Polish Special Forces

Last updated
Special Troops Command
Wojska Specjalne
POL Wojska Specjalne.svg
Founded2007
CountryFlag of Poland.svg  Poland
Type Special forces command
Size3 841 soldiers (2023) [1]
Part of Polish Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ Kraków
Engagements Operation Uphold Democracy
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Syrian civil war
  Personnel recovery
  Emergency evacuation
Commanders
Chief of the General Staff Gen. broni Rajmund Andrzejczak
General Commander Gen. broni Jarosław Mika
Special Operations Component Commander Gen. bryg. Sławomir Drumowicz
Insignia
Flag [2] PL special forces flag IIIRP.svg

The Special Troops Command (Polish : Wojska Specjalne) is the special forces command of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland (SZ RP). The command was formed in 2007 and is the fourth military branch of the SZ RP.

Contents

Composition

The Special Troops Command (Dowództwo Wojsk Specjalnych) is based in Kraków and comprises:

Structure

Multi-role exploitation Reconnaissance Team (MRT) during NATO exercise Trident Juncture 15 Polish SOF, Lisbon, NATO Trident Juncture 15 (22384989077).jpg
Multi-role exploitation Reconnaissance Team (MRT) during NATO exercise Trident Juncture 15

GROM - Operational-Maneuver Response Group "Cichociemni" (Silent Unseen)

JW Komandosów - Army Commandos

JW Formoza - name comes from the colloquial name of the units base, the post-German torpedo house in Gdynia, called "Formoza". [3]

JW AGAT shoulder patch Oznaka rozpoznawcza agat mundur wyjsc.JPG
JW AGAT shoulder patch

JW AGAT - formed on the basis of the Special Branch of the Military Police in Gliwice [4]

JW NIL - Support Unit of Command and Security of Special Forces [5]

Special Operations Aviation Unit - based in Powidz

Equipment

Weaponry

NameTypePhotoNotes
Standard firearms of the Polish Armed Forces
Kbs wz. 1996 Beryl Assault rifle Rifle wz.1996 Beryl.jpg Most commonly used weapon
Pallad grenade launcher Grenade launcher Grenade launcher wz.83 Pallad D.jpg Polish made grenade launcher, used from its introduction to the army
SWD Sniper rifle SVD Dragunov.jpg
Sako TRG Sniper Rifle Sako TRG folding stock + Zeiss 3-12x56 SSG P.JPG
PKM General purpose machine gun PKM DD-ST-85-01257 (2).png
UKM-2000 General purpose machine gun Ukm.jpg
Standard firearms of the Polish Special Forces
Heckler & Koch USP Semi-auto pistol First-year H&K USP 9mm (32415150000) modified.png Standard pistol in JW GROM, JW NIL and JW komandosów
Glock 17 Semi-auto pistol Glock 17 2nd Gen.jpg Standard pistol in JW Komandosów, JW AGAT and JW NIL
SIG P226 Semi-auto pistol SIG P226 img 1624.jpg Standard pistol in JW Formoza (Navy Unit)
FN Five-seven Semi-auto pistol FN Five Seven.png Standard pistol for close protection in JW Grom
CZ Scorpion Evo 3 Submachine gun CZ Scorpion Evo 3.jpg New addition SMG for direct force operations in JW Grom
Heckler & Koch MP5 Submachine gun HK MP5 noBG.png Standard SMG for direct force operations in JW GROM, JW komandosów, JW Formoza and JW AGAT
FN P90 Submachine gun FN-P90 noBG.jpg Standard SMG for close protection in JW Grom
Colt M4A1 Assault rifle M4A1-flattop.png Mostly supplanted the Beryl in JW GROM and JW NIL (M4A3)
Heckler & Koch HK416 Assault rifle HK416N.png Assault rifle used by the Polish SOF, JW Grom, JW Komandosów, JW NIL and JW Agat. Various barrel options used (10, 14.5 and 16.5 inch). Most commonly used assault rifle of the Special Forces
Heckler & Koch AG-C/GLM Grenade launcher HK AGCEGLM.jpg Standard under-barrel grenade launcher used with the HK416
Heckler & Koch G36 Assault rifle Gewehr G36 noBG.png Used in JW Formoza and JW GROM
Heckler & Koch AG36 Grenade launcherStandard grenade launcher used with the G36
FN Minimi Light machine gun FN MINIMI Standard Right.jpg Most common light machine gun in the Polish SOF
Carl Gustav Recoilless rifle Carl Gustav M4 (1) (brightened, no background) (leveled).png
Other firearms
Beretta 92 Semi-auto pistol M9-pistolet.jpg
M4 Carbine Assault rifle CQBR-alone.png Clones made by KAC and Bushmaster
F2000 Assault rifle FN F2000S.JPG
M14 rifle Battle rifle PEO M14 EBR.jpg Upgraded to EBR standard
M203 Grenade launcher PEO M203A2 Grenade Launcher.png
H&K MZP-1 Grenade launcher
Remington 870 Shotgun M870mcs noBG.png
Heckler & Koch PSG-1 Sniper rifle PSG-1--transparent.png
Remington 700 Sniper rifle Remington Model 700.JPG
Mauser SP66 Sniper rifle Mauser sp66 noBG.png
Mauser 86 Sniper rifle
Barrett M82 Anti-material rifle Barrett M82.jpg

