Delta (Norwegian police unit)

Beredskapstroppen, callsign "Delta", is the police tactical unit of the Norwegian Police Service (Norwegian: Politi- og lensmannsetaten).[1] Its members are trained to perform dangerous operations such as high-risk arrests and hostage situations. It is organizationally part of Oslo Police District, but is responsible for the whole country, including oil installations in the North Sea.[2]

Not to be confused with Delta force or Delta Police Department.
Beredskapstroppen
Shoulder patch
Active1976 – present
Country Norway
Agency Norwegian Police Service
TypePolice tactical unit
RoleCounter-terrorism
Law enforcement
Common nameDelta
Commanders
Current
commander		Anders Snortheimsmoen
Notables
Significant operation(s)Torp hostage crisis
Kosovo War (Through Special Team Six)
2011 Norway attacks

The unit has participated in several incidents including the Torp hostage crisis at Sandefjord Airport, Torp on 29 September 1994, the aftermath of the NOKAS robbery and the 2011 Norway attacks. The members have a wider variety of weapons than the ordinary police force, including SIG Sauer P226 pistols and Diemaco C8 rifles. Members spend half their time training and preparing for missions and the remaining participating in ordinary law enforcement work in Oslo.

Armed officer with an MP5

Operations

According to Delta's web site, they conduct in average almost one armed operation every day. In 2004, for instance, they conducted 422 armed missions and only fired their weapons twice.

One of Delta's most dramatic missions was the Torp hostage crisis, where an elderly couple and two police officers were taken hostages by two criminals. In the end of the two-day drama, Delta executed a rescue operation rescuing all of the hostages and killing one hostage taker and arresting the other. In the aftermath of the fatal NOKAS robbery, Delta arrested many suspects involved with the robbery. Since October 2006, Delta has focused their operations against gang crime in the capital of Oslo and arrested many criminals and seized many weapons used by the gangs.

2011 Oslo / Utøya attacks

Delta were first responders at Utøya and subsequently apprehended Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of the 2011 Norway attacks in Oslo and Utøya on 22 July 2011.

Deployment in Special Team Six

Members of the unit have been deployed in the multinational police unit, Special Team Six many times. Team Six has most notably served in Kosovo. One of the unit's most important tasks was to arrest war criminals. According to one of the Delta operators, during a rescue mission, grenades and bullets flew over their heads while Team Six rescued 50-60 persons from furious Albanians. This incident was a rescue of United Nations personnel trapped in a building. Team Six was commanded by a Norwegian operator from Delta during this mission and during the period January–July 2004. Beredskapstroppen has had personnel deployed in Team Six ever since its foundation.[3]

Equipment
Weapons
Vehicles

The unit frequently drove unmarked Mercedes Geländewagen, marked and unmarked Chevrolet Suburbans, Unmarked BMW X5s and marked and unmarked Volvo V70s. Delta has recently started utilizing new 2009 Mercedes MLs and armoured Toyota Landcruisers as a replacement for the older Volvo V70 and Chevrolet Suburban. Delta also has two Rigid-hulled inflatable boats. The type has three engines with a total of 675 HP. For air transport Delta mainly make use of military Bell 412 SP from the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

Other

The operators use a special type of visor on their helmets which can withstand 9mm bullets. The French National Gendarmerie Intervention Group also reportedly use this visor. The unit uses a gas mask with a closed system (rebreather). They use advanced equipment to determine the type of chemicals they are up against. Their uniforms differ slightly from those normally worn by the men and women of the Norwegian Police Service; instead of the normal black pants and blue shirts they wear black jumpsuits.

References
  1. Katz, Samuel M. (1995). The Illustrated Guide to the World's Top Counter-Terrorist Forces. Hong Kong: Concord Publication Company. p. 154-156. ISBN 9623616023.
  4. https://www.sigsauer.com/press-releases/norwegian-police-adopt-sig-sauer-p320-x-series-as-service-pistol/
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