# What does the SAS do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720 "2001-09-25T16:32:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/1 "2001-09-25T16:32:21Z")
What does the SAS do? What does SAS mean? ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/2 "2001-09-25T16:39:01Z")
The Airline? The statistics package? Surfers against sewage? The hotel company? ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/3 "2001-09-25T16:43:04Z")
I think he means the Special Air Service of the British military. They’re the British equivalent the US Special Forces groups such as the Army Rangers and Navy SEALS. I believe the Brits came up with the whole special forces idea first if memory serves… ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/4 "2001-09-25T16:50:55Z")
I’m assuming you mean the military group here…there are actually a lot of people and organizations that use SAS in their titles. SAS stands for Special Air Service and is one of Britain’s preeminent special forces unit (the British also have the Pathfinders, 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery, Special Boat Squadrons and a Commando Helicopter Force in their bag of tricks). When you think of the SAS think of the US Navy SEALs or Delta Force and you have the same idea (SAS is an army unit…not air force BTW). The SAS is every bit as good as our special forces units as well…very serious and mean mofos (as far as the enemy is concerned) who I am very happy to have on our side. These guys are generally not meant for direct contact with the enemy (which isn’t to say that they can’t kick ass when necessary). They are too valuable to waste in straightforward firefights (which is the case with most special forces units…like a football team has special teams for field goals and the like who aren’t meant to operate as defensive linemen). The SAS is meant to work behind enemy lines and disrupt enemy operations. Hit and run tactics on supply lines and other infrastructure. They can also be used for intelligence work deep behind enemy lines. ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/5 "2001-09-25T16:57:59Z")
> [@](#): > > The SAS is every bit as good as our special forces units as well the SAS is the best in the world mate. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/6 "2001-09-25T17:05:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by furryman \* > \*\*What does the SAS do? \*\* They could tell you, but then they’d have to kill you. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/7 "2001-09-25T17:12:14Z")
I was sooo hoping it was _Surfers against sewage_. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/8 "2001-09-25T17:15:46Z")
Im an American and would have to reluctantly agree with Niobium Knight on the SAS. They win my vote for commando’s I’d least like to get in a bar fight with let alone a black op’s tangle. Nothing like constant terrorist attacks and war’s fought on home soil to hone fighting skills. I might be wrong on this but having read Andy McNab’s acount in Bravo Two-Zero of his operations behind enemy lines in Iraq leads me to believe that the men of the SAS are extremely well trained scrappin’ soccer hooligans. And I mean that in the best way. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/9 "2001-09-25T17:26:47Z")
You could also argue that the best special forces are those you’ve never heard of… ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/10 "2001-09-25T17:35:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Niobium Knight \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > The SAS is every bit as good as our special forces units as well > > the SAS is the best in the world mate. \*\* I don’t begrudge you your bias. The SAS can certainly be argued for the best of the best. However, when you get to that level competition between (say) the SAS and the US SEALs victory might hinge on who ate beans the night before and has a bit of gas throwing off his aim. All of these guys are trained to the bleeding edge and I don’t think you’d want to be on the other side facing any of these guys. I will, however, give the Brits bonus points for coming up with the whole special forces concept in the first place (as Kilt-wearin’ man already pointed out). The SAS was initially created to disrupt supply lines of Rommel’s Afrika Corp in WWII and AFAIK were the first such unit of their kind. For the best of the best I think you also need to include the Israeli Sayeret Mat’kal (or General Staff Recon also nicknamed “The Unit”). The Israelis are VERY good at this sort of thing as well and their troops probably have more practical experience in the field than the SAS and SEALs do combined (post WWII). Their (probably) best know action that they admit to and that you may remember was the rescue of 100+ passengers at the Entebbe airport in Uganda back in the mid 70’s. I’d bet money that every SAS and SEAL trooper has studied that as a nearly textbook example of special forces action (I say nearly because it wasn’t 100% perfect but as close as one could ever expect in situations like that). ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/11 "2001-09-25T17:41:30Z")
The Special Air Service consists of one Regular Army regiment: 22 SAS Regiment, based at Hereford near the Welsh border. Two Territorial Army (reserve) regiments – 21 SAS Regiment, based in London and 23 SAS Regiment, based in Birmingham – and 63 SAS Signals Squadron (TA) form the remainder of the force. Primary roles are reconnaissance, demolition, sabotage, counter-terrorism (overt or covert) and battlefield interdiction. The SAS were originally formed by Captain David Stirling in World War II as a hit-and-run organisation to disrupt Rommel’s supply lines and airfields. Since then the SAS have been involved in action in Oman, Aden, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam (unofficially), Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands, in London ending the Iranian embassy siege of 1980, the Gulf War, in Peterhead (Scotland) ending a prison riot, Gibraltar, Ethiopia, Gambia, Afghanistan, Bosnia/Kosovo, South America, Zaire and Albania. Each regiment of around 700 men contains several research, training and anti-terrorism sub-units, plus the main ‘force’: 4-6 squadrons (including two squadrons of reservists) of troopers. Each squadron contains four 15-man troops: Mountain, Mobility, Boat and Air. The Mountain Troop obviously specialises in mountain warfare and survival (training in Wales and Norway). The Air Troop specialises in behind-the-lines airborne infiltration. The Boat Troop specialises in diving, kayaking, submarine insertion and underwater demolition. Lastly, the Mobility Troop specialises in vehicular assault, mostly using Land Rover 90s and 110s known as ‘Pink Panthers’ (armed with .50-cal MGs, twin 7.62mm GPMGs, Milan anti-tank missiles or 40mm grenade launchers). They are also trained to use the two-man Light Strike Vehicle ‘dune buggy’ with machine-guns and grenade launchers, and 250cc and 350cc airportable motorbikes. The Special Boat Squadron – not Service – (SBS) is the sister organisation to the SAS, originally part of the Royal Marines. Their main mission is beach reconnaissance, demolition and sabotage up to 12 miles inland, with the SAS taking over from that point. I think it has three squadrons: C, specialising in canoe operations, M, specialising in shipboard anti-terrorist operations, and S, specialising in minisub insertions. M Squadron also includes the ‘Black Group’, a heliborne counter-terrorist unit. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/12 "2001-09-25T17:50:59Z")
