Special Air Service of New Zealand

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Special Air Service of New Zealand
Cap Badge of the Special Air Service of New Zealand
Active	July 7, 1955 - current
Country	New Zealand
Branch	Army
Type	Special Forces
Role	Counter-Revolutionary Warfare Close Target Reconnaissance
Size	One regiment
Garrison/HQ	Papakura, New Zealand
Motto	Who Dares Wins
Battles/wars	Malayan Emergency Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation Vietnam War Operation Desert Thunder INTERFET Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Anaconda
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation

The Special Air Service of New Zealand (NZ SAS) was formed on July 7, 1955 as an elite New Zealand Army unit capable of undertaking special missions. It was modeled on the British Special Air Service (SAS).

1 History
2 Organisation
3 Alliances
4 External links

[edit] History

In June 1955 it was decided that the New Zealand Army required an elite unit capable of unconventional warfare. Modeled on the British Special Air Service, the NZ SAS was quickly seen to be both effective and professional. The very arduous selection process, as then, only has a success rate of approximately 2%. Even after being "badged", the probationary period can see further applicants returned to their original units.

[edit] World War Two

Prior to the formation of the NZ SAS, many New Zealanders served with the famous Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), which had a close relationship with the SAS. It was nicknamed "the Mosquito Army" by Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell. Special Air Service soldiers would refer to it as the "Libyan Desert Taxi Service."

[edit] Malaya and Borneo

From 1955 to 1957 a NZ SAS Squadron was attached to the British SAS in Malaysia for operations during the Malayan Emergency.

[edit] Vietnam

Based in Nui Dat, Vietnam, the NZ SAS 4th Platoon served under Australian command in November 1968, attached to the Australian SAS. During the Vietnam War, the combined SAS services of Australia and New Zealand had a phenomenal kill rate of around 500:1, much higher than US Special Forces.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Afghanistan

Starting in late 2001, the NZ SAS began operations assisting in the War on Terrorism in Afghanistan. Three 6-month rotations of 50 soldiers from the NZ SAS served in Afghanistan before the unit was withdrawn in November 2005.[1] On June 17, 2004, two NZ SAS soldiers were wounded in a predawn gun-battle in central Afghanistan. Secrecy still surrounds much the NZ SAS's operations in Afghanistan.

The unit was awarded an American Presidential Unit Citation by President George W. Bush for its operations in Afghanistan.

New Zealand Army
Ngati Tumatauenga

Components

Regular Force
Territorial Force
Structure of the New Zealand Army

History
Battle of Gallipoli
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
Notable Units
SAS
Infantry Regiment
Intelligence

[edit] Organisation

1 New Zealand SAS Group

Headquarters Support Wing
Training Wing
A SAS Squadron (Air, Boat, and Mountain Troops)
B SAS Squadron (Air, Boat, and Mountain Troops)
CTTAG (Counter Terrorist Tactical Assault Group)
EOT (Engineer Operations Troop)

Note - Teams of about 4 to 6 soldiers, led by a captain or sergeant, are the basic operational elements of the NZSAS.

The Counter-Terrorist Tactical Assault Group consists of 18 soldiers. Though officially part of the SAS these soldiers do not pass through the SAS selection course and are not permitted to wear the SAS's 'winged dagger' badge. The CTTAG has the role of responding to terrorist incidents in New Zealand.[2][3]