SPECIAL AIR SERVICE REGIMENT (SASR)
Australia



History

The history of Australia's "Special Forces" can be traced as far back as the
1940s when Australian soldiers were part of the AIB or Allied Intelligence
Bureau. However it wasn't until July 25th, 1957, when the Army turned to
Major W. Gook, that a proper "Special Forces" unit was formed. Major Gook
was put in charge of a new unit: the 1st Special Air Service Company (Royal
Australian Regiment). The total strength of the Company was only 180 men
at first. On August 20th, 1964, the SAS finally became a full Regiment
consisting of three "Sabre" Squadrons, a Training Squadron, and a
Headquarters. The SASR was modelled after the British SAS.





Formation

- 1 Regimental Headquaters
- 1 Base Squadron
- 2 Sabre Squadrons (A and C) - War Role
- 1 CT Sabre Squadron (B - TAG/OAT) - Counter Terrorism Role
- Signals Element

Selection and Training

Selection for the SASR is tough; fewer than 10% will ever make it. Members
from every branch of the ADF (Australian Defence Force) can join the SASR.

Selection is held in the Pokolbin Ranges, near Singleton NSW, and runs for
6 weeks. The course hosts members of the Army trying to join either
the Commandos or the SASR. After three weeks, candidates who are fit for
the Commandos will leave the class behind for their own training, while SASR
Candidates still have another three weeks of Selection left.

After this they are in for 12 months of continuation training at Swanbourne,
WA. If any candidates fail during the course, they are are immediately RTUed
(Returned To Unit).

Courses include:

- Basic Parachute Training
- Escape/Evasion Training
- Patrol Course
- Diving and Boat Handling
- Communications
- Jungle Training
- Explosives and Weapons Training
- Language Training
- Vehicle Training (Land Rovers, Motorcycles)
- Counter-Terrorist Training

At the end of Selection, successful candidates are assigned to an operational
"Sabre" Squadron.

Tactical Assault Group (TAG) / Offshore Assault Team (OAT)

TAG are Australia's primary CT unit.

As B Squadron of the SASR, members undergo the same selection
and training as members of the "regular" SASR. TAG's training facilities include
advanced outdoor close quarters battle ranges, an urban CT complex, aircraft
mock-ups, and sniper range.



An off-shoot of the TAG group is OAT, or the Offshore Assault Team. Initially,
twenty divers from the Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diving Teams switched
branches to the SASR to help man the new unit. OAT, as the name suggests,
specializes in maritime assaults; including ships, ferries, and oil rigs. OAT is
considered a separate but equal element of TAG.



TAG/OAT operators utilise a large arsenal of weapons in their battle against
terrorism. The standard assault rifles are the M-16A2 and F-88 5.56mm rifles
(the F-88 is a localy fabricated Steyr). Pistols include the Browning HP 9mm
and the SIG Sauer P-228. Although the entire family of MP-5s is used, the
favorite is the MP-5K. The Beretta RS 202 shotgun is used, and no less
than four different types of sniper rifles are in their inventory; the 7.62 Galil,
HK PSG-1, Parker Hale 82, and the Finnish Tikka .223.



TAG/OAT operators are HALO/HAHO qualified, and are proficient at heliborne
insertions as well. Cross-training with other countries is not uncommon;
Australian officers are permanently assigned to both Fort Bragg (home of
Delta force) and Little Creek, NAB, home of Navy SEAL counter-terrorist
activities.

These would make great coffens in a war. Good job Ausiees keep makin them summer-time vehecles. First mine in the battle field will teach them a good lesson.

EDIT BY PICARD: PROFANITY DELETED FROM MESSAGE

But, we don't hear about any Aussie casualties, right?

So they know what they're doing. We are talking about the SAS here, the world's best. Aussie SAS is trained along with the British SAS.

Cigkufte,

The Australian SASR have been active in operations since their formation.
Borneo, Brunei, Sarawak, Vietnam, Irian Jaya, Cambodia, Somalia, Rwanda,
and most recently East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq (both Gulf Wars). In
total, they've lost only 9 operators in active combat - of a total of 42; the rest
were killed in training. Just because they don't advertise their presence, it
does not mean they're not there, or don't know what they're doing.

Most of their training is undertaken in the deserts of Western Australia and
the jungles of far north Queensland. For this reason, they specialise in jungle
and desert warfare.

As far as the Land Rover LRPVs being "coffins", the British SAS and
Australian SASR would disagree with you. These 6x6 vehicles are perfect for
Strategic Reconnaisance and Long Range Patrol and are specifically designed
to withstand the extremes of desert warfare. They come complete with 2 x
machine guns (MAG 58, Minimi), a grenade launcher (Mk19), and a 250cc
motorbike (for outriding).

By the way, armed Jeeps have been an integral part of desert warfare since
WWII - as was proven in devastating raids on Nazi oil and airfields in North
Africa by the Allied 1SAS (British SAS, Free French Force and Greek
Sacred Squadron).

Hey Dragases,
I heard that 4th RAR took over TAG duties to form TAG east? Is that true?

Hi Veniamin,

Yes, I believe 2nd TAG was redesignated TAG East and is now the CT element of 4RAR. TAG West is part of SASR. 4RAR is based on the east coast of Australia, SASR on the west.

4RAR is becoming more and more like the SASR.

Regards