Special Operations Battalion (Croatia)

Special Operations Battalion
Emblem of Special Operations Battalion
Active	September 8, 2003
Country	Croatia
Branch	General staff unit
Type	special forces
Size	5 companies
Garrison/HQ	Drgomalj Delnice
Motto(s)	Svi su pozvani, rijetki su odabrani (All are invited, few are selected)
Colors	green
Anniversaries	8 September
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant Colonel Dražen Ressler

The Special Operations Battalion (Croatian language: 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 Guard Brigade (Croatian language: 1. hrvatski gardijski zdrug , a component of the 1st Croatian Guards Corps) were amalgamated. Today, it is one of the most elite units of the Croatian Armed Forces, as well as being one of the best trained and equipped special forces units in the region. It, along with other Croatian Special Forces units, has the unique benefit in the region of having a command cadre with victorious combat experience in a full-scale war.

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 is 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 is 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 are 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)
• ISTAR missions (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance)
• Humanitarian and peacekeeping operations

The Croatian General Staff exercises 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 means that members of all three branches of the Croatian armed forces can 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 is 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 alpinism and mountain operations
• 3rd Special Operations Company - specialized for seaborne 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

• H&K MP7
• H&K MP5
• H&K UMP
• H&K G36
• FN Five-seven
• FN F2000
• FN SCAR
• HS Produkt HS 2000
• HS Produkt VHS
• IMI TAR-21
• Colt M4A1 SOPMOD
• Accuracy International Arctic Warfare
• Barrett M82
• Browning M2
• Zastava M84
• Metallic RBG-6

Vehicles

• Puch G
• Iveco LMV
• BOV-VP

Helicopters

• Bell 206B-3
• Mil Mi-8MTV-1
• Mil Mi-171Sh

Vessels

• Olimp Nautika M46
• R-2M Type Diver’s Delivery Vessel

International engagements

BSD members have been deployed on several peacekeeping missions in the world. Currently, BSD is engaged in ISAF and EUFOR Tchad/RCA missions.

There was some speculation in the Croatian media and amongst the public that BSD members are conducting combat missions in Iraq side-by-side with US Army, in contravention of a Croatian parliament mandate for the United Nations mission, but this was dismissed by the Croatian Ministry of Defense.

Gallery