The most powerful special forces. Special forces of the armies of the world
Special forces have become an integral attribute of any modern army and police. The most complex and non-standard tasks of releasing hostages, protecting VIPs, destroying especially dangerous terrorists and conducting special operations abroad fall on the shoulders of special forces. The first prototypes of special forces appeared during the Second World War, it was the German Brandenburg division. Now there is a correspondence competition between countries to see who has the best special forces, where the main role here is played not by equipment, but by the training of people ready to carry out any task in the most extreme conditions. Meet the ten best special forces in the world.
10. Alpha (Russia)
The Russian special unit Alpha was created in 1973 under the KGB of the USSR. It became known about it after the storming of the presidential palace in Kabul, destroying almost all the people in the building. In 1985, 4 Soviet diplomats were kidnapped in Beirut, one of whom was immediately killed. The release of the hostages was undertaken by Alpha, who found the relatives of the organizers of the kidnapping and eliminated them, sending such a unique message to the terrorists. Recently, they have been mainly used for anti-terrorism (the school in Beslan and the terrorist attack on Dubrovka, better known as Nord-Ost) and special operations within the country, which are almost always accompanied by numerous casualties. By the way, this is one of the few special forces operating on the principle of “destroy everyone” and not “save them alive at any cost.”
9. GIGN (France)
The French special forces unit GIGN (Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale) was created after the high-profile terrorist attack of 1972 in Munich, during the Olympic Games, when several dozen hostages died in the Olympic village. Plus, the year before, there was a prison riot in France with numerous casualties. GIGN specializes in anti-terrorist operations and hostage rescue. The most famous operations of French special forces were the rescue of 30 child hostages in Djibouti in 1976, the arrest of war criminals in Bosnia, special operations against Somali pirates and, of course, the rescue of passengers on Air France flight AF8969 in Marseille in 1994. The number of GIGN is about 400 people.
8. SSG (Pakistan)
In 1956, the leadership of the Pakistani army created its own special operations unit SSG (Special Services Group), taking as a basis the structure of the British SAS and the American Green Berets. Only one in four candidates become SSG fighters, who undergo a nine-month training course that includes hand-to-hand combat and survival in extreme conditions. SSG is ready to complete any assigned tasks in the mountains, jungle, desert and underwater. During the Cold War, SSG soldiers were trained by American instructors and operated alongside US Special Forces. In the 80s, Pakistani special forces soldiers acted together with the Mujahideen in Afghanistan against the Soviet army. Then, according to unconfirmed reports, they actively operated in territories disputed with India. Recently, the SSG has been mainly involved in anti-terrorism operations in Pakistan; in 2009, they carried out an operation to free hostages at the police academy and army headquarters.
7. Sayeret Matkal (Israel)
The Israeli special forces Sayeret Matkal was created at the General Staff in 1957, where only people with good physical shape and a high level of intelligence are selected. Candidates undergo an eighteen-month training course that includes infantry training, paratrooper training, counter-terrorism operations and intelligence training. Since the 60s, Israeli special forces have taken part in several dozen special operations in different parts of the world. The most famous operation carried out by the Sayeret Matkal fighters is “Yonatan”, also known as “Entebbe”. In 1976, Palestinian militants hijack a passenger plane and land it near the Ugandan capital of Kampala, taking 83 people with Israeli passports hostage. 100 people took part in the assault on the airport, but a strike force of 29 people, consisting entirely of Sayeret Matkal commandos, destroyed most of the terrorists.
6. Delta Force (USA)
The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta unit (translated into Russian as the 1st Special Purpose Operational Detachment "Delta"), the better known Delta Force, was created in 1977 to conduct anti-terrorism and secret operations, reconnaissance and hostage rescue. The British SAS were taken as a role model; moreover, the man who stood at the origins of the creation of Delta Force worked closely with representatives of the British special forces for a long time. It typically recruits former Green Berets and Rangers, of whom only 1 in 10 pass the tests.
5. GSG 9 (Germany)
The German unit GSG 9, specializing in anti-terrorism and special operations under the Ministry of the Interior, was created in 1973, exactly one year after the Munich tragedy, when 11 Israeli athletes were terrorists during the Olympic Games. I use GSG 9 to free hostages, destroy terrorists, neutralize extortionists, protect important people and conduct sniper operations. Over the entire period of its existence, more than 1,500 successful operations were carried out.
