Britain’s Royal Navy says it has captured 13 suspected pirates off Somalia’s coast in a joint operation with a U.S. Navy destroyer.

The defense ministry says helicopters, Royal Marine snipers and two military vessels – one British, one American – were deployed early Friday to intercept a dhow in the Indian Ocean.

Despite the show of force, the suspected pirates refused to stop, and surrendered only after Royal Marines boarded the ship.

The ministry said that the dhow had previously been identified as a pirated vessel operating in the shipping lanes of the Indian Ocean.
Capt. Shaun P. Jones, commanding officer of the British ship, said the 13 suspects had found Friday the 13th was “unlucky for them.”

The British Military Tournament 2011 will take place at Earls Court on 2, 3, 4 December.

The British Military Tournament is an unforgettable and breathtaking opportunity to marvel at the skills and precision of the British Armed Forces while showing appreciation for our heroic servicemen and women. Set within a dazzling arena production, this unmissable show is the largest display of military theatre anywhere in the world.

Last year’s event brough together all of the best elements from the world-famous Royal Tournament in a new show for the 21st Century. It was witnessed by over 50,000 people and raised substantial funds for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

This year the British Military Tournament is being presented by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity in association with The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity and The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. This spectacular new tri-service show for 2011 is packed with an incredible array of exciting displays and traditional, breathtaking crowd favourites.

The focus for this year will be on the story of ‘the special relationship’ between the United Kingdom and United States, recreating dramatic episodes in history from the American War of Independence right up to modern day operations in Afghanistan.

The programme includes:

- Over 700 participants, including active combat servicemen and women plus musicians from the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and the US Army, and skilled historical American Civil War re-enactors

- Over 100 horses and modern military vehicles

- The only chance to see the legendary Field Gun Race, featuring two crews from Wellington College battling it out in a dramatic, nail-biting contest over the walls and chasms of an unforgiving obstacle course

- The iconic Musical Drive of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery

- Death-defying stunts from the White Helmets (Royal Corps of Signals Motorcycle Display Team)

- Special appearances from the US Army Drill Team and the US Army Band & Chorus.

For more information, visit the website www.britishmilitarytournament.com

Ships sailing under a British flag will be able to carry armed guards to protect them from pirates, the prime minister has announced.

David Cameron says he wants to combat the risks to shipping off the coast of Somalia, where 49 of the world’s 53 hijackings last year took place.

No ship carrying armed security has yet been hijacked, the government claims.

Up to 200 vessels flying the red ensign – the British merchant navy flag – regularly sail close to Somalia.

Officials estimate that about 100 of those would immediately apply for permission to have armed guards.

It is thought many British-registered ships already carry armed guards, taking advantage of a grey area in the law.

Allowing ships to carry armed guards may fall foul of laws in other countries, though. Egypt recently announced that armed guards would not be permitted on ships sailing through the Suez canal.

Meanwhile, the Italian shipowners’ association, Confitarma, has welcomed renewed promises of military support, following the recapture of the supramax newbuilding Montecristo by UK and US special forces after the vessel was hijacked by Somali pirates this week.

Confitarma President Paolo d’Amico said 10 teams of six military personnel would be available for Italian-registered vessels. The final obstacle was to secure the agreements of ports and states in the region for the transit of the personnel and their weaponry, enabling them to join and leave vessels

The FN F2000 is a 5.56×45mm NATO bullpup assault rifle, designed by FN Herstal in Belgium. The F2000 made its debut in March 2001 at the IDEX defense exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.

Design details

The F2000 is a modular weapon system; its principal component is a compact 5.56×45mm NATO-caliber assault rifle configured in a bullpup layout. The F2000 is a selective fire weapon operating from a closed bolt.

The rifle consists of two main assemblies: the barreled receiver group and the frame, coupled together by means of an axis pin located above the trigger guard. The barrel group has an integral MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail used to mount optical sights. The frame or lower receiver contains the trigger group, the bolt and bolt carrier assembly, return mechanism and magazine well. A removable handguard is installed in front of the trigger which completes and encloses the trigger guard.

Features

The F2000 is a gas operated, fully automatic and ambidextrous bullpup rifle. Both the safety system and trigger mechanism were adopted from the P90 submachine gun; the selector toggle is a rotating disc located below the trigger. The fire selector doubles as the weapon’s manual safety and secures the firearm against accidental discharge (the selector/safety disc has 3 settings: “S”—safe, “1″—semi-automatic mode, “A”—fully automatic fire). The “safe” setting disables the trigger. The hammers, group pins, and springs are steel while all other components are nylon injection molding. The shell of the rifle is made of composite materials.

