View source for M-Squadron

{{Short description|Dutch special forces unit}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = M-Squadron
| image = File:INTERVENTIE M-SQUADRON.svg
| caption = Squadron Insignia
| dates = February 22, 1973–present
| country = {{Flagcountry|NED}}
| allegiance = 
| branch = [[Netherlands Marine Corps]] 
| type = [[Special Operations Forces]]
| role = [[Special operations]]<br /> [[Counter-terrorism]]<br />[[Law enforcement agency|Law enforcement]]
| size = Classified
| command_structure = [[NLMARSOF]]
| current_commander = Classified
| garrison = Mariniers Training Commando, [[Doorn]]
| ceremonial_chief = 
| colonel_of_the_regiment = 
| nickname = 
| patron = 
| motto = ''Semper Paratus Pro Justitia''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maritiemdigitaal.nl/index.cfm?event=search.getdetail&id=107035978|title = Maritiem Digitaal NL}}</ref> ("Always Ready for Justice")
| colors = 
| march = 
| mascot = 
| battles = 
| notable_commanders = 
| anniversaries = 
}}

'''M-Squadron''', formerly the ''Unit Interventie Mariniers'' (Marine Intervention Unit, UIM), and before that known as the ''Bijzondere Bijstandseenheid'' (Special Support Unit, BBE),{{sfn|Miller|2003|p=76}} is an elite [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[special forces]] unit which is tasked with conducting domestic counter-terrorist operations. M-Squadron is part of the [[Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces]] of the [[Netherlands Marine Corps]].

==History==
On 22 February 1973, the Dutch government officially created a specialist counter-terrorism unit in response to the [[Munich massacre]], when 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by Palestine pro-[[Fatah]] militants.<ref name="ForgingNLMARSOF">{{cite thesis |degree=MSc |date=June 2012 |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/36700937.pdf |via=core.ac.uk |title=Forging Netherlands Maritime SpecialOperations Forces |last=Kraag |first=Andy |location=Monterey, California |publisher=[[Naval Postgraduate School]]}}</ref> The government felt the urge of protecting the nation against such incidents in the future, and so members of the Dutch Marine Corps were selected for this special unit. Marines were chosen because, at that time, they were particularly notorious: Dutch marines are hardened, highly trained, professional soldiers. 

On July 1, 2006, a new government organ, ''Dienst Speciale Interventies'' (DSI) was founded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zhzactueel.nl/2019/10/12/dienst-speciale-interventies-doet-inval-bij-ernstig-verwarde-man-in-gorinchem/|title = Dienst Speciale Interventies doet inval bij ernstig verwarde man in Gorinchem|date = 12 October 2019}}</ref> This is a joint operations centre for counter-terrorism actions in the [[Netherlands]]. Members of the UIM and special police units work together, and form a ''Unit Interventie'', which is a joint task force of Defence and police personnel.

As part of the reorganization, the BBE changed its name in 2006 to the UIM.<ref name="ForgingNLMARSOF"/> In 2009, the UIM changed its name once again to M-Squadron.<ref name="ForgingNLMARSOF"/>

[[File:Oefening-unit-interventie-mariniers.jpg|thumb]]

The unit was reorganized into the Maritime Special Operations Force since January 1, 2009.<ref name="DDP"/>

==Role==
It consists of a selection of specially trained marines of the [[Dutch Marine Corps]], and it is part of the [[Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces]] (NLMARSOF), which is the maritime counterpart of the Dutch Army's ''[[Korps Commandotroepen]]''. NLMARSOF is able to operate in and outside of the Netherlands, with emphasis on maritime special operations. 

It currently consists of two operational SOF squadrons, one training squadron and a support group;<ref name="DDP">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dutchdefencepress.com/unit-interventie-mariniers/|title = Unit Interventie Mariniers|date = 17 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="ForgingNLMARSOF"/>
* C Squadron ([[Mountain leader|Mountain Leader Recon]] and [[Frogman|Amphibian Recon]]) – Foreign operations
* M Squadron ([[Counter-terrorism|Counter-Terrorism]]) – Domestic operations
* T Squadron (Training Squadron)
* Special Operation Forces Support Group

M-Squadron consists of teams of six operators, each team and each operator with their own specialty. Among those are diver and breach teams. Tasks are:
*To conduct special operations on sea and land;
*To conduct quick-reaction [[counter-terrorism]] and hostage release operations in the Netherlands;
*To provide quick-reaction maritime intervention (harbours, oil platforms, ships, etc.);
*To assist the [[Dutch police]] and [[Royal Marechaussee]] in domestic joint law enforcement and counter-terrorism operations;
*To act as a security detachment on board [[Royal Netherlands Navy]] ships during humanitarian or peace-enforcing/-keeping missions;

===Within DSI===
The ''[[Dienst Speciale Interventies]]'' is the joint operations centre for domestic CT operations, and it combines special units from the [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Ministries of Defence]] and [[Ministry of Justice (Netherlands)|Justice]]. These units are:
*Unit Arrest Teams: regional [[SWAT]] teams of the [[National Police Corps (Netherlands)|National Police Corps]].
*Unit Intervention: rapidly deployable counter-terrorist unit consisting of both military and law enforcement personnel.
*Unit Expertise and Operational Support: support unit providing sniper fire support, [[crisis negotiation]] and technical support.

