Special Boat Service
Special Boat Service | |
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First Libyan Civil War |
His Majesty's Naval Service of the British Armed Forces |
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History and future |
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Auxiliary services |
The Special Boat Service (SBS) is the
The Special Boat Service is the maritime special forces unit of the
Role
The principal roles of the SBS are
The operational capabilities of the SBS and the SAS are broadly similar. However, the SBS (being the principal Royal Navy contribution to UKSF) has the additional training and equipment required to lead in the maritime, amphibious and riverine environments. Both units come under the operational command of HQ Directorate of Special Forces (DSF) and undergo an identical selection process.[10]
History
Origin: Second World War
The unit, on the shores of Sannox, Isle of Arran, was initially named the
The Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment (RMBPD) was formed on 6 July 1942, and based at Southsea, Portsmouth.[19] The RMBPD was under the command of Royal Marines Major Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler with Captain J. D. Stewart as second in command.[19] The detachment consisted of 34 men and was based at Lumps Fort, and often exercised in the Portsmouth Harbour and patrolled the harbour boom at nights.[19][20]
In April 1943, 1st SAS was divided, with 250 men from the SAS joining the
They later operated among the
Throughout the war, No.2 SBS did not use the Special Boat Squadron name but instead retained the name Special Boat Section. They accompanied US Major General
Although their roles always overlapped to some extent, the various canoe and boat units became more specialised from late 1942 onwards. The RMBPD focused on ship attack and harbour sabotage, the Special Boat Section and COPP undertook covert beach surveys, and the Special Boat Squadron engaged in raiding, sabotage and reconnaissance above the high-water mark.[4]
Post-war era
In 1946, the SBS, whether of Commando or SAS parentage, was disbanded.[25] The RMBPD was the only British Special Forces unit to survive the end of World War II intact, and one of three Special Service units to survive (the other two being the RM Commandos and the Parachute Regiment). In 1946, the RMBPD became the School of Combined Operations Beach and Boat Section (SCOBBS) at Fremington, Devon.[26][27] Lt-Col "Blondie" Hasler RM became the adviser to SCOBBS and wrote the pamphlet "General Notes on the Use of Special Parties". The basic SCOBBS course of fourteen weeks covered the range of skills of the wartime COPPS, SRU, SBS and Detachment 385. In October 1947 SCOBBS dropped the word School from its name and moved to RM Eastney to become the Small Raids Wing (SRW) of the Amphibious School, Royal Marines. The school's Chief Instructor Norman Tailyour established the Royal Marines Special Boat Sections taking on the roles proposed in Hasler's paper.[28] Their first missions were in Palestine, involving ordnance removal, and limpet mine removal from ships in Haifa.[25] The SBS went on to serve in the Korean War, deployed on operations along the North Korean coast, as well as operating behind enemy lines destroying lines of communication, installations and gathering intelligence. During the Korean War the SBS operated from submarines like their wartime predecessors.[25]
In the early 1950s, NATO doctrine for the defence of Western Europe called for a rapid fall-back to the west bank of the Rhine River, a natural defensive barrier. Royal Navy Rhine Flotilla’s SBS detachment had the task of demolishing the bridges over the river as well as destroying the many river barges on the river. The SBS teams of a radio operator and two SBS swimmer-canoeists would then stay behind on the eastern side of the river providing reconnaissance and intelligence and to sabotage Warsaw Pact forces logistics. 2 SB Section, and later also the newly formed 3 SB Section, were part of the Rhine Squadron until around 1958 and took part in all major British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) exercises when they would be joined by 4 and 5 SB Section, formed from the Royal Marines Reserve.[29]
In 1952, SBS teams were held at combat readiness in
Special Boat Squadron
In 1973, their name was changed to the Special Boat Squadron and in 1980 the SBS relinquished
Special Boat Service
In 1987, they were renamed Special Boat Service, and became part of the
In September 1999, about 20 SBS members contributed to the Australian-led
21st century
Sierra Leone
In September 2000, the SBS, integrated with the SAS, were involved in Operation Barras, a hostage rescue operation in Sierra Leone that successfully rescued five captured Royal Irish Regiment soldiers.[44][45][46]
Afghanistan
In November 2001, C and M squadron SBS had an extensive role in the
In Spring 2005, the Director of Special Forces re-balanced British special forces deployments so that Afghanistan would be the responsibility of the SBS and Iraq would be the 22 SAS Regiment's.
