Special Service Group
Encyclopedia : S : SP : SPE : Special Service Group
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| Military manpower | ||
| Military age | 16 years of age | |
| Availability | 39,028,014 (2005) | |
| Males ages | 16-49 | |
| Reaching military age | males: 1,969,055 (2005) | |
| Active troops | Ranked 7th) | |
| Military expenditures | ||
| Dollar figure | .848 billion (2004) | |
| Percent of GDP | 4.9% (2004) | |
| Pakistan Armed Forces | ||
| Pakistan Army |
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| Pakistan Air Force |
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| Pakistan Navy |
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| Pakistan Coast Guard | ||
| Personnel | ||
| Military history | ||
| Military history of Pakistan | ||
| Related topics | ||
| Weapons of mass destruction | ||
| Nishan-E-Haider | ||
| Special Service Group | ||
| Inter-Services Intelligence | ||
Special Services Group (SSG) is an independent commando brigade of the Pakistan Army. It is an elite special operations force similar to the ,Special Air Service and United States Army Special Forces(Green Berets). Official numbers are put at 2,100 men, in 3 Battalions; however the actual strength is classified. It is estimated to have been increased to 4 Battalions, with the eventual formation of 2 Brigades of Special Forces (6 Battalions).
Overview
Based out of Cherat and Attock, the SSG started out in the 1950s with active support from U.S. Special Operations Forces as an irregular military unit called the 19th Baluch Regiment. SSG officers must have at least two years of prior military experience and volunteer from other formations for three-year assignments with the SSG; NCO and enlisted men volunteer from other formations to serve permanently in the SSG.All trainees must participate in an eight-month SSG courses which includes 36-mile march or more in 12 hours, a grueling requirement that was first institutionalized by 19 Baluch. They are also required to run 5 miles in 40 minutes with full gear, fully loaded. Following the SSG course, trainees must volunteer for Airborne School. This course lasts for four weeks and all SSG recruits must pass this course and wings are attainted after conducting 5 day and 2 night static-line jumps. A large number of the SSG operators are also HALO/HAHO qualified. Additionally, a Counter-terrorist hostage rescue company commonly referred to as Zarrar (previously Musa) Company (all companies and Battalions of the SSG have names ascribed to them) is also part of the SSG.
Many are selected for additional specialist training. A course is given at Peshawar with a 'skydiver' tab awarded after 5 freefall jumps. A "Mountain Warfare" qualification badge is given after completing a course at the Mountain Warfare School in Abbotabad; and a "Combat Diver" badge is awarded for the course held by the Naval Special Services Group SSGN at Karachi. Three classes of combat swimmers were recognized: 1st class to those completing an 18-mile or more swim in designated time period; 2nd class to those finishing a 12-mile swim; and 3rd class for a 6-mile swim.
Initially, SSG officers were sent in large numbers to the United States for Special Forces training. Today, it consists of various companies within each battalion specialized in specific roles including desert warfare, ranger, mountain warfare. Due to Siachen crisis, a Snow and High Altitude Warfare School was also established.
Operations
- The SSG were first used in 1964 in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Codenamed Operation Gibraltar, their aim was continued reconnaissance, sabotage of Indian Military facilities and eventual liberation of Kashmir from Indian control. This Operation was a failure and led to a full scale war after India discovered the infiltrators and attacked Pakistan in retaliation.
- In the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 they were once again used, this time in assistance to regular infantry units and for non-conventional and rescue operations. SSG conducted what would be considered to be "classic special forces missions" against Indian forces during this war. Eventually faced against massive political and military onslaught in East Pakistan, the SSG could do little in turning the tide of war. Of note is that Pervez Musharraf commanded a company of commandos during the war.
- The SSG was active in Afghanistan in the 1980s during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, conducting different type of covert and direct action missions. Again when the balance of power shifted, it led some covert operations against the very Afghan government (Taliban) that Pakistan (along with Saudi Arabia and UAE) had once aided, this time as part of the allied forces in operation Enduring Freedom. The SSG has aided in the capture of many senior Al Qaeda leaders, most notably Abu Zubaida and Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and conducts regular operations as part of the Pakistani Special Operations Task Force in the Tribal Areas of North West Pakistan.
- The SSG has also conducted many operations in Siachen Glacier against Indian positions. The most noted one took place in 1987 when Pervez Musharraf (then Brigadier) led an SSG unit assault on Indian posts before being beaten back. [link] In addition, some covert Operations in United Nations Military missions in Bosnia Herzegovina, Somalia and Sierra Leone have also been executed by SSG operators.
- The involvement in the Kargil War involved early gains which were later lost due to political/military pressure and eventual withdrawal of Pakistani forces to the Line of Control.
- The SSG has been the primary outfit for Counter-terrorism capability in Pakistan (However as of 1994, each province has established its own CT-Swift Response Team which were trained by joint US CT experts and SSG operators from the Musa company as part of US support to Pakistan). The SSG team of operators (referred to as Musa Company of the SSG) has been involved in various successful hostage rescue operations including hijacking incidents since its inception in 1981.
Organization
Pakistan's SSG Commandos on the March 23rd Military Parade in Islamabad
Pakistani Special Forces have 3 battalions (bns):
- 1st "Yaldaram" Commando Battalion,
- 2nd "Pawinda" Commando Battalion,
- 3rd "Rahbar" Commando Battalion.
- "Zararr" Company - Antiterrorist company and,
- "Musa" Company - A combat diver unit.
The SSG is also used for providing security to various vital points such as the strategic nuclear facilities in Pakistan. It is thought that a number of SSG operators are stationed in Saudi Arabia for the protection of the Saudi royal family. Many SSG Officers and other ranks are routinely seconded to the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for clandestine and reconnaisance missions.
The SSG also has a unit in the Pakistan Navy modeled on the Navy SEALs : NSSG, otherwise known as SSGN. The SSGN currently maintains headquarters in Karachi headed by Pakistan Navy Commander. It has a strength of one company and is assigned to unconventional warfare operations in the coastal regions. During war it is assigned to Midget submarines.Operatives are also trained in Underwater Demolition and Clearance Diveing.All other training is similar to the Army SSG with specific marine oriented inputs provided at its Headquarters. The strength of the Navy commandos is put at 1,000.
Appearance and Equipment
Uniforms
The commandos are distinguished by their insignia of maroon berets with a silver metal tab on a light blue felt square with a dagger & lightning bolts, and a wing on right side of chest. The combat uniform of the SSG is similar to the US woodland pattern camouflage coat and Khaki Pants. Other uniforms include cammies and black dungarees (for the CT team).SSGN (SSG Navy) is distinguished by a dark blue beret with three versions of the "fouled anchor" Navy badge for officers, NCOs and enlisted men. A metal SSGN qualification badge featuring a vertical dagger superimposed over a midget submarine is worn over the left pocket on dress uniforms. Parachute wings are worn over the right pocket.
Equipment
The SSG is equipped with an array of modern weaponry which includes, Steyr AUG, HK G3, and Chinese Type-81/56 rifles, Colt M4 Carbines, and FN P90 and HK-MP5 (many diff. variants) Submachine guns. Light machine gun in use is Rheinmetall MG3 (locally produced along with HK G3s and MP5s). In sniper or Marksman role, the SSG CT teams are equipped with Steyr SSG-69, Finnish Tikka bolt-action and HK PSG1 and Dragunov SVD Semi-automatic rifles. Side arms includes various HK models. Most of the gear in use by the SSG is (and has been) of US origin.See also
Sources and external Links
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