SAS Gulf War Hardware

A Contrary to popular opinion, Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers are not armed and equipped with space-age gadgetry. The main criteria hardware must meet with regard to SAS use are reliability and strength. The Regiment prefers to stick to equipment that has been tried and tested in all types of terrain. This chapter looks at some of the weapons and equipment used by the soldiers of the British Special Air Service during the Gulf War.
B M16 Assault Rifle
The preferred personal weapon in the Regiment is the American M16 assault rifle, a rifle that has been around for over 30 years and is widely available. The M16 has the advantage of being light in weight, and it also uses light ammunition, both important factors for long-range foot patrols. It has single-shot and three-round burst facilities, firing modes ideally suited for conserving ammunition. A further feature in its favour is a simple, thumb-operated safety-catch.
C There are two potential drawbacks to the M16. First, its accuracy is suspect over longer ranges, and secondly, it does not always work well in sandy conditions. However, neither of these proved a problem for the SAS during the Gulf War, since SAS contacts are almost always carried out at short distances and SAS soldiers strip and clean their weapons on a regular basis.
D Land Rover
David Stirling, the founder of the SAS, insisted that his unit should be able to arrive at its target by sea, air or land, and this has been the guiding principle of the SAS’s training ever since. One of the ways to arrive at the target is by vehicle and, for the Gulf War, the SAS stuck to the tried and tested Land Rover.
E Why are Land Rovers so good? First, they are powerful and easy to steer at low speed in mud and sand, while their road speed is quite good for what is essentially an off-road vehicle. Second, all models have good power–weight ratios, together with good clearance from the ground. They also have an even weight distribution, which means they retain good control over soft surfaces. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, they can be serviced in the field, and they can take a lot of punishment.
F They are not perfect by any means and, in many ways, SAS Land Rovers are a compromise. Nevertheless, they are probably the most reliable light vehicles in the world, and, for that reason alone, they are worth their weight in gold on operations. They were head and shoulders above anything similar deployed by other forces in the Gulf War.

[adapted from Crawford, S SAS Gulf Warriors, Simon & Schuster, London, 1995]