Polish Special Forces

Special Troops Command (Pol.: Wojska Specjalne) is the fourth military branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland and was officially formed in early 1990 after the fall of communism in 1989, in which the Polish Special Forces were first deployed into the conflict in Lebanon. The conflict in Lebanon was the first official battlefield experience in post-communist times. Polish Special Forces most notably train with American Navy SEALS and NATO Alliance members. It is composed of special forces units and command.

Special Troops Command
Wojska Specjalne
Military eagle
Founded	1990
Country	Poland
Allegiance	Polish Armed Forces
Type	special forces
Size	3 380 (April 2020)[1]
Garrison/HQ	Kraków
Engagements	War in Afghanistan, Iraq War, Syrian civil war (Personnel recovery, Emergency evacuation)
Commanders
Chief of the General Staff	gen. broni Rajmund Andrzejczak
General Commander	gen. broni Jarosław Mika
Special Operations Component Commander	gen. bryg. Sławomir Drumowicz
Insignia
Flag

Composition

Special Troops Command (Dowództwo Wojsk Specjalnych) based in Kraków:[2]

• Jednostka Wojskowa Grom, or GROM, based in Warszawa and Gdańsk – Poland's premier special missions unit. The unit was named after the Silent Unseen of World War II and trains regularly with the best special operation units from around the world.[2]
• Jednostka Wojskowa Komandosów, or JWK, based in Lubliniec – With a varied skill set, comparable to that of the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets), JWK is responsible for asymmetrical warfare, embedding with, training, and leading host nation forces, as well as counter insurgency operations.
• Jednostka Wojskowa Formoza, or JW FORMOZA, is based in Gdynia - Created as a maritime sabotage unit in the 1970s and it is the smallest of the STCs special forces units. The unit works closely with GROM and JWK and is often referred to as Poland's equivalent of the Navy SEALs.
• Jednostka Wojskowa Agat, or AGAT, based in Gliwice – A relatively new unit, being stood up in 2011, its name is shortened for “anti-gestapo” in honor of a WWII Polish Home Army Combat Diversion unit. A specialized light infantry unit, its role is comparable to that of the 75th Ranger Regiment.
• Jednostka Wojskowa Nil, or NIL, is based in Kraków – Formed in 2008 as the Special Operations Support unit, the unit is responsible for intelligence analysis, electronic warfare, technical surveillance, and unmanned aircraft operations. The unit is named after general Emil August Fieldorf “Nil”, a WWII Polish hero.
• 7 Special Operations Aviation Squadron based in Powidz – Created in 2011, dedicated to support SOF if needed while still being part of the Air Force.

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

7 Special Operations Aviation Squadron - based in Powidz

• HQ staff
• Aerospace Group - equipped with 8 Mi-17, including 4 Mi-17-1W and 4 Sikorsky S-70i[6][7] all helicopters are to be equipped with M134Gs[8]
• Maintenance Group

Gallery

• 
  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

Weaponry

Name	Type	Photo	Notes
Standard firearms of the Polish Armed Forces
AKM	Assault rifle		Outdated technology, virtually phased out and replaced
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
Glock 17	Semi-auto pistol		Standard pistol in JW Komandosów and JW Agat
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
FN P90	Submachine gun		Standard SMG for close protection in JW Grom
Colt M4A1	Assault rifle		Mostly supplanted the Beryl in JW GROM. Less prevalent in other units.
Heckler & Koch HK416	Assault rifle		Assault rife used by the Polish SOF, JW Grom, JW Komandosów 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
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

Name	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
HMMWV	Four-wheel drive multi-purpose vehicle	M1165A1	5	The Polish Armed Forces currently operate 222 different variants of HMMWVes (217 are operated by the Polish Land Forces).
Oshkosh M-ATV	MRAP		45	Donated by the United States[9]
Toyota	Four-wheel drive vehicle	Land Cruiser Hilux[10]		Used by GROM and 1 Pułk Specjalny Komandosów (1st Special Commando's Regiment)
Land Rover Defender	Four-wheel drive vehicle	90 110	4[11] 6	Used by JW GROM and JW Formoza
Mercedes-Benz	Four-wheel drive vehicle Truck	G-class Atego 1323AK	6 10[12]	The Polish Armed forces currently operate a total of 140 G-class vehicles.[13] The Land forces operate 121 GD 290s and MB290GD WDs.[12] The military police uses 13 GD 290s.[12]
Tarpan Honker	4x4	Honker Skorpion 3 special version	Used by 1 Pułk Specjalny Komandosów	Polish made off-road vehicles, best variants are powered with Polish Andoria engines
Star	Truck	Star 1444 (MAN TGM 18.280 BB)	1[12]	Polish made trucks, now modernised to adjust to new weaponry and specifications
Volvo	Truck	Volvo FM 8x4 Volvo FM 6x6 Volvo FM 4x4	10[12] 11[12] 2[12]

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	Generał^1	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.
U.S./U.K. equivalent	General	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General, Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	First Lieutenant, Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant
^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.
U.S./Commonwealth equivalent	Command Sergeant Major	Sergeant Major	Master Sergeant	Sergeant 1st Class	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Specialist Lance Corporal	Private 1st Class	Private E-1	Private E-2

See also

• Cichociemni
• Grupa Wawelberg

References

1. http://www.dz.urz.mon.gov.pl/zasoby/dziennik/pozycje/zalaczniki/2020/02/zalaczniki-sig.pdf
2. "Polish Special Forces 2018 GROM / JWK / FORMOZA / AGAT / NIL". funker530.com. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
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. "Polskie Wojska Specjalne otrzymały od Amerykanów 45 pojazdów opancerzonych M-ATV". technologie.onet.pl. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
10. Nowa Technika Wojskowa magazine, issue 03/09
11. "Nadjeżdża Huzar". 4 January 2005.
12. "Zakupy pojazdów dla Wojska Polskiego". Gdzie zaczyna się wojsko...
13. Nowa Technika Wojskowa magazine, issue 03/09 96

External links

• Official website of the Wojska Specjalne