TERRITORIAL ARMY SAS

This information provided courtesy of Mr. Ryan Wulfsohn. Copyright 2000 Special Operations.Com

Unit Profile

History

Organisation and Equipment

Recruiting and Training

L Detachment and R Troop

Unit Profile

The Territorial Army is the British Army's organized reserve, as opposed to the Regular Reserve, which provides individual members to regular units. The TA SAS dates from just after the Second World War and was originally conceived as a way of keeping the SAS concept alive after the original units were disbanded. Today the members of the primary TA units, 21 and 23 SAS, specialize in the area of long range patrols. In wartime their role is to provide LRP support to the UK's Joint Rapid Deployment Force (JRDF) or the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC).

History

After 1^st and 2^nd SAS Regiments were disbanded in 1945, a campaign began to resurrect the SAS capabilities within the British Army. This was led by Lieutenant Colonel Brian Franks, a wartime commander of 2 SAS. A TA officer now returned to his job in the hotel industry, he was determined that the skills of the many SAS men now in civilian life should not go to waste. Through the Regimental Association which he helped establish Franks petitioned the War Office for the establishment of a reserve SAS unit. Eventually a compromise was reached and the SAS role was given to an old TA infantry battalion, the Artists' Rifles, which had served as an Officer Cadet Training Unit in the war. The new unit was to be called 21^st Special Air Service Regiment (Artists') and recruiting began in September 1947, initially mainly in London. Franks was the first Commanding Officer and remained such until 1950. At first the Artists' capbadge was worn on a maroon beret with the SAS badge relegated to a shoulder flash, but soon the " Winged Dagger " was back. Also in 1950 came an active role for the reservists in the jungles of Malaya. The growing Chinese communist-inspired insurgency there had led to the establishment of the Malayan Scouts (SAS), commanded by Mike Calvert, who had much experience in guerilla work behind Japanese lines in Burma and had been the last SAS brigadier. Since he had only one squadron, he requested a squadron from the reserve as reinforcements. Volunteers from 21 SAS and other ex-SAS reservists came together to form B Squadron of the Malayan Scouts, under Major Anthony Greville-Bell, a wartime 2 SAS squadron commander. After a quick course in jungle warfare B Squadron was deep in the " poxy green hell " looking for the elusive " Communist Terrorists " or CTs. Being parachute-trained members of the squadron were among the first to engage in " tree-jumping ", this in the days before troop-carrying helicopters were available. Soon the emphasis switched from large-scale operations to small patrols spending two or three months in the remote interior, often living among the aboriginal people and winning the battle for hearts and minds which was so important in a war like this. Without the support of the aboriginal tribes the Chinese guerillas were soon on the defensive. Most of the original members of B Squadron returned to 21 SAS after two or three years back in the regular army, being replaced by regular soldiers who had passed the new SAS selection course. By this time the Malayan Scouts had been renamed 22^nd Special Air Service Regiment.

Franks was replaced as CO by Charles Newman, VC, an architect who who had led No.2 Commando on the famous St. Nazaire raid in 1942. He in turn was succeeded by men with much experience in special operations. Jock Lapraik had served with the Middle East Commandos and the Special Boat Squadron/Service, while David Sutherland went from Layforce to the original Special Boat Section to command of the Special Boat Service by the end of the war. In 1957, like the regular regiment the TA men got back the beige beret which had been officially banned since 1944. This was when the SAS Regiment finally became a permanent part of the British Army's order of battle. The Reserve Reconnaissance Unit had been originally known as Intelligence School No.9 (d) and was descended from the MI9 escape and evasion organisation. MI9's job had been to insert small behind enemy lines to aid the return to safety of Allied evaders, whether they be downed airmen or escaped prisoners of war. In 1959 the RRU became 23 SAS, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel H. S. Gillies. In the early 1960s came further reorganisation of the TA SAS. When Captain Peter de la Billiere, a regular officer, became Adjutant of 21 SAS he set about organising the regiments properly for war and improving relations with 22 SAS. Their role was now to be to conduct long range patrols behind Soviet lines on the central front in Germany if the " balloon went up ". They would either parachute in or stay behind when other Allied forces retreated. There was also to be increased training with the regulars.

In 1963 former 21 SAS CO Jim Johnson went off on a " reconnaissance " mission to Yemen, then it the midst of a civil war. In fact his job was to begin channeling British aid to the Royalist guerillas fighting the Egyptian-backed government who had deposed their leader the Imam. Other ex-21 men arrived to serve as instructors, along with ex-22 men like Johnny Cooper, one of Stirling's originals, and a group of French mercenaries. Here for the next few years the thirty to forty foreigners in Yemen at any one time enjoyed some success helping the Royalist forces, particularly running the more technical side of things such as heavy weapons and communications. However by 1967 it was clear that the rebellion was doomed to failure as more and more Egyptian troops arrived in the country and the instructors were gradually withdrawn.

