VAT 69/UTK

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=VAT 69/UTK


caption= The logo of VAT 69 Special Force
dates=October, 1969 - VAT 69January, 1975 - UTK
country=flagcountry|Malaysia
branch=Royal Malaysian Police
command_structure=Internal and Public Security "
(Malay:Keselamatan Dalam Negeri / Ketenteraman - KDN/KA)"
(under control to Pasukan Gerakan Khas)
type=Special Forces
role=Domestic Counter-Terrorism, Counterinsurgency and Law Enforcement
size=Two detachments
current_commander=
garrison= Bukit Aman Police HQ, Kuala LumpurNorthern Brigade Ulu Kinta, Perak
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=PGK Detachment A - UTKPGK Detachment B - VAT 69
motto=Warisan Darah Perwira "(English : Heritage of the Blood of Heroes)"
colors=Maroon/Sand Coloured (Beret and Flags)
march=
mascot=
battles=Communist Insurgency
Anti Piracy
Counter Criminal
Rizal Aleh Militia

notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

VAT 69/UTK (69th Commando Battalion/Unit Tindakan Khas) is the special forces of the Royal Malaysian Police based with the Northern Brigade, Ulu Kinta, Perak. This unit is under the direct order of Northern Brigade Commander and responsible to the Internal Security/Civil Security (KDN/KA) Director.

History

VAT 69

VAT 69 (Very Able Troopers 69) or first nicknames is Task Force, Charlie Force and Special Project Team is modelled on the United Kingdom Special Air Service Regiment. It was formed in 1969 (hence the name - 69) as a small combat unit to counter the tactics and techniques of the communist terrorists. It began when the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, The Honorable Allahyarham (late) Tun Dr. Ismail proposed the formation of a special force for fighting the communist insurgency in 1969. In October 1969, 60 men from 1600 officers and men of the Jungle Squad applied for VAT 69 training and qualified themselves for basic commando training. A group of instructors from United Kingdom Special Air Service Regiment were sent to Fort Kemar, Perak to supervised the inaugural 69th Commando. Only 30 men managed to pass and they actually formed the nucleus troop of 69th Commando Battalion. In the 1970s, VAT 69 started its initial operations and successfully deployed against the communist threat. As a result, a significant number of communist terrorists were neutralized and large amounts of weapons and equipment were seized. In 1977, 3 new squadrons were raised and trained by the New Zealand SAS and a special course was also conducted to train their own instructors. This expansion programme was completed in 1980 and VAT 69 had fully equipped units with its own logistics department.

UTK

Unit Tindakan Khas (UTK) or Special Action Unit is a secondary special forces of the RMP after VAT 69. This unit does the SWAT duties and the unit's men also do undercover missions. Created after the Japanese Red Army "(Nihon Sekigun)" hostage incident of August 1975 when the terrorists held approximately 50 civilians including members of the US consulate and the Swedish chargé d'affaires as hostages within the AIA building housing several embassies in Kuala Lumpur, 2 years after the massacre of Israeli hostages in Munich, West Germany by the Palestinian Black September group in 1973. The terrorist won the release of five imprisoned comrades and flew with them to Libya. Similarly, the UTK were also trained by the SAS but they operate in a very different tactical atmosphere as compared by US Capitol Police SWAT units. In the selection phase, only 20 from more than a hundred police applicants are selected annually. UTK were also involved with the Grup Gerak Khas (Malaysian Army Special Forces) to manage security in the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Merger

On 20 October 1997, the Royal Malaysian Police reorganised VAT 69 and UTK and merged them into one unit as Pasukan Gerakan Khas (PGK) "(Special Operations Force)", launched by Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Muhammad and Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Rahim Noor.Although amalgamated into one directorate, they are essentially still two separate entities operating in two distinct operational environments.

Insignia

;Motto :Warisan Darah Perwira (English : Heritage of the blood of Heroes') ;Black :Black symbolizes the highly secretive nature of VAT 69 operations.;Red :Red symbolizes bravery.;Yellow :Yellow symbolizes "Loyalty to King and Country" ( _ms. Taat Setia kepada Raja dan Negara).;Javelin :Lembing, another traditional weapon used by Malay warriors.;2 pieces of the curved Kerambit dagger. :Arranged to form the numbers 69, signifying stealth and efficiency.

Training

Basic commando training of VAT 69 are divided into three phase.

;First Phase:Trainees will spend most of their time mastering patrol techniques.

;Second Phase:In this phase, all trainees will learn skills and lessons such as tracking, communication, field medical and explosive. This also involves making booby traps, explosives and various demolition techniques.

