The Kopaska () is the premier frogman and underwater demolition unit of the Indonesian Navy. The unit's motto is in Sanskrit: ("There is no obstacle that cannot be defeated"). The unit's main duties are underwater demolition (raiding enemy ships and bases), destroying main underwater installations, reconnaissance, prisoner snatches, preparing beaches for larger naval amphibious operations, and counter-terrorism. During peacetime, the unit also deploys a team to serve as security personnel for VIPs and VVIPs. The personnel of Kopaska are recruited from Indonesian Navy seamen. Like other Indonesian special forces, Kopaska is trained to be able to conduct operations in the sea, including underwater, on land and airborne.
History
Kopaska was heavily influenced by the early US Navy Frogman Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) and modern Navy SEAL Teams.
Kopaska was officially established on the 31st of March 1962 by President Sukarno to help his campaign Operation Trikora in Western New Guinea. However, in 1954, Captain (Navy) Iskak had an idea to form a frogman unit in the Navy which eventually act as precursor to Kopaska.
Early Kopaska members Captain (Navy) Urip Santoso, Lieutenant (Navy) Joko Suyatno, and PO1C EMP Joseph trained with the UDTs in the United States. The Indonesian Navy also sent personnel to the Soviet Union to learn from Soviet Navy frogmen and demolition teams. The tradition of overseas training has continued with a few men from the unit travelling each year to Coronado, California and Norfolk, Virginia to participate in SEAL training. Returning to Indonesia, these men then recruit new personnel for Kopaska.
Recruitment was difficult in the early years of Kopaska as only a few navy members could pass the qualification process. Recruitment became even more difficult when President Sukarno announced in 1961 the commencement of Operation Trikora in Western New Guinea (then the Netherlands New Guinea), as Kopaska were required to conduct beach reconnaissance, beach clearing, prisoner snatches, and human torpedo missions. The latter two missions were the most daring planned by Kopaska – the first planned to snatch Rear Admiral Reeser, Commander-in-Chief of the Dutch Armed Forces in the Territory, and the human torpedo was aimed at Dutch aircraft carrier Karel Doorman. Due to a lack of personnel, Kopaska had to borrow 21 troops from the army special forces, which at that time was still called RPKAD - Army Paracommando Regiment, including Colonel Sarwo Edhie Wibowo, the then-regimental commander, and three from the Greater Jakarta Military Region Command (Kodam Jaya, now known as Kodam Jayakarta). The plans were cancelled when a ceasefire was implemented between Indonesia and the Netherlands.
Of the troops assigned to the Trikora campaign, the three Army personnel from Kodam Jaya (Maksum, Alex Sunaryo, and Budi Suroyo) attended Seaman School in the Naval Education and Training Command (Kodikal) and became regular members of Kopaska. 18 of 21 RPKAD wanted to stay with the Navy, but the Commander of RPKAD (Major General Mung Pahardimulyo) did not approve the transfers. Instead, he accommodated the ex-KOPASKA members by creating a new special unit in Kopassus SAT GULTOR 81-2 Batt.
Until the present, Kopaska trained their specialities to other Indonesian Special Forces units:
Army Kopassus counter-terrorist combat divers, now known as Paska GULTOR. Army Strategic Command Reconnaissance Platoon and counter-terrorist team, the Tontaipur. Air Force Satuan Bravo 90 counter-terrorist team.
Both SAT-81 GULTOR and DENBRAVO-90 continues to send its best members for three months of training in Frogmen School () at the Special Training Centre (), Naval Warfare Centre (), Naval Education and Training Command () located in Naval Base Moro Krembangan in Surabaya, East Java.
Organization
1st Fleet Frogman Command Unit () Command HQ Detachment 1 Sabotage / Anti-Sabotage (Terror) Detachment 2 of Special Operations Detachment 3 Combat SAR Detachment 4 EOD and Naval Minesweeping Detachment 5 Underwater Demolition Detachment 6 Special Boat Units 2nd Fleet Frogman Command Unit () Command HQ Detachment 1 Sabotage / Anti-Sabotage (Terror) Detachment 2 of Special Operations Detachment 3 Combat SAR Detachment 4 EOD and Naval Minesweeping Detachment 5 Underwater Demolition Detachment 6 Special Boat Units 3rd Fleet Frogman Command Unit () Command HQ Detachment 1 Sabotage / Anti Sabotage (Terror) Detachment 2 of special Operations Detachment 3 Combat SAR Detachment 4 EOD and Naval Minesweeping Detachment 5 Underwater Demolition Detachment 6 Special Boat Units