Special Operations Battalion (Croatia)

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 Operations Command (Croatia)

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:

• Combat operations on land, air and sea on all types of terrains and all weather conditions
• Deep battlefield infiltration by land, air and sea
• Unconventional warfare behind enemy lines
• Counter-terrorism and hand-to-hand combat
• CSAR missions (Combat Search and Rescue)
• Humanitarian and peacekeeping operations

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.

• Command Section - responsible for command, control and communications, supplies, medical personnel and transport
• 1st Special Operations Company - specialized for airborne and pathfinder operations
• 2nd Special Operations Company - specialized for alpine and mountain operations
• 3rd Special Operations Company - specialized for naval and amphibious operations
• 4th Special Operations Company - specialized for urban and anti-terrorist operations
• Fire Support Company - specialized for sniper and mortar training, also provides fire support with snipers to other four BSD companies

Equipment

Weapons

• Handguns

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin	Variants
HS2000		9×19mm	Croatia	XD9 and XD45

• Submachine guns

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin	Variants
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

• Assault rifles

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin	Variants
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

• Machine guns

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin
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

• Sniper rifles

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin	Variants
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

• Shotguns

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin	Variants
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

• Grenade launchers

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin	Note
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

• Mortars

Model	Image	Caliber	Origin	Note
M57		60mm Mortar	Yugoslavia	Mortar underwent modification to meet NATO requirements

• Anti-aircraft weapons

Model	Image	Type	Origin
9K38 Igla		MANPADS	Soviet Union

• Anti-tank weapons

Model	Image	Type	Origin	Note
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

• Vehicles

Model	Image	Type	Origin
Mercedes G		Light Utility Vehicle	Germany
Iveco LMV		IMV	Italy
Oshkosh M-ATV		MRAP	United States
M1151 Up-Armored Capable HMMWV		IMV	United States

• Helicopters

Model	Image	Type	Origin
Bell 206B-3		Utility helicopter	Canada
Mil Mi-171Sh		Combat-support helicopter	Russia
Mi-8MTV-1		Transport helicopter	Russia

Vessels

• Olimp Nautika M46 ^[2]
• R-2M Mala Diver’s Delivery Vessel

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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Special Operations Battalion (Croatia).

Republic of Croatia Armed Forces
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Leadership	Commander-in-chief: President of Croatia Minister of Defense General Staff of Croatia (Chief)
Organization	Branches Croatian Army Croatian Navy Croatian Air Force Commands Support Command Training and Doctrine Command VSOA Forces BSD Motorized Guards Armoured Guards Navy Flotilla Coast Guard
Military history	Army history Navy history Aviation history
Uniforms and Insignia	Uniforms Ranks Orders and medals