The SAS is a disciplined and elite force in which the men are trained to operate deep behind enemy lines to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance operations, usually in very close proximity to the enemy, and are often involved in violent actions with that enemy. This history describes some of the most important operations in which the SAS has been involved including first action in Borneo, followed by confrontation in Vietnam, then Somalia, Kuwait, and East Timor in the 1990s. Based on firsthand reports and interviews with participants, this is an intriguing account of the regiment's first 40 years.