Special Air Service

Special Air Service SAS

Role 21 SAS - Close Target Reconnaissance

22 SAS - Counter-Revolutionary Warfare/Counter-Terrorism

23 SAS - Close Target Reconnaissance

Size Three Regiments

Part of UK Special Forces

Garrison/HQ RHQ - Credenhill

21st Regiment - London

22nd Regiment - Credenhill

23rd Regiment - Wolverhampton

The Special Air Service Regiment (History SAS) is the principal special forces unit of the British Army. A small and secretive institution, it sometimes attracts a disproportionate amount of media coverage. The SAS was formed in 1941 with British volunteers to conduct raids behind enemy lines in North Africa, and today serves as a model for similar units fielded by other countries.

The SAS forms part of the United Kingdom Special Forces, alongside the Special Boat Service (SBS), Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR), and Special Forces Support Group (SFSG). The SAS is the oldest special forces unit in the world, tracing its existence back to 1941 and the North African Campaign of the Second World War.

Current SAS roles include:

Intelligence collection in the deep battlespace.

Battlespace preparation by sabotage and offensive raiding in the medium and deep battlespace.

Counter Terrorism operations inside United Kingdom territory in conjunction with police forces.

Counter Terrorism operations outside UK territory.

Training Special Forces of other nations.

Counter Revolutionary Warfare activities in support of UK government Foreign Policy.

Protection of senior British dignitaries and VIPs.

Command, control and organization

The Special Air Service is under the Operational Control of Director Special Forces and is considered a strategic asset. However, OPCON may be delegated to Operational and Tactical commanders as required.

The Special Air Service Regiment is a Corps of the British Army under the United Kingdom legal system which authorizes the raising of military forces and comprises three battalion-sized units, one Regular and two reserve units in the Territorial Army (TA), each styled as 'regiments' in accordance with British Army practice; 22 SAS Regiment being the Regular unit with 21 SAS Regiment (Artists Rifles) and 23 SAS Regiment as the TA reserve units, known as the Special Air Service (Reserve) SAS(R). The Artists Rifles appellation comes from the amalgamation in 1947 with an unusual pre-existing TA Regiment originally raised from the artistic community at a time when the Rifle Volunteer movement was at its height. The Artists Rifles (Originally Artists' Rifles until the apostrophe was officially dropped from the full title as it was so often misused) were of such quality they were used as an officer-producing unit in both World Wars, although the 1st Battalion fought as part of the Royal Naval Division in the latter years of World War I.

UK Special Forces are supported by a signal regiment, 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, which includes one TA squadron, 63 (SAS) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) and by the Joint Special Forces Air Wing, with 8 Flight Army Air Corps attached to 22 SAS.

Each Regiment comprises a number of 'Sabre' Squadrons with some supporting functions being undertaken within 22 SAS; Headquarters, Planning and Intelligence Section, Operational Research Section, Counter Revolutionary Warfare Wing, and Training Wing. 'Sabre' Squadrons are so called to distinguish the operational squadrons from administrative or HQ squadrons.

22 SAS Regiment 21 SAS Regiment (Artists) 23 SAS Regiment

'HQ' (Credenhill, near Hereford) 'HQ' (Regent's Park, London) 'HQ' (Kingstanding)

'A' Squadron 'A' Squadron (Regent's Park) 'A' Squadron (Invergowrie/Glasgow)

'B' Squadron 'C' Squadron (Basingstoke/Cambridge/Southampton) 'B' Squadron (Leeds)

'D' Squadron 'E' Squadron (Newport) 'C' Squadron (Newcastle/Manchester)

'G' Squadron1

Each 'Sabre' Squadron of 22 SAS is divided into four 16-man Troops with different functional responsibilities;-

1.0 Air Troop;

2.0 Boat Troop;

3.0 Mobility Troop and

4.0 Mountain Troop.

The CRW Wing is nominally made up of the personnel drawn from a single squadron, originally designated 'Pagoda' which is relieved every 6 - 9 months. The squadron is split up into two combined troops, 'Red' and 'Blue', with each troop made up of an assault group and a sniper team. Though the counter-terrorist Teams are based at RHQ in Hereford, a specialist eight-man Team are based within the outer London region (4, south London border and 4, north London border/Hertfordshire). This Team rapidly responds to any situation in London, if required.

'L' Detachment, formerly 'R' Squadron, is a TA unit comprising former Regular soldiers and assigned to 22 SAS for the provision of casualty replacements. Optionally it also had its own role in the event of limited or general war.

