Brigada Especial Operativa Halcón
Encyclopedia
The Brigada Especial Operativa Halcón (BEOH; Hawk Special Operations Brigade) is a special operations
division of the Buenos Aires Provincial Police
in Argentina
.
Argentina did not possess a viable counter-terrorist
capability until 1978, when it hosted the football World Cup. At that time, the military dictatorship ruling Argentina accepted the possibility that such a widely-televised event was a likely forum for a terrorist
incident. The result was the formation of a special counter-terrorist team, the Brigada Halcón.
Today, the unit is made up of seventy-five commandos, subdivided into fifteen-man tactical teams. Each team has two sniper
s, one medic, one negotiator, an explosive ordnance disposal
expert, a communications specialist, an intelligence specialist, and eight tactical assaulters.
Initial training is divided into three two-month stages. Skills such as combat shooting, heliborne insertion, HALO/HAHO parachuting
, explosives
, sniping, intelligence gathering
, martial arts
, and offensive driving
are covered in this period. The unit also handles VIP protection and is also responsible for hijacked aircraft throughout the nation. While many current members are veterans of the Argentine Army
, the Brigada Halcón is under the operational control of the federal police
, under the direct command of the Buenos Aires Police Department.
Brigada Halcón members use foreign weapons and gear, as well as locally manufactured protective gear and uniforms. Weapons include: GLOCK 17, HK MP5, M4 Carbine
, HK UMP, M16A2
and the Franchi SPAS-12
shotgun. For sniping purposes the Heckler & Koch G3 GS/1
is commonly used.
This special operations group was involved in the "Ramallo massacre
", when operatives from the Brigada Halcón shot dead one alleged bank robber and his two hostages.
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
division of the Buenos Aires Provincial Police
Buenos Aires Provincial Police
The Buenos Aires Provincial Police is the police service responsible for policing the Province of Buenos Aires, in Argentina....
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Argentina did not possess a viable counter-terrorist
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
capability until 1978, when it hosted the football World Cup. At that time, the military dictatorship ruling Argentina accepted the possibility that such a widely-televised event was a likely forum for a terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
incident. The result was the formation of a special counter-terrorist team, the Brigada Halcón.
Today, the unit is made up of seventy-five commandos, subdivided into fifteen-man tactical teams. Each team has two sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
s, one medic, one negotiator, an explosive ordnance disposal
Bomb disposal
Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
expert, a communications specialist, an intelligence specialist, and eight tactical assaulters.
Initial training is divided into three two-month stages. Skills such as combat shooting, heliborne insertion, HALO/HAHO parachuting
HALO/HAHO
Military free-fall form of insertion.PurposeDelivering personnel, equipment, or supplies.HALOHigh-Altitude/Low-OpeningHAHOHigh-Altitude/High-OpeningOrigins...
, explosives
Explosive material
An explosive material, also called an explosive, is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure...
, sniping, intelligence gathering
Intelligence (information gathering)
Intelligence assessment is the development of forecasts of behaviour or recommended courses of action to the leadership of an organization, based on a wide range of available information sources both overt and covert. Assessments are developed in response to requirements declared by the leadership...
, martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
, and offensive driving
Driving
Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus.Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are commonly referred to as riding, such operators are legally considered drivers and are required to obey the rules of the road...
are covered in this period. The unit also handles VIP protection and is also responsible for hijacked aircraft throughout the nation. While many current members are veterans of the Argentine Army
Argentine Army
The Argentine Army is the land armed force branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic and the senior military service of the country.- History :...
, the Brigada Halcón is under the operational control of the federal police
Policía Federal Argentina
The Policía Federal Argentina is a police force of the Argentine federal government. The PFA has detachments throughout the country, but its main responsibility is policing the Federal District of Buenos Aires...
, under the direct command of the Buenos Aires Police Department.
Brigada Halcón members use foreign weapons and gear, as well as locally manufactured protective gear and uniforms. Weapons include: GLOCK 17, HK MP5, M4 Carbine
M4 Carbine
The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,...
, HK UMP, M16A2
M16A2
M16A2 is a designation for two pieces of military hardware:* M16A2 rifle* M16A2 mine...
and the Franchi SPAS-12
Franchi SPAS-12
The SPAS-12 is a combat shotgun that was manufactured by the Italian firearms company Franchi S.p.A. from 1979 to 2000. The SPAS-12 is a dual-mode shotgun, meaning it can be calibrated to cycle either semi-automatically or through pump-action. The SPAS-12 has sold well to military and police users...
shotgun. For sniping purposes the Heckler & Koch G3 GS/1
Heckler & Koch G3
The G3 is a 7.62mm battle rifle developed in the 1950s by the German armament manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned design and development agency CETME ....
is commonly used.
This special operations group was involved in the "Ramallo massacre
Ramallo massacre
The Ramallo massacre occurred on September 17, 1999 in Villa Ramallo, in northern Buenos Aires, Argentina, when three armed robbers broke into the local offices of the Banco de la Nación Argentina, taking six hostages. After several hours, they tried to escape in a car, using the bank manager and...
", when operatives from the Brigada Halcón shot dead one alleged bank robber and his two hostages.
See also
- Grupo AlacránGrupo AlacránThe Grupo Alacrán is a special operations service of the Argentine National Gendarmerie, often referred as the Equipo Antiterrorista de Gendarmería . The division is headquartered in Evita City and responds to high-risk and counterterrorist situations throughout Argentina, but primarily in the...
- Grupo AlbatrosGrupo AlbatrosThe Grupo Albatros is a special operations service of the Prefectura Naval Argentina. Located in the province of Buenos Aires, it conducts river and maritime operations in the lakes and rivers and anything close to the coast line...
- Grupo Especial de Operaciones FederalesGrupo Especial de Operaciones Federales (Argentina)The Grupo Especial de Operaciones Federales is a special operations division of the Policía Federal Argentina trained to strategically perform counterterrorist and counternarcotics missions...
- Compañía de Tropas de Operaciones EspecialesCompañía de Tropas de Operaciones EspecialesCompañía de Tropas de Operaciones Especiales is the premier special operations force of the Santa Fe Province Police, Argentina....
- Policía Federal ArgentinaPolicía Federal ArgentinaThe Policía Federal Argentina is a police force of the Argentine federal government. The PFA has detachments throughout the country, but its main responsibility is policing the Federal District of Buenos Aires...