SAS SBS Special Forces, UK

Special Boat Service (SBS) : "Not By Strength, By Guile"

Unit Information
Location: Poole, Dorset, UK

Main role: maritime special operations unit, specialising in reconnaissance , observation, underwater sabotage and beach, reconnaissance.

Other roles: maritime counter-terrorist unit; general-purpose special operations unit.

The Special Boat Service is the special operations unit of the Royal Marines. It works closely with the SAS, having started from the same Commando unit in World War 2. Today with the SAS it is one of Britain's elite Special Forces Groups. It operates all over the world in its amphibious warfare role, as well as performing many other tasks like intelligence work in Norten Ireland. SBS stands for Special Boat Squadron.

Active service: Borneo, Oman, Falklands, Iraq/Kuwait.

Special Air Service: "who dares wins"

Unit Info
Location : Hereford, UK

Main role: Special Operations Unit, specialising in reconnaissance, observation, sabotage and a counter-terrorist role.

Other roles: Act as a support unit for the SBS just in case things go wrong.

The Special Air Service is the Special operations unit of the British Army. It started out from an idea by David Stirling during World War 2. It operates all over the world in many roles.

Active service: Malaya, Borneo, Aden, Oman, Ireland, Falklands, Iraq.

SAS / SBS History Dates

1941: SBS carries out its first raid. David Stirling was given permission to raise the SAS. SAS carries out its first raid.
1943: David Stirling becomes a POW to the Germans. A second SAS Regiment is formed by the founders brother William Stirling.
1945: Both SAS Regiments were disbanded.
1947: 21 SAS (TA) was formed.
1950: 2 SBS was formed.
1952: SAS deploys to Malaya.
1958: the SAS were sent to Oman.
1959: 23 SAS(TA) was formed.
1963: SAS and SBS were sent to Borneo.
1964: a Regiment from the SAS deployed to Aden.
1969: SAS sent to Northern Ireland
1980: Iranian Embassy Siege.
1982: SAS and SBS deploy to the Falklands.
1991: 2 SAS Regiments sent to Iraq.
1994: SAS soldiers were sent to Bosnia

More about SAS and SBS Special Forces: Books