Special Forces - who's the best?

Originally posted by fox_3000au
I was going to say the SASR and not because of bias, but, since the SASR is now recruiting from the general public my opinion of them has gone downhill somewhat.

And before any Brit gets on here saying that the SASR aren't as good as the SAS, because they have a longer history blah blah blah, just because you came up with the concept, doesn't mean that someone isn't going to become better than you, (Look at cricket.

).

Also it appears that the SASR are doing a pretty good job of clearing out the leaders in Afghanistan... strange???

Fox.

[edit on 19/10/08 by fox_3000au]

The SASR are damn good. In Afghanistan they amazed their British and American brethren by being able to patrol behind enemy lines for weeks on end withough external resupply. The Brits and Americans cannot do this.
They have also had some amazing successes in Afghanistan, only a few which have been made known.

reply to post by funlovincriminal


One shot one kill is the only thing any of them consider to be the best not the rank or file.

It would make a great Top 10 List for the Military or History channel.

If the criteria is ruthless efficency (not political correct)
Battle History
Fear Factor
Lenth of service

I would rank
it this way but what do I know forgive my spelling

German SS
Russian Spetznatz
British SAS
American Seals
American Rangers
Note Fear factor being captured by either SS and Spetznatz is fate worse than death both Seals and Rangers operate under PC Rules of engagement
SAS has been at it for long time and have experience everything possible.

Originally posted by torresm1
Note Fear factor being captured by either SS and Spetznatz is fate worse than death both Seals and Rangers operate under PC Rules of engagement
SAS has been at it for long time and have experience everything possible.

Basically you're equating fear factor to lack of military discipline. This should detract from them not enhance them. Any knob job can walk into a building and kill anything in sight. What makes the truly elite is being able to enter a building and under incredible pressure shoot only the bad guys. This is why Spetznaz ranks toward the bottom of the elite.

[edit on 21-10-2008 by rogue1]

reply to post by torresm1[/url]

Off topic I know but by SS, I do so hope you mean the Waffen-SS and not that Alleigme-SS scum who ran the death camps.

Even so, I would not count the Waffen-SS in general as being special forces.

Elite in the case of some units like the Leibstandarte-SS 'Adolf Hitler' or the
5th Waffen-Grenadier Division 'Wiking' perhaps, but units like 'Dirlwanger' and Lettische NR 1 and NR 2 were nothing more than brutal, homicidal lunatics dressed in combat kit and pointed in the direction of innocent civilians.

I've heard that the Australian SAS are the best, but that may just be my patriotic side flourishing . So are the yanks, the English and is Israeli Commando's.

Israel is especially known for its hand to hand combat martial art - Krav Maga

Just my reply, havent registered yet and only read 8 pages.....

I'm an ex member of the RN and I have to say I have the utmost respect for all the allied forces.....

During my time in the RN (navy.. ordinary navy nothing "special" about it), we had a demo by the seals. First was against the Royal navy's army branch, the royal marines.... assault course..... well the royal marines pissed all over them, shockingly so, next up we had their underwater display (not a competion) in wich they lost all the equipment and had to have the RN divers go in and recover it (Loch Lomond... not excactly somewhere in the atlantic)... after a night out in the local town the seals got mouthy and started a fight... and got the hell beat out of them by normal royal navy (drunken sods we are).

During my training which included a week in Breacon we had an ex SBS guy as one of the trainers and god was he a madman, easily one of the few ppl I would like to offer disrespect too, indeed he had us eating rabbit sheep and cow # just to pass his part of the course. It should also be noted that during this week at breacon the sas had to be airlifted out as conditions were that bad.. the RN was the only group to remain... mainly cause we had to look for a missing person... but nvm that.

During my time in the RN I had contact with SBS SAS and others, I have to say that by the records the SAS have the best, but imo the SBS where by far the best (maybe I had more time with them). The americans normal troops and navies mainly manage to show up in disgrace compared to normal british forces and the fact that ppl think the famous "red berets" of the Para's and the Royal marines are sf or exemplory brings nothing but joy to my heart. They are our regular armies and deserve much applaud...

Unfortunatley since I have left the RN, they have managed to crash into the "worlds biggest rock" and invade spain by mistake.... I really hung my head in shame at those feats of total idiotism....

Just one more thing... completely unrelated....

Bring back the field gun and raf are all crabfats

It comes down to training. SF groups train each other, foreign SF guys get trained at US bases, and US SF guys get trained overseas. The higher the clearance, the weirder the partnership. The longer a person has been SF, the more training they get. Whatever the job is, whoever can do the job is the right man for the job. And it's usually some thin scrawny unassuming guy that the rest of the team respects, those new hardcore guys don't seem to last. Sometimes the person the team respects quite a bit is a woman.