History of three regiments have different roles;-

21 SAS- Medium and deep battlespace Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and offensive operations.

22 SAS - Medium and deep battlespace ISTAR and offensive operations, Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW), Counter-Terrorism (CT), close protection and defence diplomacy.

23 SAS - Medium and deep battlespace ISTAR and offensive operations.

Each TA Squadron includes attached regular personnel as Permanent Staff Instructors- a ruling established by the then Brigadier Peter de la Billière, as Director SAS, specifying that promotion within the Regiment for any officer or senior NCO would be predicated on experience with the SAS(R).

The SAS is based at Hereford, Herefordshire in the west of England. Stirling Lines, named after Sir David Stirling(formerly Bradbury Lines), was initially the home base but in 1999 they moved to the former RAF station Credenhill.

1: 'G' Squadron of 22 SAS (So named because it was primarily drawn from personnel of the disbanding Guards Independent Parachute Company) is primarily made up of volunteers from the Household Division.

The Royal Signals also maintains 264 (SAS) Signal Squadron (renamed 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment in early 2005) and one Territorial Army SAS Squadron; 63 (SAS) Signal Squadron (Volunteers) Thorney Island/Southampton/Portsmouth/Bournemouth/Chichester/London. Soldiers of this unit wear the SAS beret with the Royal Signals cap badge.

Troops

'Sabre' Squadrons in 22 SAS are organised as four specialised Troops, although personnel are broadly skilled in all areas following 'Selection' and 'Continuation' training. The specialised troop provide a focus for particular skillsets and personnel may move between Troops over the length of a career. 21 and 23 SAS do not so distinguish.

Air Troop

Air Troop personnel specialize in airborne insertion from fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. Leaving the aircraft at high altitude personnel are capable of delivering personnel and equipment into the deep battle space far beyond the forward edge of battle area in support of their ISTAR or offensive operations.

Personnel are trained in three principal forms of parachute infiltration; Standard conventional military automatic or static line parachuting; High Altitude Low Opening (HALO), High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) both of the latter bearing significant risk to the operator. HALO insertions involve a long free fall followed by canopy opening at low level, about 2 000 feet, leaving the operator exposed to detection and fire for the minimum possible period. The aircraft must overfly in the vicinity of the Drop Zone to effect delivery, risking a compromise to the mission should it be detected. HAHO insertions allow the aircraft to deliver the operators from a significantly greater range from the Drop Zone, thus reducing risk of mission compromise. Operators leave the aircraft and immediately deploy a canopy which allows a long glide over great distance. Operators are provided with an oxygen supply to survive the depleted air at high altitude and warm clothing protects from cold. An altimeter is used to manage the canopy deployment and for navigation purposes.

Equipment is carried in a reduced-drag harness (CSPEP -Container, straps, personal equipment, parachutist), initially between the legs, and later lowered on a cord prior to landing. The primary weapon may be carried under the arm, ready for immediate use on landing.

Boat Troop

Boat Troop personnel specialize in waterborne insertion techniques; diving and small boats.

Personnel are trained in diving using Open and Closed Circuit breathing systems, learning skills in navigation, approaching the shore or vessels underway and the delivery of Limpet mines. Much of this training is undertaken with the Special Boat Service of the Royal Marines.

Once proficient in diving, personnel learn methods of surface infiltration. One of the main forms of transportation is still the Klepper canoe. The first SAS folding boats were designed during WWII for use by Commandos, based on existing designs. The German Klepper has been in service since the 1960s. Other methods include the Gemini inflatable, used primarily for sending small groups of soldiers onto a shore undetected, and the fiberglass hulled Rigid Raider fast patrol boats which are larger carrying more personnel or cargo ashore.

Entry to the water from rotary wing aircraft and by parachute drop; the helicopter hovers some 50 feet above the water, personnel simply jumping out. Airborne entry to the water carries a significant risk to equipment with weapons and other equipment sealed using a dry bag.

Deployment from submarines is taught. Submarine egress bears a high risk given the effect of pressure at depth (nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity), the cold, and the risks inherent in the use of mechanical breathing aids while underwater.

Mobility Troop

Mobility Troop personnel specialize in vehicle insertion techniques, similar to those of the Long Range Desert Group of the Second World War.

Vehicle insertions allow a more sustainable patrol in the medium to deep battlespace but will create logistical and force protection challenges.