Vehicles

NameTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
HMMWV Four-wheel drive multi-purpose vehicleM1151A1

M1165A1

42

?

In 2009, JW AGAT and JW Komandosów each received 15 M1151A1 vehicles. The remaining 12 vehicles, probably without Frag Kit armor but equipped with an advanced communication system, were delivered to JW GROM. Additionally, later the Special Forces Command decided to purchase an unspecified number of M1165A1 Special Ops, the so-called Ground Mobility Vehicle, i.e. a vehicle configured exclusively for the needs of special forces [9]
Oshkosh M-ATV MRAPM1240A145 [10] Donated by the United States. [11]
Toyota Four-wheel drive vehicle Land Cruiser
Hilux [12]
Used by GROM and 1 Pułk Specjalny Komandosów (1st Special Commando's Regiment)
Land Rover Defender Four-wheel drive vehicle90
110
4 [13]
6
Used by JW GROM and JW Formoza
Mercedes-Benz Four-wheel drive vehicle
Truck
G-class
Atego 1323AK
6
10 [14]
The Polish Armed forces currently operate a total of 140 G-class vehicles. [15] The Land forces operate 121 GD 290s and MB290GD WDs. [14] The military police uses 13 GD 290s. [14]
Tarpan Honker 4x4Honker Skorpion 3 special versionUsed by JW komandosówPolish made off-road vehicles, best variants are powered with Polish Andoria engines
Star TruckStar 1444 (MAN TGM 18.280 BB)1 [14] Polish made trucks, now modernised to adjust to new weaponry and specifications
Volvo TruckVolvo FM 8x4
Volvo FM 6x6
Volvo FM 4x4
10 [14]
11 [14]
2 [14]
Yamaha MotorbikeYamaha XT660unknownUsed in JW NIL
Polaris QuadPolaris Sportsman 500 EFIunknownUsed in all Polish SOF units
Range Rover SUVRange Rover ArmouredunknownUsed in Polish SOF Command

Aircraft

Polish SOF S-70i Black Hawk Polish SOF S-70i Black Hawk.jpg
Polish SOF S-70i Black Hawk
NameTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
S-70i Black Hawk Medium-lift transport/utility helicopterS-70i4/84 on order, 2 scheduled for delivery in 2023, remaining in 2024. [16] In 2019 7 S-70i Black Hawks were ordered and received. 4 to Special Forces and 3 to the Police. [16]

Unmanned aerial vehicle

NameImageTypeIn serviceNotes
FlyEye WB Electronics FlyEye, Kyiv 2021, 03.jpg Small UAV44
RQ-21 Blackjack Insitu RQ-21 Blackjack (cropped).jpg Small UAV10 [17]
ScanEagle ScanEagle UAV catapult launcher 2005-04-16.jpg Small UAV10As a result of the contract concluded in 2010 by the United States Department of Defense with Insitu, the Polish Army received one ScanEagle Block D UAV set free of charge, containing a ground system and 10 air platforms. Its user is the Jednostka Wojskowa NIL
Aeronautics Orbiter Bespilotna letelica Orbiter VS.JPG Mini UAV13 [18] The first set of mini Aeronautics Orbiter class UAVs (4 flying devices) was purchased in October 2005 for the Jednostka Wojskowa GROM, the next three sets (3 flying devices each) were purchased in February 2007
Mayfly Mikro UAV24 [19]
Black Hornet 3 Black Hornet Nano Helicopter UAV.jpg Nano UAV40 sets [20]

