What important to understand is that the British are losing the war at this point. They’ve been pushed from all the way across North Africa to Tubruk, if the Germans manage capture the Suez Canal they will split the armies fighting in South east Asia from those fighting in Europe and gain access to the oil fields of the Middle East. They have every reason to believe America will stay out of the war at this point. I know they seem reckless but the are desperate to turn the tide.
What you really need to know is that the USA military attache in Cairo was sending information in a code that had been broken by the Germans about British dispositions. This is how Rommel knew so much, and he could beat his opponents. We know this because Bletchley park had broken Enigma by then, and was reading Rommels incoming, at least, messages. There was an investigation going on in Cairo trying to find out who exactly it was. This is in two books the first is a book aabout Bletchley Park called the Code breakers printed in 1964, and the second is a partly fictional book called city of Gold which uses this as the background plot. How do we know it was the US military attache, because after Pearl Harbour (just before THE turning point of the war in 1942 El Alamein) the information stopped being sent.
@@frosty_soda I wouldn't say 'unsung' although he didn't get a VC (his conduct was pretty bad - which is likely what undermined his recommendation) but the dude has a flipping statue in Newtonards and there's plenty written about him. Maybe no songs about him ... 🤣
I think the 2 Green Berets are missing the point, they did learn on the job and they did take advice. They then became the benchmark of every SF unit around the world.
the SAS were THE benchmark for the world sunshine ... the green berets wernt started till the sixties , and certainly are NOT in the same league ... your Delta force is ... but they aint !
those 2 are right as in comparing to what they know which is let be honest why people come to watch green berets talk about it, all they can do is relate it to what they know, it was started by crazy dumbarses they even call themselves that, look how many men they lose on the first jump cos they dont wanna follow the rules but they learn from that, goes from mad men in the desert to one of the finest fighting forces in the world
You know the British mean business when they make an official military department to train and deploy special forces and call it the Office of Ungentlemanly Warfare!
The first SAS ‘mission’, the parachute disaster depicted here, was, well…a disaster, obviously. But would they have ever formed the SAS if they had been the kind of guys who obeyed the rules, who waited until everything was sorted and organized? I think that’s the point: the kind of people who change the game are also the kind who make huge mistakes. JH Ford said that people think the secret to success is “Ready, Aim, Fire”, but great things are achieved by those who understand it’s “Ready, Fire, Aim”. That’s what Stirling and Paddy Mayne understood.
Just to point out, you probably have all those jump procedures because of these guys! Also, sadly Mike Sadler the last of the SAS originals and their desert navigator passed away in January this year at 103.
This is a great series. These guys were inventing long range desert warfare, behind enemy lines, on the hoof, with few resources, just scavenging what they could. They had balls of steel. Paddy Mayne was an absolute warrior.
love Paddy, and from all i red about him, the men who served with him would walkt through hell and back with him. But given today's standards he would get a section 8 within a week.
The concept and execution of long-range desert warfare was developed by Ralph Bagnold. An eccentric very intelligent explorer, British Army officer. He formed the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) quite sometime before the SAS. After the failed parachute raid by the SAS, the LRDG took them to their destination, then carried on with their own mission and collected the SAS on their return journey. The SAS then referred to the LRDG as their 'taxi service'. Later the SAS, using the knowledge gained by the LRDG, used the Willis Jeeps to get them to their objectives. Incidentally, Ralph Bagnold invented a special compass that allowed the navigation of the vast emptiness of the dessert. Read the book 'The Sting of the Scorpion' history of the LRDG. Fascinating story, real hero's
@QuicknStraight All they changed was the modus operandi. LRDG established routes, logistics dumps, and techniques for operating in an area that were considered impossible
@@cybertrophici knew an Irishman, a friend of my dad's and retired RM/SBS, who inevitably we all called Paddy. Shrinking in his pension and drunk on the way home from the pub he was jumped, by 4 guys i went to school with years before, hard nuts. He walked away with a chunk bitten out of his ear and covered in their blood, 4 young scumbags who grew up fighting RM commandos in my home town, over girls usually, and he ruined them. Never mess with an RM or the SBS/SAS, they don't back down. RIP Paddy, legend!
I’ve watched this series three times, along with reading the book twice. Outstanding series and book. Phenomenally acted. The soundtrack is killer too.
You make a lot of valid points but remember these guys were the pioneers. They made the mistakes then so you don't have to now. They were failing upwards.
I could have sworn he told the game of thrones guy he didn't like walking. That's why he waited to jump second, he wanted to be closer to base. In the book they mention that since they are the first to do SAS stuff, they had to learn as they went...figuring out what worked and what didn't.
"Who Dares Wins", they sure dared the universe to kill them. It's not stupidity, it's insanity. These guys were clearly insane, and if you read their histories, you will come to believe they were seriously crazy.
in the early days when nobody knows what theyre doing, you take risks and do things that in retrospect were stupid or crazy. There was a time when people just worked with radioactive materials like they were just everyday materials, and those people paved the way to modern procedures by literally giving their life
the book was awesome and there's a second book on Paddy Mayne. The things they did in France and Italy were even wilder, we all think that Patton charged across Europe, but they were running around in heavily armed jeeps behind enemy lines creating the chaos to make it possible
This is when jumping was a new thing. no one knew better. We learn lessons through blood sweat and tears. Blood: those we lost. Sweat: the work and dedication. Tears: that what we could have done better...
You are obviously trained military parachutists who have been through jump school as was I (I was actually a jump master in the New Zealand military). But what you have to realise is that at this time in history the British had no Parachute regiment and therefore no jump schools (apart from those used to train SOE agents before they were dropped into enemy territory.) Jock Lewis came up with the idea of using parachutes to attack behind enemy lines but neither he or Sterling had ever seen a parachute before and there was no one they could ask for advice and no training infrastructure. A pilots knowledge would be very limited at best. Therefore these two men had to work it out for themselves by trial and error. Which they insisted on doing themselves before exposing their men to the risks. Its very easy in hindsight with all the training and support you have to sit there and laugh at and belittle these men but desperate times called for desperate action.
Well put. These two are taking the out of the founding fathers Special Forces . They were learning on the job and were pathfinders for the training that they later benefited from!
Looking forward to future episodes on this. The general recklessness is a fun theme to follow especially concerning Mayne. I’ll also just say that some extra context is that the commandos were a newer idea that had been badly misused during the invasion of Crete in a role they weren’t well suited for in training or equipment. A lot of the founding members were survivors of it and I think that sets the scene of a bunch of drunk 20 somethings, fuck off with shit and not thinking things through. Who also wanted to show the stuck up bastards they could be effective, so for Stirling it’s something to say over dinner when he gets home.