The F2000 is fed from standard NATO box magazines (STANAG 4179) with a 30-round cartridge capacity using 5.56×45mm ammunition. The magazine catch/release button is installed symmetrically in the pistol grip, in front of the magazine; the magazine catch is operated by an oversized actuator used when wearing NBC gloves. The F2000 is not configured from the factory to have a drop-free magazine system due to the friction from the removable dust gaskets. The magazine needs to be pulled out manually.

The rifle does not have a hold-open device; the bolt does not stay back after the last round is fired. The cocking handle is placed on the left side of the receiver, just above the handguard, and can be operated by left-handed shooters. There are no access points for the possible ingress of dirt or debris; the cocking handle slot is sealed.

The weapon’s primary sight is a telescopic sight with a fixed 1.6× magnification (the reticle also enables use in low-light conditions) contained in a plastic housing above the receiver (mounted on the MIL-STD-1913 rail), the secondary sight is a non-adjustable fixed notch and front blade, molded into the optical sight housing cover. The sight cover and sight module can be quickly removed to reveal the Picatinny rail.

The rifle’s chromed hammer-forged steel barrel is stated to retain accuracy after 20,000 normal (non-sustained) rounds. The barrel also features a flash suppressor with an angled cut at the tip which directs the muzzle blast upward, compensating for muzzle rise. The F2000 has an optional bayonet lug mounted near the muzzle, and an adjustable gas regulator with two settings: “normal” for standard ammunition meeting NATO specifications, and “adverse”—used to send an increased volume of gas into the system to ensure proper functioning when fouled or when using low pressure ammunition.

Operating mechanism

This selective fire weapon is a gas-operated design utilizing a short-stroke piston system driven by propellant gases diverted into the gas cylinder through a port in the barrel; it fires from a closed bolt position. The weapon is locked with a rotating bolt which features 7 radial locking lugs, a spring-powered extractor and ejector. The chamber, bolt, and ejector mechanism can be accessed by flipping up a hinged inspection cover in the receiver, behind the optical sight housing.

The F2000- standard configuration

The F2000 uses a unique ejection system, ejecting spent cartridge casings forward and to the right side of the weapon—through a tube running alongside the barrel. This method of ejection provides for fully ambidextrous operation; the rifle can be used without any modification by both right and left-handed shooters. This ejection pattern was achieved by using a swiveling polymer tray, which intercepts the empty casing from the bolt face immediately after disengaging from the extractor. As the empty casing is extracted it is held while the rocker assembly tilts to lift it above and clear of the feed path as the next round is stripped from the magazine by the bolt head. The casing is fed into the tray located in a cavity in the receiver wall, which then pivots the cartridge case and directs it into a chute (above the barrel); the case is discarded from the tilting tray by being impacted by a pin on the moving bolt carrier upon its forward return. Only when the ejection tube contains more than five cases is the first of them ejected forward through a port just behind and to the right of the muzzle.

This system is patent protected (patent number 5675924 dated 14 October 1997 by René Predazzer and patent 6389725 from February 25, 2000, author – Charles Denuit). The ambidexterity provided by forward ejection is its most obvious benefit, and removes many of the tactical and user difficulties (such as lack of ambidexterity, and gas and debris released in close proximity to the shooter’s face) that bullpup designs usually create.

Grenade launcher

One of the modules developed for the F2000 system is a proprietary lightweight 40 mm under-slung GL1 grenade launcher (empty weight—1 kg) that uses standard low-velocity 40×46mm grenades. The launcher is a single-shot breech-loaded pump-action weapon with a barrel that slides forward for loading and unloading (like the M203 grenade launcher), locked by axial rotation of the barrel.
The grenade launcher’s trigger is installed directly under the F2000′s trigger so that it can be manipulated without removing the shooting hand from the rifle’s pistol grip. The double-action trigger lets the operator “try again” if the grenade’s percussion type primer doesn’t ignite. The breech release button is found on the left side of the launcher body, like on the M203. The grenade launcher comes with a basic flip-up ladder sight, but it was intended to be used with a specially designed optoelectronic fire control system designated FCS, developed in cooperation with the Finnish company Noptel.
The aiming module is installed in place of the standard optical sight and becomes the weapon’s primary sight when mounted, but its main purpose is to accurately determine and indicate the range of a grenade target. The module is powered by a 9 V battery pack, installed in the stock, behind the magazine well. The power pack is also intended to power any other tactical accessories or systems that could be introduced. The FCS integrates a low-power laser rangefinder (precise to within ± 1 m), a day-time aiming channel with an electronically projected reticle, a measured range display reading and a diode elevation adjustment indicator.

