Poland's Formoza and 1 PSK

[REMOV]

One question I've never bothered to ask. What does FORMOZA stand for?

It is a long story full of torpedoes, Germans, Chinese isle and strange structures...

So, once upon a time (in 1939) bad Germans invaded the Europe. The also occupied the whole territory of Poland. The northern Poland was very safe place for them, beyond the range of Allied bombers. So they made lot of experimental facilities there, including new weapons testing structures and military training grounds. Ones of them were torpedoes testing centers called Torpedowaffenplatz.

There several such German test centers in Poland, but only two of them are most interesing for us. Sure, the story is still about the name of special unit

In fact they are just artificial islands, made of concrete. The only way you can get inisde was small wooden pier. After the war, when the piers were destroyed, the buildings were isolating structures about 300 to 500 metres from the coast. Small isolating islands... this should resemble you something...

Where's the point? So, let's move to South-Eastern Asia. Little, isolated island near China. Which is nowadays well-known by its Chinese name of "Taiwan". But the old, Portuguese name of the island, the name by which it is most commonly known is "Formosa". In fact the Portuguese called it "Ilha Formosa", the beautiful isle. In Poland the old name was in '50 well-known and popular, and spelled in Polish Formoza.

So, one little association met the other and old German structures were called Formoza's. The two biggest got a popular names: Old Formoza and New Formoza. The first one is nowadays devastated building, interesting only for divers(see picture)...


The Old Formoza

...but the second (New Formoza) is still in service for Polish Navy (as a part of some naval harbor). There are (or was) some Navy testing facilities but also a base of Polish Special Divers Group. So they adpoted the name of a structure as unit name. It isn't any abbreviation. It is just a name - Naval Frogmens Special Group "Formoza".

[Argo AdAm]

Why is the cammo differnt, also it seems that the cammo used now is more greenish then the ones in the pics above.[...]

On these pics there are the same cammos, only look different due to different light conditions, and types of fabric and paints. Another thing is that typical fabric used to make the standard polish combat uniforms isn't the best and after some period of using and lundering it camouflages colours becomes pale and contrast between them decrease. Fortunately in Polish army there is more and more really good uniforms made from gore-tex and rip-stop. I think proper camo colours are for example on gore-tex.

[...]Also why do they use Beryl not M4 carbine like GROM?

GROM was created in Ministry Of Internal Affairs where they had big independence and money so they could choose weapons they wanted. This unit is the main power of Polish special operations forces and that's why they gets the best weapons. As for weapons of the 1st PSK and Formoza, there are other types of equipment which nowadays are more needed for them like 0.5 cal sniper rifle, night vision binoculars, termo vision cameras and other high-tech things. For now they can still use Beryl and mini-Beryl as an assault rifle but of course it would be better if they had M4's or G36K. I hope that will be soon.

[Dominique]

As promised here's my updated version of my articoe pn the 1PSK:
Poland’s

Poland’s

1 Pulk Specjalny Komandosów
1PSK
1st Special Commando Regiment

The Polish Army’s 1st Special (Commando) Regiment, or 1 PSK, is one of three special operations units currently operating within the Polish military’s force structure. Operating under the command of Col. Jania, the units is based in Lubliniec, near Częstochowa. The Regiment carries on the traditions of several World War II special mission units. These WWII units, organized with the assistance of the US and England, consisted of the 2nd Commando Battalion, of the Special Motorized Battalion and the “Parasol” (Umbrella) and “Zoœka” Sabotage Battalion .

Prior to 1994, the Regiment was composed of a single battalion (1 Independent Special Battalion), but it’s currently organized into three special battalions and an independent combat swimmer company. Each battalion is composed of three companies, which are divided into three platoons. Each platoon contains 3-six man teams giving the unit a total strength of approximately 90 operational teams, plus support staff.

