Salkin Posted January 3, 2003 Share Posted January 3, 2003 Hi all. I've been lurking here since before CMBO and finally I have gathered enough courage to post . First : (fanboy part of post) I own CMBO , CMBB and the CMBB strat guide. All of these products are great. I also like the interest you take in your customers here at Battlefront.com (Madmatt, Steve ...you know who you are ). All this has been said before but you need to be reminded of this so you keep up the good work. Secondly: (Actual question) This is to all the grogs out there (you are also great by the way). Like all questions this has probably been asked before and yes I know where the search button is , but I feel my first post need a question so : Did special forces exist during ww2 (like Spetsnaz) ? I'm guessing no,(special forces seems more adapted to todays mobile forces) but It would be nice if you proved me wrong. I suppose paratroopers can qualify as special forces... Well tell me what you think . /Salkin Swedish CM player 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demoss Posted January 3, 2003 Share Posted January 3, 2003 Did special forces exist during ww2 (like Spetsnaz) ? The Brandenburgers, certainly. I believe the SAS & OSS were active in Occupied France and probably other places. The Chindits and Merrill's Marauders in Burma. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nidan1 Posted January 3, 2003 Share Posted January 3, 2003 The Russians had special recon troops, the name escapes me now, but they were the predecessors of the Spetznatz. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splinty Posted January 3, 2003 Share Posted January 3, 2003 I think the British Commandos and American Rangers could also qualify as Special Forces during WWII. Even though they were often used as conventional infantry, being thrown where the fire was hottest. At Anzio for example. They also were employed in "elite forces" type missions such as the Ranger assault on Point-du-Hoc during the Normandy Invasion. [ January 03, 2003, 03:09 PM: Message edited by: Splinty ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParaBellum Posted January 3, 2003 Share Posted January 3, 2003 Originally posted by Nidan1: The Russians had special recon troops, the name escapes me now, but they were the predecessors of the Spetznatz.Razvedchik (advance reconnaissance units). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMuhammed Posted January 3, 2003 Share Posted January 3, 2003 Let us not forget the baddest boys on the block, the American First Special Service Force. The Italians had one of the best naval commando groups of the war. The Germans also had the Friedenthal Hunting Groups commanded by Otto Skorzeny. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salkin Posted January 4, 2003 Author Share Posted January 4, 2003 Great answers guys ! Good to see lots of the regulars visiting my first post. thnx !! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venjra ICQ 2126434 Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 Do not dare to forget The Alamo Scouts in the Pacific Theather. N'uff said. :mad: 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 Just thought I'd put in a mention for one of the first special forces in WW2, the LRDG (Long Range Desert Group) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hans Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 Marine Raiders and the Japanese special attack units (midget subs) for their attacks on Australia, Madagassar and Pearl 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slater Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 The SAS was the First and still the best: They started out in Africa when Rommel and his Afrika corp arrived my details arent spot on but I believe they first appeared as Special Recon Unit somethick like that and their job was to Recon the German airfields but they first Became a Special Force when a bright english Gentleman ( cant remember name ) came up with the idea to use this force to Disrupt airfields. On the first mission/test a Platoon of highly skilled troops raided an Airfield at night. 1 squad was responsible for over watch and covering fire while the other 2 squads went for the aircraft to cut a long story short it was a complete victory they mangaged to get in and destroy 20 aircraft and one of theses troops came to a remainding plane with no explosives or Granades so he hoped into the little 109 and started to tear at the instruments with his hands he eventually destroyed the complete interior with nothing but his hands then returning to his comrades. This is what started the Special Forces and their attitude. the story is rusty so somebody might be able to fill in Sorry for the spelling Who Dares Wins-SAS 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slater Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 Originally posted by Ant: Just thought I'd put in a mention for one of the first special forces in WW2, the LRDG (Long Range Desert Group) Thats the one!! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hensworth Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 Salkin, try the Vaagso Raid scenario. British Special Ops in Norway. The briefing has a lot of info, IIRC. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salkin Posted January 4, 2003 Author Share Posted January 4, 2003 Originally posted by Sgt_Kelly: Salkin, try the Vaagso Raid scenario. British Special Ops in Norway. The briefing has a lot of info, IIRC.I'll give it a try . //Salkin Superswede 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 Hello Special Boat Squdron (SBS) shares a common history and several historical members with the SAS. SBS was active in Mediterranean and far east. The Boom Patrol Detachment conducted limpet raids on Klepper canoes in coastal France and surveyed the beach landings (together with USN) prior to D-day. X-boat (midget submarines) crews and charioteers (a chariot is a ridable torpedo) made heroic attacks on enemy ships. Most wel known is propably the X-boat attack on Tirpitz in Norway. Italians were particularly inventive with chariots and sunk several british ships in Alexandria and Gibraltar. Skorzeny and his airborne commandos certainly count as special forces. Especially their daring raid to free the imprisonned Mussolini. These came to my mind. Doc 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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