1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = 1st Special Forces Battalion

| native_name = 1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais

| image = File:1bfesp.png

| caption = Coat of arms of the 1st SF Battalion

| dates = {{Start date and age|1983}}

| country = {{flag|Brazil}}

| allegiance =

| command_structure = 20px Brazilian Special Operations Brigade

| branch = 20px Brazilian Army

| type = Special Forces

| specialization =

| size = Unknown

| garrison = Goiânia

| commander1_label = Current Commander

| commander1 =

| commander2 =

| commander2_label = Deputy Commander

| commander3_label = Brigade Commanders

| commander3 =

| nickname = "FE"

| motto = {{lang|pt|Qualquer missão, em qualquer lugar, a qualquer hora, de qualquer maneira.}}
(English: "Any mission, in any place, at any time, by any means.")

| colors =

| march =

| mascot =

| equipment =

| equipment_label =

| battles = {{unbulleted list

|Araguaia Guerrilla War

|Operation Traira

|United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti{{cite web|url=https://g1.globo.com/mundo/noticia/dopaz-conheca-a-tropa-de-elite-que-o-brasil-levou-para-pacificar-as-favelas-violentas-do-haiti.ghtml|title=Dopaz: conheça a tropa de elite que o Brasil levou para pacificar as favelas violentas do Haiti|date=20 September 2017|access-date=19 April 2023|publisher=g1|language=pt}}

|Security operations in Rio de Janeiro{{cite web|url=https://g1.globo.com/rio-de-janeiro/noticia/forcas-militares-chegam-a-rocinha-para-combate-a-guerra-do-trafico.ghtml|title=Militares entram na Rocinha para conter a guerra do tráfico|language=pt|date=22 September 2017|access-date=19 April 2023|publisher=g1}}

}}

| notable_commanders =

| anniversaries =

| identification_symbol =

}}

The 1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais (1º B F Esp) (English: 1st Special Forces Battalion), also named António Dias Cardoso Battalion, is a special forces unit of the Brazilian Army.

History

File:Forças especiais, Comandos (26712386985).jpg during MINUSTAH.]]

The Battalion was initially formed in 1957 as a jungle rescue unit. However, in 1968 it was reorganized as a special forces unit. In 1983 the unit was expanded and placed under the parachute infantry brigade structure.{{cite web|url=http://www.specwarnet.net/americas/brazil_1st_sfb.htm |accessdate=16 January 2018 |title=Brazilian Army's 1st Special Forces Battalion |website=SpecWarNet}}

In 1991, elements of the 1st BFEsp along with participated in Operation Traira, an action taken by the Brazilian Army in response to an attack made in February by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia against a semi-permanent army position in the Taraíra River. BFEsp soldiers killed seven FARC soldiers, imprisoned an unspecified amount and recovered military equipment stolen during the original February 1991 ambush.{{Cite web |date=2017-06-28 |title=Foreign Military Studies Office Publications - Guerrilla in The Brazilian Amazon |url=http://fmso.leavenworth.army.mil/documents/amazon/amazon.htm |access-date=2024-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628000650/http://fmso.leavenworth.army.mil/documents/amazon/amazon.htm |archive-date=2017-06-28 }}

In November 1991, this operation was followed by operation Perro Loco, intended to dissuade FARC activity on the Brazilian side of the border. {{Cite web |last= |date=2012-03-16 |title=TOA GUERRILHA NA AMAZÔNIA: A Experiência do Rio Traíra - Parte 3 |url=https://www.defesanet.com.br/geopolitica/toa-guerrilha-na-amazonia-a-experiencia-do-rio-traira-parte-3/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=DefesaNet |language=pt-BR}}

During MINUSTAH, a force of around 20 men from the 1st Special Forces Battalion and 1st Commando Actions Battalion made up the Destacamento de Operações de Paz (Peace Operations Detachment) or Dopaz, a special operations unit responsible for high-risk missions such as special reconnaissance and direct action against leaderships of Haitian gangs, as well as leading the UN raids on neighborhoods such as Bel Air, Cité Militaire and Cité Soleil from 2005 to 2007. According to Brazilian SF General Sergio Schwingel, Dopaz's role in Haiti led to the UN creating a doctrine for the usage of special forces in peacekeeping operations worldwide.

Role

File:Ministro da Defesa visita Comando de Operações Especiais do exército em goiânia-GO (43935939360).jpg

The Battalion's mission is similar to that of the Green Beret units; however, because they have the CT mission, they have modified their organization to more closely follow Britain's Special Air Service and American's Delta Force. The SF Battalion falls within the Army's Special Operations Command and is located in Goiânia.