4. JTF2 (Canada)
The Canadian special forces JTF2 (Joint Task Force 2) under the Ministry of Defense was created in 1993, the number of which was increased after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The main task of this unit is to conduct anti-terrorist and special operations, as well as to involve especially important persons in the protection. JTF2 was deployed to protect heads of state during the 2010 Winter Olympics, rescue hostages in Iraq, and hunt down Serbian snipers in Bosnia. Also, the Canadians, together with the American Navy SEAL, carried out special operations in Afghanistan, and which were so secret that the Prime Minister of Canada did not know for several years that JTF2 was actively fighting in Afghanistan.
3. EKO Cobra (Austria)
The Austrian anti-terrorist unit EKO Cobra was created in 1978 under the Ministry of the Interior. In Austria, the idea of creating a special police force arose in 1972 after the terrorist attack in Munich in 1972 during the Olympics, when 11 Israeli athletes were killed. EKO Cobra is primarily involved in anti-terrorism operations. All fighters in the unit undergo mandatory courses in shooting, hand-to-hand combat, combat tactics, explosives and scuba diving. EKO Cobra is the only special forces unit in the world that neutralized terrorists in a flying plane before it landed at the airfield. This happened in 1996, when criminals demanded to change the course of a civilian aircraft carrying four EKO Cobra employees and were neutralized within a few minutes.
2. Navy SEAL (USA)
The US Navy SEAL team, also known as the Navy SEALs, created in 1962, has become a true legend after its daring operations in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past few years. Particularly resonant was Operation Neptune Spear in 2011, during which the number one terrorist, Osama bin Laden, was killed in a villa in Pakistan. All recruits of the unit undergo a training course during the year, where the majority are eliminated already at the first stage during general physical training, where the emphasis is on push-ups, squats, running and swimming. After which, undergoing highly specialized training such as explosives, reconnaissance, etc.
1. SAS (UK)
The best special forces unit in the world is considered to be the British SAS (Special Air Service, SAS), created back in 1941, which became a role model for the creation of similar units in other countries. Initially, the units were created to operate behind the lines of Italian and German troops in North Africa, eventually transforming into an anti-terrorist detachment to conduct operations both inside and outside the country. All SAS candidates, who are mostly paratroopers, must complete a 40-mile forced march at full gear in 20 hours, followed by a 2-mile swim in 1.5 hours and a 4-mile run in 30 minutes, and that's just the first part of the test. Further into the jungle, where they must demonstrate survival skills and finally withstand a 36-hour interrogation, where they try to break the will of the recruits. In addition to general military training, SAS soldiers undergo various courses under the guidance of MI5 (security service) and MI6 (foreign intelligence service) instructors. The SAS loudly declared themselves in 1980, carrying out a successful storming of the Iranian embassy in London, freeing the hostages.
Real army power is not when there are tons of (often clueless) soldiers in the country, but when there are a small number of soldiers whose training and track records are frightening. Here are seven of them for you.
“Black Stork”, Pakistan
In-country special forces group. The bird's name was earned thanks to its unusual headdresses. Preparation:
- forced march - 58 km. Travel time - 12 hours;
- jogging in full gear - 8 km in 50 minutes.
One of the brightest achievements: in October 2009, an office building held by Afghan terrorists from the Taliban group was stormed. The specialists from “Black Stork” completed the task: they neutralized the “bad guys” and saved 39 hostages.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
Spanish Navy Special Forces
The detachment was formed back in 1952. They recruited volunteers and called it “a company of mountaineering divers.” Over time, they were so trained that the “company” was transformed into a special forces detachment. Today it is not easy to get into it: the selection is extremely severe. Therefore, 70-80% of recruits are eliminated every year. And sometimes it happens that everything is 100%.
Source: marines.mil
GIGN, France
French Gendarmerie special forces, intervention group GIGN. They undergo special training to free hostages. Since its formation (1973), 600 people have been saved to date.
The most dramatic rescue operation took place at the Al-Haram mosque in Mecca in 1979. According to the Islamic religion, a non-Muslim cannot set foot on the temple premises. Therefore, three French soldiers quickly accepted the faith, joined the Saudi Arabian troops, and did their job efficiently. Looking for photos with the faces of GIGN members is a lost cause: their publication is prohibited by French law.
