and also involves passing through them, using faults and cracks. Doorways are overcome by throwing under the cover of fire from a partner. The throw should be made quickly and immediately aimed under cover.
Russian special forces, like special forces of other countries, use smoke screens in addition to fire cover when crossing open terrain. In this case, dashes are made from one shelter to another if there is a small distance between them. Such advancement is carried out by a group with a mandatory interval of at least ten steps between fighters. This distance will prevent possible fire damage.
During an assault, American special forces use means that allow them to destroy walls in a captured building in places that are not controlled by armed criminals. The unexpected appearance of special forces soldiers in a hole formed in the wall has an overwhelming effect on terrorists - the effect of surprise is triggered. A moderate explosion, knocking out bricks and cinder blocks strictly along a certain contour, stuns an enemy unprepared for such an assault.
In Russian special forces, a building is stormed immediately after a grenade is thrown into a window opening. The downside to this type of capture tactic is that the enemy can quickly react and throw it back. In this case, there is a high risk of being hit by fragments of one’s own exploding shell.
5. Clearing the captured building. After the assault, the building is subject to thorough inspection. For this purpose, one fighter takes a firing position outside the doorway and covers the group. Premises that have passed the inspection are marked symbol. The special forces clean up by moving along flights of stairs"top down". This allows you to “push” the enemy to the lower floors, where it is easier to destroy him or push him out into the street and detain him. It is not advisable to clean from the bottom up. This will give the enemy a chance to gain a strong foothold on upper floors or leave on the roofs of nearby buildings.
Equipment of special forces soldiers
According to the season, special forces uniforms are replaced by winter and summer uniforms. Depending on the purpose, special forces equipment is divided into three types:
- Field uniform. Used for combat missions, training and duty. It is also intended to be worn during times of war or emergency. The highest demands are placed on this type of clothing.
- Dress uniform. Designed for soldiers during their stay at ceremonial state events: performing a guard of honor, receiving awards. Also used during parades, holidays and weekends.
- Casual uniform. Applies in all other cases.
Material for workwear
The main requirements for the material from which unit uniforms are made are the ability to ensure safety, high levels of ergonomics and protection. To camouflage special forces, a special fabric with an appropriate pattern is produced. In each country, a pattern is selected for the fabric from which special equipment is sewn, for a certain characteristic type of terrain.
Russian special forces use the “surpat” color scheme, which takes into account the typical characteristics of the Russian territory.
In addition to clothing, the special forces uniform includes weapons, means of providing protection, navigation, life support, and is accompanied by an individual first aid kit and special elements.
Edged weapons for special forces
In their activities, Russian special forces often encounter situations in which they cannot do without the use of a knife. When descending from the wall of a house or from a helicopter, you can get tangled in ropes and parachute lines; during the seizure of a vehicle, sometimes there is a need to cut jammed seat belts. In such situations, a knife is simply necessary. It is a mistake to assume that all law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation are required to use edged weapons - airborne forces, riot police or marines. Only special forces units have the right to carry and use combat knives during special operations. Mostly these are blades not exceeding 200 mm in length and 60 mm in width.
Army special forces knife in capable hands makes it easy to inflict terrible wounds on the enemy. In the production of combat knives for special forces, very durable and high-quality steel is used.
Naval special forces often use a knife in their activities, which is also called “Reconnaissance Battalion”. To make such a knife, stainless steel is used. Blade width - 60 mm, length - 300 mm. The knife is equipped with a protective guard, which makes it easier to strike the enemy.
The second most popular type of bladed weapon among the fighters of this special unit is the “Katran” blade. It is versatile because it can be used both as a tool and as a weapon. As a tool, this knife, thanks to the transverse groove at its base, is successfully used for bending and breaking wire. The blade is equipped with a double sharpening - regular and sawtooth - on the side of the butt. Plastic is used to make the handle and sheath. The knife is secured in the sheath by snapping the guard. “Katran” is equipped with an additional retainer in the form of a rubber ring, which prevents the blade from slipping out of the sheath, which is undesirable for a fighter during a special operation.
Today the “Gyurza” knife has been officially accepted for supply to the FSB special forces. Its blade has a one-and-a-half blade on the butt side, which improves the quality of a military weapon and makes it possible to use it to perform related “peaceful” tasks - it is very convenient for them to cut ropes, cables, and use them as a saw.
