Standard armament of the mariners from the Special
Operations Sections:
-
a 9. calibre WIST 94 pistol,
-
a 9. calibre Pm-84P Glauberyt pistol,
-
a 5.56. calibre Beryl assault rifle,
-
a 7.62.
calibre AKM carbine,
-
a 7.62. calibre PKM/PKSM universal machine gun.
Equipment of a combat frogman:
-
OXY-NG2 French closed circuit breathing apparatus,
-
goggles,
-
dry diving dress with latex socks,
-
MDB life vest,
-
equipment for underwater wireless communication,
-
waterproof diving
tolls
for the purpose of moving
equipment,
-
multifunctional knife,
-
flippers.
FORMOZA
-
is the
name of the Special Operations Sections (Formoza
- Sekcje Działań Specjalnych Marynarki Wojennej),
which used to
operate
under the name of Special Naval Frogman Group.
The Formoza
was founded in 1974. Its first commander was a retired certified
commander, Józef Rembisz. In 1974, a research team dealing with
matters related to naval frogmen was created. The team was to
draw up a concept
for the
organisation and formation
of a special division of naval frogmen.
The unit was
orginally
upposed to comprise three sections of frogmen, a
technical
section, section
and management.
But it
was necessary to change this
premise;
a frogman could not go under the water without a safety leash.
It was
found
possible to omit this regulation. A basic team
now consists
of a pair formed to safeguard each other, three pairs create a
special group, five groups – a section. At the very beginning,
conscripted soldiers
served in the unit, nowadays the unit is entirely
professional, which
has
increased
its operating effectiveness. A three-year training system was
preserved, for instance, during the first year, mainly shooting,
swimming long distances, driving vehicles and foreign languages
are practiced.
In September 1987, the unit changed its name to
Special Operations Department and the Special Naval Frogman
Groups were created in 1990. The unit has
formidable
striking power, two frogmen may sink or
take control of an enemy’s ship,
several of
them
may block even a large group of ships.
The Formoza
is not an independent military unit, it is stationed in Gdynia.
It is subordinated to the commander of the Group of
Reconnaissance Ships (GORS), which constitutes a part of the 3rd
Flotilla
of Ships in Gdynia. Previously,
the Formoza
had been an independent unit for 15 years. Reportedly, the
Special Operations Sections consist of six groups and a base.
The Formoza
is prepared for special operations in times of peace, crisis and
war. Its basic tasks include
the carrying out of operations
on the sea, under water and in on-shore
facilities.
Usually the Formoza
co-operates with a water unit of the Operational Mobile Response
Group
(GROM),
the frogmen
company of the 1st
Special Regiment and some of its equivalents in the navies of
the states belonging to NATO.
