Equipment

The most primary asset in the SAP STF is the Operator, with his specialised skill sets, working within an integrated team and support structure. Such an individual team member’s core skill set is his ability to lead and function in high threat and stress environments, be adaptable with swift decisive action, in order to defend, serve and protect or change over to offensive roles.

The nature of the threat and response arena within a civilian context is a differentiating factor between the SAP STF and most other Special Forces in the world. The perseverance of life is pivotal; thus, an analogy may be drawn between the application of a broad sword and a scalpel. The scalpel presents more restrictive operational parameters require more delicate precision decision making and adaptive execution. The equipment used by the SAP STF reflects these parameters.

“The SAP Special Task Force – An Operator’s Perspective - One of the World’s Foremost Elite Special Forces Units”

Small Arms

H&K USP

H&K USP Compact

H&K MP5N

Assault Rifles

R5 Assault Rifle

The R5 is a 5.56 mm assault rifle that was introduced into service with the South African Police in the late 1980's, replacing the earlier 7.62 mm R1 / FN FAL rifle, that was manufactured in South Africa under a license agreement from Fabrique Nationale. The R5 is produced by Vektor (a small arms division of Denel corporation, currently Denel Land Systems). The weapon is a licensed variant of the Israeli Galil assault rifle with several modifications; notably, both the stock and magazine are now made of a high-strength polymer and the stock's arms were lengthened, adapting the weapon for the average South African soldier. The R5 is a selective fire, gas-operated weapon that fires from a closed bolt.

FN FAL Para / R3 Assault Rifle

The South African R1 series of rifles are based on the Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN) Fusil Automatique Léger (FAL) (light automatic rifle) or FAL. Formally introduced by its designer Dieudonne Saive in 1951, and produced two years later, it has been described as the "right arm of the free world."

After a competition between the German G3 rifle, the Armalite AR-10, and the FN FAL, the South African military adopted three variants of the FAL:
  • a rifle under the Commonwealth pattern with the designation R1
  • a variant of the FN FAL folding-stock rifle fabricated locally under the designation R2
  • a model designed for police use capable of automatic fire under the designation R3
The license-built R1/R2/R3 was built by Lyttelton Engineering Works (LEW) and the Armaments Development and Production Corporation of South Africa (ARMSCOR).

Sniper Rifles

McMillan TAC-50 sniper rifle

TAC-50 sniper rifle is produced in USA by McMillan Bros. Rifles Co. This long-range anti-materiel / anti-personnel weapon is based on previous designs from the same company, which first appeared during late 1980s. McMillan Co makes several versions of .50 calibre rifles, based on same proprietary action, for military, law enforcement and civilian use. TAC-50 is a military / LE weapon, which is standard Long-Range Sniper rifle of Canadian Armed Forces since 2000. Rifles of TAC-50 family is capable of outstanding accuracy and guaranteed to provide 0.5 MOA groups with match grade ammunition. TAC-50 rifle is also credited with longest range documented kill on enemy soldier: In 2017 a sniper from Canada’s elite Joint Task Force2 killed an Islamic State insurgent during an operation in Iraq, whereby he shot and instantly killed the insurgent at a distance of 3,540 metres (2.14 miles). The bullet took 10 seconds to travel to the insurgent who was attacking Iraqi soldiers.

McMillan TAC-50 is manually operated, rotary bolt rifle. Huge, full-size bolt has dual front locking lugs, and its body has spiral flutes to reduce weight. Heavy match-grade barrel is also fluted, and fitted with effective muzzle brake. Rifle is fed from detachable box magazines, holding 5 rounds each. Stock is made from fiberglass by McMillan Stocks, and is designed to be used from bipod only. Buttstock is adjustable for length of pull with rubber spacers and can be folded to the side or removed for compact storage. Rifle has no open sights and can be used with a variety of telescopic or night sights; in Canadian service, standard sight is 16X telescope.

Accuracy International AICS 308 & .338

The .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6x70mm or 8.58x70mm) is a specialized rimless bottlenecked centerfire cartridge developed for military long-range sniper rifles.

