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The Special Boat Service (SBS)

History of the SBS
SBS Selection
SBS Reserves

The Special Boat Service (SBS) History

The Special Boat Service can trace its origins back to 1941 when the Special Boat Section was formed from the Folbot Troop of HQ Layforce. In 1942 the SBS were placed under the command of 1 Special Air Service Regiment and became part of ‘D’ Squadron. It was at this time that they were re-titled The Special Boat Squadron and wore the same beret and badge as the SAS. In 1943 a second Special Boat Section was raised as part of The Special Service Brigade. It was named 2 SBS. 2 SBS was part of a Commando formation and as such wore the Green Beret. In 1946 the SBS was disbanded with the title of SBS passing to The Royal Marines where it became part of The School of Combined Operations.

SBS subsequently went on to serve in Palestine and on the outbreak of war in Korea were deployed on operations along the North Korean coast as well as operating behind enemy lines destroying lines of communication, installations and gathering intelligence. It was during the Korean War that the SBS first started operating from submarines. During the 1960’s The SBS saw action in Malaysia and assisted in training Special Forces, as well as conducting intelligence gathering operations during the Vietnam War.

In 1972 SBS and SAS came into prominence when members of a combined SBS & SAS team parachuted into the Atlantic Ocean after a bomb threat on board the cruise liner Queen Elizabeth II. A thorough search of the QE2 found no evidence of any device drawing the conclusion that it was an expensive hoax!

1977 saw the Special Boat Service change its name to The Special Boat Squadron and in 1979 Commando Company Royal Marines took control of 5 SBS, which was tasked with the protection of oil rigs in the North Sea. SBS played a part in the Iranian Embassy Siege in 1980, and in 1982 they deployed to South Georgia after the Argentinean Invasion. The only losses to the SBS during the Falklands War occurred when SBS and SAS were operating in adjacent areas where a resulting ‘blue on blue’ incident resulted in two members of the

Real change for the SBS was signalled in 1987 when they became part of the United Kingdom Special Forces Group. That same year they were re-titled, this time reverting to The Special Boat Service again. This change meant they were now under the command of the Director Special Forces (DFS). The first Gulf War saw the SBS carry out one of its most high profile operations when it liberated the British Embassy in Kuwait. They were also responsible for carrying out diversionary raids along the Kuwaiti coast which in effect diverted a number of Iraqi troops to the SBS area of operations and away from the main thrust of the coalition build up.

It is a widely held belief that SBS operate in an amphibious role only. This is not so. Although SBS are specialists in amphibious operations they also operate in a more conventional manner far from what is their accepted ‘comfort zone’!

After the US led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001 the SBS were responsible for securing Bagram Air Base, now a main air hub for US air movements in and out of Afghanistan. In May 2007 The SBS, supported by The Special Forces Support Group (SFSG), killed a leading member of the Taliban, Mullah Dadullah, in a raid on a compound in Helmand Province. Operating deep in the arid land locked regions of Iraq and Afghanistan SBS are just as much ‘at home’ as they would be in their more familiar amphibious surroundings.

SBS Selection

In the past The SBS was staffed entirely, with few exceptions, by The Royal Marines. They were in fact the Royal Marines contribution to British Special Forces. Volunteers for the SBS are now taken from across the complete spectrum of the British Armed Forces although volunteers do predominantly come from The Royal Marines. Those wishing to serve with SBS must have completed two years regular service in either the Royal Navy (including The Royal Marines), Army or Royal Air Force (most likely from the RAF Regiment) and will only be accepted into The SBS after completion of the gruelling selection process conducted by the SAS before moving on to specific SBS Selection/Continuation Training.

Historically The SBS have been committed to amphibious operations; therefore the need to operate both under and on top of water is of paramount importance. Amphibious training will see candidates use open and closed circuit diving systems and learn how to swim and navigate underwater for long distances in poor visibility as well as making extensive use of canoes. Candidates will also be trained in the boarding of ships in harbours and while under way, gaining access to oil platforms, beach reconnaissance, and Maritime Counter-Terrorism activities.

As with The SAS there is a need for trained demolition experts and as such candidates would attend the same, or very similar, courses attended by their SAS counterparts and likewise all SBS candidates will attend the basic military parachute course.

On completion of SBS Selection/Continuation Training, candidates qualify as a Swimmer Canoeist (SC3), and are considered to be probationers. Career courses are available to members of The SBS in order that they can improve their skills base and be considered for promotion.

The Special Boat Service (Reserves)

Personnel serving in The SBS are used to enhance the manning requirements of the regular Squadrons and as such do not operate independently.

Personnel wishing to become a member of The SBS and undergo Selection must have previous military experience or have served for two years in the Royal Marines Reserve (RMR). Entry standards into The SBS are extremely high with selection just as demanding as that for The SAS. Those who eventually join The SBS’s ranks can expect to find themselves committed to operations alongside their regular counterparts in all roles with the exception of underwater operations and Maritime Counter Terrorism.

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Go To: Regiments and Corps of the British Army

The following units come under the control of UKSF. See the following sections for more details on each unit and what they specialise in:

The Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment

The Special Reconnaissance Regiment

The Special Forces Support Group

18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment (18 (UKSF) SIG REGT)

United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) Aviation