British Special Operations Forces [1]

I am of the opinion that several posters within these pages are confusing Special Operations Forces with those of Special Forces.

Special Operations Forces can be found within the pages of history and I mention in passing, the elite Macedonian Warriors of Alexander the Great's Army; the Praetorian Guard of the Roman Army and the Persians had their Athanatoi or Immortals.

Napoleon was defeated by the winter weather in Russia and during his long retreat from Moscow, his near starving troops faced constant harrassment from General Davidoff's elite Cossack Cavalry; the Boers had their Kommandos and in 1800, a far sighted English officer named Colonel Coote Manningham, raised an Experimental Corps of Riflemen.

It was not until the First World War and the 'battle of the trenches' that 'modern' Special Operations Forces were formed, the most famous being the German Stoss-Truppen or Stormtroopers and of course our very own T.E. Lawrence who, while serving as a British liaison officer during the Arab Revolt of 1916-18 became something of a legend when he led the camel and horse mounted Arabs in guerilla warfare throughout the Holy Land and reputedly captured Iraq.

Then in 1935 a young subaltern [H.E Fox-Davis] from the Durham Light Infantry suggested in a paper, that small groups of 'specially trained personnel' could operate indipendantly of the regular forces, against selected targets. [Fox-Davis eventually commanded one of the Army's Middle East Commando units, under General Wavell]

It was not until Great Britain stood alone against the might of Nazi Germany in 1940 when, having won the Battle of Britain, Prime Minister Winston Churchill decided to 'set Europe ablaze!'

Ten Commandos were the first Special Operations Forces formed in 1940 - albeit hastily, from Army's Independent Companies, who were mainly from the Territorial Army. These men served in every theatre of the war specialising in raids against coastal targets and saboutage missions just behind the front line.

British Special Operations Forces [2] will follow shortly.


[edit on 1-8-2008 by fritz]

British Special Operations Forces [2]

Special Boat Section

The Army personnel in the Special Boat Section were employed in small raiding parties along the coasts of Europe and in Burma. They also marked beaches for assault by the Army and later the Navy Commandos. They were also responsible for the landing off and taking off of SOE agents from enemy held beaches. Eventually they were brought under SAS control in the Western Desert.

The Long Range Desert Group

They were the eyes and ears of the army in the Western Desert, Scicaly, Italy, Greece and Yugoslavia. Although their main tasking was as 'road watchers' in the desert, they were also employed by the SAS as a sort of battlefield taxi service and, as a result, saw a great deal of action.

Special Air Service

Although credited to David Stirling, one cannot help but notice similarities between his idea of small raiding forces and the paper written by H.E Fox-Davis in 1935. Nonetheless, Striling created a until capable of operating deep behind enemy lines [often with the LRDG] using small groups of men often numbering not more than 3 or 4.

To be honest, the fledgling SAS was used primarily in a strategic role in the Western Desert [destroying enemy aircraft etc] until they deployed in Europe and in my opinion, that very fact made them a Special Force. Having said that, once they landed in Scicily, Italy and central France [prior to D-Day] they reverted to Special Operations Forces.

The PPA

One of the most flamboyant commanders of any SOF, was one Vladimir Peniakoff. Peniakoff commanded the small raiding unit known simply as 'Popski's Private Army.

Popski somehow blagged his way into being fitted out initially by Wavell, being allowed to operate against the Italians then later against the Germans in a role very much similar to the SAS and LRDG.

Popski took liberties with friends and foes alike but the American First Army took a shine to him when, very much the worse for wear, he turned up in their lines and quite remarkably managed to get a complete set of uniform, new weapons and vehicles, ammunition and supplies to carry on his one man mission against the hated Nazis.

The PPA operated against the Italians, Germans and their allies throughout the Western desert, mainly in Libya and Tunisia but had limited success in Italy.

British Special Operations Forces [3] follows shortly.

reply to post by fritz


You owe the LRDG an apology. A battle taxi service for the SAS? if I could negative flag you I would for that line alone. You do understand that the SAS navigators all were trained in desert navigation by the men of the LRDG?

The LRDG were doing their 200 miles behind enemy lines before the SAS was even a pipe dream in Stirlings mind.

To call them a battle taxi service is an insult to all the brave men of that era who served with distinction in the desert.

Oh Dear.

Somebody else who does not research their posts or history before bothering to post.

A scathing U2U has been sent and I'll post Part 3 when I've finish MY research.

I myself am quite insulted by the LRDG taxi service. I am ex Forces myself however my great grandfather was a signaller within the LRDG. The SAS would not be here today if it was not for the LRDG. The LRDG spawned the SAS, The original SAS who were basically a more offensive version of the LRDG.

Originally posted by fritz
Oh Dear.

Somebody else who does not research their posts or history before bothering to post.

A scathing U2U has been sent and I'll post Part 3 when I've finish MY research.

Right so you want to discuss u2u content do you on the board?

Scathing? it was pathetic more like. Your demeaning the LRDG is an insult to my Grandfather and all of the men who fought for years in the desert in conditions way beyond what many of us could endure.

Your not fit to stand in their shadows, let alone throw insults at them.

The Long Ranger Desert Group (LRDG) was formed in June 1940.

The Special Air Service (SAS) was formed in August 1941.

Regarding the use of the LRDG as a 'battlefield taxi' by the SAS this has been reiterated time and time again by those involed, both on film: The Story of the SAS' - told by men 'up the sharp end'. Men such as Bob Bennett, Reg Seekings and Bill Coopoer;

It is also mentioned in a great many books, most notably 'The Phantom Major' by Virginia Cowles;

'SAS Operations' by James Ladd;

'The Handbook of the SAS & Elite Forces' by Jon E. Lewis;

'The Special Air Service' by Philip Warner....................... and finally,

'British Special Forces' by William Seymore.

I have only repeated what others have said and, certainly no slight was intended. May I respectfully suggest to all who posted negative comments, that you do take the time and trouble to read these books.

Saint, you should know me by now. I have never knowingly slighted anybody, least of all OUR special forces. I have way too much respect for them.

Dan, I only put it on the board because you did not respond to my U2U. Okay maybe that was insensative, but we all make mistakes.

As to my not being fit to stand in their shaddows......well yeah that's true.

I failed twice...........so at least I've been there and tried to do that.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Djebel Akdhar was my battleground whilst attached to the Dhofar Brigade......got the scars and a clasp to my GSM and an OGSM to prove it.

So once again, if I've upset anybody, I apologise.

For a Super Mod.....Mr UK Wiz................well I'm sorry sir but Special Operations and Special Forces are both weapons in the political sense of the word. SOF are tactical weapons whilst Special Forces are strategic weapons.

Please move it back................................................

So, having endured yet another public yell free for all, and despite sending 3 U2Us to the people concerned, I have not had any feed back from my latest post.

Shame that! Makes me wonder why I even bother..............................