Editing Special Air Service (section)

==History==
{{Further|History of the Special Air Service|List of SAS operations|List of former SAS personnel}}

===Second World War===
The Special Air Service was a unit of the [[British Army during the Second World War]] that was formed in July 1941 by [[David Stirling]] and originally called "L" Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade{{snd}}the "L" designation and Air Service name being a tie-in to a British disinformation campaign, trying to deceive the Axis into thinking there was a paratrooper regiment with numerous units operating in the area (the real SAS would "prove" to the Axis that the fake one existed).<ref name=m22>Molinari, p. 22</ref><ref name=ha39>Haskew, p. 39</ref> It was conceived as a [[Commandos (United Kingdom)|commando]] force to operate behind enemy lines in the [[North African Campaign]]<ref>Thompson, p. 7</ref> and initially consisted of five officers and 60 [[Other ranks (UK)|other ranks]].<ref>Thompson, p. 48</ref> Its first mission, in November 1941, was a parachute drop in support of the [[Operation Crusader]] offensive, codenamed Operation Squatter.<ref name=ha39/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=Damien |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1338681927 |title=SAS brothers in arms : Churchill's desperadoes : blood-and-guts defiance at Britain's darkest hour |date=2022 |isbn=978-1-5294-1378-6 |location=London |pages=231 |oclc=1338681927}}</ref> Due to German resistance and adverse weather conditions, the mission was a disaster; with only 22 men, a third of the unit making back to base. The rest were either killed or captured. Its second mission was a major success. Transported by the [[Long Range Desert Group]], it attacked three airfields in [[Libya]], destroying 60 aircraft without loss.<ref name=ha40>Haskew, p. 40</ref> In September 1942, it was renamed 1st SAS, consisting at that time of four British squadrons, [[1st Marine Infantry Paratroopers Regiment#World War II|one Free French]], [[Sacred Band (World War II)#SAS Squadron|one Greek]], and the [[Special Boat Service#Origin: Second World War|Folboat Section]].<ref>Molinari, p. 25</ref>

[[File:Special Air Service in North Africa E 21337.jpg|thumb|SAS patrol in North Africa during WWII (1943)]]

In January 1943, Colonel David Stirling was captured in [[Tunisia]] and [[Paddy Mayne]] replaced him as commander.<ref>Haskew, p. 42</ref> In April 1943, the 1st SAS was reorganised into the Special Raiding Squadron under Mayne's command and the [[Special Boat Service|Special Boat Squadron]] was placed under the command of [[George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe|George Jellicoe]].<ref>Morgan, p. 15</ref> The Special Raiding Squadron fought in Sicily and Italy along with the 2nd SAS, which had been formed in North Africa in 1943 in part by the renaming of the [[Small Scale Raiding Force]] under the command of [[Bill Stirling (British Army officer)|Bill Stirling]] (brother of David).<ref>{{cite news|access-date=28 March 2010|work=The Times |location=London |title=Obituary:Lieutenant-Colonel David Danger: SAS radio operator|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article6004732.ece |date=31 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523092230/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article6004732.ece |archive-date=23 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=The Times |location=London |title=Obituary: Major Roy Farran|access-date=28 March 2010|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article671935.ece |date=6 June 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531185558/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article671935.ece |archive-date=31 May 2010}}</ref> The Special Boat Squadron fought in the [[Aegean Islands]] and [[Dodecanese]] until the end of the war.<ref>Haskew, pp. 52–54</ref> In 1944 the [[Special Air Service Troops|SAS Brigade]] was formed. The unit was formed from:<ref name=sb15/>
* 1st Special Air Service
* 2nd Special Air Service
* [[3rd Parachute Chasseur Regiment|3rd Special Air Service]] – 3e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes
* [[2nd Parachute Chasseur Regiment|4th Special Air Service]] – 2e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes
* [[5 SAS|5th Special Air Service]] – lineage continued by Belgian [[Special Forces Group (Belgium)|Special Forces Group]]
* [[GHQ Liaison Regiment|F Squadron]] – responsible for signals and communications

