The Australian SAS (Special Air Service) is an elite regiment of the Royal Australian Army. Based on the British SAS, it was created first as company in 1957: the 1st Special Air Service Company. On August 20, 1964, it became the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). It is composed of three squadrons: 1, 2, and 3 squadron, which permanently rotate in roles; while one squadron plays the counter terrorism role, the other two squadrons carry out surveillance, reconnaissance, and offensive and assault operations.
Considered by experts as the best special forces unit in the world, the Australian SAS engaged in combat for the first time in 1965, in north Borneo, during the Indonesian Confrontation (1962-1966), an undeclared war which led to the independence of Malaysia from Indonesia. From April 1966, the Australian SAS began taking part in the Vietnam War, as part of the 1st Australian Task Force, until 1971. During this conflict, the Australians killed more than 500 enemy soldiers, while losing only two. Aside from their participation in peacekeeping missions and VIP protection, the Australian SAS also fought in the 1991 Gulf War, in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from 2002, and in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
Weapons used by the Australian SAS Regiment
The types of weapons they use are similar to the weaponry used by their British counter-part. The following are some of the weapons used by the Australian SAS: the 9mm Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machine gun; the Colt Canada C7 rifle, which is a service rifle variation of the M16 rifle; the M4 Carbine, which is also a variation of the M16 assault rifle; the Italian Beretta 1201FP shotgun; Heckler & Koch PSG1 sniper rifle or the US M40 sniper rifle; the US Barrett M82A1 anti-tank rifle. But the best weapon that they have is their psychological traits: calmness, coolness, and self-control; perhaps this is natural for the Australians, since they have a culture that promotes this type of personality.
Australian SAS Regiment in Action in Afghanistan (video)
[...] 2001. The German unit also took part in Operation Anaconda in March 2002, fighting alongside the Australian SAS Regiment, to give support to conventional army units in the Shahi-Kot Valley and Arma Mountains, [...]