In the 1970s more ex-21and 23 SAS men saw action when several went off to join the Rhodesian Army. The regiments themselves continued in their role of training for the central front. By now they had become expert at establishing observation posts which would remain hidden from the enemy for weeks. From here they could call in air strikes, transmit information and possibly launch sabotage attacks. With the end of the Cold War came some changes for the two regiments. In 1994 they were reduced from five to three " Sabre " squadrons each and their role changed to that of " out of area " operations i.e. with British or coalition forces outside the NATO area. However they could also provide corps-level support for the ARRC if required.

Organisation and Equipment

All TA SAS squadrons are authorized 79 all ranks each. With a total of eight squadrons the two regiments have a combined establishment of 632. The Sabre squadrons operate in the normal four-man patrols building up to sixteen-man troops. These days the commanding officer ( a lieutenant colonel ), training major and adjutant of each regiment are regular officers with SAS experience. The regimental sergeant major and chief clerk will also be regulars. The squadron sergeant major of each sabre squadron will be a regular seconded from 22 SAS, while there is also a sergeant or staff sergeant attached to each squadron known as the Permanent Staff Instructor.

21^st Special Air Service Regiment (Artists')(Volunteer)

-         HQ Squadron (Greater London)

-         A Squadron (Greater London)

-         B Squadron (Wales)

-         C Squadron (East Anglia and Eastern Wessex)

23^rd Special Air Service Regiment (Volunteer)

-         HQ Squadron (West Midlands)

-         A Squadron (Scotland)

-         B Squadron (Yorkshire and Humberside)

-         C Squadron (North and North West of England)

63 (SAS) Signal Squadron (Volunteer) Royal Corps of Signals

-         based in South East England and Eastern Wessex, this squadron's four troops, authorised 31 men each, provide communications support to 21 and 23 SAS.

The TA SAS uses standard British Army equipment, though as in the regular forces many members choose to buy much of their own gear to supplement that which is issued. Weapons are also standard and include the M16A2 rifle as their standard firearm
and also use the M203 grenade launcher, the Light Support Weapon and the Browning 9mm pistol. There have also been reports of the TA using the M16A2 rifle, the standard weapon of 22 SAS, with or without the M203 grenade launcher attached.

Selection and Training

TA selection, because it is part-time in nature, takes much longer than that of 22 SAS. Candidates must have completed at least basic training with a TA unit. Many will have served for several years in the TA while others will be ex-regulars, who have been increasingly targeted by the TA regiments for recruitment. Selection itself is spread over a nine-month period and takes place on weekends. Like the regular selection course it consists mainly of a series of timed navigation marches with rifle, belt kit and Bergen, the distances and weights carried always increasing. The final selection weekend includes the famous " Long Drag ", 60km over the Brecon Beacons in Wales to be completed in 20 hours. This is followed by a period of escape and evasion and then Resistance To Interrogation (RTI) training. Successful candidates will spend their first two-week period of full-time training with a TA SAS regiment on the Basic Static Line Parachute Course at RAF Brize Norton. This is the same course as done by TA Paras and includes only seven descents rather than the eight of the regulars, and does not include a night drop. TA SAS operators have to wait until later to do this. They will now receive their SAS berets and wings but there is still much training to be done. Continuation training takes from 18 to 36 months, depending on individual work commitments. SAS standard operating procedures are learned, such as patrolling, ambushing and concealment. Besides this there is instruction in weapons, basic demolitions, long range communications and first aid. As in 22 SAS each member of a patrol will specialise in one area, whether it is as a signaller, medic or demolitionist. Of course there is much cross-training to ensure everyone knows the basics of each task.

21 and 23 SAS members will often have to spend more than the minimum time normal TA soldiers do on training to qualify for their annual " bounty ", which is 27 days a year (6 weekends and a 15-day annual camp), plus one night a week. There are always courses to be done and procedures to be practiced. Operators may be sent on the Jungle Long Range Patrol Course in Brunei and exercises are done with " friendly " units, particularly the US Army National Guard Long Range Surveillance Units or " Larsues ". Cold weather warfare is learned in Scotland or Norway. Unlike in 22 SAS the TA operators are all permanent members of their units, not seconded from other regiments or corps. Officers do not have to rotate to other duties and will usually stay with the same squadron. TA men with at least three years service may attend selection for 22 SAS and are the only candidates accepted straight from civilian life.

L Detachment and R Troop

Also part of the Territorial Army but separate from 21 and 23 SAS are the members of L Detachment and R Troop. L Detachment is part of 22 SAS and used to be known as R Squadron. Its new name honors David Stirling's " originals " of 1941/42. All members of L Det are ex-22 SAS or former regulars from other units. Those who are not already qualified operators must complete regular SAS selection. Their wartime role is to reinforce 22 SAS and fifteen reservists did so during the Gulf War, being attached to A and D Squadrons. The fifty members of R Troop do a similar job for 264 (SAS) Signal Squadron. Additional note: It does have a large amount of ex-regular soldiers in its ranks, but this is not the only method of entry. Civilians can enter by applying to join 21 or 23 SAS(V) and completing selection, with added selection tests which allows then to serve in L-Det. L-Det is deployed with 22 SAS and used as ICBR's (Immediate Battle Cas Replacements).