The history of the use of special forces in reconnaissance and sabotage activities behind enemy lines, in the fight against terrorists and especially dangerous criminals, has proven the urgent need for the use of combat knives. Rich experience in performing special specific tasks is taken into account when selecting bladed weapons for modern army units.
Who are engaged in performing the most complex tasks. This post will introduce you to the five most famous and prestigious special forces in the world.
Special Air Service, UK
Britain's Special Air Service gained worldwide fame after the storming of the Iranian embassy in London in 1980. Britain's colonial past guaranteed wide application SAS divisions in various countries and in various conflicts. The history of this structure dates back to the Second World War on the North African front of combat operations in Libya and Egypt. These paratroopers Nazi troops no mercy. They were subject to a special order from Hitler for immediate destruction. Thus, in 1944, 55 British operatives were shot.
SAS patrol in North Africa during the Second World War.
Modified and heavily armed SAS jeep
In April 1980, six Arab terrorists broke into the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London and took 26 people hostage from among the visitors and staff of the diplomatic mission. They demanded the release of almost a hundred of their comrades from Iranian prisons. Otherwise they threatened to blow up the embassy. The first to arrive on the scene were SAS soldiers, who set up their headquarters in a nearby building. Negotiations began, and within a couple of days several hostages were released from the embassy, but on May 5, when the terrorists’ demands were not met, the lifeless body of the diplomatic mission’s press attaché was thrown out of the building.
For several days, SAS soldiers practiced the assault on a full-size mock-up. On May 5, Operation Nimrod was broadcast live. It took 15 minutes, and only one of the invaders survived. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was released in 2008 and helped to start life under a new name. No SAS soldiers were injured. Among the hostages, one person was killed and two more were seriously injured.
Margaret Thatcher with SAS soldiers who stormed the Iranian embassy
Selection for SAS takes place twice a year: in winter and summer. Only military personnel can join the British special forces. Historically, people with a background in the Commandos or the local equivalent of the Airborne Forces have been welcomed there. In addition to the physical exercises inherent in SEAL selection, British candidates are screened out by a two-hour, 13-kilometer march carrying 25 kilograms on their shoulders. Each day the distance increases and ends with a 65-kilometer march over an 886-meter-high hill.
The fighters are then sent to learn survival, navigation and jungle fighting techniques. The most recent test is hide and seek in the jungle with tracking "hunters". But even candidates who are not caught will have to endure interrogation and torture that lasts for 36 hours. The fighters are starved, thirsty and deprived of sleep, and they, in turn, must repeat: “I cannot answer this question.”
The mountain that British Special Forces candidates so often storm
Sayeret Matkal, Israel
One of the most secret Israeli special forces of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), Sayeret Matkal, primarily specializes in deep reconnaissance behind enemy lines. However, the unit is also tasked with combating terrorism and rescuing hostages outside of Israel. It is alleged that it was created in the image and likeness of the British SAS.
In the 50s of the last century, the structure was formed with an eye to uniting the best physically and intellectually developed youth in Israel. With the growing threat of Palestinian terrorism in the late 60s, the Sayeret Matkal unit began to develop the world's first methods and techniques for releasing hostages and countering terrorism.
One of the first such operations for Israeli fighters was the release of hostages of passenger flight 571 Vienna - Tel Aviv in May 1972. Terrorists from the Palestinian Black September organization hijacked a Belgian plane, more than a hundred passengers and staff, and threatened to blow them all up unless Israel released more than 300 Palestinians from prison. Sayeret Matkal fighters trained on a similar vessel in a closed hangar, while the main one had its wheels flat and fluid drained from its hydraulic systems. The terrorists were then assured that the Boeing needed maintenance.
Men in White - “Sayeret Matkal”
The operation to free the hostages involved 16 disguised fighters, among whom was the current Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. He was wounded, as were two other hostages. Two terrorists and one passenger on the plane were killed. It is noteworthy that the commander of the assault group was also the future Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Barak, and negotiations with the terrorists were conducted by Shimon Peres, who at that time was the Minister of Transport, and later became... yes, the Prime Minister of Israel.
