Special Boat Service

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The Special Boat Service is an elite British special forces unit of the Royal Navy specializing in maritime counter-terrorism, covert reconnaissance, and amphibious operations.


Statements (58)
Predicate Object
instanceOf military unit
special forces unit
allegiance United Kingdom
branch Royal Navy
conflict Falklands War
Gulf War
Iraq War
Korean War
Malayan Emergency
Second World War
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
War on Terror
country United Kingdom
establishedAs Special Boat Section
garrisonCountry United Kingdom
garrisonLocation Dorset
Poole
hasAbbreviation SBS
language English
motto By Strength and Guile
nickname SBS
The Boat Service
notableEra Second World War
operatesIn coastal regions
littoral zones
maritime environment
riverine environments
operationalStatus active
parentOrganization Director Special Forces
partOf Royal Navy
United Kingdom Special Forces
precededBy Special Boat Section
Special Boat Squadron
role amphibious warfare
counter-terrorism
covert reconnaissance
covert surveillance
direct action
hostage rescue
maritime counter-terrorism
special operations
special reconnaissance
support to other special forces
selectionType voluntary selection from Royal Marines and Royal Navy
sisterUnit Special Air Service
Special Forces Support Group
Special Reconnaissance Regiment
specialization amphibious operations
beach reconnaissance
clandestine insertion and extraction
maritime special operations
oil platform assaults
ship boarding operations
trainingIncludes close-quarters battle
combat diving
demolitions
parachuting
small boat handling


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