Source: tactical-life.com
Sayeret Matkal, Israel
The main task is to gather information, often taking place deep behind enemy lines. One of the successful operations, information about which we managed to obtain:
- 2003, Israeli taxi driver Eliyahu Gurel took three Palestinians to Jerusalem → was kidnapped → he was discovered by specialists from Sayeret Matkal in a 10-meter shaft in an abandoned factory in the suburbs of Ramallah (Palestinian city) → saved the poor fellow.
Source: policenet.gr
Special Air Service, UK
British Land Forces, whose motto is:
“He who takes risks wins.”
After the end of the war in Iraq, American General Stanley McChrystal confessed:
“If it weren’t for the British Special Air Service, we wouldn’t have made it.”
Special forces units(SpN), (commando, special forces, English special forces) - specially trained units of state intelligence and counterintelligence services, army, aviation, navy, security of senior state officials and police (militia), whose personnel have high combat, fire, physical and psychological training, whose task is to solve specific combat missions in extremely extreme conditions.
RUSSIA
In the photo: airborne troops
Special forces of the GRU of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Special units of the SVR
Russian Airborne Forces
Russian Marine Corps
Special forces of the border troops of the FSB of Russia
Special forces of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia
The tasks of the center and detachments include carrying out anti-terrorist measures in the operational service area, searching for and eliminating illegal armed groups, eliminating mass riots, detaining especially dangerous criminals, and releasing hostages.
Police special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
Special forces of the Federal Penitentiary Service
Special units of the Federal Penitentiary Service. Currently they are called “Special Purpose Departments”. The task of the unit includes the prevention and suppression of crimes and offenses at the facilities of the Federal Penitentiary Service, the search and capture of especially dangerous criminals, ensuring security at special events, the release of hostages taken by convicted prisoners, as well as the protection of senior officials of the department.
Special forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations
In the photo: soldiers of the SEAL unit (Navy Seals)
The US Armed Forces operate the US Special Operations Command, which includes the United States Special Operations Forces. A common mistake is to call the SOF “US Special Forces,” which is incorrect, since only the Green Berets are “special forces.”
ISRAEL
In the photo: fighters of the anti-terrorist unit “Shayetet 13”
Israeli Navy Special Forces
Special Forces Mossad
Israel Police Special Forces
Others
FRANCE
In the photo: fighters of the anti-terrorism unit “GIGN”
Special Operations Command (General Commandant les Operations Speciales (GCOS)
Unites under its command all units and formations available in the armed forces intended for conducting reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines, as well as carrying out sabotage actions and other special measures, and units supporting their activities. Objectives - Providing military assistance, which consists of training foreign militaries, mainly African states that have entered into an agreement with France on military assistance, conducting military support operations - is to use the experience of conducting deep raids on enemy territory, the fight against terrorism, influence operations involve conducting psychological operations.
GCOS includes:
Units of the Separate Special Command (GSA) - Groupment special autonome:
1st company is intended to carry out operations outside the city, crossing water barriers and protecting and escorting especially important persons. The 2nd company specializes in operations in urban areas, sabotage and sniping. In addition, company soldiers are trained in the use of mine explosives, and also practice “breaking and entering” techniques. The 3rd company provides fire support with heavy mortars, air defense, and also conducts reconnaissance on light all-terrain vehicles.
Air Force special forces. These include:
Special forces of the French ground forces
French Navy Special Forces
Traditionally, the special forces of the French Navy are named after the officers who were the first commanders.
The five remaining squads are the French equivalent of the British SBS - Special boat squodron and American SEALs. However, the Hubert squad stands out from the general list. It is fully staffed with combat swimmers.
Special forces of the French gendarmerie
Since the mid-20th century, special anti-terrorism units for special purposes began to appear in the armed forces of different countries. Today they exist in more than 50 countries. We will tell you about the most famous and powerful of them.
Great Britain
"22 Special Airborne Service Regiment" (SAS-22). Formed during the Second World War. In terms of combat training, it is comparable only with the Israeli counter-terrorist units, but surpasses them in weapons. According to some sources, 500 people serve within the unit. Despite strict secrecy, he pays a lot of attention to creating publicity. The most successful operations were actions against the IRA in Ireland, Holland, and Germany. Participated in thousands of operations from the Sahara to Malaysia. The most famous operation is the release of hostages at the Iranian embassy in London. Throughout its history, several dozen employees died in Northern Ireland and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.
