Special Forces Units

[Rainbow Six]

Originally Posted by sic1701

While we're on the subject of special operations forces, I would like to fill in some gaps. Going on my memory, I can list the following SOCOM components, but could you fine folks fill in some of the gaps and/or correct me as needed?

United Kingdom...Special Air Service (and do they belong to the British Army, or the RAF?). Special Boat Service. Do the Para regiments belong to the British version of SOCOM?

Don't let me down, boys.

Hi Sic,

Special Air Service are part of the Army. Special Boat Service are part of the Royal Navy. They both form part of United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF), and report to the Director, Special Forces (DSF), who is the senior Special Forces officer in the UK. UKSF would, I would think, be our version of SOCCOM.

The Parachute Regiment has three Battalions (1, 2, and 3). In the Twilight timeline (either v1 or v2) all three Battalions would be part of the regular British Army. Since the mid 1980's two Battalions would usually be assigned to 5th Airborne Brigade, whilst the third could be assigned to any non mechanised infantry role (e.g. Northern Ireland tour, Allied Mobile Force (Land) Battalion, standby for non NATO operations, etc). The Battalions rotated between assignments; exact time in each assignment varies, but would usually be between 18 - 24 months (occasionally longer).

There were also a further three Territorial Army (roughly similar to US National Guard) Para Battalions (4, 10, and 15); they formed the Parachute Regiment Group and were meant to be assigned to the 1st Armoured Division in Germany in the event of War.

At the end of the Cold War 10 and 15 Para were both stood down, leaving 4 Para as the only Territorial Parachute Battalion.

In real life airborne forces were restructured in 2006 and 1 Para was permanently assigned to the Special Forces Support Group, a new formation which also includes elements of the RAF Regiment, Royal Signals, and Royal Marines. The other two Battalions form the core of 16 Air Assault Brigade (the successor to the 5th Airborne Brigade).

Hope this helps - any queries just give me a shout and I'll try and answer!

Cheers

Dave

[Abbott Shaull]

Okay by 2000 in a t2k setting tuft wars of the past should of been check-in to the trash bin. By the time 2000 and beyond, joint special ops teams would be formed more often than not, so a well rounded team can be fielded. By this time lot of the trash thinking they were the best and only one who can do the job properly would take a second seat to being able to field a team to get the job done. Those operators who weren't playing well with others, may find themselves as HQ puke or worse in Light Infantry unit where due to their rank, they are left being under people who don't realize what they can do, or worse always pick their sub-unit for the dangerous missions because they have Rambo with them, they should be able to do anything....

Now with that said, if we roll back to 1999 and before. I agree with Paul and others with US Special Ops forces especially. Too much baggage each Service brings to the the team would make them almost band of misfits who don't know how to play together. There are some operators who don't give crap about being inter-service rivals while other thrive off it.

[sic1701]

Rainbow Six, thanks for the good information! I appreciate the details.

Another question, if I may...I have heard the term "Flight Sergeant" used in reference to the RAF, but did not know if that meant Sergeants actually fly the aircraft (in the United States military, only commissioned officers and warrant officers fly aircraft) or if what you call a Flight Sergeant is what we'd call a crew chief (i.e. the senior enlisted man who takes care of the aircraft). Can you clarify?

[sic1701]

Abbott Shaull, good point...one would think that surviving SpecOps personnel would have no reason for turf wars especially with organized military budgeting a thing of the past ("Will work for MREs" signs might be more prevalent...). Hopefully, conglomerated units would adapt the best and most tried-and-true techniques from all sources and there wouldn't be anyone upset about having to do it the "SEAL way" and such.

But I would also tend to believe that in the aftermath of a global war that still grinds on in many ways and shapes and forms, surviving operators would be pressed into service as instructors and cadre rather than remain as operators, the occasional mission of absolute necessity aside...surviving operators who knew their business would have too much knowledge and tradecraft to pass on to trainees to be risked in such a manner, one would think (or hope!).

[Spec6]

I hate to say it but I think the services would keep there Spec Ops guys among themselfs . The Services have too many Empire builders in them to let there service men out of there services to play with others .

[Rainbow Six]

Originally Posted by sic1701

Rainbow Six, thanks for the good information! I appreciate the details.

Another question, if I may...I have heard the term "Flight Sergeant" used in reference to the RAF, but did not know if that meant Sergeants actually fly the aircraft (in the United States military, only commissioned officers and warrant officers fly aircraft) or if what you call a Flight Sergeant is what we'd call a crew chief (i.e. the senior enlisted man who takes care of the aircraft). Can you clarify?

Hi Sic,

In the RAF only commissioned officers fly aircraft (historically the RAF did have NCO pilots, but this was discontinued in the 1950's). Same for Navigators, WSO's, etc - they're all commisioned officers.

A Flight Sergeant is a relatively senior grade (I think it's roughly similar to US E 7 grade) and can be an aircrew or ground trade. Aircrew trades would include such things as Loadmasters on C130's and helos, winch operators etc . Ground Trade covers a number of roles (to be honest I don't know if the RAF has a direct equivalent of a crew chief who takes ownership of one specific aircraft).

I'm at work at the minute so can't confirm 100% but I think the Army still has NCO helo pilots - when I get home I'll check a couple of books and confirm for sure one way or the other.

Cheers

[sic1701]

Originally Posted by Rainbow Six

Hi Sic,

In the RAF only commissioned officers fly aircraft (historically the RAF did have NCO pilots, but this was discontinued in the 1950's). Same for Navigators, WSO's, etc - they're all commisioned officers.

A Flight Sergeant is a relatively senior grade (I think it's roughly similar to US E 7 grade) and can be an aircrew or ground trade. Aircrew trades would include such things as Loadmasters on C130's and helos, winch operators etc . Ground Trade covers a number of roles (to be honest I don't know if the RAF has a direct equivalent of a crew chief who takes ownership of one specific aircraft).

I'm at work at the minute so can't confirm 100% but I think the Army still has NCO helo pilots - when I get home I'll check a couple of books and confirm for sure one way or the other.

Cheers

I appreciate the info, Rainbow Six; will stay tuned for the NCO helo pilots update.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Rainbow Six

Hi Sic,

In the RAF only commissioned officers fly aircraft (historically the RAF did have NCO pilots, but this was discontinued in the 1950's). Same for Navigators, WSO's, etc - they're all commisioned officers.

A Flight Sergeant is a relatively senior grade (I think it's roughly similar to US E 7 grade) and can be an aircrew or ground trade. Aircrew trades would include such things as Loadmasters on C130's and helos, winch operators etc . Ground Trade covers a number of roles (to be honest I don't know if the RAF has a direct equivalent of a crew chief who takes ownership of one specific aircraft).

I'm at work at the minute so can't confirm 100% but I think the Army still has NCO helo pilots - when I get home I'll check a couple of books and confirm for sure one way or the other.

Cheers

In the late 1980s, there was a movement to allow E-7 and above helicopter pilots in the US Army, but it eventually came to nothing.

[Rainbow Six]

Ok, am home and have checked two different books (and a website I could have checked at work!) and can confirm that the Army Air Corps does indeed have NCO helicopter pilots (one source states that NCO's actually make up the majority of the AAC's pilots). It looks like all NCO pilots are either Sergeants or Staff Sergeants - I can't find any reference to any pilots below that rank.

Cheers