Indian Special Forces (archived)

[MIDKNIGHT FENERIR-00]

You will only see it with CRPF commandos you will find troops in Kashmir wearing it too but only CRPF. It's part of their overall slow but steady upgradation plan. From eyewear to new helmets and IWI x-95 flattops.

I think there is a picture of a CRPF commando in full gear somewhere here in a exhibition.

They are probably trying to make it the standard
Gear.

CRPF COBRA Commandos have this MARPAT Variant as part of there Jungle Combat Uniform.

 

[vampyrbladez]

Going by the reported procurement of weapons & systems from US via FMS (no competition, no tender), and also by the way the unit is being structured (not along the lines of SOCOM, but more along the lines of JSOC), it's plausible to assume that AFSOD is actually being created as more or less a 'Tier-1 equivalent/counterpart' force who's operational command will remain independent of the three Armed Forces, and will report directly to the CDS in the emerging structure.

Tier-1 units & Equivalent forces (like Poland's GROM, Australia's SASR or France's 1st Para Regiment) are kitted out extremely similarly, from the type of gun & ammo, down to the type of batteries that go into a laser module. And are similarly trained as well.

All these years our SFs (mainly Paras) have spent training with US SOF units may actually be paying off. An Indian Tier-1 Equivalent force might just be around the corner in the form of AFSOD.

We know as a matter of fact that deeper working relationship & interoperability with US forces on the ground is on the agenda for the current GOI as well, so all the more reason to assume this would be the course of events.

(Pics from above tweet thread)

SCAR-L (SOCOM Mk.16) rifleman:

Alternatively, HK416 (if FMS purchase is successful without German obstruction):

SCAR-H (SOCOM Mk.17) battle rifle with 1-4x LPVO (variable-power optic):

@abingdonboy this post from a while ago seems to coincide with the recent changes in gear noticed.

 

[MIDKNIGHT FENERIR-00]

Please ID this rocket used. (long green one vs typical black CG round)

@Unknowncommando 2

View attachment 42209

Carl-Gustav M3 Recoilless Rocket Luncher and it’s Rounds.

 

[Bleh]

This is not a Indian Camo Bro. This is the Woodland Version of MARPAT. The US Marines have made a lot of variation of there MARPAT Digital Camo. The Indian Army uses Central European Woodland as there current Camo which was copied from France and it also doesn’t have Digitized version. I mean I love India to switch uniform and Camo but the MARPAT Woodland should just be used by CRPF and Indian Army Should better Switch to Digital Version German Flecktarn which is much better Camouflage than just Digital MARPAT.

CRPF COBRA Commandos have this MARPAT Variant as part of there Jungle Combat Uniform.

No it ain't the Woodland MARPAT that Cobra use... And it could very likely be an Indian pattern, as other than some CRPF & Garuds only force to wear it are the Royal Bhutan Army.

 

[Gessler]

Came across a higher quality pic, it doesn't appear to be the Type C variant, rather a Type G or F version of Px4 Storm, as the hammer spur is very much there -

@Unknowncommando 2 @abingdonboy

PS - Also, that's a nice paint job on the M4 with the guy on left:

 

[fire starter]

......................

 

[Unknowncommando 2]

They do look like AFSOD guys
Different camos and shoes
Helmets looking new

 

[Unknowncommando 2]

These guys look like PARA SF

 

[Popeye]

.....................................................................

 

[Gessler]

They do look like AFSOD guys
Different camos and shoes
Helmets looking new

Step by step, we are getting there.

Only things left on checklist -

> Tactical headsets
> Better chest rigs
> Better night vision
> Better camo (Multicam is terrific and suits our terrain very well)

But mainly comms, vests, & NV. Rest of the stuff, while not excellent, is pretty manageable. The new helmets are an excellent choice though...from what I've heard the EXFIL is lot more comfortable to wear than many competing types like OpsCore FAST, thanks to TeamWendy's top of the line padding system.

 

[MIDKNIGHT FENERIR-00]

@abingdonboy
What kind of warfare do u expect in Sir Creek region in Gujarat?

Unlike Kashmir there are no mountains so there is no height advantages to either side.

Unlike Punjab there is no solid land for mechanized infantry push.

Unlike Rajasthan it's not a complete desert.

Its mostly a humid marshy area with vegetation spread here and there.

We might see Small Unit tactics in Sir Creek with some support from patrol boats. You won’t find a lot vehicle combat in this region because the marshy conditions and a lot of salt. Both India and PorkiShitan doesn’t have Amphibious assault vehicles so it’s going to small man force that will fight here. PorkiShitani will deploy there PorkiShitani Marines and MSA which were created to do this kind of combat in these kind of Areas but They are not a well equipped unit but might pose challenge to the Local BSF Units but Indian Army and Coast Guard will cut clean through them. India needs to increase the patrols in the Sir Creek Region. It is the most venerable regions to enemy infiltration in India.

