- This article is about a fictional representation of a real world subject.
The Special Air Service (SAS) is the principal special forces unit of the British Army. A small and secretive institution, the SAS has served as a model for similar units fielded by other countries. They are widely regarded as the first-ever special forces unit, taking much of their inspiration and unorthodox tactics from the Chindits and the Long Range Desert Group during World War II. The SAS forms a significant part of the United Kingdom's Special Forces; the other parts are the Special Boat Service (SBS), the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR) and the Special Forces Support Group (SFSG).
Overview
The SAS can trace its existence back to 1941, when British Army volunteers conducted raids behind enemy lines in the North African Campaign of World War II. When the group was first established, they invited The Boss on board as a special advisor, who helped put together Rayforce and L Detachment. The dummy run on Heliopolis and the nighttime raids on German air bases in North Africa were the idea of The Boss. The motto of the SAS "Who Dares, Wins" was later adopted in tribute to her service.
The Boss and David Oh, a.k.a. Zero, later formed the 22nd SAS Regiment together. Zero would later comment to Naked Snake that U.S. soldiers were less able to adapt to surplus situations than SAS members.
During the Malayan Emergency, the SAS utilized shotguns during jungle patrols, since encounters with the enemy often occurred when they least expected it. The SAS found the shotgun to be extremely effective delivering massive firepower in a short period of time.[1]
During the 1974 Peace Walker Incident, some of the new recruits in the Militaires Sans Frontières claimed to have formerly served in the SAS.[2]
McDonell Benedict Miller briefly served as a survival master in the Special Air Service.[3] Liquid Snake worked as a sleeper agent for the SIS while serving in the SAS in the First Gulf War, helping to track down enemy SCUD missiles, but was captured by hostile forces and kept as a prisoner of war until his rescue. The mercenaries Machinegun Kid and at least one member of the Four Horsemen were also former members of the SAS.
Former members
- Major Zero
- The Boss
- McDonell Benedict Miller
- Machinegun Kid
- At least one member of the Four Horsemen
- Liquid Snake
Behind the scenes
The original Japanese MSX2 manual for Metal Gear describes Big Boss as having been a former member of the SAS. However, this information was disregarded in the MSX2 manual for Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, and later the Metal Gear Solid 4 Database, so it is assumed to no longer be canon.
See also
Notes and references
- ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
The SAS's use of shotguns is commented on by Naked Snake and Sigint, during an optional radio conversation. - ^ Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Kojima Productions (2010).
Mother Base > Staff
MSF recruit: I’m former SAS… what you think I’m B.S.-ing you? - ^ Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake - User's Manual, Konami Corporation (1990).