PASKAL - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

This article is about a Malaysian military unit. For other possible meanings, see Pascal (disambiguation).

The Royal Malaysian Navy PASukan Khas Laut (Naval Special Forces), commonly known as the PASKAL compose the Special Operations Force

Malaysian Special Operations Force

Malaysian Special Operations Force is a multi service force tasked with a counter-terrorism mission. It consists of the 10 Paratrooper Brigade, Grup Gerak Khas , Pasukan Khas Laut , Pasukan Khas Udara , Pasukan Gerakan Khas , Unit Gempur Marin , Trup Tindakan Cepat and Special Task And Rescue .-...

s of the Royal Malaysian Navy

Royal Malaysian Navy

The Royal Malaysian Navy is the naval arm of Malaysian Armed Forces. All commissioned ships of the RMN have the prefix KD , which means Royal Ship.-Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve:...

, employed in direct action

Direct action

Direct action is activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political, economic, or social goals outside of normal social/political channels. This can include nonviolent and violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action...

and special reconnaissance

Special reconnaissance

Special reconnaissance is conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units or military intelligence organisations, who operate behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detection by the enemy. As a role, SR is distinct from commando operations,...

operations. PASKAL are also capable of undertaking unconventional warfare

Unconventional warfare

Unconventional warfare is the opposite of conventional warfare. Where conventional warfare is used to reduce an opponent's military capability, unconventional warfare is an attempt to achieve military victory through acquiescence, capitulation, or clandestine support for one side of an existing...

, guerrilla warfare

Guerrilla warfare

Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...

, jungle warfare

Jungle warfare

Jungle warfare is a term used to cover the special techniques needed for military units to survive and fight in jungle terrain.It has been the topic of extensive study by military strategists, and was an important part of the planning for both sides in many conflicts, including World War II and the...

, counter-terrorism

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...

, close protection for VIPs, specific enemy assassination and hostage rescue as well as foreign internal defense

Foreign internal defense

Foreign internal defense is a term used by a number of Western militaries, including the United States, France and the United Kingdom, to describe an approach to combating actual or threatened insurgency in a foreign state called the Host Nation . The term counter-insurgency is more commonly used...

.

It was officially established on October 1, 1980, after a five-year setting-up period, with the purpose of enforcing Malaysia's Exclusive Economic Zone maritime claims through sea, air and land operations (similar to the United States Navy SEALs).

Origins

The Navy PASKAL originated in 1975, when the Royal Malaysian Navy

Royal Malaysian Navy

The Royal Malaysian Navy is the naval arm of Malaysian Armed Forces. All commissioned ships of the RMN have the prefix KD , which means Royal Ship.-Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve:...

saw the need for a security regiment trained in modern maritime warfare. Its main purpose was originally to protect naval bases and national assets all over Malaysia. At that time, the RMN main base was known as KD Malaya (Kapal Diraja Malaya, His Majesty's Ship Malaya), formerly known as HMS Malaya before independence, in Woodlands, Singapore

Woodlands, Singapore

Woodlands, or the Woodlands New Town , is a suburban town in northern Singapore, part of the North West Community Development Council district...

which was later transferred to the new naval base in Lumut

Lumut

Lumut is a coastal town in the state of Perak, Malaysia, situated about 84 km from Ipoh, 12 km from the town of Sitiawan and it is the gateway to Pangkor Island. It is a quaint little town famous for its beautiful seashell and coral handicrafts...

, Perak

Perak

Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...

when it was completed in 1979. For this to happen, a Security Regiment is established. The Security Regiment composition is dominated by the members of the Sailors Branch is the responsibility of keeping ratings strategic locations such as door gateways, ammunition depot and others. When the main naval base is transferred to Lumut, Perak in 1981, the headquarters of the team also moved along. The leadership and challenges that are expected to be hit Navy Commandos did not wait a long time for the end of the 1970s, an United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty, is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea , which took place from 1973 through 1982...

(UNCLOS) came into force globally and Malaysia are among the first nation acted to claim the rights as enshrined in the resolutions. Among the most important is that the country is no longer restricted only to the waters 12 nautical miles of the coast range as has been adopted by Malaysia since it was formed in 1963.
In the year 1977, the first batch of 30 officers, led by Captain Sutarji Bin Kasmin (now Admiral, retired), was sent to Surabaya, Indonesia to be course in the basic jungle commandos and were trained by Indonesian Navy KOPASKA

KOPASKA

Kopaska or Komando Pasukan Katak is the premier frogman and underwater demolition unit of the Indonesian Navy. The Unit's motto is 'Tan Hana Wighna Tan Sirna', which means 'There is no obstacle that can not be defeated'. It was officially established on March 31, 1962 by President Sukarno to help...

. In 1979, one of the 69 navy personnels failed to complete the course due to broken leg sustained during training in the Basic Jungle Commando Course in Indonesia. When returning the first group were the regiment is known as Navy Commandos and to further enhance and diversify the capacity of skills, they were also sent to the Special Warfare Training Center at the Sungai Udang by Malaysian Army

Malaysian Army

The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy...

Grup Gerak Khas

The Grup Gerak Khas is a special forces regiment of the Malaysian Army which conducts special operations missions for the Malaysian government, such as direct action, unconventional warfare, sabotage, counter-terrorism, and intelligence gathering...

, UK Royal Marines Commando

Royal Marines

The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...

and US Navy SEALs

United States Navy SEALs

The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...

.

A few men, including RMN senior officer, Lieutenant Commander Ahmad Ramli Kardi traveled on to Colorado

Colorado

Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...

, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

and Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....

to be trained by the US Navy SEALs. An exposure to a training variety has been given the Regiment about the ability and values deemed appropriate in formulating the basis for a maritime special forces capability and able to handling the challenges ahead. In April 1980, Malaysia has declared that its EEZ will reach up to 200 nautical mile

Nautical mile

The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...

s from the coast as provided by the UNCLOS. This resulting of the decision of this country has actually changed the characteristics and development plan as a naval fleet is directly responsible for controlling and protecting its national waters from any intrusion or interference of foreign powers. It has also made Malaysia as a country as a maritime littoral nation currently surged to 598,450 kilometres square. Besides the long beaches reach as well countries to 4,490 kilometers and the number of islands that belong to the country nor is 1,007 units. On October 1, 1982, PASKAL was officially established as the Malaysian Government began to enforce its Exclusive Economic Zone

Exclusive Economic Zone

Under the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, including production of energy from water and wind. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state's territorial sea out to 200 nautical...

(EEZ) which covers 200 nautical mile

Nautical mile

The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...

s off Malaysian waters. In an effort to strengthen its claim over the Spratly Islands Waters of the overlapping claims by several regional countries, the No.18 of National Security Council of Malaysia has been given the mandate to PASKAL as Maritime Counter-Terrorism operatives in 1991 as a fortress in row delimitation of the maritime front.

On April 15, 2009, PASKAL Team Command (PTC) was officially named KD Panglima Hitam in a ceremony held at the Royal Malaysian Navy HQ in Lumut, Perak by the King of Malaysia, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin to honour PASKAL's services to the nation. The name of KD Panglima Hitam or meaning in English as a HMS Black Knight has been inspired by His Majesty the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Al Haj, Al Marhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al Haj as a Honor Navy Captain. A total of 34 names of Sultan of Perak and 56 common names have been proposed to the RMN and eventually only the three main names are considered the most feasible, it is the KD Panglima Hitam, KD Halilintar and the KD Maharaja Lela. The decision was then made to choose a name KD Panglima Hitam since it is a name synonymous with a hero who always give undivided service to defend the sovereignty and security of the Sultan, the palace and the government. Panglima Hitam is the traditional nickname awarded to proven warriors during the era of the various Malay Sultanates in Perak

Perak

, Selangor

Selangor

Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...

and Johore is a warrior who has a mystic and very powerful in the weapon tactics, and skilled in war maneuvers.

The Panglima Hitam history and myth still remains a symbol of courages and characters. It also represents a strong, high prestige in the military and war strategy in which it is wise to emulate. The historic titles of Panglima Hitam can be traced to this day as the following facts:

Panglima Hitam of Taiping, Perak

His true name known as Daeng Kuning and a King Bugis descent of seven brothers warrior who came from Makassar, Sulawesi. During the cruise, he was stopped and subsequently settled in Kuala Larut while his brother had to travel to other places in Malay Archipelagos. Throughout his life he always wore black clothes and more skilled in the arts of self-defense compared to his other relatives.

Panglima Hitam of Kuala Selangor, Selangor

He is the bodyguard to the late Sultan Ibrahim, the second Sultan of Selangor and late Sultan Muhammad, the third Sultan of Selangor during his lifetime. His loyalty is unwavering, and his body was buried beside the tombs of the kings at Malawati Hill. Before the death, he was strictly enjoined that he was buried outside the royal tomb. The wish of Panglima Hitam reflects his responsibility and his unwavering loyalty until the end of life.

Panglima Hitam of Jugra, Selangor

A bodyguard during the reign of the late Sultan Abdul Samad, the fourth Sultan of Selangor. By oral stories from the elders, his true name is Daeng Ali and his tomb is located at Royal Mausoleum in Jugra.

Panglima Hitam of Muar, Johore

His true name is Baginda Zahiruddin from Padang Pariaman Minangkabau, Sumatera Island, Indonesia. He is the founder of Silat Lintau in Indonesia and then to Malaya in the 16th centuries. He has been working with local people to eradicate and eliminate the piracy in the estuary of Sungai Muar.

Panglima Hitam of Segamat, Johore

He's the military leader who's responsible for defeating the rebel group during the Jementah War, which occurred in the area of Segamat and his tomb is located at Jementah in Segamat, Johor.

Roles

One of PASKAL roles is to launch offensive operations independently via sea, land and air in enemy controlled waters. PASKAL operatives were trained to conduct maritime operations such as anti-piracy and anti-ship / oil rig hijacking. The security of more than thirty offshore oil rigs in Malaysian waters are solely the responsibility of PASKAL, and the unit has held regular training exercises on each of those oil rigs.

Although part of PASKAL mission consists of securing beachheads, deep penetration reconnaissance raids, structure and underwater demolition and sabotage, their range of training and activity extends beyond. PASKAL repertoire also includes in-harbour underwater sabotage, ship-boarding assault, Counter-Terrorist missions (CT), special infiltration tactics

Infiltration tactics

In warfare, infiltration tactics involve small, lightly equipped infantry forces attacking enemy rear areas while bypassing enemy front line strongpoints and isolating them for attack by follow-up troops with heavier weapons.-Development during World War I:...

behind enemy lines and mine-clearing operations. Special joint training with special Army units are also conducted regularly on specialised skills like HALO and HAHO overwater and overland parachute jumps.

PASKAL detachments are also stationed on sensitive Malaysian offshore stations particularly in Layang-Layang atoll and a few detachments are also permanently staged on several RMN's ships.

Navy PASKAL selection and training

As a Special Forces unit, PASKAL's personnel are required to be mentally and physically agile. Every new trainee undergoes three months of basic commando training at the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) Lumut Naval Base. The basic criteria to joining this elite force is that all applicants must be younger than 30 years old and to be of sound health. Upon completing the basic commando course, they are sent to the Special Warfare Training Centre (SWTC) in Sungai Udang, Malacca to undergo basic parachuting. Those who pass the gruelling training process will continue to the Advanced First Class training where they are given specialised courses in several fields such as medic, communications, explosives and electrical–mechanical repairing. They are also required to pass a physical test every three months.

