Britain's Special Forces

The United Kingdom's Special Forces (UKSF) have been reconfigured and augmented in the wake of the September 11th attacks and the resulting Global War On Terror. Existing units have been augmented in terms of both manpower and budget and additional units have been formed specifically to meet the emerging terrorist threat.

Who are Britain's Special Forces?

The Special Air Service

Perhaps the UK's best known Special Forces unit, the Army's Special Air Service, or SAS is tasked with counter terrorism, reconnaissance and direct action operations. The British SAS consists of 1 regular Regiment, 22 SAS, and 2 reserves Regiments, 21 and 23 SAS. 22 SAS is divided into 4 Squadrons, A, B, D and G of around 60 men in each. Each squadron is made up of 4 Troops, each specialising in a method of insertion - Mobility Troop (vehicles), Freefall Troop (by air), Boat Troop (amphibious) and Mountain (high altitude and Arctic warfare). Each squadron rotates through different roles, including a 6 month stint on the Special Projects team, on standby to carry out counter terrorist operations.

The Special Boat Service

The SBS is a Royal Navy unit manned by ranks drawn mostly from the Royal Marines Commandos and carries out a similar role to the Army's SAS, but, traditionally, with more of a focus on amphibious operations. 2 of the SBS's 4 squadrons, C and X, are configured for general operations. Z squadron specialises in the use of minisubs and small boats and M squadron specialises in Maritime Counter Terrorism. X squadron was created in 2005 in order to boost the manpower available to the SBS.

The Special Reconnaissance Regimemt

One of the UK's newer Special Forces units, the SRR was created in 2005. The SRR is an army unit who's role is to carry out reconnaissance and surveillance operations, often in support of SAS/SBS direct action missions.

18 (UKSF) Signals

The various elements with 18(UKSF) Signals provide communications and signals intelligence support to other UKSF units. 18 (UKSF) complements the Special Reconnaissance Regiment's 'eyes on' role by adding electronic and signals intelligence to the intelligence picture.

Special Forces Support Group

Created in 2005, the SFSG provides direct specialised infantry support to the SAS/SBS in the form of acting as a quick reaction force (QRF), forming a security cordon, and carrying out supplementary and diversionary raids. The SFSG is formed by the 1st Battalion, the Parachute regiment with additional troops from the Royal Marines and RAF Regiment.

UKSF and the Global War On Terror

Afghanistan 2001-Present

The SAS and SBS were both active in the initial stages of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Both units engaged the Taliban and Al Qaeda in a series of skirmishes. In more recent years, the SBS have been focused on the Afghanistan theatre of operations and have carried out a series of actions targeting senior Taliban leaders. In September 2007, the SBS rescued several Italian soldiers from kidnappers in a daring helicopter-borne raid. The SBS have been supported in Afghanistan by elements from the SRR, SFSG and 18(UKSF).

Iraq 2003-Present

During the invasion of Iraq, 2003, the SAS were active in the Western Iraqi desert, attacking Iraqi Scud and communications facilities and sweeping suspected WMD sites. In the south, the SBS secured the beaches on the Al Faw peninsula, operated in the desert and worked with MI6 operatives to bring about the fall of the Baath regime in the city of Basra.

Post-invasion Iraq saw the SAS join a joint US-UK task force, named TF-88 (since renamed several times). TF-88 went about going after key elements of the toppled regime, including Saddam and his sons, and, later, key elements of Al Qaeda and the insurgency. The US Commander in Iraq, General Petraeus, recently praised the SAS. "They have helped immensely in the Baghdad area, in particular, to take down the al-Qaeda car bomb networks and other al-Qaeda operations in Iraq's capital city, so they have done a phenomenal job in that regard" he told The Times in August, 2008. The SAS in Iraq are supported by elements from the SRR, SFSG and 18(UKSF) signals. The SRR are also believed to have carried out operations in support of the British presence in the South, especially in Basra.

Tags : Commercial Heaters