Special Air Service Regiment
The Special Air Service Regiment, officially abbreviated SASR though commonly known as the SAS, is a special forces unit of the Australian Army. Formed in 1957 as a company, it was modelled on the British SAS with which it shares the motto, "Who Dares Wins". Expanded to a regiment in August 1964, it is based at Campbell Barracks, in Swanbourne, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, and is a direct command unit of the Special Operations Command.
Not to be confused with SAS (R).Special Air Service Regiment
- 25 July 1957
(as 1st SAS Coy) - 20 August 1964 – present
(as SASR)
One regiment
- Quick – The Happy Wanderer[4]
- Slow – Lili Marlene
- Michael Jeffery (1976–77)
- Jim Wallace (1988–90)[6]
- Duncan Lewis (1990–91)
- Mike Hindmarsh (1997–99)
- Tim McOwan (1999–2001)
- Gus Gilmore (2001–02)
- Rick Burr (2003–04)
SASR
The regiment first saw active service in Borneo in 1965 and 1966 during the Indonesian Confrontation, mainly conducting reconnaissance patrols, including secret cross-border operations into Indonesian territory. The regiment's three squadrons were rotated through Vietnam, carrying out tasks included medium-range reconnaissance patrols, observation of enemy troop movements, and long-range offensive operations and ambushing in enemy dominated territory. They also served with US Army Special Forces, and conducted training missions. The SASR squadrons were highly successful, and were known to the Viet Cong as Ma Rung or "phantoms of the jungle" due to their stealth.
Following the Sydney Hilton bombing of February 1978, the regiment became responsible for developing a military counter-terrorism response force in August 1979, known as the Tactical Assault Group (TAG). SASR troops have also served in Somalia, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as many other peacekeeping missions. The SASR also provides a counter-terrorist capability, and has been involved in a number of domestic security operations. It has been alleged that some SASR personnel committed war crimes in Afghanistan.
Role[edit]
Tasks and capabilities[edit]
A direct command unit of Special Operations Command,[7] the SASR "is tasked to provide special-operations capabilities in support of the Australian Defence Force. This includes providing unique capabilities to support sensitive strategic operations, hostage rescue,[8] advisory and training assistance, special reconnaissance, precision strike and direct action".[9] The regiment is primarily structured to conduct covert, long range reconnaissance and surveillance in small teams in enemy-controlled territory (in contrast to Australian commandos, who usually conduct raids in larger groups).[10][11] In addition to war-fighting in conventional conflicts, the SASR has also long maintained a specialist counter-terrorist capability.[9] The regiment is also trained in counter-insurgency operations.[12] Other capabilities include training local or indigenous forces, recovery of Australian citizens and humanitarian assistance.[10]
Warfighting and special reconnaissance[edit]
In the long-range reconnaissance role, the SASR typically operates in small patrols of between five and six operators with the task of infiltrating enemy-held territory and providing intelligence on enemy activities and capabilities. During such tasks the SASR seeks to evade rather than confront the enemy. SASR soldiers also direct fire support including air strikes to destroy enemy installations and disrupt or kill enemy forces whenever possible. SASR reconnaissance patrols can be inserted by air (either by helicopter, parachute or high altitude parachute), land (on foot or by vehicle) or water (including by submarine, small boats, kayaks or diving) and have proved capable of covering long distances and staying concealed in jungle, desert and mountain terrain.[10][13] SASR patrols may also conduct sabotage and short-duration raids on high-value targets, including headquarters, airfields and communications nodes.[12]
Counter-terrorism and hostage rescue[edit]
One of the primary roles of the regiment is to provide a counter-terrorist capability,[14] with an element of the SASR designated as the Tactical Assault Group (West) to respond to domestic incidents on the west coast of Australia and also for international operations.[15][16] TAG (West) maintains a short-notice capability to conduct military operations beyond the scope of state/territory and federal Police Tactical Groups. Offensive counter-terrorist operations may include direct action and hostage recovery.[17]
A capability to board ships at anchor, ships underway and off-shore gas and oil platforms is also maintained.[18] TAG (West) is kept at high readiness for a period of 12 months, before being replaced by another squadron in this role.[19] The 2nd Commando Regiment provides Tactical Assault Group (East) to respond to domestic incidents on the east coast of Australia.[15][16][20]
The strength of the SASR is over 700 personnel.[186] Based at Campbell Barracks, it is a battalion-sized element and is known to be made up of a regimental headquarters, three sabre squadrons, an operational support squadron, a specialist support squadron, and a signals squadron.[10][180][186] In 2002 it was reported that two sabre squadrons (designated as contingency squadrons) were assigned to maintain the regiment's warfighting capability and that the third sabre squadron was designated as the Tactical Assault Group, with squadrons rotating through the two roles.[187] In 2015, the existence of a fourth sabre squadron was acknowledged.[186] In 2021 the seniority of the commander of the SASR was increased from a lieutenant colonel to a full colonel.[188]
