Polish Special Forces

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The Special Troops Command (Polish: Wojska Specjalne) is the special forces command of the Polish Armed Forces (SZ RP). The command was formed in 2007 and is the fourth military branch of the SZ RP.

Special Troops Command
Wojska Specjalne
Military eagle
Founded2007
Country Poland
TypeSpecial forces command
Size3 841 soldiers (2023)[1]
Part ofPolish Armed Forces
Garrison/HQKraków
EngagementsOperation Uphold Democracy
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Syrian civil war
 • Personnel recovery
 • Emergency evacuation
Commanders
Chief of the General StaffGen. broni Rajmund Andrzejczak
General CommanderGen. broni Jarosław Mika
Special Operations Component CommanderGen. bryg. Sławomir Drumowicz
Insignia
Flag[2]

Composition

The Special Troops Command (Dowództwo Wojsk Specjalnych) is based in Kraków and comprises:

Structure

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

Equipment

Weaponry

NameTypePhotoNotes
Standard firearms of the Polish Armed Forces
Kbs wz. 1996 BerylAssault rifle Most commonly used weapon
Pallad grenade launcherGrenade launcher Polish made grenade launcher, used from its introduction to the army
SWDSniper rifle
Sako TRGSniper Rifle
PKMGeneral purpose machine gun
UKM-2000General purpose machine gun
Standard firearms of the Polish Special Forces
Heckler & Koch USPSemi-auto pistol Standard pistol in JW GROM, JW NIL and JW komandosów
Glock 17Semi-auto pistol Standard pistol in JW Komandosów, JW AGAT and JW NIL
SIG P226Semi-auto pistol Standard pistol in JW Formoza (Navy Unit)
FN Five-sevenSemi-auto pistol Standard pistol for close protection in JW Grom
CZ Scorpion Evo 3Submachine gun New addition SMG for direct force operations in JW Grom
Heckler & Koch MP5Submachine gun Standard SMG for direct force operations in JW GROM, JW komandosów, JW Formoza and JW AGAT
FN P90Submachine gun Standard SMG for close protection in JW Grom
Colt M4A1Assault rifle Mostly supplanted the Beryl in JW GROM and JW NIL (M4A3)
Heckler & Koch HK416Assault 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/GLMGrenade launcher Standard under-barrel grenade launcher used with the HK416
Heckler & Koch G36Assault rifle Used in JW Formoza and JW GROM
Heckler & Koch AG36Grenade launcherStandard grenade launcher used with the G36
FN MinimiLight machine gun Most common light machine gun in the Polish SOF
Carl GustavRecoilless rifle
Other firearms
Beretta 92Semi-auto pistol
M4 CarbineAssault rifle Clones made by KAC and Bushmaster
F2000Assault rifle
M14 rifleBattle rifle Upgraded to EBR standard
M203Grenade launcher
H&K MZP-1Grenade launcher
Remington 870Shotgun
Heckler & Koch PSG-1Sniper rifle
Remington 700Sniper rifle
Mauser SP66Sniper rifle
Mauser 86Sniper rifle
Barrett M82Anti-material rifle

Vehicles

NameTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
HMMWVFour-wheel drive multi-purpose vehicleM1151A1

M1165A1

42

?

In 2009, JW AGAT and JW Komandosów each received 15 M1151A1 vehicles. The remaining 12 vehicles, probably without Frag Kit armor but equipped with an advanced communication system, were delivered to JW GROM. Additionally, later the Special Forces Command decided to purchase an unspecified number of M1165A1 Special Ops, the so-called Ground Mobility Vehicle, i.e. a vehicle configured exclusively for the needs of special forces[9]
Oshkosh M-ATVMRAPM1240A145[10]Donated by the United States.[11]
ToyotaFour-wheel drive vehicleLand Cruiser
Hilux[12]
Used by GROM and 1 Pułk Specjalny Komandosów (1st Special Commando's Regiment)
Land Rover DefenderFour-wheel drive vehicle90
110
4[13]
6
Used by JW GROM and JW Formoza
Mercedes-BenzFour-wheel drive vehicle
Truck
G-class
Atego 1323AK
6
10[14]
The Polish Armed forces currently operate a total of 140 G-class vehicles.[15] The Land forces operate 121 GD 290s and MB290GD WDs.[14] The military police uses 13 GD 290s.[14]
Tarpan Honker4x4Honker Skorpion 3 special versionUsed by JW komandosówPolish made off-road vehicles, best variants are powered with Polish Andoria engines
StarTruckStar 1444 (MAN TGM 18.280 BB)1[14]Polish made trucks, now modernised to adjust to new weaponry and specifications
VolvoTruckVolvo FM 8x4
Volvo FM 6x6
Volvo FM 4x4
10[14]
11[14]
2[14]
YamahaMotorbikeYamaha XT660unknownUsed in JW NIL
PolarisQuadPolaris Sportsman 500 EFIunknownUsed in all Polish SOF units
Range RoverSUVRange Rover ArmouredunknownUsed in Polish SOF Command

Aircraft

Polish SOF S-70i Black Hawk
NameTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
S-70i Black HawkMedium-lift transport/utility helicopterS-70i4/84 on order, 2 scheduled for delivery in 2023, remaining in 2024.[16] In 2019 7 S-70i Black Hawks were ordered and received. 4 to Special Forces and 3 to the Police.[16]

Unmanned aerial vehicle

NameImageTypeIn serviceNotes
FlyEye Small UAV44
RQ-21 Blackjack Small UAV10[17]
ScanEagle Small UAV10As a result of the contract concluded in 2010 by the United States Department of Defense with Insitu, the Polish Army received one ScanEagle Block D UAV set free of charge, containing a ground system and 10 air platforms. Its user is the Jednostka Wojskowa NIL
Aeronautics Orbiter Mini UAV13[18]The first set of mini Aeronautics Orbiter class UAVs (4 flying devices) was purchased in October 2005 for the Jednostka Wojskowa GROM, the next three sets (3 flying devices each) were purchased in February 2007
MayflyMikro UAV24[19]
Black Hornet 3 Nano UAV40 sets[20]

Rank insignia

Officers
NATO CodeOF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1

Special Forces
Polish nameGenerał1Generał
broni
Generał
dywizji
Generał
brygady
PułkownikPodpułkownikMajorKapitanPorucznikPodporucznik
Abbreviationgen.gen. bronigen. dyw.gen. bryg.płkppłkmjrkpt.por.ppor.

1 Until 2004 Generał armii

Enlisted
NATO CodeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1

Special Forces
Polish nameStarszy
chorąży
sztabowy
Starszy
chorąży
ChorążyMłodszy
chorąży
Starszy
sierżant
SierżantPlutonowyStarszy
kapral
KapralStarszy
szeregowy
Szeregowy
Abbreviationst. chor. szt.st. chor.chor.mł. chor.st. sierż.sierż.plut.st. kpr.kpr.st. szer.szer.

See also

References

External links