Special Brigade
| Special Brigade Специјална бригада / Specijalna brigada |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 2006 – present |
| Country |
 Serbia
|
| Branch | Serbian Army |
| Type | Special forces |
| Size | 1000 |
| Garrison/HQ |
Pančevo Niš |
| Motto(s) | Ко сме тај може, ко не зна за страх тај иде напред! (He who dares can, he who knows no fear, goes forward! ) |
| Anniversaries | 29 September |
| Website | Official website |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Brig. general Jelesije Radivojević |
The Special Brigade (Serbian: Специјална бригада / Specijalna brigada) is an elite unit of the Serbian Armed Forces overseeing the various special operations units in the Serbian Army. It consists of special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, commando, airborne, and diving units.
The Special Brigade was formed on 29 September 2006 by combining the elite special forces units of Military of Serbia and Montenegro; 72nd Special Brigade, 63rd Paratroop Brigade, Cobra anti-terrorist squad, and parts of the 82nd Marine Center.
Members of the Special brigade are stationed in Niš and Pančevo. 63rd Parachute Battalion is traditionally stationed in Niš, while 72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion and Counter-terrorist Battalion "Sokolovi" are stationed in Pančevo.
Serbian army Special Brigade was formed in 2006, but she continues traditions of the much older units.
72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion and Counter-terrorist Battalion "Hawks"
Bouth 72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion and Counter-terrorist Battalion "Hawks" were parts of a 72nd Special Brigade which was formed in 1992. Main parts of this brigade were battalion of military police for counter-terroris operations, 1st reconnaissance-commando battalion, sudden strikes battalion, support battalion and logistic units. Later sudden strike battalion became 2nd reconnaissance-commando battalion. In 2006 when Special Brigade was formed, 1st reconnaissance-commando battalion and 2nd reconnaissance-commando battalion become 72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion and battalion of military police for counter-terroris operations become Counter-terrorist Battalion "Hawks", keeping the hawk as their symbol (which was previously the symbol of 72 brigade), while 72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion kept number 72 in their name to honor the tradition of the 72nd Special Brigade.
63rd Parachute Battalion
By Order No. 200 of the Armed Forces Supreme Command (VKOS) of 5 February 1953, the 63rd Parachute Brigade was formed at Šabac. The Brigade was relocated to Novi Sad in March 1954 thanks to more agreeable circumstances. Considerable errors have been committed in the understanding of this unit's use and combat tasks. The prevailing position was that the Yugoslav People's Army(JNA) did not need larger parachute units, as, presumably, battlefield drops from the air had no chance of success in a nuclear war and with modern anti-aircraft defence and mass armoured vehicles in use. On the order of the JNA General Headquarters, the 63rd Parachute Brigade was dismissed in late 1959, and out of it 3 independent parachute battalions were formed: 159th Parachute Battalion in Skopje; 127th Parachute Battalion at Batajnica; and 148th Parachute Battalion at Cerklje. In 1964, a Parachute Training Centre was formed by combining the 159th and 127th Parachute Battalions in Niš. The 63rd Parachute Brigade was once more formed on 5 December 1967 by combining the Parachute Training Centre and the 148th Parachute Battalion. From 1967 on, the 63rd Parachute Brigade has been stationed in Niš. The Parachute Brigade recruits have participated in numerous parachuting and other domestic and international sports events, where they achieved enviable results.
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Wikipedia