The (fictional) 27 (Polish) SAS

[James Langham]

27 (Polish) Regiment Special Air Service

The brainchild of Major (then Captain) Alexander Poponick of 23 SAS, this unit was first established as P Troop 23 SAS in January 1996. It composed of the children (and often the grand sons) of Polish immigrants (many of whom had remained in the UK after the second World War). Recruiting primarily from the Polish communities in the East and West Midlands provided a core group of fluent Polish speakers to which were added a number of Regular and TA NCOs who were also fluent in Polish.

Advertisements were placed in local and national papers for fluent Polish speakers and the forces records checked for possible candidates. After selection through the Intelligence Corps depot at Ashford, successful candidates were trained as part of the standard SAS selection training (although expanded to allow for the initial lack of military skills). Out of the initial 200 candidates the numbers were whittled down to 38 (although a number of the unsuccessful ones were redeployed to Intelligence Corps).

The first operation undertaken was Operation Furnace in December 1996, where the troops were inserted onto the Baltic coast. Here they undertook a number of sabotage operations but more usefully acted as fake military police directing Pact traffic down the wrong roads in a manner similar to the German Operation Grief during the Battle of the Bulge. Credited with slowing down two divisions by over two days when their rear echelons were both sent through the same small town. Of the 38 troops, 24 made it back to NATO lines in January (and a further 4 after an epic march via Warsaw in April).

Permission was given in February 1997 to expand the troop to squadron size as P Squadron. Further recruiting expanded numbers to two troops and the unit was renamed as 27 (Polish) SAS in April 1997 as a deception about its strength. Major Poponick was appointed commanding officer. He was instrumental in the peculiarities of dress and regimental march listed below. Despite extensive attempts to recruit, strength has never risen past two troops.

Since then the unit has continued its role of behind the lines operations and has worked with 21SAS on recovery of shot down pilots on a number of occasions. It has also operated in the role of co-ordinating anti-Pact groups in Poland (including joint operations with the American Green Berets 10SFG). As the front has stabilised it has moved back to Germany and is intended to give BAOR a special forces capability as the elements making up the Special Services Brigade are withdrawn to the UK.

Stable belt: Red over white with a buckle showing the regimental badge
Cap badge: The traditional SAS winged dagger
TRF: Diamond, front red, rear white (rarely worn)
Wings: SAS pattern
Beret: Sand
Lanyard: Mixed red and white
Collar dogs: Polish Imperial Eagle
Regimental March: The Eagle Has Landed March (apparently this was an unofficial march from the beginning but was formally adopted in January 1999)
Strength: 59
Current subordination: Theatre level for BAOR