Special Air Service vs Delta?

Question

Lots of controversy re RM vs USMC, so what's your view on the SAS vs Delta?
Who is the best & why?

Some very interesting opinions. Thanks.
Does anyone have any first-hand experience?

Answer 1

SAS every time, American special forces come to England to learn from the SAS as well as the lesser well known SBS special boat service in Poole Dorset, shame the SAS get all the kudos and the SBS forgotten as they do the same things as the SAS but can also do it on water.

Answer 2

Clearly whatever country you are from will dictate where your argument lies, mine lies here; The delta force had a mission to save roughneck hostages aboard an Atlantic oil rig. In typical American fashion the plan was so elaborate that it was doomed to failure in any capacity other than a Hollywood studio. They did fail losing 3 men before they turned on their heals. The British Prime Minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher was asked to send the SAS, but not to made public under any circumstances. Like all things the people there leaked their story. The mission was successful with no loss of life.
Who did stormin' Norman prefer to use in the first Gulf war? SAS.
Who was first?, What inspired the Delta force?, How many films have been made about Delta farce? Typically American, all show and no go, All the gear and no idea.
And i love the way American's use Hollywood to re-write history. See how many obscured history films you can spot.

Answer 3

The SAS has been around longer, and has more experience in the type of tactics they use. Delta was envisioned by COL. Charlie Beckwith, who had been an exchange officer between the SAS and the Special Forces. When he returned from there, he was the main proponent for establishing an SAS style unit in the Army. Therefore, we can say that the SAS is the mentor of Delta.

Answer 4

I love to fly SAS! :-) *lol* back to your question. I think that anyone that joins any sof service like the SAS and Delta and rangers and Navy seals are higly admireble and worth every expendisive in terms of taxpayers money. Great work everyone! Johan

Answer 5

Delta force are gung-ho tough dedicated killers with lots of testosterone and aggression. The SAS are clinical, calculating killers who operate with total professionalism. There's a time and place for both ideologies but I think the sheer commitment and professionalism of the SAS and their rigorous training gives them a clear edge over other special forces. Northern Ireland was the best training ground in counter insurgency tactics that any elite forces could have.

Answer 6

You cant answer this one because national pride will dictate what your answer will be. I think we are all proud of our own special forces.
A lot of the work is covert and the pubic don't know what is going on half the time. The exception would be high profile incidents like the Iranian Embassy siege when the SAS acquitted themselves rather well. SAS training is a bit quirky to foreign troops on exchange training, little things like bagging up your cr*p and carrying it with you and leaving wounded comrades behind. Its a jungle out there !!

Answer 7

People keep saying Delta will do this and do that but historically they have not achieved as much as the SAS. I don't care how secret an operation is, if it gets a certain size and complexity word will come out. For the SAS just go to the following sites and read/watch actual documented missions that did well. Compare it to Black Hawk Down and the Iran hostage rescue attempt fiasco.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-105335/US-salutes-SAS-heroes.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqCZFJdMpY4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBmrEOIPcs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI3HY7g0MDU

Answer 8

Both are extremely good at what they do, however they do things a different way. I heard them described something like the following - Delta = Sledgehammer, SAS = Stiletto knife. Something like that. Anyway, the point is they essentially do the same sort of thing but the way they do it is mostly completely different.

Answer 9

the SAS taught everything Delta force knows and in the hole history of the SAS they have failed a couple or none i can't remember but i know the navy seals and Delta force has failed a lot more then the SAS.

Answer 10

SAS was first, they trained out first spec forces in WW2
the Rangers... then came the Green Berrets, then the SEAL's then DELTA....

SAS, British elite commando's...Hard core operators

SEALS - American equivalent, elite commado's...Hard core operator's.

DELTA Force, Classified, Spec Op's , need I say More.