05. Cap 5 - Infiltración

8/13/2019 05. Cap 5 - Infiltracin

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CHAPTER

y land sea and air the modern espionageagent must be placed among the enemy inorder to complete their mission.


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INFILTRATION

SPECIAL FLIGHTS

The mighty C130 for many years the b ckbone of western armies.The British have two Special Forces flights within the R E which form a partof 7 and 47 Squadrons respectively. Aircrew with in both flights are trainedfor special operations - namely low-level deep penetration into enemyairspace and the delivery and extraction of Special Forces personnel. TheSpecial Forces Flight of 7 Squadron is based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire. Itis currently equipped w ith the UK-designated HC.2, a variant of the BoeingVertol Chinook twin-rotor heavy-lift helicopter that can be fitted with four(two forward and two aft) MI34 pintle-mounted mini-guns. Within the nexttwo years, however, the flight w ill be re-equipped with the HC.3. This willbe the first special operations-dedicated aircraft to be purchased by theBriish armed forces. The same aircraft is currently being operated as theMH-47E by the US Army's 160th Aviation Battalion, who are better knownas Task Force 160. It features a glass cockpit, terrain-following, forward-look ing infra-red (FLIR), built -in fast-roping brackets, and four .50 calibreGecal mini-guns.

The Special Forces flight of 47 Squadron is located at RAF Lyneham inWiltshire. It is equipped wirh the C-130K variant (designated C 3 in the UK)nf tho Ilcrr~llocnn q)oll pliinc, lillcd will1 in Ilil Iil rrf~lc\llinl ro h~ ,c~ l r~e~~or~ icIIIII~~I I~~I~,I.. I I I ~, y . I ~ l~~~ l .1110 l~ ,i Il111(1 I I I~.~~~~II~.IV*.l o ~ l ~Iii1

defence systems. The aircraft are currently being equipped with dedicatednight-vision goggles (NVG), that are compatible wi th cockpit lighting. It isreported that four of the C-1301 Hercules on order for the RAF will be fordedicated Special Forces use and that they will be upgraded to the samespecification as the MC-130E Combat Shadow which is currently utilized bythe special operations squadrons of the US Air Force. This aircraft hasterrain-follow ing radar and FLlR systems, an integrated avionics package forlong-range, low-level covert ops - which enable precision insertion and re-supply of Special Forces - and NVG-compatible cockpit lighting.

Finally, Flight of the Fleet Air Arm's 848 Squadron, equipped with theCommando Mk4 variant of the Westland Sea King helicopter, providessupport for the maritime counter-terrorist role.

Over the years the CIA has set up many proprietary companies to provideair support for its agents. During the Vietnam War, they used Air America tosupport operations throughout the who le of southeast Asia. Most of thepilots were ex-military and they flew a whole range of fixed-wing aircraftand helicopters. Their missions ranged from re-supply to drug running andreconnaissance; much of their work was highly dangerous. Other airlinesused by the CIA include SETCO, Evergreen, Hondu Carib and Arow Air.


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r lNFllTRATloNBoth Delta and SEAL team 6 are supported by the 160th Aviation Group.

While American agents and Special Forces have call on the USAF SpecialOperations Aviation Command, i n reality, mo st o f the clandestine work iscarried out by the 160th. Established in 1981, the 160th Aviation Battalion,or Task Force 160, is generally known as the "Night Stalkers", mainly due totheir extremely professional night-flying capabilities. In 1990, they wereofficially designated as the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Ituses a variety of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, such as the HH-60G"Pave Hawk", the AH-6G "Little B ir d and the advanced RAH-66 Comanche.There are three battalions, two of which are based in Fort Campbell,Kentucky, and one at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. They all specialize inarmed attack, insertion, extraction and all three are generally dedicated tothe Special Forces.STEALTH TECHNOLOGY

