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| SAS Regiment (United Kingdom) | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | SAS Regiment |
| Native name | Special Air Service Regiment |
| Caption | Regimental badge |
| Dates | 1941–present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Special forces |
| Role | Special operations |
| Size | Classified |
| Command structure | United Kingdom Special Forces |
| Garrison | Stirling Lines |
| Nickname | The Regiment |
| Motto | Who Dares Wins |
SAS Regiment (United Kingdom) is the principal special forces unit of the British Army, formed during the Second World War and evolved through the Cold War, Falklands, Gulf and War in Afghanistan eras into a modern expeditionary regiment. It has been associated with operations involving the British Army, Special Air Service (United Kingdom), United Kingdom Special Forces, SAS Regiment (United Kingdom) predecessors and successors across multiple theatres. The regiment’s history, organisation, roles, selection, equipment, notable deployments and culture intersect with institutions such as MI6, Special Reconnaissance Regiment, Royal Marines, Parachute Regiment and multinational partners like United States Army Special Forces, Sayeret Matkal, GIGN.
The origins trace to the wartime formation under David Stirling in 1941 and operations in the Western Desert Campaign, linking to figures such as Archibald Wavell and campaigns like the Siege of Tobruk and Operation Crusader. Postwar reconstitution connected to Malaya Emergency counter-insurgency and the Aden Emergency, influencing doctrine alongside contemporaries such as Long Range Desert Group and Special Boat Service. The regiment’s evolution during the Cold War included deployments in relation to NATO commitments, interactions with MI5 and coordination with Special Air Service (Regiment)-adjacent units. The 1982 Falklands War saw collaboration with units including Royal Marines Commandos and involvement in operations tied to battles such as Battle of Mount Tumbledown and Battle of Goose Green. Later commitments in the 1991 Gulf War, the 2001 War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and the 2003 Iraq War reflected shifts in counter-terrorism policy influenced by legislation like the Terrorism Act 2000 and strategic guidance from the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). Interactions with allied forces—United States Central Command, NATO partners, and intelligence services such as CIA—have been recurrent.
The regiment is organised into squadrons and support elements under United Kingdom Special Forces, sharing command relationships with units such as the Special Reconnaissance Regiment and Special Boat Service. Sub-units mirror traditional cavalry structure with A, B, D, G squadrons and reserve components linked to the Army Reserve. Headquarters elements are located at Stirling Lines with liaison into higher formations including Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing and coordination with the Intelligence Corps. Training and sustainment link to establishments like the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and logistics networks involving the Royal Logistic Corps.
The regiment conducts counter-terrorism, direct action, special reconnaissance, hostage rescue and support to Foreign and Commonwealth Office objectives. It undertakes operations from strategic interdiction in coordination with RAF Regiment assets to close-target assault with air support from the Royal Air Force and rotary-wing platforms of Fleet Air Arm. Mission types include sabotage, surveillance for diplomatic missions such as those at British Embassy, Baghdad-era operations, and partnership training with forces like Afghan National Army and Iraqi Security Forces. Legal and policy frameworks influencing missions involve institutions such as the Attorney General for England and Wales and parliamentary oversight via the Defence Select Committee.
Prospective candidates undergo rigorous selection processes influenced by earlier models from Long Range Desert Group and overseen by senior officers linked to the Adjutant General's Corps. Initial selection includes endurance marches and navigation elements similar to airborne selection standards seen in the Parachute Regiment, followed by a jungle phase reflecting techniques from the Malayan Emergency experience and an advanced phase incorporating close-quarters battle and urban tactics inspired by lessons from Battle of Mogadishu (1993). Training pipelines involve live-fire ranges, survival courses, language training coordinated with HM Diplomatic Service and medical training aligned with Royal Army Medical Corps.
Small arms and support weapons used by the regiment have included variants of the L85A2, Heckler & Koch MP5, FN SCAR, and precision rifles such as the L115A3 rifle. Support equipment spans night vision from manufacturers adopted by British Army units, small unmanned aerial systems used in reconnaissance alongside platforms used by Royal Air Force, explosive ordnance disposal gear akin to that used by the Royal Engineers, and communications suites interoperable with NATO standards. Vehicles include modified Land Rover and Jackal platforms comparable to those used by other British formations, and insertion options extend to fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets like C-130 Hercules and Chinook.
Noteworthy operations encompass WWII desert raids like early Operation Squatter-era actions, counter-insurgency in Malaya Emergency, the Iranian Embassy siege consequences for UK counter-terrorism doctrine, covert action elements during the Cold War and high-profile missions in the Falklands War, Gulf War (1991), Bosnian War, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and Iraq War. The regiment’s activities have intersected with multinational operations under UNPROFOR, Operation Granby, Operation Telic and Operation Herrick, frequently coordinating with units from United States Special Operations Command, Canadian Special Operations Regiment, Australian SAS Regiment, and European special forces such as French DGSE-linked elements.
The regiment’s cap badge and motto "Who Dares Wins" date to founders like David Stirling and are entwined with regimental traditions observed alongside ceremonial links to establishments such as Sandhurst and remembrance practices involving the Royal British Legion. Customs include use of beret colours, squadron insignia, and battle honours commemorated in regimental museums and memorials connected to locations like Hereford and Winchester. Esprit de corps draws on literary and media portrayals in works relating to figures such as Iain Duncan Smith-era policy debates and cultural depictions in films and books that reference the regiment’s historical operations.
Category:Special Air Service Category:United Kingdom Special Forces