Fuerzas Especiales

The Fuerzas Especiales (Special Forces), also known as FES (the initials of their motto) and Cuachiqueh/Quachis, is a special forces unit of the Mexican Navy officially established in late 2001. Its motto is "Fuerza, Espíritu, Sabiduría" (Strength, Spirit, Wisdom), they are currently under the naval special command structure of the UNOPES.

Special Forces
Fuerzas Especiales
FES insignia
Active2001 - present
Allegiance Mexico
BranchMexican Navy
TypeNaval Commando
Size13.000
Motto(s)Fuerza, Espíritu, Sabiduría (Strength, Spirit, Wisdom)


Its origin lies in the Marine Airborne Battalion of the early 1990s. The unit's mission is to carry out amphibious special operations in order to protect the nation's maritime interests. The group has 13,000 members divided in two groups of 6,500 members for each Naval Force (Pacific and Gulf). The special forces course lasts 53 weeks.

These forces are capable of carrying out non-conventional warfare in the air, sea and land, by utilizing all means of infiltration available to develop the most variable operational incursions with the use of military diving techniques, parachuting, vertical descent, urban combat, sniping and use of explosives. The units are well organized, trained and equipped to operate independently in maritime, lake, riverine or terrestrial scenarios; they usually participate in joint-training exercises with the U.S. Navy SEALs teams.

Operations

Operations undertaken by the Special Forces of the Mexican Navy are classified, as well as casualties and collateral damage. It has played a major active role in the Mexican Drug War, undertaking direct action missions, intelligence gathering, reconnaissance operations, personnel, weapons and facility seizures, law enforcement arrests and kill or capture missions.

The unit was made famous in the media for being responsible for Operation Black Swan, which saw the final capture of major cartel leader Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, ending a manhunt that began after his second escape from a Mexican federal prison.

They also participated in the Operation Barcina, which gained media attention due to a leaked video recorded by a civilian which saw operators from the Puma Squadron through a Black Hawk Helicopter making use of a M134 Minigun gunning down a Beltran Leyva Cartel leader Juan Francisco Patrón Sánchez aka. “El H2”.

To fulfill their tasks and practice their attributes the unit's members receive specialized training in the following areas:

FES are divided into multiple assault squadrons, whose primary tasks consist mainly of Direct-Action and Counter-terrorism operations, some of these squadrons are:

  • Hurón Team
  • Viper Team
  • Tigrillo Team
  • Puma Team
  • Roble Team (dissolved)

Weaponry

See also

References
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