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 the Special Operations Command.

Special Operations Battalion
Emblem of Special Operations Battalion
ActiveSeptember 8, 2000 – December 24, 2014
CountryCroatia
BranchGeneral staff unit
TypeSpecial operation force
Role
Size5 companies
Garrison/HQDrgomalj Delnice
Nickname(s)Green berets,Cobras
Motto(s)Svi su pozvani, rijetki su odabrani (All are invited, few are chosen)
Colorsgreen
Anniversaries8 September
Engagements
DecorationsOrder of Ban Jelačić
Commanders
Current
commander
Lieutenant Colonel Perica Turalija

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 was 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 was 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 were 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 exercised 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 meant that members of all three branches of the Croatian armed forces could 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 was 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

ModelImageCaliberOriginVariants
HS20009×19mm CroatiaXD9 and XD45
ModelImageCaliberOriginVariants
H&K MP59×19mm GermanyA3 and SD3
H&K MP74,6×30mm Germanyunknown
ModelImageCaliberOriginVariants
VHS assault rifle5.56×45mm CroatiaVHS-D,VH-K and VHS 2 VHS-D assault rifle REMOV.jpg
Heckler & Koch G365.56×45mm GermanyKV and C
M4 carbine5.56×45mm United StatesA1
FN F20005.56×45mm BelgiumF2000
ModelImageCaliberOrigin
Browning M212.7×99mm United States
FN MAG7.62×51mm Belgium
Ultimax 1005.56×45mm Singapore
ModelImageCaliberOriginVariants
Sako TRG-42.300 Winchester Magnum FinlandTRG-42 .300 Winchester Magnum
MACS M312.7×99mm CroatiaMACS M3 and MACS M4
RT-2020×110mm CroatiaM1
M40 rifle7.62×51 United StatesA5
Steyr SSG 697.62×51mm AustriaP4
Heckler & Koch PSG17.62×51mm GermanyPSG1
ModelImageCaliberOriginVariants
Mossberg 50012 gauge,20 gauge,.410 bore United Statesmossberg 500
Franchi SPAS-1212 gauge ItalySPAS-12
Benelli M4 Super 9012 gauge ItalyM4
ModelImageCaliberOriginNote
Mk.19 AGL40×53mm United StatesUsed on vehicles
RBG-640×46mm CroatiaLocally produced by Metallic d.o.o., designated RBG-6
H&K AG3640×46mm GermanyComes as standard with all H&K G36C
ModelImageCaliberOriginNote
M5760mm Mortar YugoslaviaMortar underwent modification to meet NATO requirements
ModelImageTypeOrigin
9K38 IglaMANPADS Soviet Union
ModelImageTypeOriginNote
9К115-2 Metis-M/9K115 Metiswire-guided anti-tank missile Soviet Union
9M113 Konkurswire-guided anti-tank missile Soviet UnionTo be replaced by Javelin or Eurospike at some point in near future
9K111 Fagotwire-guided anti-tank missile Soviet UnionAwaiting replacement by a modern tandem warhead anti tank system
AT4RPG Sweden
ModelImageTypeOrigin
Mercedes G4WD UtilityLight Utility Vehicle Germany
Iveco LMVIMV Italy
Oshkosh M-ATVMRAP United States
M1151 Up-Armored Capable HMMWVIMV United States
ModelImageTypeOrigin
Bell 206B-3Utility helicopter Canada
Mil Mi-171ShCombat-support helicopter Russia
Mi-8MTV-1Transport 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.

References

  1. "12. obljetnica Bojne za specijalna djelovanja" [12th Anniversary of the Special Operations Battalion] (in Croatian). Ministry of Defence (Croatia). 7 September 2012.
  2. "Brzi presretač na moru". Hrvatski Vojnik. 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
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