Assignment to PASKAL is conditional on passing the PASKAL Physical Screening Test (PST). Prospective trainees are expected to exceed the minimums. Among others, the PST consists of:

7.8 km running in 24 minutes (below 24 years of age)
1.5 km swimming in not more than 25 minutes (in a swimming pool)
6.4 km swimming in open sea with full mission load - under 120 minutes
Day–night skydiving at high elevation spots i.e. hills, buildings and on ocean surface.
Freestyle swimming for 1.5 km under 31 minutes
Surviving in water with hands and feet fully tied up (drown-proofing)
Diving without breathing apparatus for a minimum of 7 m in depth

Basic Recruitment Course

Pre-Selection/Warm-Up
Basic PASKAL commando
Diving endurance
Basic Sky-Diving

Career Development Course

First Class enrollment
Underwater Combat Maneuver
"Laskar Kanan" enrollment
"Bintara Muda" enrollment
Diving/Underwater Combat Superior

PASKAL routinely sends officers and men to train with the British SAS

Special Air Service

Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...

, NGSLO, BUD

United States Navy SEALs

/SEAL

United States Navy SEALs

, EOD

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:...

(USA), Submarine Escape (Australia), Assault Swimmer and Australian Clearance Diver

Clearance Diving Team (RAN)

The Clearance Diving Teams of the Royal Australian Navy also act as commando frogmen: they consist of naval personnel who are qualified in diving, demolitions, underwater repairs, and reconnaissance...

(Australia/USA), Sniper Supervisor (Australia), Mountain Climbing (France), Australian SASR, US Marine Corps Special Operations Training Group

Special Operations Training Group

The Special Operations Training Group, or SOTG, is a training section of the United States Marine Corps that provides Marine Expeditionary Force commanders with training facilities and a liaison for Marine Expeditionary Units . They also conduct special skills courses that trains Marines and...

, etc.

On 26 August 1991, the National Security Council declared PASKAL as Malaysian main counter-terrorist task force for the security of oil rig

Oil platform

An oil platform, also referred to as an offshore platform or, somewhat incorrectly, oil rig, is a lаrge structure with facilities to drill wells, to extract and process oil and natural gas, and to temporarily store product until it can be brought to shore for refining and marketing...

s and oil tanker

Oil tanker

An oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker, is a merchant ship designed for the bulk transport of oil. There are two basic types of oil tankers: the crude tanker and the product tanker. Crude tankers move large quantities of unrefined crude oil from its point of extraction to refineries...

ships and forms one of the elements in the Quick Reaction Force (QRF).

Expertise–Specialist Course

Insertion Techniques

HALO/HAHO: conduct tactical high altitude via free-fall parachute insertion, employed in the covert insertion into enemy territory
Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction
Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction
The Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction system was developed as a means to rapidly insert and/or extract a reconnaissance patrol from an area that does not permit a helicopter to land. SPIE has application for rough terrain as well as water inserts/extracts...

: ability to rapidly insert and/or extract a reconnaissance patrol or assault team from the enemy area; conduct SPIE rig of personnel from combat zone.

Combat Technique
All PASKAL receive special training and operationally qualified to perform special operational duties. It's consists:

Combat Tracking: conduct direct action missions in jungle terrain, employing guerilla tactics and dynamic counter-insurgency
Counter-insurgency
A counter-insurgency or counterinsurgency involves actions taken by the recognized government of a nation to contain or quell an insurgency taken up against it...

warfares and techniques.
Pathfinding/Jungle Survival: capability to inserted or dropped into place in order to set up and operate drop zones, pickup zones, and helicopter landing sites for airborne operations, air resupply operations, or other air operations in support of the ground unit commander. Conducts survival skills to handle an emergency situation, especially in tropical forest and the beachheads.
Unarmed Combat: conducts mix Malay Silat
Silat
Silat Melayu is a blanket term for the types of silat created in peninsular Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Singapore. The silat tradition has deep roots in Malay culture and can trace its origin to the dawn of Malay civilization, 2000 years ago...

and Korean Taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...

martial arts as the hand-to-hand combat to confront and taking down the enemy without firearms or other distance weapons at very close range.
Close Quarters Combat Tactical
Close quarters battle
Close quarters combat or close quarters battle is a type of fighting in which small units engage the enemy with personal weapons at very short range, potentially to the point of hand-to-hand combat or fighting with hand weapons such as swords or knives...

: conduct tactical direct action missions, as well as visit, board, search, and seizure
Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure
Visit, board, search, and seizure is the term for maritime boarding actions and tactics, designed to capture enemy vessels, to combat terrorism, piracy and smuggling, and to conduct customs, safety and other inspections, as employed by modern navies, marine and maritime services, military and...

(VBSS) operations or destruction of offshore gas, and oil platforms, employing close quarter battle combat and dynamic assault tactics and techniques.
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....

/Counter-sniper tactics
Counter-sniper tactics
Counter-sniper tactics involves tactics used by a sniper against another sniper.The occurrence of sniper warfare has led to the evolution of many counter-sniper tactics in modern military strategies...

: conduct direct or counter sniper in the terrain of urban warfare, or jungle warfare to reconnaissance, reduce the enemy's fighting ability by striking at high value targets and pinning down and demoralizing the enemy, as well as provide covering fire for Malaysian or designated friendly forces from enemy attacks, as well as enemy snipers.
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:...

: ability to defusing or demolition the explosive materials, such as time bombs, unexploded bombs (UXBs), naval mines, etc.
Combat search and rescue
Combat search and rescue
Combat search and rescue are search and rescue operations that are carried out during war that are within or near combat zones.A CSAR mission may be carried out by a task force of helicopters, ground-attack aircraft, tankers and an airborne command post...