The fire control system calculates a firing solution manifested by the barrel’s angle of elevation using target range information from the laser rangefinder (the rangefinder is activated by pushing a button on the pistol grip, below the trigger), corrected manually by the shooter through a push-button interface (add/subtract buttons) on the FCS top cover to take account for head or tail winds that could affect the desired range. The F2000 FCS also contains software with the ballistic properties of up to six types of 40 mm grenades and can be reprogrammed to take advantage of future munition improvements. Batteries for the FCS are located in the bottom of the buttstock.

After obtaining a range measurement, the distance to the target is displayed on a liquid crystal screen and the elevation diode flashes red. Once a correct elevation has been achieved by tilting the rifle, the diode changes color to green indicating the weapon is ready to fire. A further three signaling diodes have been installed on the top of the FCS unit, enabling accurate firing from the hip. The fire control computer makes firing regular grenades accurately much easier, though it cannot launch smart grenades. The FCS is under continuous development and newer versions differ somewhat from the original concept.

A 3-shot grenade launcher is also being developed for the weapon (in 40 mm).[citation needed] The rifle can also be adapted for police operations by using under-slung modules with a 12-gauge 5-shot shotgun or a .68-caliber less-lethal FN 303 pneumatic launcher. A module with a 20 mm grenade launcher is also planned (using 20×28mm ammunition from the OICW program) with an integrated FCS unit.

Variants

F2000 Tactical

The F2000 Tactical railed variant is similar to the standard model, but it lacks the optical sight, and comes instead with an extended top receiver MIL-STD-1913 rail with flip-up iron sights allowing for picatinny rail accessories to be fitted.

FS2000

Intended for markets where fully automatic firearms aren’t legal for civilian ownership, the FS2000 is a semi-automatic version of the F2000 that first became available in June 2006. The FS2000 Tactical model is equipped with an extended barrel with a permanently attached flash suppressor and a 1:7 in right hand twist rifling rate; the bayonet lug was not included on the FS2000 rifles. The lower hand guard can be removed in the same manner as the F2000 to accept the same variety of accessories. It comes with a Picatinny rail optic rail along with backup iron sights. The rear flip-up National Match-sized aperture is adjustable for windage, while the removable front sight is adjustable for elevation. A small number of the early models featured a stepped barrel contour as well as a demilled bayonet lug. Measurements on the stepped barrel’s rifling were as long as the non-stepped barrel, revealing that the stepped barrel is not simply a shorter F2000 military barrel with an extended flash hider.
A variant of the FS2000, called the FS2000 Standard, is equipped with the factory F2000 1.6× magnification optic and sight cover. It does not contain the grenade launcher computer.

F2000 S

A version of the F2000 Tactical modified for the Slovenian Army. It Incorporates an elevated upper Picatinny rail that also doubles as a carrying handle.

The Portuguese Marine Corps are a Special Forces unit in the Portuguese Navy. The corps is specialised in amphibious warfare, coastal reconnaissance, maritime interdiction and boarding operations. The Portuguese Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros) is an Elite Light Infantry Force, operating as a Rapid-Reaction Force.

Initial Training

Initial training to become an enlisted Fuzileiro lasts about 42 weeks. It is conducted at the Escola de Fuzileiros in Vale de Zebro. It is rigorous and very demanding, both physically and mentally, and eventually 25% to 40% will pass. If successfully completed, the recruits receive their Blue Dark Beret, and are assigned to operational units. The Fuzileiros in training are constantly under stress and pressure from instructors leaving them no respite. All activities are timed and scored: marching several tens of kilometers with equipment and weapon, obstacle course, navigation at night on the ground. The training is punctuated by firearms training and special combat techniques, rappelling and climbing, boating, explosives and hand-to-hand combat.

Organization

The Marine Corps is made up of an administrative command - Comando do Corpo de Fuzileiros (Marine Corps Command); an instruction unit -Escola de Fuzileiros (Marines School); and a base unit - Base de Fuzileiros (Marines Base). The operational units of the Marines, stationed at the Marines Base, are:

• 1st Marine Battalion;
• 2nd Marine Battalion;
• Naval Police Unit;
• Special Actions Detachment;
• Fire Support Company;
• Tactical Transports Support Company.