Personnel are required to gain skills in vehicle maintenance across the range of vehicles used by the Regiment, particularly whilst on patrol with limited opportunity for combat support. Vehicles which personnel must master include; the Land Rover 110, nicknamed the Pinky or Pink Panther due to the two tone desert camouflage colours, Land Rover 90, Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) a 2 seat dune buggy, Honda 350cc Quad Bike and the Honda 250cc motorbike. Conventional trucks are also used for logistic purposes.

These vehicles can be variously configured with a range of heavy weapon systems; Browning 0.50 caliber machine gun, Mk 19 40 mm grenade launcher, twin or single L7A2 7.62 mm GPMG , and the MILAN anti-tank guided missile.

Inter-vehicle communication on the move may be by flashing light in the visible or infra-red spectrum, by flags or by arm signals.

Mountain Troop

Mountain Troops personnel specialize in the conduct of operations at high altitude and in mountainous terrain, requiring advanced skills in climbing, ice climbing, skiing and cold weather survival. Training is conducted in deserts and mountain ranges around the world. Many training expeditions are organized and troopers in mountain troop have a reputation as being some of the best climbers in the world. Kenya is often used as a training ground for its hot climate and difficult terrain.

Security, Honors and Awards

All military personnel are bound by the Official Secrets Act and undergo some level of vetting; Special Forces personnel are required to undertake a higher level of clearance.

On entry into the regiment personnel are required to limit dissemination of their employment. Anonymity is provided during service and personnel are not required to provide identifying details to police and authorities whilst co-operating. Effectives are entitled to a 24-hour 'warm down' period following offensive action within the United Kingdom, during which they are debriefed. Members are not obliged to provide information to civilian agencies during this period.

Medals awarded to personnel, such as the Military Cross (MC), are publicized in the normal manner and officially and formally via The London Gazette however the individuals original parent Corps or Regiment, if they have such, is attributed as a matter of fact which sometimes provides security cover. The circumstances surrounding personnel killed in action are not routinely disseminated; should this be unavoidable the individual is also usually attributed to their parent Corps or Regiment where this applies. Not all decorations are gazetted. Those that are not gazetted are held as secure records by the Ministry of Defence. Information on un-gazetted decorations prior to a moving dateline, of about thirty years prior, are routinely transferred to the United Kingdom National Archives for public inspection, or are further held back from non-disclosure if any security considerations or other residual sensitivities are deemed to make this advisable. Currently, three officers have been recommended for the VC: two during World War II and one during the Falklands. Only one has been awarded; to Major Anders Frederick Emil Victor Schau Lassen, MC and 2 Bars, killed in Italy in 1944 when he was commanding a squadron of the Special Boat Service. His grave marker bears the badge of the Regiment because the SBS in which he served continued to wear this as their cap badge, and was considered part of the 'SAS family' even though it was a separate regiment, commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel and formed out of the Special Boat Squadron of 1 SAS.

Following a number of high-profile book releases about the Regiment, candidates for selection are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement, in addition to their duties under the Official Secrets Act. Former members may not release details of their employment within the organization without prior consent. Ex-members of the Regiment who wrote exposures prior to the introduction of the agreement have used pseudonyms, such as Andy McNab and Chris Ryan. Books in the genre include both non-fiction and fictional accounts based on the experiences of the author.

The British Government has a standing policy of not discussing the SAS or its operations and makes few official announcements concerning their activities. When reports of military operations are given there is usually no mention of SAS, or other Special Forces, involvement.

Selection and training

At the formation of the Regiment personnel earned their place through service on operations. In 1952, Major John Woodhouse, introduced what has come to be known as 'Selection' or the 'Selection Course'.

Selection is reputed to be the most demanding military training course in the British Army with a reported pass rate of less than 10%. It is a test of strength, endurance, and resolve over the Brecon Beacons and Elan Valley in Wales, and in the jungle of Brunei, taking around 6 months to complete.

Selection is held twice a year regardless of conditions. A candidate must be male and have been a regular member of the Armed Forces for at least three years or a member of 21 SAS or 23 SAS (which can be joined directly from civilian life) for at least 18 months. All soldiers who apply must have at least 39 months of military service remaining and to be eligible for selection the candidate must not exceed 32 years of age. A candidate who fails any stage of the selection is 'Returned to [his parent] Unit' (RTU'ed). Candidates are allowed only two attempts at selection, after which they may never reapply. Many are not even allowed that.