: conduct search and rescue the military personels to carried out during war or peacekeeping mission that are within or near combat zones.
Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain: conduct military operations in a built-up area.
Combat Medic Specialist
Combat medic
Combat medics are trained military personnel who are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. They are also responsible for providing continuing medical care in the absence of a readily available physician, including care for disease and battle injury...

: conduct specialized medic for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield.
Foreign language
Foreign language
A foreign language is a language indigenous to another country. It is also a language not spoken in the native country of the person referred to, i.e. an English speaker living in Japan can say that Japanese is a foreign language to him or her...

: conduct foreign languages to communicated the friendly forces, foreign ethnics, etc.

Intelligence gathering
Besides the combat and insertion skills, the specialized units within the PASKALs are able to perform the intelligence capabilities to exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions. The intelligence capability is:

Counterintelligence: conduct tactical counter-intelligence to prevent hostile or enemy intelligence organizations from successfully gathering and collecting intelligence against them.
Signals intelligence - SIGINT: conduct tactical SIGINT, limited ground bases Electronic Warfare, and communications security monitoring and analysis in direct support. This is accomplished by employing organic collection and direction finding equipment as well as through connectivity to national and theater SIGINT/EW assets.
C4-I Systems Implementations: conduct tactical C4-I techniques to provide intel to command centre. The objective is a thorough understanding of mutual command and control procedures, capabilities, and limitations developed through continual participation in joint and combined exercises.
Special reconnaissance
Special reconnaissance
Special reconnaissance is conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units or military intelligence organisations, who operate behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detection by the enemy. As a role, SR is distinct from commando operations,...

: conduct reconnaissance to operate at the behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detection by the enemy.
Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol
Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol
Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols, or LRRPs , were special small four to six-man teams in the Vietnam War on highly dangerous special reconnaissance missions deep into enemy territory....

: ability with special small four to six-man teams operated on reconnaissance and combat patrols, either obtaining highly vital intelligence, or performing highly dangerous raids and ambushes.

PASKAL is strongly influenced by the tactics and organization of the British Special Boat Service

Special Boat Service

The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...

(SBS) and US Navy SEAL Team Six

United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group

The United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group , commonly known as DEVGRU and informally by its former name SEAL Team Six , is one of the United States' four secretive counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units .The vast majority of information about DEVGRU is highly classified, and...

- DEVGRU. PASKAL usually trains with GGK as well as US Navy SEALs

United States Navy SEALs

, Indonesian Navy KOPASKA

KOPASKA

and, of course - the SBS.

Naval Special Operations Units

The manpower details of this unit are highly classified. It is believed to be a regiment with an estimated 1,000 mens divided into two operations units - PASKAL Unit Satu (PASKAL - First Unit) based in the Lumut Naval base in Perak

Perak

on Peninsular Malaysia, and PASKAL Unit Dua (PASKAL - 2nd Unit) which is based at KD Sri Semporna, a Malaysian Royal Navy base in Semporna

Semporna

Semporna is a town located in Tawau Division, in the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Its population was estimated to be around 133,000 in 2006.-History:...

, Sabah

Sabah

Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...

. A company-strength (detachment) is also based at the Teluk Sepanggar Naval Base near Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu , formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies on one side and Mount...

, Sabah, where the RMN's proposed Submarine Training Centre will be set up soon.

PASKAL Platoon Stuctures

PASKAL organizes itself operationally into several squadrons of at least four companies (or platoons) each. Each company is in turn organised roughly along the lines of the US Green Berets' structure of Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta Detachments. The smallest unit for PASKAL, however, is the so-called Boat Troop with seven men. Each PASKAL company consists of:-

Alpha platoon

The Versatile Special Operations Force, mainly trained for Maritime Counter-terrorism and other rescue operations into cargo vessels and oil rigs as well as urban terrain. This platoon is equipped with individual covering systems for close quarters combat.

Bravo platoon

Which consists of an oxygen combat diving team and a special air operations team both of which allow infiltration of enemy territory quietly. This squad is also trained to collect intelligence data to help the assault squad.

Charlie platoon

An auxiliary team with the role of strengthening special operations capacity from behind enemy lines.

Delta platoon

The conventional warfare team which dominated the amphibious warfare of PASKAL teams with special operation skills on the ground and sniping.

Basically each squadron contains a mixture of specialists that is usually adjusted for the specifics of the mission or area it is tasked to operate within. Each squadron normally carries a Combat Intelligence Team , trained in maritime tactical intelligence, counter-intelligence and psychological operations.

Weaponry and equipment

- HK MP5SD6 (9x19mm Parabellum) and

- FN P90 (FN 5.7x28mm)]]
PASKAL's weaponry and equipment inventory is a confidential subject. Nevertheless, amid rumors of financing from the consortium of oil companies in addition to ample financing from the navy, PASKAL's inventory currently includes some of the most advanced and sophisticated equipment better than army and air force special teams.

The voluntary contributions from the oil consortium has ensured that PASKAL has sufficient means to procure weapons and equipment that are much more modern and sophisticated in comparison to the other SOF units in the Malaysian armed forces. All the weaponry and equipments were acquired under the Offensive Underwater Weapons program implemented under the 9th Malaysian Plans.

Pictures taken during national day parades including RMN anniversaries and from local defense magazines indicate the use of the following:

various night-vision devices,
lightweight PRO-TEC helmets,
various thermal imaging common modules,
various ground tactical radar MASINT
Radar MASINT
Radar MASINT is one of the subdisciplines of Measurement and Signature Intelligence and refers to intelligence gathering activities that bring together disparate elements that do not fit within the definitions of Signals Intelligence , Imagery Intelligence , or Human Intelligence...