Based at the Marines School is the Unidade de Meios de Desembarque (Landing Assets Unit).

When needed, several elements of the operational units can organize themselves into a task-force for amphibious assaults called Batalhão Ligeiro de Desembarque (Assault Light Battalion).

History

The Portuguese Marines (Portuguese: Fuzileiros) have their direct origin in the oldest permanent military unit of Portugal, the Terço of the Navy of the Crown of Portugal, created in 1621. It should be noted, however, that since 1585 specialized troops existed to provide artillery and riflemen in the Portuguese warships. The Terço of the Navy was soon considered an elite unit, also being responsible for the bodyguard of the King of Portugal.

In the beginning of the 18th century the force was reorganized, being organized in two regiments: The 1st and the 2nd Regiments of the Navy. Later a Regiment of Naval Artillery was added.

At the end of 18th century, in the reign of Queen Maria I, all the regiments of the navy, were integrated into the new Royal Brigade of the Navy, which included three divisions: Fusiliers (fuzileiros), Artillerymen and Ballasters. In 1808, when Napoleon occupied Portugal, the Royal Family fled to exile in the Portuguese colony of Brazil, accompanied by the majority of the Royal Brigade of the Navy. This resulted in the forming of the Marines Corps of Brazil.

In middle of the 19th Century, the staff of the Portuguese Armada underwent militarization. Up to then the sailors were not militarized, only the officers and the members of the Royal Brigade. With this militarization it was determined to maintain a permanent unit of navy infantry, extinguishing the Royal Brigade. From this date, the forces of navy infantry were organized with the military sailors (they started to receive training from infantry), removed from the garrisons of ships, and used whenever the necessity existed to carry out amphibious operations. Thus, some battalions and forces of the Navy were organized to participate in the diverse colonial campaigns of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as in World War I.

In 1924 the Brigade of the Naval Guard was created as a permanent unit of navy infantry. However it ceased to exist in 1934.

The naval infantry only reappeared with a character of permanence from 1961 with the beginning of the Colonial War. The Detachments of Special Marines (Destacamentos de Fuzileiros Especiais (DFE)) were created for missions of amphibious assault and the Companies of Marines (Companhias de Fuzileiros Navais (CFN)) were created for patrolling and naval defense of boats and installations. During this war, and up to 1975, more than 14,000 marines fought in Guinea-Bissau, Angola and Mozambique.

Up to 1975 a unified Marine Corps Command did not exist, being that diverse DFE and CFN were dependents of the Naval and Maritime Defense Commands of the areas where they operated. In this year the Marine Corps was created, of which all had started to be dependents the units of riflemen, giving a substantial autonomy to that force.

Serving in the brigade is voluntary and requires passing a one and a half-day physical test. The IDF has three reservist paratrooper brigades at any given time, consisting of personnel who served their mandatory service in the brigade, and who are mostly in their twenties (aside from officers). These are most likely the most highly trained reservist brigades in the IDF.

History

The brigade was created at the mid 1950s when the commando Unit 101 was merged with the 890th Battalion (the IDF’s Airborne Commando unit) in order to form an elite infantry brigade. The new unit was equipped with the IMI Uzi submachine gun as their primary weapon as it provided light and small automatic fire – essential properties for recon units and commandos.

The goals in creating the Paratroopers Brigade were:

1. To have an elite infantry force.
2. To innovate and improve fighting skills within other infantry units.
3. To raise the next generation of military commanders and officers.

The first commander of the Paratroopers Brigade was Ariel Sharon.

The Paratroopers Brigade has had only two operational combat parachute drop, during the 1956 Sinai War. In the Six Day War (1967) the brigade took part in the capture of Jerusalem, along with the Jerusalem Brigade, Harel Brigade and armored support. The Paratroopers were the ones to capture the Western Wall and the Temple Mount, considered an historic moment and the highlight of the war by the Israeli public due to the sanctity of these places to the Jewish people.

In January 1970, during the War of Attrition, the brigade spearheaded Operation Rhodes, taking over the Egyptian island of Shadwan. Three Israeli soldiers were killed in the raid which saw the paratroops remain on the island for 36 hours before departing with 62 Egyptian POWs and a captured Decca radar set.

In the following years, the brigade was the source for many Israeli Chiefs of Staff, including Shaul Mofaz and Moshe Ya’alon.

