Who do you think performs more covert/clandestine/black ops operations? SAS or SBS?

Question

Who do you think undertakes more operations which are kept secret from the public, the SAS or SBS. It's a matter of who gets chosen; is the SBS the better choice or is the SAS the better choice? I heard that the SAS is now less trust worthy because they are trigger happy and reckless. While the SBS' low profile allows more covert operations. Well what do you think?

And what would be better is if you have any source (book or web site) that has proof (or something like that) that can tell you who gets chosen (more often as it isn't always the same group) to do the covert operation.

Answer 1

That's a really difficult question to answer. What really put the SAS in the public eye was the siege at Princes Gate during 1982, untill then nobody had really heard about the SAS or indeed the SBS. Such was the success of that operation that now the SAS seem to be the answer to all terrorist threats. On the other hand the SBS are the elite of the Commandos, the Commandos are the Royal Navys army so to speak. The SBS are highly trained in marine warfare, the SAS are highly trained in several disciplines. As an ex member of 3 commando I have had the privilege to meet people from both regiments, and i cannot distinguish one from the other.
As to your original question, I think that the SAS are involved in more covert operations, but after saying that I don't want to imply that the SBS are not up to it. As for being trigger happy and reckless, personally I don't think so. During the Princes Gate siege some of the hostages later said that the SAS were brutal, that they killed the terrorists first and asked questions later, I ask you, how do you deal with a terrorist who has already killed 2 people and is armed? do you say "stop you naughty boy or I will shoot you" no, the terrorist is given no chances to bluff, he is dispatched immediately and to most people that would seem brutal, but in the eyes of the SAS it is the only way to deal with such people. Their moto is "Who Dares Wins" and that speaks for itself.

Answer 2

The SBS is likely to be the better choice since they use boats as well as everything else.
As for the low profile - you mean that the SBS have not had it publicised as much as the SAS what operations they are involved in.
Once the press get hold of any stories about any armed forces, whoever they are, they will always print stories to discredit them. The press do not know about the secretive operations these guys do because they are done in secret. Anything which is publicised is done for a reason and 99% of the time to protect & help other people.
None of these guys are trigger happy or reckless - these are situations where the public honestly believe they can join the throngs of baying wolves without taking into account any of the finer details - the horrors and pains - which if they experienced themselves would blow their minds.

Answer 3

Covert operations are carried out mostly by the Americans who take the best jobs for themselves. It is for this reason lots of men leave the SAS/SBS - there is now a shortage of such folk in UK armed forces.

Andy Pandy above is probably quite right about public knowledge of the SAS and also SBS. My first encounter with former members of the SAS was when I joined the British Army in 1957 aged 15. My troop sargeant was a former member of SAS in WW2. He claimed he was a member of the Long Range Desert Group - the forerunner of the SAS. He probably said this so as not to be thought a total barbarian, which he was anyway.

Answer 4

The only difference, really, between the two is that the SAS draw recruits from all Army regiments and the SBS are Royal Marines only. That makes them more specialised and therefore less likely to be involved in certain actions than the more utility SAS. You wouldn't, for example, been likely to find any SBS doing covert surveillance in the Iraqi western desert in the time leading up to the Gulf War.

I must take issue with the guy who said the SBS is just like the SEALS. Oh dear, too many Hollywood films there then.
The SBS is smaller, tougher and less visible than the SEALS. Like the SAS, you wouldn't look at a SBS man and think he looked anything out of place. That's the whole trick. They look like Mr Average. It stops them getting noticed so easily.
US special forces have all got one thing in common. They think massive muscles are required to get the job done, and nothing sticks out like a body builder in a special op.
Our special forces are highly fit but unlike the US specials they haven't had their brains removed and replaced by muscle.

Answer 5

Here's a better question, what is a larger number - the number of atoms in the universe, or the number of times career counterstrike players have massive debates as to which country's special forces are the best?

The answer is.... #2.

And the answer to your question is that there isn't one that you guys get told. Playing rainbow six and reading websites by guys like you doesn't give you any credible information on the true nature of these forces.

Answer 6

In my opinion the SAS is becoming more like the French Foreign Legion. While stealthy they are more loyal to themselves than to the cause

The SBS is more like the SEALS...actually they are just like the seals

so I choose SBS

Answer 7

sorry to disappoint, but there are actually other units than just the SAS & SBS in the UK that do covert ops.

one in particular springs to mind, but i aint saying; and thats why they're so good - because nothing about them is known.

let's just keep it that way.

Answer 8

What if the miscarriage became a from a chemical being pregnant or the female became work out too strenuously? Or, if a love one or chum dies, etc? we are residing in a fallen international. Jesus himself pronounced they're going to be injustice in the international. it truly is why we thank Him with compliment whilst good occurs. we are being grateful. advantages.

Answer 9

Bastards, all of them.