==Operations==
The UIM has seen a lot of action since its creation. The first real intervention mission was the recapture of the [[Scheveningen prison]] in October 1974.<ref name="BBEH">{{Cite web|url=http://www.specwarnet.net/europe/bbe.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080515133216/http://www.specwarnet.net/europe/bbe.htm|archive-date = 2008-05-15|title = Bijzondere Bijstands Eenheid}}</ref> Operators used hand-to-hand combat and stun grenades against jailed terrorists, who had revolted and held the prison under siege.<ref name="BBEH"/>

The best-known intervention mission was ending the combined siege of a [[1977 Dutch train hostage crisis|train]] and a [[1977 Dutch school hostage crisis|primary school]], which was done by South Moluccan terrorists.<ref name="BBEH"/> The UIM managed to kill the six captors on the train during a short but precise raid. Two hostages did not survive this. The raid was successful due to the fact that the [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]] was called in, with six [[F-104 Starfighter]] aircraft making very low [[flypast]] manoeuvres in full [[Afterburner|afterburn]].<ref name="BBEH"/> This was mainly a distraction, allowing for a swift raid and the killing of the six captors on board.<ref name="BBEH"/> The siege at the primary school ended not long after the train siege had ended.

On 13 March 1978, the UIM responded to a [[1978 Dutch province hall hostage crisis|province hall hostage crisis]] in [[Assen]]. The raid came just in time: the hijackers had almost executed two people.

The UIM was meant to be deployed to enforce arms embargoes in the Balkans, but they were never deployed in the 1990s.{{sfn|Miller|2003|p=76}}

A known operation of the UIM was on 10 November 2004 in [[The Hague]]. The police had tried to arrest Ismail A. and Jason W. (members of the [[Hofstad Network]]) in a house at the [[Laakkwartier]], but failed, as three police officers had been injured by grenades thrown at them by the terrorists. UIM operators were ordered to secure and maintain the site. After a successful raid, the two young terrorists were arrested.

The unit has been deployed to Afghanistan under Task Force 55 with KCT operators.{{sfn|Neville|2019|p=196}}

In 2008, the UIM had been active in the seas near Somalia as a security detachment for the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]] frigate Hr. Ms. De Ruyter, that was tasked with the escort of cargo ships that were contracted by the [[United Nations]]' [[World Food Programme]]. The unit was deployed several times to fight off pirates that attempted to raid the ships, and some teams were stationed on some of the ships as well.

In April 2010, an UIM-team embarked on board Hr. Ms. Tromp re-captured the German container ship MS Taipan off the coast of Somalia, that was under the control of Somali pirates. Though multiple shots were fired, including a machine gun barrage on the ship's bridge, the only injury was an operator that was slightly injured when he fell while storming the ship. A video released by the Royal Netherlands Navy, shows [[helmet camera]] footage of the Marines storming and re-taking the ship.<ref name="taipan video">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9jDCG0YwIk] Video of the Taipan raid (Dutch spoken, English subtitles)</ref>