Like other sections of the British armed forces, the SAS accepts members from the Commonwealth and The Republic of Ireland, with notable representation from Fiji, the former Rhodesia, New Zealand and Australia. The Parachute Regiment is frequently the SAS's main recruiting area.

SELECTION

Selection lasts for one month and is run by the Training Wing of the Special Air Service and throughout it candidates that do not reach the required standard are 'binned' or leave voluntarily. During the first week the Special Air Service try to let the candidates ease into the rigours ahead by pairing them up and putting them through a series of road runs that get steadily longer as the week progresses.

After this selection progresses to the Black Mountains and Breacon Beacons in Wales. The terrain there is cold, wet, bleak, barren and featureless and a long way away from the glamour of abseiling down the Iranian Embassy on prime time television; this is where candidates get a taste of real life in the Special Air Service. They are still paired off but this is soon phased out as a greater emphasis is placed on candidates navigating the bleak terrain on their own. As there are no regular landmarks to get a bearing from candidates must rely on the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIZ3g-qGeQc , especially when the weather closes in and the visibility is reduced to only a few metres. I cannot over emphasise the importance of this to an Special Air Service soldier, navigating a featureless terrain is probably the single most important skill a soldier has because they will use this on every single mission they ever undertake. If you're been hunted by enemy trackers or dropped into the desert of Iraq if you can not find your way to the target or out of trouble accurately and quickly you're about as much use as a condom machine in the Vatican.

The process is simple, the distances get longer and the weights in the bergens get heavier, the candidates start the day with a rendezvous point (RV) and a grid reference and they have to tab (army slang for a forced march) there within a certain time, which they are not told (only the DS (directing staff) know the times that the candidates are expected to hit) when they get to an RV they get another grid reference and so on; the candidates do not know how many RV's they may have to get to in a day and they don't know how long they have to do it in. There has also been a tradition of psychological tests on the candidates, being told to remember numbers or they may be asked questions about the terrain they just walked through, other tests have been at the end of the day sending the trooper off to another RV to see if they will quit and then calling them back after 100 metres or so. Another trick used by the DS was when a soldier got to an RV they were told "just get yourself in the back of the truck for 5 minutes and have a rest" or "just take your shoes off and rest up for a while" when in fact this meant they would fail. Such methods are rumoured to no longer be in practice though.

The last week of Selection is Test Week, a series of night and day timed marches throughout the Breacon Beacons the culmination of which is the 'Fan Dance' or 'Long Drag', a 60km Tab (some books say 40km) with a 55lb bergen over some of the highest peaks of the Breacon Beacons. This must be completed in 20hours regardless of injury or weather conditions, but in actual fact most candidates do pass this as those who aren't tough enough will have already left or been binned by the DS. After selection successful candidates will progress onto Continuation training after a weeks leave.

CONTINUATION TRAINING

Continuation Training lasts 14-weeks and takes soldiers back to basics as they learn all the basic patrol skills an Special Air Service soldier needs to operate in a four-man patrol behind enemy lines. The particulars of the regime are secret for obvious reasons but the soldiers will learn: "standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Special Air Service four-man unit; for example, how to move through hostile territory; the arcs of fire of each patrol member; and how to conduct contact drills." (A to Z of the S.A.S. p.38) Weapon training including the use of pistols and foreign weapons is taught, basic field medicine, signalling (every Special Air Service soldier is trained to the British Army Regimental Signaller standard), camouflage, how to setup and survive in an observation post (OP), escape and evasion from the enemy and anti-interrogation techniques are learnt and mastered. "The students then go on to Combat and Survival training, where they learn all aspects of living in hostile environments: building shelters, finding food and water, laying traps and lighting fires. The Combat and Survival phase ends in an Escape and Evasion exercise." (A to Z of the S.A.S. p.39)