Keep in mind that all that is said about the training is undocumented rumors. Not claiming it all is a lie. But I'm pretty sure a lot of it is a myth. But t doesn't change the fact that SAS is the best of the best. They wrote the book on hostage rescue,and has perfected it ever since
@@johnnyguitar6639 I think by "learning curve" they may be referring to Stirling losing 2/3rds of his men on the first mission with 0 damage inflicted on the enemy.
@@ryebold552 Possibly. I was talking in general.I saw the series and I've read the book it was based upon. But I still say a lot of what it describes, is probably myth and rep building.A lot of it is probably true. But I would say the truth part is probably 40%
I feel like Ive been waiting forever for you guys to do this. They actually had to tone down the truth because what actually happened wasnt believable. Thank you guys!
These 2 idiots make me laugh , what they dont realise is that at the time there were no procedures, processes, or rules , they made them up through trial , error and sheer guts .
They weren't in stupid, when this conversation happened parachutes were brand new, nobody knew outside of the parachute service exactly what they did and how they worked. That was the amazing thing about them, The motto isn't 'who dares wins' for nothing. Have you seen what you've got to do in SAS training even today?
Definitely want to hear your reactions to the rest of the rogue hero series. Also would live to hear your reactions to a documentary on the WWII British commando raids on St. Nazaire
"Britain's first airborne assault took place on February 10, 1941, when, what was then known as II Special Air Service (some 37 men of 500 trained in No. 2 Commando plus three Italian interpreters), parachuted into Italy to blow up an aqueduct in a daring raid named Operation Colossus." From wikipedia. My point is when you say they should have known more or ask someone about parachutes there was no one in the army to ask. Germany, Russia and Italy were far ahead in terms of developing parachute troops, and whilst they had been used by the airforce infantry with parachute capability were not yet a capability.
One thing you have to remember is that this was happening in 1940 and parachuting, particularly in the military, was still VERY new. Part of the reason we have so many safety protocols, gear and techniques today is precisely because of these guys throwing themselves out of planes back then and it all going wrong. It seems stupid by today's standards, and it was still pretty stupid (certainly crazy) in those days, but it needed maniacs to do this stuff and push things in order for it to develop into what we have now. Also, the great thing about Stirling and Lewes is they did this stuff themselves despite being Officers in the hope to prove that it was possible, they didn't think it up and then ask others from the rank and file to do it on their behalf. They were, absolutely, full scale nutters.
I think you have missed a huge part of what was happening here. These officers were outside the box thinkers, who were completely pissed off with the way they were being commanded. They "kind of" got permission to form a new unit that would disappear into the desert and operate independently, but that was it. No resources, nothing. They even had to go and steal an entire camp, including a piano for Paddy Mayne! These guys literally wrote the book on special forces ops. They were the trail blazers for every modern special ops force in the western world including yours, so try to understand the environment and culture they had to do this in, and show little more humility, rather than sitting there and calling them dumb and stupid.
The Irony is criticizing Ignorence... ...But being Ignorent about the historical reality. The concept of Special Forces is pretty much BASED on these people, their actions, and- most of all- their mistakes. They learned, educated themselves, adapted... and then passed on what they had learned to the people who founded the Green Berets. ------------ Also, if you class him as an Alcoholic... most Brits would be confused: " He's not drinking THAT much..."
Hey lads, Ringy here from the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Do you think you could review “Danger Close” 6 RAR during the Vietnam conflict? Cheers guys! 🇦🇺🇺🇸
Danger Close is a fantastic film and well worth watching. Loved the song by Redgum at the end and the roll call with actual photos of the men that took part at Long Tan. Very brave men that should not be forgotten.
Good Afternoon fine sirs, Was watching your breakdown of Heat and Abel referred to the North Hollywood Shootout back in 1997.There is a movie called 44minutes starring Michael Madsen and Lewis Nixon(Band of Brothers)I mean Ron Livingston from 2003. Also you ask for recommendations for your breakdowns and I was thinking Tom Clancy's classic Patriot Games for a couple of intense scenes. Then it dawned upon me that you all seem to be John Krasinski fans which made me wonder why you have not done breakdown of the Jack Ryan Show on Amazon. Worth consideration.Reacher pretty good too. But high appreciation for the support you show you community ,service to the country ,and the entertaining content you produce. Thanks
Brilliant series, there was an excellent factual 3 part documentary of the same story 5 years before this dramatisation called 'SAS Rogue Warriors' which I think you'd really love too as it includes interviews with some of the original guys including David Stirling himself.
As you were so keen on Game of Thrones, the actor that played Reek (Theon Greyjoy) is in the programme playing Captain Jock Lewis (the officer that opened the parachute).
H guys, hope you are well. Not stumbled across your channel until about 20 minutes ago, while (as normally happens, searching for something else) Its great to see your reaction to "SAS Rogue Heroes" season 1 first episode. Seeing this clip is 9 months old you probably know more now than you did at the time of the recording, however just to recap. the two central characters you see here being played by Connor Swindells and Alfie Allen (who you correctly recognised as Theon Grayjoy from GoT) are playing pretty much the two founding members of the SAS Major David Stirling and Lt John Steel "Jock" Lewes. The scene although embellished was based on facts. The two did make there first and probably (Stirling's last jump!) in Libya as a 'proof of concept' experiment for what became the disastrous Operation Squatter, which is regarded as the first operation carried out by the SAS. Lewes was in fact the mastermind of the unit, inventor of the "Lewes bomb" a small blast/incendiary device, which combined plastic explosive, thermite steel filings and Diesel ideal for rendering Axis aircraft, trucks half tracks and AFV's useless :). Lewes had been impressed with German fallschirmjager troops and initially thought he could use the same tactic to destroy enemy air bases. Like Stirling he'd never used a parachute before and wanted to see if jumping into a desert was a feasible way to deploy commando's behind enemy lines. With minimal training they jumped from a Vickers Valentia bomber which was not really suitable for parachutists Lewes landed safely Stirling was not so lucky, his damaged 'chute which did get snagged on the tail plane increased his rate if decent and the resulting impact, miraculously didn't break his legs but did cause a serious spinal injury which left him temporarily blinded and his legs were paralyzed. There is a season two now, which is currently airing on BBC1 and the BBCi player which takes tells the story of the Sicily and Italian Campaign and finishes as the SAS jump into France on June 6th 1944. Well worth a watch if you haven't already. And remember, Much of what you see actually happened but its not a history lesson Take care and keep up the good work
Fun fact; when he threw the grenade at the snooker table, the real story was it was a live grenade, but the writers thought it was so unbelievable they changed it to a dummy
I don't think they ever made a film or TV series about them but in the same conflict, and then in Sicily/Italy there was a unit called Popski's Private Army. Popski was the nickname for a white Russian called Vladimir Peniakov who was running a sugar plant in Egypt at the start of the war & navigated across the open desert for fun. He started off with the Long Range Desert Group.
