Polish Special Forces
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.
| Special Troops Command | |
|---|---|
| Wojska Specjalne | |
 | |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Country |  Poland |
| Type | Special forces command |
| Size | 3 841 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] |  |
Composition
The Special Troops Command (Dowództwo Wojsk Specjalnych) is based in Kraków and comprises:
- Jednostka Wojskowa GROM, or GROM, based in Warszawa and Gdańsk
- Jednostka Wojskowa Komandosów, or JWK, based in Lubliniec
- Jednostka Wojskowa Formoza, or JW FORMOZA, is based in Gdynia
- Jednostka Wojskowa Agat, or AGAT, based in Gliwice
- Jednostka Wojskowa NIL, or NIL, is based in Kraków
- Special Operations Aviation Unit based in Powidz; only operational command it is part of the Air Force.
Structure
.jpg.webp)
Multi-role exploitation Reconnaissance Team (MRT) during NATO exercise Trident Juncture 15
GROM - Operational-Maneuver Response Group "Cichociemni" (Silent Unseen)
- Command and Support Staff – in Warsaw
- A Squadron (ZB A) – Land Element located in Warsaw
- B Squadron (ZB B) – Maritime Element located in Gdańsk
- C Squadron (ZB C) – Specialty unknown located in Warsaw
- Logistic and Security Unit - located in Warsaw
JW Komandosów - Army Commandos
- Command and Security - insignia of the Batalion Zośka from the Polish Home Army
- A Squadron (ZB A)- insignia of the Batalion Miotła from the Polish Home Army and insignia of PSBS
- B Squadron (ZB B)- Combined Operations insignia of the No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando unit and its No. 6 Troop (Polish)
- C Squadron (ZB C)- insignia of the Batalion Parasol from the Polish Home Army
- D Squadron (ZB D)- set up in 2016
- Information Support Group
- Special Forces Training Center
JW Formoza - name comes from the colloquial name of the units base, the post-German torpedo house in Gdynia, called "Formoza".[3]
- Special Operations Squadron - at least six special operations sections and a base unit
JW AGAT shoulder patch
JW AGAT - formed on the basis of the Special Branch of the Military Police in Gliwice[4]
- HQ Staff and Command Group
- "A" Company
- "B" Company
- "C" Company
- Combat Support Team
- Logistics Security Team
- Medical Security Group
JW NIL - Support Unit of Command and Security of Special Forces[5]
- HQ Staff
- Command Team
- Logistics Security Team
- Information Support Team
- Medical Security Group
Special Operations Aviation Unit - based in Powidz
Gallery
.jpg.webp)
GROM operator conducting a port security exercise
Polish GROM and US Navy SEALs conducting joint field exercises.jpg.webp)
GROM unit conducting ship seizure training.jpg.webp)
GROM operator conducting a pistol training exercise
Equipment
Weaponry
| Name | Type | Photo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard firearms of the Polish Armed Forces | |||
| Kbs wz. 1996 Beryl | Assault rifle |  |
Most commonly used weapon |
| Pallad grenade launcher | Grenade launcher |  | Polish made grenade launcher, used from its introduction to the army |
| SWD | Sniper rifle |  | |
| Sako TRG | Sniper Rifle |  | |
| PKM | General purpose machine gun | ||
| UKM-2000 | General purpose machine gun |  | |
| Standard firearms of the Polish Special Forces | |||
| Heckler & Koch USP | Semi-auto pistol | _modified.png.webp) | Standard pistol in JW GROM, JW NIL and JW komandosów |
| Glock 17 | Semi-auto pistol |  | Standard pistol in JW Komandosów, JW AGAT and JW NIL |
| SIG P226 | Semi-auto pistol |  | Standard pistol in JW Formoza (Navy Unit) |
| FN Five-seven | Semi-auto pistol |  | Standard pistol for close protection in JW Grom |
| CZ Scorpion Evo 3 | Submachine gun |  | New addition SMG for direct force operations in JW Grom |
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | Submachine gun |  | Standard SMG for direct force operations in JW GROM, JW komandosów, JW Formoza and JW AGAT |
| FN P90 | Submachine gun |  | Standard SMG for close protection in JW Grom |
| Colt M4A1 | Assault rifle |  | Mostly supplanted the Beryl in JW GROM and JW NIL (M4A3) |
| Heckler & Koch HK416 | Assault rifle |  | 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 |  | Standard under-barrel grenade launcher used with the HK416 |
| Heckler & Koch G36 | Assault rifle |  | Used in JW Formoza and JW GROM |
| Heckler & Koch AG36 | Grenade launcher | Standard grenade launcher used with the G36 | |
| FN Minimi | Light machine gun |  | Most common light machine gun in the Polish SOF |
| Carl Gustav | Recoilless rifle |  | |
| Other firearms | |||
| Beretta 92 | Semi-auto pistol |  | |
| M4 Carbine | Assault rifle |  | Clones made by KAC and Bushmaster |
| F2000 | Assault rifle |  | |
