The operational capabilities of the SBS and the SAS are broadly similar. However, the SBS (being the principal Royal Navy contribution to
With the SBS (until recently) drawing its ranks from the Royal Marines, it is suggested that an SBS operator has a greater level of experience of soldiering than many of their SAS counterparts. The demands of working in the water demands a higher level of fitness and mental toughness than the SAS.
Most of the operations carried out by the SBS are highly classified; consequently, little is known about the individuals who make up the unit. Most of them are drawn from the Royal Marines Commandos, and all show exceptional physical and mental aptitude. In short, they're the best of the best.
Probably the best reason that the SAS are better known than the SBS is down to the Iranian Embassy Siege of 1980, this thrust the SAS in to the headlines and made them the focus point for British Special Forces, now please bear in mind that they had been around since the early 1940's and are not the only SF unit around ...
The SAS is thought of all over the world as one of the best, if not the best Special Operations organisations. This is mainly because of the intense training they are put through. The hardest part of this is intense interrogation (questioning while under torture) which the trainees must go through.
SASR (Australia)
It is widely known that they are highly skilled and highly capable operators with significant combat-experienced gained through their deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in the recent decade. They made their way up to the #3 position on the Top 10 Special Operations Forces Around the World list.
Operation Canuck, January 1945 operation in Northern Italy. Operation Cold Comfort, February 1945 failed SAS raid on railway targets near Verona.
SBS candidates take part in Joint Special Forces Selection (JSFS) alongside SAS candidates, with their selection and training diverging after the end of the JSFS course. JSFS lasts ≈ 6 months.
The SBS and SAS have a long-standing rivalry, with both striving to be considered the world's most elite special forces unit. Recruits for both must undergo some of the toughest selection processes on the planet and the UK Special Forces are thought to have an average 90% failure rate for selection.
Today, SBS recruits share the same gruelling selection process as the Special Air Service (SAS) and develop similar skills. But they acquire additional specialisms in underwater reconnaissance and demolition, canoeing and diving.
Now it is open to any member of the UK Military Fighting Forces including the Royal Engineers, the Royal Artillery and the RAF Regiment. The SBS soldier is both physically and mentally tough. They are certainly not robots or supermen, but instead extremely fit, highly skilled and totally focused on the task in hand.
SAS training is far harder. SEALs are absolutely some of the best Special Operations troops in the world. That said, the real comparison is SAS / SBS and Delta / DEVGRU — SEAL Team 6.
The SBS maintains very close training and operational links with the U.S. Navy's SEAL Team 6. The SBS was formed in July 1940, during World War II, as the Special Boat Section.
The main difference between Navy SEALs and SAS is each unit's specific training and focus. While both are highly skilled special forces units, their areas of expertise and methods of operation may vary due to their different training and approaches.
Special Air Service Regiment (SASR)
Formed in 1957, the SASR is Australia's top-tier SOF unit. It specializes in counterterrorism, special reconnaissance, and direct action.
The SASR and Australian Commandos are sometimes referred to as 'Tier 1' Special Forces (SF) units because they are the units usually tasked with direct action. Other special operations forces are referred to as 'Tier 2' units as they, usually, fulfil a supporting role for the Tier 1 units.
Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), also called Special Air Service (SAS), Australian special forces unit that exists within Australia's Special Operations Command. The unit was formed in July 1957 as the 1st Special Air Service Company, Royal Australian Infantry, and it was modeled on the British Special Air Service.
The SBS is often referred to as the sister unit of the SAS. While this might be fair, it would perhaps be more accurate to describe it as its 'slightly older' sister in lieu of the fact the SBS can trace its origins back to a whole year before the formation of the better-known Special Air Service.
The Special Air Service (SAS) is famous around the world. Its highly trained men are renowned for their skills in covert surveillance, close-combat fighting and hostage rescue.
You must have served at least two years in the Armed Forces, as either a Reserve or a Regular. Ex-Regulars no longer serving will need to join a Reserve unit before applying. Applicants must be no older than 43 years 364 days on the Selection Induction Weekend (SIW).
Members of the Special Boat Service (SBS) are trained to parachute into the sea, this is known as 'wet jumping'. The men, all expert swimmers as well as parachutists, are often dropped with boats.
The very first step for selection into the SAS is meeting the basic requirements, which include: Age: Candidates are at least 18 years old. Although there is no upper age limit, candidates over 32 years of age have less likelihood of getting in.
The heroism of SAS soldier John McAleese is being brought to the screen in a new blockbuster six years after his death. McAleese was one of the British Army's most famous and decorated special forces soldiers.
The two soldiers were arrested and taken to the Al Jameat police station. The two SAS operators were part of Operation Hathor whose objective was keeping an Iraqi Police officer (who ran a crime unit with rumoured links to corruption and brutality in the city) under surveillance.
Iranian Embassy siege
One of the most famous counter-terrorism operations in history took place in 1980. Gunmen overran the Iranian Embassy in London and took hostages, but the crisis was resolved when the building was stormed by the SAS.