104th Operational Maneuvers Regiment

Algerian Land Forces special forces unit

104th Operational Maneuvers Regiment

Motto| Capacity & Accuracy
Founded| November, 2, 2005
Service branches| Algerian Land Forces
Headquarters| Boghar
Leadership
Minister of Defense| Minister of National Defence

The 104th Operational Maneuvers Regiment (104th RMO; Arabic: الفوج 104 للمناورات العملياتية) is a special forces regiment of the Algerian Land Forces, and is also a parachute regiment.

## History[edit]

The 104th Operational Maneuver Regiment was created on November 2, 2005 by a presidential decree in order to support the former Algerian GIS and to participate in anti-terrorist operations in Algeria.

Moreover, the Algerian Land Forces wanted to have their own special forces regiment at the time, as they previously had only shock units, the Parachute Commando Regiments (RPC), which are not special forces but specialized units similar to the 75th Rangers regiment of the US army. Because of their training with the Special Forces "green berets", the 104th RMO has adopted an organization that is very much inspired by the latter as well as by NATO-type special forces units.

It is considered as the Algerian equivalent of the US Special Forces, the latter have also benefited from training, training and advanced courses abroad as in the United States, where they regularly visit the US green berets.[1]

The headquarters of the 104th RMO is also located in the same city as the Commando Training and Initiation to Parachuting School (EFCIP) in Boghar.

## Objectives[edit]

The 104th RMO has several combat companies, each with its own specificities and specialties.[citation needed]

* A staff
* A LRRP company, specialized in reconnaissance and destruction in depth; it uses light armed patrol vehicles.
* An urban combat company. This company also includes bodyguards, marksman, counterterrorism and Hostage Rescue groups.
* A reconnaissance company, specialized in intelligence acquisition, search and neutralization at long range. It has within its ranks groups of snipers.
* A detection and assault company, specialized in special actions and combat in degraded environments, such as high mountains or dense forests. In addition, these operators are trained in mountaineering and crossing techniques (canyons, cliffs, bodies of water...).
* A support company, whose members are particularly oriented towards the 3rd dimension and the aquatic environment. In particular, it has groups of operational jumpers as well as amphibious assault groups.
* A training company, which provides selection, basic training and advanced training courses. The Specialized Training Group provides advanced and specialized training courses, such as sniper, hostage rescue, counterterrorism, close protection... The company also has facilities for "drill" buildings, helicopter models, and areas for reconstruction of houses, corridors, apartments... It also provides advanced training to other special or intervention units in Algeria, such as the RSI of the Republican Guard or the DSI of the Gendarmerie, but it can also train foreign units.

## Missions[edit]

The 104th RMO's primary missions are:

* Counterterrorism
* Special reconnaissance
* Hostage Rescue
* Anti guerrilla warfare
* Neutralization of forcenes, criminals or HVT
* Special operations
* Search and destroy

## Training[edit]

The 104th RMO operators are trained in the Special Troops Superior School (ESTS) in Biskra for the skydiving and the special operations, and they're trained too in the commando and parachute training and initiation (EFCIP) in Boghar on commando techniques, survival, healing and second level special operations. For that the 104th RMO has a training plateform with several buildings and houses in order to the 104th RMO operators practice the counter terrorism and hostage rescue training.

Moreover, they are foreign-trained including in United States, in Russia...

## Material and equipments[edit]

### Weapons[edit]

Handguns

* Glock 17 in 9 × 19 mm Parabellum
* Caracal in 9 × 19 mm

Tactical lights, laser sight, silencer as well as RONI kits (with silencer and aimpoint sight) are often mounted on the Glock 17 which is the main weapon of the 104th RMO operators.

Submachine guns

Heckler & Koch MP7

#### Assault Rifle[edit]

* AKM
* AKMS
* HK 416
* M16A4

Assault rifles are customized according to the operator but you can generally find on these weapons laser sights, tactical lights, silencers, anti-recoil sticks, Eotech, Acog, Aimpoint sights, etc.

#### Machine gun[edit]

* PKM

#### Sniper rifle[edit]

* Zatsava M93 Black Arrow
* Sako TRG 42
* SVD

#### Shotgun[edit]

* Franchi SPAS 12
* Beretta RS202M2

#### Other[edit]

* RPG-7
* RPG-29
* Milkor MGL

### Individual equipment[edit]

* Special troops uniform (lizard) or (woodland)
* Combat shoes : Combat boots
* Ubas
* Helmet : Team wendy exfil ballistic helmet, fast ops core helmet
* bulletproof vest
* Plate carrier
* Tactical belt
* Knee pads and elbow pads
* Protective eyewear
* Balaclava
* Protective gloves
* Thigh Holster
* Camelback
* Ghillie suit (for snipers)

#### Special[edit]

* Bullet shield (light and heavy wheeled)
* Kevlar protective case
* Night vision apparatus
* SWORD T&D viewfinder
* Night and infrared sights
* Individual transmission apparatus
* Radios
* Black Hornet Nano[2]
* Gladius 2.0 system [3][4]

## Resources[edit]

### Vehicles[edit]

* All-terrain tactical vehicles Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes-Benz G class, Nissan Patrol etc...

#### Special vehicle[edit]

* Vehicle 4×4 Ford F-150 with Mobile Adjustable Ramp System (MARS)
* Humvee in different configurations: troop transport, patrol vehicle, armored transport vehicle.
* Nimr

### Air assets[edit]

* Mil Mi-171Sh of the Algerian Air Force
* Transports aircraft of the Algerian Air Force (C130, Casa C295, Il-76...)

## Pictures[edit]

* A member of the 104th RMO during a TV report

* An operator of the 104th RMO during a shooting practice

* An operator of the 104th RMO during a shooting practice

* 104th Operators with Gladius 2.0 system

* 104th RMO operator with gladius 2.0 system

* Sniper of the 104th RMO with Sako TRG 22

* LRRP team during a TV report

## References[edit]

1. ^ "State.gov Website Modernization". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
2. ^ Desk, iHLS News (2017-06-08). "Stealth Micro UAV for the Army, Police and Special Forces". iHLS. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
3. ^ "Les Forces spéciales de l'ANP se dotent du système allemand Gladius – Algérie solidaire" (in French). Retrieved 2021-02-01.
4. ^ "Algerian Army adopts Gladius Future Soldier System, joins Africa's elite club * Military Africa". Military Africa. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2022-04-22.