[ad_1]
The British Army has 3 Special Air Service regiments, the regular 22 SAS, and 2 reserves / territorial units, 21 and 23 SAS. This article focuses on 22 SAS.
Special Air Service Organization
The 22nd Special Air Service regiment is one of the world's most restructured and respected special forces units. It comprises of 4 'Saber' squadrons (A, B, D and G) which are themselves made up of 4 Troops (Air, Mobility, Mountain and Boat) of 16 men. Each Troop specializes in a different method of insertion and infiltration as indicated by their name. Each squadron also has a headquarters element.
Other elements within 22 SAS include a Operations Research Cell which develops new techniques and equipment and a Training Wing which handles selection and training for the regiment.
Roles of the Special Air Service
22 SAS is perhaps best known for its counter-terrorism (CT) role. The British public first heard of the Regiment when, live on television, B Squadron brought a siege of the Iranian Embassy in London to a dramatic end in 1980. Each squadron within 22 SAS six-months on CT duty, on permanent pending to respond to terrorism incidents at home or abroad.
Aside from CT, 22 SAS's roles include special reconnaissance, direct action and close protection (body guarding). The 22nd Special Air Service is recognized around the world as experts in their field. Foreign powers regularly request SAS instructors to improve their own forces. The UK government is often keen to exploit the SAS's reputation, using it as a bargaining chip in international relations. A recent controversial example of such is the training of Libyan special forces by the SAS which came to light in September 2009.
Recent Special Air Service Operations
22 SAS has been active in the global war on terrorism since late 2001.
Afghanistan
22 SAS was deployed to Afghanistan in the early stages of the war. The Regiment carried out a number of initial reconnaissance operations which included carrying out battle damage assessment following US air strikes. In November 2001, 2 SAS Squadrons attacked and neutralized a Taliban / Al Qaeda opium factory in Southern Afghanistan.
Iraq
22 SAS transported out a series of reconnaissance and direct action missions during the allied invasion of Iraq in 2003. After the fall of Saddam's rule, 22 SAS committed a squadron-sized element to the British-controlled city of Basra in the south. Another squadron was integrated into a Combine Joint Special Operations Task Force based in Baghdad. This task force, which has gone through a number of monikers such as Task Force 88 and Task Force 145, was a mix of US and UK Special Operations Forces. The SAS element was known as 'Task Force Black.' During its period of operation, Task Force Black was responsible for a number of successful operations against Al Qaeda and the urgency. These include rescuing British peace activist Norman Kember from kidnappers and neutralizing suicide bombers and Al Qaeda leaders. US General David Petraeus, the then head of US forces in Iraq, praised the SAS's role in the country, saying: "They have helped immensely in Baghdad … they have done a phenomenal job."
It has been reported that the SAS is no longer active in Iraq, having switched focus to Afghanistan, where it has joined the Special Boat Service (SBS) in it's ingoing fight against the Taliban.
[ad_2]
Source by David Alsop