Special Operations Regiment (Albania)

Last updated
Special Operations Regiment
Regjimenti i Operacioneve Speciale [1]
Forcat Speciale Shqiptare.svg
Special Operations Regiment insignia
Active16 October 1998 – Present [2]
Country Flag of Albania.svg Albania
Branch Albanian Armed Forces
Type Special forces
Role Special operations
Counter-terrorism
Close-quarters combat
Urban warfare
Nickname(s)The Unit
Motto(s)We better die for something than live for nothing [2]
ColorsMaroon
Engagements Kosovo War
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Current
commander
Colonel Ajet Jata
Insignia
Right shoulder patch Albanian special forces insignia.svg

The Special Operations Regiment (Albanian : Regjimenti i Operacioneve Speciale), [1] commonly known as B.O.S is the main special forces unit of the Albanian Armed Forces. It is the most elite unit of the Albanian Army. The unit is tasked with special operations in wartime, and primarily with counter-terrorism in peacetime.

Contents

The BOS members can be recognized by their maroon berets, and the unit insignia which is carried on the right sleeve of their uniforms.

History

The Special Operations Battalion was created in 1998 as a direct answer to the region's geopolitical situation. Shortly after their creation, teams of BOS operators were deployed along the Albanian-Yugoslav border during the Kosovo War in 1999 and later along the Albanian-Macedonian border during that country's war in 2001. During these two conflicts, BOS' main tasks were reconnaissance and long-range patrol. In 2002, BOS operators were deployed in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. In Afghanistan, the first contingents operated under Turkish command and their tasks mainly dealt with patrolling the areas around Kabul.

In 2004, Albania sent a unit from the Special Operations Battalion to Mosul as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit together with other units from the Commando Regiment were responsible for base security and perimeter defense. In July 2010, a detachment of 44 men (codenamed EAGLE 1) from the S.O.B led by Colonel Dritan Demiraj was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Differing from previous Albanian deployments, this detachment was directly involved in combat special operations.

The unit worked closely with US military intelligence and was responsible for deep reconnaissance behind Taliban lines, as well as intelligence collection on high-value targets.

Recruitment, selection and training

All members of the Albanian land forces can be considered for special forces training. After applying, the candidates go through a 26-weeks selection process. During the first 12 weeks, the candidates are forced to march cross country against the clock, with increasing distances covered each day, culminating with a 27 km running with full kit in mountainous terrain. This is called the Commando phase. [3]

In addition, the candidates have to go through marksmanship, navigation and physical endurance tests. During the last week of the selection process, the tests and marches go on for more than 24 hours without stopping. The candidates that are able to pass the selection process, then go through a 14-week-long training process in which they learn survival skills and master their shooting techniques. After that they undergo 4 weeks special operations and CQB course.

For the final test, the candidates are left without food for 72 hours in a remote area of the country; their objective is to evade any possible pursuer and return to base undetected.

Commanders of note

Albanian special operations forces soldier provides security as Afghan Border Police break ground on a checkpoint near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 25, 2013. An Albanian special operations forces soldier provides security as Afghan Border Police break ground on a checkpoint near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province 130325-A-MX357-279.jpg
Albanian special operations forces soldier provides security as Afghan Border Police break ground on a checkpoint near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 25, 2013.
Albanian special operations forces provide security for coalition forces at an Afghan Border Police checkpoint. Mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles assigned to the Albanian special operations forces provide security for coalition forces at an Afghan Border Police checkpoint near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border 130401-A-MX357-044.jpg
Albanian special operations forces provide security for coalition forces at an Afghan Border Police checkpoint.

