Special forces
This term is not synonymous with "paramilitary".Special Forces or Special Operations Forces is a term used to describe relatively small military units raised and trained for reconnaissance, unconventional warfare and special operations. Such units rely on stealth, speed, self reliance and close teamwork; and are often issued with specialized equipment. Special Forces members are generally highly trained and are often selected from volunteers; they might be described as the "best of the best". Generally, they are used for highly targeted and specific operations such as sabotage and reconnaissance. Because of their high level of training, they are small in numbers, and they generally do poorly in normal combat against larger normal military forces, as normal military forces can overwhelm them by number of troops.
The work of Special Forces is often classified. In some cases, there are ties between intelligence agencies and Special Forces units.
Special Forces operatives may also be used to train foreign local forces when military aid is given to other countries, as much of their specialized training includes language and cultural skills. Because of the secrecy surrounding much of their training, and the typically covert nature of their work, Special Forces have an aura of mystery surrounding them and are frequently the topic of military fiction.
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2 World War II 3 Late 20th and early 21st Century 4 United States 5 See also 6 External links |
Special forces have played an important role throughout the history of warfare when the aim has been to achieve disruption by "hit and run" or sabotage rather than more traditional face to face combat. Other significant roles lay in reconnaissance, providing essential intelligence from close to or among the enemy, and increasing in combating terrorist, their infrastructure and activities.
During the Napoleonic wars, rifle and sapper units existed who were not committed to the formal lines that made up most battles of the day. They instead held more specialized roles in reconnaissance and skirmishing.
During World War II in 1940 the British Commandos were formed following Winston Churchill's call for "specially trained troops of the hunter class, who can develop a reign of terror down the enemy coast." The Commandos were selected from volunteers among existing servicemen and went on to spawn a number of other specialist units including the Special Air Service, the Special Boat Service and the Small Scale Raiding Force of the Special Operations Executive.
In the summer of 1942, the United States formed the Rangers who were based on and trained by the Commandos. The US and Canada also formed a sabotage ski brigade for operations in Norway who became known as the Devil's Brigade during their eventual service in Italy.
The German army had the Brandenburger Regiment who became a special armoured force used by Rommel in the North Africa campaign for long range reconnaissance as well as raids behind enemy lines. A unit within the Waffen SS commanded by Otto Skorzeny also conducted many special operations.
In Italy the Decima Flottiglia MAS were responsible for the sinking and damage of considerable Allied tonnage in the Mediterranean. After the division on Italy in 1943, those fighting with Germany retained the original name and those fighting with the Allies retitled as the Mariassalto.
Throughout the later half of the 20th century and into the 21st century, special forces have come to higher prominence as governments have found objectives can sometimes be better achieved by a small team of specialists than a larger and much more politically controversial conventional deployment. In both Kosovo and Afghanistan, special forces were used to coordinate
activities between local guerilla fighters and air power. Typically guerilla fighters would engage enemy soldiers and tanks causing them to move, where they could be seen and attacked from the air.
Invariably special forces were used in key military operations such as the Falklands War, Northern Ireland, the first and second Gulf War, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia, the Iranian Embassy siege (London) and the Moscow Theatre siege.
History of Special Forces
World War II
Late 20th and early 21st Century
United States
The US military's special forces field manual is FM 31-20.