United Kingdom Special Forces: Difference between revisions

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==Formation==
==Formation==
The UKSF was formed in 1987 to draw together the [[British Army|Army]]'s [[Special Air Service]] and the [[Her Majesty's Naval Service|Naval Service]]'s [[Special Boat Service#Special Boat Squadron|Special Boat Squadron]], which was renamed the [[Special Boat Service]] during the formation, into a unified command, based around the former Director SAS, who was given the additional title of [[Director Special Forces]]. The directorate has been expanded by the creation of the [[Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing]], the [[Special Reconnaissance Regiment]], [[18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment|18 Signal Regiment]] and the [[Special Forces Support Group]]. Approximately 40% of all UK Special Forces are recruited from the [[Royal Marines]].<ref>http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/careers-section-redesign/pdfs/20151027-_440-rm-career-guide-2015-r---specialisms.pdf?la=en-gb, page 78</ref>
The UKSF was formed in 1987 to draw together the [[British Army|Army]]'s [[Special Air Service]] and the [[Her Majesty's Naval Service|Naval Service]]'s [[Special Boat Service#Special Boat Squadron|Special Boat Squadron]], which was renamed the [[Special Boat Service]] during the formation, into a unified command, based around the former Director SAS, who was given the additional title of [[Director Special Forces]]. The directorate has been expanded by the creation of the [[Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing]], the [[Special Reconnaissance Regiment]], [[18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment|18 Signal Regiment]] and the [[Special Forces Support Group]]. Approximately 40% of all UK Special Forces are recruited from the [[Royal Marines]].<ref>http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/careers-section-redesign/pdfs/20151027-_440-rm-career-guide-2015-r---specialisms.pdf?la=en-gb, page 78</ref>

⚫
Following the Army 2020 reforms, the [[Artists Rifles|21st Special Air Service Regiment]] and [[23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve)|23rd Special Air Service Regiment]] were moved from the command of UKSF to [[1st Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade]] in 2014.<ref name="Janes International Defence Review 2014, page 4">Janes International Defence Review, May 2014, page 4</ref><ref>Army Briefing Note 120/14, NEWLY FORMED FORCE TROOPS COMMAND SPECIALIST BRIGADES, Quote . It commands all of the Army’s Intelligence, Surveillance and EW assets, and is made up of units specifically from the former 1 MI Bde and 1 Arty Bde, as well as 14 Sig Regt, 21 and 23 SAS(R).</ref>


==Roles and tasks==
==Roles and tasks==
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*Training of other nations' armed forces
*Training of other nations' armed forces


==Units==
==Component units==
The following units are part of UK Special Forces and UK Special Forces (Reserve).
⚫
* [[Special Boat Service]] ([[Naval Service (United Kingdom)|Naval Service]])<ref name=SBS/>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
=== Royal Navy ===
'''[[Royal Marines]]'''

⚫
*[[Special Boat Service]]<ref name="SBS" />
**C Squadron
**C Squadron
**M Squadron
**M Squadron
**X Squadron
**X Squadron
**Z Squadron
**Z Squadron
* Special Boat Service (Reserve; Naval Service)<ref name=SBS(R)>{{cite web|accessdate=21 February 2014|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]]|title=Special Boat Service (Reserve)|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/specialforces/30604.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228225044/http://www.army.mod.uk/specialforces/30604.aspx|archive-date=28 February 2014|dead-url=yes|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* Special Boat Service (Reserve)<ref name="SBS(R)">{{cite web|accessdate=21 February 2014|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]]|title=Special Boat Service (Reserve)|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/specialforces/30604.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228225044/http://www.army.mod.uk/specialforces/30604.aspx|archive-date=28 February 2014|dead-url=yes|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

⚫
* [[Special Air Service#22 SAS Regiment|22nd Special Air Service Regiment]] ([[British Army]])<ref name=SAS>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1450394/Overstretched-SAS-calls-up-part-time-troops-for-Afghanistan.html Overstretched SAS calls up part-time troops for Afghanistan, www.telegraph.co.uk]. Retrieved 21 February 2014</ref>
=== British Army ===