| M14 rifle | Battle rifle | _(7414626342).jpg.webp){kind=small} | Upgraded to EBR standard |
| M203 | Grenade launcher |  | |
| H&K MZP-1 | Grenade launcher | ||
| Remington 870 | Shotgun |  | |
| Heckler & Koch PSG-1 | Sniper rifle |  | |
| Remington 700 | Sniper rifle |  | |
| Mauser SP66 | Sniper rifle |  | |
| Mauser 86 | Sniper rifle | ||
| Barrett M82 | Anti-material rifle | ||
Vehicles
| Name | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMMWV | Four-wheel drive multi-purpose vehicle | M1165A1 | 5 | The Polish Armed Forces currently operate 222 different variants of HMMWVes (217 are operated by the Polish Land Forces). |
| Oshkosh M-ATV | MRAP | M1240A1 | 45 | Donated by the United States[9] |
| Toyota | Four-wheel drive vehicle | Land Cruiser Hilux[10] | Used by GROM and 1 Pułk Specjalny Komandosów (1st Special Commando's Regiment) | |
| Land Rover Defender | Four-wheel drive vehicle | 90 110 | 4[11] 6 | Used by JW GROM and JW Formoza |
| Mercedes-Benz | Four-wheel drive vehicle Truck | G-class Atego 1323AK | 6 10[12] | The Polish Armed forces currently operate a total of 140 G-class vehicles.[13] The Land forces operate 121 GD 290s and MB290GD WDs.[12] The military police uses 13 GD 290s.[12] |
| Tarpan Honker | 4x4 | Honker Skorpion 3 special version | Used by JW komandosów | Polish made off-road vehicles, best variants are powered with Polish Andoria engines |
| Star | Truck | Star 1444 (MAN TGM 18.280 BB) | 1[12] | Polish made trucks, now modernised to adjust to new weaponry and specifications |
| Volvo | Truck | Volvo FM 8x4 Volvo FM 6x6 Volvo FM 4x4 | 10[12] 11[12] 2[12] | |
| Yamaha | Motorbike | Yamaha XT660 | unknown | Used in JW NIL |
| Polaris | Quad | Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI | unknown | Used in all Polish SOF units |
| Range Rover | SUV | Range Rover Armoured | unknown | Used in Polish SOF Command |
Aircraft
Polish SOF S-70i Black Hawk
| Name | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S-70i Black Hawk | Medium-lift transport/utility helicopter | S-70i | 4/8 | 4 on order, 2 scheduled for delivery in 2023, remaining in 2024.[14] In 2019 7 S-70i Black Hawks were ordered and received. 4 to Special Forces and 3 to the Police.[14] |
Rank insignia
- Officers
| NATO Code | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Special Forces |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Polish name | Generał1 | Generał broni |
Generał dywizji |
Generał brygady |
Pułkownik | Podpułkownik | Major | Kapitan | Porucznik | Podporucznik |
| Abbreviation | gen. | gen. broni | gen. dyw. | gen. bryg. | płk | ppłk | mjr | kpt. | por. | ppor. |
|
1 Until 2004 Generał armii | ||||||||||
- Enlisted
| NATO Code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Special Forces |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Polish name | Starszy chorąży sztabowy |
Starszy chorąży |
Chorąży | Młodszy chorąży |
Starszy sierżant |
Sierżant | Plutonowy | Starszy kapral |
Kapral | Starszy szeregowy |
Szeregowy |
| Abbreviation | st. chor. szt. | st. chor. | chor. | mł. chor. | st. sierż. | sierż. | plut. | st. kpr. | kpr. | st. szer. | szer. |
See also
References
- "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.
- "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.
- "JW FORMOZA - USSE". usse.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- "Jednostka Wojskowa "Agat"". www.jednostki-wojskowe.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- "Jednostka Wojskowa "Nil"". www.jednostki-wojskowe.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- Siminski, Jacek (2019-12-23). "Polish Special Ops Component Receives S-70i Black Hawk Helicopters". The Aviationist. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
- "Mil Mi-17-1V Hip, lokalizacja: Powidz - (EPPW), autor: Marek Purat". Galeria Aviateam.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- "Miniguny w końcu kupione". www.altair.com.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- "Polskie Wojska Specjalne otrzymały od Amerykanów 45 pojazdów opancerzonych M-ATV". technologie.onet.pl. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- Nowa Technika Wojskowa magazine, issue 03/09
- "Nadjeżdża Huzar". 4 January 2005.
- "Zakupy pojazdów dla Wojska Polskiego". Gdzie zaczyna się wojsko... 3 January 2011.
- Nowa Technika Wojskowa magazine, issue 03/09 96
- "Poland Purchases Four New S-70i Black Hawk Helicopters". 17 December 2021.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Special forces of Poland.
| Specialised component(s) | |
|---|---|
| Reserve | National Reserve Forces |
| Military police | |
| Stand-alone unit(s) | |
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