Special Security Team

Not to be confused with Special Boarding Unit.
Special Security Team
Active (Kansai Airport Marine Guard) 1985 - 1996
(Special Security Team) 1996 - Present
Country Japan Japan
Branch Japan Coast Guard
Type Special Forces
Role Counter-Terrorism
Law Enforcement
Size Classified
Part of Directly under control of the Japan Coast Guard
Garrison/HQ Osaka Special Security Station, Kobe, Japan
Nickname(s) SST
Motto(s) Semper Paratus (常に備えよ Tsune ni sonaeyo)
Engagements Various anti-crime operations, Anti-North Korean spy ship skirmishes (1999-early 2002)
Commanders
Current
commander		 Coast Guard Captain (Name Unknown)
Insignia
Identification
symbol		 Small Japan flag on patch, Japan Coast Guard written in kanji and English on rear of tactical vest

The Special Security Team (特殊警備隊 Tokushu-keibi-tai) is a paramilitary counter terrorism unit of the Japanese Coast Guard. Formerly known as the Kansai International Airport Marine Guard, it was renamed after a period of reorganization. It is tasked with the rapid response to domestic terrorist and hijacking incidents against any ships in Japanese waters.

The SST is currently based at the Osaka Special Security Station of the 5th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters at Kobe.[1]

History

The origins of the SST is tracked back to the former Kansai International Airport Marine Guard in 1985. The former Marine Guard was formerly trained by US Navy SEALs[1] and the Japanese 1st Airborne Brigade.[2]

In 1989, KAMG operatives were involved in storming a Panama-registered vessel after receiving requests via radio for assistance in the East China Sea near Okinawan waters after British officers were attacked by Filipino crewmembers during a riot. All of the arrested crew members were then taken into custody. In 1992, the KAMG was deployed to guard ships carrying nuclear waste from France all the way to Japan, protecting them from any sort of staged attacks from any radical anti-nuclear activist groups.

After a period of reorganization, the KAMG changed its name to the Special Security Team[1] in 1996.[3]

The SST has seen action in engaging suspected North Korean infiltration ships intruding Japanese waters in Japanese and foreign news from 1999-2002.[2][4][5]

An SST has participated in several Proliferation Security Initiative exercises recently in Australia.[6]

The SST was also responsible for apprehending Sea Shepherd protesters in 2008 after they were confronted by crewmembers of the Nisshin Maru.[7]

Organisation

The following ranks are observed from within the SST:[7]

Equipment

Assault Rifles


Submachine Guns

Handguns

Shotguns

Support Items

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Unofficial SST Information Page" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  2. 1 2 Richard J. Samuels. "New Fighting Power!, Japan's Growing Maritime Capabilities and East Asian Security" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  3. ↑ "GSDF inaugurates undercover antiterrorist squad". The Japan Times. 2004-03-30. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  4. ↑ 不審船を追跡!! ～威嚇射撃を実施～ (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2002-08-03. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  5. ↑ 九州南西海域における工作船事件について (in Japanese). Japan Coast Guard. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  6. ↑ Iain Ballantyne (UK) and Yoshiharu Fukushima (Japan). "WEB SPECIAL - The Hunt for W.M.D.". Warships Magazine. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Unofficial SST Page" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  8. ↑ 日本の特殊部隊 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-11-16.

Notes

  1. ↑ The PM-9 was not adopted by the SST due to problems with the SMG for unspecified reasons; it is only used for training exercises.


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