SAS Doco

[Mr Merde]

What I thought was strange was the bit where the narrator said something along the lines of 'the NZ SAS get called in to do the jobs that others can't'. Like there is a SAS unit in the world that is scared of doing a task so they call in the Kiwis.

They have to make it dramatic.

In the UK they have 3 regiments.

22nd Regulars (based in Hereford)
21st Artist Rifles ( TA, HQ in London but based in Newport, Gwent)
23rd another TA unit based in Scotland.

All very well trained, all going through the same selection process and all capable of taking on most tasks required of them.

Inside these regiments they have squadrons that have their specialist roles.

After WW2 the SAS was disbanded but with the Malayan Crisis in the 50's it was reformed with the 21st Artist Rifles. Since then the 22nd has come into existance. This unit has been involved in conflicts pretty much continually since the late 50's. When the 1st Gulf War errupted the whole regiment (22nd) was deployed for the first time since WW2

What people dont generally know is that apart from the NZ and the UK regiments there used to be a Rhodesian regiment, a Sth African regiment, an Australian regiment,a Belgian regiment and a couple of French regiments.

To say the the SAS are the best in the world and that the NZ reg is the best of them is a little bit narrow minded. The Israelis have the most number of specialist units of any army in the world. In the UK there is a branch of the Royal Marines called the Special Boat Service (SBS) They are hard arse mothers. They have to pass the Royal Marine selection, then the selection for the Royal Commandos and only then can the even start to think about selection for the SBS. Had a mate in Cardiff who was ex SBS. One of the things he told me he did every day, was to swim accross Portsmouth harbour and back. Even though he had been out of the service for 5 years when I met him he was still one of the hardest men I have ever met.

[jonbuoy]

They have to make it dramatic.

In the UK they have 3 regiments.

22nd Regulars (based in Hereford)
21st Artist Rifles ( TA, HQ in London but based in Newport, Gwent)
23rd another TA unit based in Scotland.

All very well trained, all going through the same selection process and all capable of taking on most tasks required of them.

Inside these regiments they have squadrons that have their specialist roles.

After WW2 the SAS was disbanded but with the Malayan Crisis in the 50's it was reformed with the 21st Artist Rifles. Since then the 22nd has come into existance. This unit has been involved in conflicts pretty much continually since the late 50's. When the 1st Gulf War errupted the whole regiment (22nd) was deployed for the first time since WW2

What people dont generally know is that apart from the NZ and the UK regiments there used to be a Rhodesian regiment, a Sth African regiment, an Australian regiment,a Belgian regiment and a couple of French regiments.

To say the the SAS are the best in the world and that the NZ reg is the best of them is a little bit narrow minded. The Israelis have the most number of specialist units of any army in the world. In the UK there is a branch of the Royal Marines called the Special Boat Service (SBS) They are hard arse mothers. They have to pass the Royal Marine selection, then the selection for the Royal Commandos and only then can the even start to think about selection for the SBS. Had a mate in Cardiff who was ex SBS. One of the things he told me he did every day, was to swim accross Portsmouth harbour and back. Even though he had been out of the service for 5 years when I met him he was still one of the hardest men I have ever met.

Crazy bastards alright - there was an urban myth in the UK about an SBS boat driving BETWEEN the hulls of the Poole/Cherbourg Catamarang fast ferry - at night with vision goggles on! Not sure if thats possible but they were often zipping around the Harbour at night. Wouldn't surprise me.

[Biff]

They have to make it dramatic.

In the UK they have 3 regiments.

22nd Regulars (based in Hereford)
21st Artist Rifles ( TA, HQ in London but based in Newport (BIFF"S HOMETOWN), Gwent)
23rd another TA unit based in Scotland.
.

Missed a few out there mate. Including the mighty 264 for starters. Only the best looking bastards get into that crew. Allegedly.

[Mr Merde]

My memory isnt perfect

[Dave Lobster]

In the UK there is a branch of the Royal Marines called the Special Boat Service (SBS) They are hard arse mothers. They have to pass the Royal Marine selection, then the selection for the Royal Commandos and only then can the even start to think about selection for the SBS.

Suggested reading.. Duncan Falconer's book about joining the SB.

I've worked with a few of them.. F*cking nutcases. One of them joined just so he could have the opportunity to jump out the back of a 747 at 30,000 feet. You can't do that in the SAS, app.
They still dress in women's clothes when they go out on the piss..

Missed a few out there mate. Including the mighty 264 for starters. Only the best looking bastards get into that crew. Allegedly.

Not so.. All the ones I met were just lackies for 22. This was just in NI. I'm sure they do more than answer the phones when posted somewhere else..

[Mr Merde]

Suggested reading.. Duncan Falconer's book about joining the SB.

I've worked with a few of them.. F*cking nutcases. One of them joined just so he could have the opportunity to jump out the back of a 747 at 30,000 feet. You can't do that in the SAS, app.
They still dress in women's clothes when they go out on the piss..



Not so.. All the ones I met were just lackies for 22. This was just in NI. I'm sure they do more than answer the phones when posted somewhere else..

Had a mate in 22 who was a HALO specialist.
Jumped from such a an altitude that he needed oxygen.
deployed the chute as late as possible.

Another mate loved LALO

Jumped with the chute deployed and in his hand. Jungle jumps.


I know what you mean about nutcases. Barry was absolutely brilliant to go on the piss with as no one messed with us. He was about 40 when I met him and still full of "piss and vinegar"


Yes 22 rules.

[Chisanga]

Everyone I ever met from the 'regiment' was just so far removed from my experience of the world that generally there was nothing to talk about. THey got told off for throwing members of my unit off the back of trucks because we were getting too much time off work with broken legs

[Hitcher]

And, on the subject of hard-arsed mothers, don't forget the Légion étrangère.

[Mr Merde]

And, on the subject of hard-arsed mothers, don't forget the Légion étrangère.

French or Spanish?

[Sollyboy]

Missed a few out there mate. Including the mighty 264 for starters. Only the best looking bastards get into that crew. Allegedly.

And dont forget about the Fijian SAS , some of the toughest fighting men in the world , and well equiped , its a legacy left by Sitevene Rabuka

[Hitcher]

French or Spanish?

French. The ones that march at 88 steps a minute. Now that's class.

[Dave Lobster]

French. The ones that march at 88 steps a minute. Now that's class.

That's a slow march, isn't it?

[Hitcher]

That's a slow march, isn't it?

Compared to the pace at which most armies march, yes. Most march at about 120 steps a minute, with a "slow" march, i.e. one used for ceremonial funerals, etc, being about 60.

[Toaster]

I've taped the first two of the series. Haven't seen it yet so hope it comes out. The old video is getting on a bit.

[Dave Lobster]

Compared to the pace at which most armies march, yes. Most march at about 120 steps a minute, with a "slow" march, i.e. one used for ceremonial funerals, etc, being about 60.

I used to do it for a living..