Editing Special Boat Service (section)

==Present day==
===Organisation===

The [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] does not comment on special forces matters, and there is consequently little verifiable information in the public domain.<ref name=scotsman>{{cite web|access-date=9 March 2010|newspaper=[[The Scotsman]]|title=Special forces quitting to cash in on Iraq|url=http://www.sandline.com/hotlinks/Scotsman_Spec-forces.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615202732/http://www.sandline.com/hotlinks/Scotsman_Spec-forces.html|archive-date=15 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The SBS is under the Operational Command of [[Director Special Forces]] and is based in Hamworthy barracks, [[Poole]], Dorset.<ref name=tele>{{cite news|last=Rayment|first=Sean |date=1 August 2004|title=End your rift, SAS and SBS are told |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1468360/End-your-rift-SAS-and-SBS-are-told.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=9 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010180600/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1468360/End-your-rift-SAS-and-SBS-are-told.html|archive-date=10 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to military sources in 2020, the SBS numbers about a couple of hundred personnel. Members are on standby at all times. While women have been eligible to join since 2018, there is no official information on women serving on the frontline.<ref name=graun25oc20>{{Cite web|title=What do we know about the SBS?|last1=Defence|first1=Dan Sabbagh |newspaper=The Guardian|date=26 October 2020|url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/25/what-do-we-know-about-the-sbs}}</ref>

In 1987, when renamed the Special Boat Service, the SBS was also reformed along SAS lines, with 16-person troops (each equivalent to a [[platoon]]) instead of the traditional sections.<ref>{{cite journal|access-date=17 March 2010|publisher=Cambridge University Press|title=The arrested development of UK special forces and the global war on terror|year=2009 |doi=10.1017/S0260210509990398 |url=http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=6459928&jid=RIS&volumeId=35&issueId=04&aid=6459920|last1=Finlan |first1=Alastair |journal=Review of International Studies |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=971–982 |s2cid=59450530 }}</ref>
About 200–250 commandos make up the SBS at any one time,<ref>{{cite news|last=MacErlean|first=Neasa |date=20 January 2002|title=The Special Boat Service |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2002/jan/20/wageslaves.careers|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613011448/http://www.theguardian.com/money/2002/jan/20/wageslaves.careers|archive-date=13 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Peter|last1=Almond |first2=John|last2=Elliott|date=20 March 2005 |title=Fallen SBS leader set up jungle rescue|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/london-travel/fallen-sbs-leader-set-up-jungle-rescue-h877bdwg37d|newspaper=[[The Times]]|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517043854/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article432603.ece|archive-date=17 May 2008}}</ref> and once qualified, personnel are known as "Swimmer Canoeists". They are experts in swimming, diving, parachuting, navigation, demolition and reconnaissance.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=9 March 2010|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]|title=Career Specialisations|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/royalmarines/careers/career-specialisations/#f9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212161617/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/royalmarines/careers/career-specialisations/#f9|archive-date=12 February 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since the SBS joined the UKSF Group in the 1980s, it has been restructured. Instead of one squadron being tasked with a permanent role the unit adopted the same system of squadron rotation as the SAS.{{sfn|Lewis|2007}} Each Squadron rotates through counter terrorism duties and conventional operations and tasking. For example, in December 2001 C squadron was on MCT Role, and was called in to intercept the MV Nisha while M and Z Squadron were deployed in Afghanistan.{{sfn|Lewis|2007}}

The SBS Reserve (SBS(R)) provides individual reservists to augment the regular SBS.<ref name="SBS(R)"/> Recruits need to be serving members of UK reserve forces and a high level of commitment is required.<ref name="SBS(R)">{{cite web |title=Special Boat Service Reserve|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/royal-marines/special-boat-service/special-boat-service/special-boat-service-reserve |website=Royal Navy|access-date=26 January 2020|language=en}}</ref> The SBS(R) is based at various locations throughout the United Kingdom, but training is carried out in the South of England.<ref name=sbsr>{{cite web|access-date=8 March 2010|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]|title=Special Boat Service (Reserve)|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/specialforces/10558.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315100646/http://www.army.mod.uk/specialforces/10558.aspx|archive-date=15 March 2010}}</ref>

===Structure===

The structure of the SBS is as follows:<ref>{{cite web |title=Special Boat Service (SBS) {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Special-Boat-Service |website=www.britannica.com |date=7 January 2024 |language=en |quote=It is organized into four squadrons...}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Tucker |first1=Spencer C. |title=The encyclopedia of Middle East wars: the United States in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts |date=2010 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |location=Santa Barbara, Calif. |isbn=9781851099481 |page=1152 |quote=The SBS consists of four squadrons: C, X, M, and Z, each containing around 60 men.}}</ref>
* C Squadron{{sfn|Urban|2012a|loc=Target AQI}}
* M Squadron
** HQ Troop, 4 Troop, 5 Troop,{{sfn|Camsell|2001|p=18|loc=he was drafted direct to 5 Troop SBS, M squadron with me}} 6 Troop{{sfn|Lewis|2013|p=17}}
* X Squadron
* Z Squadron
* SBS(R) R Squadron

The SBS has a subunit dedicated to operating [[SEAL Delivery Vehicle|Swimmer Delivery Vehicles]] (SDVs) known as the SDV Troop.{{sfn|Lewis|2013|p=29}}{{sfn|Parker|2013|p=219}}<ref name="JSP754">{{cite web |author1=Ministry of Defence |title=Tri-Service Regulations for Pay and Charges |url=https://moam.info/jsp-754-moneyforce_5a1d57451723ddba458a1862.html |via=MOAM.INFO |access-date=19 July 2022 |series=Joint Service Publication 754| edition=18| date=1 April 2013| page=6-12-3}}</ref>