To destroy Axis vehicles, members of the SAS surreptitiously attached small explosive charges. Jock Lewes noticed the respective weaknesses of conventional blast and incendiaries, as well as their failure to destroy vehicles in some cases. He improvised a new, combined charge out of plastic explosive, diesel and thermite. The Lewes bomb was used throughout the Second World War.
You are missing the point, this was a unit that wasn't approved,or even exist as far as the military bosses were concerned,so no help or resources were given in order for them to function , they had to steal equipment to just go and reek havoc behind enemy lines, were expected to fail and be wiped out in their first mission. Going by your reactions you would never have made it working with them .
For anyone interested in the early history of the SAS then the book this TV series was based on is a good start. Also anything by Damien Lewis. Lewis wrote the book 'Ministry of ungentlemanly warfare' which itself is now a movie. Also "SAS forged in hell" is another well researched and written account of early SAS missions.
On a separate note, you would find that the pause in the jump sequence was probably due to the director who imposed it for dramatic effect with no idea of the consequences in real life.
I want you guys to look up the First Special Service Force. A combined American and Canadian Special Operations Unit from WW2. The training tempo was ridiculous. When the F.S.S.F. was told, they were being Airborne qualified. The F.S.S.F. had something like three or four days to qualify for Airborne Operations, instead of the normal four weeks of Airborne school. That didn't include the fact that the F.S.S.F. was also qualified for Winter Warfare, Mountaineering, Amphibious Operations, and sabotage/demolitions. The F.S.S.F. had something like 25% causality rate just in training alone. Which was common at that time. The British Commandos also had something like a 25% causality rate in training during WW2. When you sit back from a modern day perspective. Saying That these guys are stupid for not knowing what a static line is. When using a parachute. If you know history, it makes you look bad. Absolutely these guys had no idea of how a parachute worked, but then again being a Paratrooper at that time. Was to be part of an elite unit. These men were creating the S.A.S. So by hook and crook they created an elite unit of raiders. Where they did what they had to. To get the training and equipment that they needed. It's a lot different today. After lots of men got hurt or killed in training alone, let alone actually combat operations. I would like it if you looked up the Greatest Raid narrated by Jeremy Clarkson (yes the same one from Top Gear). Where British Commandos went into the occupied French harbour. To destroy the dry dock, so that the Germans wouldn't be able to use it. The British used an old Destroyer mocked up to look like a German Destroyer. This old Destroyer was also a bomb, which had to be rammed into the gates of the Dry Dock. Plus lots of smaller wooden patrol craft. The raid was a success. The Destroyer was rammed into the gates of the Dry Dock. The Commandos destroyed the pump house, and other structures in the harbour, but the wooden patrol craft. That was the Commandos extraction vehicles. Were shot to hell. Almost all of them being destroyed. The Commandos decided to try to fight their way out of the harbour. The vast majority of the Commandos were either killed or captured. (I think three Commandos eventually made it to Spain, then back to England) However even though the raiding force was lost. The Destroyer (that was a bomb) didn't go off on time. Something like an hour passed, before the bomb went off. Destroying the Dry Dock gates, and killing all of the Germans, who had boarded the Destroyer after the raid. The Dry Dock didn't get repaired until several years after WW2 was over.
The 'dumbass' as you called him was the trailblazer for the SAS, which led to your delta etc. Funny enough they didn't have plans, instructions etc. The jumps were before the first USA combat jump. The bosses didn't think it was possible, these innovators took the risks and developed the best. But chuckleheads will call them dumbasses 🙄
so glad you guys are doing this one - and if you think that was a bad parachute jump - just wait... also - they don't get less stupid (in the series I mean)
In the British military during the IIWW a substancial majority of the officer core and even more in the SOE, Special Operations Executive and the SAS-to become came from the upper class of the British society.. The ethos was, and had been for at least two previous Centuries, that no matter what keeping an apparently cool head and appearance despite of your lack of expertise, violence of action or whatever was essential. Never ever show weakness infront of anybody and it's just sport Old Boy.. :D
that made a lot more sense in previous conflicts where battle was a lot slower and less moving parts. The most calm officer probably did have a huge advantage.
No offence to the Green Berets or the Seals and CAG but I still think the SAS is the best SF unit in the world they just have a lot more experience than every other unit.
@@hansblitz7770 to be fair the cost of living crisis impossible property market that has alienated lots of first time buyers, woke agenda, new Ulez Road tax mass illegal migration why would anyone enlist for the UK governments army?
Quick history lesson. The British Parachute Division training had them operate in sticks when leaving the aircraft. They had weeks of training and built up a plethora of drills including checks after the stick had hooked up to the static line. A lot of the time they did not carry reserves because the jump height was too low. However they were told that if the chute failed they were to take it back to the QM and kick him in the balls. The were also in combat before the US had such a unit.
Just a thought, and I think it would be hilarious, but during copyrighted music perhaps the hosts can record their vocal version of the song (bypassing copyright) and avoiding awkward silences. You'll have to double check audio copyright though. My knowledge on it is a little rusty
They're the classic rag tag bunch / motley crew who achieve great things. Groups like this usually don't quite have enough time or equipment (this could actually be an advantage) - just a burning desire to make things happen.
"How big was "Reek's" junk after it was cut off and sent to his sister." That is a discussion you will only find on FNG Academy! You boys are such boys and I love you for it. btw. What happened to Buck's beard? Ok.....one last thing. Many of the precursors to the SAS are these insane, mentally unstable, alcohol/drug abusing hard chargers. However, if you read Marcinko's books about how he started Seal Team 6, it frequently reveals that these are the same types of individuals he picked (and was). That said, I couldn't agree more about the difference between bravery and stupid. It's the same with determination versus stupid, or perfectionism versus stupid. All of these can lead someone to greatness or be the boat anchor around your neck for your entire life.