Stealth technology is now a major aspiration of many Western armiesStealth is the simple act of trying to hid e or evade detection. It is not somuch a technology as a concept that incorporates a broad series of~c\chnologies nd design features. Stealth technology is a prime goal for111ostmilitary organizations, includ'ing the intelligence agencies. Stealthc\nables you to sneak up on the enemy undetected. Militarily, this catchesrllc) enemy unawareq, r;ivinq you the advantage of surprise while seriouslyI ~ ~ l p r d i n foth 1110 cncmy'c ~wislnnco nd defences. In the past, thin woultlII,IVP I)I~ I~I ~~ c l ~ l c ~ v i ~ lIIIOII~:II I,~III~II~~,I~:I~11i 1 (OIH~~,~II~PI?I,IIII rn cw li *~ ~~-.II~,IIIII I ~ l r I ~ ~ ~ r ~ l o l l ~ ~ * .l l r l ~ l l l l1,11 III~IIIV III'.I~III((I*, c (~C~V ~, I I~ I~ I I III ~ .~IIIIII~II ,111, Ill11 III ~,I ~IIIIV *.II IIJI~V IIIIIIII v . r c Q VIIII

The demonstrations of stealth aircraft used during the Gulf War of 199 1illustrated their e ffectiveness. Since that time, however, current aircraftstealth technology has been seriously weakened by the introduction ofparticle filter methods for detecting stealth-built aircraft. Despite this, stealthaircraft and sea vessels continue to be built, m ost relying on shape, and theuse of non-metallic m aterials called "composites". Radar-absorbing paint isalso used, especially on the edges of metal surfaces, while othertechnologies also he lp reduce the signature.

Stealth clothing has been a desirable asset on the b attlefield for a longtime, especially for Special Forces infiltrating behind enemy lines. This hasbeen achieved to some degree. One British firm in Cardiff discovered thatshredded foil, similar to that used for insulation, could be used to blank outany thermal or infrared signature. This provided perfect night-timecamouflage for both soldiers and tanks. However, the insulation materialcaused the body to overheat and the suits had to be fined with a coolingsystem. Despite these drawbacks, the race is on to produce a real day-nightstealth system that is suitable for both men and machines.


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Because of the line-of-sight principle, both sea and air defences are highlysuccessful when it comes to detecting approaching ships and aircraft.Insertion by either of these methods will require a final coven metho d inorder to cross the border into enemy-held territory. An alternative is to crossthe border by foot or by vehicle. Depending on the country, this avenuemay also prove difficult, though.

One of the most formidable borders in the world is the one that dividesNorth Korea from the South. This consists of a whole range of defences thatinclude high walls, tripwires, mine fields, barbed wire, ditches and armedpatrols. It is not an easy place to cross. In 1978, information filtered throughto th e South Korean intelligence agency that the North were busy d igging atunnel under the border in preparation for an invasion. The North Koreansbuilt the tunnel by digging and dynam ite-blasting or more than 1,500metres, slipping beneath the Military Demarcation Line in the process. Thetunnel reaches some 437 metres into South Korea, at an average depth of73 metres. Once its presence was discovered, the North stopped dig gingand the tunne l was sealed off w ith concrete. Although this was the onlytunnel discovered, it is thought that several others existed.

Elsewhere in the world, the Israelis are currently building a massive wallin order to stop the Palestinian suicide bombers from entering their territory.The first 110 km of it is already finished and the total 350-km fence will becompleted by the end of the year. The w all is extremely high and will bebacked up by a combination of fences, walls, ditches, pa trol roads andelectronic surveillance devices.

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Most modern borders are guarded by high-tech defences such as seismicsensors that silently detect movement. Other systems involve a series ofpoles between which several layers of invisible beams are emitted.Breaking these beams sends off a silent warning. These devices work wellin principle, but they do have a number of l imiti ng factors. Few of them candifferentiate between animals and people and they can also be vulnerableto attack

LANDLand is the least desirable means of infiltration and is usually limited toshort movements by individuals or small detachments. However, it is thebest alternative if an infiltration team is confronted with difficult terrainand poor weather conditions, as land infiltration has its greatest chanceof success when the enemy's border defences are inadequate, or if thecombat zone is fluid. Insertion by land is carried out either on foot or byusing a vehicle. While the final entry point may require the agent tomove on foot, the distance from the start point to the actual operationalareas will normally require the use of vchiclc. The\ mocl widcly usoclmodes of four-whoel transporl ;Ircl IIIV l il;l11 'It1 lk11 tbl~ic1 (ICV ,lntl 111t>,l..ic ~nilit,lryrvy , c;(~rli I*. ,I IIMMWV (I I~ IIMIIIIIIIIV M t ~ l ~ l l ~ ~ l ~ l > r ~ . c *WL VI:IIII-II~ 1 A LAIIL l ~vc .


