Black Wasp (Cuban Special Forces)

The Avispas Negras (), also known formally as the Mobile Brigade of Special Troops (BMTE) is a special forces unit in the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces. It is often identified as Military Unit 4895.

History

They were officially created in December 1986.

There were earlier special mission units that acted as part of the Ministry of the Interior, many of which served in Angola. The Landing and Assault Brigade was founded on 22 December 1974.

It was in 1977, when MINFAR decided to have its own special forces, after depending on the MININT in the Battle of Quifangondo in 1975.

On 22 November 2019, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, Army General Raúl Castro, imposed the Antonio Maceo Order on the BMTE on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of its foundation.

The military unit was also awarded a diploma signed by General Leopoldo Cintra Frías.

Personnel

The Black Wasps work in sub-groups made up of 5 members, who can be men or women.

Its main bases are in the old military prison "El Pitirre", located at kilometer 8 of the National Highway, and in the "Playa Baracoa" unit, near the El Mariel port area. Smaller units operate in "El Bosque de la Habana", where the Directorate of Special Troops of MINFAR and the El Reloj Club are located, the latter near the Rancho Boyeros airport.

At their graduation, the soldiers and professional officers of this force carry out exercises in the Ciénaga de Zapata or in the swamps south of the Isla de la Juventud, Isla de la Juventud (formerly Isla de Pinos), huge wetlands located both west of Cuba, in strict survival conditions. Passing these exercises means graduating.

The "Black Wasps" have received training from officers of the People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces (PAVSF), Korean People's Army Special Operations Forces (KPASOF), People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces (PLA SOF), as well as the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) and Spetsnaz GRU.

The official uniform consists of a camouflage suit, with a red beret, which from 2011, became a green beret, leaving the red beret only for the Prevention Troops (Military Police). The unit symbol is the shield with a Sphex pensylvanicus, black wasp on the front.

Equipment

The armament is very varied and to a large extent is the same as that used by the rest of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba (FAR), although in recent years they have been seen in Military parade, military parades with new weapons that include nationally manufactured weapons and old Soviet weaponry modernized with accessories such as Vilma optical sights and silencers.

In addition to western armament, other weapons of national manufacture are used, of which details and secondary equipment such as 60mm, 120mm mortars and demolition charges are not known.

The "Black Wasps" have a series of different types of vehicles to make this force as mobile as possible in the event of an attack on the island, among which are a Pontiac Fiero, Fiero, an UAZ and a BRDM-2.

See also

* Russian Special Operations Forces
* People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces
* Naval Special Operation Force
* 75th Ranger Regiment
* United States Navy SEALs
* Cuerpo de Fuerzas Especiales
* Mexican Navy Special Operations
* Dominican Navy#Naval Commandos

References

{{Reflist

Military units and formations of Cuba
Military units and formations established in 1974
Airborne units and formations, Cuba
Special forces units and formations
Military of Cuba, .01