On 12 May 2007, an SBS team killed the Taliban leader
On 18 February 2008, Taliban leader
On 15 April 2012, during the
Iraq
In the
M Squadron launched a second operation at full strength ("Zero Six Bravo") in a mix of land rovers and ATVs into northern Iraq from
M Squadron also had a 3-month tour in early 2003. Corporal Ian Plank, an SBS member attached to the SAS was killed by Iraqi insurgents during a house-to-house search for a wanted high-ranking Islamist terrorist in an insurgent compound in
Libya
On 27 February 2011, during the
Nigeria
On 8 March 2012, a small SBS team, attempted to rescue two hostages, Chris McManus (British) and Franco Lamolinara (Italian), who were being held in Nigeria by members of the Boko Haram terrorist organisation that was loyal to al-Qaeda. The two hostages were killed by their captors before or during the rescue attempt. All the hostage takers were reportedly killed.[90]
United Kingdom
On 21 December 2018, SBS personnel resolved a situation by storming the container ship Grande Tema where four stowaways hijacked the ship, demanding to enter the UK.[91]
On 25 October 2020, SBS personnel stormed the oil tanker Nave Andromeda south-east of the Isle of Wight. The vessel was suspected to have been hijacked by seven Nigerian stowaways seeking asylum in Britain, who were later handed over to Hampshire Police.[92][93]
Present day
Organisation
The Ministry of Defence does not comment on special forces matters, and there is consequently little verifiable information in the public domain.[94] The SBS is under the Operational Command of Director Special Forces and is based in Hamworthy barracks, Poole, Dorset.[44]
According to military sources in 2020, the SBS numbers about a couple of hundred personnel. Members are on standby at all times. While women have been eligible to join since 2018, there is no official information on women serving on the frontline.[93]
In 1987, when renamed the Special Boat Service, the SBS was also reformed along SAS lines, with 16-person troops (each equivalent to a platoon) instead of the traditional sections.[95] About 200–250 commandos make up the SBS at any one time,[96][97] and once qualified, personnel are known as "Swimmer Canoeists". They are experts in swimming, diving, parachuting, navigation, demolition and reconnaissance.[98]
Since the SBS joined the UKSF Group in the 1980s, it has been restructured. Instead of one squadron being tasked with a permanent role the unit adopted the same system of squadron rotation as the SAS.[99] Each Squadron rotates through counter terrorism duties and conventional operations and tasking. For example, in December 2001 C squadron was on MCT Role, and was called in to intercept the MV Nisha while M and Z Squadron were deployed in Afghanistan.[99]
The SBS Reserve (SBS(R)) provides individual reservists to augment the regular SBS.[100] Recruits need to be serving members of UK reserve forces and a high level of commitment is required.[100] The SBS(R) is based at various locations throughout the United Kingdom, but training is carried out in the South of England.[101]
Structure
The structure of the SBS is as follows:
- SBS
- SBS(R) R Squadron
The SBS has a subunit dedicated to operating Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) known as the SDV Troop.[107][108][109]
Equipment
In 2019, the SDV Troop operated three Mk8 Mod 1 SDVs, with an order to replace them with three new Mk11 SWCS SDVs.[110][111] A SDV can be housed in an Astute-class submarine's dry deck shelter.[110] SBS members are provided with assistance by Chalfont Diving Group divers when using dry deck shelters.[110]
Fast Insertion/Interceptor Craft (FIC) are also in use with the SBS. They have a reported maximum speed of up to 55 knots and the hull features a highly stealthy design and advanced 'wave piercing' qualities. They are similar to the American
Recruitment, selection and training
Pre-selection aptitude test
Before progressing to joint UKSF selection, SBS aspirants must pass a 2-week aptitude test, which involves the following:[118]
- Boating phase (1 week)
- Combat fitness test
- SBS swimming test
- Swim 600 metres in 15 minutes
- Swim 50 metres clothed with a weapon and belt
- Swim 25 metres underwater while holding your breath
- Multiple canoe trials including:
- Carrying a folding canoe and fully loaded bergen for 3 miles (4.8 km)
- 20-mile (32 km) canoe paddle
- Diving phase (1 week)
- Complete a number of dives with confidence and willingness
