Latvian Special Tasks Unit

The Special Tasks Unit (Latvian: Speciālo uzdevumu vienība, SUV) is a special operations unit of the National Armed Forces. It was established in September 1991. The unit is specially organized, trained and equipped for the performance of high-danger tasks. The soldiers in the unit continuously train to enhance their professional preparedness and are provided with specialized equipment in order to carry out their tasks efficiently. As a Special forces group most information about its actions are based on speculation and rumors. The motto depicted in the unit's crest translates as "the brave man wins".

Special Task Unit's crest

Structure

• Headquarters
• Staff Company
• Combat Squadron A
• Combat Squadron B
• Combat Squadron C
• Combat Support Squadron
• Training Squadron

The Special Tasks Unit consists of trained professional soldiers who are specialized in certain areas, e.g. airborne troops, combat divers, snipers, dog handlers and other.

Mission

The unit is developed in a way, which allows it to provide assistance to state security and law-enforcement institutions in counter-terrorist operations and perform special tasks within the entire range of military operations: defense, attack and detention operations, airborne, sea landing and underwater operations, operations in a special environment (built-up territories, forests, limited visibility conditions, mountains, arctic and cold weather conditions, deserts and hot weather conditions), as well as search and rescue operations in collaboration with the Naval and Air Forces.

The main mission of The Special Tasks Unit is to:

• Perform special operations for national defense and security interests;
• Participate in counter-terrorist operations;
• Perform search and rescue operations on land and sea.

Equipment

The Special Tasks Unit's equipment and weaponry includes the Heckler & Koch MP5, Heckler & Koch G36, Steyr AUG, Glock 17, M249 SAW, L96A1 and many other weapons.

References

• National Armed Forces site