Four years later, the Sayeret Matkal unit caused a stir in Uganda, where terrorists brought about a hundred Israelis on a hijacked plane. Their release was complicated by the unfriendly government of Uganda, which required the transfer of hundreds of military personnel 4,000 km away. While Sayeret Matkal fighters stormed the airport terminal, two more units held back the Ugandan military. As a result, three hostages were killed and ten more were wounded. On the Israeli side, only the unit commander was killed, while the terrorists and Ugandans lost a total of 52 people and several dozen helicopters.
The old Entebbe airport, where the Israeli special operation was carried out, later named after the deceased Jonathan Netanyahu, commander of Sayeret Matkal
Return of passengers to their homeland.
GSG 9, Germany
The special forces of the German Federal Police were formed six months after the tragic events at the Munich Olympics in 1972. Then, as a result of an unsuccessful attempt to free the hostages, Palestinian terrorists killed 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team. Germany realized that without specially trained fighters it would be impossible to resist a new type of threat. Therefore, it was decided to create a unit called Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (“Border Protection Group 9”).
The main challenges for GSG 9 were hostage taking, terrorism, and kidnapping. Also, the division’s specialists are involved as consultants both within Germany and abroad.
A real baptism of fire for German special forces was Operation Magic Fire to free hostages from the Landshut plane of the German airline Lufthansa in 1977. The terrorists wandered in the sky for a long time (from Rome through Dubai to Mogadishu in Somalia) and demanded the release of their accomplices from German prisons, as well as the payment of a multimillion-dollar ransom. But their journey ended in a Somali city, where GSG 9 fighters arrived. Under the cover of darkness, in black uniforms and with painted faces, three groups of special forces stormed the plane, shot two terrorists, mortally wounded a third and captured a fourth. More than 80 passengers were rescued.
Hostages return home
After the Landshut incident, GSG 9 was able to tell the German government that it would never negotiate with terrorists again.
The successful operation was followed by another storming of a plane carrying hostages in Düsseldorf, which took place without firing a shot, and the arrest of terrorists in a town in the north of the country. One of the latest incidents that required the intervention of GSG 9 fighters was the massacre at a McDonald's restaurant in Munich this summer.
Only German police officers who have served in the force for at least two years can join the ranks of the special forces. In addition to medical and psychological testing, they take 5K run, 100m sprint, jumping, pull-ups, bench press, etc. They also need to pass pistol and submachine gun shooting. The best are selected for a 22-week training, and only one out of five successfully completes the course.
United States Navy SEALs, USA
Over the years of their existence, American Navy SEALs have acquired almost mythical status. Largely thanks to cinema. Just look at Steven Seagal, who played a former SEAL soldier in the action films Under Siege and Under Siege 2. This abbreviation stands for SEa, Air and Land (“Sea, Air and Land”), and is translated as “seal” or “fur seal”. Bruce Willis (Tears of the Sun) and Michael Biehn (The Rock, The Abyss) played SEAL team commanders on multiple occasions.
The Navy SEALs were created in 1962 with the signature of then US President John F. Kennedy. This decision was influenced by the tense situation in relations with the Soviet Union, the Cuban crisis and the Vietnam War. The tasks of the newly formed unit included sabotage and counter-guerrilla activities on the territory of the mock enemy.
To a greater extent this concerned the Vietnamese theater of military operations. In particular, Navy SEALs participated in the Phoenix program under the auspices of the CIA. Its essence was to eliminate key people in the Vietnamese army and people sympathetic to the Viet Cong - the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam.
Subsequently, the SEALs participated in all major US military conflicts: in the invasion of Grenada, where the group was unable to rescue the local governor general from house arrest; in the Iran-Iraq conflict of the late 80s, where the unit distinguished itself by capturing the Iran Air, which was mining the waters of the Persian Gulf; in the invasion of Panama, where the main sabotage task of the SEALs was the destruction of the local army's watercraft and the plane of General Noriega, who was overthrown as a result of the intervention.
IN modern history The most significant operation was the destruction of the number one terrorist Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. Operation Neptune Spear, developed by the CIA, involved 40 SEALs from DEVGRU, formerly known as SEAL Team Six. A unit in Black Hawk helicopters with M4 assault rifles, night vision goggles and pistols approached the terrorist’s house on May 2, 2011, where they began clearing the premises. In addition to the terrorist, four more people were killed who resisted the special forces. The country's top leadership watched the operation live.
