The Snow Leopard Commando Unit (SLCU,
Simplified Chinese
Simplification, Simplify, or Simplified may refer to:
Mathematics
Simplification is the process of replacing a mathematical expression by an equivalent one that is simpler (usually shorter), according to a well-founded ordering. Examples include: ...
: 雪豹突击队), formerly known as the Snow Wolf Commando Unit (SWCU,
Simplified Chinese
Simplification, Simplify, or Simplified may refer to:
Mathematics
Simplification is the process of replacing a mathematical expression by an equivalent one that is simpler (usually shorter), according to a well-founded ordering. Examples include: ...
: 雪狼突击队), is a
People's Armed Police
)
, abbreviation = PAP ("People's Armed Police") CAPF ("Chinese Armed Police Force"), formerly abbreviated''Wujing'' ( zh , s = 武警 , p = Wǔjǐng , l = Armed Police , labels = no ), or WJ as on vehicle license plates
, patch ...
(PAP)
tactical unit in the People's Republic of China.
Namesake
The former "Snow Wolf" name was inspired by the ability of the
Arctic wolf
The Arctic wolf (''Canis lupus arctos''), also known as the white wolf, polar wolf, and the Arctic grey wolf, is a Subspecies of Canis lupus, subspecies of grey wolf native to the High Arctic tundra of Canada's Queen Elizabeth Islands, from Me ...
to survive and thrive under harsh conditions.
According to Qu Liangfeng, a senior PAP officer in charge of the daily operations of SLCU, the name change was "inspired by the story of a brave and cunning snow leopard, which escaped an ambush by a hunter and his eight hunting dogs."
Officially, the SLCU is the 1st Special Operations Detachment,
2nd Mobile Corps.
History
The SWCU was secretly established in December 2002 and trained in secret for five years.
The SWCU and the
Beijing SWAT unit were unveiled in a demonstration at the Beijing Police Academy on 27 April 2006 as part of a public relations effort to illustrate the capabilities of the PAP to deal with
terrorism
Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violence during peacetime or in the context of war aga ...
, the protection of delegates, and to enforce law and order in the
2008 Beijing Olympics.
The SWCU had participated in an anti-terrorist exercises with Russia on 4 September 2007 known as "Cooperation-2007."
On 13 November 2007, SWCU operators were involved in anti-terrorist exercise before foreign military VIPs.
The unit's name was changed in 2008 to the Snow Leopard Commando Unit.
In 2013 and 2014, the SLCU participated in the
Annual Warrior Competition.
In 2018, the SLCU was moved from the to the 2nd Mobile Corps.
Duties
SLCU' tasks include counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, riot control, serving high-risk arrest and search warrants, anti-hijacking, anti-WMD terrorism, bomb disposal, counterinsurgency, crowd control, law enforcement tactics against crime,
VBSS, and VIP protection.
Training and selection
SLCU applicants must have one to two years of PAP service and undergo interviews, physical and psychological tests.
In 2006, the average age of SLCU officers was 22 years, with most entering at 18; the SLCU was among the youngest in the Chinese counter-terrorism community.
Candidates undergo physical training, driving lessons for various vehicles, and weapons training.
Physical training includes 200 push-ups, 200 sit-ups, 100 squats, lifting barbells 200 times and carrying a 35 kg load for a 10 km cross-country run.
Organization
The SLCU consists of four companies assigned with very specific responsibilities:
Equipment
The unit has spent about
CNY 2 million (approximately
US$
The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...
258,000) in domestically manufactured armored personnel carriers for riot control and has also imported CNY 4 million worth of American-manufactured vehicles and equipment.
Each SLCU operator is estimated to be outfitted with CNY 300,000 (approximately US$48,000) worth of equipment, including their body armor and communications equipment.
The SLCU is the first unit in the PAP to be equipped with the W-15 helmet, an improved version of the QGF11, in 2015.
Uniform
The SLCU is known to wear the Type 05 digital camouflage uniform issued by the PAP, although they are now using the Type 07 digital camouflage uniform.
In overseas operations, they have velcro patches with the Chinese flag and 'CHINA' on the patch, usually with the language of the region where they operate in.
Vehicles
*
CSZ-181
Weapons
The currently known SLCU-used weapons are as follows:
Notable operations
The SLCU, along with
Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau's
SWAT unit (under the
Ministry of Public Security
Ministry of Public Security can refer to:
* Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Brazil)
* Ministry of Public Security of Burundi
* Ministry of Public Security (Chile)
* Ministry of Public Security (China)
* Ministry of Public Security of Co ...
(MPS)), was tasked with many of the security responsibilities of the
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and officially branded as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes fro ...
.
SWCU operators have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq to protect Chinese diplomatic personnel.
In 2011, the SLCU was deployed to Xinjiang to support counter-terror police operations and provide security for the China-Eurasian Expo convention.
References
Bibliography
*
{{Chinese Special Operations Forces
Units and formations of the People's Armed Police
Police tactical units
Hostage rescue units