 

[Gessler]

They do look like AFSOD guys
Different camos and shoes
Helmets looking new

@abingdonboy @rkhanna

Definitely not a simple coincidence that the entirety of unit has decided to not go with Tavors. Now unless this is a newly-formed unit and didn't have any TAR-21s on hand (but somehow did have M4s), I'm lead to believe this was a collective decision on part of the team's command, perhaps they indeed saw the merits of using a traditional-layout weapon like AR-15.

I have to wonder if that's a realization/trial-and-error lesson learnt from within or maybe the result of some ad-hoc 'advice' from USSOCOM (either during Vajra Prahar-type exercises or maybe ex-operators attached to various foreign equipment vendors).

Would love to see these guys clear a room and see if they're picked up on other things as well.

 

[Popeye]

We might see Small Unit tactics in Sir Creek with some support from patrol boats. You won’t find a lot vehicle combat in this region because the marshy conditions and a lot of salt. Both India and PorkiShitan doesn’t have Amphibious assault vehicles so it’s going to small man force that will fight here. PorkiShitani will deploy there PorkiShitani Marines and MSA which were created to do this kind of combat in these kind of Areas but They are not a well equipped unit but might pose challenge to the Local BSF Units but Indian Army and Coast Guard will cut clean through them. India needs to increase the patrols in the Sir Creek Region. It is the most venerable regions to enemy infiltration in India.

GoI should create Indian Marines and Absorb ICG in that, not only for Sir creek. In other land area also. Generally Army too busy with Pak & Chin front. Who knows if tomorrow goi decided to deploy foot soldiers in Afghanistan.

 

[MIDKNIGHT FENERIR-00]

No it ain't the Woodland MARPAT that Cobra use... And it could very likely be an Indian pattern, as other than some CRPF & Garuds only force to wear it are the Royal Bhutan Army.

I put three picture Examples of MARPAT Woodland Camo including a US Marines Combat Utility Uniform There are some slight change to how the colors because of the photos and renditions of each were made. The Pattern Used by Para SF is the same as the MARPAT Woodland.

 

[aghamarshana]

GoI should create Indian Marines and Absorb ICG in that

CG is an indispensable force. Even if we raise an Marine force, CG has a very diff mandate that it can't do anything with the new force. CG despite being armed, traditionally works with Home, Finance ministries & local law enforcement in curbing smuggling, illegal fishing, & provide second tier coastal defence beyond state police coastal units, SAR etc.

I am of the opinion that the new force should be a Division raised from Army, after the Mtn Strike Div materialises completely. Every Regimental Centre shd volunteer and provide units to make the division strong new force jus like they did for Mechanized Infantry Regt and Rashtriya Rifles. Creating a whole new force from existing units with long history of Chivaly brings troops more loyalty towards the unit and shared history with the Army (which participated in almost all the famous winning campaigns in the WWs) will enable it to work with Army easily in future. And that is my opinion/

 

[MIDKNIGHT FENERIR-00]

GoI should create Indian Marines and Absorb ICG in that, not only for Sir creek. In other land area also. Generally Army too busy with Pak & Chin front. Who knows if tomorrow goi decided to deploy foot soldiers in Afghanistan.

Coming soon: All-new Central Marine Force to protect India's 7,516 km coastline

Image Source : PTI
IANS New Delhi October 19, 2019 18:11 IST

The Ministry of Home Affairs has completed the modalities of setting up a new armed force -- Central Marine Police Force -- to strengthen coastal security. A final proposal would be sent to the Cabinet by early next month for approval, a source in the ministry said on Saturday.

About the structure of the force, a senior ministry officer said, "Unlike other Central armed police forces, the Central Marine Police Force will have it own cadre, rules, manual, Act, infrastructure and would be headed by a Director-General rank officer."

The proposal to constitute a Central Marine Police Force was made in mid-2016. However, it was not taken up with much enthusiasm, but with recent several intelligence inputs indicating that "Pakistan-based terrorist groups have plans to carry out attacks on important installations and cities located along the coast after infiltrating their cadre through sea route", the ministry expedited the move to form the armed marine force.

The officer, working on the constitution of the marine force, said when Rajiv Gauba was Home Secretary, he had been pushing to expedite the process and had raised the matter at several occasions during internal security meetings. Gauba is currently Cabinet Secretary.

India has a vast coastline of 7,516 km touching 13 states and union territories. It also has around 1,197 islands.