Bin Laden's hideout. He and his wives lived on the second and third floors behind high fence
Before a SEAL candidate can begin training, he must pass a series of psychological and physical tests. The latter include swimming 450 meters in a minimum of 12 and a half minutes; 42 (optimally 100) push-ups and 50 (100) squats in 2 minutes, 6 (25) pull-ups and a 2.4 km run in 11 minutes. Naturally, candidates with better results have a better chance of making it to training camp. However, 80% of all those selected still break down and do not complete the training.
Alpha Group, USSR (Russia)
Like the German GSG 9, the anti-terrorist special unit in the USSR was created after the terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics. Six years before the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, the KGB chairman initiated the creation of Unit A. Only KGB officers passed through strict selection criteria there. The first squad was recruited to those fit for service in the Airborne Forces, and therefore both physical data and psychological endurance were strictly taken into account.
Most of the Alpha Group's operations were carried out on the territory of the Soviet Union. The unit's track record includes the capture of deserters in Sarapul, who took local schoolchildren hostage in 1981, the storming of a Tu-134 plane in Tbilisi with Georgian terrorists trying to escape from the USSR, as well as not the most unpleasant assignments in the union republics during the slow collapse of the country .
A group of fighters who were to storm Amin's palace
The most high-profile episode in the history of Group “A” was the storming of Amin’s palace (special operation “Storm-333”) in December 1979, which involved Soviet Union into the long and grueling war in Afghanistan. 24 Alpha fighters, in parallel with 30 KGB special reserve soldiers, dressed in Afghan uniforms with a white bandage on their arms and cleared the palace floor by floor, while other special forces provided them with external cover.
As a result of the operation, Afghan President Hafizullah Amin was killed, on whose orders Prime Minister Nur Taraki was removed from office in September of the same year. Amin's repressions threatened the fall of the regime of the local ruling party, which could lead to a change in the country's political course.
Since the 90s, the unit has been part of the Russian FSB, where it specializes in anti-terrorism activities. Separate Alpha groups existed in Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. On their basis, the national special forces of these countries were formed. Belarusian "Alpha" was created in March 1990. It was part of the structure of Group “A” of the 7th Directorate of the KGB of the USSR as Group No. 11 with a deployment in Minsk.
Country: Brazil
Number of people: 400 people.
95% of recruits are eliminated at the training stage.
Habitat
Favelas, densely populated slums in the hills around Rio, founded 300 years ago by freed slaves. Favelas are divided into 950 districts, each of which has its own laws established by local authorities. A stranger, especially a white one, can easily be shot or stabbed here, unless, of course, he came to buy drugs. Streets with a width of one and a half meters exclude access by car. Many windows, doors and some holes on all sides make it difficult to understand where the shots were coming from. The police do not dare show themselves in the favelas; only special forces enter here. Any conflict with the local population turns into a close-quarters urban battle with the use of firearms, which, by the way, can easily be bought under the counter from the same police officers.
Weapon
Colt Commando assault rifle. 800 rounds per minute. Light weight and short barrel are ideal for mobile urban combat. BOPE fighters are trained to shoot with both the right and left hands, so that it is more convenient to maneuver in the slums.
Base
Rebuilt and fortified old casino on a hill high above the city. It rises in the very center of the favelas.
Workout
Running up hills and stairs with 30 kg of armor on your body and 5 kg of weapons. Close combat. Doom shooting on a special training ground simulating slums.
Vehicle Some favela streets are still wide enough for a caveirao - a completely black armored special forces vehicle, affectionately nicknamed "the big skull" - to drive through them. The only thing vulnerable spot
these armored cars have wheels. Brazilian special forces joke that they can change tires faster than Formula 1 mechanics. Amnesty International recently spoke out against the use of caveirao. The fact is that special forces often practice “mobile sweeps” - shooting suspicious passers-by in favelas directly from the windows of a truck. Human rights activists consider this poaching.
Country: Colombia
95% of recruits are eliminated at the training stage.