Thanks to the unit’s high recruiting standards, and a special training program the Regiment implemented several years ago, the unit’s soldiers display a higher level of skill and professionalism, when compared to other Polish forces. The Regiment’s troops are trained to undertake a wide range of special missions during war time, with it’s troops being capable of conducting air assault, helicopter, and parachute operations (including HALO and HAHO operations); strategic and tactical reconnaissance operations; raids and ambushes; combat diver and underwater attack missions; providing support to other specialist units during hostage rescue operations; and other missions as deemed necessary. During their recent deployment to Iraq, 1PSK troops also conducted close protection duties for various high ranking military officials and civilian VIPs.

Candidates wishing to service in the Regiment must first successfully undertake a basic military training course. They then move on to three-month “Junior Specialist” training course. During this phase recruits receive training in close combat, unarmed combat, fighting with specialized equipment, parachuting, land navigation, weapons handling, basic survival, and several other military related skills. Those troops who successfully complete the second phase then move onto the Regiment, where they assigned to one the unit’s six-man operational teams. Once there additional training continues (mountain and cold weather training, sniper, amphibious operations, etc.).

The regiment has been quite active over the last few years with troops being deployed to support NATO operations in Macedonia. A 13-man detachment was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Poland’s support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Most recently the unit has deployed a 56-man company to Iraq as part of the Multinational Division Central South. In the near future the unit is to become fully professional force composed entirely of professional soldiers. The Regiment, along with GROM counter terror unit and the Navy’s GSP (“Formoza”) combat diver unit, is slated to fall under a newly proposed Polish special operations command.

The 1PSK armories are currently in a state of flux as the unit tries to upgrade the equipment used by it’s operators. Weapons in use by the unit include the P83 and P94 WIST 9mm Para pistols, kbs wz.04 96 Beryl 5.56mm assault rifles, (many of the weapons have been modified with the addition of fore-grips, laser aiming devices, aiming lights/illumination devices, and various optics such as Tasco telescopic scopes and/or night vision devices), H&K MP-5, MP-5SD, Uzi, Glauberyt Pm-84P (some of which have been equipped with sound suppressors) 9mm sub-machineguns., km PK 7.62m GPMGs. Unit snipers are equipped with the Finnish 7.62mm SAKO TRG-21, TRG-22, and kbw SWD (“Dragunov”) sniper rifles.

*NOTE*

A very special thanks to REMOV, mack_pl, and Kruglerek and everyone else from www.militaryphotos.net for all the help they provided in preparing this article.

If you guys don't mind, how about reading over it for accuracy and let me know if you catch any mistakes.

Next up for updating, GSP/"Formoza".

[mack pl]

As promised here's my updated version of my articoe pn the 1PSK:
Poland’s

1 Pulk
Pułk
1PSK


. Most recently the unit has sent troops to Iraq as part of the Multinational Division Central South. 56 strenght company in Iraq

kbk wz. 96 Mini-Beryl 5.56mm carbines. (many of the weapons have been modified with the addition of fore-grips, laser aiming devices, aiming lights/illumination devices, and various optics such as Tasco telescopic scopes and/or night vision devices),only Formoza using Mini-Beryl, but Remov is an expert, not me))

*NOTE*

, mak_pl, arghhh, mack_pl))))

Best regards


PS. new pic for you mate

"Mad Max" Honker- 1PSK guys in Iraq
[/img]

[Herrmannek]

ś polish letter code for html: &#347* use ";" instead of "*" and paste it on place of letter you want to use, so users reading will have correct letter displayed.. ie: Zoœka should be Zośka

ę &#281*
óó
ą &#261*
ś &#347*
ł &#322*
ż &#380*
ź &#378*
ć &#263*
ń &#324*

Ę &#280*
ÓÓ
Ą &#260*
Ś &#346*
Ł &#321*
Ż &#379*
Ź &#377*
Ć &#262*
Ń &#323*

"*" replace with ";"

MACK for foreginers alt+l doesn't work

[mack pl]

MACK for foreginers alt+l doesn't work

damn

[Dominique]

Sorry about that mack_pl , Your name is now corrected. I'll wait for REMOV to check over my info on weapons.

Just out of curiousity, does anyone have any info on the new Polish AF SAR unit?

[mack pl]

Sorry about that mack_pl , Your name is now corrected. I'll wait for REMOV to check over my info on weapons.

