Special Forces

Now, I know in the army/RM there is the SBS, SFSG, SRR & SAS.....as well as Pathfinders (16AA), Brigade Recce (3 Cdo) and elements of the RAF Regiment; and these fine forces make up our UKSF

Now do the RN have any special forces? Or the RAF for that matter?

 

notwithstanding a WAH....

....UKSF Gp is tri service, as is PF.

however, that doesn't include SFSG or Bde Recce

 

sbs?

 

ok sorry for being wah-able

I was more interested in whether or not there were any RN SF outside of 3 cdo brigade?

 

The Royal Marines are an integral component of the Naval Service and as such you could say the SBS are the 'Naval' Special Forces. Whether they see themselves as that is another matter.

As has already been stated all rather pointless as the UKSFG community is tri service.

 

Why?

 

Just idle curiosity

 

RAF man the aircraft that taxi around the UKSF so I suppose this would be their equivalent of 'Special Forces'. I read somewhere on here that the RAF Regiment help man the SFSG, and also carry out combat search and rescue, that might qualify as SF, I'm not sure.

The RN are involved with the SBS I believe as RN & RM are linked up in the same organisation. There are also have clearance divers who have a v physically demanding course to pass, and Royal Naval Commandos, who are sailors who've had to pass the Commando Course to support the Commando Brigade. Again I'm not sure if these last examples are considered SF or not, but theres certainly the scope to do something physically demanding if you're not in the Army/RM.

Edited to add: Or have I just fallen prey to my first WAH?

 

Yes the RAF Regiment combat recovery group is the closest thing to SF in the RAF I think.

 

Rockapes are part of Joint Special Forces Support Group. All of them have served with the RAFR Airborne Sq.

Within the JSFSG, they carry Force Protection and CS&R.

As far as I am aware, there is no RN Special Forces unit, though I believe sailors can apply for the SBS.

 

These guys are pretty close to it

SPAG

 

Elite, yes. But not SF; they do not have a combat role. The RN's Fleet Clearance Squad could also be classified as elite, since they do a difficult and dangerous job. But they are not SF anymore than Army Bomb Disposal.

FYI: I am not slagging members of the units mentioned above. They have my full respect. I was merely trying to point out the differance between elite/specialised units and SF.

 

The RAF Regt in SFSG are a strike platoon and some rocks are also within other elements in the group. And CSAR is a completely different entity to the SFSG.

 

RAF Reg SF. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, cough splutter choke Urghhhhh!
They'd like to think so.
PS

 

Fleet Diving Unit 1 provide immediate IED disposal for MCT tasks, and are in the same teams as the "operators". This may or may not make then SF, but they think they're pretty special....

There are also RN personnel who are serving with 2 Tier 1 UKSF battalions....

Added: The SBS come under the Full Command of CINCFLEET, with OPCON always delegated to DSF, so technically they are "RN SF".