The regiment is currently believed to be organised as follows:[10][17][180][186][Note 4]
Each sabre squadron is approximately 90-strong,[13] and is divided into three troops (Water Troop, Free-Fall Troop and Vehicle Mounted Troop).[191] A troop comprises four patrols with five or six operators in each patrol,[192] and is commanded by a captain with each patrol commanded by a sergeant.[193] For surveillance operations the SASR usually operates in patrols; however, for CT operations it usually employs larger force elements.[194] Support personnel include signallers, mechanics and technicians, medical staff, storemen, drivers, caterers and various specialists.[13] It was reported in 2012 that six female soldiers were being trained in the United States.[180] As of 2003, 152 Signal Squadron comprised four troops.[195] Military dogs, designated Special Operations Military Working Dog (SOMWD), have been members of the SASR since 2005, seeing service in Afghanistan and have their own memorial.[196][197][198]
While the SASR is a regular army unit, it also has a pool of Army Reserve personnel. These soldiers are former regular Army members of the SASR or specialists.[199]
Following the release of the Brereton Report into war crimes in Afghanistan, it was announced that 2 Squadron would be struck from the Army's order of battle due to its association with war crimes, and that over time the regiment would re-raise a differently titled squadron.[190][151]
Uniform and equipment[edit]
The standard dress of the regiment is the new Multicam-design camouflage which became standard issue to special forces troops in 2012, and is now being introduced to all other Australian Army soldiers in Afghanistan and will eventually become the standard Operational Combat Uniform (OCU).[200] Although SASR parade, working and field uniforms are generally the same as those used by the rest of the Australian Army, special uniforms—including black coveralls—are used depending on the tactical situation.[12] Qualified SASR members wear a sandy-coloured beret with a metal, gold and silver badge, depicting the sword Excalibur, with flames issuing upwards from below the hilt, with a scroll across the front of blade inscribed with the regimental motto "Who Dares Wins", on a black shield.[3][23][201][Note 5] This differs from the British Special Air Service, which wears a woven cloth cap badge of the same design.[23] SAS 'Ibis'-style parachute wings (rounded at the bottom and straight on top) are worn on the right shoulder on general duty, ceremonial and mess dress uniforms only.[203][204][205][202] A garter blue lanyard is worn.[206] Members of the regiment often dispense with rank, use first names, and wear long hair and beards on operations or when in the field.[207]
Soldiers are armed with a variety of weapons systems depending on what the mission dictates. These include the M4A1 carbine (designated as the M4A5 in Australia), which is used as their primary weapon.[208] The shortened version of the M4, known as the Mk 18 CQBR, is also used.[209] The SIG-Sauer MCX is used in counter-terrorist and specialist roles, largely replacing the legacy MP5.[210] Primary weapons are complemented with the two issued sidearms, the USP Tactical and the Glock 19.[211] For medium to long range engagements the Heckler & Koch HK417,[212] SR-25 marksman rifle,[213] and Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle[214] are also used. Support weapons used include the Mk48 Maximi Modular,[213] MAG 58[215] and the Para Minimi.[211][216] Sniper rifles used have included the SR-98, Blaser Tactical 2, and Barrett M82A2.[217] The regiment also uses a number of direct and indirect fire support weapons including 66 mm M72 rockets, 84 mm M3 MAAWS, FGM-148 Javelins, M2-QCB Browning .50 calibre machine guns, Mk 47 Striker grenade launchers, and mortars.[215][218] Flash bang devices and fragmentation grenades are also used depending on the tactical situation, including the thermobaric Mk 14 Anti-Structure Munition (ASM-HG) which has reportedly been used in Afghanistan.[219]
A range of different vehicles are used, including the Supacat High Mobility Transporter (HMT) Extenda with 31 purchased in 2007 designated the Special Operations Vehicle – Special Reconnaissance (SOV-SR), named "Nary" after a SASR warrant officer killed during pre-deployment training in 2005.[220][221][222] The first Nary was delivered in 2008 but due to technical problems the vehicles did not enter service until 2011, replacing the Long Range Patrol Vehicle (LRPV) which had seen extensive service in Afghanistan and Iraq.[222][223][224][225] New SOV-Logistics trucks are being acquired to replace the Mercedes-Benz Unimog for supply, support and recovery of the SOV-SR.[226] A lighter, less protected vehicle, more akin to the LRPV—the Polaris Defense DAGOR (Deployable Advanced Ground Off-road)—was being trialled in 2015.[227] Motorcycles are also used for long range strategic reconnaissance seeing service in Afghanistan.[228] Polaris six-wheel all-terrain vehicles are also used, seeing service in Afghanistan.[229][230] Heavily modified up-armoured Toyota Land Cruiser four wheel drive vehicles designated SOV-Support are used for domestic counter-terrorism and special recovery.[226] The USMI 11m Naval Special Warfare Rigid Inflatable Boat designated Air Drop Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (ADRHIB) is used for domestic counter-terrorism and special recovery.[231][232] The Divex Shadow rebreather is used in diving operations.[233]