(Measurement and Signature Intelligence) including PSR MASINT,
various 9mm Glock pistol
Glock pistol
The Glock pistol, sometimes referred to by the manufacturer as Glock "Safe Action" Pistol, is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Glock Ges.m.b.H., located in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria. The company's founder, engineer Gaston Glock, had no experience with firearm design or...

s, Heckler & Koch P9S and Heckler & Koch P11 underwater pistol,
various combat shotguns Remington 870
Remington 870
The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms Company, Inc. It is widely used by the public for sport shooting, hunting, and self-defense. It is also commonly used by law enforcement and military organizations worldwide.-Development:The Remington 870 was...

18.5mm Marine Magnums, Remington 1100
Remington 1100
The Remington 1100 is a gas-operated semi-automatic shotgun, popular among sportsmen. The Remington 1100 was the first semiautomatic shotgun to feature significant reduction in felt recoil, light weight and reliability.- History :...

18.5mm Tacticals,
various sub-machine guns FN P90
FN P90
The FN P90 is a selective fire personal defense weapon designed and manufactured by FN Herstal in Belgium. The P90's name is taken from 1990, the year it was introduced...

, and Heckler & Koch MP5
Heckler & Koch MP5
The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....

in all types and variants, Heckler & Koch MP7
Heckler & Koch MP7
The MP7 is a German submachine gun manufactured by Heckler & Koch and chambered for the 4.6×30mm cartridge. It was designed with the new cartridge to meet NATO requirements published in 1989, as these requirements call for a personal defense weapon class firearm, with a greater ability to defeat...

and Heckler & Koch UMP
Heckler & Koch UMP
The UMP is a submachine gun developed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch. The UMP has been adopted by various agencies such as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection...

.45 ACP
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S...

,
various assault rifles including AK-102 assault rifle
AK-102 assault rifle
The AK-102 is a shortened carbine version of the AK-101 rifle, which in turn was derived from the original AK-47 design and its AK-74 successor. The AK-102, AK-104, and AK-105 are very similar in design, the only difference being the caliber and corresponding magazine type...

, Colt M16A1 rifle
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...

s (with 20-rounds Colt-manufactured STANAG magazine
STANAG magazine
A STANAG magazine is a type of detachable firearm magazine proposed by NATO in October 1980. Shortly after NATO's acceptance of the 5.56x45mm NATO rifle cartridge, Draft Standardization Agreement 4179 was proposed in order to allow the military services of member nations easily to share rifle...

s, 100-rounds Beta C-Mag
Beta C-Mag
The Beta C-Mag is a 100-round capacity magazine designed by Jim Sullivan and adapted for use in numerous firearms firing the 5.56×45mm NATO, 7.62×51mm NATO, and 9×19mm Parabellum cartridges. C-Mag is short for century magazine, referring to its hundred-round capacity. It has two drum units, each of...

drum magazine
Drum magazine
A drum magazine is a type of firearms magazine that is cylindrical in shape, similar to a drum. Instead of rounds being stored flat, as in a more common box magazine, rounds in a drum magazine are stored in a spiral around the center of the magazine, facing the direction of the barrel.There are...

s and M203 grenade launchers), FN FNC
FN FNC
The FNC is a 5.56mm assault rifle developed by the Belgian arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale of Herstal and introduced in the late 1970s.-Development:...

rifles, Heckler & Koch XM8
XM8 rifle
The XM8 was a developmental U.S. Military designation and project name for a lightweight assault rifle system that was under development by the United States Army from the late 1990s to early 2000s...

, Heckler & Koch HK416 attached with Aimpoint CompM4S
Aimpoint CompM4
The Aimpoint CompM4 is a non-magnified red dot style gun sight adopted by the U.S. military. It is produced by the Swedish company Aimpoint AB and is the successor to the earlier Aimpoint CompM2.-Overview:...

, Brügger & Thomet
Brügger & Thomet
Brügger & Thomet AG is a licensed Swiss defense supplier specializing in the design and manufacturing of firearms and tactical components such as sound suppressors and rail systems. The company is located in Thun, Switzerland. B&T consists of a trading and manufacturing division...

suppressor and Oerlikon Contraves LLM01
LLM01
The LLM01 is an adaptive target acquisition module made by Oerlikon Contraves GmbH in Stockach, Germany. It is designed to be mounted with a metal integral quick release clamping adapter on the left side of the carry handle adapter of Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifles...

Laser Light Module, Heckler & Koch G36
Heckler & Koch G36
The Heckler & Koch G36 is a 5.56×45mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1990s by Heckler & Koch in Germany as a replacement for the 7.62mm G3 battle rifle. It was accepted into service with the Bundeswehr in 1997, replacing the G3...

and standard Colt M4A1 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,...

s or fitted with Trijicon
Trijicon
Trijicon ) is an American company, based in Wixom, Michigan, that manufactures and distributes optical sighting devices for firearms, including pistols, rifles, and shotguns....

's ACOG
Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight
Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights are a series of telescopic sights manufactured by Trijicon. The ACOG is designed to be used on the M16 rifle and M4 carbine, but Trijicon has developed ACOG accessories for certain other firearms...

4x sight scopes and EOTech
EOTech
EOTech designs, manufactures, and markets electro-optic products and systems. The company is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They produce holographic weapon sights for small arms that have been adopted by various military and law enforcement agencies as close quarters battle firearm...

,
various sniper weapons Accuracy International Arctic Warfare
Accuracy International Arctic Warfare
The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare rifle is a family of bolt-action sniper rifles designed and manufactured by the British company Accuracy International...

, AMP Technical Services DSR-1
AMP Technical Services DSR-1
The DSR-1 is a compact bolt-action rifle designed, manufactured and marketed by the German company DSR-Precision GmbH and was marketed also by the German company AMP Technical Services as a specialized sniper rifle for police sharpshooters...

