История спецназа SAS: пять ключевых дат, определивших элитный статус британского подразделения

The Special Air Service (SAS) has a rich history with transformative moments. Here are five key dates that have shaped the SAS into the elite force it is today. 1941 – Foundation in the Desert The SAS was formally created in July 1941 by Lieutenant David Stirling during the North African Campaign of the Second World War. Conceived as a small, highly mobile raiding force, its original purpose was to operate behind enemy lines in the Western Desert, targeting Axis supply lines, airfields, and logistics in support of the broader Allied effort against Rommel’s forces. This founding concept—small teams conducting deep-penetration sabotage and reconnaissance—laid the doctrinal foundation for modern special operations and established the SAS’s reputation for audacity, flexibility, and strategic effect disproportionate to its size. 1950–1955 – Malaya and the Birth of Counter‑Insurgency Expertise During the Malayan Emergency, SAS units (initially deployed as the "Malayan Scouts") were sent to Malaya from 1950, where they developed and refined counter‑insurgency tactics that would define much of the regiment’s postwar identity. Operating in dense jungle against communist guerrillas, the SAS pioneered long‑range patrolling, intelligence‑driven operations, and close cooperation with local populations—methods later summarised in the influential "hearts and minds" approach. The experience in Malaya directly led to the reorganisation of the SAS in 1952, including the formation of 22 SAS Regiment from the Malayan Scouts, cementing the unit’s role as Britain’s premier special forces element. 1972 – Creation of the Counter‑Revolutionary War (CRW) Wing In the wake of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, in which German police failed to rescue hostages taken by terrorists, the SAS established its Counter‑Revolutionary War (CRW) wing to specialise in counter‑terrorism and hostage rescue. This marked a decisive shift in the regiment’s mission set, adding high‑risk urban interventions, close‑quarter battle (CQB) techniques, and protective security operations to its existing repertoire of reconnaissance and raiding. The CRW wing’s development would soon be tested in real operations, shaping the SAS into one of the world’s most feared and emulated counter‑terrorism forces. 1980 – Iranian Embassy Siege (Operation Nimrod) On May 5, 1980, an SAS assault team stormed the Iranian Embassy in Princes Gate, London, ending a six‑day siege in which armed militants had taken diplomatic staff and others hostage. In a live televised operation, the SAS breached the building using explosives and rapid entry techniques, killing five of the six terrorists and freeing 19 of the 26 hostages; one hostage and two SAS operators were killed in the action. Operation Nimrod became a defining moment in modern counter‑terrorism, demonstrating the effectiveness of specialised, highly trained forces in complex urban environments and dramatically raising the SAS’s public profile. Read more Five people who made the SAS what it is today Five SAS missions that you may not have heard of before French fighter jet pictured in the skies 1982 – Falklands War and Special Operations at the Edge of the World During the 1982 Falklands War, SAS squadrons conducted some of the longest and most demanding special operations of the conflict, including covert reconnaissance of Argentine positions ahead of the British landings and direct raids such as the attack on Pebble Island airfield. Operating in extreme sub‑Antarctic conditions, SAS teams carried out long‑range insertions by sea, air, and overland, gathering vital intelligence and destroying aircraft, fuel, and ammunition to weaken Argentine defences before the main assault. The Falklands campaign reinforced the SAS’s role as a strategic asset capable of operating independently in remote, high‑risk environments and influenced subsequent British special forces doctrine and procurement.