1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais

The 1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais (1º B F Esp) (English: 1st Special Forces Battalion), also named António Dias Cardoso Battalion, is a special forces unit of the Brazilian Army.

1st Special Forces Battalion
1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais
Coat of arms of the 1st SF Battalion
Active1983; 41 years ago (1983)
Country Brazil
Branch Brazilian Army
TypeSpecial Forces
SizeUnknown
Part of Brazilian Special Operations Brigade
Garrison/HQGoiânia
Nickname(s)"FE"
Motto(s)Qualquer missão, em qualquer lugar, a qualquer hora, de qualquer maneira.
(English: "Any mission, in any place, at any time, by any means.")
Engagements

History edit

FEs and Comandos troops patrol Port-au-Prince during MINUSTAH.

The Battalion was initially formed in 1957 as a jungle rescue unit. However, in 1968 it was reorganized as a special forces unit. In 1983 the unit was expanded and placed under the parachute infantry brigade structure.[3]

During MINUSTAH, a force of around 20 men from the 1st Special Forces Battalion and 1st Commando Actions Battalion made up the Destacamento de Operações de Paz (Peace Operations Detachment) or Dopaz, a special operations unit responsible for high-risk missions such as special reconnaissance and direct action against leaderships of Haitian gangs, as well as leading the UN raids on neighbourhoods such as Bel Air, Cité Militaire and Cité Soleil from 2005 to 2007.[1] According to Brazilian SF General Sergio Schwingel, Dopaz's role in Haiti led to the UN creating a doctrine for the usage of special forces in peacekeeping operations worldwide.[1]

Role edit

FE servicemen in 2018

The Battalion's mission is similar to that of the Green Beret units; however, because they have the CT mission, they have modified their organization to more closely follow Britain's Special Air Service and American's Delta Force. The SF Battalion falls within the Army's Special Operations Command and is located in Goiânia.[3]

The battalion is capable of conducting its missions independently from or in conjunction with conventional forces. Battalion troops are trained in jungle warfare at the Army's CIGS jungle warfare school and in amphibious, mountain warfare, airborne, airmobile and HAHO/HALO operations. They are also prepared for long-range reconnaissance in addition to their CT operations.[3]

Equipment edit

NameOriginType
Glock 17[4]  AustriaPistol
Glock 21[4]  AustriaPistol
Heckler & Koch USP[5]  GermanyPistol
IMBEL M1911A1[4]  BrazilPistol
Taurus M975[5]  BrazilPistol
Taurus Mod.21[5]  BrazilPistol
Heckler & Koch VP70[6]  GermanyMachine Pistol
IMBEL ParaFAL[4]  BrazilBattle Rifle
Heckler & Koch G3A3[6]  GermanyBattle Rifle
IMBEL IA2  BrazilAssault Rifle
IMBEL MD97[5]  BrazilAssault Rifle
Heckler & Koch G36C[6]  GermanyAssault rifle
Heckler & Koch HK33A2[6]  GermanyAssault Rifle
Heckler & Koch HK417[7]  GermanyAssault rifle
HK53A5[6]  GermanyAssault Rifle
FAMAS F1 Commando[6]  FranceAssault Rifle
Colt M4  United StatesAssault rifle
Norinco Type 56[5]  ChinaAssault Rifle
Franchi SPAS-15[6]  ItalyShotgun
Benelli M3 Super 90[6]  ItalyShotgun
Benelli M4 Super 90  ItalyShotgun
Mossberg 500 Cruiser[6]  United StatesShotgun
Remington 870 MK1[6]  United StatesShotgun
IMI Uzi[6]  IsraelSubmachine gun
IMI Micro Uzi[6]  IsraelSubmachine gun
Heckler & Koch MP5SD6[6]  GermanySubmachine gun
Heckler & Koch MP5KA4[6]  GermanySubmachine gun
Taurus M972[5]  BrazilSubmachine gun
FN Minimi Para MK3[6]  BelgiumLight machine gun
FN MAG[4]  BelgiumGeneral-purpose machine gun
HK21E[6]  GermanyGeneral-purpose machine Gun
Barrett M82A3[6]  United StatesAnti-materiel sniper rifle
PGM Ultima Ratio[5]  FranceAnti-materiel sniper rifle
Heckler & Koch PSG1[6]  GermanySniper rifle
SIG Saue SSG 300[5]   SwitzerlandSniper Rifle
M24 Sniper Weapon System[6]  United StatesSniper rifle
M110 SASS[7]  United StatesSniper rifle
M79 grenade launcher[6]  United StatesGrenade Launcher
AT4[4]  SwedenRocket launcer
Carl Gustaf M3[4]  SwedenRecoilless rifle
60mm Commando Mortar[4]  FranceMortar
L16 81mm mortar[4]  United KingdomMortar
Hydroar T1M1[8]  BrazilFlame-thrower

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Dopaz: conheça a tropa de elite que o Brasil levou para pacificar as favelas violentas do Haiti" (in Portuguese). g1. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Militares entram na Rocinha para conter a guerra do tráfico" (in Portuguese). g1. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Brazilian Army's 1st Special Forces Battalion". SpecWarNet. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Military Power Review - Tropas de Elite - Batalhão de Forças Especiais do Brasil". www.militarypower.com.br. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais | PDF | Comandos (soldados) | Forças especiais". Scribd (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "wiw_sa_brazil - worldinventory". 2016-06-02. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  7. ^ a b "Recent images of Rio's drug war -". The Firearm Blog. 2017-10-04. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  8. ^ Miller, David (2002). The illustrated directory of special forces. St Paul, MN: MBI. ISBN 0-7603-1419-5. OCLC 51555045.

External links edit