---
title: "Special Operators Showed Off Their Abilities By Staging A Mock Battle In Tampa’s Harbor"
description: "U.S. Special Operations Command forces raided downtown Tampa from the sea, air, and land in a massive display of force."
date: "2018-05-26"
modified: "2018-05-26"
authors:
  - name: "Tyler Rogoway"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway"
url: "https://www.twz.com/21120/special-ops-forces-raid-downtown-tampa-from-the-sea-air-and-land-in-massive-display"
categories:
  - "Air"
  - "Americas"
  - "Around The Globe"
  - "H-6 Helicopter"
  - "Helicopters"
  - "Land"
  - "MH-6/AH-6"
  - "News & Features"
  - "Special Operations"
  - "U.S. Homeland"
tags:
  - "2018"
  - "Demonstration"
  - "Display"
  - "Flyer 71"
  - "Jordan"
  - "KASOTC"
  - "Little Bird"
  - "MH-60M"
  - "MH-6M"
  - "MRZR"
  - "Riverine"
  - "SOC-R"
  - "SOCOM"
  - "SOFEX"
  - "SOFIC"
  - "SOFIC 2018"
  - "special operations"
  - "special operations forces"
  - "Special Operations Forces Industry Conference"
  - "SWCC"
  - "Tampa"
  - "Tampa Harbor"
---

# Special Operators Showed Off Their Abilities By Staging A Mock Battle In Tampa’s Harbor

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-twz/content/2018/05/jjcajd91313.jpg>)
*www.twz.com*

In late Spring the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) kicks off in Tampa, Florida. Part of the festivities includes a large and [rare public display](<https://www.twz.com/11502/nightstalkers-show-off-for-the-public-with-a-dramatic-urban-air-assault>) of America's special operations capabilities. The spectacle, which takes place on Tampa's harbor, has [grown increasingly complex](<https://www.twz.com/3849/watch-special-ops-forces-full-on-assault-downtown-tampa>) over the years. It now includes assaults from multiple domains, opposition forces, hostage rescue scenarios, and thousands of blanks fired off as part of the mock battle.

This year, from the air the [MH-6M Little Bird](<https://www.twz.com/20255/night-stalker-choppers-freak-out-manhattan-with-nighttime-low-level-training-exercise>) and [MH-60M Black Hawks](<https://www.twz.com/15304/this-slo-mo-video-of-mh-60m-spec-ops-helicopters-refueling-at-sunset-is-glorious>) were the stars of the show. An [MC-130](<https://www.twz.com/18502/glimpse-of-the-future-mc-130-sets-up-forward-refueling-point-for-mq-9-reaper-drone>) also dropped in operators from on high. On the water, rigid-hull inflatable boats and [SWCCs](<https://www.twz.com/20301/watch-this-special-ops-team-toss-their-stealthy-boats-and-themselves-out-of-a-c-17>) in their [Special Operations Craft-Riverine](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Operations_Craft_%E2%80%93_Riverine_(SOC-R)>) take center stage. On the ground, [Flyer-72s](<https://www.twz.com/18017/us-special-operators-demand-more-firepower-and-protection-for-their-newest-battle-buggies>) and [MRZRs](<https://www.twz.com/3735/us-special-ops-mrzr-buggies-full-of-javelin-missiles-spotted-near-mosul>) rush the bad guys to save a hostage—the Mayor of Tampa. And this demonstration isn't just limited to U.S. military operators. Polish, Finish, and Colombian special operations forces, along with members of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team and others can be seen working alongside their USSOCOM counterparts.

https://youtube.com/embed/oi4LAX2HQvc

https://youtube.com/embed/YVAl78abE6c

Some may be surprised hearing the ripsaw sound of miniguns opening up in an urban setting here in the U.S., but one has to remember that Tampa has a deep connection with the special operations community. The United States Special Operations Command is headquartered at MacDill AFB that sits in the center of Tampa Bay, and the region is stacked with key military installations, many of which have direct ties to the special operations mission.

It's also an opportunity not just to show off to convention goers what the U.S. and its allies bring to the table when it comes to special operations, but also to let the public see and appreciate what they do. Above that, it's training. The stress of a crowd can be a powerful factor, especially when it comes to executing an intricately timed and complex operation in a confined space like this. And it's not like special operators don't [already train in big cities](<https://www.twz.com/20255/night-stalker-choppers-freak-out-manhattan-with-nighttime-low-level-training-exercise>) around the United States, but in those cases, the public [isn't exactly invited](<https://www.twz.com/12272/we-may-finally-know-what-jade-helm-has-stood-for-all-along>) to get a clear view of the operation.

![message-editor%2F1527371852087-jjajdu1313.jpg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1527371852087-jjajdu1313.jpg>)
**Youtube Screencap**

These types of special operations demonstrations are commonplace in many other countries, with the Middle East taking a special affinity to them, and some are [far more over the top](<https://www.twz.com/13799/this-totally-over-the-top-saudi-security-forces-demonstration-is-laughably-awesome>) than the one in Tampa.

Earlier in the month, Jordan held its own special operations convention known as SOFEX along with the 10th annual International Warrior Competition. During these events, Jordan executed demonstrations at its ['Disneyland-like' training compound](<https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/this-crazy-complex-in-jordan-is-like-disneyland-for-eli-1680695046>), the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) and at King Abdullah II Air Base. The air base demo included the use of a three-sided, multi-story 'doll house' close-quarters battle set, which was quite a novel addition.

https://youtube.com/embed/D0HsFfgzYYU

https://youtube.com/embed/tdat69hSkJ0

With the importance of special operations forces growing around the globe, these demonstrations will only become more elaborate with each passing year.

*Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com*

## Author
Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel>)