The SBS is an independent unit but part of the Royal Marines . To be eligible for SBS selection, a candidate formerly must have served for at least two years in the Royal Marines or the Royal Navy, but now they can volunteer from any arm of the services. If selected they must then pass a rigorous selection course.
The SBS’s role is not confined to seaborne and maritime operations – their responsibilities do not end at the tide line. SBS training concentrates on swimming, demolitions, diving, infiltrating ships at sea and oil platforms, and parachuting. Klepper Canoe s are standard issue. They are also trained to Parachute and to undertake high-speed rope deployments from Helicopter s. One of their roles is to protect Britain's offshore Oil Rig s.
Those who pass the selection course then undergo a swimmer canoeist (SC3) (= Frogman ) training course. During this course the candidates are still considered to be on probation. The swimmer canoeist course includes survival training in the wilds of Scotland and diving training in cold water with poor visibility. In the diving phase they swim underwater for miles in the dark and mud. The course includes beach reconnaissance, canoeing, Photography , underwater Demolitions , and maritime counter-terrorism training.
It used to be the case that all ranks could serve for a maximum of three years in the SBS. However, due to the shortage of people applying and the unwillingness of the SBS to lower its entry standards, it was decided that the best alternative was to extend the maximum tenure. It is now possible for an officer to spend the rest of his career in the SBS, but an NCO has to return to the Royal Marines after his term is up (this is actually the opposite situation from that in the SAS). Normally whether or not an officer is allowed to stay for the rest of his career is decided on a case by case basis.
The SBS is thought to have a complement of around 100 "swimmer canoeists" at any one time. These are split into four squadrons.
C, and X squadrons rotate through three specialist roles. Z squadron takes care of small watercraft and minisub insertions.
SBS veterans include politician Paddy Ashdown , former leader of the Liberal Democrats , and author and travel writer Eric Newby .
- 1941: The Special Air Service was formed in World War II during the North African conflict. The SAS later formed a unit comprising eight-man sections of divers and Canoe ists to reconnoitre enemy fortifications from land or sea, raid enemy ports, and conduct sabotage operations against merchant shipping. Originally this unit was named the to fool German radio operators listening in on British military communications. It was assumed that '' Wehrmacht '' operators would have little interest in a "Special Boat Section" when there was so much else going on.
- 1942 April: The British Navy formed a for more about them and their deeds in 1942 to 1945.
- 1946: The SBS became part of the Royal Marines . It became part of the School Of Combined Operations under the command of Blondie Hasler . Another two squadrons were formed from British troops in West Germany in 1951 . Two volunteer squadrons were later added. Their first missions were in Palestine (ordnance removal) and in Haifa ( Limpet Mine removal from ships).
- 1950-1953: In the Korean War the SBS were in action along the North Korea n coast. They gathered intelligence and destroyed railways and installations. The SBS operated first from Submarine s, and later from islands off Wonsan , behind enemy lines. They used two-man canoes and motorised inflatable boats.
- 1952: SBS teams were held at combat readiness in Egypt in case Gamal Abdal Nasser 's Coup turned more violent than it did.
- 1956: The SBS were alerted during the Suez Crisis , but did not see action.
- 1969 September: The SBS were alerted during a coup against king Idris I Of Libya , but did not see action. ''Similar situations followed.''
- 1961: SBS teams carried out Reconnaissance missions during the Indonesian Confrontation .
- 1961: The SBS primarily gathered intelligence and trained other special forces during the Vietnam War .
- 1961: Iraq threatened to invade Kuwait for the first time, so the SBS put a detachment at Bahrain .
- later: The SBS was stationed in Gibraltar , where they gathered intelligence in case Franco 's Spain decided to invade.
- The SBS were involved in anti-drug operations in the Caribbean .
- 1972: The SAS and SBS came into the spotlight for a moment during their involvement with a bomb threat (which later proved to be a hoax) onboard the Cunard liner RMS ''Queen Elizabeth II'' , in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean .
- 1977: The SBS changed its name to .
- 1979: 5 SBS become part of the Comacchio Company , which protected North Sea Oil Rig s.
- 1980: SBS members played a part in the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege .
- 1982 March-June: In the Falklands War , 2 SBS took part in the liberation of South Georgia and 6 SBS reconnoitered in East Falkland . Their only losses were to Friendly Fire from the SAS.
- 1987: The SBS became part of the UK Special Forces group alongside the Special Air Service and 14 Intelligence Company .
- 1987: The SBS changed its name to and was brought under the command of the Director Special Forces .
- 1991: During the Gulf War , the SBS made raids on the Kuwaiti coast to draw Iraqi troops away from the land attack. The liberation of the British Embassy in Kuwait was one of their most high-profile operations.
- 1999 or later: The SBS were involved in operations in East Timor .
- 2001 October: The SBS took part in the U.S. Invasion Of Afghanistan , where they secured Bagram Airbase .
- 2003: The SBS took part in the Invasion Of Iraq In 2003 .
- 2005 March 14: The Commanding Officer of the SBS was killed in a training accident in Norway .
Throughout the Cold War , the SBS was organized to perform a "conventional " special forces role for the Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade . However, in recent decades the SBS's role has become more and more devoted to counter-terrorist operations.
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