⚫
*[[Special Air Service#22 SAS Regiment|22nd Special Air Service Regiment]] <ref name="SAS">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1450394/Overstretched-SAS-calls-up-part-time-troops-for-Afghanistan.html Overstretched SAS calls up part-time troops for Afghanistan, www.telegraph.co.uk]. Retrieved 21 February 2014</ref>
**A Squadron
**A Squadron
**B Squadron
**B Squadron
**D Squadron
**D Squadron
**G Squadron
**G Squadron
* [[Special Reconnaissance Regiment]] (British Army)<ref name="SRR"/>
*[[Special Reconnaissance Regiment]]<ref name="SRR" />

⚫
* [[18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment|18 Signal Regiment]] ([[Royal Corps of Signals]], British Army)<ref name="18Sig"/>
'''[[1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade]]'''

* [[Artists Rifles|21st Special Air Service Regiment]] (Reserve)

* [[23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve)|23rd Special Air Service Regiment]] (Reserve)

'''[[Royal Corps of Signals]]'''

⚫
*[[18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment|18 Signal Regiment]]<ref name="18Sig" />
**SBS Signal Squadron
**SBS Signal Squadron
**264 (SAS) Signal Squadron
**264 (SAS) Signal Squadron
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**268 (SFSG) Signal Squadron
**268 (SFSG) Signal Squadron
**63 (SAS) Signal Squadron (Reserve)
**63 (SAS) Signal Squadron (Reserve)
{{col-break}}
⚫
* [[Special Forces Support Group]]<ref name=SFSG/>
=== Joint service units ===

⚫
*[[Special Forces Support Group]]<ref name="SFSG" />
** A Company
** A Company
** B Company
** B Company
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** G Company
** G Company
**Support Company
**Support Company
* [[Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing]]<ref name="RAFJSFAW" /><ref name="Veteranguide">{{cite journal|title=PLG Directive 73/07 Part 8, Restricted files - Administration Guide|date=December 2007|publisher=Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA)|website=Veterans UK|url=http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/publications/guides/admin_guide/h_part8.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714203817/http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/publications/guides/admin_guide/h_part8.pdf|archivedate=14 July 2014}}</ref>
*[[Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing]]<ref name="RAFJSFAW" /><ref name="Veteranguide">{{cite journal|title=PLG Directive 73/07 Part 8, Restricted files - Administration Guide|date=December 2007|publisher=Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA)|website=Veterans UK|url=http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/publications/guides/admin_guide/h_part8.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714203817/http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/publications/guides/admin_guide/h_part8.pdf|archivedate=14 July 2014}}</ref>
** [[No. 7 Squadron RAF|7 Squadron]] ([[Royal Air Force]])<ref name="RAFJSFAW" />
**[[No. 7 Squadron RAF|No. 7 Squadron]] ([[Royal Air Force]])<ref name="RAFJSFAW" />
** [[No. 658 Squadron AAC|658 Squadron]] (Army Air Corps, British Army)<ref name="RAFJSFAW" />
**[[No. 658 Squadron AAC|No. 658 Squadron]] (Army Air Corps, British Army)<ref name="RAFJSFAW" />
* Special Forces Flight [[No. 47 Squadron RAF|47 Squadron]] (Royal Air Force)<ref name="Veteranguide" /><ref name="AirforceJ2015">{{cite magazine|last1=Ripley|first1=Tim|title=Order of Battle; Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing - The Royal Air Force in 2015 (Supplement)|magazine=AirForces monthly - Officially The World's Number One Military Aviation Magazine|date=November 2015|issue=332|pages=12,14|publisher=Key Publishing Ltd|issn=0955-7091|location=Bourne, Lincolnshire}}</ref>
* Special Forces Flight [[No. 47 Squadron RAF|47 Squadron]] (Royal Air Force)<ref name="Veteranguide" /><ref name="AirforceJ2015">{{cite magazine|last1=Ripley|first1=Tim|title=Order of Battle; Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing - The Royal Air Force in 2015 (Supplement)|magazine=AirForces monthly - Officially The World's Number One Military Aviation Magazine|date=November 2015|issue=332|pages=12,14|publisher=Key Publishing Ltd|issn=0955-7091|location=Bourne, Lincolnshire}}</ref>
{{col-end}}