- Learn and demonstrate diving drills with sufficient quality
UKSF selection
SBS candidates take part in Joint Special Forces Selection alongside SAS candidates, with their selection and training diverging after the end of the JSFS course. JSFS lasts ≈ 6 months. It is broken down into multiple phases, including cross-country marches in the aptitude phase and teaching and testing soldiering skills in the jungle phase. It also involves training in other fields, such escape and evasion and resistance to interrogation (RTI).[119]
Originally, the SBS had its own independent end-to-end selection programme to qualify as a Swimmer Canoeist, but its selection course was integrated into the joint UKSF selection course with candidates for the SAS. In the past, the SBS was staffed almost entirely by the Royal Marines. Today, all members of His Majesty's Armed Forces can be considered for special forces selection.[nb 2] Approximately 40% of all UK Special Forces are recruited from the Royal Marines.[121]
There are two selection courses each year: one in Winter and the other in Summer.[120] Candidates wishing to serve with the Special Boat Service must have completed at least two years regular service and are only accepted into the SBS after completion of the selection process.[122]
SC3 course
After passing joint UKSF selection, at which point SAS aspirants have passed, SBS aspirants continue to the Swimmer Canoeist, Third Class[123][124] (SC3) course, sometimes called the boating and diving course.[125][126] It lasts eight weeks and covers specialist maritime skills such as canoeing, diving, boating, underwater navigation and demolition, negotiating surf zones, and submarine infiltration.[126][118] The course includes a 34-mile (55 km) course in a canoe. After passing the SC3 course, SBS aspirants have passed selection as a whole and join an operational troop on probation.[117] As SBS marines grow in experience and rank, they take the more advanced SC2 and then SC1 courses.[127][128]
Reserve selection
For SBS(R) selection, only candidates with previous military experience are eligible to enlist. Training is carried out in the South of England and candidates are required to complete the following tests over the four-day initial selection course:
- Combat Fitness Test (CFT) – 12.8 km (8 mi) carrying 25 kg (55 lb) within 1 hour 50 minutes.
- Swim test – 500 m (1,600 ft) using any stroke in uniform and retrieve an object from 5 m (16 ft).
- Gym tests.
- Advanced CFT 1 – 15 km (9.3 mi) carrying 25 kg (55 lb).
- Advanced CFT 2 – 24 km (15 mi) carrying 30 kg (66 lb).[101]
See also
- British commando frogmen
- List of military special forces units
- TV Sir Tristram, UKSF training ship
- SD Northern River, Marine services vessel reportedly employed in UKSF operations
- SD Victoria, Marine services vessel reportedly employed in UKSF operations
- List of military diving units (including special forces)
- 22 Special Air Service Regiment Boat Troop
Notes and references
Footnotes
- ^ The events of the raid were portrayed in the movie They Who Dare in 1954 starring Dirk Bogarde[18]
- ^ The regular elements of United Kingdom Special Forces never recruit directly from the general public.[120]
Citations
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- ^ a b "Origins of the Special Forces | National Army Museum".
- ^ Secretary of State for Defence Geoffrey Hoon (14 January 2002). "Special Forces". UK Parliament. House of Commons Hansard. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ^ Knowles, Emily (July 2016). Britain's culture of no comment (Report). London: Remote Control; Oxford Research Group. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ a b Wakely, S. (Spring 2004). "Cap Badge Inauguration Ceremony 18th November 2003". The Croaker.
- ^ "Special Boat Service". Royal Navy. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ a b Royal Marines (August 2015). "'A Corps of Specialists' – A Careers Guide to The Royal Marines Specialisations" (PDF). Royal Navy (2015 ed.). p. 79. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2017.
- ^ Royal Navy (February 2022). "UK Joint Special Forces Selection – Assignment Process for RN/RM Candidates". BRD3 Volume 1 – Naval Personnel Management (PDF). Section 4 – Other Issues page 24, Chapter 91 – Royal Marines Other Ranks Promotion, Part 8 – Promotion. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ Breuer 2001, pp. 46–47.