Structure and Insignia

The 35th (Paratrooper) Brigade consists of three regular battalions, each bearing the name of a venomous snake. The 101st, bearing the number of disbandedUnit 101, is the Brigade’s first battalion. The 202nd is the Brigade’s second battalion and was numbered to keep it in line with the 101st. The 890th, although the brigade’s 3rd battalion, was in fact the IDF’s first paratrooper battalion. A Sayeret (Recon/Special Forces Company) designated Sayeret Tzanhanim is directly subordinate to the brigade headquarters.

Soldiers of the Paratroopers Brigade are distinguished by their red beret, paratrooper wings, reddish-brown leather boots and the paratroopers tunic (Yerkit), which is slightly different from the regular ground forces service dress.

Units

(Paratrooper units are named after snakes.)

• 101st “Cobra” Airborne Battalion
• 202nd “Viper” Airborne Battalion
• 890th “Echis” Airborne Battalion
• “Flying Serpent” Reconnaissance Battalion
  • “Naja” Anti-Tank Company
  • “Coluber” Engineer Company
  • 5173rd “Taipan” Reconnaissance Company

The Royal Ranger Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Malaysian Army. Although it is second in seniority to the Royal Malay Regiment, the RRD can trace its origins back to the mid 19th century and the establishment of The Sarawak Rangers, the peacekeeping force in the Sarawak region. This force was absorbed by the Sarawak Constabulary in 1932, but the name was revived in 1941 as a British Colonial unit; this unit commanded by British Lieutenant Colonel C.M. Lane was captured by the Japanese in 1942.

In 1948, at the beginning of the Malayan Emergency, groups of Iban trackers were recruited to help in the defence against the Communist Party of Malaya. These Iban trackers were organized into a regimental formation as the Sarawak Rangers in 1953. Prior to 1963, they were attached as scouts to many British units serving in Malaya. One of the trackers, Awang anak Rawang was awarded the George Cross on 20 November 1951, during his attachment to the Worcestershire Regiment.

In 1963, following the formation of Malaysia on 16 September of that year, the unit was transferred from the British Colonial Forces to the new Malaysian Army and expanded into a multi-battalion, multi-ethnic regiment named Renjer Malaysia. This became the Rejimen Renjer in 1971, before being given the ‘Royal’ prefix and hence known as the Rejimen Renjer DiRaja (Royal Ranger Regiment) in 1992.

The RRD is organized in the same way as the RAMD and currently consists of nine battalions,
The 1st to 6th, and the 9th are light infantry battalions.
The 7th Ranger Battalion is presently configured as a mechanized infantry battalion and is equipped with tracked ACV 300 IFVs, some of which are armed with Bushmaster 25 mm guns.
The 8th Ranger Battalion is one of the three airborne infantry battalions that form the 10 Para Brigade, the element of the Army’s Pasukan Atur Cepat.

Battalions of The Royal Malaysian Rangers

1^st Rangers

Following the terms of the Defence Agreement, Britain had agreed to raise, train and maintain one infantry Battalion, each from Sabah and Sarawak. HQ Malaya Command Ranger Group was formed and headed by Colonel I.G. Wellstead to coordinate and implement this clause of the agreement.

The First Battalion Malaysian Rangers, was formed on 16 September 1963 at Baird Camp, Ulu Tiram, Johore – the same camp occupied by the Sarawak Rangers. Lt. Col E. Gopsill OBE, DSO, MC of the 7th Gurkha Rifles was appointed the Commanding Officer.

The Sarawak Rangers disbanded on 15 September 1963 and was absorbed – approximately 100 strong – into the new battalion. Amongst them was Lt. James Tomlow ak Isa who was originally granted a Governor’s Commission in the Sarawak Rangers was subsequently granted the Regular Commission by the Agong.

In October 1963, the nucleus of the Battalion moved out of Baird Camp to Kandy Lines, Trg Depot BDE of Gurkhas at Sungai Petani to prepare and conduct recruit training and continuity training for the new intakes. The recruits went through about four months of basic individual training followed by another two months continuity training.

