Fernspähkompanie
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| Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Company 200 Fernspählehrkompanie 200 |
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|---|---|
 Badge of Fernspählehrkompanie 200 |
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| Active | 1962-Present |
| Country | Germany |
| Branch | German Army |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role | Special Surveillance and Reconnaissance (SR) Asymmetric Warfare Forward Air Control |
| Size | about 210 |
| Garrison/HQ | Pfullendorf, Southern Germany |
| Motto | Oculus Exercitus (The Eye of the Army) |
| Colors | Yellow branch insignia, Maroon Beret |
| Engagements | Operation Enduring Freedom, Kosovo War |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Major Franco Meyer |
Fernspäher are members of Germany's elite reconnaissance units.
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[edit] Nomenclature
The term Fernspähkompanie denotes a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol unit of company size of the Bundeswehr.
[edit] Details
Until the foundation of the KSK in 1996/1997, the German Army disposed of three Fernspähkompanien, one for each Corps of the Army. Later, the 100st and 300st companies were disbanded and the major part of their personnel was taken in a Long Range Reconnaissance Detachment of the recently formed Special Forces Command (KSK), while 200st company was converted to an educational company (Fernspählehrkompanie 200, often abbreviated as FSLK 200) based at the Special Operations Training Center (former International LRRP School) in Pfullendorf (with some of the training taking place in Munster). The company still has an active role though and gained importance again after the terrorism attacks on September 11, 2001 and the following operations against international terrorism.
[edit] Structure of the current Fernspähkompanie
The FSLK 200 consists of four LRRP-platoons, an additional special applications LRRP-platoon, a maintenance squad, a support squad, two specialized medical squads and a specialized military intelligence platoon. The overall-strength is said to match a number of over 200 soldiers. The FSLK 200 is directly subordinate to the Division Spezielle Operationen (Division Special Operations) of the Army (formerly 1. Luftlandedivision (1st Airborne Division)) and is a part of the recently created branch "Heeresaufklärungstruppe" (Army Reconnaissance Troops).
[edit] Missions
Like all other units of the Bundeswehr, too, the FSLK 200 needs an approval of the Bundestag to become active. However, this permission can be requested later if the situation requires quick actions (The same procedure applies for the KSK). Any operations of the FSLK 200 are kept secret. Nonetheless, it is known that Fernspäher have carried out missions during operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, during Kosovo War and later during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Additionally, Fernspäher were used in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the European Union mission EUFOR.
[edit] Weaponry
The arsenal of the Fernspäher is mainly based on stock issued weapons of the Bundeswehr, although special modifications are made available to them. The main weapon system is the Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle, followed by the HK MP5 SMG in several variants. In usage are also the Bundeswehr's GPMG Rheinmetall MG3, the HK G8 Machine gun, as well as the G22/G24 sniper rifles by Accuracy International. The basic sidearm is the HK P8-pistol.
[edit] Trivia
The motto of the Fernspäher is "Oculus exercitus" (lat.: The eye of the Army), the motto of Fernspäher Forces within the KSK is "Als erste rein, als letzte raus" (German: First in - last out).