Equipment

Weapons

Pistols
ModelImageCaliberCountry
Beretta Px4 Storm PX4Storm.jpg 9×19mm Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
FN Five-seven FN5704.jpg 5.7×28mm Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Glock 19 Glock 19 Generation 4-removebg.png 9x19mm Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
Heckler & Koch USP HKUSP.png .45 ACP Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Beretta 92
Yavuz 16
Beretta 92 FS.gif 9×19mm Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Submachineguns
HK MP5
MKEK MP5
Heckler & Koch MP5-1.jpg 9x19mm Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
HK MP7 Heckler & Koch MP7A1.png HK 4.6×30mm Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
HK UMP HKUMP45.JPG .45 ACP Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Assault rifles and Carbines
Heckler & Koch G36 Gewehr G36 noBG.png 5.56×45mm Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Heckler & Koch HK416 HK416N.png 5.56×45mm Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Beretta ARX 160 Beretta AR with thermal sight and grenade launcher.jpg 5.56×45mm Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
AKM AKM automatkarbin, Ryssland - 7,62x39mm - Armemuseum.jpg 7.62×39mm Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Machine guns
Rheinmetall MG3 BundeswehrMG3 noBG.png 7.62x51mm Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Heckler & Koch MG4 HK MG4 01.jpg 5.56×45mm Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Heckler & Koch MG5 Heckler & Koch MG5.jpg 7.62×51mm Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Shotguns
Benelli M4 Super 90 Benelli m4 2.jpg 12-gauge Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Sniper Rifles. Designated Marksman Rifles and Anti Materiel rifles
Heckler & Koch HK417 Combater G27 noBG.png 7.62×51mm Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Sako TRG Sako TRG folding stock + Zeiss 3-12x56 SSG P.JPG .308 Winchester Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Barrett M82 Barrett-M82A1-Independence-Day-2017-IZE-048-white.jpg .50 BMG Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Heckler & Koch SR9 HK SR9T Rifle.jpg 7.62×51mm Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Heckler & Koch PSG1 PSG-1 rifle 2014 noBG.jpg 7.62×51mm Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Anti tank Systems
AT4 84mmFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
RPG-7 RPG-7 detached.jpg 40 mm Grenade Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
BGM-71 TOW Hires 090509-A-4842R-001a.jpg 150mmFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Vehicles

Land Vehicles
ModelImageCountryQuantityNote
Land Rover Defender Land Rover Defender front 20070518.jpg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom N/A
Humvee Humvee of Doom.jpg Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States N/AUsed in Iraq And Afghanistan
International MaxxPro International MaxxPro.jpg Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 40Used by Eagle-2-8 at Kandahar

Aircraft

Helicopters
ModelImageCountryQuantityNote
CH-47 Chinook CH-47 assigned to 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade.jpg Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 5To be Delivered [4]
MBB Bo 105 Alb BO-105.jpg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 6
Bell UH-1 Iroquois
AB205
AB 205 Training.jpg Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
73 received in 2004, with a further 4 ordered for delivery through 2006 [5]
Eurocopter AS532 Cougar Cougar Helicopter of the Albanian Air Force.jpg Flag of France.svg  France 2 [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albanian Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of Albania

The Albanian Armed Forces are the military of Albania and were formed after the declaration of independence in 1912. Today, it consists of the General Staff, the Albanian Land Force, Albanian Air Force and the Albanian Naval Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand Special Air Service</span> Military unit

The 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment, abbreviated as 1 NZSAS Regt, is the special forces unit of the New Zealand Army, closely modelled on the British Special Air Service (SAS). It was formed on 7 July 1955. It traces its origins to the Second World War and the famous Long Range Desert Group that New Zealanders served with.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commandos (Singapore Army)</span> Military unit

Commandos is the special forces formation of the Singapore Army responsible for conducting special operations. Commandos are tasked with infiltrating behind enemy lines by raiding and reconnaissance operations using airborne raids, helicopter assault and sea landings. The formation is made up of only one battalion, the 1st Commando Battalion, and is based in Hendon Camp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gruppo di intervento speciale</span> Elite unit of the Italian Gendarmerie

The Gruppo di Intervento Speciale (GIS) is the special forces unit of the Carabinieri. The Carabinieri, a branch of the Italian Armed Forces responsible for both military and civil policing, formed GIS in 1978 as a police tactical unit. In 2004, GIS assumed a special operations role, evolving to a special forces unit, in addition to the police tactical unit role, becoming part of the Comando interforze per le Operazioni delle Forze Speciali.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pathfinder Platoon</span> Military unit

The Pathfinder Platoon is a pathfinder unit of the British Army, and an integral part of 16 Air Assault Brigade. The Pathfinder Platoon acts as the brigade's advance force and reconnaissance force. Its role includes locating and marking drop zones and helicopter landing zones for air landing operations. Once the main force has landed, the platoon provides tactical intelligence and offensive action roles for the brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commandos Military Unit</span> Polish special operations unit

The Jednostka Wojskowa Komandosów, commonly called JWK and formerly known as 1 Pułk Specjalny Komandosów, is one of six special forces units currently operating within Poland's Centrum Operacji Specjalnych - Dowództwo Komponentu Wojsk Specjalnych. JWK was formed in 1961 and is the oldest still active Polish special operations unit. The unit is located in Lubliniec, Poland.

