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| Special Boat Service (reserve) | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Special Boat Service (reserve) |
| Dates | 20th century–present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy Reserve |
| Type | Special forces reserve |
| Role | Amphibious reconnaissance, maritime counter-terrorism, direct action |
| Command structure | United Kingdom Special Forces / Royal Navy Reserve |
Special Boat Service (reserve) is the reserve component associated with the United Kingdom's maritime special forces tradition. It operates alongside the regular Special Boat Service and coordinates with United Kingdom Special Forces, Royal Navy Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve, and other specialist units to provide surge capacity for Operation Herrick, Operation Telic, Operation Shader, and other contingency deployments. The unit draws personnel from across HMS Sultan, HMS Raleigh, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Defence Police, and civilian volunteers, maintaining readiness for amphibious reconnaissance, maritime counter-terrorism, and clandestine insertion.
The reserve lineage traces to World War II formations such as the Special Boat Section, the Commandos, and the Royal Marines’ coastal reconnaissance troops that supported Operation Overlord and the Sicilian campaign. Postwar reorganization tied elements to the Special Air Service, Naval Intelligence Division, and the Combined Operations Headquarters before formal reserve structures emerged during the Cold War alongside 1st Special Service Brigade and the Amphibious Warfare School. The Cold War period saw deployments connected to crises like the Suez Crisis and advisory missions in theatres linked to Falklands War logistics, while later operations integrated reserve capabilities into Kosovo War, Iraq War, and War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) taskings. Recent decades focused on interoperability with Special Boat Service, Special Forces Support Group, and NATO partners including units such as Kommando Spezialkräfte, United States Navy SEALs, and GIGN.
The reserve component mirrors regular special forces hierarchies with squadrons and troops aligned to operational specialties similar to C Squadron (SBS), yet retains administrative links to Royal Navy Reserve commands like HMS King Alfred and training establishments such as RM Instow and Commando Training Centre Royal Marines. Command relationships involve coordination with Permanent Joint Headquarters, Directorate of Special Forces, and theater commands like JFHQ, while tactical tasking integrates liaison officers from MI6, Government Communications Headquarters, and Defence Intelligence. Personnel hold dual affiliations with units such as Fleet Air Arm, Submarine Service, and Joint Helicopter Command, enabling cross-posting and augmentation for deployments with 1st SF Brigade-type formations.
Primary missions include amphibious reconnaissance, coastal surveillance, maritime interdiction, and direct action in littoral environments, complementing roles performed by Special Reconnaissance Regiment and SAS. Secondary tasks encompass counter-piracy operations in conjunction with Royal Navy, hostage rescue alongside Maritime Security Centre — Horn of Africa, and support to Civil Nuclear Constabulary or Border Force for maritime security. The reserve provides surge capacity for expeditionary operations such as Operation Atalanta, Operation Kipion, and crisis response in partnership with NATO Maritime Command, EU Naval Force, and bilateral task groups partnering with USSOCOM and JFAC.
Selection leverages elements of the regular SBS selection pipeline, incorporating phases influenced by All Arms Commando Course, the P Company evaluation used by British Army, and maritime-specific modules from Swimmer Canoeist training and Special Boat Service jungle, mountain, and arctic schools. Candidates undergo amphibious navigation, combat diving taught at establishments like Diving School, Portland and Diving and Threat Training Facility, demolition instruction referencing techniques from Royal School of Military Engineering, and urban close-quarters battle derived from Close Protection Unit doctrines. Interoperability exercises occur with international partners including Canadian Forces' JTF2, Australian SASR, and Special Operations Command South.
Equipment ranges from personal kit standardized with Ministry of Defence Police and Royal Marines issue—assault rifles such as L85A2, carbines like SIG MCX, submachine guns including HK MP5, and precision rifles akin to L115A3—to maritime craft including rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs), Combatant Craft Medium-style platforms, and midget craft derived from designs used by Special Boat Service and United States Navy Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen. Support assets include fast interception craft, small submarines and swimmer delivery vehicles similar to Chariot (midget submarine), and airborne insertion via helicopters like Westland Lynx, Merlin, and tiltrotor concepts paralleling Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey trials. Communications, surveillance, and targeting suites interface with systems fielded by Defence SIGINT and Cyber and sensors comparable to those used by Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
Reserve elements have augmented regular forces during operations in the Falklands War logistical aftermath, the Gulf War (1990–1991), peacekeeping in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and high-intensity operations during Iraq War and War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). They provided maritime security contributions to counter-piracy missions off Somalia during Operation Atalanta and supported counter-terrorism taskings in the Mediterranean Sea and Strait of Hormuz. Exercises and assistance missions include interoperability drills with NATO Standing Maritime Group, training missions in Estonia and Kenya, and domestic resilience operations coordinated with Police Service of Northern Ireland and British Transport Police.
Insignia draw on maritime special forces heraldry shared across Special Boat Service culture, with traditions influenced by Royal Navy badges, Royal Marines commando insignia, and historical emblems from the Special Boat Section. Ceremonial links exist with institutions like Wellington Barracks, Horse Guards Parade, and annual commemorations honoring actions tied to No. 1 Commando and Small Scale Raiding Force. Reserve integration emphasizes retention of civilian occupational skills valued by Ministry of Defence talent management and links to charities such as Help for Heroes and Royal British Legion for veteran support.