WAR AND SOLDIERS
SAS special forces
On the fifth of May, 1980
masked men attacked the Iranian embassy in London.
Their task was to free the hostages of terrorists.
British Army SAS champion troops were seen for the first time in action.
SAS emptied the room of the building at a time, according to the plan.
The rest of the SAS men keep an eye on, no one to flee the building
and looking concealment, the bombs of terrorists.
Hostages freed and the terrorists were captured in 10 minutes.
The environment was very different from the desert
with SAS received the baptism of fire during the Second World War.
Developed for the destruction of enemy bases tactics
was used in the embassy siege
and the Falklands War in 1982
especially in the attack Pebble Island airport
and also in the Persian Gulf in 1991.
The British could not get it in Egypt in the summer of 1941.
Earlier in the year they had driven the Italians out of Libya.
They destroyed the Italian 10th Army and took tens of thousands of prisoners.
But then Hitler sent General Erwin Rommel allies to help.
Rommel wasted no time, but was attacked and pushed the British into Egypt.
Summer 1941 counterattacks failed
and the British lost a lot of battle tanks.
The only bright spot in this situation was that the port city of Tobruk
It took the Axis siege.
Kommandoupseeri David Stirling, at the same time in the hospital.
He was injured in a parachute jump.
Stirling had time to think about why the war was stuck in place.
Desert War, the most striking feature was the huge long distances.
South Korpsin maihinnousupaikasta Tripolista
was more than 1600 km of the British main base in Alexandria.
You were few, and in the south was an open desert
which experienced troops were able to cross.
Stirling hoksasi that Rommel servicing the route was long and vulnerable.
Also Afrika Korpsin airports and service centers were vulnerable.
Sea manually operated commandos were unable to disturb them.
Mediterranean fleet was unable to organize a decent landing.
Its main task was to keep the Italian navy in check.
The fleet also had to maintain Tobruk and strategically important for Malta
Air Force operating in Italy and Africa disturbed.
Stirling invented to try small, behind the lines infiltrate groups
which would be difficult for the enemy to detect
but who would be able to interfere with the maintenance and airports badly.
Stirling believes the unit came with her husband to educate yourself
and to be directly under the command of Chief of the region.
Troops hyppäisivät by parachute to support future attacks.
Stirling believed that if such would propose through official channels
Cam just buried Staff of the bureaucracy.
He decided to turn directly to the top management advice.
Stirling himself went to General Neil Ritchie's an audience
and presented their ideas to him.
Ritchie presented the Commander, General Sir Claude Auchinleck.
Also liked the idea of ​​Auchinleck
Stirling and gave permission to recruit 6 officers and 60 men.
SAS had begun.
Stirling had been given permission to set up a special unit.
Next, he had to come up with a name for it and select it from the men.
The name was invented feint operations responded to Gen. Dudley Clark.
He wanted to pretend that the British established a large parachute unit.
66 man's got a bunch of grandiose name:
Division L Special Air Service Brigade.
Stirling search for people who could patrol the remote operation of the desert.
He chose one of the first captain Jock Lewes.
Lewesilla had experience kommandoiskuista made Tobruk.
It was joined by the rugby star Blair "Paddy" Mayne
who always went forward skirmishes.
Mayne had fought in Syria against the Vichy French troops.
Many of SAS's founding members were old Stirling subject.
Stirling's department did not base
so it captured the first thing the New Zealand unit of the camp.
As a "robbery" after the Stirling began to keep a strict discipline.
Parachute training was a priority
but the necessary equipment needed to knock off themselves.
She begged the RAF from the old transportation for training jumps machine.
The department had to work behind the lines
so the men had knowledge of the enemy's guns as well.
SAS decided to ground up to be the toughest so.
Its methods and organization entirely different from that of other units.
SAS needed to be able to reside for a long time behind enemy lines.
Commando of the smallest units
had twelve men.
Each SAS's department could be divided into groups
where there were four men who were able to operate independently.
The units were completely self-sufficient.
One man's specialty was the navigation, the second was a medic
and a third dominated explosives and tuhoamistehtävät.
All were able to each of these tasks.
Four-man group was the fineness
that it has been named a leader.
Sergeant Bob Tait drew SAS's unit ID.
Descriptive motto "Fortune favors the brave" was the invention of Stirling.
SAS received the baptism of fire soon, when the British took to invade.
Auchinleck designed the operation "Crusader" in November 1941.
Its aim was to relieve Tobruk and Rommel evict Cyrenaica.
SAS had to jump two days before it
and strike at airports Tmimin and Gazalan region.
They had to destroy as many planes.
After task the men had to pick up back to the British lines.
Stirling chose Retriever remote patrol unit
which was established in June 1940 reconnaissance unit.