Germany
"Federal Border Protection Group" (GSG-9). Created after the Munich tragedy during the 1976 Olympics. This was the group's first operation. Then one of the television journalists installed a television camera in the house opposite the building with hostages and terrorists, and the terrorists watched all the preparations of the “GSG” live. More such incidents did not happen to German militants. Today this group not only fights terrorists, but also provides security for German diplomats during trips to the Near and Middle East. Helps German counterintelligence by organizing surveillance of terrorists. Number of people - about 200 people. There are no women in the unit, but sometimes the group uses employees of German counterintelligence. Over the entire period of its existence, more than 5 thousand operations have been carried out. Ten members died at the hands of terrorists. The most famous operation was the October 1977 operation in Mogadishu (Somalia), the liberation of a plane hijacked by Arab terrorists with more than 100 hostages. The German service was invited to eliminate the terrorists also because the terrorists demanded the release of the leaders of the "Faction" from German prisons Red Army,” a German left-wing radical group, the war against which “GSG” considered its main business in the 70s. Failures - 1994, the murder of Wolfgang Grams, a member of the Red Army Faction. During the capture of RAF leaders Grams and Brigitte Hogefeld on the subway platform, one of the special squad members was killed in a shootout. And then Grams was shot at point-blank range. Moreover, passers-by testified as follows: When the firefight ended, two GSG officers leaned over the wounded Grams and shot him with his own pistol.
France
"Group of Intervention of the National Gendarmerie" (GIGN). Created in March 1974 to combat Arab terrorism in France. At first it consisted of 15 volunteer gendarmes. Today the group numbers 200 people. Over the entire period of its existence, they saved about 500 people and carried out about 100 anti-terrorist operations. Ten soldiers of the unit were killed. The most successful operation was the rescue of 18 hostages from a plane in Marseille, hijacked by terrorists in 1994. GIGN fighters became famous during the suppression of a riot of prisoners in the French prison of Clairvaux in January 1978, in the liberation of the main Muslim shrine of the Kaaba in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) from armed fanatics in September 1979, in the operation to restore order on the island of New Caledonia during the uprising of the natives -Kanakov in May 1988.
Austria
"Cobra", an anti-terrorist unit of the Austrian police. Formed in 1978. Number of people: 200 people. The Austrian authorities decided to create their own anti-terrorist unit after ministers participating in the OPEC congress were attacked by terrorists in 1973. In 1978, the Austrian authorities officially announced the creation of Cobra. The unit is subordinate to the Director General of Public Security under the Austrian Ministry of Internal Affairs. In addition to anti-terrorist activities, Cobra is responsible for the security of Vienna Schwekat Airport. The militants are armed with 9mm French pistols. According to experts, this weapon is most suitable for anti-terrorist operations. So far, not a single member of Cobra has died. Therefore, the Austrian unit is considered one of the best anti-terrorist groups.
Israel
"Intelligence Group of the General Staff of the Ministry of Defense" (Sayeret Matkal). Created in 1957 as a special intelligence unit, in 1968 it switched to anti-terrorism activities. The number is unknown, but it is known that the soldiers are extremely young (from 18 to 21 years old). For every hundred terrorists killed, one unit soldier is killed. Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and current head of government Ehud Barak once served in the detachment. The group took part in more than a thousand actions. Considered the best counter-terrorism unit in the world. The most famous operation was in July 1976, the release of 103 hostages in Antebbe.
“Flying Leopards” (“Saeret Golani”). The infantry unit, which is also called the “Flying Leopards” because of its identification marks, was formed in 1959 from the best soldiers of the elite Golani infantry brigade. Until 1974, they were considered an anti-terrorist unit, and the fighters did not undergo special training, preferring simple army methods. Hence their biggest failure. In May 1974, three Arab terrorists seized a school in the northern Israeli town of Ma'alot. The unit's fighters literally riddled two terrorists with bullets, simultaneously killing 25 schoolchildren and wounding 100 more. It was after this failure that Saeret Golani began to be trained in special anti-terrorist methods.
"YAMAM" is a unit of the Israeli police. The number is about 200 people. Performs up to 200 operations annually. Today there are two women in the group. Created in 1974 as a special service responsible for anti-terrorist actions exclusively within Israel. One of their first operations to free a bus with hostages, seized in 1977 near Tel Aviv, ended in complete failure. During the operation, 33 hostages died and more than 70 were injured. There have been no more hostage losses since 1978. 20 officers of the unit were killed.