"So far, in order to strengthen coastal security, a Coastal Security Scheme has been implemented in phases since 2005, with the objective of strengthening capacity and infrastructure of the police force of the coastal states/union territories for patrolling and surveillance of coastal areas, particularly shallow areas close to the coast," said the officer.

The Phase-I of the scheme was implemented during 2005-2011 with an outlay of Rs 646 crore. Under Phase II (2011-2020) of the scheme, an amount of Rs 1023.50 crore has been allotted for procurement of 225 new boats based on the vulnerability assessment of the coastline and a total of 60 jetties have been sanctioned to coastal states and union territories.

Under the scheme, 200 coastal police stations are operational, and coastal police has been equipped with 204 boats, 30 jetties, 284 four-wheelers, 554 two-A wheelers, 97 check-posts, 58 out-posts and 30 barracks.

The coastal police stations are also equipped with navigation and communication equipment, card readers, equipment enhancing night operation capabilities of boats and computer systems.

Coastal security is reviewed periodically with all stakeholders by National Committee on Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security against threats from the Sea (NCSMCS) constituted under the Cabinet Secretary.

The government also found that there are significant variations in utilization of resources allocated under Coastal Security Scheme by various states besides lack of budgetary allocation for operation and maintenance of state marine police.

Looking into these complications, the MHA actively considered the proposal to set up Central Marine Police Force and officers concerned were told to "initiate action in a time-bound manner and communicate the action taken in to the Prime Minister Office".

Currently, a three-tier coastal security ring all along the coast is provided by the State Coastal Police, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Indian Navy. The Indian Navy is patrolling along International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), while the ICG is mandated to carry out patrolling and surveillance up to the Exclusive Economic Zone of India (EEZ) and the State Coastal Police performs boat patrolling in the shallow coastal area.

The Indian Navy has been designated as the authority responsible for overall maritime security.

Director General, Coast Guard has been designated as Commander of Coastal Command and made responsible for overall coordination between the state and the Central agencies in all matters relating to coastal security.

"Coastal Security Scheme is implemented in phases with the objective of strengthening infrastructure of Coastal Police Force for patrolling and surveillance of coastal areas," said the officer.

The state coastal police forces work closely with ICG under the hub and spoke concept, the hub being the ICG station and the spokes being the coastal police stations.

"Gapless electronic surveillance along the coastline is carried out by using 46 radar stations of ICG and 74 Automatic Identification System Receiver Stations of Directorate General, Lighthouses and Lightships," he said.

Joint Coastal Security Exercises are conducted by ICG, in coordination with other stakeholders to create synergy between the central and the state agencies involved in the coastal security and based on intelligence inputs, coastal security operations are also being conducted.

About strengthening the security apparatus across the coastline, the officer said the Ministry of Defence has increased manpower of Indian Coast Guard. The sanctioned strength of Coast Guard has been increased from 8,149 in 2008 to 16,792 in 2018 which is 100 per cent increase from manpower recruited in 2008.

The ministry also stated that ships and air assets of Indian Coast Guard are fitted with the latest state-of-the-art technology equipment, systems, sensors to enhance surveillance capability of the Coast Guard.

 

[Bleh]

> Better camo (Multicam is terrific and suits our terrain very well)

What's your opinion on this one?

I put three picture Examples of MARPAT Woodland Camo including a US Marines Combat Utility Uniform There are some slight change to how the colors because of the photos and renditions of each were made. The Pattern Used by Para SF is the same as the MARPAT Woodland.

Yes, I know what MARPAT woodland looks like... This is not any of that.

Look here. These guys are wearing Jungle MARPAT above & that one below, different from the others & only seen on Indian & Bhutanese forces.

Another MARPAT version.

CRPF also uses another desert pattern.

 

[aditya g]

They aren't rounds themselves, rather, polymer containers in which CG rounds are stored. Both are of CG, it has containers of 2 lengths as you can see here:

View attachment 42211

The one on right (in your picture) is painted black is all.

Thanks, if you see the 2 containers also have different munitions. I am guessing the longer rocket with pinochio nose is anti-tank.

 

[Assassin 2.0]

Cobra commando joins duty after losing both of the legs.

 

[aditya g]

My dream is that instead of raising a new unit, we could have deployed a permanent NSG detachment.

That is true. A QAT operator on news mentioned that they regularly train with NSG for 3 months and Mumbai police's Force One for another two every year and are on a constant high readiness. An officer further reiterated that their workload has consistently been piling up ever since Cuntan Wani was killed.

They also had pretty fluid movement for an Indian police unit and looked pretty sorted in priorities.

Here it is-

Also, kudos to the reporter. She asks a lot of relevant questions regarding operations and past experiences.