Been getting sketchy reports for the past few hours that the SAS have been ‘engaging’ with the Taliban. Not exactly knock-me-down-with-a-feather stuff (presumably been on the ground for a few days) but as details will always be difficult to come by… are any other non-UK news sources releasing information ?
Where did you see this?
According to http://www.bloomberg.com
British ``SAS’’ soldiers clashed with forces from Afghanistan’s Taliban regime late on Friday, though nobody was hurt, the Sunday Times reported, citing an unidentified person close to the SAS.
<<citing an unidentified person close to the SAS>>
Well, I’d hesitate to print that if I were running a news service, unless there were some way I could independently verify the report.
It wouldn’t surprise me if there were boots on the ground already. But why British? Not questioning their commitment–only that every good specwar team deserves a good Quick Reaction Force offshore somewhere as backup, and where is theirs?
Does the UK have a carrier group of their own in the region now, too?
That’s pretty much as ‘confirmed’ as you’ll get unless something particularly bad happens.
Yes, there’s a Brit Carrier Group of 17-18 ships plus support vessels, total 22,000 men in, and off, the coast of Oman.
Although they presumably went in via UK>Russia>Uzbekistan/Tajikistan > Northern Afghan Alliance.
Why the SAS ? - Colin Powell has fond memories of their ‘ways’ from the Gulf War. Plus, it’s difficult to say “No”
Thanks for the link, China Guy
London_Calling:
I knew you Brits were cool. (I don’t care what my militant Ulster bagpipe playin’ fiddle-fingerin’ Irish friends say about yas between tunes at the seisun)
What is the premier Royal Navy carrier plane? Is it still the Harrier?
Anybody know how far the Harrier can operate with a combat load?
Anyway, here’s to the U.K. Thanks, guys.
<clink>
Cheers!
<gulp>BBC is saying it was a recon unit outside Kabul. Most importantly: “No casualties” Lets hope.
panzermanpanzerman - I’m not very good on the military details but the Aircraft Carrier is HMS Illustrious (with Harriers), the Helicopter Carrier is HMS Ocean
It’s obviously the first major ‘war’ since the Internet took serious hold so the management of information by Governments will be an interesting dimension.
The carrier out there has a mixed load of Royal Navy FRS.1 Sea Harriers (fighters) and RAF GR.7 Harriers (ground attack). I think there’s only half-a-dozen of each, though.
Some operational details about the Harrier can be found at http://www.leconsulting.com/arthurhu/doc/doc923/harrier.txt
The SAS are up there with the best and hopefully can do what’s needed without getting themselves killed.
The SAS are not always thought off in a very good way by some Irish due to some of the things they have been ordered to do (Gibraltar springs to mind). Only a fool however would not respect them for their abilities and courage.
[Aside] L_C or anybody else, have you ever read The Feathermen by Sir by Ranulph Fiennes? I don’t know what to make of that book. Fact or Fiction? I was thinking of starting a thread about it for a while but I don’t think too many posters on this site would have read it. Don’t want to hijack your thread but this has made me think about it again.[/aside]
by Sir by Ranulph Fiennes :rolleyes:
<Aside>
No, I haven’t read it Yojimbo. You know, I’ve often thought of Fiennes as being a bit of an odd egg – possibly with a small dose of the Jeffrey Archer’s (fantasist cum self-publicist). Not really firmed up a view, though.
Was it the premise of the book you found to be curious ?
</Aside>
The book describes the assasination of ex-SAS men. The 2nd reveiw in the Amazon link describes it better than I could.
Fiennes puts himself in the story and reports it to be a true story. If true it’s incredible, the book isn’t very well written but the assasinations are amzingly clever (the deaths of the ex-SAS men have to look like accidents). If not he out Archers Archer IMO. I 100% agree with your description of the man BTW.
E-mail me your addess if you want and I’ll send you my copy of the book. You can make your own mind up. It worth reading just for the clever assasinations alone.
Hijack over.
Why not the best? The French and Americans may disagree who’s best and toughest, but the SAS is awful damned good.
Here’s an article that says it was a four man recon that drew fire and withdrew without injury.
And yojimbo, I’ve read and wondered about that book, as well. It’s presented as fact, but it’s an incredible tale.
Thanks beatle. The BBC stuff started to come online around lunchtime today but, as you’d expect, there are few facts and a lot of padding.
I was quite interested in the non-UK reporting but there’s not much of it around, it seems. I’d imagine, at this point, it all traces back to one, maybe two, sources anyway.
One imagines things will be warming up for the recon teams not spotted by the locals. I just hope they keep their bloody heads down.
Thanks all.
There were (and still are) British Forces on exercise in the Middle East at the time of the attack on the WTC - my mate is one of them.
The SAS would have been on their way out to Afghanistan within 24 hours of the the attack - they don’t wait to be asked these days! They were on their way out to South Georgia and the Falklands before anyone was really sure what was happening. (Sir Peter de la Billiere’s book on his service with them tells the full story - it’s worth a read.) Once in situ they let people know they are available!
Why the SAS? Because, they have a history of Middle East operations going back long before the Gulf War, although their actions there alone would be sufficient to justify the question. They are widely recognised to be the best in the world at what they do.
I’ve read Feather Men too. I found it possible, but only just. It is more likely to be a work of fiction, but who knows?
Check out Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab. Story of his SAS unit behind the lines in Iraq during desert storm. A riviting book.
Jeez, this is ‘got your back’ with a vengeance (I hope).
God bless the UK.
The SAS were present in Afghanistan from as early as 1980, training the Mujaheddin during the war against the former Soviet Union.
They have 4 squadrons with a total fighting strength of 200, plus about 500 back-up signals, helicopter crews and other support units.