, M14 rifle
M14 rifle
The M14 rifle, formally the United States Rifle, 7.62 mm, M14, is an American selective fire automatic rifle firing 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition. It was the standard issue U.S. rifle from 1959 to 1970. The M14 was used for U.S...

, M40 rifle, Robar RC-50
Robar RC-50
The Robar RC-50 counter-sniper rifle is developed by the United States Robar Companies, Inc in Phoenix, Arizona. It is chambered in .50 BMG. The RC-50 is found in two variants—the original RC-50 and the side-folding buttstock RC-50F....

, Heckler & Koch HK417 and Heckler & Koch MSG-90, and
various machineguns 5.56mm CETME Ameli
CETME Ameli
The Ameli is a 5.56mm light machine gun designed for the Spanish Army by the nationally owned and operated Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales small arms research institute .Development of the weapon began in 1974...

, FN Minimi
FN Minimi
The Minimi is a Belgian 5.56mm light machine gun developed by Fabrique Nationale in Herstal by Ernest Vervier. First introduced in 1974, it has entered service with the armed forces of over thirty countries...

, 7.62mm FN MAG
FN MAG
The FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the...

, SACO M60A1
M60 machine gun
The M60 is a family of American general-purpose machine guns firing 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges from a disintegrating belt of M13 links...

and Vektor SS-77
Vektor SS-77
The Vektor SS-77 is a general-purpose machine gun designed and manufactured by Denel Land Systems—formerly Lyttleton Engineering Works —of South Africa.- History :...

GPMG and,
various grenade launchers American-made 40mm M79 grenade launcher
M79 grenade launcher
The M79 grenade launcher is a single-shot, shoulder-fired, break-action grenade launcher that fires a 40x46mm grenade which used what the US Army called the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low, and first appeared during the Vietnam War...

, M203 grenade launcher
M203 grenade launcher
The M203 is a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the older M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilize the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low. Though versatile, and compatible with many rifle models, the M203 was...

and German-made Heckler & Koch GLM.

PASKAL is also known to utilise specialised delivery craft - among others, PASKAL employs high speed inflatable/collapsible sub-skimmers (also known as UDV - Underwater Delivery Vehicle), for infiltrations into hostile areas.

The acquisition of two Scorpene submarines which are jointly being built by DCNS, France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

and Navantia

Navantia

Navantia, formerly Bazán or IZAR, is a Spanish shipbuilding firm, which offers its services to both military and civil sector. It is the fifth largest shipbuilder in Europe, and the ninth largest in the world with shipyards all over Spain....

, Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

("KD Tunku Abdul Rahman" commissioning January 2009, "KD Tun Razak" commissioning October 2008) is expected to further add PASKAL's capabilities and range.

PASKAL Emblems and Badges

Purple Coloured Beret

The purple beret reflects the PASKAL's identity and its close relationship with the Indonesian Marine Corps.

Navyblue Lanyard

The navyblue lanyad reflects the Royal Malaysian Navy and its also possibly reflects to their founding trainers, the British Royal Marines Commando.

Camouflage

The PASKAL camouflage uniform is identical to that worn by US Navy SEALs. It also reflects the close relationship with this US Special Forces

United States Special Operations Forces

United States Special Operations Forces under United States Special Operations Command are active and reserve component forces of U.S. Military...

unit from which PASKAL also receives training.

Trimedia

The "Trimedia" is PASKAL's main emblem which is worn by every PASKAL trooper. The various components symbolises:

Wing - the traditional symbol for airborne capability
Jet Fin & Face Mask Emblem - symbolises seaborne infiltration capability
Combat Dagger - symbolises jungle-warfare capability
Anchor - the symbol for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

List of PASKAL Commanders

**List of PASKAL Commander**
Name	Year	Remark
First Admiral Assoc. Prof. Dr. Haji Sutarji bin Kasmin	1975-2003	PASKAL Commander from 1975 and retired in 2003
First Admiral Nasaruddin bin Othman	2003-Now

Notable PASKAL Members

First Admiral Assoc. Prof.Dr. Haji Sutarji Bin Kasmin (retired) — first commanding officer of PASKAL, considered godfather of PASKAL
Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...

Nasaruddin Bin Othman — second commanding officer of PASKAL, replacing Admiral Dr. Haji Sutarji Kasmin
Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....

Jamaludin Bin Mohd Saman RMN
Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...

Abd Malek Bin Hj Mohd Daud RMN
Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...

Ahmad Ramli Bin Kardi — honored Ahli Mangku Negara, Ahli Mahkota Perak medal
Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...

Anuar Bin Alias — honored Panglima Gagah Berani
Panglima Gagah Berani
The Panglima Gagah Berani is a medal given by the government of Malaysia. The name translates to "General of Bravery and Valor". It can be conferred posthumously. The award was created on 29 July 1960...

medal
Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...

George Paul Thomas Rozario
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...

Che Adnan Bin Mat Isa
Master Chief Petty Officer
Master Chief Petty Officer
- Master Chief Petty Officer :U.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar deviceU.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerinsigniaGood conductRating badgeMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar Insignia...

Mohd Room Bin Bahari
Seaman
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....

Hairi Mat Balong
PASKAL Senior Seaman
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....