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INFILTRATION

ADVANTAGES OF LANDb It is simple and requires minimal support.b You have flexibility if you are compromised y the enemy.b You have the ability to change routes as operational

needs dictate.b You can remain comparatively covert if you travel a t night.

DISADVANTAGES OF LANDb It is slow compared to infiltration by air.b You are subjected to long-term exposure to the enemy.b There is a limit to the amount of supplies and equipment

that can be carried.Llght trikeVehicles

1111, llnht strlko vohlcle LSV)ooks the part but its performance eaves much to be desiredwcrc ucorl by both the American and British Special Forces during

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Although there are four-man LSVs, most are designed to carry two orthree soldiers, with stowage for the crew's kit in panniers and racks alongthe sides of the vehicle. Despite their beach buggy appearance, thevehicles are not cheap and additional items - such as .Kevlar arrnour andignition retardant fuel tanks - come as extra. After initial trials during theirwarm-up training in the Gulf, the SAS decided to drop the LSVs from themobile fighting columns.HMMWV Humvee)


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The Humvee - real designation Highly Mobile Multi-purpose WheeledVehicle - s a high-mobility, multi-purpose military vehicle produced by AMGeneral Motors. The introduction of the Humvee in 1985 provided a single-platform, m ulti-mission truck that has become the mainstay of the USmilitary. It is the basis for over 65 types of combat vehicle, from deliveringammunition to supporting special operations units and is acclaimed as theworld's most versatile, dependable and mob ile tactical whee led vehicle. AMGeneral has produced more than 175,000 Humvee's for the US and morethan 50 for other friendly interna tional forces.Land Rover

A Land Rover being used by the British SAS. This picture was taken deep inside Iraq weeksbefore the allies attacked. They roamed at will looking for the elusive Scud missiles or anyother opportune target.

For many years, the B ritish SAS used a specially pa inted Land Rover knownas the Pink Panther . In the Gulf War, the SAS used the existing Land Rover110, modified with extra stowage and weapons mounts, including smoke-dischargers mounted on both the front and rear bumpers. These vehicleswore ~f ilr dy no u ~ h wirhaand several months of hard operations behindrtnrltlly IItii-~. 8irirl (ovc~t inw prorl~trc\\ I 5pcrinl Opcvations Vrhirlv has rd1111 1111. 1 I0 II*.IVIIV 1111, ,A1,, II*I,I/II~II~II,IIIV 111 1111 11 l . ~ ~ ~ s i i . ~ lI~,I;III(~~.111i1

modifications. The result is a long-wheelbase, all-terrain weapons platFormthat is capable of supporting a wide variety of weapons, such as the MilanMark 19 grenade launcher, and .50 heavy machine gun.Range Rover

A A ~arly Range Rover being driven by a British Brixmis team operating in the forme rEast Germany. These intelligence teams did much to keep tabs on the Russians duringthe Cold War.

Range Rovers were first used by the SAS following the formation o f theanti-terrorist team in November 1972. The government sanctioned thepurchase of six Range Rovers and a team of SAS soldiers were sent to thefactory to collect them directly from the assembly line. The characteristics ofthe Range Rover, which a t the time was only one year old, were ideallysuited to the role - he drop-down tailgate allowed for easy loading andthe vehicle itself could be used in an Immediate Action (IA). Twenty-fiveyears later, the Range Rover is still used by the SAS, having been adaptedas a main assault delivery vehicle. Platforms and ladders attached to th eRange Rovers can carry the assault personnel directly to the required h e i~ h lof an aircraft door or building window.

The Range Rover was also ~ is c tl y Illixtl~i.. Ilii*,o1~:~11ii7alion~ a r ~ ~ r l11iecnd of ~ h c econd Worlrl W,II, W~II*II (II~IIII,IIIV w~I*. l iwirI(~ilI~IOW O111,1(01 fO1 llu ., 11\11 1 ,1.1 #111i1 Ill(Wl .l l l 1 I ~ ~111 l IIIIIII 1111 11 \11 1\111i~.11


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INFILTRATION

Commanders1-in-Chief Miss ion to the Soviet Forces in Germany. Therganization was set up on 16 September 1946 under the Robertson-lalinin Agreement between the Chiefs of Staff of the British and Sovietjrces in occupied Germany. The idea was to have a mutual exchange ofnison missions that would monitor the troop activities in both Germannnes, i.e. the Russian mission wo uld mon itor m ilitary activity in West~crmany,while the Brixmis mission would monitor similar activities in East~crmany.Brixmis provided most of the intelligence on Soviet and Warsaw~ i c tmilitary equipment, including some outstanding photography. The

Ihixmis agreement remained in force until the eve of Germany's~r*~rnificationn 2 October 1990.

