intelligence, etc.). Deployments The UOE always maintains one of its three operational teams on maximum alert (Alpha-1) for immediate deployment on a rotational basis. The UOE was first deployed overseas in 1969, just two years after it was founded, when it spearheaded the evacuation of Spanish citizens from the former Spanish colony of Equatorial Guinea in Africa. Since then, the unit has been reported to have participated in the fight against Basque ETA violence inside Spain (though today this is strictly the preserve of civilian police forces). More recently, among its publicly known missions, the UOE was deployed to the former Yugoslavia as part of the Spanish IFOR and SFOR contingents. Also, in December 2002, while participating in Operation Enduring Freedom in the Indian Ocean, UOE commandos stormed a suspect North Korean vessel, the So San'', transporting a shipment of SCUD missiles destined for Yemen. The unit is also known to have recently deployed its teams on undisclosed missions in the Middle East. The UOE is a central element of the Spanish Maritime counter-terrorism capability. Weapons Weapons held at the UOE armory include, but are not limited to, the following: Sound-suppressed SIG Sauer P230 pistol Sound-suppressed Sterling submachine gun MP5 and MP5SD submachine guns HK G36E assault rifle HK G36KE carbine M16 assault rifle Remington 870 shotgun FN MINIMI machine gun Ameli light machine gun M60 machine gun MG3 machine gun Accuracy AW sniper rifle Barrett M95 heavy sniper rifle HK 416 assault rifle See also Spanish special forces units References External links Official website (Spanish Navy) UOE veterans website (unofficial) ShadowSpear Special Ops Website (includes UOE video) Spanish Navy Military units and formations of Spain Special forces of Spain