Initially, this British Colonial battalion was almost exclusively composed of Sea Dayak (Iban) soldiers Sarawak Rangers]and a small number of Malay and Indian officers. On the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963, the Sarawak Rangers was disbanded and absorbed into the Malaysian Armed Forces. The 1^st Battalion is the premier battalion and remains the icon of the Ranger Corps. Prior to the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the Sarawak Rangers gained their fearsome reputation during the Malayan Emergency. Concurrently, during the post-colonial reconstruction era, the 1^st Battalion fought on extensively against the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), Clandestine Communist Organization (CCO) the military arm of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP ) and its affiliate the Pasukan Rakyat Kalimantan Utara (PARAKU, the armed wing of the North Kalimantan People’s Army) and the Tentera Nasional Indonesia (TNI). Accounts from captured Communist Terrorists (CTs) in the ’60s and ’70s suggest that other than the (British Royal Marines) commandos, the CPM feared the deployment of the 1^st Battalion in the immediate vicinity. The Rangers also saw action at the Malaysian-Thai border

The 1^st Battalion remains an active unit of the Malaysian armed forces, although rather inexplicably, the recruitment of Iban stock has been gradually declined significantly over the last 20 years. Consequently, it’s racial composition is about the same as other Malaysian infantry battalions.

It is worth noting that in the 1950s and 1960s, the British SAS were taught jungle tracking by Iban soldiers. The Ibans from the jungles of Borneo are particularly suited to jungle warfare, serving as jungle trackers for many Commonwealth battalions. Surviving and living off the land are just daily routines to these jungle soldiers. During the Malayan Emergency, Iban trackers from the previous Malayan Scouts were attached to and served in several SAS units.

This battalion is currently based in Majidee Camp, Johor Bahru, Johor.

2^nd Rangers

The motto of this battalion is in Kadazan language: ‘Osiou Oh Kamanang.’, which means ‘Who dares, Wins’. This battalion is currently based in Syed Putra Camp, Ipoh, Perak. Syed Putra Camp was previously known as Sulva Lines Camp, and has been always regarded as ‘Home of the Rangers’.

3^rd Rangers

The motto of this Battalion is ‘Biar Putih Tulang’. This Battalion also known as ‘The Red Hackles Warrior’. The 3^rd Rangers was raised at the Suvla Line Camp, Ipoh, Perak on 1st Jul 1965 with the combination of the personnel from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak (3 different area/region). This battalion is currently stationed at the Oya Camp, Sibu, Sarawak. 928133 Staff Sergeant Muit bin Ahmad, once a member of this battalion, was awarded the ‘Pingat Gagah Berani” for successful actions against communist guerrillas. Lt. Col.(Rtd) Robert Rizal Abdullah won his PGB when he served in this battalion. Currently this battalion is commanded by 19^th Bn Commander, Lt Col Wan Azni bin Hj Wan Muhammad (3003935). 1080354 PW 1 Rashid bin Mat is currently the Regimental Sergeant Major . The special event of the battalion is war dance, which is visualize the spirit of Ranger Corps in the unique way.

4^th Rangers

This battalion is currently based in Oran Camp, Kangar, Perlis. This battalion received its Regimental Colours on the 25th October 1980. Captain Mohana Chandran a/l Velayuthan (200402), an officer of this Regiment was KIA during search-and-destroy operation in the Kinta Forest Reserve in Perak, Malaysia. He was posthumously awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP).

5^th Rangers

This battalion is currently based at Camp Desa Pahlawan, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

6^th Rangers

This battalion is currently based at Wardieburn Camp, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. 4 division.

7^th Rangers ( Mechanized)

7th Renjer was formed on 10 May 1970, at Quetta Camp in Kluang, Johor with an initial batch of 202 recruits formed into 2 rifle companies. The compilement was completed with the transfer of rifle companies from each of 8th Malay, 2nd Renjer, 3rd Renjer and 4th Renjer regiments. With the transfer of these companies, 7th Renjer achieved the full regimental strength. It is the only regiment converted into ‘Mechanised Battalion’. This Regiment was badly bloodied in a communist guerrilla ambush on 26 March 1972 along the Biawak / Lundu road, Sarawak. In a follow-up operation they avenged their fallen comrades and extracted heavy retributions from the communist guerrillas responsible for the ambush. This battalion is currently based at Batu Lima Camp, Mentakab, Pahang. This battalion has successfully engaged the communist guerillas in several search and operations.

8^th Rangers (Para)

8^th Rangers was formed on 1 March 1973, 3 years after the formation of 7^th Rangers. 8^th Rangers was raised as the first parachute infantry battalion in the Malaysian Army, and achieved operational status on 1 July 1990 as a component of the elite 10 Paratroop Brigade (Malaysia).

8^th Rangers gained fame during the communist Insurgency in the 1970s and 1980s. 8^th Rangers engaged in several search and destroy missions against Communist Terrorists in Sarawak. From 1977, the battalion was particularly successful against Communist Terrorists in search and destroy missions in the Hulu Perak, Kinta and Kuala Kangsar regions in Perak.