The function of Brixmis was to shado w all troop movements, especiallyIl~ os e f the Russians inside East Germany. In order to do this, specially.l[l,lpted vehicles were used. These ha d four-wheel drive w ith~ ~ l ~ ~ q t h e n e duspension, plus half a tonne of armoured plating under111ctir elly. Fuel-tank capacity was increased and the internal windows .w c ~ c lacked out so that the occupants could take photographs withoutIII~~II~:bserved. The Range Rover was selected by Brixmis in the 1970s,I*, l provided a goo d observation platform through the sunroof. This was~t~~l t icular lyood for the R F section, who could observe Soviet airfieldOII lvi ty ome distance away.

Dnlmler Benz GS 182 Snowmobile

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Clandestine operations often take place in Arctic conditions where the onlymeans of transport is skis or a snowmobile. The GS-128 has become theindustry standard for many Special Forces units o perating in Arctic climates.This high-speed military snowmob ile is capable of nego tiating the roughestterrain at speeds of over 100 kmh. The GS-182 uses a CH002 burningsystem that can be switched to a high-output electric motor for quietrunning. The snow mob ile normally carries two people one man steering,the other armed.

SEAInfiltration by water includes the use of surface and subsurface craft. Upto the point where the personnel disembark from the parent craft it is asecure and economical means and, if the operator's target area is closeto the coast, then t is an infiltration method that should be considered.Many countries have a long and open coastline that is difficult to defendagainst small clandestine teams. While radar and sonar may pick uplarge surface and subsurface shipping, smaller vessels can slip byundetected. Small rubber craft can carry both a four-man unit and theirequipment right up to the beach; they can be launched from submarines,boats and helicopters and can be powered either by engine or paddle.Their one disadvantage is lack of speed if the infiltration unit isdiscovered on the beach.


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Divers offer a better alternative, as they are hidden up to the point wherethey emerge from the water. If discovered, they can simply return to theprotec tion of the water. However, divers require specialist training. Theirmain advantage is their ability to attack coastal targets, such as shippingharbours. As is the case with small rubber craft, they can be delivered bysubmarine, ship, helicopter or by parachute.

Surface swimmers can also be delivered in the same way, and, for th emost part, will remain undetected. They require no specialist training andare hidden until they reach the coastline. One method tried by the BritishSpecial Forces was to use surfboards to assist their approach. These weredelivered by submarine some four miles off the coast of Noway. Theswimmers simply lay on the boards, with their packs secured between theirlegs at the rear. They achieved good speeds and did not suffer from tiredlimbs, as would have been the case if they had swum.ADVANTAGES OF SEA

b Operations can be long range.b The weather has little or no effect up to point of

disembarkation.b Evacuation is possible with a "no-go" operation.

Operational briefings can continue en route.b Large quan tities of supplies can be delivered.

DISADVANTAGES OF WATERb The visibility of the mother craft.

Vulnerability to enemy shore defences du ring landing.CanoeDuring the Second World War, the canoe became one of the mainstays ofinfiltrating agents and Special Forces during covert operations. The "K lepp eftwo -ma n collapsible canoe is sti ll used by both the SAS and t he SBS,although its use has declined som ewhat. This German-designed canoe,which proved to be much lighter than the previously used Cockle II, cameinto servic~n the 1950s and remained until the mid-1980c. Despite itsp~ in l i~ ivvlvciry~, 1 1 i a l ~ , l n i ~.; 1n~irlr1orn I i 4 ~~ t l w r~ o t lo ~ l l l ~ ~ i i l i\';I1 ,inclI III~*.II111111 1 1 1 i s 1111 I< n 11v181tvlIIII m 1 ~ 1 1 ~IIV~III~IIIIIII IIVI~I wi111 I(*IIII)

and the hull material has a core of polyester cord surrounded by rubber. Itis ideal for clandestine insertions onto hostile coastlines. It can also becarried ashore and camouflaged by its crew. The canoe's skin is loosefitting until "airsponsons" that run under each gunwale are inflated. Itmeasures 5.2 metres long, 89 cm wide and 61 cm deep and will pack intoa bag 69 cm x 58 cm x 20 cm.

