Special Operations Battalion (Croatia)

Special Operations Battalion

Emblem of Special Operations Battalion
Active September 8, 2003 - December 24, 2014
Country Croatia
Branch General staff unit
Type Special operation force
Role
Size 5 companies
Garrison/HQ Drgomalj Delnice
Nickname(s) Green berets,Cobras
Motto Svi su pozvani, rijetki su odabrani (All are invited, few are chosen)
Colors green
Anniversaries 8 September
Engagements
Decorations Order of Ban Jelačić
Commanders
Current
commander
Lieutenant Colonel Perica Turalija

The Special Operations Battalion (Croatian: Bojna za specijalna djelovanja), or popularly BSD was founded on 8 September 2000 when the Special Combat Skills Center from Šepurine and the 1st Croatian Guards Brigade (Croatian: 1. hrvatski gardijski zdrug, a component of the 1st Croatian Guards Corps) were amalgamated.[1] It ceased to exist in 2014, when it was transformed into Special Forces Command

The BSD members can be recognized by their green berets with unit badges over the right eye. Their symbol is a snake, so they are sometimes referred as "Cobras" although their insignia shows a Horned viper which is the most dangerous snake to be found in Croatia and in mainland Europe.

Main tasks

The Battalion is focused on airborne assault as well as operations behind enemy lines with insertion from land, air or sea. However, unlike most special forces in the world, the Battalion is also trained in non-combat search and rescue of civilians and providing aid as well as dealing with natural disasters. The unit is equipped with the most sophisticated weapons and equipment available, and trained to undertake the full range of special ops missions and even the dangerous mid-air, aircraft-to-aircraft operations. Personnel are trained for:

The Croatian General Staff exercises direct command over the battalion which thus elevated the unit to strategic level for quicker response time and overall better and faster deployment on both tactical and strategic levels. Also, this means that members of all three branches of the Croatian armed forces can apply for selection. In 2008, two women successfully completed selection and training, earning their green berets and making the BSD one of the few special forces units in the world that have women among their ranks as combat qualified operators and not just support staff.

Structure of BSD

The BSD is composed of one command section and five companies, each specialized for a different variety of missions.

Equipment

Weapons

ModelImageCaliberOriginVariants
HS2000 9×19mm  Croatia XD9 and XD45
ModelImageCaliberOriginVariants
H&K MP5 9×19mm  Germany A3 and SD3
H&K UMP 9×19mm  Germany UMP9 and UMP45
H&K MP7 4.6×30mm  Germany A1 and A2
ModelImageCaliberOriginVariants
Heckler & Koch G36 5.56×45mm  Germany KV and C
Heckler & Koch HK416 5.56×45mm  Germany D14.5RS Gen. 2
Heckler & Koch HK417 7.62×51mm  Germany HK417 16" 'Recce' or 'Recon'
VHS assault rifle 5.56×45mm  Croatia VHS-D,VH-K and VHS 2
FN F2000 5.56×45mm  Belgium F2000
FN SCAR 5.56×45mm(SCAR-L) 7.62×51mm(SCAR-H)  Belgium L and H
M4 carbine 5.56×45mm  United States A1
Steyr AUG 5.56×45mm  Austria AUG A3
ACR 5.56×45mm  United States ACR compact
ModelImageCaliberOrigin
Browning M2 12.7×99mm  United States
FN M249 5.56×45mm  Belgium
FN MAG 7.62×51mm  Belgium
Ultimax 100 5.56×45mm  Singapore
MG36 5.56×45mm  Germany
ModelImageCaliberOriginVariants
Sako TRG-42 .300 Winchester Magnum  Finland TRG-42 .300 Winchester Magnum
MACS M3 12.7×99mm  Croatia MACS M3 and MACS M4
RT-20 20×110mm  Croatia M1
M40 rifle 7.62×51  United States A5
Barrett M82 12.7×99mm  United States A1
Steyr SSG 69 7.62×51mm  Austria P4
Heckler & Koch PSG1 7.62×51mm  Germany PSG1
ModelImageCaliberOriginVariants
Mossberg 500 12 gauge,20 gauge,.410 bore  United States mossberg 500
Franchi SPAS-12 12 gauge  Italy SPAS-12
Benelli M4 Super 90 12 gauge  Italy M4
Maverick 88 12 gauge  United States Maverick 88
ModelImageCaliberOriginNote
Mk.19 AGL 40×53mm  United States Used on vehicles
RBG-6 40×46mm  Croatia Locally produced by Metallic d.o.o., designated RBG-6
H&K AG36 40×46mm  Germany Comes as standard with all H&K G36C
ModelImageCaliberOriginNote
M57 60mm Mortar  Yugoslavia Mortar underwent modification to meet NATO requirements
ModelImageTypeOrigin
9K38 Igla MANPADS  Soviet Union
ModelImageTypeOriginNote
9К115-2 Metis-M/9K115 Metis wire-guided anti-tank missile  Soviet Union
9M113 Konkurs wire-guided anti-tank missile  Soviet Union To be replaced by Javelin or Eurospike at some point in near future
9K111 Fagot wire-guided anti-tank missile  Soviet Union Awaiting replacement by a modern tandem warhead anti tank system
RL90 M95 RPG  Croatia To be phased out by 2017 and kept in reserve, replaced entirely by Swedish made Carl Gustav recoilless rifle after 2017.
AT4 RPG  Sweden
ModelImageTypeOrigin
Mercedes G Light Utility Vehicle  Germany
Iveco LMV IMV  Italy
Oshkosh M-ATV MRAP  United States
M1151 Up-Armored Capable HMMWV IMV  United States
ModelImageTypeOrigin
Bell 206B-3 Utility helicopter  Canada
Mil Mi-171Sh Combat-support helicopter  Russia
Mi-8MTV-1 Transport helicopter  Russia

Vessels

International engagements

BSD members have been deployed on several peacekeeping operations and missions in the world. BSD was engaged in EUFOR Tchad/RCA, ISAF within ISAF SOF TF-50 detached from Polish Jednostka Wojskowa Komandosów.

Gallery

References

External links

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