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

The Romanian Special Operations Forces Command is the special forces command of the Romanian Army formed on 01 March 2018 from the former 6th Special Operations Brigade. The Special Forces Command is headquartered in Târgu Mureș, and it is the structure through which the Chief of the General Staff exercises the control over all Special Forces units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Battalion, 6th Marines</span> Military unit

The 1st Battalion, 6th Marines (1/6) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. It consists of approximately 1,100 marines and sailors. They fall under the command of the 6th Marine Regiment, the 2nd Marine Division of the II Marine Expeditionary Force.

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

The Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) is a special forces unit of the British Armed Forces. The SFSG was formed officially on 3 April 2006 to provide support to the Special Air Service, the Special Boat Service and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment on operations. It is a tri-service unit, composed of the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment,, a company of Royal Marine Commandos, and a flight (platoon) from the Royal Air Force Regiment.

The 323rd Parachute Ranger Squadron or Fallskärmsjägarna is a Swedish military special operations capable airborne ranger unit specialising in long-range reconnaissance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Participants in Operation Enduring Freedom</span> Countries that partook in the 2001 United States-led invasion of Afghanistan

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, several countries began military operations against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan. After the initial bombing operations, Operation Crescent Wind, OEF was the initial combat operations, and during 2002 and 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2006</span>

In January 2006, NATO's focus in southern Afghanistan was to form Provincial Reconstruction Teams with the British leading in Helmand Province and the Netherlands, Australia and Canada leading similar deployments in Orūzgān Province and Kandahar Province respectively. The United States, with 2,200 troops, stayed in control of Zabul Province. Local Taliban figures voiced opposition to the incoming force and pledged to resist it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Forces Group (Belgium)</span> Special forces unit in the Belgian Armed Forces

The Special Forces Group is the special forces unit in the Land Component of the Belgian Armed Forces.

The 1st Carabinieri Paratroopers Regiment "Tuscania" is a special operations unit of the Italian Carabinieri. Together with the 7th Carabinieri Regiment in Laives, the 13th Carabinieri Regiment in Gorizia, and the Special Intervention Group it forms the 2nd Carabinieri Mobile Brigade. The regiment is based in Livorno, and has approximately 550 personnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Commando Regiment (Australia)</span> Unit of the Australian Army

The 2nd Commando Regiment is a special forces unit of the Australian Army and is part of Special Operations Command. The regiment was established on 19 June 2009 when the 4th Battalion RAR (Commando) was renamed. It is based at Holsworthy, New South Wales. The 2nd Commando Regiment trains and has served with coalition special forces units, and is highly regarded by these units. The regiment has been involved in operations in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, where it was used in a direct action warfighting role. It has also been involved in domestic security operations including the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2014 G20 Leaders Summit. The regiment is the Command's capability lead for strike and recovery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regimental Reconnaissance Company</span> US Army special operations unit

The 75th Ranger Regiment's Regimental Reconnaissance Company is an elite special operations force that has been a member of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) since 2005. The unit is believed to have become part of JSOC due to its extensive training and unique capabilities to conduct special reconnaissance and close target reconnaissance (CTR) operations, and advanced force operations (AFO).

The Swedish Special Operations Task Group, is a special forces unit within the Swedish Armed Forces which has been active since 2011. The unit is headquartered at Karlsborg Fortress in Karlsborg, Västra Götaland County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korps Commandotroepen</span> Special forces unit of the Royal Netherlands Army

The Korps Commandotroepen (KCT) is the elite special forces unit of the Royal Netherlands Army. The KCT traces its origins to the Second World War with the founding of No. 2 (Dutch) Troop, and the founding of the Korps Speciale Troepen during the Indonesian War of Independence. At present, the unit is tasked with conducting the full spectrum of special operations, its principal tasks being direct action, special reconnaissance, military assistance and counter-terrorism.

References

  1. 1 2 "Regjimenti i Operacioneve Speciale, elita e FA, feston 10-vjetorin e krijimit të tij". Albanian Armed Forces (Press release) (in Albanian). 21 October 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  2. 1 2 Aguila, 1st Lt. Veronica (2 December 2012). "From the beginning: learning to give everything". U.S. Army. Retrieved 14 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. "Lufta për Beretën Vishnje". Revista Mapo (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  4. "Albania Bought The CH-47 Chinook. The helicopter Used In the Iraq and Kosovo wars". YouTube .{{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  5. Das, Wim; Otten, Kees. "ALBANIAN AIRFORCE - Tirana's moving steps" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  6. Support, Web. "Arrival ceremony of the new Cougar helicopter for the Air Force, version "MEDEVAC"". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  7. "The fourth Cougar AS532 AL helicopter arrives".