Jungle. Eternal twilight under a thick canopy of foliage. You can stand a meter away from the enemy and not notice him. Vermin, 100% humidity and lack of roads are not even discussed: the locals have been accustomed to this since childhood. In the impenetrable thickets in the center of the country there are coca plantations that produce 700 tons of cocaine a year. As a result, the powder will settle in the nostrils of residents of the USA and Europe, powdering the noses of half of them along the way. Latin America. Since the mid-80s, the Americans and British have been trying to block great river at the very source and allocate a lot of money and specialists from their own special forces to train “hunglas” - fighters with Colombian field laboratories where 95% pure cocaine is boiled down. Storming these establishments means not only exchanging 5mm bullets, but also the prospect of losing a leg or two. Few people know that Colombia firmly holds the first place in the world in the number of incidents with anti-personnel mines. Drug lords like to plant a Hunglas surprise.
Favelas, densely populated slums in the hills around Rio, founded 300 years ago by freed slaves. Favelas are divided into 950 districts, each of which has its own laws established by local authorities. A stranger, especially a white one, can easily be shot or stabbed here, unless, of course, he came to buy drugs. Streets with a width of one and a half meters exclude access by car. Many windows, doors and some holes on all sides make it difficult to understand where the shots were coming from. The police do not dare show themselves in the favelas; only special forces enter here. Any conflict with the local population turns into a close-quarters urban battle with the use of firearms, which, by the way, can easily be bought under the counter from the same police officers.
The good old Colt Commando in the M4 version - the shortest of all with a folding telescopic butt. Just enough to carry it through the jungle. On the other side, the special forces are greeted exactly the same. This is generally the most popular weapon in Latin America.
Colt Commando assault rifle. 800 rounds per minute. Light weight and short barrel are ideal for mobile urban combat. BOPE fighters are trained to shoot with both the right and left hands, so that it is more convenient to maneuver in the slums.
There are four divisions in the country. Their bases are located at least an hour's drive from big cities, close to their native jungle.
Rebuilt and fortified old casino on a hill high above the city. It rises in the very center of the favelas.
Forced marches through the thickets in full gear (the weight of armor and weapons is about 20 kg). Shooting at targets hidden among foliage and vines.
Running up hills and stairs with 30 kg of armor on your body and 5 kg of weapons. Close combat. Doom shooting on a special training ground simulating slums.
American Black Hawk helicopters. The most luxurious gift from a northern uncle. With the help of this reliable and compact machine, you can look out from above for coca plantations and throw “hunglas” to any point in their mountainous, impassable country. You can also shoot from above if the battle on the ground takes a particularly unpleasant turn. The most amazing people in the Colombian special forces are the helicopter pilots. They seem to be able to land casually on the roof of a shabby village hut, smiling and masterfully bickering with someone they know on air. Before our eyes, one sat down on steep slope hill, and the blades were about twenty centimeters from the protruding stone.
Country: Poland
Number of people: 237 people.
95% of recruits are eliminated at the training stage.
Densely populated city blocks, built according to Soviet GOST standards. It is in small apartments on the outskirts of Warsaw and other cities that those whom the ZOA hunts live, and hide weapons, prostitutes, heroin, etc. there. All this flocks here before being distributed throughout Europe: Poland, with its seven borders and membership in the European Union, is an ideal transit point. Special operations take place almost every week. Sometimes they are quite extreme, as, for example, in the small town of Magdalenka. Two Russian arms dealers then dug in in a private house, so that forty special forces could not storm them for 12 hours. The “Russian mafia” planted a mine under the door, grenades were dropped on the heads of stormtroopers, and fire was continuously fired from the windows. As a result, the criminals were taken dead, having lost two fighters. However, initially the Polish special forces were created with an eye on even larger game. After September 11, the small but proud Eastern European country decided that it, too, was under threat from terrorists. So far, fortunately, these ambitions have not come true.
Favelas, densely populated slums in the hills around Rio, founded 300 years ago by freed slaves. Favelas are divided into 950 districts, each of which has its own laws established by local authorities. A stranger, especially a white one, can easily be shot or stabbed here, unless, of course, he came to buy drugs. Streets with a width of one and a half meters exclude access by car. Many windows, doors and some holes on all sides make it difficult to understand where the shots were coming from. The police do not dare show themselves in the favelas; only special forces enter here. Any conflict with the local population turns into a close-quarters urban battle with the use of firearms, which, by the way, can easily be bought under the counter from the same police officers.
