SASR
The Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) is a Special Forces regiment modeled on the original British SAS, and also drawing on the traditions of the Australian World War II Z Special Force commando unit, as well as the Independent Companies which were active in the South Pacific during the same period. It is based at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne, Perth, Western Australia, and is a unit of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, part of the Australian Defence Force. As with the British SAS, the regimental motto is Who Dares Wins.
The SASR's participation in the Vietnam War began when 3 Squadron deployed as part of the 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) in April 1966. The SASR's role in Vietnam was to act as the eyes and the ears of the Australian Task Force through conducting reconnaissance patrols throughout 1 ATF's area of responsibility. As in Borneo, the SASR operated closely with the New Zealand SAS, with a New Zealand SAS troop being attached to each Australian Squadron.
SASR squadrons rotated through Vietnam on one-year-long deployments until the last squadron was withdrawn in October 1971. During its time in Vietnam, the regiment was extremely successful in the reconnaissance role. To their enemies, members of the regiment were known as the Phantoms of the Jungle, due to their fieldcraft.
The Australian and New Zealand SAS killed at least 492, and as many as 598, and losing only two men killed in action and three fatalities from friendly fire. The last remaining Australian soldier who went missing in action in 1969, after falling into the jungle during a suspended rope extraction, was found in August 2008.
Australia's SASR also worked with U.S. SEAL teams and U.S. Army Special Forces, and provided instructors to the LRRP School. Some members also served with the highly secret MACV-SOG units.
ANZ7 SASR
Australian SAS were, like their British counterparts, famous for wearing what they wanted to get the job done. Obviously, there were limits, but these figures are based on photographic and verbal evidence. Much kit and uniform was standard issue, although invariably altered to suit the wearers' wishes. Added to this were locally purchased items made to the wearers' specifications.
This style was also common with the weapons used. SLRs, M16s and M60s were all altered, and usually cut down to both reduce weight and sometimes length. As action was expected to be close range, this had no effect on the accuracy of the weapons. Grenade launchers of various designs were added to both the SLRs and M16s.
SLRs were usually cut down, and wooden grips removed, usually replaced by foregrips. 30-round magazines were common, and the SLR could be changed to fire on full automatic. By reducing the length of the barrel, the rifle would fire both loudly and with a ball of flame, thus occasionally being mistaken for a .50 cal. This alteration earned such modified weapons the name The Bitch.
Figures From Left to Right:
- SLR with 30-round magazine and UGL
- M60 LMG cut-down
- M16 with UGL
- M16 with UGL
- SLR with 30-round magazine
ANZ8 SASR
ANZAC SASR also used the British Stirling SMG with a suppressor for close kills.
Figures From Left to Right:
- SLR with 30-round magazine and carrying a U.S.-issue AN/PRC25 Prick 25 radio
- SLR with 30-round magazine
- Stirling sub-machinegun with suppressor fitted
- M60 LMG cut-down
- M16 with jungle mags and carrying an M79 Grenade launcher blooper, Wombat Gun