Sultan's Special Force

During the Dhofar Insurgency of the 1960s and 1970s Sutan Qaboos bin Said al Said became very reliant on British Forces to improve the expertise of his fledgling armed forces battling to defeat Communist insurgents in the south of the country. He became particularly reliant on members of the Special Air Service (SAS) who formed training teams. After the successful conclusion of the Dhofar War Sultan Qaboos decided to develop his own Omani SF capability. He did so relying heavily on retired British personnel (many from the SAS) and during the latter part of the 20th Century the SSF developed.{{cite web|title=Sultan's Special Forces (SSF) - ShadowSpear Special Operations|url=https://www.shadowspear.com/2009/01/sultans-special-forces/ |website=ShadowSpear Special Operations |access-date=13 August 2017}}{{cite book|last1=Selvik |first1=Kjetil |last2=Stenslie |first2=Stig |title=Stability and Change in the Modern Middle East |date=2011 |publisher=I. B. Tauris |isbn=9780857719669 |page=175 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pFwBAwAAQBAJ&q=%22Sultan%27s+Special+Forces%22+Oman&pg=PA175 |access-date=13 August 2017 |language=en}}

The SSF was developed from the most able of the Dhofari Firqat forces that were trained by the SAS.{{cite book |last1=MacKenzie |first1=Alastair |title=Special Force: The Untold Story of 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) |date=2011 |publisher=I. B. Tauris |isbn=9781848850712 |page=309 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L7oZHOrWvnIC&q=%22Sultan%27s+Special+Forces%22+locations&pg=PA351 |access-date=13 August 2017 |language=en}} The SSF's badge includes a representation of the compact Dhofari leather shield (also used on the SAF's Firqat Forces badge) and wings similar to the SAS parachute qualification badge.

In 1985 the Sultan authorized a medal to recognise the service of SSF personnel; known as the Special Service Medal of the Sultan's Special Force (Midal al-Khidmat al-Khasat Qawat al-Sultaniya al-Khasat).{{cite web|title=Decoration: Special Service Medal of the Sultan's Special Forces (Oman) (General Issues) Col:OM-0017 |url=http://colnect.com/en/medals/medal/7462-Special_Service_Medal_of_the_Sultans_Special_Forces-General_Issues-Oman |website=colnect.com |access-date=13 August 2017 |language=en}}

Brigadier Tony Hunter-Choat OBE (formerly UK SAS) was the last British commander of the SSF{{cite book |last1=Allen |first1=Calvin H. |last2=Rigsbee |first2=W. Lynn |title=Oman Under Qaboos: From Coup to Constitution, 1970-1996 |date=2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781135314309 |pages=Figure 5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lLujAgAAQBAJ&q=%22Sultan%27s+Special+Forces%22+Oman&pg=PA80 |access-date=13 August 2017 |language=en}} (retiring in 1997) the post then filled by an Omani officer.{{cite web|title=Anthony Hunter-Choat, ParaData |url=https://paradata.org.uk/people/anthony-hunter-choat |website=paradata.org.uk |access-date=13 August 2017 |language=en}}

The SSF is split geographically into two units with operational elements based in the Muscat capital area and in Dhofar Mountains to the north of Salalah.

The SSF is trained, equipped and exercised in Counter-terrorism (CT) skills;{{cite web|title=Sultan's Special Force|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VhrhTfy5Qo|accessdate=13 August 2017|date=23 April 2015}} and one of the SSF's elite CT units is called Cobra based in the north and south of the country,{{cite web|title=Sultan's Special Forces (SSF) - ShadowSpear Special Operations |url=https://www.shadowspear.com/2009/01/sultans-special-forces/ |website=ShadowSpear Special Operations |access-date=13 August 2017}} and one Cobra team works closely with the Royal Oman Police.{{cite web |title=Arabian Aerospace - The Special Ones... |url=http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/the-special-ones-.html |website=www.arabianaerospace.aero |access-date=14 August 2017}}

In the late 1990s the SSF were also involved in patrolling and observation duties in the Sultanate's Oryx Sanctuary, that was at the time suffering from a great deal of poaching.{{cite web|author=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |title=UNESCO World Heritage Centre - State of Conservation (SOC 2000) Arabian Oryx Sanctuary (Oman) |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/soc/2406 |website=whc.unesco.org |access-date=14 August 2017 |language=en}}

The SSF has limited responsibilities in counter smuggling and border patrolling.{{cite book|title=Country Summary - Oman |publisher=US State Department |location=Washington |page=3 |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/186654.pdf |access-date=13 August 2017}}