ESCAPE AND EVASION EXERCISE

The escape and evasion exercise is the culmination of the Combat and Survival (C&S) phase of continuation training. Like many of the exercises the premise is simple, survive in the wild whilst being hunted by a hunter force (usually local army.) There are conflicting accounts of what goes on during E&E but it appears that recruits may be given RV's that they must hit in order to get food and will sometimes operate in four-man groups.
When released on the E&E exercise recruits will have just come out of C&S training and so many will be hungry and tired, they have no kit, just an old pair of boots and an ill fitting jacket and they must use the skills learnt on C&S to survive and avoid being caught by the hunter force. The biggest test of the exercise is mental, if a soldier can keep their focus and remember what they have been taught they have a good chance of making it to the last day but when the sleep deprivation, the cold and hunger seep in, a candidates mental fitness is tested to the limit. The basic rules are: 'always cover your tracks, only move at night and lay-up during the day, when you stop for a break always drink and eat where possible, plan your journey and formulate plans and courses of action to cope with as many eventualities as possible.
The most common reason for a candidate to be captured is when they take the shortest and easiest route to an RV (troopers are taught not to follow roads, paths, to avoid populated areas and to stick to concealed areas that offer good camouflage such as dense woodland and shrubbery.) If the trooper makes it to their final RV or if they are captured they move on to a 24-hour Resistance to Interrogation exercise.' (A to Z of the S.A.S. p.50)
The Resistance to Interrogation exercise is, once again a simple affair, the trooper must undergo interrogation and only reveal name, rank and serial number, easy? Well no, the interrogators are highly trained and masters at reading people and taking advantage of situations. Even a simple yes or no answer from a candidate can result in failure of the exercise because a yes or no recorded on tape can easily be manipulated by the enemy so a question as harmless as "are you okay?" must be ignored, or answered "I'm okay…" Resistance to Interrogation is the downfall of many candidates, the sleep deprivation and hunger sustained over the last week means they're mentally weak and many struggle under the psychological abuse of the interrogator. The best approach is to be the 'grey man' don't give away any information but just sit there and look pathetic, appear exhausted, make the most of any injury and if the going gets tough, faint!
Should a trooper hold out a previously identified person (usually a doctor or officer) will reveal themselves and tell the candidate that the exercise if over. But Special Air Service selection is not.

JUNLE TRAINING

Should a candidate make it through Continuation training and be approved by the directing staff (it isn't enough to just pass, they have to want you too!) candidates fly to the Far East (usually Brunei or Borneo) for 6 weeks of jungle training. Here the survival and patrol skills they have learnt so far are adapted for jungle survival, they learn how to build shelter, find water and food, cross rivers and navigate through the thick jungle canapé. Many candidates struggle with claustrophobia as the heat and denseness of the jungle takes a toll on them.
Jungle training culminates in a final exercise that will test all the skills they have learnt as candidates are split into four-man patrols. The exercise could be anything but a typical example would be locating an enemy stronghold, setting up an observation post (OP), planning and then executing an assault. As with all Special Air Service selection exercises failure means you are denied entry into the Special Air Service. Successful candidate's progress onto the Static-line Parachuting Course, a synch for any Para's in the group as they already have the badge and don't have to take the course.

STATIC-LINE PARACHUTE COURSE

"The course lasts four weeks and is conducted at No 1 Parachute Training School at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. The students must make a total of eight jumps including one from a balloon, one at night and an operational descent (the latter being most difficult.) At the end of the course student are awarded the 'Sabre' wings. They then return [to Credenhill] where they are badged Special Air Service." (A to Z of the S.A.S. p.171)

Once Jungle training has been passed candidates are in the 22nd Special Air Service, however new troopers have not finished their training. Any candidate unable to drive or swim undergoes further training in those areas and then once added to a Squadron, an Special Air Service trooper must learn his patrol skill. Signalling, demolitions, languages or medicine, an Special Air Service four man-patrol is a self contained unit and must poses all of these skills; some troopers as they stay in the Special Air Service will retrain in other patrol skill areas, this, combined with their specialist troop skill (Mountaineering, Mobility, Anti-Terrorism and advanced parachuting) means that each Special Air Service soldier is unique and one of the highest trained troopers in the world.

References
A-Z of the S.A.S, Peter Darman. Sidjwick & Jackson, London. 1992
Fighting Skillls of the S.A.S, Mike Robinson. Sidjwick & Jackson, London. 1991
S.A.S. Rescue, Barry Davies. Sidjwick & Jackson, London. 1996

Personnel completing selection are placed on probation for 4 years and undergo specialist and continuation training appropriate to their employing Troop or more general training such as language. This training will include jungle, desert, urban and counter-terrorism specialist courses.

Insignia

The SAS, like every other British regiment, has its own distinctive insignia.

