JW Formoza, Naval special operations unit in Gdynia, Poland
JW Formoza is a naval special operations unit based on the Baltic Sea coast in Gdynia. The headquarters provides direct access to the sea and supports maritime training and deployment activities.
The unit was established in 1975 following a recommendation by the Research Group on Marine Divers to develop specialized maritime combat capabilities. Cooperation with NATO allies began in 1994 through joint training exercises.
The facility takes its name from a former German torpedo testing platform that first housed training operations in Gdynia. This origin ties the current military presence to the maritime industrial past of the Baltic coast.
The facility is located within a restricted military zone and is not open to the public. Visitors can view the exterior from a distance along public roads and coastal areas in Gdynia.
Training spans three years and covers combat diving, long-distance swimming, weapons handling, and foreign language instruction. This intensive preparation ranks among the most demanding military programs in Europe.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
