Best Special Forces of Modern Armies

Spain
Grupo Especiale Para Los Operaciones (GEO) - equal to SAS or Delta

Unidad Especial de Intervencion (UEI) - equal to a police SWAT team

Italy
Gruppo Invervento Speciale (GIS)  - equal to the SAS

Commando Raggruppamento Subacquei e Incursori (COMSUBIN) - equal to the US Navy SEALs

... brutality can overcome plenty of things but it will eventually fall short so while Russian SF may be physically tough and ruthless, it doesn't mean they're the  best, hands-down.

Why use a battle axe when a single thrust with a dagger can accomplish the same end result?

All SF forces put their operators through training that tests their mental and physical abillities. Each has their own method but in the end they all work to ensure that the candidates have what it takes. Saying that one is tougher than the other seems like a moot point.

But above the physical challenge, its the mental tests applied to the candidates in time of physical stress that is key.

Go ahead and beat the $%&@ out of a guy. Break his arm or stab him. Great, he can take it. But can he make sound, intelligent decisions quickly while getting &%@#$ up?

To be honest, i don't know the Russian program, but looking at the SAS selection (or the Delta selection based on the SAS) is pretty tough, but not because someone is standing there beating you with a shovel.
Being pushed to the very edge of physical and mental endurance and then having to continue using your head to maintian course and time, while being isolated from others, is an incredible challenge to say the least.

And that's just to make it past the first stage.

Like it was said in an earlier post, it's damn near impossible to give credit to the world's best SF unit. But you can say that they all kick ass. That's an easier call to make.

I don't think there is much difference in quality between special forces within NATO, Israel, and Russia.

Originally posted by Laelius I just hope he isn't referencing the character from Metal Gear...

haha or the animal,movie,web design etc...

Originally posted by Dampier Who exactly are Grey Fox? (Gray Fox, hah, no Americanisms for me![IMG]height=17 alt=Wink src="http://www.allempires.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif" width=17 align=absMiddle>)

To be honest who knows lol. There alot of articles on them but you cant really say which ones actually hold water. Seems to be mostly an intelligence unit with maybe a little killing and kidnaping on the side. Very elite and maybe the best of the best for the U.S.. I'm sure the British and the rest of the world have them too. With all there little funny names Centra spike,Royal cape, The Activity etc.

The SAS,Delta and Seal Team 6. While the Spetznaz is learning to kill people with shovels these guys are shooting lasers out there eyes and flames out their rear ends. Their funding is practically unlimited and equipment unreal.

Grey Fox seems to be the new buzz of these type units. Not sure what the scope of their missions are though.

ssh gargoyle its better noone knows

The overuse of hand to hand combat can be quite dangerous.  Hand to hand combat is usually used as a last resort once you have ran out of ammo and can't get back up.  And for the best special forces.........the one we don't know of.  Delta, SEALs, and Force Recon are quite good though.

Edited by jetsetter - 14-Jun-2006 at 22:25

Thks for all replies guys. My personal choice wld be the Spetnaz.

Umm...all SF units do mountain training...obviously certain units would be better than others (Alpini) but thats the same as comparing the SBS and Delta Force- SBS are maritime specialists, that why you need generic criteria.