One of the most clandestine of all British special operations units is E Squadron. It's a small unit of United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) operatives handpicked to work for the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), better known as MI6. Both the UKSF Directorate and Secret Intelligence Service use E Squadron to carry out clandestine activities. They say E Squadron is the … [Read more...] about The Increment: The UK’s most clandestine special operations unit
Note: This is the fifth and final part of a multi-part series exploring elite components within the conventional British forces. To wrap up this series, we awarded honorable mentions to No. 2 Squadron RAF Regiment and Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officers (CTSFOs). The most elite units in the U.K. military would be unable to do their job if not for the Joint … [Read more...] about Breaking down the British elite forces: Honorable mentions
Note: This is part four of a multi-part series exploring elite components within the conventional British forces. The Pathfinder Platoon (PF), also known as the Pathfinder Group, is an elite airborne reconnaissance unit within the 16 Air Assault Brigade. Pathfinders work as the Brigade's eyes and ears, and operate far forward of the Brigade, behind enemy lines. There, they … [Read more...] about Breaking down the British elite forces: The Pathfinder Platoon
Note: This is part three of a multi-part series exploring elite components within the conventional British forces. During WWII, the British military required an elite airborne unit trained to fight behind enemy lines, and so the Parachute Regiment was born. The elite airborne unit, also known as the Paras, jumped into occupied Germany. Their mission was to capture crucial … [Read more...] about Breaking down the British elite forces: The Parachute Regiment (Paras)
The 4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery Royal Artillery frequently deploys surveillance and target acquisition patrols, which often operate far from the primary force, behind enemy lines. They deploy fire support teams to brigade reconnaissance forces or other reconnaissance elements to aid in calling in accurate artillery strikes. The unit was established in 1982 … [Read more...] about Breaking down the British elite forces: 4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery Royal Artillery
At least five British servicemen from the Special Boat Service (SBS), an elite naval counterterrorism unit, have been wounded during ongoing operations in Yemen. The proxy war in the country has left more than 60,000 dead and 13 million people subject to famine. The operators' activities in the war-shattered region are cloaked in mystery. Around 30 of these crack British … [Read more...] about 5 members of the UK’s Special Boat Service wounded fighting Britain’s secret war in Yemen
Note: This is part two of a multi-part series exploring elite components within the conventional British forces. 148 Battery (Meiktila) is a unit comprised of specifically qualified men from the British Army and Royal Navy. Tasked with calling in artillery and airstrikes to support United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) and 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. The men of … [Read more...] about Breaking down the British elite forces: 148 (Meiktila) Battery Royal Artillery
In a recent series we examined the United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) spectrum. In this series we'll review the elite components within the conventional British forces. We will start with one of the U.K.'s most renowned units: the Royal Marines, an elite amphibious commando force of the Royal Navy. The Royal Marines (RMs), or Bootnecks as they call themselves, are a … [Read more...] about Breaking down the British elite forces: The Royal Marine Commandos (RM)
Note: This is part five of a multi-part series exploring the various units within the U.K. Special Forces (UKSF). The Special Air Service (SAS) is the British Army’s most distinguished and renowned special forces unit. From the moment operators of the 22 SAS emerged on the balconies of the Iranian embassy in London in 1980, the SAS became famous both at home and overseas. … [Read more...] about UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Air Service (SAS)
Note: This is part four of a multi-part series exploring the various units within the U.K. Special Forces (UKSF). The Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) is a fairly new special forces unit. Officially formed on 3 April, 2006, the SFSG is based on a core segment of the soldiers from the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment (1 PARA), with added servicemen from the Royal Marines … [Read more...] about UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Forces Support Group (SFSG)
Note: This is part three of a multi-part series exploring the various units within the U.K. Special Forces (UKSF). The Special Boat Service (SBS), one of the oldest Special Forces regiments, is the U.K.’s premier naval counter terrorism unit (CT). The unit is tasked with addressing assaults on U.K.’s maritime interests. Over the years the SBS has established techniques for … [Read more...] about UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Boat Service (SBS)
Note: This is part two of a multi-part series exploring the various units within the U.K. Special Forces (UKSF). The United Kingdom's prolonged involvement in the Global War on Terror (GWOT) has created the demand for an increase in the country's number of special forces operators. From that need emerged the United Kingdom's newest special operations unit, the Special … [Read more...] about UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR)
