Namibian Special Forces

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Namibian Special Forces
Allegiance Constitution of Namibia
Type Special Forces
Size Classified
Part of Namibian Defence Force
Garrison/HQ Grootfontein, Namibia
Commanders
Commander In Chief President Hage Geingob
Minister of Defence Penda ya Ndakolo
Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General John Mutwa
Special Forces Commander General Officer Commanding Special Forces Brig Ben Kadhila[1]

The Namibian Special Forces are Namibia's Military elite Special Operations grouping. Made up of all the Namibian military's Special Forces and Special Operations capable units. Consisting of Army Commandos, Marine Amphibious Commandos and Airborne Paratroopers. The Commandos from the Namibian Army specialize in airborne and land borne insertion while the Namibian Marine Corps Amphibious Marine commandos specialize in sea borne insertion.

Role

Includes but not limited to:

Training

Commando's
Little information is released on the training of the commando operators. Friendly countries are accepting candidates into their training cycles.[2]

Paratroopers
Pre Selection phase is 6 weeks long during which candidates are tested on military skills, such as Musketry Training, Navigation, Field Craft. After going through the pre selection phase the candidates progress to the Parachute Selection Phase. Both phases are physically and mentally tough. The pass rate for both phases is only 30 percent.[3] The candidates then progress to the Basic Static Line Jump Course which consists of a 1 week ground phase and 3 weeks of Practical Parachute Jumping. Included in this is 9 Parachute Jumps which of which 5 are Clean Fatigue jumps with Combat Webbing and Weapon jump, a Personal Weapons Container (PWC) jump and a Night jump. After completing this the candidate is officially a paratrooper and is awarded the Parachute jump wings and the maroon beret.[4] Training takes place at the Namibia Special Forces School at the Grootfontein Air Base[5]

Pathfinders

Pathfinders are taken from existing Paratroopers.

Amphibious Commando's
The Marine Commandos are trained in Brazil and in Walvis Bay by Brazilian instructors. The amphibious commando training course is a year long .[6] Only existing Marines are eligible for this training

Units

Commandos
Operators are taken from primarily from the Namibian Army. Most of their details and activities are classified.

Airborne
Parachute infantry are organized as part of the Special Forces and are likely a special operations force. This is likely due to their mobility and rapid deployment capability due to their nature as light infantry. The unit consists of paratroopers and riggers.[7]

Pathfinders

Pathfinders are special operation soldiers who's main role is to operate drop zones, pickup zones, and helicopter landing sites for airborne operations, air resupply operations, or other air operations in support of the ground unit commander.

Amphibious Marine Commandos
The amphibious marine commandos are the maritime specialists in Namibia's special operations capability. Trained by Brazilian specialists in Namibia and Brazil. The operators are taken from the Namibian Marine Corps.

Equipment

Known Weapons

Name Type Origin Photo Notes
AK-47 Assault Rifle Soviet Union AK 47.JPG Multiple variants
RPG-7 Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher Russia RPG-7 detached.jpg
PK 7.62×54mmR General Purpose Machine Gun Soviet Union PKM DD-ST-85-01257.JPEG Multiple variants
M4 carbine Assault Rifle United States PEO M4 Carbine RAS M68 CCO.jpg
Blaser R93 Tactical Sniper Rifle Germany Blaser R93 LRS2 .308 Win 4thNovSniperCompetition06.jpg

Known Vehicles

Origin Type Acquired In service Notes
Agrale Marruá  Brazil Utility Vehicle 141 -- 141 units acquired for the whole Defence
Force, total units used by Special Forces is classified.[8]

Gallery

Special Forces in a utility truck including a sniper Special Forces on a Agrale Marrua Vehicle

References