It was tasked with parachute operations behind the German lines in France<ref name=sb16>Shortt & McBride, p. 16</ref> and carried out operations supporting the Allied advance through France (Operations [[Operation Houndsworth|Houndsworth]], [[Operation Bulbasket|Bulbasket]], [[Operation Loyton|Loyton]], [[Operation Kipling|Kipling]] and [[Operation Wallace-Hardy|Wallace-Hardy]]), Belgium, the Netherlands ([[Operation Pegasus]]), and eventually into Germany ([[Operation Archway]] and [[Operation Howard]]).<ref name=sb15>Shortt & McBride, p. 15</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=3 November 2010|publisher=Airborne Museum Oosterbeek|url=http://www.vriendenairbornemuseum.nl/stolen_medals.htm|title=Society of Friends of the Airborne Museum Oosterbeek|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425132933/http://www.vriendenairbornemuseum.nl/stolen_medals.htm|archive-date=25 April 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> As a result of Hitler's issuing of the [[Commando Order]] on 18 October 1942, the members of the unit faced the additional danger that they would be summarily executed if captured by the Germans. In July 1944, following Operation Bulbasket, 34 captured SAS commandos were indeed summarily executed by the Germans. In October 1944, in the aftermath of Operation Loyton, another 31 captured SAS commandos were summarily executed by the Germans.<ref>Schorley, Pete; Forsyth, Frederick (2008). ''Who Dares Wins: Special Forces Heroes of the SAS''. Osprey Publishing, p. 50 {{ISBN?}}</ref>

The last original member of the Special Air Service and the last survivor of the Long Range Desert Group, [[Mike Sadler]], died on 4 January 2024, at the age of 103.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2024/01/04/major-mike-sadler-last-wartime-sas-originals-rogue-heroes/ |title=Mike Sadler, last of the wartime SAS 'Originals' and their principal navigator – obituary |date=4 January 2024 |access-date=4 January 2024 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

===Post-war===
At the end of the war the [[British government]] saw no further need for the force and disbanded it on 8 October 1945.<ref name=sb16/>

The following year it was decided there ''was'' a need for a long-term deep-penetration commando unit and a new SAS regiment was to be raised as part of the Territorial Army.<ref name=sb17>Shortt & McBride, p. 17</ref> Ultimately, the [[Artists Rifles]], raised in 1860 and headquartered at Dukes Road, Euston, took on the SAS mantle as 21st SAS Regiment (V) on 1 January 1947.<ref name=sb18>Shortt & McBride, p. 18</ref><ref name=sb17/>

[[John Woodhouse (British Army officer)|John Woodhouse]] was chosen to assist with establishing a reformed selection process for the SAS. The rigorous systems he assisted in developing over three years provided the basis of selection and training of the modern SAS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80018085|title=Woodhouse, John Michael (Oral history)|publisher=Imperial War Museum|access-date=14 May 2025}}</ref>

====Malayan Scouts====
[[File:21 SAS NIGHT DROP.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=man in British Army uniform, carrying a parachute helmet and wearing a beret, other men can just be seen in the dark background|21 SAS soldier after a night parachute drop exercise in Denmark (1955)]]

In 1950, a 21 SAS squadron was raised to fight in the [[Korean War]]. After three months of training in Britain, it was informed that the squadron would no longer be required in Korea and so it instead volunteered to fight in the [[Malayan Emergency]].<ref name=mcgregor/> Upon arrival in Malaya, it came under the command of "Mad Mike"<ref>{{cite book |last=Rooney |first=David |date=2007 |title=Mad Mike: A Life of Brigadier Michael Calvert |publisher=Pen and Sword |isbn= 978-1844155071 }}</ref> [[Mike Calvert]] who was forming a new unit called the Malayan Scouts (SAS).<ref name=mcgregor>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1408949/Major-Alastair-McGregor.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1408949/Major-Alastair-McGregor.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Obituary&nbsp;– Major Alastair McGregor|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |access-date=19 March 2010 | date=3 October 2002}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Calvert had already formed one squadron from 100 volunteers in the Far East, which became A Squadron; the 21 SAS squadron then became B Squadron; and after a recruitment visit to [[Rhodesia]] by Calvert, [[Rhodesian Special Air Service|C Squadron]] was formed from 100 Rhodesian volunteers.<ref>Shortt & McBride, p. 19</ref> The Rhodesians returned home after three years' service and were replaced by a New Zealand squadron.<ref name="Shortt & McBride, p. 20">Shortt & McBride, p. 20</ref> By this time the need for a regular army SAS regiment had been recognised; the 22 SAS Regiment was formally added to the army list in 1952 and has been based at [[Hereford]] since 1960.<ref name="g150">Griffin, pp. 150–152</ref> In 1959 the third regiment, the 23 SAS Regiment, was formed by renaming the Reserve Reconnaissance Unit, which had succeeded [[MI9]] and whose members were experts in [[escape and evasion]].<ref name=sm22/>

