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Special Boat Service (SBS) - UK Special Forces

The Royal Navy's Special Boat Service (SBS) is the lesser-known sister unit of the British Army's Special Air Service (SAS) regiment.

Based in Poole, Dorset, the SBS is a special forces unit which specialises in special operations at sea, along coastlines and on river networks. The SBS also have a team on standby for maritime counter-terrorism (MCT) operations.

Whilst the unit specialises in water-borne activities, they are also highly skilled on dry land. Recent operations have taken place in the mountains of land-locked Afghanistan and deep in the deserts of Iraq. Previously known as the Special Boat Squadron and exclusively drawn from The Royal Marines, the SBS is now open to members of other regiments and services from throughout the UK military.

The Special Boat Service is organised into 4 regular squadrons : C, X, M & Z. (read more on SBS organisation)

A reserves element, SBS(R) augments the regular SBS.

SBS Operations »
SBS Roles & Tasks »
SBS History »
Weapons »
Skills & Techniques »
SBS Selection »

SBS Equipment »
Support Units »
SAS vs SBS »
SBS Related Books »
Resources »

Site Updates:

SBS in Afghanistan - updated (several updates)
SBS in Afghanistan - updated (spy drone recovery)
SBS in Afghanistan - updated (ambush of Taliban leadership)
SBS Organisation - new section added
Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) added to underwater vessels
Pacific 22/28 RIB added to surface boats
SBS diving gear updated (divex rebreather / swimboard)
SBS photo - Bagram
SBS beach recce video
SBS operations - Hostage Rescue in Afghanistan
SBS weapons - section revamped and expanded
SBS operations - hunting Mullah Dadullah
video of SBS in Afghanistan added
SBS(R) info added
SBS photo gallery added
Fallen SBS hero article added to resources
Info on new Stealth Boat added
SBS article added to resources
FB Mil 50 added to SBS boats
SBS Minisub info updated
SBS anti-drug operations added
Arctic 28 added to boats
Rigid Raiding Craft added
video of SBS retaking British Embassy, Kuwait 1991 added to video
Google Earth KMZ file added to Qala-i-Janghi
Photo of SBS operator in Afghanistan added to video index
Short clip of SBS in East Timor added
HK53 added to weapons
Port Howard Falklands operation added
Combat Footage of SBS in Afghanistan added
Selection page added
Info on the VSV added
G3/MC51 added to Weapons
Details of 1982 Fanning Head operation added
Info on HMS Rame Head (used for SBS training) added
New Poll added to Special Air Service page
New Times article added to Resources
Support Units updated with info on Commando Helicopter Force
Bloody Heroes added to SBS books
Palace Barracks Memorial Gardens added to Resources
Skills & Techniques part 2 added
Guardian report on SBS casualties in Afghanistan added to Resources

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