Extensively used during theSecond World War t he canoe hasfallen from grace mainly due to itsslow speed and poor load carrying

Assault BoatsThere are several small boats available for clandestine operations. Manycountries use a mixture of medium inflatable boats (MIBs), rigid inflatableboats (RIBS) and fast interceptor craft (FICs). Of these, the most remarkableis the Halmatic Very Slim Vessel (VSV). In addition to normal boats, SpecialForces also operate a range of small Ianrlillf c1~111 l i ~ 115 liion essels LC/\ )Roth the Americans and t h ~ri~ic;ll l U . i 1 ,I '.IIIII~~II1 I I ~ ~ I I ~ ~011l; IIOVC~CI;I~Icnpnklc of spitctls 1111n 30 k11i11..t i II*:. W O I ~ I ~ I ~ ~ ~ ~ lu11~~10 1 ~ ~011) ~,IIIV rl o 10 l l l l l ~'~~ l l1~ '~ ' l I,~ ' l ' . l l l l l l i~ lll l ~ l lIIIIII-' 111 . Illlt'..


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INFILTRATION

Assault boats can b e used for river or open sea operation. Their construction, once flimsy,has been greatly increase d. This picture shows an armoured rubber assault boat.

The Rigid Raider assault craft, w hich replaced the older inflatab le Gemini,is much speedier when it comes to disembarking the men on board. Fittedwith four lifting points, the craft can be transported by helicopter and ispowered by one or two 140 HP lohns on outboard motors with a top speedof 37 knots. It is capable of carrying nine fully equipped m en with a(oxsw ain. The Rigid Raider claims to be virtua lly unsinkab le. Both British33s and SAS have recently taken delivery of 16 new RTK Rigid Raiders thathave been specially adapted for them and are constructed from Kevlar thatlives them a hull weight of less than 300 kg. This means that a four-manpatrol can carry the craft, even when it is fitted with twin 40 hp motors.

The Americans use the Rigid Raiding craft (RRC) that is some eight metreslong and capable of carrying a section o f eight m arines with ull kit. TheIIOW Mk 3 RRC has a 240 BHP inboard diesel engine giving it a speed ofIllore than 30 knots w hen fully laden to a range of 120 nau tical miles.

One of the most impressive high-speed delivery platforms is the Halmatic VSVl ic vessel is wave piercing and offers high speeds in rough weather conditions.

11~1svery low radar signature and no heat spots, making it hard to detect.A~ltlitionally,ts linear acceleration causes no discernible hump speed. It has theL~l l~ l i lyo car/ hi :h payloads with very little loss of speed over a considerableI, 1 r:cl is ,iir pn~~,ihlcy holli fixerl-wing and helicopter. The Halmnic VSV

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High speed, wave pie rcing boats such as the Brit ish Halmatic or this American TK usedextensively to insert agents.

Marine Assault Access System Moby)

1 he MOBY system he lps agents gain access from th e sea surface.The marine assault access system has been designed to provide accessfrom the water to elevated marine structures and vessels. The system,which ritisos a flexible ladder and grapple, is particularly suitable ino l ) ~ ~ ~ ~ i l i o ~ ~ .licrc silence and stcallh arc of paramolrnl irnpomncr. TIicIII.\I~II* s, I l l lr l)a lr~ ,~ x l ~ c ~ ~ ~ l c ~ l v~IIII,II,II~ , l~i ;l\ li, r-,)IOVI~II o l ) o ~ , i l i ~ l ~ l ~ ~ lIII\L fltn p~ tI til ~ i r vIII .III~I.I~:.I~I~IV OIIIV ~ t l l i ~ r) d * - l l ~ i ~ ;~ ~ ~ ~ ~I I I ~


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diver can deploy the device to the target with ease, and its compact designallows m obilization within seconds, together with easy manoeuvrabilityduring operation. The system is used b y bo th the SAS an d the SBS whe nquick access is required and when the use of traditional ladders orgrappling hooks is not feasible.DlversDivers are used to perform many roles, such as sabotage on shipping,covert entry to offshore facilities and underw ater searches prior to VIP visits,to name bu t a few. Normal SCUBA equipmen t is unsuitab le for milita ryoperations, as bubb les indicate the divefs position. Mode rn systems includethe electronically controlled Divex closed-circuit, mixed-gas, rebreatherstealth system. This compact unit is both easy to operate and maintain,giving the diver up to four hours of submersion, depending on theunderwater activity. The Divex system is ideal for covert operations as itleaves no traceable bubbles, either below or above the suhce.