Their ideology: “The SAS business concept is to serve the Scandinavian market and provide a wide choice of market-leading airline-based travel products, with special emphasis on business travel.” You can even buy tickets [online.](http://www.scandinavian.net/) (Oh, quit kicking me. My father works for SAS; when I first learned about the British SAS I thought Scandinavian Airlines was really a front for special forces. C’mon, I was eight at the time.) ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/13 "2001-09-25T17:52:41Z")
Knowing SEALS and SAS men personally, I’d be _very_ reluctant to call one group “superior” to the other. Each group has a specific mission, which has some overlap with other Special Forces missions, but are still not identical. Individually, there’s no picking between the forces. They’re all tough, confident, well-trained, and lethal. Special Force units are picked for specific missions, because that’s what their speciallist training is for. Mis-used, or given inappropriate missions, you’ve got a problem. Witness the “airfield” incident in Panama, where an unusually large detatchment of SEALS were sent on a mission that properly belonged to Rangers or a similar force. They gave good account of themselves, but were out of their element (inappropriate mission) and suffered high casulaties. Every Special Force claims to be the best in the world, and collectively, they are. Individually, it’d be hard to decide. This [site](http://www.specwarnet.com/sf.htm) might be of interest. ---
**Author:** ![Sea\_Sorbust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Sea\_Sorbust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sea_Sorbust)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/14 "2001-09-25T18:23:50Z")
Once upon a time, 50-60 years ago, the SAS or one of its predecessors, was in the business of assassinating American 4-star Generals. They did, I must say, a right good job of it, too. That, of course, was several British governments ago. ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/15 "2001-09-25T18:38:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sea Sorbust \* > \*\*Once upon a time, 50-60 years ago, the SAS or one of its predecessors, was in the business of assassinating American 4-star Generals. They did, I must say, a right good job of it, too. > > That, of course, was several British governments ago. \*\* I hate to sound like an idiot, but what exactly does this mean? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/16 "2001-09-25T18:47:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pipeliner \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Sea Sorbust \* > > \*\*Once upon a time, 50-60 years ago, the SAS or one of its predecessors, was in the business of assassinating American 4-star Generals. They did, I must say, a right good job of it, too. > > > > That, of course, was several British governments ago. \*\* > > I hate to sound like an idiot, but what exactly does this mean? \*\* This kind of stuff should not be posted on a message board dededicated to fighting ignorance. Are you seriously saying that the British assasinated US Generals during World War II :rolleyes: You better be coming up with some heavy cites, maps, photos, and memos for this one. ---
**Author:** ![Sea\_Sorbust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Sea\_Sorbust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sea_Sorbust)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/17 "2001-09-25T18:47:58Z")
Feel safe, **Pipeliner** , that no one will think that you’re an idiot; that distinction will be almost-uniformly reserved for me. The post means just what it says. Most-every nation-state has/had elements with one of their duties being assassination. Usually such elements were in their police forces (as in the Cheka/MVD/KGB) but sometimes located in their military forces. It’s all just a part of life “in the big picture”. ---
**Author:** ![Tymp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Tymp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tymp)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/18 "2001-09-25T19:01:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sea Sorbust \* > \*\*Once upon a time, 50-60 years ago, the SAS or one of its predecessors, was in the business of assassinating American 4-star Generals. They did, I must say, a right good job of it, too. > > That, of course, was several British governments ago. \*\* Do you have a creditable source to cite … or did you make up this lie just now? ---
**Author:** ![Sea\_Sorbust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Sea\_Sorbust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sea_Sorbust)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/19 "2001-09-25T19:03:26Z")
Ah, you see, **Pipeliner**. I was almost right but fortunately someone else presented themselves as the target for being called an “idiot”, thus sparing me the immediate effect. 🙂 Firstly, I do not see where I said any of what you would like to impute that I said, Shagnasty. Cites? Such things are classified for VERY long periods of time. The rumors or a British doctor poisoning N. B. are still that, rumors. Those of the fortuitous “bleeding” by a “Tory” doctor which ended Gen. G. Washington’s life have never even been esculated to the level of a formal rumor—at least so far as I know. The only usable criteria is the rule of “How convenient!” or “What excellent timing for so-and-so to die.” Of course, it is true that every now and then someone **does** actually die at a time which is very good for some government; but the _likelihood_ of that happening is… I, in fact, was merely making a comment in response to the OP. Do you have a better candidate than the (more exactly: “a predecessor to the”) SAS to serve the British Imperial government as its assassination team? (The predecessor to both our CIA and Army Special Forces was called the “Office of Strategic Services”: Can get get more innane of a title?) ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/20 "2001-09-25T19:06:40Z")
So are we talking a mysterious ‘assassination service’ that has nothing to do with the World War II and after SAS? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720.md?page=2)