Special Air Service (SAS)
Troops Each SAS Sabre Squadron is made up of four
distinct, 16-man teams, known as "Troops" all
commanded by a major. The Sabre Squadrons are A, B,
D, and G with R Squadron being a reserve. Each of
these troops specializes in one area, focusing on
the use of this skill as a method of entry to an
area of operation. All soldiers are rotated through
different troops during their service with the SAS,
thus ensuring that each man has at least two areas
in which he is highly skilled. These troops are Air
Troop, Boat Troop, Mobility Troop, and Mountain
Troop.
Air
(Freefall) Troop
Members of Air
Troop specialise in airborne insertion methods.
These include HAHO (High Altitude High Opening) and
HALO (High Altitude Low Opening). Referred to by
members as the "Ice Cream Boys" due to their tans
and the sunglasses they often wear, as they are
required to train where the weather is fine
(preferring clear skies for parachute training).
"Air Troops
have two ways of infiltration: HALO and HAHO. HALO
jumps take place at about 25,000 feet. The trooper
free falls until about 2,000 feet above the ground
and only then opens his 'chute. This allows him to
land close to a target, but the plane will never be
seen or heard. Both of these types of parachuting
are very dangerous. Parachuting with heavy loads can
make the thin silk of the parachutes collapse quite
easily in the thin air.
Air Troop
troopers must wear large aircrew helmets
("bonedomes") when jumping from high altitudes. An
oxygen mask is hooked onto it to provides the
trooper with air while he is parachuting. The
trooper also wears goggles. His equipment is carried
between his legs and is lowered on a cord just prior
to landing on the ground. The trooper's weapon is
carried under one of his arms, ready to fire. He
also wears an altimeter on his wrist and heavy
clothes to protect him from the cold. A reserve
'chute is usually carried in the front."
Wikpedia
Boat
Troop
Boat Troop is responsible for
all forms of water insertion methods including
diving, canoeing, write down to swimming ashore on
surf boards. Members of the SBS have been stationed
in Hereford to conduct cross-training with Boat
Troop, as well as jointly carrying out a number of
operations. Boat Troop members are trained in the
use of Klepper canoes, Gemini inflatables and other
small raiding craft.
Mobility
Troop
Mobility Troop
specialise in insertion methods using vehicles such
as the Land Rover, LSV (Light Strike Vehicle)
and motor bike. Its members are trained in
navigation, maintenance and driving.
The current
vehicle in the famous 'Pink Panther' or 'Pinky' SAS
Land Rover range is the Land Rover Defender 110
which comes fitted with a variety of armaments
including GPMGs (General Purpose Machine Guns), .50
cal machine guns, and the Mark 19 40mm grenade
launcher. Additional weapons include 80mm mortars
and Milan anti-tank missiles. Other vehicles used
include the Honda 250cc and KTM 350 motorbikes
Mountain
Troop
Mountain Troop
are responsible for all aspects of mountaineering
and skiing. Training takes place in some of the
toughest European mountaineering schools such as the
year-long German Alpines Guides courses. Several
members of Mountain Troop have climbed everest.