Hey , the metric / standard fuel problem resulted in a Air Canada Boeing 767 running out of fuel at 40,000 ft , it was deadsticked onto a old RCAF air base ( Gimli , Manitoba) being used as a racetrack . No one was injured , the plane was good but became known as "The Gimli Glider"
Bucky looks so different. Maybe he has been stressing less and enjoying life more I hope! Good times, Buck's rants are the best. It's like SF ADHD and thats what I watch it for, and Buckaroo's funny stories, and for Kurt cus we all need a Kurt in our crew. Dang it, I watch y'all for a lot of good reasons. Punch this Algo in the face and make more content dudes!!!! #beersandbreakdowns #coltwasneverhere #FNGACADEMY
You have to remember there were no special forces before these men nothing at all. So criticising them as “idiots” because they don’t have modern elite training is a bit ridiculous. These men were incredibly brave and had to shoot from the hip in effect because it was do or die with no training in order to get the job done. If these men didn’t step forward no one else would have and the job wouldn’t have gone done and the war wouldn’t have been won. Calling them dumbasses is just insulting lads. Poor show and ridiculously insulting. Considering all modern SP are based on these men means they must have done something right.
loved this show wish there was more but one of the other youtube channels on weird military history had something about patty the irishman in the group he was just WILD later you will understand
Series two is in production, filming in Croatia to portray the SAS European campaign through Italy, and hopefully, if there's a series 3 it will follow their heroics in France
"The first U.S. airborne unit began as a test platoon formed from part of the 29th Infantry Regiment, in July 1940. The platoon leader was 1st Lieutenant William T. Ryder, who made the first jump on August 16, 1940, at Lawson Field, Fort Benning, Georgia, from a B-18 bomber. He was immediately followed by Private William N. King, the first enlisted soldier to make a parachute jump" more wikipedia It seems US was also behind the russians, Italians and Germans. Not sure how crazy these men were looking at the dates they were probably occurring at a similar time (7 months before the proper SAS combat op) Also UK didn't use (and probably didn't have) reserve chutes, US did but not sure when they came into the mix
I enjoyed the series and the book, good to see something based on the origins of the SAS. They lost a lot of guys in those initial jumps because they didn't know what they were doing.
Do you guys know about a 80's era Vietnam movie called 84 Charlie Mopic? It came out late after Platoon and Hamburger Hill, but it has some interesting small unit scenes.
I was really enjoying your reaction to what is actually a very BBC watered down version of the story of the creation of the SAS. Some properly funny moments from you both. But then you took some odd dislike to the Jock Lewis character. Their reality was that nobody had much of a clue about anything, especially so many of the specific things we all take for granted like a properly packed 'chute (which it shoved into your face like that to make sure you picked up on it). There are so many things that this series mischaracterises, but at least do some genuine research on Jock Lewis and how he (totally contrary to the impression you were given by this drama) actually developed effective tactics, means (its called the Lewis bomb for a reason!!), and then trained the men to do it. What happened to him was a tragedy, best described by those very men he trained. As a starter, the documentary series of the same name is a lot more complete and honest, I think its on Amazon.
Most depictions of Paddy Mayne (including in Rogue Heroes) are wildly inaccurate. He wasn’t a lunatic, and is largely responsible for the training ethos of UKSF. Read Hamish Ross’ book about Paddy, it’s a great read.
i know it late but just for info the guys created the procedures you guys follow in para jumping . No one had done this stuff before, they were learning . they found out that static line jumps were better than 'free' jumping due to constancy chute deployment. jumping in tight formation help with keeping the stick together not landing all over the place. Jumping out a door instead of a bomb-bay meant fewer broken noses. Jumping into trees was not a good idea, to many broken limbs, reserve chutes were added cause primaries failed.
What important to understand is that the British are losing the war at this point. They’ve been pushed from all the way across North Africa to Tubruk, if the Germans manage capture the Suez Canal they will split the armies fighting in South east Asia from those fighting in Europe and gain access to the oil fields of the Middle East. They have every reason to believe America will stay out of the war at this point. I know they seem reckless but the are desperate to turn the tide.
What you really need to know is that the USA military attache in Cairo was sending information in a code that had been broken by the Germans about British dispositions. This is how Rommel knew so much, and he could beat his opponents. We know this because Bletchley park had broken Enigma by then, and was reading Rommels incoming, at least, messages. There was an investigation going on in Cairo trying to find out who exactly it was. This is in two books the first is a book aabout Bletchley Park called the Code breakers printed in 1964, and the second is a partly fictional book called city of Gold which uses this as the background plot. How do we know it was the US military attache, because after Pearl Harbour (just before THE turning point of the war in 1942 El Alamein) the information stopped being sent.
Not sure they were losing, they were not winning...
They basically had nothing to lose
@@Bosspigeon230no, we were losing. The far east and the Atlantic and Middle East, all on the back foot.
High stakes indeed, we need the oil the Germans wanted it, suez meant we could stay in touch by sea far more easily with the far east and the India.
David Stirling was bad ass Who Dares Wins.
Paddy Mayne was the unsung heto
@@frosty_soda I wouldn't say 'unsung' although he didn't get a VC (his conduct was pretty bad - which is likely what undermined his recommendation) but the dude has a flipping statue in Newtonards and there's plenty written about him. Maybe no songs about him ... 🤣
4 DSOs tho @@IO-zg8md
I think the 2 Green Berets are missing the point, they did learn on the job and they did take advice. They then became the benchmark of every SF unit around the world.
Exactly, these 2 fella’s wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for Sterling,
the SAS were THE benchmark for the world sunshine ... the green berets wernt started till the sixties , and certainly are NOT in the same league ... your Delta force is ... but they aint !
I think maybe our arrogant American friends might benefit from a visit by the gentlemen from Hereford to teach them a little humility.
those 2 are right as in comparing to what they know which is let be honest why people come to watch green berets talk about it, all they can do is relate it to what they know, it was started by crazy dumbarses they even call themselves that, look how many men they lose on the first jump cos they dont wanna follow the rules but they learn from that, goes from mad men in the desert to one of the finest fighting forces in the world
@@stevestibbons1789Stirling... and it was Mayne who commanded longer than Stirling
You know the British mean business when they make an official military department to train and deploy special forces and call it the Office of Ungentlemanly Warfare!
That was a nickname though. Also, SAS wasn’t part of SOE (“Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare”).
Was a hilarious movie.
Which is also a great movie loosely based on fact.
@@globallandrovers Loosely based upon the first person from Denmark to win a VC!
@@thetruthhurts7675Andy Lassen?
The first SAS ‘mission’, the parachute disaster depicted here, was, well…a disaster, obviously. But would they have ever formed the SAS if they had been the kind of guys who obeyed the rules, who waited until everything was sorted and organized? I think that’s the point: the kind of people who change the game are also the kind who make huge mistakes. JH Ford said that people think the secret to success is “Ready, Aim, Fire”, but great things are achieved by those who understand it’s “Ready, Fire, Aim”. That’s what Stirling and Paddy Mayne understood.
Shooting without aiming is literally something the special forces did in WW2
Rogue Heroes is a real TV gem. I highly suggest and eagerly wait for season 2.
1st January 2025 UK!
S2E2 (US) 1.19.2025 Loving the program
Just to point out, you probably have all those jump procedures because of these guys!
Also, sadly Mike Sadler the last of the SAS originals and their desert navigator passed away in January this year at 103.
Jesus Christ, he lived that long?