MP5 submachine gun. German quality, caliber 9 mm, weighs only 2.5 kg, can be used with a silencer and a combat flashlight - just what you need for quiet urban sweeps. The main disadvantage is the price. Still, you have to pay for the opportunity to snatch from a holster the same thing as the British SAS. By the way, the holster of the Polish special forces, in which, in addition to weapons, there is also a walkie-talkie and smoke bombs, fastened high on the chest. On the side of the thigh there is an additional holster with a Glock GmbH pistol. The uniform also includes a Robocop Kevlar helmet, knee pads and body armor - all in non-marking black.
Rebuilt and fortified old casino on a hill high above the city. It rises in the very center of the favelas.
Carrying out operations in high-rise buildings requires mastery of close combat techniques, rappelling from rooftops, and the art of breaking windows with your feet. The Polish special forces are constantly mastering all this in specially built “death houses”. Since most operations, according to the old KGB tradition, are carried out between three in the morning and six in the morning, they also train in pitch darkness, using night vision devices.
Country: Mexico
Number of people: 87 people.
95% of recruits are eliminated at the training stage.
Mexico City, the largest metropolis on Earth. Here South America meets with Severnaya and does his most unpresentable affairs. In a crowd of 25 million people, it's pretty easy. Nevertheless, the local police do not give up and tirelessly search for criminals in order to engage in a shootout with them - almost every day one of the law enforcement officers dies in the line of duty. The special forces also work in the Stakhanov regime - two or even three trips a week. However, not all of them end in an assault. In many areas, the power is held by cocaine cartels, which place special people at the entrance to the intricacy of streets, so they know about the visit of GOPES in advance, and they prefer to leave. Some, however, take the fight. They have enough weapons and arrogance to meet stormtroopers with a barrage of fire (even rocket launchers!), and then what happens resembles a real war. Thanks to the investments of our northern neighbor, a lot of money and very serious people are circulating here. If someone decided to intimidate someone with the help of special forces, then they need to work it out for real.
What do Chuck Norris, Sylvester Stallone, Charlie Sheen, Demi Moore and Steven Seagal have in common? Each of them, at some point in their careers, played the role of a special forces soldier. Of all the military units, it is the special forces that have an alluring charm. These soldiers differ from the rest in that they undergo separate training and meet higher standards. Recently, many elite military units have become widely known through the media. Their regular activities include fighting terrorism, rescuing hostages, and conducting intelligence operations. The successful completion of such operations requires intensive military training, which soldiers undergo. In this list you will find ten of the best special forces groups from around the world. Some of the names will probably surprise you, but don't let the media fool you.
10. GIGN, France
Our list opens with the rapid response team of the French National Gendarmerie. The group was organized after the tragic events that unfolded at the 1972 Munich Olympics, when many people were taken hostage and killed. In addition, a year earlier there had been a riot in the national prison, where many innocent people were also injured. The result of these events was the organization of an elite military group of 400 people. Specializing in anti-terrorist operations and hostage rescue, this team was never idle. They are responsible for many successful operations, including the rescue of 30 schoolchildren held hostage in Djibouti, the capture of war criminals in Bosnia, operations against Somali pirates and, of course, the release of the hostages of Air France Flight 8969 in Marseille in 1994.
9. SSG, Pakistan
In 1956, the Pakistan Army created its own special forces unit called the SSG. The number of people included in the group remained secret, and the unit itself was created following the example of British and American special forces. A fairly strict selection process is carried out here, and only 1 out of 4 recruits who have completed a 9-month training course at the airborne school, an enhanced hand-to-hand combat program and a physical training course are included in the main squad. The training program here includes three types of terrain: mountain, desert and jungle, in addition, underwater exercises are also mandatory. At the very beginning of the Cold War, SSG collaborated with American special forces, some of the military participated in the war in Afghanistan in the 1980s and in the armed invasions of India. In 2009, the organization participated in an anti-terrorist operation, foiling an attack on the police academy in Lahore and rescuing hostages captured in an attack on Pakistan's military headquarters.
