Special Security Team

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Special Security Team
Active	(Kansai Airport Marine Guard) 1985 - 1996 (Special Security Team) 1996 - Present
Country	Japan
Branch	Japan Coast Guard
Type	Special Forces
Role	Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Law Enforcement
Size	60 operators
Part of	Directly under control of the Japan Coast Guard
Garrison/HQ	Osaka Special Security Station, Kobe, Japan
Nickname	SST
Engagements	Various anti-crime operations, Anti-North Korean spy ship skirmishes (1999-early 2002)
Commanders
Current commander	Coast Guard Captain (Name Unknown)
Insignia
Identification symbol	Small Japan flag on patch, Japan Coast Guard written in kanji and English on rear of tactical vest

The Special Security Team (特殊警備隊, Tokushu Keibitai^?) is the official counter-terrorist unit of the Japanese Coast Guard. Formerly known as the Kansai International Airport Marine Guard, it was renamed after a period of reorganization.

It is tasked with the rapid response to domestic terrorist and hijacking incidents against any ships in Japanese waters.

1 History
2 Organisation
3 Equipment
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

Kansai Airport Marine Guard operators prepare to assault armed gunmen during training exercise, circa 1995.

The origins of the SST is tracked back to the former Kansai International Airport Marine Guard in 1985. The former Marine Guard was formerly trained by US Navy SEALs.^[1] and the Japanese 1st Airborne Brigade^[2].

In 1989, KAMG operatives were involved in storming a Panama-registered vessel after receiving requests via radio for assistance in the East China Sea near Okinawan waters after British officers were attacked by Filipino crewmembers during a riot. All of the arrested crew members were then taken into custody.

In 1992, the KAMG was deployed to guard ships carrying nuclear waste from France all the way to Japan, protecting them from any sort of staged attacks from any radical anti-nuclear activist groups.

After a period of reorganization, the KAMG changed its name to the Special Security Team^[1] in 1996.^[3]

The SST has seen action in engaging suspected North Korean infiltration ships intruding Japanese waters in Japanese and foreign news from 1999-2002.^[4]^[5]^[2]

SST operatives prepare to breach a room in a ship, suspected of holding contraband items, during a Proliferation Security Initiative training exercise in Australia.

SST members have also participated in several Proliferation Security Initiative exercises recently in Australia.^[6]

Today, the Special Security Team is located in the Osaka Special Security Station of the 5th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters at Kobe.^[1]

[edit] Organisation

Chief of Osaka Special Security Station (Rank - Coast Guard Captain)
Company leader (Rank - Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander）
1st Special Security Team (8 Persons. Rank of Leader - Coast Guard Lieutenant)
2nd - 7th Special Security Team (Organization similar to the 1st Special Security Team.)

[edit] Equipment

SST team infiltrating a civilian cargo ship, suspected of carrying illegal goods, during exercise. Operators are carrying Howa Type 89 assault rifles and Sig Sauer P228 pistols.