SAS Troops

Air Troop

The main objective of the SAS Air Troops is to parachute out of an aeroplane at 25,000 feet and land deep behind enemy lines. In the SAS, the men of the Air Troops are known as "Ice Cream Boys", due to their parachute logos, which resemble ice cream cones in shape, and for their tans and the sunglasses they often wear, as they are required to train where the weather is fine (preferring clear skies for parachute training).

Air Troops have two ways of infiltration: HALO and HAHO. HALO jumps take place at about 25,000 feet. The trooper free falls until about 2,000 feet above the ground and only then opens his 'chute. This allows him to land close to a target, but the plane will never be seen or heard. Both of these types of parachuting are very dangerous. Parachuting with heavy loads can make the thin silk of the parachutes collapse quite easily in the thin air.

Air Troop operators must wear large aircrew helmets ("bonedomes") when jumping from high altitudes. An oxygen mask is hooked onto it to provides the trooper with air while he is parachuting. The trooper also wears goggles. His equipment is carried between his legs and is lowered on a cord just prior to landing on the ground. The trooper's weapon is carried under one of his arms, ready to fire. He also wears an altimeter on his wrist and heavy clothes to protect him from the cold. A reserve 'chute is usually carried in the front.

Boat Troop

Troopers of the SAS's Boat Troop are tasked with the job of waterborne insertion techniques. The soldiers first have to master diving. Diving is taught with Open and Closed (bubbless) Circuit breathing devices. The troopers learn how to approach a ship, that is underway, and attach a limpet mine. The new Boat Troop members will spend a great deal of time sitting at the bottom of Poole Harbor with members of the SBS.

Once proficient in diving, the new troopers will learn methods of infiltration. One of the main forms of transportation is still the Klepper folding kayak. The Klepper was designed during WWII for use by the SAS and Royal Marine Commandos. It has been in service ever since and will probably remain that way for a long time. They will also learn how to handle certain types of boats. Fast patrol boats have a fiberglass hull with an inflatable lip over the top to increase it bouyancy and allow for better maneuverability. Rigid Raider boats have also been around for a long time. These are large boats often used to help carry larger amounts of people or cargo to the shore. Also in use is the Gemini inflatable boat. It is used primarily for sending small groups of soldiers onto a shore undetected.

Locking out of submarines is also taught. This is a very dangerous thing to do. At certain depths the pressure could kill him, if the cold, lack of oxygen, or dark doesn't get to him first. While the SAS would probably not be called upon to assault an oil rig or take down a ship, these are still practiced. When performing these operations, the men usually wear dry suits so that they don't come down with hypothermia. The point man in the group will normally carry the MP5 SD to take out any sentry who may be standing guard. Long rope type ladders (commonly referred to as Jacob's Ladders) are attached to a ship or oil rig using a telescopic pole. The assault team will then use the ladders to gain entry. Snipers are usually put on smaller boats near the target (usually smaller ships to hide among regular sea traffic), or they may be left in the boats to provide security, or they can even be flown in quickly via helicopter as the assault begins. Assaults like these will usually be carried out by members of the SBS.

Demolitions is also a big part of diving. The soldiers must be able to stop a ship or blow up a bridge. Navigations underwater is also taught. All navigation is done using a compass. Being lost underwater, in hostile territory is not a good day. The men also practice heliborne entry into the water. a helicopter some 50 feet above the water will go into the hover and the men will simply jump out . Parachute drops in the water are also very common. The soldiers have to seal their weapons to avoid them getting a jam. This is normally done with either a "dry bag" or using a condom to roll down over the barrel. This has proven to be an effective way of stopping the weapon from jamming.

Mobility Troop

Mobility is probably one of the oldest skills in the SAS. Dating back to WWII, the SAS used "gun jeeps" and chevrolet light trucks to help provide mobility and heavier fire power. The Mobility Troop of today still has the same role as the SAS troopers of WWII, to travel deep behind enemy lines and cause havoc on the enemy. Sometimes the Mobility Troops may call in air support but usually a strict radio silence is ordered. Flags are used to provide communication between vehicles on the move.

When a new trooper is assigned to a Mobility Troop he must master all the skills of an experienced mechanic. He also has to learn how to fix SAS vehicles while under severe combat stress. A lot of Mobility Troop are ex-REME. There are many types of vehicles in use by the SAS today. Probably the most well known is the "Pink Panther" or "Pinky", so called because of the colour of the camouflage they were painted with during World war two - they are generally painted a sandy colour nowadays, although they retain their nicknames. These are modified Land Rover 110s. They can be armed with a mixture of weapons, such as the Browning M2 .50cal Heavy Barrel Machine Gun, Mk.19 40mm grenade launcher, twin or single GPMGs, and the Milan Anti-Tank Weapon. Mobility Troop also has the Land Rover 90s. These are smaller versions of the 110, but lack weapon mounts. Also in limited use is the LSV, or Light Strike Vehicle. It is a two seat dune buggy with a mount for a machine gun or Mk.19. Also available is the Honda 350cc Quad, which is small and can be held easily in a helicopter or small boat. Last but certainly not least is the quiet Honda 250cc motorbike, useful for forward reconnaissance. British Army trucks may be used as a supply convoy in long distance operations.

During Desert Storm, the motorbikes proved invaluable. On one occasion, a patrol behind enemy lines was spotted by Iraqi forces who immediately sought to escape. The SAS pursued them until outriders pulled in front of the Iraqi trucks making them stop. When the rest of the patrol enganged the trucks two outriders got caught in the cross fire, one of whom died. For his actions Corporal Denbury was posthumously awarded the MM.

Mountain Troop

The SAS's Mountain Troop are responsible for all aspects of mountaineering and skiing. Training for Mountain Troop takes place all over the world in deserts and in mountain ranges. Many training expeditions are organised and troopers in mountain troop have a reputation as being some of the best climbers in the world. Kenya is often used as a training ground for its hot climate and difficult terrain.

Weapons and equipment

The SAS uses a large variety of weaponry depending on the nature of the mission. On black ops (for example, the Iranian embassy siege) they mainly use the H&K MP5. Otherwise the standard small arm issued is a variant C7. These are often accompanied by Minimi LMGs, or GPMGs (affectionately called a gympie). The SAS have famously avoided using the SA80. In its original incarnation it was deemed too unreliable but following a series of upgrades by HK (at the time owned by Royal Ordnance) the primary reason for its disuse is its comparably heavy weight. If available the SAS may also use captured enemy weapons and material. Night vision devices and satellite communications are used if necessary for the mission. Usually the SAS try to avoid using a radio because enemy may use electronic surveillance, however they are sometimes issued TACBE's for contact friendly forces when cut-off. SAS often uses civilian clothing for infiltration or camouflage purposes.