United Kingdom Special Forces


The United Kingdom Special Forces is a directorate composed of the Special Air Service, the Special Boat Service, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, the Special Forces Support Group, 18 Signal Regiment and the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing, as well as the supporting No. 47 Squadron. In British law, “special forces” means those units of the armed forces of the Crown and the maintenance of whose capabilities is the responsibility of the Director of Special Forces or which are for the time being subject to the operational command of that Director.

Formation

In 1987, the post of Director SAS became Director Special Forces. From that time, the incumbent has had control of both the Army's Special Air Service and the Naval Service's Special Boat Squadron, which was renamed the Special Boat Service during the formation. The directorate has since been expanded by the creation of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, 18 Signal Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group. Approximately 40% of all UK Special Forces personnel are recruited from the Royal Marines.
Following the Army 2020 reforms, in 2014, 21 Special Air Service Regiment, 23 Special Air Service Regiment and the Honourable Artillery Company were shifted from DSF's command to 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade. This change was partly reverted in 2019, with both 21 Special Air Service Regiment and 23 Special Air Service Regiment becoming an integrated part of the United Kingdom Special Forces.

Component units

The following units are part of UK Special Forces and UK Special Forces.

Royal Navy

Royal Corps of Signals