===22 SAS Regiment===
Since serving in Malaya, men from the regular army 22 SAS Regiment have taken part in reconnaissance patrols and large scale raiding missions in the [[Jebel Akhdar War]] in [[Oman]] and conducted covert reconnaissance and surveillance patrols and some larger scale raiding missions in [[Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation|Borneo]].<ref>Geraghty, pp. 120–131</ref><ref name=sf12>Scholey & Forsyth, p. 12</ref> They returned to Oman in operations against Communist-backed rebels in the [[Dhofar Rebellion]] including the [[Battle of Mirbat]].<ref>Scholey & Forsyth, p. 104</ref> They have also taken part in operations in the [[Aden Emergency]],<ref>Scholey & Forsyth, p. 57</ref> [[The Troubles|Northern Ireland]],<ref>Scholey & Forsyth, p. 53</ref> and [[The Gambia|Gambia]].<ref name=sf12 /> Their Special projects team assisted the West German counterterrorism group [[GSG 9]] at [[Lufthansa Flight 181|Mogadishu]].<ref name=sf12 /> The SAS counter terrorist wing famously took part in a hostage rescue operation during the [[Iranian Embassy Siege]] in London.<ref>Scholey & Forsyth, p. 11</ref> SAS were involved throughout [[United Kingdom in the Soviet-Afghan War|Britain's covert involvement]] in the [[Soviet–Afghan War]]; they acted through private military contractor [[Keenie Meenie Services]] (or KMS Ltd), training the Afghan [[Mujaheddin]] in weapons, tactics and using explosives. Not only did they train the Mujaheddin in Afghanistan but also sent them to be trained in [[Pakistan]], Oman and even parts of the UK.<ref name="Cormac235">{{cite book |last1=Cormac |first1=Rory |title=Disrupt and Deny: Spies, Special Forces, and the Secret Pursuit of British Foreign Policy |date=2018 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-878459-3 |pages=235–236 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=emZaDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA235 |access-date=24 August 2020 |archive-date=23 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423054619/https://books.google.com/books?id=emZaDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA235 |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[Falklands War]] B squadron were prepared for [[Operation Mikado]] before it was subsequently cancelled while D and G squadrons were deployed and participated in the [[raid on Pebble Island]].<ref>Scholey & Forsyth, p. 212</ref> [[Operation Flavius]] was a controversial operation in [[Gibraltar]] against the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] (PIRA).<ref name=sf12 /> 22 SAS also directed [[NATO]] aircraft onto [[Serb]] positions and hunted war criminals in [[Bosnia]].<ref>{{cite news|access-date=21 March 2010|title=Karadzic escapes again as SAS swoops on church|last=Hawton|first=Nick|work=The Times|location=London|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article1110890.ece|date=2 April 2004|archive-date=17 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517044611/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article1110890.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|access-date=21 March 2010|last=Bellamy|first=Christopher|title=Ground attack is first in Nato history: British SAS troops help US war planes to deliver a timely warning to Serbs that 'safe areas' must be respected, writes Christopher Bellamy in Split|work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ground-attack-is-first-in-nato-history-british-sas-troops-help-us-war-planes-to-deliver-a-timely-warning-to-serbs-that-safe-areas-must-be-respected-writes-christopher-bellamy-in-split-1369263.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ground-attack-is-first-in-nato-history-british-sas-troops-help-us-war-planes-to-deliver-a-timely-warning-to-serbs-that-safe-areas-must-be-respected-writes-christopher-bellamy-in-split-1369263.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |date=11 April 1994}}</ref> They were also involved in the [[Kosovo War]] helping [[Kosovo Liberation Army|KLA]] guerillas behind Serbian lines. According to Albanian sources one SAS sergeant was killed by Serbian special forces.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/war-in-europe-sas-teams-fighting-behind-serb-lines-1093993.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/war-in-europe-sas-teams-fighting-behind-serb-lines-1093993.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title= War in Europe: SAS teams 'fighting behind Serb lines' |date=16 May 1999|access-date=23 February 2015}}</ref>

