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==Special Air Service==

==Special Air Service==

The Special Air Service (SAS) was the original special forces group in modern military thinking. They were formed in the Western Desert of North Africa during WW2 by Colonel David Stirling - a Scots Guards officer. Stirling believed that a raiding group could operate successfully behind enemy lines and greatly disrupt enemy forces. The initial missions were unsuccessful due to extreme weather events and location errors, however, when the SAS joined with the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) the mission success rate improved significantly. Following the British victory in North Africa the SAS were re-deployed in Europe where they harassed and sabotaged the German and Italian war effort until the end of the war.

The Special Air Service (SAS) was the original special forces group in modern military thinking. They were formed in the Western Desert of North Africa during WW2 by Colonel David Stirling - a Scots Guards officer. Stirling believed that a raiding group could operate successfully behind enemy lines and greatly disrupt enemy forces. The initial missions were unsuccessful due to extreme weather events and location errors, however, when the SAS joined with the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) the mission success rate improved significantly. Following the British victory in [[North Africa]], the SAS were re-deployed in Europe where they harassed and sabotaged the German and Italian war effort until the end of the war.

Following the end of the war, the SAS was disbanded. The decreasing security situation in Malaysia and Indonesia, Yemen, Oman and other locations around the world forced the UK military to reform the SAS. They quickly became integral to preventing the march of communism in various parts of the world.

Following the end of the war, the SAS was disbanded. The decreasing security situation in Malaysia and Indonesia, Yemen, Oman and other locations around the world forced the UK military to reform the SAS. They quickly became integral to preventing the march of [[communism]] in various parts of the world.

The SAS really came to public view in the 1980 Princes Gate Embassy siege in London. The Iranian Embassy was taken over by a group of "freedom fighters" and over 20 hostages were taken. After several days of negotiations and the eventual murder of an Embassy staff member, the SAS were deployed to liberate the embassy (Operation Nimrod). They successfully assaulted the building, neutralized the threat from terrorists and released the hostages. Though the site was cordoned off the whole raid was filmed and ran live on UK television. The fantasy career of many British school boys was created at that moment!

The SAS really came to public view in the 1980 Princes Gate Embassy siege in London. The Iranian Embassy was taken over by a group of "freedom fighters" and over 20 hostages were taken. After several days of negotiations and the eventual murder of an Embassy staff member, the SAS were deployed to liberate the embassy (Operation Nimrod). They successfully assaulted the building, neutralized the threat from terrorists and released the hostages. Though the site was cordoned off the whole raid was filmed and ran live on UK television. The fantasy career of many British school boys was created at that moment!

The SAS has fought in many locations since then including the; Falklands Campaign, South American drug wars, African Bush wars, the Cold War, Iraq 1 and 2, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Somali, Yemen and various other exotic and secret locations.  

The SAS has fought in many locations since then including the; Falklands Campaign, South American drug wars, African Bush wars, the [[Cold War]], Iraq 1 and 2, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Somali, Yemen and various other exotic and secret locations.  

The selection process to join the SAS is regarded as one of the most challenging training regimes a soldier can take. The majority of SAS troopers come from the Parachute Regiment (similar to the US Rangers)which demonstrates, given there is only a 10 - 15% pass rate during selection, the severity of selection. The early stages include a "Hill Phase" which includes several days of relentless individual hill and navigation exercises over increasingly long distances, in strict time limits whilst carrying increasing weight.

The selection process to join the SAS is regarded as one of the most challenging training regimes a soldier can take. The majority of SAS troopers come from the Parachute Regiment (similar to the US Rangers) which demonstrates, given there is only a 10–15% pass rate during selection, the severity of selection. The early stages include a "Hill Phase" which includes several days of relentless individual hill and navigation exercises over increasingly long distances, in strict time limits whilst carrying increasing weight.

The SAS were the model used during the development of Australian SAS, NZ SAS, Delta Force, The Green Berets, Israeli Special Forces and many other groups worldwide.

The SAS was the model used during the development of Australian SAS, NZ SAS, Delta Force, The Green Berets, Israeli Special Forces and many other groups worldwide.

==Special Boat Service==

==Special Boat Service==