@@Lancersilvathese men were built different
@@Rfcfan1996 evidently
The actor went to see him too. The man remembered everything!
I hope the "Middle of F-ing Nowhere" scene is based on reality - The Sadler character in the show is terrific
This is a great series. These guys were inventing long range desert warfare, behind enemy lines, on the hoof, with few resources, just scavenging what they could. They had balls of steel. Paddy Mayne was an absolute warrior.
love Paddy, and from all i red about him, the men who served with him would walkt through hell and back with him. But given today's standards he would get a section 8 within a week.
@@johanbruinsma8243 It was war! No Section 8s!
The concept and execution of long-range desert warfare was developed by Ralph Bagnold. An eccentric very intelligent explorer, British Army officer. He formed the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) quite sometime before the SAS. After the failed parachute raid by the SAS, the LRDG took them to their destination, then carried on with their own mission and collected the SAS on their return journey. The SAS then referred to the LRDG as their 'taxi service'. Later the SAS, using the knowledge gained by the LRDG, used the Willis Jeeps to get them to their objectives. Incidentally, Ralph Bagnold invented a special compass that allowed the navigation of the vast emptiness of the dessert. Read the book 'The Sting of the Scorpion' history of the LRDG. Fascinating story, real hero's
@ The SAS clearly moved the concept far beyond the LRDG.
@QuicknStraight All they changed was the modus operandi. LRDG established routes, logistics dumps, and techniques for operating in an area that were considered impossible
More of this show. Paddy is truly mad. The rivalry between Stirling and Mayne is priceless.
This actually happened.
It's closer to a documentary 😅
Paddy was also 6'2 to 6'3
Fun fact, the scene with the pool table and the grenade actually happened. But it WAS a real grenade! 😂😂😂😂
Snooker table!!
It was Paddy who did that not Stirling
All real paddy mayne bravest man never to recieve VC
They destroyed more enemy planes than the airforce
When they used parachutes they were self taught fairly new it was all new ,the learning , through them is what you know now they took the chances
When the actual SAS heard they were doing this they contacted the cast and reminded them they are portraying legends, and not to fuck it up
Let’s get it right…the Brit’s would have said, “Don’t cock it up.” Hahaha
@@JarheadPJdepends on where they're from exactly. Scottish and norn irish wouldn't.
@@doublen7135 Yeah, they would - my uncle was SBS and to say the UKSF guys take their heritage and legacy seriously is an understatement.
Not the sort of folks you want to disappoint 🫣
@@cybertrophici knew an Irishman, a friend of my dad's and retired RM/SBS, who inevitably we all called Paddy. Shrinking in his pension and drunk on the way home from the pub he was jumped, by 4 guys i went to school with years before, hard nuts.
He walked away with a chunk bitten out of his ear and covered in their blood, 4 young scumbags who grew up fighting RM commandos in my home town, over girls usually, and he ruined them.
Never mess with an RM or the SBS/SAS, they don't back down.
RIP Paddy, legend!
I’ve watched this series three times, along with reading the book twice. Outstanding series and book. Phenomenally acted. The soundtrack is killer too.
Is there any way to get ahold of the series without having to get an MGM+ subscription?
@@Dj1DurBreD Not that I’m aware of, but I have no doubt that it’ll go straight to DVD/Blue-Ray soon, if it hasn’t already.
@@Dj1DurBreDit’s in BBC i player in the uk
You guys should check out 6 days, its about the Iranian embassy siege in London in the 80s and the SAS hostage rescue.
Operation Nimrod
You make a lot of valid points but remember these guys were the pioneers. They made the mistakes then so you don't have to now. They were failing upwards.
Some of it was dramatized for the camera too
I could have sworn he told the game of thrones guy he didn't like walking. That's why he waited to jump second, he wanted to be closer to base. In the book they mention that since they are the first to do SAS stuff, they had to learn as they went...figuring out what worked and what didn't.
Best part was when the Italian sentry asked for a light
"Who Dares Wins", they sure dared the universe to kill them. It's not stupidity, it's insanity. These guys were clearly insane, and if you read their histories, you will come to believe they were seriously crazy.
One could say they dare to be stupid
It takes the crazy and bold to get the job done when the jobs never been done before.
they weren't insane ffs. You aren't SF being insane. You're a liability. You think and do things outside the box. Be different.
They're the reason we don't speak German.
in the early days when nobody knows what theyre doing, you take risks and do things that in retrospect were stupid or crazy. There was a time when people just worked with radioactive materials like they were just everyday materials, and those people paved the way to modern procedures by literally giving their life
the book was awesome and there's a second book on Paddy Mayne. The things they did in France and Italy were even wilder, we all think that Patton charged across Europe, but they were running around in heavily armed jeeps behind enemy lines creating the chaos to make it possible
but there were no Americans with them so america and hollywood arnt interested !
I am reading the book rn... Can you tell me the name of the second book?
The book was great. This series not so much
This is when jumping was a new thing. no one knew better. We learn lessons through blood sweat and tears. Blood: those we lost. Sweat: the work and dedication. Tears: that what we could have done better...
You are obviously trained military parachutists who have been through jump school as was I (I was actually a jump master in the New Zealand military). But what you have to realise is that at this time in history the British had no Parachute regiment and therefore no jump schools (apart from those used to train SOE agents before they were dropped into enemy territory.)
Jock Lewis came up with the idea of using parachutes to attack behind enemy lines but neither he or Sterling had ever seen a parachute before and there was no one they could ask for advice and no training infrastructure. A pilots knowledge would be very limited at best.
Therefore these two men had to work it out for themselves by trial and error. Which they insisted on doing themselves before exposing their men to the risks.
Its very easy in hindsight with all the training and support you have to sit there and laugh at and belittle these men but desperate times called for desperate action.
Well put. These two are taking the out of the founding fathers Special Forces . They were learning on the job and were pathfinders for the training that they later benefited from!
Looking forward to future episodes on this. The general recklessness is a fun theme to follow especially concerning Mayne.
I’ll also just say that some extra context is that the commandos were a newer idea that had been badly misused during the invasion of Crete in a role they weren’t well suited for in training or equipment. A lot of the founding members were survivors of it and I think that sets the scene of a bunch of drunk 20 somethings, fuck off with shit and not thinking things through. Who also wanted to show the stuck up bastards they could be effective, so for Stirling it’s something to say over dinner when he gets home.
From what I understand, they had a steep learning curve. It took them time to develop their SOPs, and a lot of stuff was basically trial and error.
Keep in mind that all that is said about the training is undocumented rumors. Not claiming it all is a lie. But I'm pretty sure a lot of it is a myth.
But t doesn't change the fact that SAS is the best of the best. They wrote the book on hostage rescue,and has perfected it ever since
@@johnnyguitar6639 I think by "learning curve" they may be referring to Stirling losing 2/3rds of his men on the first mission with 0 damage inflicted on the enemy.