- ^ a b c Richards, p. 240
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- ^ Chappell, p. 15
- ^ Molinari, p. 25
- ^ Haskew, p. 54
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- ^ a b c Rees 2008, p. 25.
- ^ "Operation Frankton". Royal Marines. Archived from the original on 8 September 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
- ^ Morgan, p. 15
- ^ Thompson, p. 55
- ^ Thompson, p. 56
- ^ Dear, I. C. B.; Foot, M. R. D. (2001). "Special Boat Section". The Oxford Companion to World War II.
- ^ a b c Paul, James; Spirit, Martin (2008). "The Special Boat Service". Britain's Small Wars Site Index. Archived from the original (Web) on 4 March 2010.
- ^ Mammoth Book of Special Forces, Jon E. Lewis [page needed][ISBN missing]
- ^ Behind Enemy Lines; Captain Derek Oakley MBE RM, Royal Marines Historical Society
- ^ Blondie, Ewen Southby-Tailyour, Leo Cooper, London, 1998, Chapter 11
- .
- ^ Kennedy, p. 209
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- ^ "QE2 History". Chris' Cunard Page. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- ^ a b Hennessy & Jinks 2015.
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- ^ a b Van der Bijl & Hannon 1995, p. 16.
- ISBN 978-1845298210, p. 509
- ^ "The secretive sister of the SAS". BBC News. 16 November 2001. Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
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- ^ a b c Farrell 2000.
- ^ a b c Benjamin James Morgan (6 January 2006). "A Brief History of Australian Army Operations in East Timor, 1999–2005". Archived from the original on 20 December 2020.
- ^ "British troops start work in East Timor". BBC News. 20 September 1999. Archived from the original on 5 April 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
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- ^ "No. 56017". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 November 2000. p. 12363.
- ^ a b Rayment, Sean (1 August 2004). "End your rift, SAS and SBS are told". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- ^ Feuerherm, Maj P. N. (2008). Joint special and conventional force integration: a model for all nations (PDF) (Master's thesis). Canadian Forces College. pp. 11, 15, 29–30. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ "Operation Barras". National Army Museum. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ Neville 2015.
- ^ Corera 2012, p. 338.
- ^ Sengupta, Kim (3 December 2001). "British forces to take part in assault on cave complex". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- ^ Neville 2015, pp. 29, 69–70.
- ^ Neville 2008.
- ^ Neville 2015, pp. 29, 72–75.
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- ^ Urban 2012a, pp. 92–93.
- ^ Urban 2012a, p. 135.
- ^ a b Neville 2015, p. 146.
- ^ Neville 2016, p. 49.
- ^ ISBN 978-0007288175, pp. 2–3, 8–9
- ^ "British special forces member killed in Afghanistan". The Guardian. 2 July 2010. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ Neville 2015, pp. 239–241.
- ^ "Killed NI soldier 'was due home". BBC News. 6 July 2006. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- ^ Neville 2015, pp. 241–242.
- ^ Leithead, Alastair (25 June 2007). "Long haul fight to defeat the Taliban". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- ^ "Royal Marine killed in Taliban fight named". The Telegraph. 1 August 2007. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ "Lance Corporal Michael Jones Royal Marines killed in Afghanistan". Government of the United Kingdom. 31 July 2007. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- ^ "Dead UK Afghanistan marine named". BBC. 31 July 2007. Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- ^ Neville 2015, pp. 242–243.
- ^ "Elite UK troops rescue Italians in Afghanistan". The Guardian. 25 September 2007. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ "British forces help free Italians in Afghanistan". the telegraph. 25 September 2007. Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ Neville 2015, p. 242.
- ^ "Mullah Abdul Matin". The Scotsman. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
- ^ Harding, Thomas (18 February 2009). "British forces in Afghanistan seize £50m of heroin and kill 20 Taliban". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ "#IRemember: 'SAS Who Dares Wins' Stars Sign Up". forces.net. 27 November 2016. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- ^ "Sergeant Lee Andrew Houltram, Royal Marines, killed in Afghanistan on 29 August". Government of the United Kingdom. 30 August 2009. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- ^ Neville 2015, p. 243.