Jordan
"Special Operations Squad-71". Created in 1971. The number is about 150 people. It is fighting Islamic terrorists and drug smugglers. Members of the unit underwent special training under the guidance of the Americans and the British. There were no deaths of hostages, but there were losses among members of the unit. The most famous operation was the one that prevented PLO terrorists from seizing the Intercontinental Hotel in Amman in 1970.
USA
Delta Squad. Operational detachment of special forces of the American army. Created in 1976. Moreover, at first it was planned to create anti-terrorism groups in the United States on the basis of the Green Berets, but the high command of the US Armed Forces decided to create new forces. Therefore, to this day, Delta is in a tough confrontation with the US Marines. Based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. At one time they were the favorites of American President Ronald Reagan. The main anti-terrorist unit of the United States, created in the mid-70s. Engaged in the release of American hostages abroad. The number is about 500 people. There are two women. During its existence, it took part in hundreds of secret operations around the world. Including the war in Panama and Grenada. The most successful operation was the action against Iraq during the Gulf War. The biggest failure was the attempt to free hostages at the US Embassy in Tehran in 1980. During the assault attempt, the Americans accidentally set fire to a helicopter, a plane, a fuel depot and a bus, and the Delta militants retreated in panic. 53 hostages remained in the embassy for 444 days and were released only through negotiations.
NYPD Emergency Service Unit (ESU). The number is about 400 people, about a dozen of them are women. They are equipped with heavy weapons and have cover groups. We rescued about 500 hostages and lost about three dozen of our fighters. The largest operation was the protection of the Pope during his visit to the United States in October 1995. This structure, reminiscent of a small army, participates in an average of 2.5 thousand operations per year
"Los Angeles Police Department" (SWAT). Created after youth unrest in the United States in 1965. An elite unit used both within the country and abroad. Number of members: 70 people, one of them is a woman. They are known for their fight against the US terrorist organization “Black Panthers”, for the liquidation of the kidnappers of the daughter of newspaper magnate Hearst. During its entire existence, the detachment freed more than a hundred hostages, and not a single one of them died. But about a dozen officers died in the unit itself.
Russia
Directorate "A" of the Special Forces Center of the FSB of Russia (Formerly "Alpha" group). The idea of creating a special unit to combat terrorism within the USSR belongs to Yuri Andropov (At first it was Detachment 7 of the KGB “Alpha” Directorate, created in 1974. At that time there were only 40 “Alfovites” - officers and warrant officers from among the KGB employees of Moscow and the Moscow region). Number of people: 200 people. Over the 25 years of their work, Alpha fighters freed a total of more than a thousand hostages captured by terrorists in Tbilisi, Mineralnye Vody, Sukhumi, Sarapul. The biggest failure was the unsuccessful operation in Budennovsk, when Alpha was ready to carry out an assault on Basayev’s group, but received orders to retreat. During its entire existence, Alpha lost 10 fighters, three of them died in Budennovsk.
Directorate “B” of the FSB Special Forces Center (Former group “Vympel”). In 1981, under the management of “S” (illegal intelligence) of the First Main Directorate of the KGB of the USSR, the Vympel group was created. Its status formally sounded like a “separate training center of the KGB of the USSR,” But in fact, it is assumed that the group was intended for reconnaissance and sabotage activities outside the country. At first there were only 300 people in the group, but very quickly it became one of the best units special forces in the world. The group did not have any high-profile failures. Information about successful operations is still almost not disclosed. It is known that once during an exercise, Vympel scuba divers from under the ice attacked and captured the nuclear icebreaker "Sibir". The Vympel unit went on operations to Afghanistan, Mozambique, Angola, Vietnam, Nicaragua. In 1994, within the FSB, the Vympel group turned into the “B” (Vega) division.
Top 5 elite special forces in the world, trusted with the most dangerous missions
In addition to the main armed forces, each country has its own special forces elite, the selection requirements for which are high. Such fighters must be able to silently neutralize the enemy, save hostages during an assault on a hijacked plane, and carry out sabotage behind enemy lines. They are trusted with the most dangerous and most secret missions. Onliner.by talks about the five most famous and prestigious special forces in the world.