{{Original research section|date=January 2018}}

• Headquarters SSF at Al Azaiba; the main HQ building is at Latitude/Longitude 23.588366N, 58.344137E the (SSF clinic is marked on mapping){{cite web|title=23.588366, 58.344137 Latitude longitude Map |url=http://www.latlong.net/c/?lat=23.588366&long=58.344137 |website=www.latlong.net |access-date=13 August 2017 |language=en}} There are staff married quarters and villas at the SSF complex at Al Azaiba{{cite web|title=Completed Daan Shabaan Office |url=http://daanshaaban.com/?page_id=377 |website=daanshaaban.com |access-date=14 August 2017}}
• The main base for the SSF's northern units is a substantial modern barracks associated with Muaskar Al Samoud,{{cite web|title=Oman's National Day: A day to remember |url=http://timesofoman.com/article/96811/Oman/Government/His-Majesty-Sultan-Qaboos-presides-over-46th-National-Day-Military-Parade |website=Times of Oman |access-date=14 August 2017}}{{Failed verification|date=January 2018}} with an extensive training facility and ranges next to the village of Halban{{cite web|author=Muscat Daily Newspaper |title=2 complexes for ROP special forces unit to come up in Muscat, Sohar - Oman |url=http://www.muscatdaily.com/Archive/Oman/2-complexes-for-ROP-special-forces-unit-to-come-up-in-Muscat-Sohar |website=Muscat Daily News |access-date=13 August 2017 |language=en}}{{Failed verification|date=January 2018}} near Seeb; the HQ building is at Latitude/Longitude 23.619486N, 58.037970E{{cite web|title=23.619486, 58.037970 Latitude longitude Map |url=http://www.latlong.net/c/?lat=23.619486&long=58.037970 |website=www.latlong.net |access-date=13 August 2017 |language=en}}{{Failed verification|date=January 2018}}
• The main base for the SSF's southern units was developed on a former SAS-Firqat training base near Zeek in the Dhofar Jebel, at Sharbithat{{cite book|last1=MacKenzie |first1=Alastair |title=Special Force: The Untold Story of 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) |date=2011 |publisher=I. B. Tauris |isbn=9781848850712 |page=309 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L7oZHOrWvnIC&q=Raven%27s+Roost+Dhofar+War&pg=PA309 |access-date=13 August 2017 |language=en}} this extensive base is at Latitude/Longitude 17.275175N, 54.126446E{{cite web|title=17.275175, 54.126446 Latitude longitude Map |url=http://www.latlong.net/c/?lat=17.275175&long=54.126446 |website=www.latlong.net |access-date=13 August 2017 |language=en}}{{Failed verification|date=January 2018}}
• An operational base exists at Haima in the Al Wusta region with a focus on the Sultanate's Western border with Saudi Arabia.{{cite web|title=RAECO CAPABILITY STATEMENT 2013 - 2016 |url=http://reefiah.com/uploadsall/pdfs/2097877496.pdf |publisher=RAECO |access-date=13 August 2017}}{{Failed verification|date=January 2018}}

{{Original research section|date=January 2018}}

The SSF are equipped with a range of light infantry and assault weapons, equipment and vehicles, including:{{cite web|title=Film of Brunei's Crown Prince visit to Sultan's Special Force |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VhrhTfy5Qo |access-date=13 August 2017 |date=23 April 2015}}

• A range of modern conventional and suppressed assault small arms
• Advanced and compact night vision aids
• Various grenades
• Sniper weapons and special camouflage uniforms
• Body armor and special protective clothing
• Modified Toyota Land Cruiser patrol and assault vehicles
• Humvee desert patrol vehicles equipped with a range of support weapons (e.g. heavy machine guns and missiles)
• Mercedes G300 cdi 6x6 (high mobility troop and load carrying vehicles)
• Inshore fast assault boats
• Stealth assault swimmer diving equipment
• Fighting in built up area, breaching aids
• EMPL heavy recovery vehicles.{{cite web|title=EMPL trains Royal Oman Police in the use of rescue vehicles with swivel cranes!: EMPL Aufbauhersteller, Fahrzeugbau sowie Sonderaufbauten für LKW |url=http://www.empl.at/822.html?L=1 |website=www.empl.at |access-date=13 August 2017 |language=en}}

The Force has adopted modern military combat survival methods, as illustrated by the SSF's ration packs.{{cite web|title=Omani Special Forces - Marching Ammo (Pt.9) - Combat & Survival |url=http://www.combatandsurvival.com/products-and-reviews/rations/5463-omani-special-forces-marching-ammo-pt9 |website=Combat & Survival |access-date=13 August 2017 |date=10 July 2011}}

• Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces
• Omani Civil War (1963-76)
• History of the Special Air Service
• Special Operations Command Central

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Category:Military of Oman

Category:Special forces units and formations