The [[Gulf War]], in which A, B and D squadrons deployed, was the largest SAS mobilisation since the Second World War, also notable for the failure of the [[Bravo Two Zero]] mission.<ref>Scholey & Forsyth, p. 265</ref> In [[Sierra Leone]] it took part in [[Operation Barras]], a hostage rescue operation, to extract members of the [[Royal Irish Regiment (1992)|Royal Irish Regiment]].<ref name=sf12 />

Following the [[September 11 attacks]] on the United States by [[al-Qaeda]] in 2001, two squadrons of 22 SAS, later reinforced by members of both the Territorial SAS units, deployed to [[Afghanistan]] as part of the [[United States invasion of Afghanistan|Coalition invasion]] at the start of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]], to dismantle and destroy al-Qaeda and to deny it a safe base of operations in Afghanistan by removing the [[Taliban]] from power in the [[War on Terror]]. The Regiment carried out [[Operation Trent]], the largest operation in its history, which included its first wartime [[High-altitude military parachuting|HALO]] parachute jump. Following the invasion, the Regiment continued to operate in Afghanistan against the Taliban and other insurgents until 2006, when its deployment to Iraq became its focus of operations, until 2009 when the SAS redeployed to Afghanistan.<ref name="ReferenceB">Neville, Leigh, '' Special Forces in the War on Terror (General Military)'', Osprey Publishing, 2015 {{ISBN|978-1472807908}}, p. 75</ref><ref name="Neville, Leigh 2016">Neville, Leigh, ''The SAS 1983–2014 (Elite)'', Osprey Publishing, 2016, {{ISBN|978-1472814036}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1450394/Overstretched-SAS-calls-up-part-time-troops-for-Afghanistan.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323000712/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1450394/Overstretched-SAS-calls-up-part-time-troops-for-Afghanistan.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-03-23|title=Overstretched SAS calls up part-time troops for Afghanistan – Telegraph|date=23 March 2010}}</ref><ref>Jennings, p 187</ref>

The regiment took part in the [[Iraq War]], notably carrying out operations in Iraq before the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 invasion]]. Following the invasion, it formed part of [[Joint Special Operations Command Task Force in the Iraq War#Task Force Black/Knight|Task Force Black/Knight]] to combat the [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–11)|post invasion insurgency]]; in late 2005/early 2006, the SAS were integrated into [[JSOC]] and focused its counterinsurgency efforts on combating [[Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn|al-Qaeda in Iraq]] and the Sunni insurgency alongside [[Delta Force]]. The counter-insurgency was successful, and the UKSF mission in Iraq ended in May 2009.<ref name="ReferenceB" /><ref name="Neville, Leigh 2016" /><ref>Urban, Mark, ''Task Force Black: The Explosive True Story of the Secret Special Forces War in Iraq'', St. Martin's Griffin, 2012 {{ISBN|978-1-250-00696-7}}</ref> Overall, more than 3,500 terrorists were "taken off the streets" of Baghdad by 22 SAS.<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 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/5220803/SAS-and-other-special-forces-to-be-expanded-to-defeat-al-Qaeda.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=SAS and other special forces to be expanded to defeat al-Qaeda|author=Sean Rayment|date=25 April 2009|work=Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Various British newspapers have speculated on SAS involvement in [[Operation Ellamy]] and the [[2011 Libyan civil war]]. The ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' reports that "defence sources have confirmed that the SAS has been in Libya for several weeks, and played a key role in coordinating the fall of Tripoli."<ref>{{cite news|access-date=26 August 2011|first=Thomas|last=Harding|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |title=Libya, SAS leads hunt for Gaddafi|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8721291/Libya-SAS-leads-hunt-for-Gaddafi.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8721291/Libya-SAS-leads-hunt-for-Gaddafi.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=24 August 2011|display-authors=etal}}{{cbignore}}</ref> While ''[[The Guardian]]'' reports "They have been acting as [[forward air control]]lers{{snd}}directing pilots to targets{{snd}}and communicating with NATO operational commanders. They have also been advising rebels on tactics."<ref>{{cite news|access-date=26 August 2011|first=Richard|last=Norton-Taylor|work=The Guardian|location=London|title=SAS troopers help co-ordinate rebel attacks in Libya|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/23/sas-troopers-help-coordinate-rebels|date=23 August 2011|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411012828/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/23/sas-troopers-help-coordinate-rebels|url-status=live}}</ref>