Special Air Service, UK
Britain's Special Air Service gained worldwide fame after the storming of the Iranian embassy in London in 1980. Britain's colonial past ensured that the SAS was widely used in a variety of countries and conflicts. The history of this structure dates back to the Second World War on the North African front of combat operations in Libya and Egypt. The Nazi troops did not spare these paratroopers. They were subject to a special order from Hitler for immediate destruction. Thus, in 1944, 55 British operatives were shot.
SAS patrol in North Africa during the Second World War. Photo: The Times
Modified and heavily armed SAS jeep
In April 1980, six Arab terrorists broke into the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London and took 26 people hostage from among the visitors and staff of the diplomatic mission. They demanded the release of almost a hundred of their comrades from Iranian prisons. Otherwise they threatened to blow up the embassy. The first to arrive on the scene were SAS soldiers, who set up their headquarters in a nearby building. Negotiations began, and within a couple of days several hostages were released from the embassy, but on May 5, when the terrorists’ demands were not met, the lifeless body of the diplomatic mission’s press attaché was thrown out of the building.
For several days, SAS soldiers practiced the assault on a full-size mock-up. On May 5, Operation Nimrod was broadcast live. It took 15 minutes, and only one of the invaders survived. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was released in 2008 and helped to start life under a new name. No SAS soldiers were injured. Among the hostages, one person was killed and two more were seriously injured.
Margaret Thatcher with SAS soldiers who stormed the Iranian embassy
Selection for SAS takes place twice a year: in winter and summer. Only military personnel can join the British special forces. Historically, people with a background in the Commandos or the local equivalent of the Airborne Forces have been welcomed there. In addition to the physical exercises inherent in SEAL selection, British candidates are screened out by a two-hour, 13-kilometer march with 25 kilograms on their shoulders. Each day the distance increases and ends with a 65-kilometer march over an 886-meter-high hill.
The fighters are then sent to learn survival, navigation and jungle fighting techniques. The most recent test is hide and seek in the jungle with tracking "hunters". But even candidates who are not caught will have to endure interrogation and torture that lasts for 36 hours. The fighters are starved, thirsty and deprived of sleep, and they, in turn, must repeat: "I can't answer that question."
The mountain that British Special Forces candidates so often storm
Sayeret Matkal, Israel
One of the most secret Israeli special forces of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), Sayeret Matkal, primarily specializes in deep reconnaissance behind enemy lines. However, the unit is also tasked with combating terrorism and rescuing hostages outside of Israel. It is alleged that it was created in the image and likeness of the British SAS.
In the 50s of the last century, the structure was formed with an eye to uniting the best physically and intellectually developed youth in Israel. With the growing threat of Palestinian terrorism in the late 60s, the Sayeret Matkal unit began to develop the world's first methods and techniques for releasing hostages and countering terrorism.
One of the first such operations for Israeli fighters was the release of hostages of passenger flight 571 Vienna - Tel Aviv in May 1972. Terrorists from the Palestinian Black September organization hijacked a Belgian plane, more than a hundred passengers and staff, and threatened to blow them all up unless Israel released more than 300 Palestinians from prison. Sayeret Matkal fighters trained on a similar vessel in a closed hangar, while the main one had its wheels flat and fluid drained from its hydraulic systems. The terrorists were then assured that the Boeing needed maintenance.
Men in White - “Sayeret Matkal”
The operation to free the hostages involved 16 disguised fighters, among whom was the current Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. He was wounded, as were two other hostages. Two terrorists and one passenger on the plane were killed. It is noteworthy that the commander of the assault group was also the future Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Barak, and negotiations with the terrorists were conducted by Shimon Peres, who at that time was the Minister of Transport, and later became... yes, the Prime Minister of Israel.
Four years later, the Sayeret Matkal unit caused a stir in Uganda, where terrorists brought about a hundred Israelis on a hijacked plane. Their release was complicated by the unfriendly government of Uganda, which required the transfer of hundreds of military personnel 4,000 km away. While Sayeret Matkal fighters stormed the airport terminal, two more units held back the Ugandan military. As a result, three hostages were killed and ten more were wounded. On the Israeli side, only the unit commander was killed, while the terrorists and Ugandans lost a total of 52 people and several dozen helicopters.