The sand-coloured beret of the SAS is officially designated the beige beret, since it is made from material of this colour. When the SAS was reformed in 1947 an attempt was made to match the original sand coloured cloth beret from those still in the possession of veterans. This proved impossible to do from existing approved cloth colour stocks held by the British authorities, so, as a compromise and with no authorisation for expenditure on a new colour dye the nearest acceptable colour was selected and approved by an all ranks committee of the Regimental Association). Personnel attached to the Regiment also wear this beret but with their own badges in accordance with usual British practice.

Cap badge, a downward pointing flaming sword worked in cloth of a Crusader shield designed by then Corporal (subsequently Squadron Sergeant Major in both the wartime British Regiments and latterly an officer in the RAF Regiment) Robert Charles 'Bob' Tait, MM and Bar London Scottish, TA (died June 6 1975) with the motto Who Dares, Wins on a scroll finally approved by the first Commanding Officer, David Stirling, with the proposed wording 'Descend to Defend' or 'Strike and Destroy' disallowed, following the usual British Army practice of a competition to design a cap badge for the new unit held after the completion of Operation Crusader by the 8th Army. The sword depicted is King Arthur's named sword Excalibur( References to it as the Sword of Damocles derive from an article originally published in Mars and Minerva, the Regimental Journal written by a highly respected veteran of both British Regiments and the post-war re-raised Regiment. He was subsequently proved to be incorrect, but the story was picked up by the media and still gets repeated.), worked in the light and dark blue colours of the original No. 11 SAS Battalion. This was converted to a Roman pattern gladius when the design was made up by the tailors in Cairo. This badge is now known as the winged dagger due to subsequent wartime misattribution of its significance and the mistaken reference to it as this in the book of that name by Roy Farran who served in 2 SAS. It is now formally described as 'a dagger striking downward surrounded by flames' and is one of the few British Army cap badges issued only in cloth. Metallic variants are used by affiliated or derivative units of other nations.

SAS pattern parachute wings, designed by Lieutenant John Steel 'Jock' Lewes Welsh Guards (previously Tower Hamlet Rifles, TA), chief instructor of 'L' Detachment, SAS Brigade, based on the basic British Army design approved in 1940 but modified to reflect the Middle East origins of the new unit by the substitution of the stylised sacred Ibis wings of Isis of Egyptian iconography depicted in the decor of Shepherds Hotel in Cairo.

Silver regimental collar badges (Otherwise known as collar pins or collar dogs).

Royal blue stable belt, only worn by qualified personnel.

Silver belt buckle with engraved regimental badge. Personnel attached to the Regiment also wear this buckle.

Battle honours

Second World War:

North Africa, 1940-43;

Tobruk, 1941;

Benghazi Raid, 1942;

Sicily, 1943;

Landing in Sicily, 1943;

Termoli, 1943

Italy, 1943-45;

Valli di Comacchio, 1945;

Greece, 1944-45;

Adriatic, 1943;

Middle East, 1943-44;

Normandy and North-West Europe, 1944-45

Falkland Islands, 1982

Western Iraq, 1991

Western Iraq, 2003

It should be noted that these officially sanctioned honours, first published in 1957, are for actions by the original 'L' Detachment, both numbered World War II British SAS regiments as well as the Special Boat Service regiment and the present regiment. The World War II honours Benghazi Raid, 1942 and Middle East, 1943-1944 are unique to the regiment. The odd dating for North Africa, 1940-43 is due to the fact that this is an omnibus theatre honour for units serving between these dates.

Order of Precedence

The SAS is classed as an infantry regiment, and as such is shown in the infantry order of precedence. However, because of its role, it is listed 'next below' the other designations (foot guards, line infantry, rifles). The expression 'next below' is utilised in British official publications as a form of 'grace note' to avoid the connotations of first/last since, in spirit at least, no Regiment admits of the claim to being last and all are deemed equal in the scope of their service under the Crown in Parliament.