Members of the Special Air Service were deployed to Northern Iraq in late August 2014, and according to former SIS chief [[Richard Barrett (counter-terrorism expert)|Richard Barrett]], would also be [[Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War#United Kingdom|sent to Syria]], tasked with trying to track down the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIL) terrorist group that the press labelled [[The Beatles (terrorist cell)|the Beatles]].<ref name=Forze>{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2014/08/25/forze-speciali-in-iraq-caccia-ai-beatles12.html?ref=search|title=Forze speciali in Iraq, caccia ai 'Beatles'|work=La Repubblica|date=25 August 2014|language=it|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-date=15 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915201140/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2014/08/25/forze-speciali-in-iraq-caccia-ai-beatles12.html?ref=search|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/08/21/Former-ISIS-hostage-identifies-Foley-executioner.html |title=Former ISIS hostage identifies Foley executioner |publisher=[[Al Arabiya]] |date=21 August 2014 |access-date=18 September 2014 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111233213/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/08/21/Former-ISIS-hostage-identifies-Foley-executioner.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/rapper-identified-as-james-foleys-executioner-reports-20140824-107w1i.html|author=Rachel Browne|title=Rapper identified as James Foley's executioner: reports|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=24 August 2014|access-date=18 September 2014|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214180908/https://www.smh.com.au/world/rapper-identified-as-james-foleys-executioner-reports-20140824-107w1i.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2024 it was acknowledged that five SAS members had been arrested by the [[Royal Military Police]] on suspicion of committing war crimes in Syria, though details have not been disclosed.<ref name=guardian-20240305>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/05/five-sas-soldiers-arrested-in-uk-on-suspicion-of-alleged-war-crimes-in-syria |title=Five SAS soldiers arrested in UK on suspicion of alleged war crimes in Syria |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |newspaper=The Guardian |date=5 March 2024 |access-date=5 March 2024}}</ref>

In recent years SAS officers have risen to senior appointments in the British Army and Armed Forces. General [[Peter de la Billière]] was the [[commander in chief]] of the British forces in the 1990 Gulf War.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=27 March 2010|title=Breakfast with Frost, interview|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast_with_frost/2900539.stm|date=30 March 2003|archive-date=19 December 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031219061530/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast_with_frost/2900539.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> General [[Michael Rose (British Army officer)|Michael Rose]] became commander of the [[United Nations Protection Force]] in [[Bosnian War|Bosnia]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=27 March 2010|publisher=BBC|title=Insurgents 'right to take on US'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6618075.stm|date=3 May 2007|archive-date=5 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005195307/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6618075.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1997 General [[Charles Guthrie, Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank|Charles Guthrie]] became [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] the head of the British armed forces.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Alice|last2=Sylvester|first2=Rachel|access-date=27 March 2010|work=The Times|location=London|title=Guthrie attacks Gordon Brown over helicopters for Afghanistan troops|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6726512.ece|date=25 July 2009|archive-date=23 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423054621/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Lieutenant-General]] [[Cedric Delves]] was appointed commander of the Field Army and deputy commander in chief NATO Regional Headquarters [[Joint Force Command Brunssum|Allied Forces North]] in 2002–2003.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=27 March 2010|publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]|title=Armed Forces:officers|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070604/text/70604w0039.htm|archive-date=24 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424115613/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070604/text/70604w0039.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===21 and 23 SAS===
{{Main|21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve)|23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve)}}
For much of the Cold War, the role of [[Artists Rifles|21 SAS]] and [[23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve)|23 SAS]] was to provide stay-behind parties in the event of a Warsaw Pact invasion of western Europe, forming together I Corps' Corps Patrol Unit. In the case of an invasion, this Special Air Service Group would have let themselves be bypassed and remained behind in order to collect intelligence behind Warsaw Pact lines, conduct target acquisition, and thus try to slow the enemy's advance.<ref>Asher, Michael (2008). ''The Regiment: The True Story of the SAS''. London: Penguin UK. {{ISBN|0141026529}}, pp. 359–360</ref><ref>Geraghty, Tony. ''Who Dares Wins: the story of the SAS 1950–1982'', p. 15 {{ISBN?}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Eyes on target: 'Stay-behind' forces during the Cold War|first=Tamir|last=Sinai|date=8 December 2020|journal=War in History|volume=28|issue=3|pages=681–700|doi=10.1177/0968344520914345|doi-access=free}}</ref>