The old Entebbe airport, where the Israeli special operation was carried out, later named after the deceased Jonathan Netanyahu, commander of Sayeret Matkal
Return of passengers to their homeland. Photo: Moshe Milner
GSG 9, Germany
The special forces of the German Federal Police were formed six months after the tragic events at the Munich Olympics in 1972. Then, as a result of an unsuccessful attempt to free the hostages, Palestinian terrorists killed 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team. Germany realized that without specially trained fighters it would be impossible to resist a new type of threat. Therefore, it was decided to create a unit called Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (“Border Protection Group 9”).
The main challenges for GSG 9 were hostage taking, terrorism, and kidnapping. Also, the division’s specialists are involved as consultants both within Germany and abroad.
A real baptism of fire for German special forces was Operation Magic Fire to free hostages from the Landshut plane of the German airline Lufthansa in 1977. The terrorists wandered in the sky for a long time (from Rome through Dubai to Mogadishu in Somalia) and demanded the release of their accomplices from German prisons, as well as the payment of a multimillion-dollar ransom. But their journey ended in a Somali city, where GSG 9 fighters arrived. Under the cover of darkness, in black uniforms and with painted faces, three groups of special forces stormed the plane, shot two terrorists, mortally wounded a third and captured a fourth. More than 80 passengers were rescued.
Hostages return home
After the Landshut incident, GSG 9 was able to tell the German government that it would never negotiate with terrorists again.
The successful operation was followed by another storming of a plane carrying hostages in Düsseldorf, which took place without firing a shot, and the arrest of terrorists in a town in the north of the country. One of the latest incidents that required the intervention of GSG 9 fighters was the massacre at a McDonald's restaurant in Munich this summer.
Only German police officers who have served in the force for at least two years can join the ranks of the special forces. In addition to medical and psychological testing, they take 5K run, 100m sprint, jumping, pull-ups, bench press, etc. They also need to pass pistol and submachine gun shooting. The best are selected for a 22-week training, and only one out of five successfully completes the course.
Alpha Group, USSR (Russia)
Like the German GSG 9, the anti-terrorist special unit in the USSR was created after the terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics. Six years before the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, the KGB chairman initiated the creation of Unit A. Only KGB officers passed through strict selection criteria there. The first squad was recruited to those fit for service in the Airborne Forces, and therefore both physical data and psychological endurance were strictly taken into account.
Most of the Alpha Group's operations were carried out on the territory of the Soviet Union. The unit's track record includes the capture of deserters in Sarapul, who took local schoolchildren hostage in 1981, the storming of a Tu-134 plane in Tbilisi with Georgian terrorists trying to escape from the USSR, as well as not the most unpleasant assignments in the union republics during the slow collapse of the country .
A group of fighters who were to storm Amin's palace
The most high-profile episode in the history of Group “A” was the storming of Amin’s palace (special operation “Storm-333”) in December 1979, which dragged the Soviet Union into a long and grueling war in Afghanistan. 24 Alpha fighters, in parallel with 30 KGB special reserve soldiers, dressed in Afghan uniforms with a white bandage on their arms and cleared the palace floor by floor, while other special forces provided them with external cover.
As a result of the operation, Afghan President Hafizullah Amin was killed, on whose orders Prime Minister Nur Taraki was removed from office in September of the same year. Amin's repressions threatened the fall of the regime of the local ruling party, which could lead to a change in the country's political course.
Since the 90s, the unit has been part of the Russian FSB, where it specializes in anti-terrorism activities. Separate Alpha groups existed in Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. On their basis, the national special forces of these countries were formed. Belarusian "Alpha" was created in March 1990. It was part of the structure of Group “A” of the 7th Directorate of the KGB of the USSR as Group No. 11 with a deployment in Minsk.
United States Navy SEALs, USA
Over the years of their existence, American Navy SEALs have acquired almost mythical status. Largely thanks to cinema. Just look at Steven Seagal, who played a former SEAL soldier in the action films Under Siege and Under Siege 2. This abbreviation stands for SEa, Air and Land (“Sea, Air and Land”), and is translated as “seal” or “fur seal”. Bruce Willis (Tears of the Sun) and Michael Biehn (The Rock, The Abyss) played SEAL team commanders on multiple occasions.
The Navy SEALs were created in 1962 with the signature of then US President John F. Kennedy. This decision was influenced by the tense situation in relations with the Soviet Union, the Cuban crisis and the Vietnam War. The tasks of the newly formed unit included sabotage and counter-guerrilla activities on the territory of the mock enemy.