@@ryebold552 Possibly. I was talking in general.I saw the series and I've read the book it was based upon. But I still say a lot of what it describes, is probably myth and rep building.A lot of it is probably true. But I would say the truth part is probably 40%
@@johnnyguitar6639 I'm referring to them basically winging it and it not always working out in their favor.
Great episode with a great show!! Apparently their making more senses too!
I feel like Ive been waiting forever for you guys to do this. They actually had to tone down the truth because what actually happened wasnt believable. Thank you guys!
Omg SAS Rogue heroes, I loved that show, was just planning to watch it again. So happy you’re reviewing it!!
These 2 idiots make me laugh , what they dont realise is that at the time there were no procedures, processes, or rules , they made them up through trial , error and sheer guts .
They weren't in stupid, when this conversation happened parachutes were brand new, nobody knew outside of the parachute service exactly what they did and how they worked.
That was the amazing thing about them,
The motto isn't 'who dares wins' for nothing.
Have you seen what you've got to do in SAS training even today?
Parachuting was still in its infancy ,1941 , so they were learning as they went.
Definitely want to hear your reactions to the rest of the rogue hero series. Also would live to hear your reactions to a documentary on the WWII British commando raids on St. Nazaire
"Britain's first airborne assault took place on February 10, 1941, when, what was then known as II Special Air Service (some 37 men of 500 trained in No. 2 Commando plus three Italian interpreters), parachuted into Italy to blow up an aqueduct in a daring raid named Operation Colossus."
From wikipedia. My point is when you say they should have known more or ask someone about parachutes there was no one in the army to ask. Germany, Russia and Italy were far ahead in terms of developing parachute troops, and whilst they had been used by the airforce infantry with parachute capability were not yet a capability.
Pioneers did not have the luxury of the broad shoulders you stand on.
They were the giants
Love beers and breakdowns, keep em coming!
One thing you have to remember is that this was happening in 1940 and parachuting, particularly in the military, was still VERY new. Part of the reason we have so many safety protocols, gear and techniques today is precisely because of these guys throwing themselves out of planes back then and it all going wrong. It seems stupid by today's standards, and it was still pretty stupid (certainly crazy) in those days, but it needed maniacs to do this stuff and push things in order for it to develop into what we have now. Also, the great thing about Stirling and Lewes is they did this stuff themselves despite being Officers in the hope to prove that it was possible, they didn't think it up and then ask others from the rank and file to do it on their behalf. They were, absolutely, full scale nutters.
Just remember these guys were your daddies your unit would never have existed if they hadn’t been successful.
I think you have missed a huge part of what was happening here. These officers were outside the box thinkers, who were completely pissed off with the way they were being commanded. They "kind of" got permission to form a new unit that would disappear into the desert and operate independently, but that was it. No resources, nothing. They even had to go and steal an entire camp, including a piano for Paddy Mayne!
These guys literally wrote the book on special forces ops. They were the trail blazers for every modern special ops force in the western world including yours, so try to understand the environment and culture they had to do this in, and show little more humility, rather than sitting there and calling them dumb and stupid.
The Irony is criticizing Ignorence...
...But being Ignorent about the historical reality.
The concept of Special Forces is pretty much BASED on these people, their actions, and- most of all- their mistakes.
They learned, educated themselves, adapted... and then passed on what they had learned to the people who founded the Green Berets.
------------
Also, if you class him as an Alcoholic... most Brits would be confused: " He's not drinking THAT much..."
Hey lads,
Ringy here from the Sunshine Coast, Australia.
Do you think you could review “Danger Close”
6 RAR during the Vietnam conflict?
Cheers guys! 🇦🇺🇺🇸
Danger Close is a fantastic film and well worth watching. Loved the song by Redgum at the end and the roll call with actual photos of the men that took part at Long Tan. Very brave men that should not be forgotten.
Good Afternoon fine sirs,
Was watching your breakdown of Heat and Abel referred to the North Hollywood Shootout back in 1997.There is a movie called 44minutes starring Michael Madsen and Lewis Nixon(Band of Brothers)I mean Ron Livingston from 2003.
Also you ask for recommendations for your breakdowns and I was thinking Tom Clancy's classic Patriot Games for a couple of intense scenes. Then it dawned upon me that you all seem to be John Krasinski fans which made me wonder why you have not done breakdown of the Jack Ryan Show on Amazon. Worth consideration.Reacher pretty good too.
But high appreciation for the support you show you community ,service to the country ,and the entertaining content you produce.
Thanks
One more thought.You didn;t breakdown Jack Ryan but you did Terminal list
The problem with jump training at this period was it basically didn’t exist in the army except in a small unit that became the paras in the uk.
Waiting for new reactions to this show. Loved the show and looking forward to the 2nd season
Brilliant series, there was an excellent factual 3 part documentary of the same story 5 years before this dramatisation called 'SAS Rogue Warriors' which I think you'd really love too as it includes interviews with some of the original guys including David Stirling himself.
It's New Years Day and I'm binge watching season 2. Pure bliss!
As you were so keen on Game of Thrones, the actor that played Reek (Theon Greyjoy) is in the programme playing Captain Jock Lewis (the officer that opened the parachute).
He also invented the bombs they used , he used to pass out when making them bombs with blinding headaches ,
H guys, hope you are well. Not stumbled across your channel until about 20 minutes ago, while (as normally happens, searching for something else) Its great to see your reaction to "SAS Rogue Heroes" season 1 first episode. Seeing this clip is 9 months old you probably know more now than you did at the time of the recording, however just to recap. the two central characters you see here being played by Connor Swindells and Alfie Allen (who you correctly recognised as Theon Grayjoy from GoT) are playing pretty much the two founding members of the SAS Major David Stirling and Lt John Steel "Jock" Lewes.
The scene although embellished was based on facts. The two did make there first and probably (Stirling's last jump!) in Libya as a 'proof of concept' experiment for what became the disastrous Operation Squatter, which is regarded as the first operation carried out by the SAS.
Lewes was in fact the mastermind of the unit, inventor of the "Lewes bomb" a small blast/incendiary device, which combined plastic explosive, thermite steel filings and Diesel ideal for rendering Axis aircraft, trucks half tracks and AFV's useless :). Lewes had been impressed with German fallschirmjager troops and initially thought he could use the same tactic to destroy enemy air bases. Like Stirling he'd never used a parachute before and wanted to see if jumping into a desert was a feasible way to deploy commando's behind enemy lines. With minimal training they jumped from a Vickers Valentia bomber which was not really suitable for parachutists Lewes landed safely Stirling was not so lucky, his damaged 'chute which did get snagged on the tail plane increased his rate if decent and the resulting impact, miraculously didn't break his legs but did cause a serious spinal injury which left him temporarily blinded and his legs were paralyzed.
