Indian Special Forces

[Abingdonboy]

I am not comparing but trying to show the level each SF is of.

Fair enough but remember in India there are only 3 "true" SOFs (PARA SF,MARCOs,Garuds).

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

kal hi sab ki DVD le ke ata hu

Yaar yeh sab must watch movies he pakka dekhna.

Fair enough but remember in India there are only 3 "true" SOFs (PARA SF,MARCOs,Garuds).

I know dude..COBRAs are only a Special Unit.

 

[Jason bourne]

Fair enough but remember in India there are only 3 "true" SOFs (PARA SF,MARCOs,Garuds).

NSG is also good and what abt ghatak's i know little abt ghataks ?

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

NSG is also good and what abt ghatak's i know little abt ghataks ?

Ghataks are shock troops attached to every Infantry unit.They are not a SF.NSG is different.Its a counter terrorism and anti-hijacking/hostage rescue unit which also has a bomb squad attached to it.





An old Vajra-Prahar video for those who havent watched.

 

[EzioAltaïr]

Ghataks are shock troops attached to every Infantry unit.They are not a SF.NSG is different.Its a counter terrorism and anti-hijacking/hostage rescue unit which also has a bomb squad attached to it.

The Ghatak are like something between an SF and regular force. They are better trained, more experienced, and better equipped than the regular battalions.

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

The Ghatak are like something between an SF and regular force. They are better trained, more experienced, and better equipped than the regular battalions.

They are not a battalion.They are within a unit/battalion specially trained in the Commando school.Their size is comparable to a Company in a unit and comprises of jawans,NCOs and a Officer.

 

[EzioAltaïr]

They are not a battalion.They are within a unit/battalion specially trained in the Commando school.Their size is comparable to a Company in a unit and comprises of jawans,NCOs and a Officer.

I know they are not a battalion.

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

I know they are not a battalion.

BTW thats the best thing that happened to the infantry.The Infantry doesnt have to rely on SFs now while the SF can concentrate on bigger targets in a war like situation plus we being not that rich a country considering the budget we get for a million plus Army hence we cannot equip every soldier head to toe with hi-tech stuff but the Ghataks can easily be equipped plus their superior training really gives the infantry the advantage.

 

[Abingdonboy]

NSG is also good and what abt ghatak's i know little abt ghataks ?

Mate, I'll give you a "run-down" of Indian SOFs/Special units if you'd like:

I'll have a crack at it.


Firstly there are ONLY THREE actual/true Special Forces (SF/SOF) in India-
IAF-Garud
Garud Commando Force - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
IA-PARA (SF)
Para Commandos (India) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
IN-MARCOs
MARCOS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

+note- the PARA (SF) are part of the PARA regiment that also has regular PARA (airborne) btns as part of it who are well trained but not SF just like regular airborne forces found in other armies like 82nd Airborne of US.

By and large Indian SOFs very much like to keep to themselves and let their actions speak for themselves, this is sort of their unofficial mantra. As such, unlike with other SOFs, you won't find too much info on them.


+There is also the RR (Rashtriya Rifles)- a dedicated Counter Insurgency force of the IA who operate mostly in J&K. They are drwan from all arms of the IA although it is mandated 50% of the force must be from the infantry and all members are deputated to the force for a period of time before returning to their parent units.

Rashtriya Rifles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia




Then there are a other specilzed forces-
-Ghataks (In western lexicon they would be reffered to as "Special Operations Capable") are Special Operations Capable infantry platoons attactched toevery Infantry battalion in the Indian Army .

Ghatak Force - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


-SFF/Special Group-Under remit of RAW and act in similar ways to the SAD of CIA. Whilst SFF were made up of mainly Tibetan refugees, Special Group (a counter terror unit within the SFF whose existence is officially denied by GoI) is manned by mostly Indian SOF personal on deputation. Very little is actually known about these unit but whenever you here of RAW lifting some bad guy in the region say Nepal,BD or SL it is more likely than not this is SFF/SG.

Special Frontier Force - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

-NSG (a special intervention force) split in two groups (Special Action Group, SAG and Special Ranger Group,SRG), SAG is made up of IA guys on 3 year deputation tours and are the actual "shooters" who carry out any sort of domestic counter terror action and on the whole remains elusive and shadowy. SRG are the more camera-friendly guys whose sole responsibility is VVIP protection and members of SRG are CaPFs on deputation. It should be noted that despite NSG being initially set up as a dedicated CT force because of the babu nature in India the number of personal in SRG now vastly outnumber the number of "shooters" in SAG.The SAG atleast could be understood to be similar to the FBI's HRT in remit and training.