I believe that the French Foreign Legion is the most cohesive ,srtrac, and has the highest morale of all the Soecial Forces just my observation.

Just so you guys know, I'm not saying we're the best or anything. But the longest confirmed kill ever was by a Canadian sniper from newfoundland.

Canadian Snipers are the best in the world

I'm sure that there are many undisclosed sniper kills performed by many various branches of the worlds military's at extreme range that nobody will ever know about.

Perhaps even farther out than the canadian sniper who IMHO is a badass. But still it's likely that there are kills from further distances that we'll never know about.

I know the US SEALS practice long range sniping skills at the chocolate mountain range in southern california. and when they practice long range , they mean literally very long range. Like hitting an upright phone book at over a mile out consistently.

Regarding that post a few back about the Royal Marines-SBS vs the SAS I gotta believe the posters conclusion. I was told flat out by a guy in seal team 5 that the SAS although real good are getting a little antiquated and that the SBS were the new badasses over in the UK to watch out for.

The British SAS is the best special force, the green berets and the delta force were formed by the US letting the SAS give their men a special training so that they could then be the first ones and train the next generations. Since 2005 the SAS has the SRR as reinforcement

I apologise for not reading all the posts ,the best special forces are the ones you never see or hear about.

The british SAS was formed 1941 the existence of the SAS only came up in the 80s after they were filmed 1972 while killing the terrorists and free the hostages on the queen elizabeth 2

reply to post by all2human


whats shocking me is that the south african recces havent been mentioned once. his kind of adds to my opinion that they are the best however.

there is no point arguing over who is best based on past ops. sure mossad do loads of ops but then the sas were in northern ireland for ages. the fact is by the nature of special forces we will never know.


what we do know is that the most legendary selection force is that of the recces. if you dont beleive me just ask a navy seal or delta force or sas or sasr or nzsas or green berets.. i think you get the point. the recces have years where not one single person will pass selection. now all of these guys are elite obviously i mean i wouldnt # with a navy seal. but you have to be feckin double hard to make it as a recce

Originally posted by SwordDancer The British SAS is the best special force, the green berets and the delta force were formed by the US letting the SAS give their men a special training so that they could then be the first ones and train the next generations. Since 2005 the SAS has the SRR as reinforcement

If you are going to quote the Special Reconnaissance Regiment as being reinforcements for 22 SAS Regiment, at least try to get your facts right.

The SRR as you call them, are a Regiment in their own right. They have their own Squadrons and Troops and have their own HQ and Q Staff.

I think you refer to the Special Forces Support Group.

Originally posted by SwordDancer The british SAS was formed 1941 the existence of the SAS only came up in the 80s after they were filmed 1972 while killing the terrorists and free the hostages on the queen elizabeth 2

I don't know where you get this info from my friend, but most certainly they were NOT filmed in 1972 doing anti-terrorist stuff on board the QE 1 or 2.

Me thinks you are getting a little confused with the dates - 1980 the Iranian Embassy seige.

Oh and as for the SAS being filmed killing terrorists, dream on my son.

Honestly guys... the SAS?

No, not anymore anyway.

In my opinion, the U.S. Army's SFOD-1 Delta and the U.S. Navy's Special Warfare Development Group are the best hands down. However, Israel's special forces are incredible.

But I literally laugh when I hear people say things like the Royal Marines or the SAS. Yeah, they are all tough guys and very good at their job; they aren't the best.

Originally posted by sealteamsix But I literally laugh when I hear people say things like the Royal Marines or the SAS.

Oh, really? Why's that, I wonder.

You don't really believe all that Hollywood rubbish, do you?

The Special Air Service still remains the daddy of all of today's special forces throughout the world.

As for laughing when you hear "people say things like the Royal Marines or the SAS", perhaps you could tell me what you think of this?

Go as a Pilgrim and seek out danger far from the comfort and the well lit avenues of life.

Pit your very soul against the unknown and seek stimulation in the comfort of the brave.

Experience cold and hunger, heat and thirst and survive to see another challenge and another dawn;

Only then will you be at peace with yourself and be able to know and to say;

“I looked down the farthest side of the mountain, fulfilled and understanding all, and truly content that I lived a full life and one that was my own choice.

We are the pilgrims Master, we shall go always a little further. It may be beyond that last blue mountain barr'd with snow, across that angry or glimmering sea"

Originally posted by fritz
The Special Air Service still remains the daddy of all of today's special forces throughout the world.

I respectfully disagree. The SAS are an amazing group of talented individuals who are great at their job. Though, I believe that Delta Force is better. And I do think that anyone who has truly done their research on special forces groups would agree with me.