In early 2003, a squadron of about 60 soldiers from 21 SAS and 23 SAS, were deployed to Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rayment|first1=Sean |title=Overstretched SAS calls up part-time troops for Afghanistan |work=[[The Sunday Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1450394/Overstretched-SAS-calls-up-part-time-troops-for-Afghanistan.html|location=London|date=28 December 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323000712/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1450394/Overstretched-SAS-calls-up-part-time-troops-for-Afghanistan.html |archive-date=23 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Daily Telegraph">{{cite news |last1=Rayment |first1=Sean |title=SAS reservists withdrawn from Afghan front line |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/7575034/SAS-reservists-withdrawn-from-Afghan-front-line.html |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=11 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413194545/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/7575034/SAS-reservists-withdrawn-from-Afghan-front-line.html |archive-date=13 April 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2005, for the first time since the Malayan Emergency a whole Reserve squadron deployed from one of the regiments to Afghanistan to conduct reconnaissance of [[Helmand province campaign|Helmand province]] in preparation for the establishment of a [[Task Force Helmand|Task Force]] based around [[16 Air Assault Brigade]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Michael |title=Part-time SAS sent to tackle Taliban |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=20 November 2005}}</ref>

===Influence on other special forces===
Following the post-war reconstitution of the Special Air Service, other countries in the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] recognised their need for similar units. The [[Canadian Special Air Service Company]] was formed in 1947, being disbanded in 1949.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wlu.ca/lcmsds/cmh/back%20issues/CMH/volume%2010/issue%201/Horn%20-%20A%20Military%20Enigma%20-%20The%20Canadian%20Special%20Air%20Service%20Company,%201948-1949.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111501/http://www.wlu.ca/lcmsds/cmh/back%20issues/CMH/volume%2010/issue%201/Horn%20-%20A%20Military%20Enigma%20-%20The%20Canadian%20Special%20Air%20Service%20Company,%201948-1949.pdf|url-status=dead|title=''A Military Enigma: The Canadian Special Air Service Company, 1948–1949'', by Lieutenant-Colonel Bernd Horn, Assistant Professor of History, Royal Military College Kingston. Canadian Military History, Volume 10, Number 1. Winter 2001.|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/organization/specialforces/canadian_sas.htm|title=www.canadiansoldiers.com|website=www.canadiansoldiers.com|access-date=27 February 2014|archive-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115120304/http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/organization/specialforces/canadian_sas.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[New Zealand Special Air Service]] squadron was formed in June 1955 to serve with the British SAS in Malaya, which became a full regiment in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of New Zealand's Special Operations Forces|url=http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/about-us/nzsof/history.htm|website=New Zealand Defence Force|access-date=1 January 2017|date=2 October 2014|archive-date=17 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717214549/http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/about-us/nzsof/history.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Australia formed the 1st SAS Company in July 1957, which became a full regiment of the [[Special Air Service Regiment]] (SASR) in 1964.<ref>{{cite web|title=Special Air Service Regiment|url=https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/units/special-operations-command/special-air-service-regiment|website=Australian Army|access-date=1 January 2017|date=14 December 2016|archive-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101162356/https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/units/special-operations-command/special-air-service-regiment|url-status=dead}}</ref> On its return from Malaya, the C (Rhodesian) Squadron formed the basis for creation of the [[Rhodesian Special Air Service]] in 1961.<ref name=sm22>Shortt & McBride, p. 22</ref> It retained the name "C Squadron (Rhodesian) Special Air Service" within the [[Rhodesian Security Forces]] until 1978, when it became 1 (Rhodesian) Special Air Service Regiment.<ref>Abbott, Peter, ''Modern African Wars (I): Rhodesia 1965–80'', Osprey Publishing London, 2001, p. 18.</ref>