Rank insignia

Officers
NATO CodeOF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1
POL Wojska Specjalne.svg
Special Forces
Army-POL-OF-09.svg Army-POL-OF-08.svg Army-POL-OF-07.svg Army-POL-OF-06.svg Army-POL-OF-05.svg Army-POL-OF-04.svg Army-POL-OF-03.svg Army-POL-OF-02.svg Army-POL-OF-01a.svg Army-POL-OF-01b.svg
Polish name Generał 1 Generał
broni
Generał
dywizji
Generał
brygady
Pułkownik Podpułkownik Major Kapitan Porucznik Podporucznik
Abbreviationgen.gen. bronigen. dyw.gen. bryg.płkppłkmjrkpt.por.ppor.

1 Until 2004 Generał armii

Enlisted
NATO CodeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
POL Wojska Specjalne.svg
Special Forces
Army-POL-OR-09a.svg Army-POL-OR-09b.svg Army-POL-OR-08.svg Army-POL-OR-07.svg Army-POL-OR-06.svg Army-POL-OR-05.svg Army-POL-OR-04a.svg Army-POL-OR-04b.svg Army-POL-OR-03.svg Army-POL-OR-02.svg Army-POL-OR-01.svg
Polish nameStarszy
chorąży
sztabowy
Starszy
chorąży
Chorąży Młodszy
chorąży
Starszy
sierżant
Sierżant Plutonowy Starszy
kapral
KapralStarszy
szeregowy
Szeregowy
Abbreviationst. chor. szt.st. chor.chor.mł. chor.st. sierż.sierż.plut.st. kpr.kpr.st. szer.szer.

See also

Related Research Articles

Nil often refers to the number zero.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formoza Military Unit</span> Polish Special Forces unit

Jednostka Wojskowa Formoza,, previous names: Sekcje Działań Specjalnych Marynarki Wojennej, Grupy Specjalne Płetwonurków.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgian Special Operations Forces</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agat Military Unit</span> Military unit

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References

  1. "2021 Budżet MON - Decyzja budżetowa MON załącznik do decyzji" [Annex to 2023 Budget decision of the Ministry of National Defense](PDF). Republic of Poland website (in Polish). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  2. "Ustawa z dnia 19 lutego 1993 r. o znakach Sił Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej" [Act of February 19, 1993 on the symbols of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland](PDF). isap.sejm.gov.pl (in Polish). Internet System of Legal Acts. pp. 24–28. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  3. "JW FORMOZA - USSE". usse.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  4. "Jednostka Wojskowa "Agat"". www.jednostki-wojskowe.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  5. "Jednostka Wojskowa "Nil"". www.jednostki-wojskowe.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  6. Siminski, Jacek (2019-12-23). "Polish Special Ops Component Receives S-70i Black Hawk Helicopters". The Aviationist. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  7. "Mil Mi-17-1V Hip, lokalizacja: Powidz - (EPPW), autor: Marek Purat". Galeria Aviateam.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  8. "Miniguny w końcu kupione". www.altair.com.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  9. "HMMWV w Wojsku Polskim".
  10. "Kolejna dostawa sprzętu z USA dla Wojska Polskiego". defence24.pl (in Polish). 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  11. "Polskie Wojska Specjalne otrzymały od Amerykanów 45 pojazdów opancerzonych M-ATV". technologie.onet.pl. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  12. Nowa Technika Wojskowa magazine, issue 03/09
  13. "Nadjeżdża Huzar". 4 January 2005.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Zakupy pojazdów dla Wojska Polskiego". Gdzie zaczyna się wojsko... 3 January 2011.
  15. Nowa Technika Wojskowa magazine, issue 03/09 96
  16. 1 2 "Poland Purchases Four New S-70i Black Hawk Helicopters". 17 December 2021.
  17. "RQ-21A BlackJack na MSPO". polska-zbrojna.pl. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  18. ZBIAM (2022-05-19). "Bezzałogowe statki powietrzne w Wojsku Polskim - raport specjalny [DO POBRANIA]". Wydawnictwo militarne ZBIAM (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  19. "Polska Zbrojna". polska-zbrojna.pl. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  20. "Nano bezzałogowce dla wojska. Black Hornet w Lublińcu". defence24.pl (in Polish). 2019-06-15. Retrieved 2023-12-24.