British SAS

[GatorFarmer]

The 70 odd years or so that the Brits liked to keep things secret for is starting to expire regarding WW2.

Today there is a "regular" SAS and a "territorial" SAS. The Brits have been cutting their defense budget for a good long while, and are doing so again. Thus the SAS doesn't get some of the neat toys that are common even in relatively normal American formations today. (Every Marine now gets an ACOG and soon everyone will get a smartphone for example.)

The SAS did reportedly play a role in the early training of Delta and other U.S. anti terrorism forces circa the 1970s. (Back when the top of the line kit was a suppressed M3 Greasegun and a Browning Hi Power.)

 

[WR Moore]

The M3 hadn't been "top of the line kit" since 1955-if then. Think MP5.

 

[sub-moa]

WADR...

The M3A1 was "Top-of-the-Line" for SFOD-D when they first formed in '77.


Shortly thereafter, influenced by exchange programs/cross training with the SAS and BGSG-9, SFOD-D took-up the MP5.


Both the MP5 and M3A1(suppressed) were used by SFOD-D during Operation Eagle Claw in '79.


The M3A1 was still in the SFOD-D armory in mid-'87.


And...by the early '90s M4s and SOCOM CQBs were replacing MP5s in many previously SMG roles.