SAS

30. 11. 2004

A special unit of SAS is known throughout the world, it is elite. Each of her ever heard something, but I did not know her closely. So let's look at it ...

HISTORY

SAS was founded during the 2nd World War, on the initiative of David Stirling, member of the Commando Corps. We needed a special unit, because the conventional way of fighting invading her too many losses. Name SAS - Special Air Service served to conceal the unit. SAS work in small groups and their main task was to destroy German and Italian aircraft at airports in Africa. The first success achieved SAS in December 1941, when the two airports, destroying 61 aircraft. During their operations, the SAS destroyed more than planes were shot down.

David Stirling in 1943 was captured by the Germans and spent the rest of the war in captivity at Colditz Castle. Luckily for him, the Germans never knew his identity, and so survived. Hitler had named all the members of the SAS as a particularly dangerous and letting them immediately executed. After the war, the unit was disbanded.

Soon after the war, but for SAS found jobs. Engaged in conflict in the Far East, they were sent to Oman, where the legendary battle of Mirbat Oman won 10 SAS soldiers with several helpers Hautes over 250 partisans. After Oman followed the events in Aden and Borneo.

SAS also increasingly find application in the fight against terrorism. They were deployed against the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Irish National Liberation Army (INLA). In 1982 starts the Falklands War, in which he was immediately deployed the 22nd SAS Regiment. Soldiers invaded the islands, built observatories here, watching the movements of the enemy and abetted him on the plane.

Another fairly well-known piece of SAS's "Scud hunt". Comes from the Gulf War, when the SAS patrol destroying mentioned missiles or call in air force at their disposal. After 12 days of operation, he did not fly even one.

Character SAS winged sword Excalibur and a ribbon with the inscription: Who Dares Wins.

PRESENT

Currently SAS divided into units A, B, D and G, respectively, drive roller, parachute, road and marine.

Primarily every soldier passing the Parachutist training, but it has a cross specialization, ie. It can stand up for specialization as well as another team member. SAS drives are the main focus of exploration behind enemy lines, except where conducted survey yet of sabotage and attacks on strategic targets.

TENDER

The tender is considered one of the toughest (reported 10% success rate). The condition for starting the admission procedure is that the candidate (not the candidate) serve in the British Army at least two years. The actual selection procedure will be held at Hereford, where is Strirling lines - Home SAS barracks. The selection procedure is launched twice a year, in winter and summer seasons and has six parts:

1. Running in a group - together with a group run. You're wearing a standard field uniform of the British Army and the standard canada. First, without a backpack, then with a backpack and gradually add to bag extra kilos.

2. Running an independent, orientation - to move themselves a few days (and still with a backpack + plus you get a gun, but without strap), day and night, and it fundamentally off-road. This part is very exhausting. Some days you do not sleep, you feel pain in feet and legs, blisters etc. The highlight of this section is "Fan Dance" (dance on Fanu). Fan runs up the highest hill (or rather mountain) in the training area.

3. Training with weapons - this is actually too little interest SAS soldiers learn to handle a large amount of weapons, both our own and the opponents (or even potential adversaries).

4. Jungle training - a month puts the entire group of candidates into the jungle. Here is practiced mainly cooperation and coexistence with nature. Fresh food gets there only once a week, other days eat the canned and from what the forest can.

5. Survival training - soldiers instructors teach you all about survival, but also to try out on them. Variously they must hide and seek while various checkpoints. Live with it what they themselves find or catch.

6. Parachutist Course - eventually everyone (except those who are from the paratroopers) Parachutist pass rate.

If the candidate passes this demanding training and gets his sandy-gray beret, does not mean that the SAS had automatically stays forever. It will still assigned to a unit of SAS, but it can ever again go back to a common unit.

COUNTER-TERRORIST ACTIONS

SAS have been among the front walls between units to rescue the hostages and eliminate terrorists. They have great experience because in the early '60s were deployed to suppress the uprising in Aden. Then for a long time they worked in Ireland. So SAS practiced different ways of combating terrorism. Since SAS learn many special forces around the world. After all, the tactics of four teams, which now uses most of the special forces SAS also introduced.

To serve the training facility called "Killing House" here to train and saw the rapid incursions into the room, fast roping, team total harmony etc. But we must not forget that a certain role and superior equipment. This includes everything from the most sophisticated weapons and explosives to the simplest tools such as pliers needed. Let's start...

GEAR

For maximum protection squad members used non-flammable (Nomex) and very resistant (Kevlar) material.

Coverall - base consists of fireproof overalls, which includes a hood that serves to drag through a GAS mask and reinforcements on the knees and elbows (Kevlar inserts).

Gloves - hands protects special fireproof Nomex gloves.

Kevlar vest - another essential part of a Kevlar vest with ceramic reinforcements. Not only protects against standard ammunition, but also against almost all types of high-speed and piercing ammunition. The vest can also attach a panel to protect the groin.

Tactical vest - through protistřepinové vests used more tactical vest for better storage of additional equipment.

Hood - as head protection is used Nomex hood, which is directly in jumpsuit. But now receding hood Kevlar helmets, because unlike the hood and helmet to protect against fragments.

Helmet - instead hood is used Kevlar helmet. It is specially shaped so that could be used in conjunction with hands-free and anti-GAS mask.

Protective mask - in interventions used masks to protect against gases and smoke. Usually also they used black lenses that protect against flash (blinding control smoke puff charge). It is worn in combination with a hood or helmet.

Cases - to store spare magazine are used for SMG MP5 holster on her thigh, they fit into them they wound three 30rds magazines. For magazines into the handgun used holster on her thigh and wrist - for easy accessibility.

EQUIPMENT

SAS drives are choosing just the weapons and tools that they can always rely on. During the event, everything must work the first time. The opposite would mean the failure of the event.

MP5 submachine gun and MP5SD is the basic weapon of anti-terrorist units, including SAS. Its advantage over other samopalům is shooting from the closed end of the rollers. In practice that means that conclusion after stretching in the forward position and locked. When you press the shutter only release the hammer and shot followed. The center of gravity does not move with the rifle, and therefore is very accurate shooting. Many other automatic rifles shot with an open conclusion, ie. press the shutter button, the conclusion moves forward, the charge is inserted into the chamber, shot. This shifts the center of gravity but weapons and hit very often goes off target.

According to the needs of the MP5 submachine gun equipped with a laser sight or even lamp. Similarly, prior to the event to decide whether to use the standard version without shock absorbers (Series A muzzle velocity of 400 m/s) or silenced (SD series, muzzle velocity of 285 m/s). For covert operations is used MP5K submachine gun, he does not have a butt and is only 32 cm long.

Browning High Power - backup weapon is Browning High Power 9mm. The army has been used since 1935 and currently uses a model Mark3.

P90 - a whole new weapon is P90 (Project 90), characterized by small size, high power (body armor) and a magazine for fifty rounds.

M733 Commando - Colt Commando is the smallest version of the M16A2 rifle. Size is suitable for combat in buildings permits rapid targeting and shooting it is very accurate.

Remington Model 870 - this shotgun is widely used, especially for breaking the hinges.

Other equipment - used various explosives, smoke puff charges (illuminating, deafening) and CS GAS (tear). There is, however, no simple tools such as knives, pliers, crowbars, axes, diamonds, glass, ladders, hammers, etc.

F. Petráš (CZ)