- ^ "British soldier killed during rescue of kidnapped journalist in Afghanistan". The Guardian. 9 September 2009. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
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- ^ "Marine Cpl Seth Stephens shot in the head by Afghanistan insurgent". BBC News. 24 May 2011. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ Stone, Mark (18 April 2012). "UK Troops Crucial in Ending Kabul Attack". Sky News. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
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- ^ Neville 2015, pp. 88–90, 121–122.
- ^ Urban 2012a, p. 148.
- ^ Neville 2015, pp. 122–123.
- ^ Urban 2012a, p. 31.
- ^ Urban 2012a, p. 88.
- ^ Urban 2012a, pp. 87–90.
- ^ Urban, Mark (19 January 2012). SAS on ground during Libya crisis. Newsnight (Television documentary). BBC Two (broadcast 18 January 2012). Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ Davies, Caroline; Norton-Taylor, Richard (28 February 2011). "SAS assist in evacuation of British oil workers from Libyan desert". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ Watt, Nicholas; Norton-Taylor, Richard; Vogt, Andrea (8 March 2012). "British and Italian hostages killed in Nigeria". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ^ "Thames Estuary cargo ship 'stowaways' deny hijack bid". BBC. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ "Tanker stowaways: 'Hijacking' ends after special forces storm ship". BBC News. 26 October 2020.
- ^ a b Defence, Dan Sabbagh (26 October 2020). "What do we know about the SBS?". The Guardian.
- ^ "Special forces quitting to cash in on Iraq". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- S2CID 59450530. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ^ MacErlean, Neasa (20 January 2002). "The Special Boat Service". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 June 2014.
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- ^ a b Lewis 2007.
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- ^ "Special Boat Service (SBS) | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 7 January 2024.
It is organized into four squadrons...
- ISBN 9781851099481.
The SBS consists of four squadrons: C, X, M, and Z, each containing around 60 men.
- ^ Urban 2012a, Target AQI.
- ^ Camsell 2001, p. 18, he was drafted direct to 5 Troop SBS, M squadron with me.
- ^ Lewis 2013, p. 17.
- ^ Lewis 2013, p. 29.
- ^ Parker 2013, p. 219.
- ^ Ministry of Defence (1 April 2013). "Tri-Service Regulations for Pay and Charges". Joint Service Publication 754 (18 ed.). p. 6-12-3. Retrieved 19 July 2022 – via MOAM.INFO.
- ^ "United Kingdom – SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDV) MK 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersibles (SWCS)". Defense Security Cooperation Agency (Press release). Transmittal No. 18-36. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ISBN 978-1904459552.
- ^ "Fast Interceptor Craft". BAE Systems. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ISBN 9781853676529.
- ^ ISBN 9781787396968.
- ISBN 9780760314197.
- ^ ISBN 9781907446894.
- ^ a b Parker 2013, Epilogue.
- ^ Leigh, David (8 May 2004). "UK forces taught torture methods". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ a b Ryan 2009, p. 17.
- ^ Royal Marines 2015, p. 78.
- ^ "How do you join the SBS (Special Boat Service)?". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 6 August 2009.
- ISBN 9781472856029.
- ^ The Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions for the Government of Her Majesty's Naval Service. H.M. Stationery Office. 1953. p. 20. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ISBN 9781780337319.
- ^ ISBN 9780753547649.
SBS students go on to their own 8-week boating and diving course, including underwater navigation and demolition, negotiating surf zones and navigating a 55km course in the Klepper canoe, and infiltration via submarine. Following this Marines are rated as Swimmer Canoeist Class 3, and entitled to wear the badge of this specialist qualification on the left cuff of their blue and green dress uniforms, " SC" over a wreath.
- ISBN 9780753547649.]. These advanced training courses emphasize operational planning and training supervision. Promotion to Sergeant also requires passing the Senior Command Course at the CTC, Lympstone in East Devon.
For Marines to be promoted to Corporal they must qualify as SC2 and to Sergeant SC3 [sic
- ISBN 9781592371167.
At this point, one becomes a Swimmer Canoeist Third Class. Even more courses are required for promotion to SC Second and First Class, which gives one the rank of corporal and sergeant, respectively.
Bibliography
- Breuer, William B. (2001). Daring missions of World War II. John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 978-0-471-40419-4.
- Camsell, Don (2001). Black water : a life in the Special Boat Service. London: Virgin. ISBN 978-0753505120.