The desert conditions by trained squads koukkasivat south through the desert
behind enemy lines.
SAS was supposed to be picked up by the same methods.
SAS met on the evening of 16. 11. 1941 Egyptian airport.
The weather was bad. The sand storm was breaking out.
But Stirling wanted to launch the operation.
Five Bombay machine rose into the air with the SAS group.
The storm spread men around, and a lot of equipment was lost.
Attacks on airports were canceled. Only three groups reached the scene of the scene.
The other 34 men were captured.
The patrol took the other Jalon oasis, the desert behind enemy lines
lick their wounds.
Stirling returned to Cairo, fearing that SAS will be scattered.
But the staffs were more important things to think about.
SAS gained a new opportunity.
SAS waiting for the remote patrol in the morning on 18 November
Britons went on the offensive against Rommel's troops.
The attack did not go according to plan.
Tanks were fierce and destructive battle.
Rommel got a mess by attacking the opponent's service centers
but was forced to withdraw the fuel is running low.
Auchinleck tried to relieve Tobruk with a new attack.
Brigadier Denys Reid Column encountered SAS Jalo.
Reid was told to join the advocacy efforts Benghazi attack.
He asked the Stirling attack Agedabian airport.
Stirling decided excited to attack the El Agheilaan
Sirteen and Tametiin.
Far patrols went out to bring SAS destinations.
Paddy Maynen group reached unnoticed Sirte airport
and destroyed as many as 37 aircraft.
When you ran out of explosives, Paddy broke the still hand one machine instrument panel.
SAS destroyed several machines around El Agheilassa.
Tametin group stopped mines, nor did Agedabiassa machines.
The British liberated Tobruk and Rommel began to withdraw from Cyrenaica.
Since the attacks on airports had managed to
Stirling railed at Christmas time for many of the enemy fields.
But none of SAS's group could not get through the lines of defense
and a group of Jock Lewes go scout
got attacked by Italian machines.
Stirling served as right hand man of Lewes were killed.
Rommel retreated, so Stirling returned to Cairo
and received permission to recruit more men.
He was awarded, among other things, the commander of the French department of Bergen ...
... As well as ylämaalaisrykmentin officer Fitzroy MacLean
who took the time to meet with the Delegation of Yugoslavia, Tito.
Rommel attacked again on 22 1st 1942 and pushed the British Gazalaan.
SAS struck the retreating Benghazi harbor and the nearby airports.
It was only partially successful. Benina was empty
Slontaa defended solidly, and Barcessa destroyed in only one machine.
Berkan field is not found, but Paddy Mayne struck the neighboring airport.
Rommel attacked again in May and pushed the British to Egypt.
Equipment reached again in Malta, as well as from Africa, Italy and Greece.
SAS was ordered to strike at Africa's airports.
The French were in Crete over the field.
Again, this task was only partially successful
but the SAS began to show its good weapon desert war.
The enemy knew about it
and strengthened the airports and service centers defense.
British 8th Army was on the line of El Alamein.
It was the last strong line before the Suez Canal
because at its southern end was the Qattara sinkhole
which was almost impossible for vehicles to cross.
The British stopped Rommel but were not allowed to withdraw from her.
Stirling tried at the same time to increase SAS's clout.
The attacks were usually taken at night of the new moon
and long-distance patrols searched the men back.
It was the view of Stirling slow.
SAS was able to live in the desert for a long time and make several attacks
but it needed their own vehicles.
Stirling had already stripped down Ford, who accompanied the patrol traveling.
It was painted in gray, like German cars.
He got hold of a few Americans Jeepejä
which were excellent off-road vehicles.
Some of the cars armed with Vickers K .303 kaksoiskonekivääreillä.
Raskaimmin aseistetuissa oli. 50 Browning konekivääri
one Vickers K in front and two behind Vickers.
Stirling was going to destroy enemy aircraft directly to the cars.
The frame was set, the fuel tank was increased by
and was installed in the nose of the sealing vessel.
SAS was again ready to go into battle.
It was ordered to support the El Alamein attack by striking at airports.
Stirling koukkasi through the desert sinking into the edge of the Qattara reflecting the pattern.
Then the SAS faced a remote patrol, who instructed them to their destinations.
Stirling and Maynen group led by Bagushin attacked the airport.
They drove to the machine guns between the rows of the aircraft singing.
Weapons were loaded with explosives and valojuovapatruunoilla.
Completely taken by surprise the enemy did not have time to shoot a shot.
To the other groups were guarded carefully
but even they were able to destroy a few of the machine.
Stirling jeeps attacked in June 1942 hard Sidi Haneishin airport.
40 aircraft destroyed. SAS's new tactic worked fine.
SAS's new tactics had proved to be effective
and the department was transferred to Egypt.
