United Kingdom Special Forces

{{Short description|British Ministry of Defence directorate}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name = United Kingdom Special Forces | native_name = | image = Ministry of Defence Emblem.svg | image_size = 150px | alt = | caption = | dates = {{Start date|1987}}–present | disbanded = | country = {{flag|United Kingdom}} | countries = | allegiance = | branch = British Armed Forces | type = Directorate | role = | size = 2,000 personnel (2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/5220803/SAS-and-other-special-forces-to-be-expanded-to-defeat-al-Qaeda.html|title=SAS and other special forces to be expanded to defeat al-Qaeda|publisher=the telegraph|date=25 April 2009}}</ref> | command_structure = Strategic Command | garrison = Permanent Joint Headquarters, Northwood Headquarters | garrison_label = Headquarters | nickname = | patron = | motto = | colors =  | colors_label =  | march = | mascot = | anniversaries = | equipment = | equipment_label = | battles = | decorations = | battle_honours = | battle_honours_label = | flying_hours = | website = {{Official URL}} | current_commander = | commander1 = | commander1_label = Director Special Forces | commander2 = | commander2_label = | commander3 = | commander3_label = | commander4 = | commander4_label = | commander5 = | commander5_label = | commander6 = | commander6_label = | commander7 = | commander7_label = | commander8 = | commander8_label = | commander9 = | commander9_label = | notable_commanders = General Mark Carleton-Smith | identification_symbol = UKSF | identification_symbol_label = Abbreviation | identification_symbol_2 = | identification_symbol_2_label = | identification_symbol_3 = | identification_symbol_3_label = | identification_symbol_4 = | identification_symbol_4_label = | identification_symbol_5 = | identification_symbol_5_label = }}

'''United Kingdom Special Forces''' ('''UKSF''') is a directorate comprising the Special Air Service, the Special Boat Service, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, the Special Forces Support Group, 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment and the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing.<ref name="SRR">[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo050405/wmstext/50405m01.htm#50405m01.html_sbhd5 Special Reconnaissance Regiment, publications.parliament.uk]. Retrieved 21 February 2014</ref><ref name=SFSG>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4928028.stm Elite special forces unit set up, BBC]. Retrieved 21 February 2014.</ref><ref name="RAFJSFAW">{{cite web|title=JSFAW - Responsibilities and Composition|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafodiham/aboutus/jsfaw.cfm|website=Royal Air Force|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227170050/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafodiham/aboutus/jsfaw.cfm|archive-date=27 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="SAS(R)">{{cite web|publisher=Ministry of Defence|title=SAS(R)|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/specialforces/30603.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102193239/http://www.army.mod.uk/specialforces/30603.aspx|archive-date=2018-01-02|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=SBS>{{cite news|publisher=BBC|access-date=10 March 2010|title=The secretive sister of the SAS|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/1659585.stm | date=16 November 2001}} (SBS)</ref>

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, "special forces" has been defined as "those units of the armed forces of the Crown the maintenance of whose capabilities is the responsibility of the Director of Special Forces or which are for the time being subject to the operational command of that Director".<ref>{{cite book|author=Philip Coppel QC|title=Information Rights: A Practitioner's Guide to Data Protection, Freedom of Information and other Information Rights|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|url={{Google books|TTXpDwAAQBAJ|page=PA633|plainurl=yes}}|date=2020|isbn=9781509922482|page=633|edition=5th}}</ref><ref>{{OGL-attribution|version=3.0|{{Cite legislation UK |type=act|act=Freedom of Information Act 2000|chapter=36|year=2000}}}}</ref> The Royal Marines and the Ranger Regiment are special operations–capable forces, but they do not form part of UKSF.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/974661/CP411_-Defence_Command_Plan.pdf|title=Defence in a Competitive Age|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="BusinessInsider"<ref/>

The government and Ministry of Defence (MOD) have a policy of not commenting on the UKSF, in contrast to other countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=14 April 2010|author=Secretary of State for Defence Geoffrey Hoon|website=UK Parliament|title=Special Forces|date=14 January 2002|publisher=House of Commons Hansard|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020114/debtext/20114-03.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425042732/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020114/debtext/20114-03.htm|archive-date=25 April 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |last1=Knowles |first1=Emily |title=Britain's culture of no comment |date=July 2016 |url=https://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=ba1f3001-4e2d-4fa1-9530-782079869bf8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104170036/https://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=ba1f3001-4e2d-4fa1-9530-782079869bf8 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 4, 2021 |access-date=4 January 2021 |publisher=Remote Control; Oxford Research Group |location=London}}</ref> In 1996, the UKSF introduced a requirement that serving members sign a confidentiality contract preventing them from disclosing information for life without the prior approval of the MOD, following the publication of several books written by ex-service members.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Michael |title=SAS troops ordered to sign contracts banning memoirs |work=The Times |date=4 October 1996 |page=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=SAS men are ordered never to write books |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/sas-men-are-ordered-never-write-books-1356609.html |access-date=9 January 2021 |work=The Independent |date=4 October 1996}}</ref>

