SOBT
Encyclopedia
The SOBT- is a Bulgaria
n Special Counter-terrorist Unit that is similar to the GSG 9
, Alpha Group
and other counter-terrorist units. It is expert in unconventional warfare and special operations. It is also included in counter-terrorism operations and anyone else who would threaten the Bulgarian State. Still, not a lot is known about the SOBT, the country tries its best to maintain an aura of secrecy about it, whether it is for psychological purposes or for tactical ones.
In total there are 152 men serving in SOBT:
Headquarters (14 men)
Office (5 men)
Planning Group (6 men)
Logistics (26 men)
Operations and Missions (101 men)
as well as other respected foreign special forces teams. Afterwards SOBT operators are assembled into squads depending in each mission they take. Platoon, company, and squad numbers vary from mission to mission.
sub-machine gun, 9x19 H&K MP5A3 as well as silenced MP5K-PDW sub-machine gun and 9x19 Glock-17 pistols. Under their employment are also Steyr AUG
, the AR-M1 assault rifle and Mossberg shotgun.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n Special Counter-terrorist Unit that is similar to the GSG 9
GSG 9
The GSG 9 der Bundespolizei , is the elite counter-terrorism and special operations unit of the German Federal Police.-History and name:...
, Alpha Group
Alpha Group
The Alpha Group , is an elite component of Russia's Spetsnaz as well as the dedicated counter-terrorism unit of the Federal Security Service...
and other counter-terrorist units. It is expert in unconventional warfare and special operations. It is also included in counter-terrorism operations and anyone else who would threaten the Bulgarian State. Still, not a lot is known about the SOBT, the country tries its best to maintain an aura of secrecy about it, whether it is for psychological purposes or for tactical ones.
History
The SOBT was established out of the ashes of the Bulgarian communist special forces and recreated for the defense of the country. Originally put in in direct order to the MVR, it now can now be used by the Ministry of the Interior of Bulgaria or the Ministry of Defense. Total staff is 152 men. The SOBT used to refer to all specially trained units in Bulgaria such as the Para-Recon Battalion, Navy Combat Divers (Black Sea Sharks), and the Battalion for Psychological Warfare. Now, all of these were separated so they could be specifically trained for their designation though the SOBT are still trained in all of these manners. They are among the best in south-eastern Europe.In total there are 152 men serving in SOBT:
Headquarters (14 men)
Office (5 men)
Planning Group (6 men)
Logistics (26 men)
- Transportation and vehicles (11 men)
- Communication (3 men)
- Armourer (2 men)
- Economic base (10 men)
Operations and Missions (101 men)
- Headquarters (9 men)
- Defense and tactical security (4 men)
- 4 Commando groups/ Sectors 01-04 (19 men)
- Group leader (1 man)
- 3 Teams (6 men)
- Sector „Training and Education“ (12 men)
- Fitness and martial arts (1 man)
- Group „Combat and Para“ (5 men)
- Group „Tactical Training“ (2 men)
- Group „Strategic Training“ (2 men)
- Group „Pyrotechnics and Demolitions“ (2 men)
Training and Selection
All SOBT personnel started in the regular army of the Bulgarian Forces, more specifically, they usually start out in the Land Forces. As they rise in rank and show their merit of skill and military prowess and leadership skills, they can apply to train with the SOBT, though sometimes the SOBT will come to them. Training lasts for about 18 months and that is usually enough time for the men to go through all of the training to be a regular in SOBT terms. To be a team leader requires extensive training that could mean at least one more year of training though some train for three additional years. After their first year of training, the regulars go through more specific training depending on what they wish to become, whether it be a Squad Leader, Engineer, Weapons Specialist, Medic Specialist, or Comm (Communications) Specialist. Further training time also depends on their choice. The SOBT has conducted training exercises with the Spetznas of RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
as well as other respected foreign special forces teams. Afterwards SOBT operators are assembled into squads depending in each mission they take. Platoon, company, and squad numbers vary from mission to mission.
Arsenal
Their weapons are more or less like every other special forces teams arsenal, except for the Bulgarian-made AR-M4SF in 7.62x39. They also use the 9x18 Arsenal ShipkaArsenal Shipka
The Shipka is a 9 mm Bulgarian submachine gun produced in 1996 by the Bulgarian company Arsenal. The name is a reference to the famous Shipka Pass, near Arsenal's Kazanlak headquarters, in the Balkans where Bulgarian volunteers and Russian troops defeated the Ottoman Empire during the...
sub-machine gun, 9x19 H&K MP5A3 as well as silenced MP5K-PDW sub-machine gun and 9x19 Glock-17 pistols. Under their employment are also Steyr AUG
Steyr AUG
The AUG is an Austrian bullpup 5.56mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1970s by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co KG . The AUG was adopted by the Austrian Army as the StG 77 in 1977, where it replaced the 7.62mm StG 58 automatic rifle...
, the AR-M1 assault rifle and Mossberg shotgun.