Amphibious Commandos Group
| Agrupación de Comandos Anfibios Amphibious Commandos Group | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1952-present |
| Country |
 |
| Branch |
 |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role |
Amphibious Operations Special Reconnaissance Air Assault operations Direct Action HALO/HAHO parachuting |
| Size | 600 commandos |
| Garrison/HQ | Puerto Belgrano |
| Nickname(s) | APCA |
| Motto(s) | 'Stirps Virilis'[1] |
| Engagements | Falklands War |
| Battle honours | Honor al valor en combate |
| Commanders | |
| Current | Rear. Adm. Osvaldo Emilio Colombo |
The Amphibious Commandos Group (Spanish: Agrupación de Comandos Anfibios, APCA) is a special operations force of the Argentine Marine Corps.
Role
Trained to perform quick and objective amphibious reconnaissance, assault raids, and direct action operations.
Training
The amphibious command course lasts 1 year and is physically and mentally exhausting. 95% of applicants do not succeed.
Training course consists of the:
- amphibious warfare course
- mountain warfare course
- parachute course
Operatives are also trained as demolitions experts, multiple weapons experts and trained in Close quarters combat.
History
It was created in 1952 by the Vigilance and Security Company of Submarine Bases (today known as Base Naval Mar del Plata).
In 1960 the group received its first advanced training course of amphibious reconnaissance, airborne, and HALO/HAHO parachuting in the Military Diving School and in the Argentine Army. With the personnel of the 7th Marine Corps Company, formed in 1966 the Amphibious Reconnaissance Company, it took new tasks and responsibilities.
The commando course was incorporated in the training in 1973, and in the next year the unit acquired the denomination of Amphibious Commandos Group. The members of this group wear green berets with unit badges.
The group participated in 1978 and 1979 in the Marine Corps force deployment in Tierra del Fuego, executing many special operations missions.
During the late 1980s, the group was relocated to its current base in Puerto Belgrano.
On April 2, 1982, the unit integrated with the Amphibious Task Force in the Falkland Islands War, taking part in the Governor's House battle, the assault on Moody Brook barracks, the combat of the South Georgia Islands and a couple of reconnaissance missions. The group was awarded the Honor al valor en combate decoration.
Weapons
| Name | Origin | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Browning Hi-Power | .svg.png){kind=small} | Pistol |
| Heckler & Koch MP5 |  | Submachine gun |
| M4A1 |  | Assault rifle |
| M16A2 | | Assault rifle |
| FAMAS |  | Assault rifle |
| M249 SAW | | Light machine gun |
| Heckler & Koch HK21 | | General-purpose machine gun |
| M24 SWS | | Sniper rifle |
| Barrett M95 | | Anti-materiel rifle |
| AT4 |  | Anti-tank weapon |
See also
Notes
- ↑ Agrupación Comandos Anfibios (in Spanish)