Gruppo di Intervento Speciale
The Gruppo di Intervento Speciale (GIS ) is an anti -terrorist special unit of the Italian Carabinieri. The approximately 120 -strong unit is based in Livorno in Tuscany. It cooperates with other European special police units as part of the ATLAS network.
- 7.1 Literature
- 7.2 External links
Order
Besides the main tasks of the fight against terrorism and hostage rescue the GIS is also used to protect high-ranking members of the government and in the fight against organized crime. Due to the relatively small workforce, the special unit usually leads through very difficult operations. Since the GIS can be used as part of the Italian army abroad, it is integrated into the Special Forces Command of the Italian COFS General Staff.
Other areas of responsibility may include:
- Police tasks within
- Training of special units from other forces
- Patrols in countries of high risk
- Riot control
- Military police duties
- Assurance and monitoring of objects and use spaces
- Use in Schwelenkonflikten
Organization
The special unit has next rod, support and training sub-units of a reconnaissance and Scharfschützenzug as well as a Sturmzug. The teams of the reconnaissance platoon consist of three men (two sniper and a spotter ), teams of storm train of four man ( team leader, explosives specialist, climber, weapons specialist ).
The teams are the Carabinieri helicopter and transport aircraft of the Italian Air Force ( 46 ª Brigade Aerea ) is available.
Recruitment and training
The offspring of GIS comes almost exclusively from 1st Carabinieri Parachute Regiment Tuscania in Livorno. Applicants must be under 30 years old and have served at this elite regiment of two to four years. It starts with a selection phase, in which each candidate is tested intensively. In the 18- week basic training course followed by a 24-week special training. Among other things, knowledge of explosives and any kind of firearms will be taught. Furthermore, there is also a training in close combat. Who is this training shall be included in an active team of Gruppo di Intervento Speciale.
Equipment
Fleet
In the yard of the GIS are SUVs of various types, including:
- Land Rover Defender
- VM - 90 (various versions)
Boats
- Solid inflatables from Stinger
Small arms
The following firearms are used:
- Beretta 92FS
- Glock 17
- Glock 23
- HK MP7
- HK MP5 (A5, CH5, SD -3)
- HK 53
- HK G36 C
- Steyr AUG
- Benelli M3
- Benelli M4 Super 90
- HK PSG1
- Accuracy International AWP 308
- Accuracy International AWS
- Sako TRG 42 ( .338 )
- Bolt and shotgun SPAS 15 Mil
- FN Minimi
- M203 grenade launcher
- Grenade launcher MK1
Uniform
The Carabinieri GIS have next to a gray-blue battle suit also Flecktarnanzüge. The beret is burgundy as the paratroopers. The members of the airmobile Carabinieri Special Forces in Sardinia and Calabria have something in contrast to GIS and Tuscania Regiment lighter, coral red berets.
History
The GIS was set up by the then Interior Minister Francesco Cossiga due to a wave of terrorist attacks perpetrated by extremist groups on 6 February 1978. In addition to the fight against terrorism, the unit was used in the regions of Sardinia, Sicily, Calabria, Campania and Puglia in the fight against organized crime.
At her first big use in 1980, the GIS struck down an uprising in the high security prison of Trani.
Abroad, the GIS was already used in the following countries:
Similar units
The Italian Polizia di Stato ( State Police ) has a similar special task force, the Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza ( NOCS ).