Divers can be inserted by air or delivered to the area by submarine or boat. This flexibilitymakes them extremely useful as they remain unseen until they reach the shoreline.

Diver5 can carly a wirlv varicly of cqi~ipmcnt, s can h we n by a ncwIIII ~IIIW,III*I (lil l1,11$ WIIII 11 w,la,~ l ~ ~ % i ~ ~ ~ v ( l111 t l ~ o ,wv V A I Tlli,,011 11~1l 11111~ 1 . 1 1,11111- II..I~II 1111 III ,I I II-~ IIII of ~ 0III~II *. I I I I~ ,111 I , I ~ I ~

either IR or normal spectrum pictures. The camera, which can be switchedbetween single frame and video mode, connects to a specially modifieddiving mask that allows HUD-style viewing. The camera also has a standardlox telephoto option, a wide-angle option and can be fitted with a fibre-optic flexi-lens. The memory can store up to 30 minutes of video or 500still images, thus ma king it an invaluable asset for reconnaissancepurposes. Other diver systems include the dep loyment of underwater GPSnavigation and communications.UNDERWATER COMMUNICATIONSIt is difficult for divers to communicate underwater without the use of anumbilical line. However, a new system has emerged that makes such a taskeasier. The diver speaks into a mask, or a mouthpiece-mountedmicrophone (various microphone-earphone configurations are possible to fita range o f masks, breathing systems and even re-breathers). The voicesignal is converted into an ultrasonic-equivalent signal within the diver unit,amplified and is then applied to the transducer. The transducer resonates toproduce a sound signal of optimu m wavelength that can be carried longdistances through water.

Transducers of a similar wavelength (approximately 31 KHz) mounted onthe other diver units or lowered into the water on a cable from the surfacesupervisor, receive and transmit such signals. The received signals thenundergo the reverse process to yield the original speech signal in the divefsearphone or in the supervisofs headset and speaker.

Through-water communications are still in their infancy and are affectedby many factors. Some of the energy is absorbed and converted to heat(attenuation) and some of the energy is scattered by fish, seaweed a ndbubbles (diffraction). In addition, the surface and the seabed will affect thesound inte nsity by reflecting the sound back into the water, causingintetference. Temperature variations in the water may refract the signal. Thesound inten sity of through-water communications will, therefore, be affectedby bo th the speed of sound in water 1,480 metres per second - andvariations in water temperature.

Special Forces divers also practise parachuting into water for bothclandestine entry and counter-terroris[.npc~ralion~i.walcr jump differs froma land-bawd parachute drop in s I~IIII1 I - . 1111').II~I(IIII~~C.II~LICI

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INFILTRATION

be inserted by parachuting nto the wa ter before swim ming to the I Submarinesoperational area.Convertible High Speed SurfaceISubmarine Vessel

- Sllbmersibles offer a perfect way of getting a team close to a ship or oil rig installation~~ndetected.t has the ability to travel on or below the water surface.Illis is a fa n offshore boat that has deflatable-re-inflatable hull tubes and~~ l l r rp roo fed ,ressurized operating systems. While on the surface, it serves

,In offshore rigid hull that can be converted into mini-submarine mode inI I ~ ~ . ~ ~han 20 seconds, even while underway. The boat is powered by111111)oardotors on the surface and by electric propulsion when it is~ l ~ ~ ( l ( nva t e r .t is capable of carrying up to six combat divers plus their111 11 lipment and standard fuel bags. The surface range of the vessel is 10011.1111icaliles at a speed of over 30 knots; underwater, it has a range ofl1.11 kilometres and a speed of around two to three knots. It can dive to aII I~ )I II f 100 metres. The underwater performance can be greatly improvedIlv ..~lhstitu ting tandard lead acid batteries with silver zinc units. The boatsI 111 deployed from a road trailer towed by a large car, a submarine, a~I. I I I I I~raft or by helicopter, all of which will greatly extend the combat~ l l v t ~ ~ ' . .,ingc and operational capabilities.