==Equipment==
===Weaponry===
{|class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"
! style="text-align: center; width:12%;"|Name
! style="text-align: center; width:12%;"|Origin
! style="text-align: center; width:12%;"|Type
! style="text-align: center; width:10%;"|Cartridge
! style="text-align: center; width:0%;"|Image
! style="text-align: center; width:54%;"|Details
|-
| [[Glock|Glock 17]]
| {{AUT}}
| [[Semi-automatic pistol]]
| [[9×19mm Parabellum]]
| [[File:GLOCK 17 Gen 4 Pistol MOD 45160305.jpg|125px]]
| Standard issue pistol within NLMARSOF. Fitted with a laser light module.
|-
| [[Mossberg 500|Mossberg 590]]
| {{USA}}
| [[Pump-action]] [[shotgun]]
| [[Gauge (firearms)|12 gauge]]
| [[File:PEO_Mossberg_590A1.jpg|125px]]
| Used with [[buckshot]] ammunition and fitted with a pistol grip, optimised for [[door breaching]].
|-
| [[FN P90]]
| {{BEL}}
| [[Personal defense weapon]]
| [[FN 5.7×28mm]]
| [[File:P90--.png|125px]]
| Fitted with a suppressor, optics and a laser light module. Used by M-Squadron for domestic counter-terrorism operations.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bode |first1=Jessica |title=Skywave mariniers: Levensechte anti-terreuroefening op Schiphol |journal=Defensiekrant |date=2017-06-16 |issue=11 |url=https://magazines.defensie.nl/defensiekrant/2017/11/skywave-mariniers}}</ref>
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch MP7]]
| {{DEU}}
| [[Personal defense weapon]]
| [[HK 4.6×30mm]]
| [[File:Heckler_&_Koch_MP7A1.png|125px]]
| Fitted with a suppressor, optics and a laser light module.
|-
|[[SIG MCX]]
|{{SWI}}
|[[Assault rifle]]
|[[.300 AAC Blackout]]<br>[[5.56×45mm NATO]]
|[[File:SIG-MCX-Rifle.jpeg|125px]]
| Fitted with the SIG Sauer Suppressed Upper Receiver (SUR), an integral suppressor. In addition, it is fitted with a [[Magpul]] [[Stock (firearms)|stock]], [[SIG Sauer]] optics and a laser light module.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dutch MARSOF officially purchase .300 BLK SIG MCX Rifles |url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/12/09/dutch-marsof-officially-purchase-300-blk-sig-mcx-rifles/ |work=The Firearm Blog |date=2016-12-09}}</ref>
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch HK416]]
| {{DEU}}
| [[Assault rifle]]
| [[5.56×45mm NATO]]
| [[File:HK416N.png|125px]]
| Standard-issue assault rifle within NLMARSOF. Fitted with a suppressor, optics and a laser light module.<ref name="hk 416 def" />
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch HK417]]
| {{DEU}}
| [[Designated marksman rifle]]
| [[7.62×51mm NATO]]
| [[File:Combater_G27_noBG.png|125px]]
| Both the regular HK417 and the G28 variant are in use within NLMARSOF.<ref name="hk 416 def">{{cite web |title=HK416-aanvalsgeweer en HK417-scherpschuttersgeweer |url=https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/materieel/bewapening/hk416 |website=www.defensie.nl |date=27 November 2020 |publisher=Ministerie van Defensie (Netherlands Ministry of Defence)}}</ref>
|-
| [[Accuracy International AWM|Accuracy International AWM/AXMC]]
| {{UK}}
| [[Sniper rifle]]
| [[.300 Winchester Magnum]]<br />[[.338 Lapua Magnum]]
| [[File:G22_Bundeswehr_Technik_02_(RaBoe)_noBG.png|125px]]
| Anti-personnel sniper rifle in use with NLMARSOF sniper team. AXMC rifles, successor to the AWM, have recently been acquired to replace the aging AWM rifles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Accuracy-scherpschuttersgeweer (antipersoneel) |date=4 November 2013 |url=https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/materieel/bewapening/accuracy-antipersoneel-snipergeweer-7.62mm |publisher=Ministerie van Defensie (Netherlands Ministry of Defence)}}</ref>
|-
| [[Barrett M82]]
| {{USA}}
| [[Sniper rifle]]
| [[.50 BMG]]
| 
| [[Anti-materiel rifle]] in use with NLMARSOF sniper teams.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barrett-scherpschuttersgeweer (antimaterieel) |url=https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/materieel/bewapening/barrett-antimaterieel-geweer-12.7mm |website=www.defensie.nl |publisher=Ministerie van Defensie (Netherlands Ministry of Defence)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mountain Leader Troops MARSOF |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWlskkIVHdI  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/MWlskkIVHdI |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|website=www.youtube.com |publisher=Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy)}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch UGL]]
| {{DEU}}
| [[Grenade launcher]]
| [[40mm grenade]]
| [[File:HK AGCEGLM noBG.png|125px]]
| Undersling grenade launcher that can be fitted to the HK416 assault rifle.<ref name="hk 416 def" />
|-
|}

===Air transport===
M-Squadron regularly trains for aerial deployments using helicopters. [[NH-90]] [[utility helicopter]]s of the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]] helicopters provide airlift, and can be utilised for fire support. In addition, three [[National Police Corps (Netherlands)|Dienst Luchtvaart Politie]] (Police Aviation Service) [[AW139]] medium-sized helicopters are available for use by the DSI as well.

==See also==
* [[Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |last1=Neville |first1=Leigh |date= 2017 |title= European Counter-Terrorist Units 1972–2017  |location=Oxford |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1472825278 }}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Miller |editor1-first=David |date= 2003 |title= Illustrated Directory of Special Forces  |location=St. Paul, Minnesota |publisher=Salamander Books |isbn=978-0760314197 }}
* {{cite book |title=The Elite: The A–Z of Modern Special Operations Forces|last=Neville|first=Leigh|year=2019|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=Oxford|isbn=978-1472824295}}

{{commonscat|Unit Interventie Mariniers}}

[[Category:Military counterterrorist organizations]]
[[Category:Special forces of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Netherlands Marine Corps]]
[[Category:Hostage rescue units]]
[[Category:Naval special forces units and formations]]
[[Category:1973 establishments in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1973]]
[[Category:ATLAS Network]]