Anti-terrorist squad reborn as commandos

NZ ARMY NEWS

ARMED, RENAMED AND DANGEROUS: The Counter Terrorist Tactical Assault Group (CTTAG) is being renamed the commando squadron from December 5. Members are trained to work on land, air and sea, and will be commanded by the head of the SAS.

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New Zealand's specialist anti-terrorist squad members are being redesignated as commandos.

The secret squad, established four years ago as the Counter Terrorist Tactical Assault Group, will be known from December 5 as the commando squadron.

The group was established four years ago to augment the SAS which, until then, was also a counter-terrorist force.

Army spokesman Kristian Dunne said the commando squadron was based with the SAS in Papakura, Auckland. It is a third element, alongside the explosive ordinance disposal unit, in what is now known as the New Zealand Special Operations Forces.

Major Dunne said the name change to "commando" better reflected the squadron's anti-terror role because members were trained to work on land, air and sea. They are drawn from the army, navy and air force. Their commander is the head of the SAS and SAS members will at times be assigned to the commando squadron.

Major Dunne would not say how many were in the squadron. It has a wide range of weaponry and other equipment at its disposal, including body armour, gas masks, night-vision equipment, sniper rifles, pistols and sub-machine guns.

Commandos must have a wide range of skills that might be required in a counter-terrorist operation. They have to be able to operate out of helicopters, clamber around and get into buildings and operate in all types of terrain, or at sea, where they could be needed to deal with a ship hijacking, Major Dunne said.

Unlike the SAS, they will not be involved in overseas operations or long-range patrolling – the sort of work now being done by SAS troops in Afghanistan.

Commando squadron troops have to be on call at short notice in the case of a terrorist threat, when their skills would supplement the police special tactics group.

Commandos are usually elite light infantry and/or special forces units which specialise in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques to assault key military targets.

In World War II, British commando units were formed as highly mobile raiding and reconnaissance forces. They spawned more specialised units, including the Special Air Service, the Special Boat Service and Parachute Regiment.

- © Fairfax NZ News