| Unit Name: | 116th Operational Maneuvers Regiment |
| Native Name: | Arabic: الفوج 116 للمناورات العملياتية French: 116e Régiment de Manœuvres Opérationnelles |
| Dates: | 2015 - present |
| Country: | Algeria |
| Branch: | People's National Army |
| Type: | Special forces |
| Specialization: | --> |
| Colours: | --> |
| Colours Label: | --> |
| Current Commander: | Colonel Boudouh Abdelkader |
The 116th Operational Maneuvers Regiment (116th RMO) (Arabic: الفوج 116 للمناورات العملياتية, French: 116e Régiment de Manœuvres Opérationnelles) is a special forces regiment of the Algerian Land Forces.[1] [2]
Indeed, the 116th RMO is a recent regiment because it was created in 2015, a few months after the dissolution of the Groupement d'Intervention Spécial (GIS), this regiment was created to directly replace this unit.
Following the dissolution of the GIS, the land forces of the Algerian Army decided to create a new elite unit to replace the GIS. However, the 116th RMO has a different status because it does not depend directly on the Algerian intelligence services, as was the case for the former GIS, but it belongs directly to the command of the land forces.
They are under the direct orders of the Chief of Staff of the People's National Army, and their missions are followed up to the highest military level (the army's high command).[3]
Moreover, the 116th RMO is the descendant of the GIS, so this regiment has naturally taken over the same missions as the latter, and is therefore capable of extremely diverse and varied operations.[4]
The majority of operators and most of the material was transferred to this regiment.
The 116th RMO specializes in counterterrorism, counter guerrilla actions, and the hunting of terrorists in hostile and complex areas, as well as in hostage rescue. However, it is also capable of extremely diverse and varied operations.
It can be tasked with protection of high military authorities, various special operations such as special reconnaissance and raids behind enemy lines, and other types of special missions.
The missions of the 116th RMO are therefore:
The regiment has several companies with several specialized groups such as HAHO/HALO groups, hostage rescue groups, combat swimmer groups or search and destroy groups.
The 116th RMO therefore has several specialized companies:[5]
Operators have access to several types of weapons that are chosen according to the needs and nature of the mission.
Each operator is equipped with a primary weapon (usually an assault rifle), a handgun, and in addition to this, various types of grenades (fragmentation, smoke, blinding, etc.).
Marksmans and snipers have a multitude of choices with regard to their weaponry, ranging from small and medium calibers to large calibers used for immaterial fire, which allows them to destroy light equipment, especially with heavy calibers such as the .50 caliber.