National Security Guard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Then there are the numourous CaPFs who also have specilized units:

-CRPF COBRAs: A dedicated anti-Naxal force which has grown in both size and capabilty and are actually delivering tangible results in the field. Armed with ever increasing tactics (notably recently the induction of dedicated sniper-spotter teams for intel gathering and other such sniper related work) and weaponary including recently the X-95.

Commando Battalion for Resolute Action - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

-ITBP Commandos: A specilised unit within ITBP which is well trained and,relatively, well armed. The force has been deployed (for whatever reason) to protect the Indian diplomatic mission in Afghanistan after targetted bobmbings.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


-BSF: The BSF has mulitple "commando" units including the Crocidile commandos (seriously this is thir name!) whose responsiblty is patrolling creeks and water bodies close to Pakistan.

Border Security Force - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


-RPF: The Railway Protection force too has their own dedicated commando unit. I'm not too clued up on them tbh so can't really give a fair analysis of their training/equipment.






These days most states have Special Response/Emergency response units especially in response to 26/11. Surprisingly it does seem like most of these are well trained and well equipped.


There needs to be a further understanding of what the true definition of Special Forces and Commandos are to stop this unneeded and pointless proliferation of the "commando" identity it cheapens it for all those units that are truly deserving of the title and have worked bloody hard to earn it.




To note, the SPG is NOT a special/commando force as TOO many people claim. They are an incredibly well trained and equipeed executive protection agency for PM/ex PMs, Pres and their families- THAT IS ALL.


Special Protection Group - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[EzioAltaïr]

Mate, I'll give you a "run-down" of Indian SOFs/Special units if you'd like:

Why is NSG not classified as a "true" special force?

 

[blain2]

Why is NSG not classified as a "true" special force?

Because its mission is not to conduct operations behind the lines. Its primary job is to provide VIP security and conduct CT operations in country. The former is a mission that is typically supported by military Special Forces.

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

Because its mission is not to conduct operations behind the lines. Its primary job is to provide VIP security and conduct CT operations in country. The former is a mission that is typically supported by military Special Forces.

NSG comprises of two groups SAG and SRG.There are 2 SAG.SAG has the responsibility of doing all the Anti terrorist/hostage operations and comprises of Indian Army troops only who come for 3 year tenure.

SRG is responsible for the protection of VIPs and giving support to SAG if required.There are 3 SRG.SRG comprises of Police/Para Military personnel.

NSG comes within the Central Armed Police Forces category and hence it cannot be called a Special Forces Unit.It is a second line of defence unit and reacts to situation and no way will it be given first strike operation or a chance to participate in war.

 

[Jason bourne]

Mate, I'll give you a "run-down" of Indian SOFs/Special units if you'd like:

yup like it thanks ...

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

After 1995 operations moved into a higher gear. The Special Forces were now established and their skills gave the Army the tools it needed. Using specific information the Special Forces could move in and eliminate whole mujahid units. Special Forces men dressed as locals mingled in and started hitting back. They could even move in the 10000 ft passes carrying out ambushes. They also moved across the LOC much deeper then the 1- 5 km penetration by the regular Army units. Their presence had the effect of forcing the ISI and Pakistani military of moving most of the training camps towards the sanctuary of the Afghan border. These operations also extracted a price.


In September 95, intelligence had placed a team of Lashkar-e-Toiba group in a mountain cave. A team led Captain Ashok Jasrotia of 9th SF moved up the 7000 feet mountain. By dawn they had moved into position when they were spotted. Captain Jasrotia threw a grenade and charged the militant and shot him in the process taking a bullet in the shoulder. Another militant tried to bludgeon him but Captain Jasrotia managed to kill him with his commando knife. As he moved towards the cave a hidden militant shot him in the chest and stomach. The rest of the commandos finished off the group. The tough captain hung on for 10 days dying en-route to New Delhi for medical attention. He was awarded the Ashok Chakra.

In addition to the Special Forces, units from the National Security Guards and the Marine Commandos also got involved. The Marine Commandos took positions in and around the Wullar lake cutting off infiltration routes and taking away the safe havens for militants.

:: Lt Gen (Retd) Arjun Ray ::


Must Read!

Posted by Doctor Death in another thread.

 

[Abingdonboy]

^^Man that is an EPIC story, I love such accounts especially when they involve SF and their operations. There are so few stories like this. Any more??