Sukeri Bin Abdullah (1994 - 1997)

Recent Operations

The unit has been deployed in the following operations:

Operation	Roles	Country	Year
Spratly Islands Spratly Islands The Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...	Security Mission	Malaysia	1980s
Gugusan Semarang Peninjau	Security Missions	Malaysia	1979
United Nations Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II)	Peacekeeping Missions	Somalia	1993 - 1995
United Nations Angola Verification Mission II (UNIVEM II United Nations Angola Verification Mission II The United Nations Angola Verification Mission II , established May 1991 and lasting until February 1995, was the second United Nations peacekeeping mission, of a total of four, deployed to Angola during the course of the Angolan Civil War, the longest war in modern African history... )	Peacekeeping Missions	Angola	1998
Operation Astute Operation Astute Operation Astute is an Australian-led military deployment to East Timor to quell unrest and return stability in the 2006 East Timor crisis. It is currently headed by Brigadier Bill Sowry, and commenced on 25 May 2006 under the command of Brigadier Michael Slater...	Peacekeeping Missions	East Timor	2006
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (MALCON-UNIFIL United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, was created by the United Nations, with the adoption of Security Council Resolution 425 and 426 on 19 March 1978, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon which Israel had invaded five days prior, restore international peace and security,... )	Peacekeeping Missions	Lebanon	2007
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon II (MALCON-UNIFIL II United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, was created by the United Nations, with the adoption of Security Council Resolution 425 and 426 on 19 March 1978, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon which Israel had invaded five days prior, restore international peace and security,... )	Peacekeeping Missions	Lebanon	2008 - present
Operation Dawn Operation Dawn 9: Gulf of Aden The Operations Dawn 9: Gulf of Aden was a naval operation carried out by the Royal Malaysian Navy against Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea on January 20, 2011. In the response, the Malaysian Shipborne Protection Team sent an attack helicopter and 39 naval commandos in the two RHIB boats to...	Hostage Rescue	Somalia	2008 - present
International Security Assistance Force (MALCON-ISAF International Security Assistance Force The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement... )	Humanitarian aid	Afghanistan	2010 - present

Operation Dawn (Ops Fajar)

PASKAL operatives were deployed in the activities subsequent to the hijacking by Somalian pirates of two Malaysian merchant vessels, MISC-owned Bunga Melati 2 and Bunga Melati 5. The PASKAL detachment was tasked to intelligence-gathering and also to provide security to the Malaysian team negotiating the release of both ships and their crew. This operation, codenamed Ops Fajar (Operation Dawn) also involved Royal Malaysian Navy assets comprising KD Lekiu, KD Sri Inderapura, as well as supported elements of Malaysian Army special forces, Grup Gerak Khas

Grup Gerak Khas

as well as some RMAF assets.

Rescue Operations of Zhenhua 4 and MV Abul Kalam Azad

December 18, 2008 - The Royal Malaysian Navy swung into action to save a China-registered ship, Zhenhua 4 in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday, the same day the United Nations Security Council decided to be more assertive against the Somali pirates. The Zhenhua 4 was attacked by the nine armed pirates about noon on Wednesday while sailing in the gulf on its way from Djibouti to China.

Called on by the Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150), the multinational coalition patrolling the pirate-infested gulf, the RMN's KD Sri Indera Sakti despatched a helicopter (including PASKAL naval commando) to the scene. The helicopter fired two warning shots at the pirates' skiff, causing them to call off the attack on the heavy load carrier Zhenhua 4 and flee.

1 January 2009 - PASKAL operatives together with RMN KD Sri Inderasakti, commanding by Captain Mohamad Adib Abdul Samad experienced its first combat in the new year when its Fennec helicopter drove off two pirate skiffs pursuing Indian crude oil tanker MT Abul Kalam Azad in the dangerous pirate-infested Gulf of Aden. Somalia. The 92,000-tonne vessel, with 40 crew members, was heading for the Suez Canal with a full load of crude oil, sailing in the gulf at 11.37am (Malaysian time) when it was attacked by pirates in two skifs. One of the boats had seven men in it, all armed with AK-47

AK-47

The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...

s and machineguns. They unleashed a barrage of fire at the bridge and accommodation area of the ship. They also tried to board it, all the while keeping up the attack.

However, the ship began taking evasive measures and increased speed to the maximum. This was also when it issued a distress signal, which was picked up by Malaysian navy support ship KD Sri Indera Sakti about 15 nautical miles away. In rapid response, Captain Mohamad Adib dispatched the ship-borne Fennec helicopter gunship armed with twin general purpose machine guns and an elite Naval Special Forces PASKAL airborne sniper. The Malaysian helicopter was joined by a Eurocopter AS 365 Dauphin

Eurocopter Dauphin

The Eurocopter SA 365/AS365 Dauphin 2 is a medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter .-Design and development:...

helicopter of the Royal Saudi Navy

Royal Saudi Navy

The Royal Saudi Navy is the Naval force of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Royal Saudi Navy is sometimes referred to as the RSNF . The Navy has about 15,000 officers and men, including 3,000 Marines. The Naval headquarters is in Riyadh. The Western Fleet is based in the Red Sea with the main base...

, effectively scaring off the pirates.

The captain of the Abul Kalam Azad had initially requested to join the Malaysian International Shipping Corporation convoy, escorted by the Sri Indera Sakti, but later accepted the offer from a Saudi Arabian naval ship to escort it to its destination. International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Centre head Noel Choong said the crew of the Abul Kalam Azad reported seeing the pirates in military-style garb.

MALCON - ISAF

The special forces included PASKAL, Grup Gerak Khas, PASKAU and 10 Paratrooper Brigade was deployed with other Malaysian contingent to involved the administrative workload at the International Security Assistance Force

International Security Assistance Force

The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...

(ISAF) in Afghanistan. The team was deployed to assist the New Zealand Armed Forces in the peacekeeping missions and humanitarian aid

Humanitarian aid

Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...

at the Bamiyan District, Afghanistan.

Operation Dawn 9: Gulf of Aden

The Operations Dawn 9: Gulf of Aden was a naval operation carried out by the Royal Malaysian Navy against Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea on January 20, 2011. In the response, the Malaysian Shipborne Protection Team sent an attack helicopter and 39 naval commandos in the two RHIB boats to...