;Third Phase:Final movement test where the trainees are tested in all aspects of skills and lessons that they had learned. At the moment, special attention are given to trainees who show leadership potential.

Basic Parachute

:Parachuting in VAT 69 was started in 1978 when 65 officers and men were sent to Royal Thai Border Patrol Police Para Training School at Hua Hin, Thailand. Basic Parachute Training is conducted for one month where every trainees were exposed to static jumping. Each of them must complete 10 jumps including one in water. After receiving their wing, all trainees will then move to free-fall or advanced course (HALO / HAHO).:VAT 69's Para Training Unit are responsible to supervise all sorts of parachute training from basic to advanced courses including rappelling & abseiling from helicopters. In fact, VAT 69 also trains its own riggers.

Basic Close Quarters Battle and Hostage Rescue

:CQB training is conducted by own instructors of VAT 69. This course is prepared especially to expose the trainees in tactics and techniques of counter-terrorist operations. Among the exercise that has been organized is CQB / hostage rescue missions in buildings, trains and aircraft.

Basic Diving

:Another new expertise that has been set up in VAT 69 is diving. Until now, almost half of its personnel can carry out any diving operations. After finishing one month of basic diving course, all trainees will continue to withstand the 'Dive Master' training. With the capability to dive 150 feet deep, VAT 69's divers also have the skill to operate from helicopters.

In general, all successful VAT 69 personnels will have the chance to master skills and expertise such as guerrilla / jungle warfare, FIBUA / OBUA / MOUT, sniper, SAR, parachute, CQB, unarmed combat, communications, combat diving, medic, close protection as well as boat handling. VAT 69's decision to adopt the cross-training policy has made all its personnel to have more than one skills and expertise. Several members of VAT 69 were also sent to overseas military training institutions every year.

Weaponry and Equipment

Both VAT 69 and UTK are equipped with arms and equipment similar to SAS, SWAT, US Navy SEALs. Here's the list of weaponry and equipment used by two elite forces.

Weaponry

upported Equipments

:night vision devices:Laser Guided:Tactical Vest.

"^VAT69VAT 69 only"

"¹US-made M1911A1 Colt pistols were used by British forces, Malay Regiments, and Federation Malay State Police officers (now Royal Malaysian Police) after World War II and the Malayan Emergencies. The Beretta M92FS was used by VAT 69, UTK and Royal Malay Regiment ( _ms. Rejimen Askar Melayu Diraja, RAMD) in 1970s while fighting the communist guerillas. When the Malaysian Government introduced newer pistols such as the Glock, Sig Sauer and Steyr designs to replace them in the 1980s, both Beretta and Colt sidearms will end service. Only 1% of police officers used those guns, primarily from the Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D.) and Armory Department, as well as Malaysian Army 165 Intelligence Battalions. The HK 33 and HK G3/SG-1 were used by both VAT 69, UTK and Malaysian Armed Forces in 1970s as the assault rifles and snipers before will ended the services in 1990s and replaced by HK PSG 1 as the sniper rifles and HK G36C as the assault rifles."

Recent Missions

Both the VAT 69 and UTK units have very good track record but both also keep a very low profile, particularly the UTK. They were commonly deployed against pirates who terrorize the coastal towns of Sabah, an East Malaysian state. VAT 69 performed so well in these that pirate attacks had almost ceased completely.

* 1970s - VAT 69 led by Inspector Zabri Abd Hamid together with Indonesian Army KOSTRAD combating the PARAKU in Kalimantan jungles. Zabri killed by booby-trap during the track down the communist terrorist at Grik jungle.

* October 1985 - Special Actions Unit (UTK) was involved in hostage rescue operations including one doctor and one medical assistant by six armed convicts led by Jimmy Chua in Pudu Jail, Kuala Lumpur. Six days later, hostages were successfully rescued, while Jimmy was captured and were sentenced to death.

* June 29 1994 - UTK stormed a hiding place of P. Kalimuthu or Bentong Kali at Medan Damasara, Selangor. In the shoot-out with the police, the Most-Wanted Criminal was successfully killed.

External links

* ms icon [http://www.rmp.gov.my Royal Malaysian Police website]
* ms icon [http://www.rmp.gov.my/rmp03/031209pgk.htm PGK Training Programme]
* [http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/Malaysia/VAT69/Default.htm Pasukan Gerakan Khas Summary at SpecialOperations.com]
* [http://www.69komando.net 69 Komando Website]
* [http://polismalaysia.brinkster.net Royal Malaysian Police]