lI1114.i* ~h -sk im me r raft are uniquely versatile, making themIIII I - .~111lq.,ihIPor reconnaissance, surveillance, agent handling in hostile11-IIIIIII/,I~O ~ I ( ~ I Si~i(I alcrhornc clandestine missions of many kindsINIII~II- II~VIII~.111' I I ~ V ~ I I V ~ ~ I .1 o r l ( % r ~11 d ~ i l l lc tl iod of approi t~ l ior 511r11I ~ ~ I I . I I ~ I I ~ .la. 0 1111 ,111(1.1111 .\I o. iB ,~I*.*,,IIIII I)~I>I,II~~II~,,i $ l i v~ \ ~ i ~ ) j :liv111-.

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As can be seen here submarines have been used for many clandestine inf iltration operations.Small submarines are used by many countries, mostly for the purpose ofgathering information and for carrying out clandestine operations. No rthKorea developed a small submarine with the express purpose of inse rtinggroups of Special Forces into South Korea. On one occasion the SouthKorean N a y captured a North Korean 70-ton Yugo-class submarine thathad become entangled in fishing nets o ff the port of Sokcho. The sameregion saw another inc ident when, in September 1996, another NorthKorean mini-submarine ran aground in Kangnung. firefight ensued andmost of the 24 crew and Special Forces were killed or drowned.

The Americans developed the Mark-XI1 ASDV, an advanced swimmer-delivery submersible that carries combat swimmers and their cargo inside afully flooded compartment. The vessels are launched from larger hostsubmarines. The Mark-XI1 is fitted wit h a range of advanced sensors,includ ing sonar, IR, UV and the rmal imaging. Navigation is provided by theMUGR, a m iniatu re, underw ater GPS Receiver. The Mark-XI1 is used by a lla y SEAL teams, the British SBS and the French GIGN. The Russians use

lhc Sircna-UM manned torpedo, as well as small submarines. In October10H1, 1Ii115wcrli~li oyal aw dcrrcrcd Soviet suhmarinc aclivity ncar lheir,~ v vr,~u.c&11 K . ~ ~ l * . k~ o~ l , liri1il~i1I ~ iv i t i r~~ ,>~r .~IIPII 111111~1>1li1it11, (\5 I>c\illf:

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divers and from sonar devices discovered the tracks o f several smallsubmarines apparently working from a mother ship. Comparable activitieswere also discovered off the coast of Scotland.

AIRInsertion by air is particularly good, as it allo ws the operators to be lifteddirectly into enemy territory; it also provides a rapid means of extraction.Most air operations require a lan ding site LS), where troops are infiltratedby helicopter and are actually placed on the ground, or a landing zone LZ)for dropping personnel by parachute. In instances where a helicopter caninfiltrate an enemy area but not actually land such as in a jungle orbuil t-up areas personnel would norm ally reach the ground by rope. Asimilar system can be used for hot extraction from a hostile area. Whilethese are the main methods for clandestine operations, many others havealso b een tried.

Helicopters, although noisy, have the capability to deliver agents directly to a given pointthus avoiding borders. They can either land or hover while troops descend by rope or ladder.

ADVANTAGES OF AIRb The speed of delivery.b Thc accuracy of delivety.b 5 h o 1 1cxl ,os~r~c r inctmy.

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DISADVANTAGES OF AIRVulnerability to enemy a ir defences.

b Reliance on favourable weather conditions.The risk of possible injury to personnel and damageto equipment.The possible compromise of Z or LZ.

Fast Rope Insertion/Extraction System (FRIES)

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INFILTRATION

Some systems can deliver or snatch up to 1 personnelFRIES is a rope, manufactured from high-tensile, mu ltifilament nylon, tha tlllcorporates eight nylon rope loops in the last few metres. This rope is8,llspended from a helicopter and the soldiers can attach themselves to it.llie system is designed to be non-rotating, enabling problem-freerl~ployment.t also has a high extension capability can absorb dynamic

F loads and ensures a smooth descent wh en troops need to be "snatched"I I~uickly.FRIES enables agents and Special Forces personnel to be deployed into,

b t ~ ~ t letrieved from, dangerous situations by simply clipping themselves and~lrr~i rquipment to the loops with quick-release karabiners. The system1111lcases the deployment speed of airborne forces an d reduces the risk ofItc~licopter nd personnel vulnerability. A Blackhawk helicopter, using a tw o-II ~ I ystem, is capable o f delivering a group o f 12 men in a little over ten.vrr~ li ds nce it is in the correct hover position.