The .338 Lapua is a dual-purpose anti-personnel and anti-materiel round; however, its anti-materiel potential is limited, due to the bullet's lower kinetic energy compared with that of the .50 BMG's 35.64-to-55.08-gram (550.0 to 850.0 gr) projectiles. The loaded cartridge is 14.93 mm in diameter (rim) and 93.5 mm long. It can penetrate better-than-standard military body armour at ranges up to 1,000 metres and has a maximum effective range of about 1,750 metres

Shotguns

RS202M1 Shotgun

RS200 Custom Shotgun (Stompie)

Machine Guns

7,62mm FN MAG Light Machine Gun (LMG)

The FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale (FN) by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.The weapon's name is an abbreviation for Mitrailleuse d'Appui Général, meaning general purpose machine gun (GPMG).

“The SAP Special Task Force – An Operator’s Perspective - One of the World’s Foremost Elite Special Forces Units”

Grenade Launcher

40mm Y2 MK1 Multi Grenade Launcher

The 40mm, Y2 MK-1 Six Shot Grenade Launcher is a lightweight, semi-automatic, shoulder fired grenade launcher for infantry use. It fires the widely used 40mm, low velocity family of grenades. The weapon is based on the revolver principle with a cylinder holding six rounds. A gas piston activates the cylinder, which is spring driven. The 40mm, Y2 MK-1 Grenade Launcher is fitted with an Occluded Eye Gun-sight (OEG), which means that the weapon is fired with both eyes open. The sight is operational in poor light conditions as long as the target can be seen.

Ammunition and Grenades

M26 Hand Grenade

Stun Grenade

Smoke Grenade

Night-sight and Infrared Devices

Sniper Night-sight Scope

Wearable Nightsight Goggles

S8 Infrared Aiming Device

Communication and Surveillance Devices

We omitted the listing of certain surveillance devices, not to compromise future operations and not to disclose specific eavesdropping audio visual capabilities as used in high risk and HRT operations.

Tetra System and Satellite Phone

ISS TiV Thermal Binocular

Prism 200 Wall Radar

EMT Drone

Body Armour and Battle Jackets

Rural Battle Jacket and Chest Webbing

Urban Battle Jacket

Body Armour

Leg Holsters

Breeching Equipment and EOD

We omitted all bespoke explosives charges for breeching, not to compromise future operations as used in high risk and HRT operations.

Fast Rope, Climbing and Rope Access

Fast Rope

Full Body Harness

Harness

Tactical Rope Bag

Armoured Vehicles

CASSPIR

The Casspir Armoured Personnel Carrier is a landmine-protected personnel carrier (APC). It can hold a crew of two, plus 12 additional soldiers and associated gear. The cross-section of the Casspir hull is elevated from the ground and V-shaped, directing the force of the explosion outwards, further protecting the occupants. This personnel vehicle is also armoured for added mine safety, as well as protection from small arms fire. The Casspir Armoured Personnel Carrier can be equipped with armoured-steel wheels, instead of tyres, to enable the vehicle to continue its journey even after a mine blast.

RG-12 Nyala

The RG12 is a 4x4 armoured vehicle with a gross vehicle mass between 10 300 to 12 500 kg depending on the role.

The all-steel, welded armour, monocoque hull protects the crew against small arms fire, firebombs and hand grenades. Designed initially as an anti-riot vehicle, the RG12 is readily adaptable to a variety of roles. In public order policing configuration, up to 12 fully equipped police officers can operate in the fully air-conditioned vehicle for extended periods. A variety of grenades, rifles and other weapons can be employed from inside the vehicle. There is also ample space for the accommodation of additional police equipment.

RG31

The all-steel, welded armour, monocoque hull protects the crew against AP rifle fire and anti-tank mine detonations.

A large rear door and two front doors ensure speedy and easy exit and entrance. With an automatic transmission, permanent 4x4 drive and a two speed (high and low) transfer case the RG31 is easy to drive, both on and off road.