The battalion is capable of conducting its missions independently from or in conjunction with conventional forces. Battalion troops are trained in jungle warfare at the Army's CIGS jungle warfare school and in amphibious, mountain warfare, airborne, airmobile and HAHO/HALO operations. They are also prepared for long-range reconnaissance in addition to their CT operations.

Equipment

class="wikitable"

! style="text-align: left;" |Name

! style="text-align: left;" |Origin

! style="text-align: left;" |Type

Glock 17

|{{Flag|Austria}}

|Pistol

Glock 21{{Cite web |title=Military Power Review - Tropas de Elite - Batalhão de Forças Especiais do Brasil |url=http://www.militarypower.com.br/frame4-trop8.htm |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=www.militarypower.com.br}}

|{{Flag|Austria}}

|Pistol

Heckler & Koch USP{{Cite web |title=1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais {{!}} PDF {{!}} Comandos (soldados) {{!}} Forças especiais |url=https://pt.scribd.com/document/184798661/1%C2%BA-BATALHAO-DE-FORCAS-ESPECIAIS |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Scribd |language=pt}}

|{{Flag|Germany}}

|Pistol

IMBEL M1911A1

|{{Flag|Brazil}}

|Pistol

Taurus M975

|{{Flag|Brazil}}

|Pistol

Taurus Mod.21

|{{Flag|Brazil}}

|Pistol

Heckler & Koch VP70{{Cite web |date=2016-06-02 |title=wiw_sa_brazil - worldinventory |url=https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_sa_brazil |access-date=2022-11-21 |archive-date=2016-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602220038/https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_sa_brazil |url-status=dead }}

|{{Flag|Germany}}

|Machine pistol

IMBEL ParaFAL

|{{Flag|Brazil}}

|Battle rifle

Heckler & Koch G3A3

|{{Flag|Germany}}

|Battle rifle

IMBEL IA2

|{{flag|Brazil}}

|Assault rifle

IMBEL MD97

|{{Flag|Brazil}}

|Assault rifle

Heckler & Koch G36C

|{{flag|Germany}}

|Carbine

Heckler & Koch HK33A2

|{{Flag|Germany}}

|Assault rifle

Heckler & Koch HK417{{Cite web |date=2017-10-04 |title=Recent images of Rio's drug war - |url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/10/04/recent-images-rios-drug-war/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=The Firearm Blog |language=en-US}}

|{{flag|Germany}}

|Battle rifle

HK53A5

|{{Flag|Germany}}

|Assault rifle

FAMAS F1 Commando

|{{Flag|France}}

|Assault rifle

Colt M4

|{{flag|United States}}

|Carbine

Norinco Type 56

|{{Flag|China}}

|Assault rifle

Franchi SPAS-15

|{{flag|Italy}}

|Shotgun

Benelli M3 Super 90

|{{Flag|Italy}}

|Shotgun

Benelli M4 Super 90

|{{flag|Italy}}

|Shotgun

Mossberg 500 Cruiser

|{{Flag|United States}}

|Shotgun

Remington 870 MK1

|{{Flag|United States}}

|Shotgun

IMI Uzi

|{{Flag|Israel}}

|Submachine gun

IMI Micro Uzi

|{{Flag|Israel}}

|Submachine gun

Heckler & Koch MP5SD6

|{{flag|Germany}}

|Submachine gun

Heckler & Koch MP5KA4

|{{flag|Germany}}

|Submachine gun

Taurus M972

|{{flag|Brazil}}

|Submachine gun

FN Minimi Para MK3

|{{flag|Belgium}}

|Light machine gun

FN MAG

|{{Flag|Belgium}}

|General-purpose machine gun

HK21E

|{{Flag|Germany}}

|General-purpouse machine gun

Barrett M82A3

|{{flag|United States}}

|Anti-materiel sniper rifle

PGM Ultima Ratio

|{{flag|France}}

|Anti-materiel sniper rifle

Heckler & Koch PSG1

|{{flag|Germany}}

|Sniper rifle

SIG Saue SSG 300

|{{Flag|Switzerland}}

|Sniper Rifle

M24 Sniper Weapon System

|{{flag|United States}}

|Sniper rifle

M110 SASS

|{{Flag|United States}}

|Sniper rifle

M79 grenade launcher

|{{Flag|United States}}

|Grenade Launcher

AT4

|{{Flag|Sweden}}

|Rocket launcer

Carl Gustaf M3

|{{Flag|Sweden}}

|Recoilless rifle

60mm Commando Mortar

|{{Flag|France}}

|Mortar

L16 81mm mortar

|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}

|Mortar

Hydroar T1M1{{Cite book |last=Miller |first=David |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/51555045 |title=The illustrated directory of special forces |date=2002 |publisher=MBI |isbn=0-7603-1419-5 |location=St Paul, MN |oclc=51555045}}

|{{flag|Brazil}}

|Flame-thrower

References

{{Reflist}}