F lrirllvldual Flylng Platforms~IIIIIIII 1ic 1960s ~ h cmerican military researched the effectiveness ofI~ III.II , Al~ l in~~[ l ilicy i ~ r h i ~ v t ~ r lworkinc morlel, it was not dccmcl(l o

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the time of writing, no working model is available other than thepowered paraglider.

The Para Hawk is a propeller-powered platform that uses a parachute asa means of flying. Although the idea was first developed in the UnitedStates, it was then taken up by a retired SAS pilot, who started designinghis own aircraft near to the SAS headquarters in Hereford. The first modelswere ready during the m id-1980s and the SAS carried out field trials on theMicrolight aircraft, as it was then known. The aircraft consisted of a three-wheeled trike and a Ram-Air parachute. The trike had a rear-mountedengine, the propeller of wh ich was housed in a protective cage. The pilo twas strapped into an open seat in front of the engine where his right footwould control the accelerator. Rewng the engine would speed the trikeforward, forcing the ram-air parachute that was attached to the trike to actas a wing. The Microlight required little room for take-off and landingadded to which a pilot could be taught to tly it in less than a day. Despitethe fact that it was almost impossible to stall the Microlight, SAS trials werediscontinued after several messy landings. Newer forms of backpack-mounted Para Hawks manufactured in the United States are much improvedand their evaluation is still ongoing.


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INFILTRATION

Parachuting HAHO High Altitude High Opening)

Parachuting provides a good method of infiltration.Mos t Special Forces are taught basic parachuting skills. A normal courseinvolves making four low -altitude 60 metre (200 ft) static line jumps, sevennormal 240 metre (800 ft) jumps and two water jumps. Standard Britishparachutes are the PX1 Mk4, the PX Mk 5 and the PR7 reserve, all ofwhich have an equipment suspension strap and an integral jettison device.Once on the ground, the parachutist can jettison the canopy and clear theDrop Zone DZ)mmcdiar~ly. ll parachutes, whether rhcy arc American,Ril ';r.i ,l~i r I11/1i',li, 111 V I ~inlilnr in slylo llowovc~r, i~or1011i~ , i 1 i i ( . 1 1 1 1 1 1 ~ ~oprln v c y r111lc lv, IIIIIF. RIIOWIII~01 it Inwrtr r r l l l l ~ ~ r l ~ ~IIIIII)

HAHO is a method of air insertion where the parachutist exits the aircraft ata height of up to 9,000 metres (30,000 ft) and opens his parachuteimmediately. Using a RAM Air parachute, the parachutist can then glide forseveral miles; this allows the parachutist to infiltrate the enemy areaundetected, across borders or major enemy concentrations. GPS can beused in-flight to track the individual's position in relation to the earth'ssurface and assess drift to the LZ area. In the early 1980s, the British SASdropped a team of free-faller parachutists off the south coast of Englandusing the HAHO principle; all of them made it into France.

HAHO means the parachute is deployed very high. The height allows them to drift up to 3kilometres, an idea way of crossing borders undetected.HALO High Altitude Low Opening)In a HALO drop, the parachutes do not open until approximately 750metres (2,500 ft) above the ground. This requires the parachutist to free-fall for most of the way - a m ethod o f infiltration that is fast, silent,accurate and tends to land the team in the same spot. The speed ofdescent in free-fall is fast, but may van/


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INFILTRATION

THROW FORWARD\

ns 179 P ~ @ FREE-FALL

3, 9,000 M 30,000FT)-44OCMAD DlRECnOl h mm- -

FREE-FALL DRIFT 6,000 M 20,000FQ-24C

DZ MARKERS

H L In lnnlnly t~no tlor put ling ngnntr or Spnclnl Force8 lnto a apeclflc area. They fall lo n holflht of nrnllnd mo tr o~ hlch leaves them enough time to manoeuvre the chute lntothe Dt

05. Cap 5 - Infiltración

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