There is a season two now, which is currently airing on BBC1 and the BBCi player which takes tells the story of the Sicily and Italian Campaign and finishes as the SAS jump into France on June 6th 1944. Well worth a watch if you haven't already.
And remember, Much of what you see actually happened but its not a history lesson
Take care and keep up the good work
Both the book and the documentary were better than the TV series.
Fun fact; when he threw the grenade at the snooker table, the real story was it was a live grenade, but the writers thought it was so unbelievable they changed it to a dummy
I don't think they ever made a film or TV series about them but in the same conflict, and then in Sicily/Italy there was a unit called Popski's Private Army. Popski was the nickname for a white Russian called Vladimir Peniakov who was running a sugar plant in Egypt at the start of the war & navigated across the open desert for fun. He started off with the Long Range Desert Group.
Green berets. Quote from First Blood, " Green beret, war hero, thats great!". Hats off for COL Aaron Bank.
Hidden gem. Can't wait for season 2.
FNG Academy? Have yous seen the Movie Danger Close The Battle of Long Tan?
Yeah I think they reacted to that movie
What’s even more absurd is that in real life the grenade thrown onto the table was NOT a dummy practice grenade
Great episode. Would you all take a consideration for reviewing "the greatest raid"? Awesome true story
By the way they did use the stars - rather than laughing look up Mike Sadler who knew how to navigate using the stars.
To destroy Axis vehicles, members of the SAS surreptitiously attached small explosive charges. Jock Lewes noticed the respective weaknesses of conventional blast and incendiaries, as well as their failure to destroy vehicles in some cases. He improvised a new, combined charge out of plastic explosive, diesel and thermite. The Lewes bomb was used throughout the Second World War.
You are missing the point, this was a unit that wasn't approved,or even exist as far as the military bosses were concerned,so no help or resources were given in order for them to function , they had to steal equipment to just go and reek havoc behind enemy lines, were expected to fail and be wiped out in their first mission. Going by your reactions you would never have made it working with them .
For anyone interested in the early history of the SAS then the book this TV series was based on is a good start. Also anything by Damien Lewis. Lewis wrote the book 'Ministry of ungentlemanly warfare' which itself is now a movie.
Also "SAS forged in hell" is another well researched and written account of early SAS missions.
@6:02 I love the deep philosophical conversations you guys have during these reviews :)
New series of rouge heroes starts on new years day on BBC 1 UK i think
Paddy Mayne is the Sh-t!!!!
On a separate note, you would find that the pause in the jump sequence was probably due to the director who imposed it for dramatic effect with no idea of the consequences in real life.
With regards to the parachuting, this was all new and everyone was learning on the job. ✌️
You're good enough, you're smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like you.
This show is awesome. I can’t wait for the next season.
I want you guys to look up the First Special Service Force. A combined American and Canadian Special Operations Unit from WW2.
The training tempo was ridiculous. When the F.S.S.F. was told, they were being Airborne qualified. The F.S.S.F. had something like three or four days to qualify for Airborne Operations, instead of the normal four weeks of Airborne school. That didn't include the fact that the F.S.S.F. was also qualified for Winter Warfare, Mountaineering, Amphibious Operations, and sabotage/demolitions.
The F.S.S.F. had something like 25% causality rate just in training alone.
Which was common at that time. The British Commandos also had something like a 25% causality rate in training during WW2.
When you sit back from a modern day perspective. Saying That these guys are stupid for not knowing what a static line is. When using a parachute. If you know history, it makes you look bad.
Absolutely these guys had no idea of how a parachute worked, but then again being a Paratrooper at that time. Was to be part of an elite unit. These men were creating the S.A.S. So by hook and crook they created an elite unit of raiders. Where they did what they had to. To get the training and equipment that they needed.
It's a lot different today. After lots of men got hurt or killed in training alone, let alone actually combat operations.
I would like it if you looked up the Greatest Raid narrated by Jeremy Clarkson (yes the same one from Top Gear). Where British Commandos went into the occupied French harbour. To destroy the dry dock, so that the Germans wouldn't be able to use it.
The British used an old Destroyer mocked up to look like a German Destroyer. This old Destroyer was also a bomb, which had to be rammed into the gates of the Dry Dock. Plus lots of smaller wooden patrol craft.
The raid was a success. The Destroyer was rammed into the gates of the Dry Dock. The Commandos destroyed the pump house, and other structures in the harbour, but the wooden patrol craft. That was the Commandos extraction vehicles. Were shot to hell. Almost all of them being destroyed.
The Commandos decided to try to fight their way out of the harbour. The vast majority of the Commandos were either killed or captured. (I think three Commandos eventually made it to Spain, then back to England)
However even though the raiding force was lost. The Destroyer (that was a bomb) didn't go off on time. Something like an hour passed, before the bomb went off. Destroying the Dry Dock gates, and killing all of the Germans, who had boarded the Destroyer after the raid.
The Dry Dock didn't get repaired until several years after WW2 was over.
You mean to tell me you trust someone else to pack your chute, the Px1 mark 4 packs itself and on landing pops it’s clips like remote control.
The 'dumbass' as you called him was the trailblazer for the SAS, which led to your delta etc.
Funny enough they didn't have plans, instructions etc. The jumps were before the first USA combat jump. The bosses didn't think it was possible, these innovators took the risks and developed the best.
But chuckleheads will call them dumbasses 🙄
I appreciate what you guys do. All the way around.
YES!!! I've been waiting for this!!
so glad you guys are doing this one - and if you think that was a bad parachute jump - just wait...
also - they don't get less stupid (in the series I mean)
In the British military during the IIWW a substancial majority of the officer core and even more in the SOE, Special Operations Executive and the SAS-to become came from the upper class of the British society.. The ethos was, and had been for at least two previous Centuries, that no matter what keeping an apparently cool head and appearance despite of your lack of expertise, violence of action or whatever was essential. Never ever show weakness infront of anybody and it's just sport Old Boy.. :D
Know where you are. Know where you're going. And no matter what, look cool.
that made a lot more sense in previous conflicts where battle was a lot slower and less moving parts. The most calm officer probably did have a huge advantage.
No offence to the Green Berets or the Seals and CAG but I still think the SAS is the best SF unit in the world they just have a lot more experience than every other unit.
SAS is the Original. Delta has more experience, is the most secretive, and is the best of the best of the best Sir!
SAS is having a recruitment crisis.
@@hansblitz7770 aren't they all though?
You forgot JTF2
@@hansblitz7770 to be fair the cost of living crisis impossible property market that has alienated lots of first time buyers, woke agenda, new Ulez Road tax mass illegal migration why would anyone enlist for the UK governments army?