==Formation== In 1987, the post of Director SAS became Director Special Forces. Since that time, the director has had control of both the Army's Special Air Service and the Navy's Special Boat Service, previously the Special Boat Squadron. The directorate has since been expanded by the creation of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, and the Special Forces Support Group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1488020/Britain-to-double-commitment-to-the-war-on-terror-with-SAS-Lite.html|title=Britain to double commitment to the war on terror with 'SAS Lite'|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=17 April 2005 |access-date=12 January 2017}}</ref>

In 2015, the Royal Marines reported that approximately 40% of all UK Special Forces personnel were recruited from the Royal Marines.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Royal Marines |title='A CORPS OF SPECIALISTS' - A Careers Guide to The Royal Marines Specialisations |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/careers-section-redesign/pdfs/20151027-_440-rm-career-guide-2015-r---specialisms.pdf?la=en-gb |website=Royal Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328022246/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/careers-section-redesign/pdfs/20151027-_440-rm-career-guide-2015-r---specialisms.pdf?la=en-gb |archive-date=28 March 2017 |page=78 |edition=2015 |date=August 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 1 September 2014, the two Army Reserve SAS regiments, the 21 (Artists) Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve) and the 23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve), were removed from the UKSF and placed in the 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade (1 ISR Bde) under the command of Force Troops Command.<ref name="ARQ">{{cite magazine |title=The Artists Rifles - From Pre-Raphaelites to Passchendaele |magazine=ARQ Army Reserve Quarterly |date=Autumn 2014 |page=21 |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/ADR004124_ARQ_Autumn_2014_web.pdf |publisher=Army Media & Communication |location=Andover|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214202107/http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/ADR004124_ARQ_Autumn_2014_web.pdf|archive-date=14 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|author-link=Defence Safety Authority|title=Releasable Extracts of Service Inquiry into the deaths of 3 soldiers in the Brecon Beacons Wales, in July 2013|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/652784/20170807_Brecon_SI_Report_V2_Unclassified_External_Release_Elements_Roundtripped.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=23 January 2022 |page=1.6 - 3|date=2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rayment |first1=Sean |title=Revealed: nearly half of Special Forces could go in deepest cuts in 50 years |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9904772/Revealed-nearly-half-of-Special-Forces-could-go-in-deepest-cuts-in-50-years.html |access-date=23 January 2022 |work=The Telegraph |date=3 March 2013|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Their role as part of 1 ISR Bde was to conduct Human, Environment, Reconnaissance, and Analysis (HERA) patrols.<ref name="ARQ"/><ref name="FTC2014">{{cite web |title=Force Troops Command - Overview and Brigades |url=https://britisharmedforcesreview.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/force-troops-command-overview-and-brigades.pdf |publisher=British Army |access-date=23 January 2022 |pages=11,32 |date=2014|via=The Future of the British Armed Forces}}</ref> By April 2019, the two reserve regiments had returned to the UKSF.<ref>{{cite web|title=Force Troops Command Handbook|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/umbraco/Surface/Download/Get/10550|website=British Army|access-date=23 January 2022|date=April 2019|pages=6,16–17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=21 & 23 SAS (Reserve) |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/uk-special-forces-reserve/21-23-sas-r/ |website=British Army |access-date=22 January 2022}}</ref>

Special Forces Flight, No. 47 Squadron RAF which operated the Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft was formerly part of the UKSF.<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|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714203817/http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/publications/guides/admin_guide/h_part8.pdf|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref><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> No. 47 Squadron RAF was disbanded in September 2023 after the Hercules was retired from service in June 2023.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Standard of No.47 Sqn has been formally laid-up in ceremony at RAF Cranwell |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/standard-of-no-47-sqn-has-been-formally-laid-up-in-ceremony-at-raf-cranwell/ |website=Royal Air Force |access-date=7 March 2024 |date=4 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=No. 47 Squadron mark the end of an era with a royal parade |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/no-47-squadron-mark-the-end-of-an-era-with-a-royal-parade/ |website=Royal Air Force |access-date=7 March 2024 |date=9 June 2023}}</ref>

==Component units== The following units are part of UK Special Forces and UK Special Forces (Reserve). {{col-begin}} {{col-break}}

=== British Army ===

*22 Special Air Service Regiment (22 SAS)<ref>{{cite book|last=Fremont-Barnes |first=Gregory |title=Who Dares Wins : the SAS and the Iranian embassy siege 1980 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |url={{Google books|NoLvCwAAQBAJ|page=PT130|plainurl=yes}}|date=2009|isbn=9781846033957 |page=62 |series=RAID 4}}</ref> **A Squadron **B Squadron **D Squadron **G Squadron *21 Special Air Service Regiment (21 SAS) **A Squadron **C Squadron **E Squadron *23 Special Air Service Regiment (23 SAS) **B Squadron **D Squadron **G Squadron *Special Reconnaissance Regiment<ref name="SRR" /> *18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment<ref name="Wire2005">{{cite magazine |last1=Redshaw |first1=Bernard |title=A New Royal Signals Unit |magazine=The wire : The Magazine of the Royal Corps of Signals |date=August 2005 |volume=59 |issue=4 |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/linkedfiles/royalsignals/thewire/wire2005aug.pdf |publisher=Holbrook Printers Ltd |location=Portsmouth |issn=1462-9259|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110181855/http://www.army.mod.uk/linkedfiles/royalsignals/thewire/wire2005aug.pdf|archive-date=10 January 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> **SBS Signal Squadron **264 (SAS) Signal Squadron **267 (SRR) Signal Squadron **268 (SFSG) Signal Squadron **63 (SAS) Signal Squadron (Reserve) {{col-break}}