8. Sayeret Matkal, Israel
This is an Israeli special forces unit focused on reconnaissance, counter-terrorism and hostage rescue outside Israel. Sayeret Matkal was founded in 1957. This includes carefully selected candidates of high physical and mental ability. The training here lasts eighteen months; it includes basic infantry school, parachute school, lessons on preventing terrorist attacks and basic reconnaissance. This unit has been involved in many large-scale operations since 1960. The most famous of these is Operation Entebbe, during which soldiers demonstrated their determination and skills. It was an operation to free hostages taken captive by Palestinian terrorists on board an airliner landing at Entebbe Airport in Uganda, while more than a hundred hostages were being held in the airport terminal. The Sayeret Matkal group then managed to free almost everyone.
7. EKO-Cobra, Austria
As a result of the attack on Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich Olympics, a special forces unit, Einsatzkommando Cobra, was created in Austria to conduct anti-terrorism operations. It included 450 military personnel who had previously served in the Austrian Federal Police Forces. Training here, as in other similar troops, lasts several months, during which soldiers undergo specialized courses in shooting, language training, martial arts, and tactical and assault training courses. Only those who manage to pass psychological and physical tests can complete the full course of training. In addition to general subjects, they teach diving, work with explosives, and prepare future snipers on an optional basis. This special forces unit is the only one that managed to prevent the hijacking of an airplane during its flight. This happened in 1996, when four commandos were flying on the same plane that the hijackers were going to hijack.
6. Delta Force, USA
The full name of this group is First Operational Detachment-Delta. In addition to counter-terrorism operations, these guys take part in hostage rescues, raids and intelligence operations. The group was formed in 1977 after there was a sharp rise in terrorist attacks. The squad consists primarily of soldiers who served in US special forces such as the Green Berets and Rangers. Men who have reached the age of 21, have passed the aptitude test with high results and hold the rank of corporal or senior sergeant are accepted for training here. A series of grueling physical and psychological tests are designed to weed out the weakest. According to some estimates, only 1 in 10 soldiers completes the entire training course. In general, Delta Force's operations are kept secret.
5. JTF2, Canada
JTF2 was created in 1993 and expanded after the events of September 11, 2001. This is Canada's elite counter-terrorism unit. It serves members of the Canadian Armed Forces performing a variety of tasks. Among their duties you can even find escorting VIPs and ensuring their personal safety. The group has been involved in hot-spot operations such as rescuing hostages in Iraq, tracking down Serbian snipers in Bosnia, and even participating in military conflicts in Afghanistan. And although their presence in Afghanistan was never advertised, it became known from some sources that they were involved in secret operations carried out by US Navy special forces. The operation was so secret that even the Prime Minister of Canada learned of their participation in it only a few days later.
4. Alpha Group, Russia
Alpha Group was created in the 1970s and carried out many successful operations in Afghanistan, including the storming of the presidential palace in Kabul, as a result of which no one survived. In 1985, a group was sent to Beirut to rescue four Soviet diplomats. Although they were unable to save them, there are rumors that the group took revenge for the diplomats by killing family members of those involved with the terrorists. Alpha Group was involved in a number of major counter-terrorism and hostage rescue operations, including the siege of a Moscow theater in 2002 and a school in Beslan in 2004. Hundreds of people were killed in both operations.
3. Shayetet 13, Israel
Another Israeli special forces group is Shayetet 13, associated with the Israeli Navy. Founded in 1948, the group takes part in every major Israeli operation, be it hostage rescue, counter-terrorism or intelligence. The training here lasts 20 months and constantly keeps candidates under severe stress. Members of Shayetet 13 most recently took part in operations to seize ships and weapons being transported to the Gaza Strip. Their most famous operation was carried out after the 1972 Munich Olympics, when they tracked down and eliminated those responsible for organizing attacks on Israeli athletes.
2. Navy SEALs, USA
These guys have to show up in public from time to time. Navy SEALs are a special unit of American special forces created in 1962 and received almost mythical status thanks to Operation Neptune's Spear, when they killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, in Abbottabad (Pakistan) in 2011. Only the most physically and mentally resilient are accepted into the Navy SEAL squad. The training here lasts a year, and the tasks are so difficult that most candidates cannot even pass the qualifying physical fitness tests, which include swimming, push-ups, squats and running. Candidates who pass the selection tests are sent to general training, then those who have completed general training are sent to introductory training for Navy SEALs, and then those who can cope with this are sent to professional training courses for Navy SEALs. This rigorous selection ensures that all members of these elite forces are in excellent shape and capable of carrying out the most demanding missions.