January 20, 2011 - PASKAL maritime counter-terrorism assault teams successfully thwarted an attempted hijacking by Somali pirates on the Malaysian chemical tanker, a MT Bunga Laurel in the Gulf of Aden. The tanker, laden with lubricating oil and ethylene dichloride that was headed for Singapore in the nick of time was attacked by the mothership with 18 armed pirates about 300 nautical miles (555km) east of Oman at 11.40pm. Under the cover of darkness, seven pirates armed with AK-47 assault rifles, light machine guns and pistols suddenly emerged from a skiff boat and began boarding the tanker, firing at random. The crew of MT Bunga Laurel activited the alarm and MISC Emergency Reporting Centre (ERC) received a security emergency indication at about 11.37pm. With the received an order to rescued, the PASKALs in two boats, led by Lieutenant Commander Mohd Maznan Bin Mohd Said and Lieutenant Noor Asri Bin Roslan, were dispatched from Bunga Mas 5, located 14 nautical miles (25.9km) away, at 1.20am with the help by Fennec attack helicopter piloted by Lieutenant Jason Solomon John provided reconnaissance and aerial cover.

The PASKALs boarded the tanker and subdued the pirates and starting the gunfight with the commandos while the helicopter launched a several shots to the pirate's mother ship at bay. At least three pirates wounded in the shootout with the commandos, four captured on board while 11 more on their mothership decided to surrender and seized the weapons and ammunitions. The 23 Bunga Laurel crews successfully rescued and no Malaysians including PASKALs injured or killed in the battle. The swift action prevented the MISC from losing the cargo worth an estimated RM30mil, and saved 23 Filipino crew members on board the vessel. The Bunga Mas 5 had just completed the task of escorting the tanker and another MISC liquefied natural gas carrier, MT Seri Balhaf, bound for Fujairah, to a safe zone called Easton 4 in the gulf. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said he was proud of navy forces, which acted with full efficiency and demonstrated courage as well as Kuala Lumpur considering whether the pirates should face trial in Malaysia.

Malaysian Special Operations Force
Malaysian Special Operations Force
Malaysian Special Operations Force is a multi service force tasked with a counter-terrorism mission. It consists of the 10 Paratrooper Brigade, Grup Gerak Khas , Pasukan Khas Laut , Pasukan Khas Udara , Pasukan Gerakan Khas , Unit Gempur Marin , Trup Tindakan Cepat and Special Task And Rescue .-...

10th Paratrooper Brigade
Grup Gerak Khas
Grup Gerak Khas
The Grup Gerak Khas is a special forces regiment of the Malaysian Army which conducts special operations missions for the Malaysian government, such as direct action, unconventional warfare, sabotage, counter-terrorism, and intelligence gathering...
PASKAU
Paskau
Paskau may refer to:* PASKAU, a special forces unit of the Royal Malaysian Air Force* the town of Paskov in the Czech Republic...

Similar Navy Special Forces Units Outside Malaysia

Clearance Diving Team

Clearance Diving Team (RAN)

, Australia Destacamento de Acções Especiais

Destacamento de Acções Especiais

The DAE - Destacamento de Acções Especiais is the naval commando elite special forces unit of the Portuguese Navy. Raised in 1985, the unit is one of the smallest special operations units within the Portuguese Armed Forces...

, Portugal Escouade de Contre-Terrorisme et de Libération d'Otages, France Formoza

FORMOZA

Formoza, MJDS en. "Naval Special Operations Unit", is a new name of the Polish Navy Special Operations Sections , now Special forces of Poland , which used to operate also under the name of Special Naval Frogmen Group...

, Poland Kampfschwimmer, Germany Komando Pasukan Katak - KOPASKA

KOPASKA

, Indonesia Kustjägarna Attack Divers, Sweden Marine Commando Force

MARCOS (India)

MARCOS is an elite special operations unit of the Indian Navy. "MARCOS" is short for "Marine Commandos"....

, India Marinejegerkommandoen

Marinejegerkommandoen

Marinejegerkommandoen is a Norwegian maritime special forces unit. It was formally established in 1951. It is located in Ramsund in the northern part of Norway and at Haakonsvern Naval Base in Bergen...

, Norway Naval Diving Unit

Naval Diving Unit (Singapore)

The Naval Diving Unit is a Special Forces unit of the Republic of Singapore Navy, and is regularly tasked in salvage operations, underwater mine demolition and commando-type warfare.-Recruitment:...

, Singapore Naval Special Warfare Group, Philippines ROK Naval Special Warfare Brigade, South Korea Royal Thai Navy SEALs

Royal Thai Navy SEALs

The Underwater Demolition Assault Unit of the Royal Thai Navy is a 144-man special operations force within the Military of Thailand. The unit is colloquially known as หน่วยซีล, the Thai language word for Seals as in the pinniped animals...

, Thailand Special Boarding Unit

Special Boarding Unit

The is a special forces unit established by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces on March 27, 2001 in response to a previous spy ship incursion that occurred on the Noto Peninsula in 1999. The unit was created to perform similar roles to those undertaken by American Navy SEALs and the British...

, Japan Special Boat Service

Special Boat Service

, United Kingdom Special Boat Squadron, Sri Lanka Special Service Group Navy

Special Service Group Navy

The Special Service Group Navy, codename SSG, are the Pakistan Navy's elite principal special operations naval force component. Together with the PAF 312th SS Wing, Special Service Group, Pakistan Marines, and Rangers, they form Pakistan Special Operations Command under the joint administrative...

, Pakistan Underwater Demolition Units, ROC Taiwan Unidad de Operaciones Especiales (UOE), Spain US Navy SEALs

United States Navy SEALs

, United States of America

External links

Royal Malaysian Navy website Navy Paskal News and Fan Page PASKAL KayBeeKoh.com PASKAL SpecialOperations.com Pasukan Khas Laut - Malaysian Special Operations Shadowspear.com

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