Had been a change in top management
After the August visit to Churchill.
He had changed Auchinleck General Harold Alexander.
8th Army Commander, General Montgomery came.
Stirling was afraid of SAS's losing its independence.
However, he persuaded Churchill to expand SAS
and safeguarded the future unit.
Stirling was ordered to attack Benghazi
and thus interfere with passing over the Mediterranean maintenance route.
He established a base Kufran oasis
which had long been using remote squads.
Department started 4.9. The attack failed completely.
RAF had to support it by bombing the harbor
but the bombing had almost expired SAS leak into the destination.
It had to fierce firefight
wherein at least one jeep caught fire.
SAS withdrew, and he had two days dodging air strikes.
25 vehicles were destroyed.
The rest grabbed the Noble and found there the fuel run out the trip.
SAS is not accused of failure
and in September 1942 became the Section of L 1 SAS regiment
which consisted of four squadrons. Stirling became a lieutenant colonel.
Montgomery was planning an attack.
SAS's role was to destroy the transport.
Battle of El Alamein, and Rommel's retreat during the
SAS Kufrasta railed against the enemy transport.
The soldier Silitoesta became famous.
Silitoen vehicle was destroyed in Sidi Barra nearby.
He ended up with only a canteen and compass.
He walked 320 kilometers in 8 days
before he encountered another SAS patrol.
SAS always hid everything, including such cases
but rumors of its achievements spread 8th Army.
Rommel was driven from behind in Libya, and Africa opened up another front.
The British and US troops rose 8. 11 countries in French Northwest Africa.
They overpowered by the Vichy French troops
and received the Allied side of Morocco and Algeria.
They proceeded from there to Tunisia, where the enemy brought new troops.
But Tunisia did not materialize quickly.
In the West, fought throughout the winter, and Montgomery proceeded to the east.
SAS began operations in Tunisia
and focused on interfering with receding Rommel maintenance.
But then came disaster.
The Germans surrounded the thicket rested Stirling Group.
Part of the group was able to escape, but was captured in Stirling.
"Aavemajurilla" among the German population so ferocious reputation
that he was held until the end of the war in Colditz Castle.
David Stirling, the SAS's founder, the loss was a major blow.
But his unit had reached such great achievements
that it received no doubt continue to operate.
Tunisia, the fighting continued in the 1943 side
and the enemy gradually deteriorated.
SAS's organization was changed Stirling freeze captured.
The unit was divided in half.
Special Boat Squadron led by Earl Jellicoe
whose father had served as Admiral of the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
Paddy Maynesta became a Special Raiding Squadron commander.
Jellicoe SBS in was Lieutenant Anders Lassen
In 1940 Britain become a Danish sailor.
He had served as a secret commando unit
and distinguished himself in several positions.
The unit was disbanded and Lassen was transferred to SBS reads.
The Allies crossed the Mediterranean and landed in Sicily 10.6.
Maynen SRS had to retake one coastal battery before landing.
They also occupied a second battery.
Two days later, SRS took over the city of Augusta
and held up to the main body of the input.
Also, the new 2nd SAS Regiment took part in the landing in Sicily.
David Stirling's brother Bill had set up the North West Africa.
Single 2. SAS was ordered to the department to take over an important lighthouse.
It was easy, because the lighthouse turned out to be empty.
The second section was dropped from interfering with enemy communications.
That is what SAS was founded.
Men spread around, and a large part was still inexperienced.
They were not allowed to just about any time.
SRS support in September 1943 Montgomery landing in Italy
by conquering and holding Bagnara is holding three days.
The following operation was greater.
Paddy Mayne took two commando units behind the lines Termoli.
2. SAS landed at Taranto, led by Major Roy Farran
Desert War armored fighting and Crete veteran.
Farran Jeepeillään drove north and met Ma ynen Termoli.
Department jointly held the possession of the port.
Operations testified that SAS was able to coexist with other forces.
2. At the same time, SAS's men jumped in Northern Italy
to destroy the railways as part of operation "Speedwelliä".
They blew several bridges
and then went over the Italian mountains to the south of own lines.
SAS's operations continued in January 1944
when support for companies to get around the German strong Gustav Line.
The Allies made landings Anzio.
2. SAS teams were dropped behind the lines to destroy the transport.
Their role was minor
because the Allies could not reach immediately mobilized
and the Germans besieged beachhead.
In the meantime, Jellicoe SBS had acted in the Aegean Sea
mainly fishing boats.
In one of the few described SAS operations
is seen as SBS in 1943 the Italian capitulation
emerging countries in the Dodecanese islands.
They got the Italian garrisons side.
The British brought reinforcements to the islands but were unable to keep them.
The Germans conquered them one by one back to the first half of 1944.
