Osprey Men-at-Arms 116 : The Special Air Service

Since its birth at Kabrti in 1941, the Special Air Service has consistently captured the imagination of the military and public alike by the daring and unconventional nature of its operations. Over a period of 40 years the SAS has found itself in many different theatres of operation, fulfilling many different roles. Like every other special military force throughout the world, it has been charged with being an 'army within an army', on the grounds of its methods of selection and training and its diversity of skills. The very evident need for such a force would seem to be a complete answer for this charge. Though its personnel have normally been drawn initially from other units, an SAS regiment has its own distinctive traditions, dress, methods and equipment. The nature of the tasks and the methods peculiar to the SAS have made it difficult to standardise items of equipment. Apart from issues common to the British Army as a whole, SAS personnel have need of, and access to, various specialised 'pieces of kit', often SAS innovations created to meet specific needs. James G. Shortt investigates the organisation, tactics, equipment and remarkable history of Britain's elite fighting force in a text illustrated throughout, including eight full page colour plates by Angus McBride.

Contents

• Introduction
• Origins
• From Regiment to Brigade
• The Post-War SAS
• 22nd SAS Regiment
• The Fight Against Terrorism
• RM Special Boat Squadron
• Foreign SAS Units
• The Plates