⚫
Following the Army 2020 reforms, the [[Artists Rifles|21st Special Air Service Regiment]] and [[23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve)|23rd Special Air Service Regiment]] were moved from the command of UKSF to [[1st Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade]] in 2014.<ref name="Janes International Defence Review 2014, page 4">Janes International Defence Review, May 2014, page 4</ref><ref>Army Briefing Note 120/14, NEWLY FORMED FORCE TROOPS COMMAND SPECIALIST BRIGADES, Quote . It commands all of the Army’s Intelligence, Surveillance and EW assets, and is made up of units specifically from the former 1 MI Bde and 1 Arty Bde, as well as 14 Sig Regt, 21 and 23 SAS(R).</ref>

==See also==
==See also==
*[[United Kingdom Special Forces Selection]]
*[[United Kingdom Special Forces Selection]]

Revision as of 21:07, 20 December 2018

United Kingdom Special Forces
Active1987 (1987) – present
Country United Kingdom
Branch Naval Service
 British Army
 Royal Air Force
TypeDirectorate
RoleSpecial operations command
Size2,000 personnel (2009)[1]
Part ofJoint Forces Command
HeadquartersPermanent Joint Headquarters, Northwood Headquarters
WebsiteDirectorate of Special Forces at gov.uk
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Major General Mark Carleton-Smith since June 2018)
Insignia
AbbreviationUKSF

The United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) is a Ministry of Defence directorate that provides a joint special operations task force headquarters. The UKSF is commanded by the Director Special Forces. The directorate commands 22 Special Air Service Regiment, the Special Boat Service, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, the Special Forces Support Group, 18 Signal Regiment and the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Formation

The UKSF was formed in 1987 to draw together the Army's Special Air Service and the Naval Service's Special Boat Squadron, which was renamed the Special Boat Service during the formation, into a unified command, based around the former Director SAS, who was given the additional title of Director Special Forces. The directorate has been expanded by the creation of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, 18 Signal Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group. Approximately 40% of all UK Special Forces are recruited from the Royal Marines.[8]

Following the Army 2020 reforms, the 21st Special Air Service Regiment and 23rd Special Air Service Regiment were moved from the command of UKSF to 1st Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade in 2014.[9][10]

Roles and tasks

UKSF assets undertake a number of roles, with a degree of interaction and interoperability:

Component units

The following units are part of UK Special Forces and UK Special Forces (Reserve).

See also

References

  1. ^ "SAS and other special forces to be expanded to defeat al-Qaeda". the telegraph. 25 April 2009.
  2. ^ a b Special Reconnaissance Regiment, publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2014
  3. ^ a b Elite special forces unit set up, BBC. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  4. ^ a b "18 Signal Regiment". Ministry of Defence.
  5. ^ a b c d "JSFAW - Responsibilities and Composition". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014.
  6. ^ "SAS(R)". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 2018-01-02. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b "The secretive sister of the SAS". BBC. 16 November 2001. Retrieved 10 March 2010. (SBS)
  8. ^ http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/careers-section-redesign/pdfs/20151027-_440-rm-career-guide-2015-r---specialisms.pdf?la=en-gb, page 78
  9. ^ Janes International Defence Review, May 2014, page 4
  10. ^ Army Briefing Note 120/14, NEWLY FORMED FORCE TROOPS COMMAND SPECIALIST BRIGADES, Quote . It commands all of the Army’s Intelligence, Surveillance and EW assets, and is made up of units specifically from the former 1 MI Bde and 1 Arty Bde, as well as 14 Sig Regt, 21 and 23 SAS(R).
  11. ^ "Special Boat Service (Reserve)". Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Overstretched SAS calls up part-time troops for Afghanistan, www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2014
  13. ^ a b "PLG Directive 73/07 Part 8, Restricted files - Administration Guide" (PDF). Veterans UK. Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA). December 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014.
  14. ^ Ripley, Tim (November 2015). "Order of Battle; Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing - The Royal Air Force in 2015 (Supplement)". AirForces monthly - Officially The World's Number One Military Aviation Magazine. No. 332. Bourne, Lincolnshire: Key Publishing Ltd. pp. 12, 14. ISSN 0955-7091.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Kingdom_Special_Forces&oldid=874674877"