Non-Commonwealth countries have also formed units based on the SAS. The Belgian Army's [[Special Forces Group (Belgium)|Special Forces Group]], which wears the same capbadge as the British SAS, traces its ancestry partly from the [[5th Special Air Service]] of the Second World War.{{refn|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.be/fr/unites/special-forces-group|title=Special Forces Group|date=9 December 2013|access-date=21 July 2016|archive-date=15 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915222036/https://www.mil.be/fr/unites/special-forces-group|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfg.be/index.php/en/2013-02-22-16-26-49/history|title=History|work=sfg.be|access-date=3 May 2015|archive-date=27 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027073142/http://sfg.be/index.php/en/2013-02-22-16-26-49/history|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdomuseum.be/ANGLAIS/00_uk.htm|title=00|access-date=21 July 2016|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111091956/http://www.cdomuseum.be/ANGLAIS/00_uk.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marsandminerva.co.uk/units.htm|title=Special Air Service Regimental Association – Units Represented|work=marsandminerva.co.uk|access-date=3 May 2015|archive-date=14 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414122352/http://www.marsandminerva.co.uk/units.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belgiansas.us/history.html|title=''The Belgian SAS in WWII – A Very Short History'', website of the Belgian SAS Reenactment Group|access-date=21 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816181119/http://www.belgiansas.us/history.html|archive-date=16 August 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/SAS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112054639/http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/special-air-service|url-status=dead|title=Special Air Service &#124; National Army Museum|archive-date=12 November 2013|website=www.nam.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paracommando.com/unit.php?1para|title=1 Para: 1 bn Parachutisten Diest |work=paracommando.com|access-date=3 May 2015|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727051408/http://www.paracommando.com/unit.php?1para|url-status=live}}</ref>}} The French [[1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment]] (1er RPIMa) can trace its origins to the Second World War 3rd and 4th SAS, adopting its "who dares wins" motto.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=14 April 2010|publisher=Ministere de la Defense|title=Demi-brigade de parachutistes SAS|url=http://www.rpima1.terre.defense.gouv.fr/decouverte/historique/indochine/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503153834/http://www.rpima1.terre.defense.gouv.fr/decouverte/historique/indochine/index.html|archive-date=3 May 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The American unit, [[Delta Force|1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta]], was formed by Colonel [[Charles Alvin Beckwith]], who served with 22 SAS as an [[exchange officer]], and recognised the need for a similar type of unit in the [[United States Army]].<ref name="2012 induction">{{cite web|title=Distinguished member of the special forces regiment – Colonel Charles A. Beckwith |url=http://www.soc.mil/SWCS/RegimentalHonors/_pdf/sf_beckwith.pdf |website=United States Army Special Operations Command |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221090013/http://www.soc.mil/SWCS/RegimentalHonors/_pdf/sf_beckwith.pdf |archive-date=21 December 2016 |date=13 December 2012 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> The Israeli [[Sayeret Matkal]] and [[Shaldag Unit|Shaldag]] units have also been modelled after the SAS, sharing its motto. [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]'s [[Army Ranger Wing]] (ARW) also trains with the SAS.<ref>{{cite news|last=McDonald|first=Henry|title=Elite Irish troops on standby to keep peace in Afghanistan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/dec/23/afghanistan.henrymcdonald|access-date=15 May 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=23 December 2001|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111092040/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/dec/23/afghanistan.henrymcdonald|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Philippine National Police]]'s [[Special Action Force]] was formed along the lines of the SAS.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://pnp-saf.org.ph/index.php/accom/history |title=History |date=21 October 2020 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021093501/http://pnp-saf.org.ph/index.php/accom/history |archive-date=21 October 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The former Royal Afghan Army's 666th Commando Brigade was formed by Colonel Ramatullah Safi in the 1970s after he received his training with the SAS before it was disbanded through purges after the coups in 1973 and 1978.<ref>''The Better Hammer: Soviet Special Operations Forces and Tactics in Afghanistan 1979–86'', pp. 93–94. {{ISBN?}}</ref>