To a greater extent this concerned the Vietnamese theater of military operations. In particular, Navy SEALs participated in the Phoenix program under the auspices of the CIA. Its essence was to eliminate key people in the Vietnamese army and people sympathetic to the Viet Cong - the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam.
Subsequently, the SEALs participated in all major US military conflicts: in the invasion of Grenada, where the group was unable to rescue the local governor general from house arrest; in the Iran-Iraq conflict of the late 80s, where the unit distinguished itself by capturing the Iran Air, which was mining the waters of the Persian Gulf; in the invasion of Panama, where the main sabotage task of the SEALs was the destruction of the local army's watercraft and the plane of General Noriega, who was overthrown as a result of the intervention.
In modern history, the most significant operation was the destruction of the number one terrorist Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. Operation Neptune Spear, developed by the CIA, involved 40 SEALs from DEVGRU, formerly known as SEAL Team Six. A unit in Black Hawk helicopters with M4 assault rifles, night vision goggles and pistols approached the terrorist’s house on May 2, 2011, where they began clearing the premises. In addition to the terrorist, four more people were killed who resisted the special forces. The country's top leadership watched the operation live.
Elite special forces are some of the most trained and impressive military units that any country in the world can boast. They go where other militaries fear to tread, overcoming potential threats, eliminating strategic targets and conducting dangerous missions. They are the best of the best. Although it is difficult to create a comparative list of these units, there are units that are better than others because their soldiers undergo rigorous training that eliminates most applicants. In the modern world, where the size of a country’s armed forces no longer speaks volumes about their effectiveness, these military personnel are the hope and support of the state.
In our issue you will find a description of eight of the world's most elite military units. The list is presented in ascending order.
1. In eighth place is the Pakistani special forces group, better known as the “Black Storks” - because of the unique headdress of the commanders.
2. In October 2009, members of this special forces team broke into an office building and rescued 39 people taken hostage by Taliban militants after an attack on army units.
3. In seventh place are the Spanish Navy Special Forces (UOE), which have long remained one of the most respected special forces in Europe. The unit was originally organized as a volunteer landing company in 1952, but has since grown into an elite special forces unit.
4. However, obtaining a Green Beret UOE is not an easy feat and the failure rate ranges from 70 to 80%. It is not uncommon for 100% of recruits to fail the test.
5. In sixth place is the Russian Alpha Squad, one of the best and most famous special forces units in the world. This elite anti-terrorist unit was created by the KGB in 1974 and remains under the auspices of its modern “follower”, the FSB.
6. In 2002, Russian special forces, and Alpha Unit in particular, came under fire after 129 hostages were killed in Operation Nord-Ost in a Moscow theater by the use of a sleeping gas intended to kill militants.
7. Fifth place: Of all the anti-terrorist services in the world, few can compare with the French Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN). The group consists of 200 people trained specifically for hostage situations. Since its founding in 1973, the group has freed 600 people. Publishing photographs of their faces is illegal in France.
8. One of the most extraordinary episodes in the history of GIGN was the capture of the Great Mosque in Mecca in 1979. Since non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the holy city, the three-member GIGN team bravely converted to Islam to help the Saudi military liberate the mosque.
9. In fourth place is Sayeret Matkal from Israel, another one of the most elite units in the world. Its main purpose is to gather intelligence and often operates far beyond enemy lines. During selection, recruits undergo rigorous training and are constantly monitored by doctors and psychologists. Only the strongest are included in the squad.
10. In 2003, Israeli taxi driver Eliyaahu Gurel was kidnapped after transporting four Palestinians to Jerusalem in his car. But the Sayeret Matkal detachment discovered his location and extracted him from a 10-meter hole in an abandoned factory in the suburbs of Ramallah.
11. The British Special Air Service opens the top three. Their motto is: “The brave one wins.” When asked about the importance of this unit in the Iraq War, US General Stanley McChrystal replied: “Principled. Without them nothing would have happened.”13. In first place are the US Navy SEALs. To join them, you need to be able to do at least 42 push-ups in 2 minutes, 50 squats in 2 minutes and run 2.4 km in 11 minutes. And all this - even before the start of training.
14. Bonus: US Marines are tough guys. For example, one of them drinks the blood of a cobra during jungle survival training.