Several members of the battalion were awarded the nation’s highest gallantry award, the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) and the Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) medals. Pegawai Waran II Kanang anak Langkau remains to this day the only recipient of both the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa and the Panglima Gagah Berani medals. Sarjan Michael Riman anak Bugat and Sarjan Beliang anak Bali were both awarded the Panglima Gagah Berani medal.

This battalion is currently based at Camp Terendak, Melaka, also known as ‘Home of the Paras’ equivalent to US Fort Bragg’s, the home of 82nd Airborne Div, Fort Bragg,North Carolina.

9^th Rangers

The 9^th Battalion of the Ranger Regiment, originated from the 14^th Malaysian Territorial Army Battalion, which was formed on the 1^st April 1971 in Tawau, Sabah. The members of this battalion were locals who were members of the Local Defence Force. The unit was raised at the request of the Sabah State Government who insisted that the unit must be exclusively Sabahans. The Malaysian Army gladly complied with this opportunity by converting the 14^thTerritorial Battalion into a regular unit in the form of 9^th Rangers on the 1^st of March 1979, at the Batu Uban Camp in Penang. The motto of this new Ranger battalion is “Sian Bani Manang”, which in the Bajau language, meant “Who Dares Wins”.

This battalion is currently based in Taiping, Perak.

The Mexican Marines are the marine corps and amphibious infantry force of the Mexican Navy. The main task of the Infantería de Marina is to guarantee the maritime security of the country’s ports and external and internal defense of the country, to accomplish these responsibilities the corps is trained and equipped to take on any type of operations from Sea, Air and Land.

The Naval Infantry Corps was reorganized in 2007-2009 into 30 Naval Infantry Battalions (Batallones de Infantería de Marina – BIM), a paratroop battalion, a battalion attached to the Presidential Guard Brigade, two Fast Reaction Forces with six battalions each, and three Special Forces groups. The Naval Infantry are responsible for port security, protection of the ten-kilometer coastal fringe, and patrolling major waterways.

To accomplish the necessary services and tasks, The Naval Infantry’s overall responsibilities are to develop amphibious naval capabilities in the areas of operations of the Navy in order to mobilize naval troops immediately and decisively.

The Naval Infantry execute the following tasks:

• Command and Control – Planning, preparation and conduct of operations.

• Amphibious assault – To execute amphibious operations as part of a Naval Force.

• Air assault – To run infiltration operations in areas of difficult access.

• Amphibious command – To execute special operations such as: reconnaissance, incursions, urban combat and to support other regular operations.

• Combat Support – To execute operations in support of artillery in the development of amphibious and other regular forces operations

• Reconnaissance – Operations to obtain information to support operational units.

• Immediate Response – To run operations in emergency situations, to help the civilian population.

The Special Service Group (SSG), also known as Black Storks, because of their distinctive headgear, the unit is also known as Maroon Beret, are a special operations military unit of the Pakistan Army. They are a specialised unit primarily tasked with fourteen primary and special missions: Asymmetric warfare,Anti piracy,Special Operations,Counterproliferation, unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, Underwater demolition, direct action, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism,Hydrographic reconnaissance, Amphibious reconnaissance and Personnel recovery. The SSG is an independent commando division of Pakistan Army. It is an elite special operations force similar to the United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets) and the British Army’s SAS. The SSG regularly conducts its exercises with U.S. Special Forces, PLA Special Operations Forces, and Special Air Service of United Kingdom.

Official numbers are put at 7,000 men, in 10 Battalions; however the actual strength is classified. It is estimated to have been increased to 7 Battalions, with the eventual formation of 3 Brigades of Special Forces (9 Battalions). It is currently commanded by Maj Gen Furrukh Bashir.

The commandos are distinguished by their insignia of maroon berets, a common color for airborne troops, with a silver metal tab on a light blue felt square with a dagger and lightning bolts, and a wing on the right side of the chest. The combat uniform of the SSG is similar to the US woodlandpattern camouflage coat and pants. Other uniforms include camouflage 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.

The SSW (Special Service Wing) is distinguished by maroon berets with PAF Officer, JCO or Airmen insignia on the beret, and a wing on the right side of the chest. The combat uniform of SSW is olive drab camouflage. They also wear their special service wing insignia on the left shoulder “Winged Dragons and lightning bolts” .