=== Royal Navy ===

*Special Boat Service<ref name="SBS" /> **C Squadron **M Squadron **X Squadron **Z Squadron **SBS Reserve - R Squadron<ref>{{cite journal |title=Have you got what it takes? |journal=Navy News |date=March 2026 |page=21 |url=https://sccd.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/rnweb/navynews/archivepdfs/2020s/2026/navy-news-march-2026.pdf |access-date=4 May 2026 |publisher=Navy Command HQ, Portsmouth |issn=0028-1670}}</ref><ref name="SBS(R)">{{cite web |publisher=Ministry of Defence|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|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Joint service units ===

*Special Forces Support Group<ref name="SFSG" /> ** HQ Company (Formerly D Company) ** A Company ** B Company ** C Company ** F Company ** R Company ** S Company

=== Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing === *No. 7 Squadron (Royal Air Force)<ref name="RAFJSFAW" /> *No. 658 Squadron (Army Air Corps, British Army)<ref name="RAFJSFAW" /> {{col-end}}

==Special operations–capable forces== The Armed Forces have raised special operations-capable forces that will conduct special operations to train, advise and accompany UK partner countries' forces in high threat environments.<ref>{{OGL-attribution|version=3.0|{{cite book |title=Defence in a Competitive Age |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/974661/CP411_-Defence_Command_Plan.pdf |author=Ministry of Defence |access-date=22 January 2022 |pages=12,46,68,69 |isbn=9781528624626 |date=March 2021|publisher=Ministry of Defence|location=London}}}}</ref> These forces do not form part of UKSF.<ref name="BusinessInsider">{{cite news |last1=Atlamazoglou |first1=Stavros |title=For decades, US special-operations units copied the British, but now the tables are turning |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/british-special-operations-changes-modeled-on-us-special-ops-units-2021-4 |access-date=22 January 2022 |work=Business Insider |date=20 April 2021}}</ref>

The Army formed the Ranger Regiment on 1 December 2021 within a new brigade, the Army Special Operations Brigade, established on 31 August 2021, that will take on some tasks traditionally done by special forces and work with partner forces.<ref name="Futuresoldier">{{cite web |title=Future Soldier Guide |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/media/15057/adr010310-futuresoldierguide_30nov.pdf |website=British Army |access-date=22 January 2022 |date=2021|pages=17,71}}</ref>{{sfn|Ministry of Defence|2021|pp=12,52,68,69}} The Ranger Regiment's battalions are to be restructured by April 2023.<ref name="Futuresoldier"/> The Chief of the Defence Staff has said that the Ranger Regiment will be similar to the United States Army Special Forces, known as the "Green Berets".<ref>{{cite news |title=New Ranger Regiment to be 'open to anybody in Armed Forces', CDS says |url=https://www.forces.net/news/new-ranger-regiment-be-open-anybody-armed-forces-cds-says |access-date=22 January 2022 |work=Forces News |publisher=BFBS |date=1 April 2021 |location=England}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mehta |first1=Aaron |title=Why the UK is investing in a new ranger regiment |url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/05/25/why-the-uk-is-investing-in-a-new-ranger-regiment/ |access-date=22 January 2022 |work=Defense News |publisher=Sightline Media Group |date=25 May 2021 |location=Washington}}</ref> Two of the four Ranger Regiment battalions will be deployed to Africa, the third will focus on Eastern Europe and the fourth will be deployed to the Middle East.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Larisa |title=British Army's elite Ranger force to fight extremists |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/british-armys-elite-ranger-force-to-fight-extremists-5wcn2m3f9 |access-date=22 January 2022 |work=The Times |date=25 November 2021|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The Royal Navy is changing the Royal Marines through the Future Commando Force concept, adapting their role of amphibious infantry held at readiness to a versatile special operations–capable force.{{sfn|Ministry of Defence|2021|pp=48,68}}<ref name="SecState">{{OGL-attribution|version=3.0|{{cite press release |author1=Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace |title=Armed Forces to be more active around the world to combat threats of the future |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/armed-forces-to-be-more-active-around-the-world-to-combat-threats-of-the-future |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=21 January 2022 |date=23 March 2021}}}}</ref> As originally envisaged, the Marines were to be permanently deployed in two new Littoral Response Groups, with one in Northern Europe and the other in the Indian Ocean.<ref>{{OGL-attribution|version=3.0|{{cite press release |title=Defence review will forge a growing Navy with expanding horizons |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2021/march/22/20210322-defence-review |website=Royal Navy |access-date=22 January 2022 |date=22 March 2021}}}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}}

Category:Special forces of the United Kingdom Category:1987 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:Military units and formations established in 1987 Category:Organisations based in Hertfordshire