Wikipedia

Polish Special Forces

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
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 Commander Gen. bryg. Sławomir Drumowicz
Insignia
Flag[2]

Composition

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

Structure

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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] Named after "Agat" (abbreviation of anty-gestapo) special unit of the Polish Home Army

  • 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

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  •  
    GROM operator conducting a port security exercise
  •  
    Polish GROM and US Navy SEALs conducting joint field exercises
  •  
    GROM unit conducting ship seizure training
  •  
    GROM operator conducting a pistol training exercise

Equipment

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Weaponry

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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   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   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

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Name Type Variant In service Notes
HMMWV Four-wheel drive multi-purpose vehicle M1151A1

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-ATV MRAP M1240A1 45[10] Donated by the United States.[11]
Toyota Four-wheel drive vehicle Land Cruiser
Hilux[12]		 Used by GROM and 1 Pułk Specjalny Komandosów (1st Special Commando's Regiment)
Land Rover Defender Four-wheel drive vehicle 90
110		 4[13]
6		 Used by JW GROM and JW Formoza
Mercedes-Benz Four-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 Honker 4x4 Honker Skorpion 3 special version Used by JW komandosów Polish made off-road vehicles, best variants are powered with Polish Andoria engines
Defenture VECTOR Four-wheel drive multi-purpose vehicle Defenture GRF 4x4 2 option of ordering additional units[16] Purchased by Grom. Defenture GRF vehicles will join the fleet of the Polish Tier 1 unit.[17]
Star Truck Star 1444 (MAN TGM 18.280 BB) 1[14] Polish made trucks, now modernised to adjust to new weaponry and specifications
Volvo Truck Volvo FM 8x4
Volvo FM 6x6
Volvo FM 4x4		 10[14]
11[14]
2[14]
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

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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.[18] In 2019 7 S-70i Black Hawks were ordered and received. 4 to Special Forces and 3 to the Police.[18]

Unmanned aerial vehicle

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Name Image Type In service Notes
FlyEye   Small UAV 44
RQ-21 Blackjack   Small UAV 10[19]
ScanEagle   Small UAV 10 As 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 UAV 13[20] 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
Mayfly Mikro UAV 24[21]
Black Hornet 3   Nano UAV 40 sets[22]

Rank insignia

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Main article: Polish Armed Forces 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

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References

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  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "JW FORMOZA - USSE". usse.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Jednostka Wojskowa "Agat"". www.jednostki-wojskowe.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Jednostka Wojskowa "Nil"". www.jednostki-wojskowe.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  6. ^ Siminski, Jacek (2019-12-23). "Polish Special Ops Component Receives S-70i Black Hawk Helicopters". The Aviationist. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  7. ^ "Mil Mi-17-1V Hip, lokalizacja: Powidz - (EPPW), autor: Marek Purat". Galeria Aviateam.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Miniguny w końcu kupione". www.altair.com.pl. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  9. ^ "HMMWV w Wojsku Polskim".
  10. ^ "Kolejna dostawa sprzętu z USA dla Wojska Polskiego". defence24.pl (in Polish). 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  11. ^ "Polskie Wojska Specjalne otrzymały od Amerykanów 45 pojazdów opancerzonych M-ATV". technologie.onet.pl. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  12. ^ Nowa Technika Wojskowa magazine, issue 03/09
  13. ^ "Nadjeżdża Huzar". 4 January 2005.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g "Zakupy pojazdów dla Wojska Polskiego". Gdzie zaczyna się wojsko... 3 January 2011.
  15. ^ Nowa Technika Wojskowa magazine, issue 03/09 96
  16. ^ "GROM kupuje holenderskie wszędołazy [ANALIZA]" (in Polish). 24 July 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  17. ^ "GROM kupuje holenderskie wszędołazy [ANALIZA]" (in Polish). 24 July 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  18. ^ a b "Poland Purchases Four New S-70i Black Hawk Helicopters". 17 December 2021.
  19. ^ "RQ-21A BlackJack na MSPO". polska-zbrojna.pl. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  20. ^ ZBIAM (2022-05-19). "Bezzałogowe statki powietrzne w Wojsku Polskim - raport specjalny [DO POBRANIA]". Wydawnictwo militarne ZBIAM (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  21. ^ "Polska Zbrojna". polska-zbrojna.pl. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  22. ^ "Nano bezzałogowce dla wojska. Black Hornet w Lublińcu". defence24.pl (in Polish). 2019-06-15. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
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