19 Baluch (SSG)

SSG was raised by amalgamating 17/10th Baluch (19 Baluch) and 312 Garrison Company. Based out of Cherat and Attock, the SSG was created in 1956. That year, 19 Baluch was selected for conversion to a Special Operation Force. As a result of this, the SSG has inherited many of the traditions and insignia of the Baloch Regiment. 19 Baluch (SSG)’s first CO was Lt Col (later Maj Gen) Aboobaker Osman Mitha who commanded it for six years till 1961. The first Officer Commanding of its Alpha Company was Major (later Lt Col) Gaideen Khan Abdullai Mahsud. Their initial training and orientation as regards tactics was based on the US Special Forces pattern with whom they co-operated closely in the Cold War years. The SSG initially had 6 companies and each company had specialization units, specialized in desert, mountain, ranger, and underwater warfare. The desert companies participated in training exercises with US Army Special Forces Mobile Training Team in late 1964. In August 1965, scope of SSG was raised from a battalion size force to larger Special Operations outfit and instead of 19 Baluch(SSG) they simply adopted the name Special Service Group. The scuba company in Karachi was renowned for its tough physical training. Later on, Chinese training, tactics, weapons, and equipment were also introduced

The M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle, or ASV, is an internal security vehicle. Its armament consists of an Mk 19 grenade launcher and M2 Browning Machine Gun, mounted in a turret similar to that used on the US Marine Corps’ Amphibious Assault Vehicle; and a M240H Medium Machine Gun mounted outside the gunner’s hatch. The vehicle has become very popular with U.S. Military Police Units and Convoy Security Units in Iraq. It is a more heavily protected and heavily armed alternative to the armored Humvee which was not originally designed to be a protected fighting vehicle.

By the 1980s, American military doctrine emphasized two distinct types of equipment. Tanks and infantry fighting vehicles were for frontline combat, and unarmored utility vehicles for transport behind the lines. In 1993, the military had to fight through Mogadishu in unarmored Humvees, leading to the development of uparmored models. Many generals doubted the benefits, but the Military Police Corps, tasked with patrolling the “safe” rear area behind the battle line insisted that the Army fund a slow but steady production of the bullet resistant M1114.

In 1999, the United States Army began buying a limited number of M1117s (originally the ASV-150) for the Military Police Corps. This purpose-built ASV was derived from Cadillac Gage’s previous Commando family of AFV which was used in Vietnam for base security. The ASV 150 is a much improved version the earlier Cadillac Gage 100/150, with improved armor protection and better maneuverability due to the use of Timoney’s independent suspension system.

The ASV uses an advanced modular expandable armor package from IBD, consisting of ceramic composite applique on the exterior and spall liner on the interior. At $800,000 each, the M1117 was significantly more expensive than the $140,000 price for an M1114. They were field tested by MP units in Kosovo mostly by members of the 709th MP Battalion. The program was canceled in 2002 because of budget priorities. The United States Army believed that existing vehicles could be used without an “unacceptable level of risk.” When the Iraq War began in 2003, there were 49 ASVs in service, with almost all of them being assigned to MP Units. The first MP unit to officially use them in a combat zone was the 527th MP Company and other elements of the 720th MP Battalion. However, the onset of events in Iraq has given new life to the ASV program as HMMWVs have proven vulnerable to attacks and a large source of casualties. Uparmored HMMWVs were not designed to be armored cars like the M1117, which are designed to withstand hits from small arms, mines and rockets in frontline combat units. Some members of Congress visiting Iraq have favored them over other mine protected vehicles. As of mid-2007, 1,729 vehicles were delivered or under contract with many being dispersed not just to MP’s but numerous other military units to include the Iraqi National Police.

In response to urgent United States Army requirements in the mid-2000s, production has increased from one ASV every three weeks to the complete 56 vehicles per month. The plant that produces the vehicles is located in New Orleans and was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The manufacturing facilities have since been rebuilt and expanded to five buildings and personnel have more than doubled. The vehicle is a 21st century version of the V-100 Cadillac Gage Commando which was used by the US Army Military Police during the Vietnam War, whose duties often consisted of providing armed escort for wheeled convoys. The USAF in South Vietnam utilized an open hatched (turret-less) Commando for base security missions.

A variant was to be evaluated by the US Marine Corps as part of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program. As of May 18, 2007, After their vehicle submission failed ballistics testing at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Textron received word that they would not receive further orders as part of the MRAP program. However in early 2008, Textron was awarded a contract to build 329 ASVs worth $228 million. They will be delivered with the latest fragmentation protection kits. The total number of ASVs produced or remaining to be delivered to the U.S. Army is at 2,058 vehicles at that time.