Horus wrote:
The SAS is a British Special force that was originally kept secret, and they are pretty much the most disciplined and nastiest soldiers out there.
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that's like comparing an american special force (navy seals for example) to a grey knight. where as the SAS are Grey Knights
You know the analogy is more along the lines of the various components of the SAS and American Special Operations Command are like Space Marines Chapters of differing Primarch lines. Both groups carry out the same outlined missions through roughly the same training, equipment, and organization parameters. Though each has its own traditions and minor changes to doing their jobs.
Now, do not think I have not noticed it has been lightly banded about here and in a couple of other places the opinion that the SAS rules and everyone else is fighting for 2nd place. You Brits(UK'ers?) can try to get your digs in that your home team of the SAS is the original and in some way superior to the American(or all others). The SAS did not occur out of a vacuum, and the primary basis of Special Forces organizations(in the West at least, see ninjas for Eastern branches) are based around the original American Company of
Roger's Rangers. Now Roger's Rangers did fight for the British in their time, but they were definitely an American group that organized themselves before they were signed onto the British cause.
One could try pointing out the origins of the SAS are from units in the 2nd Boer War, and more specifically the likes of the Lovat Scouts. One could, but you have to remember that group was taught and served under an American Major
Frederick Russell Burnham. A man born, raised, and trained in the United States before he later found work as a soldier of fortune when the British sent a telegram his way asking him to fight on their side. Once in Africa, Major Burnham taught the the British how to do wood/field-craft, scouting, recon, and skirmishing. Most importantly the groups he trained and led were the units used as the basis and pattern for the "new" Commando units they wanted to form up in World War 2.
So as much as one might want posit the
SAS as the "tops of the pops" in the special forces category, the
SAS simply are from the American troops who figured it all out and then showed the British how to do things. To use another analogy; since people seem to like them in these parts, claiming all others try to do Special Forces by emulating the original and greatest that is the
SAS is like claiming all rock'n'rollers are trying to match the first and best of rock'n'roll that is the Beatles(or maybe the Rolling Stones). You see how it works.
Now do not mistake this for jingoism on my part towards the United States Special Operations Command, since really my feelings are active engagement in warfare is chalked up as a loss for humanity no matter how well trained or skilled the participants are. This was just to fill in those who were not up on their military info or history.
Anywho, history lesson over and back to the discussion. Otherwise, I might start going further and point out how those American irregulars and special operators were actually not all that innovative and bad-assed, since they were just co-oping Native American skills and warfare. The types of tactics and training that made for dead white men unless they moved in large armies with guns and cannons that at times only barely scratched out wins(or lost). Results against Native Americans that were kind of just a step or two beyond using pointy stick technology for weapons against their iron and steel using enemies...
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that hurts their role as "