Just out of curiousity, does anyone have any info on the new Polish AF SAR unit?

its not so "new"
1 Lotnicza Grupa Poszukiwawczo-Ratunkowa from Bydgoszcz.
1st Air SAR group(?)

anyway, its few Mi8 and Sokół helos, and few medics(doctors). Few yrs ago they had trained with 1PSK operators(10 guys team), but I dont know what they are doing now....maybe Kruglerek has more info.

anyway, I have news for you mate- Poland has new SF unit-Oddział Specjalny Żandarmerii Wojskowej (Special Unit Military Police)...its our new CT team, from Warsaw. I guess Kruglerek will have some new infos, or maybe even pics in next week They will have some show in TV I guess(maybe)....

Regards

[Dominique]

Thanks for the update on the new unit and the Air Rescue Group. A few more requets though.

1) Does anyone have good pic of 1PSK's ensignia?

2) does anyone have any info on the planned special operations command?

[mack pl]

Thanks for the update on the new unit and the Air Rescue Group. A few more requets though.

1) Does anyone have good pic of 1PSK's ensignia?

2) does anyone have any info on the planned special operations command?

1)


2) well, If IM correct we have only-Oddział Specjalny(Special Detechment?) in General Staff of our army, but its not some independent command, like Land Forces Command for example. Its some advisors group for our army commander(gen.Piatas). BTW he have some special SF assistant(ge.Kempara) .

damn gramma

[Brzeczyszczykiewicz]

About the professionalism of the 1 PSK- all combat units of the Regiment are fully proffesional.
Conscripts may serve only as support staff (cooks, guards, technicians etc.). Last conscripts will finish their service by the end of December.

Second- I may be wrong, but the the reduction plans are doubtful (or at least I didn't heard about any...)

[mack pl]

About the professionalism of the 1 PSK- all combat units of the Regiment are fully proffesional.
Conscripts may serve only as support staff (cooks, guards, technicians etc.). Last conscripts will finish their service by the end of December.

Second- I may be wrong, but the the reduction plans are doubtful (or at least I didn't heard about any...)

yeah, I agree with Brzeczyszczykiewicz...

btw-1PSK has cooperate with 5th SFG in Iraq

Regards

[REMOV]

The 1PSK armories are currently in a state of flux as the unit tries to upgrade the equipment used by it’s operators. Weapons in use by the unit include the P94 WIST 9mm Para pistols

Also 9mm x 18 P-83 and some demonstration models of other pistols.

kbs wz. 96 Beryl 5.56mm assault rifles and kbk wz. 96 Mini-Beryl 5.56mm carbines.

Ekhm... Mini-Beryl is only used by Formoza and some units of Military Police (Zandarmeria Wojskowa).

(many of the weapons have been modified with the addition of fore-grips, laser aiming devices, aiming lights/illumination devices, and various optics such as Tasco telescopic scopes and/or night vision devices)

Yes, right, they are "field modification", but the Beryls evolve to the wz.04 standard, with additional foregrip and MIL-STD-1913 rails.

BTW - some of such "field modification" example (courtesy of Coyote)

PKMP 7.62mm machineguns.

Ekhm... "km PK" or just PK machineguns (GPMG).

Unit snipers are equipped with the Finnish 7.62mm SAKO TRG-21 and Dragonov sniper rifles.

Sako TRG-21 and TRG-22. BTW - Dragunov, but in Poland called "kbw SWD".

The 1.PSK is one of two Polish units which soldiers can use non standard equipment, so they can buy pieces of it which suits them well. Some of those equipments then became a standard ones (tactical vest for example).

[FDF_Hemppis]

Just out of curiosity Remov: is there any particular reason Poland chose to use 7.62mm Sakos instead of .338LM? (i.e. TGR-41/2)

But in any case, great rifles you have

[REMOV]

Just out of curiosity Remov: is there any particular reason Poland chose to use 7.62mm Sakos instead of .338LM? (i.e. TGR-41/2)

7,62mm x 51 (7,62mm NATO) ammunition. And costs of .338 Lapua Magnum (and barrels) ammo.