When you think that DJ Shipley (Former DEVGRU) out of anyone in history to sit down with, he chose David Stirling and Paddy Mayne. True Legends!
Was DEVGRU formed when Don was serving? What year did he retire?
Quick history lesson. The British Parachute Division training had them operate in sticks when leaving the aircraft. They had weeks of training and built up a plethora of drills including checks after the stick had hooked up to the static line. A lot of the time they did not carry reserves because the jump height was too low. However they were told that if the chute failed they were to take it back to the QM and kick him in the balls. The were also in combat before the US had such a unit.
i bet you guys would be hilarious drinkin and tellin stories to Black Sheep Squadron!
Just a thought, and I think it would be hilarious, but during copyrighted music perhaps the hosts can record their vocal version of the song (bypassing copyright) and avoiding awkward silences. You'll have to double check audio copyright though. My knowledge on it is a little rusty
Yes! The book is rather awesome and eye opening.
They're the classic rag tag bunch / motley crew who achieve great things. Groups like this usually don't quite have enough time or equipment (this could actually be an advantage) - just a burning desire to make things happen.
Desert Pirates
You say you're green berets but you don't know where you history comes from and the fact this is part of it
"How big was "Reek's" junk after it was cut off and sent to his sister." That is a discussion you will only find on FNG Academy! You boys are such boys and I love you for it. btw. What happened to Buck's beard? Ok.....one last thing. Many of the precursors to the SAS are these insane, mentally unstable, alcohol/drug abusing hard chargers. However, if you read Marcinko's books about how he started Seal Team 6, it frequently reveals that these are the same types of individuals he picked (and was). That said, I couldn't agree more about the difference between bravery and stupid. It's the same with determination versus stupid, or perfectionism versus stupid. All of these can lead someone to greatness or be the boat anchor around your neck for your entire life.
Hey , the metric / standard fuel problem resulted in a Air Canada Boeing 767 running out of fuel at 40,000 ft , it was deadsticked onto a old RCAF air base ( Gimli , Manitoba) being used as a racetrack . No one was injured , the plane was good but became known as "The Gimli Glider"
I can’t wait for 2nd season of this show.
Bucky looks so different. Maybe he has been stressing less and enjoying life more I hope! Good times, Buck's rants are the best. It's like SF ADHD and thats what I watch it for, and Buckaroo's funny stories, and for Kurt cus we all need a Kurt in our crew. Dang it, I watch y'all for a lot of good reasons. Punch this Algo in the face and make more content dudes!!!! #beersandbreakdowns #coltwasneverhere #FNGACADEMY
You have to remember there were no special forces before these men nothing at all. So criticising them as “idiots” because they don’t have modern elite training is a bit ridiculous. These men were incredibly brave and had to shoot from the hip in effect because it was do or die with no training in order to get the job done. If these men didn’t step forward no one else would have and the job wouldn’t have gone done and the war wouldn’t have been won. Calling them dumbasses is just insulting lads. Poor show and ridiculously insulting. Considering all modern SP are based on these men means they must have done something right.
Big fan of Buck Rogers and FNG Academy. Am I the only person who hears John C Reilly every single time Buck says anything? Shake n Bake FNG Academy!
Now that you mentioned it, that’s all I hear on this video 😂.
Could you imagine if Joe Rogan interviewed Paddy Mayne??? - Lots of drinking, lots of fighting and endless poetry....
loved this show wish there was more but one of the other youtube channels on weird military history had something about patty the irishman in the group he was just WILD later you will understand
Series two is in production, filming in Croatia to portray the SAS European campaign through Italy, and hopefully, if there's a series 3 it will follow their heroics in France
A new mini series where you guys talk about beers lol what beers you like trying beers on cam and call it break down beers 🍺😅
remember parachuting was quite a new thing, not many in the British army knew anything about it, this is the story of the worlds first SF
"The first U.S. airborne unit began as a test platoon formed from part of the 29th Infantry Regiment, in July 1940. The platoon leader was 1st Lieutenant William T. Ryder, who made the first jump on August 16, 1940, at Lawson Field, Fort Benning, Georgia, from a B-18 bomber. He was immediately followed by Private William N. King, the first enlisted soldier to make a parachute jump" more wikipedia
It seems US was also behind the russians, Italians and Germans. Not sure how crazy these men were looking at the dates they were probably occurring at a similar time (7 months before the proper SAS combat op)
Also UK didn't use (and probably didn't have) reserve chutes, US did but not sure when they came into the mix
I enjoyed the series and the book, good to see something based on the origins of the SAS. They lost a lot of guys in those initial jumps because they didn't know what they were doing.
Do you guys know about a 80's era Vietnam movie called 84 Charlie Mopic? It came out late after Platoon and Hamburger Hill, but it has some interesting small unit scenes.
I was really enjoying your reaction to what is actually a very BBC watered down version of the story of the creation of the SAS. Some properly funny moments from you both. But then you took some odd dislike to the Jock Lewis character. Their reality was that nobody had much of a clue about anything, especially so many of the specific things we all take for granted like a properly packed 'chute (which it shoved into your face like that to make sure you picked up on it).
There are so many things that this series mischaracterises, but at least do some genuine research on Jock Lewis and how he (totally contrary to the impression you were given by this drama) actually developed effective tactics, means (its called the Lewis bomb for a reason!!), and then trained the men to do it. What happened to him was a tragedy, best described by those very men he trained.
As a starter, the documentary series of the same name is a lot more complete and honest, I think its on Amazon.
I love it. It reminds me of old school ww2 shows and movies
Most depictions of Paddy Mayne (including in Rogue Heroes) are wildly inaccurate. He wasn’t a lunatic, and is largely responsible for the training ethos of UKSF. Read Hamish Ross’ book about Paddy, it’s a great read.
The Officer who opened the parachute was Lieutenant Jock Lewes who invented the Lewes Bomb which was used to devastating effect.
Awake in Yorkshire and i love this channel
i know it late but just for info the guys created the procedures you guys follow in para jumping . No one had done this stuff before, they were learning . they found out that static line jumps were better than 'free' jumping due to constancy chute deployment. jumping in tight formation help with keeping the stick together not landing all over the place. Jumping out a door instead of a bomb-bay meant fewer broken noses. Jumping into trees was not a good idea, to many broken limbs, reserve chutes were added cause primaries failed.
That guys name was Paddy Mayne - he ended the war as an LCol with 4 DSOs
Sure, I’ll just sit here and watch 20 minutes of two grown men repeat lines of the show like they’re Swifties at a concert together. 🤣
question why would you jump out of a servicable aircraft with a bedsheet on your back lol me thinks series 3 wil be made