Preceded by:

The Rifles Infantry Order of Precedence Succeeded by:

Last in Order of Precedence of the Infantry

The current units are shown officially as 21st, 22nd and 23rd battalions of the Regiment but are styled 'Twenty-One', 'Twenty-Two' and 'Twenty-Three' and written, in short form, as 21 SAS, 22 SAS and 23 SAS. The number sequence derives from the 1944 re-formation of the regiments as a component, two-battalion, Regiment of the Army Air Corps which then consisted of three Regiments: The Glider Pilot Regiment (Only ever of three battalions), Parachute Regiment (Of many battalions, sequentially numbered from 1 upwards, with a separate sequence of numbers from 100 for battalions raised outwith the United Kingdom) and SAS. 1 SAS was re-raised as 3 SAS, a decision subsequently rescinded by the War Office, giving 1st and 2nd battalions, Special Air Service Regiment, Army Air Corps. On re-formation it was appreciated that 3 SAS, 4 SAS and 5 SAS had been used to designate the French and Belgian regiments and that combining 1 and 2 as 'Twelve' or 'Twelfth' gave a hard-to-pronounce name and would automatically give the number 13 to the next raised unit so the identity proposed by the Regimental Association and actually adopted was 'Twenty-One', ie, the numbers of the British units, reversed.

The SAS in popular culture

Since the early 1980s, the SAS has built up an almost mythical reputation. The media's obsession increased enormously following the 1980 hostage rescue at the Iranian Embassy siege in London, shown live on British television. Previous media exposure came from the little reported fact that the perpetrators of the British Great Train Robbery of 1963 left behind regimental insignia, etc which was part of their cover plan to pass themselves off as SAS soldiers on an Army exercise that had got out of hand, if challenged.

Anything written about the Regiment should be treated with a very healthy dose of skepticism until verified because of the sensitive nature of its work. There is alleged to be a common phenomenon, known as walting, of individuals claiming to have served with the Regiment, despite little or no connection with the SAS or the British Armed Forces. All elite units are subject to this phenomenon.

John "Lofty" Wiseman, a veteran of the SAS, has written a book on surviving the outdoors, and it is one of the most comprehensive survival guides written. It is called The SAS Survival Guide. It has been reprinted, and is a useful resource for hikers and campers.

Following the siege, the film Who Dares Wins was released. One of the stars, Lewis Collins, was a member of the Territorial Army who served briefly in 21 SAS before leaving, by mutual agreement, because of his high public profile.

Ultimate Force television drama series shown on ITV1, which deals with the activities of the fictional Red Troop of the Special Air Service.

In the British sitcom Extras, in Episode 1.2 Ross Kemp (star of Ultimate Force) attempts to show off stating that he trained with the SAS, falsely saying that it stands for the 'Super Army Soldiers'.

A large number of fictional and non-fictional accounts of the Regiment have been published by former personnel, some of whom, especially in World War II had been print journalists. Critics frequently claim, with much justification, that a high proportion of these accounts are overly dramatised and very loosely based on actual events. Two very well known recent examples are books written under pseudonyms by two former troopers who served together on the Bravo Two Zero mission in Iraq during the first Gulf War; Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab, The One That Got Away by Chris Ryan. Both of these books have subsequently been criticised as highly embellished dramatisations; see Eye of the Storm: 25 Years in Action with the SAS by Peter Ratcliffe, and in particular The Real Bravo Two Zero by Micheal Asher, which investigates and discredits the claims made by Andy McNab in detail. Personnel now sign a non-disclosure agreement on entry to the Regiment.

Alliances

United States - Delta Force

Australia - Special Air Service Regiment

New Zealand - New Zealand Special Air Service

Canada - Joint Task Force 2

Israel - Sayeret Matkal

Other Special Forces based on the SAS

The Regiment has both participated in the formation of other national special forces formations, or served as an inspiration:

Australia - Extant - Australian Special Air Service Regiment.

Belgium - Extant - Belgian Special Forces Group, closely modelled on the SAS and consisting of Land, Air and Boat sections. Comprises about 120 operational personnel distinguished by the maroon beret with the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol insignia.

Defunct - During WWII 5 (Belgian) SAS squadron, from 1944 '5 SAS' Regiment, consisted of Belgian volunteers. Notable as the first Allied troops to enter Belgium and the first to cross the Siegfried line, into Germany. Traditions are currently continued by 1 PARA of the Paracommando Brigade.

Canada - Extant - The Canadian Military's Joint Task Force 2 is closely modelled on the SAS. (Although it traces its lineage to the Canadian SAS Company created in 1946, its structure is not generally known.)

Defunct - An SAS Company was created in 1946 and disbanded in 1948.[2]

Denmark - Frømandskorpset (Naval Special Forces) and Jægerkorpset (Army Special Forces).