1. SAS, Britain
This special forces unit surpasses even the elite Navy SEALs in its importance. The British intelligence service SAS was founded in 1941 to work behind enemy lines and provide support to the resistance movement against the occupying forces of fascism. Mostly airborne troops serve here. The physical requirements for candidates to join the SAS are particularly severe, requiring enormous stamina and the ability to march with a packed backpack. The final test here involves a forced march of 40 kilometers with a full backpack, and you are given 20 hours to do everything. You will also be required to swim 2 miles in an hour and a half and run 4 miles in 30 minutes. You will then be left in the jungle to test your survival skills and route-finding abilities. The final test involves a 36-hour interrogation designed to break your will. Those who cope with all the tests will be sent for further training. The SAS are trained on the same principles as MI5 and MI6 security, intelligence and counterintelligence agents.
Most armies in the world have specialized, elite special forces troops. These special forces are the best of the best. According to the public, special forces are endowed with almost superhuman powers.
In fact, not everyone can emerge from the sea and storm an enemy base or rescue hostages. That's exactly what these guys do. Here are ten of the most secretive and elite special forces in the world.
10 PHOTOS
1. GIGN.
The intervention group of the French National Gendarmerie is one of the best special forces. The group was formed after the tragic events at the Munich Olympics in 1972, when terrorists took hostage and killed several athletes. Trained in counter-terrorism and hostage rescue, these guys are fully capable of solving the most difficult situations. And they have a wealth of experience, including the rescue of schoolchildren in Djibouti and operations in Bosnia.
2. Eko-Cobra. Similar to GIGN, Eko-Cobra was also formed following the 1972 Munich Olympics bombing. This unit belongs to Austria and consists of approximately 450 soldiers who previously served in the Austrian Federal Police Army. Training includes physical and psychological tests, as in many other elite units.
3. 2nd Joint Task Force. Canada's 2nd Joint Task Force was created in 1993 and is one of the newest special forces groups. The group expanded its staff after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Specializing in counter-terrorism and special operations, the group performs many other tasks, from protecting VIPs to special operations in the hottest spots. They are also a highly secretive division of our list. Even the Prime Minister of Canada was not aware of their operation in Afghanistan in the early days.
4. UOE. Spain's Unidad de Operaciones Especiales is one of the most respected intelligence agencies in Europe. The detachment was formed in 1952.
5. Delta Force. The American Delta Force team, created in 1977, specializes in hostage rescue, covert missions and anti-terrorism operations. Composed of soldiers from the main divisions regular army USA, such as the Rangers. Candidates undergo an intensive series of screening tests. Many drop out and only 1 out of 10 make it to the most important test.
6. SSG. The Pakistan Special Forces Group was formed from British and American intelligence agencies such as the SAS and Delta Force. Only 1 out of 4 candidates passes the difficult competition.
7. Alpha. These guys are one of the most serious special teams. There are many special forces units in Russia, but the Alpha group is the cream of the special forces. Formed in the mid-1970s, they took part in the assault on a palace in Afghanistan and many other special operations.
8. Sayeret Matkal. An elite unit in every sense of the word. Sayeret Matkal is the special forces of the Israeli troops. Don't confuse them with Mossad, which is Israeli secret service. These guys undergo 18 months of grueling physical and mental training to join the elite. Focused on counter-terrorism and hostage rescue outside of Israel, they are one of the best special forces units in the world. Since their creation in the 1960s, their most famous operation was the Entebbe Airport raid.
9. Navy SEALs. The list wouldn't be complete without these guys. This unit is similar to the naval version of Delta Force, but is even more difficult to get into. Initial training takes more than a year. The most famous special operation is the elimination of Osama bin Laden.
10. SAS. The British SAS are intelligent, physically fit and agile soldiers. And they can rightly be called the elite of all special forces, since many other special forces were created as a copy of the SAS in terms of training and organization.
