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Special Air Service

Not to be confused with Australian Special Air Service Regiment, Canadian Special Air Service Company, New Zealand Special Air Service, or Rhodesian Special Air Service.

Special Air Service
Special Air Service insignia
Active1941–1945
1947–present[1][2][3]
CountryUnited Kingdom
BranchBritish Army
TypeSpecial forces
RoleSpecial operations
Counter-terrorism
SizeThree regiments[nb 1]
Part ofUnited Kingdom Special Forces
Garrison/HQRHQ: Stirling Lines, Herefordshire, England
21 SAS: Regent's Park Barracks, London, England[4]
22 SAS: Stirling Lines, Herefordshire, England[4]
23 SAS: Birmingham, West Midlands, England[4]
Nickname(s)"The Regiment"[7]
Motto(s)"Who Dares Wins"[8]
ColoursPompadour blue[8]  
MarchQuick: "Marche des Parachutistes Belges"[8]
Slow: "Lili Marlene"[8]
EngagementsList of SAS operations
Commanders
Colonel-CommandantField Marshal The Lord Guthrie[9]
Notable
commanders		General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith

The Special Air Service (SAS) is a special forces unit of the British Army. It was founded as a regiment in 1941 by David Stirling, and in 1950 it was reconstituted as a corps.[5] The unit specialises in a number of roles including counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, direct action and special reconnaissance. Much of the information about the SAS is highly classified, and the unit is not commented on by either the British government or the Ministry of Defence due to the secrecy and sensitivity of its operations.[10][11][12]

The corps currently consists of the 22 Special Air Service Regiment, which is the regular component, as well as the 21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve) and the 23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve), which are reserve units, all under the operational command of United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF). Its sister unit is the Royal Navy's Special Boat Service, which specialises in maritime counter-terrorism. Both units are under the operational control of the Director Special Forces.

The Special Air Service traces its origins to 1941 and the Second World War. It was reformed as part of the Territorial Army in 1947, named the 21st Special Air Service Regiment (Artists Rifles). The 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, which is part of the regular army, gained fame and recognition worldwide after its televised rescue of all but two of the hostages held during the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege.[13]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference m22 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference sb16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference sb18 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d Rayment, Sean (28 December 2003). "Overstretched SAS calls up part-time troops for Afghanistan". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Brief history of the regiment". Special Air Service Association. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference dasa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Ryan, p. 216
  8. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference g150 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Moreton, Cole (11 November 2007). "Lord Guthrie: 'Tony's General' turns defence into an attack". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 28 August 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  10. ^ "Prime Ministers Questions, Special Forces". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  11. ^ "Special Forces". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  12. ^ "The UK can't stay 'mum' over Russian bombing of Special Forces base in Syria". DefenceReport. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  13. ^ Thompson, p. 8


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