France - The 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1er Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine) (1er RPIMa:SAS), is the heir of the World War II French SAS units ('French' Squadron, 1 SAS from 1er Compagnie, BIA; 3 and 4 SAS, ie, 3 BIA and 4 BIA, subsequently 3 RCP and 2 RCP). Its official motto is "qui ose gagne", the French translation of "Who Dares Wins". The Regiment's operators are also nicknamed "les SAS français" (the French SAS). Recently, the Regiment created a Squadron (3rd Company) Patrouilles SAS or "PATSAS" (SAS Patrols), using heavily-armed jeeps for raids behind enemy lines (particularly with 22 SAS and the Australian SAS in Afghanistan).

Germany - The German Army Special Forces unit, the KSK (Kommando Spezialkräfte), is also closely patterned on the SAS.

Greece - Greek Special Forces, originate from the post-war Λ.Ο.Κ. (spelled L.O.K. from "Loxoi Oreinon Katadromon" - Mountain Raider Detachments) which were the post-WWII successor of the "Sacred Band" ("Ieros Loxos"). The "Sacred Band" was formed in 1942 in the Middle East from a group of dedicated volunteers, former officers and officer cadets who relinquished their rank and commission in order to fight as regular soldiers. Under their C.O. - Col. Christodoulos Tsigantes, they fought alongside the SAS and SBS in the Libyan desert and the Aegean as well as with General Leclerc's Free French in Tunisia. It is no coincidence that modern Greek Special Forces insignia, bears a distinct resemblance to their brethren SAS insignia, with a winged, upward pointing sword and underscribed motto "Ο ΤΟΛΜΩΝ ΝΙΚ?" (essentially translation of "Who Dares Wins").

Hong Kong - The Hong Kong Special Duties Unit is a part of the Hong Kong Police Force and was formed in 1973. SDU was modelled on the SAS and was trained by the SAS and SBS.

Indonesia - Detasemen Bravo Paskhas TNI AU.

Israel - The Sayeret Matkal, an elite unit of the IDF, is modelled on the SAS, and shares the same motto, "Who Dares Wins." Responsible for Operation Entebbe. Also Sayeret Shaldag.

Italy - The Army's 9th Parachute Assault Regiment, and the Carabinieri's Gruppo di Intervento Speciale are partly based on the SAS.

Japan - The National Police Agency's Special Assault Team received training from British SAS operators prior to its activation on 1 April 1996.

Malaysia - The Malaysian VAT 69/UTK is a special forces of the Royal Malaysian Police Force based on by the SAS. VAT 69 modelled on and trained by the British SAS in 1969 for fighting the communist insurgency and Special Actions Unit (Unit Tindakan Khas) was based from the SAS and increased on by the United States SWAT after hostage incident by JRA Terrorist in August 1975. On 20 October 1997, VAT 69 and UTK merged and was then called Pasukan Gerakan Khas (Special Operations Force).

Netherlands - The Korps Commandotroepen.

New Zealand - Special Air Service of New Zealand.

Norway - Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK).

Pakistan - The SSG commandos are also partly based on the SAS.

Philippines - The Philippine National Police's (PNP) Special Action Force was believed to have been based on the lines of the British SAS.

Poland - GROM, partly based on the SAS.

Rhodesia - 'C' Squadron 22 SAS was composed of Rhodesian troops. It formed the nucleus of the Rhodesian SAS Regiment after the end of the Malayan Emergency in 1953, and subsequently the British SAS have never raised another 'C' Squadron within 22 SAS. The Rhodesian SAS disbanded in December 1980 after the country became Zimbabwe. (See SAS Rhodesia by Fourie, C., & Pittaway, J., published Dandy Agencies, Durban, South Africa, 2003.)

Sri Lanka - Special Task Force. The Special Task Force (STF) was formed in 1983 to operate as a Counter-Terrorist force in Sri Lanka, not as a military force but rather a highly-specialised police unit.

Sweden - Särskilda Skyddsgruppen (Special Protection Group, SSG)

United Arab Emirates - Police Special Unit

United States - The US Army 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D (A)), commonly referred to as Delta Force, was based on the SAS. Its founder, "Chargin'" Charlie Beckwith, having served on exchange with the SAS in the early 1960s, caught the "SAS bug" and, recognising a void in the US Army, devoted a large part of the remainder of his career to the raising and establishment of a US Special Forces unit modelled on the SAS. Operational Detachment-Delta is a late addition to the Special Forces, whose main purpose is to lead locally recruited troops in a manner pioneered by the Jedburghs teams of WW2, a joint British-American effort which worked with the French, Dutch and Belgian resistance.

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