SBS suffered losses in the fighting but he punches in the Aegean Sea.
SAS Brigade was expanded at the beginning of 1944.
It prepared the French conquest of Britain.
SRS became the 1st SAS Regiment, and the 2nd SAS was withdrawn from Italy.
The French title include an attached two battalions
and formed the 3rd and 4th regiment.
Belgian laskuvarjokomppaniasta became 5. SAS.
Special Air Service is now comprised of 2,500 men.
It was to jump in France
to interfere with the Germans, together with the resistance movement.
The first SAS men jumped early on the morning of the landing.
The area's forests provided excellent protection for men and Jeepeille.
They did attack the German bases enable the resistance movement data.
They drove hard through the occupied villages
and fired majoitustiloina or storage houses used.
The attacks were bound German troops, which would have been required in Normandy.
One of the department was given a special mission to kill Rommel.
Department jumped to 25.7.
but Rommel was wounded a week earlier and moved to Germany.
The Germans started to comb the forests, where SAS was hiding.
Sometimes the SAS men caught by surprise
and they were forced to fight violently to escape.
In July 1944 near Poitiers worked 35-man team
was completely blockaded.
Almost all of the survivors were captured.
One of the wounded was beaten to death.
30 other SAS men and an American pilot shot.
Despite such setbacks, SAS's operations disrupted German
and helped the Allies progress through France.
When France was freed, attacks behind the lines no longer needed
in particular, the progress has stopped due to maintenance more difficult.
Some argue that the entire SAS was no longer needed.
One of the SAS squadron returned to Italy in the autumn of 1944
where their skills are still needed.
In the northern parts of the dropped groups to assist the partisans.
SAS helped them in the attacks, even though the Germans often retaliated brutally.
SBS comfortable at the end of 1944 had
when it took part in the Greek liberation.
SAS still found useful to do
but its future looked bleak at the beginning of 1945.
One squadron was assigned to Germany in search of war criminals.
1st and 2nd SAS Norway was reserved for the release operation
but it was due to start until after the German conquest.
SAS suffered until a lack of doing.
Gen. Mike Calvert came SAS commander in March 1945.
He was kommandoiskuihin familiar with the Burmese fighting veteran
and drove firmly rooted in the new unit to the issue.
He received the SAS 21 Army Group, the tip of the crossing of the Rhine.
SAS protected by the Canadian 1st Army and the British 2nd Army progression.
SAS lightly armored jeeps suffer losses in an ambush.
The dreaded Paddy Mayne to fight for the last time just ambush.
He came to help one of patrol and forced the Germans to retreat.
Mayne got this fourth medals and decorations.
SAS jeeps eventually reached Kiel naval port.
When the men were amazed at the bombing caused havoc
other squads proceeded further to the east and north.
SBS participated in the last mission in Italy in April 1945.
Now promoted to the rank of major Anders Lassen work Comacchio around the lake.
He received the SAS's sole Victoria Cross
husbands keep you safe withdrawal until the crash.
Everyone knew he was mourned deeply award-winning and admired the man's death.
After the war, the 1st and 2nd SAS, as well as staff and parachute troops
was sent to Norway to oversee the disarming German weapons.
Top management believes that SAS was no need for a peacetime army
and it was digested with the full financial year 1945.
But the story does not end there.
SAS were again the battle against the Malaysian communist guerrillas.
The regiment held while the remote patrols
and learned parachuting into the jungle.
Since then, SAS had in the Arabian Peninsula
supported by the Omani sultans marxistikapinallisten defeating.
SAS trained and led the tribes to fight against the rebels.
SAS completed the Falklands in 1982 of the operation
a North African veterans they knew how well.
It was a blow to Pebble Island airport
before the British invasion.
SAS completely surprised enemy
and destroyed six Puccara and five Turbo Mentor aircraft
as well as transportation of the machine one Skyvan.
Argentina did not escape the coming fight against invasion.
SAS returned after 10 years in the desert behind enemy lines.
Then fought in Iraq in 1991.
50 years ago fighting recurred virtually unchanged
when SAS bothered Iraqis Land Rovereilla and helicopters.
Scud missiles Saddam Hussein was searching for a more modern role.
SAS has since 1945 received a lot of new tasks
especially in the fight against terrorism in Northern Ireland
where it carried out a number of secret missions.
SAS still complies with the principles of its founding members created
Egyptian and Libyan deserts.
SAS proudly bears beige barettiaan and winged dagger.
Many people want SAS reads, but only a small percentage of applicants are accepted.
It works almost exclusively in secret.
Invasion of Iran embassy is the only time it has been operating in public.
Above all, the SAS to follow his motto
by David Stirling formulated in 1941: "Fortune favors the bold."
Translated by: Kai Laine www.sdi media.com