Special Operations Battalion (Croatia)

Special Operations Battalion
Special Operations Battalion
	Emblem of Special Operations Battalion
Active	September 8, 2000 – December 24, 2014
Country	Croatia
Branch	General staff unit
Type	Special operation force
Role	Special operations; Direct action; Special reconnaissance; CSAR missions(Combat Search and Rescue); Military aid;
Size	5 companies
Garrison/HQ	Drgomalj Delnice
Nickname(s)	Green berets,Cobras
Motto(s)	Svi su pozvani, rijetki su odabrani (All are invited, few are chosen)
Colors	green
Anniversaries	8 September
Engagements	War in Afghanistan;
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 the Special Operations 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 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

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 MP7		4,6×30mm	Germany	unknown

Assault rifles

Model	Caliber	Origin	Variants
VHS assault rifle	5.56×45mm	Croatia	VHS-D,VH-K and VHS 2 VHS-D assault rifle REMOV.jpg
Heckler & Koch G36	5.56×45mm	Germany	KV and C
M4 carbine	5.56×45mm	United States	A1
FN F2000	5.56×45mm	Belgium	F2000

Machine guns

Model	Caliber	Origin
Browning M2	12.7×99mm	United States
FN MAG	7.62×51mm	Belgium
Ultimax 100	5.56×45mm	Singapore

Sniper rifles

Model	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
Steyr SSG 69	7.62×51mm	Austria	P4
Heckler & Koch PSG1	7.62×51mm	Germany	PSG1

Shotguns

Model	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

Grenade launchers

Model	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	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
AT4	RPG	Sweden

Vehicles

Model	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	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.