- Chappell, Mike (1996). Army Commandos 1940–1945. Elite Series # 64. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-579-9.
- Corera, Gordon (2012). MI6: Life and Death in the British Secret Service. London: Phoenix. ISBN 978-0753828335.
- Farrell, John (2000). Peace Makers: INTERFETs Liberation of East Timor. Rocklea: Fullbore. ISBN 0-646-39424-X.
- Haskew, Michael E. (2007). Encyclopaedia of Elite Forces in the Second World War. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-84415-577-4.
- Hennessy, Peter; Jinks, James (2015). The silent deep: The Royal Navy Submarine Service since 1945. London: Allen Lane. ISBN 978-1846145803.
- Jackson, Ashley (2006). The British Empire and the Second World War. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 1-85285-417-0.
- Kennedy, Greg (2005). British Naval Strategy East of Suez, 1900–2000: Influences and Actions. Routledge. ISBN 0-7146-5539-2.
- Lewis, Damien (2007). Bloody Heroes (New ed.). London: Arrow Books. OCLC 851782794.
- Lewis, Damien (2013). Zero Six Bravo : 60 special forces, 100,000 enemy, the explosive true story. London: Quercus. ISBN 9781782060826.
- Molinari, Andrea (2007). Desert Raiders: Axis and Allied Special Forces 1940–43. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-006-2.
- Morgan, Mike (2000). Daggers Drawn: Second World War Heroes of the SAS and SBS. Sutton. ISBN 0-7509-2509-4.
- Neville, Leigh (2015). Special Forces in the War on Terror. General Military. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1472807908.
- Neville, Leigh (2008). Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan. Elite Series # 163. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1846033100.
- Neville, Leigh (2016). The SAS 1983–2014. Elite Series # 211. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1472814036.
- Owen, James (2012). Commando. Little, Brown. ISBN 978-1-4087-0302-1.
- ISBN 978-1472202659.
- Rees, Quentin (2008). The Cockleshell Canoes: British Military Canoes of World War Two. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Amberley. ISBN 978-1-84868-065-4.
- Richards, Brooks (2004). Secret Flotillas: Clandestine Sea Operations in the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Adriatic, 1940–1944. Routledge. ISBN 0-7146-5314-4.
- ISBN 978-1-84605-666-6.
- Thompson, Leroy (1994). SAS: Great Britain's Elite Special Air Service. Zenith Imprint. ISBN 0-87938-940-0.
- Urban, Mark (2012a). Task Force Black: The Explosive True Story of the Secret Special Forces War in Iraq. St. Martin's: Griffin. ISBN 978-1250006967.
- Van der Bijl, Nick; Hannon, Paul (1995). The Royal Marines 1939–93. Elite Series # 57. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-388-5.
Further reading
- ISBN 978-1781311257.
- Courtney, G.B. (1983). SBS in World War Two: The story of the original Special Boat Section of the Army Commandos. London: Robert Hale. ISBN 978-0709012917.
- ISBN 978-0008394523.
- Falconer, Duncan (1998). First into Action: A dramatic personal account of life in the SBS. London: Little, Brown. ISBN 978-0316645683.
- Hunter, Robin (1998). True stories of the SBS: A history of canoe raiding and underwater warfare. London: Virgin. ISBN 978-0753502679.
- Ladd, James D. (1983). SBS : the invisible raiders: The history of the Special Boat Squadron from World War Two to the present. London: Arms and Armour. ISBN 978-0853685937.
- Lodwick, John (1990). Raiders from the sea: The story of the Special Boat Service in WWII (first published 1947 as The filibusters ed.). London: Greenhill. ISBN 978-1853670688.
- Phillips, C.E. Lucas (2021). Cockleshell Heroes. United Kingdom: Sapere Books. ISBN 978-1800552531.
- Mercer, Peter (1999). Not by Strength, by Guile. London: Blake. ISBN 978-1857823684.
- Pitt, Barrie (2018). Special Boat Squadron. Independently published. ISBN 978-1718075863.
- Warner, Philip (1983). The Special Boat Squadron. Sphere Books. ISBN 0722189117.
External links
- Official website
- Special Boat Service at Britain's small wars
- Video of SBS in action at Qala-i-janghi