Special Reconnaissance Unit Explained

Unit Name:Special Reconnaissance Unit
Dates:1972–2005
Type:Military Intelligence
Role:Clandestine operation
Close-quarters combat
Counterinsurgency
Covert operation
HUMINT
Special operations
Special reconnaissance
Urban warfare
Command Structure:United Kingdom Special Forces[1]
Garrison:RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland
Garrison Label:Headquarters
Battles:Operation Banner (The Troubles)

The Special Reconnaissance Unit, also known as the 14 Field Security and Intelligence Company, was a unit of the British Army's Intelligence Corps which conducted covert operations in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. It conducted undercover surveillance operations against suspected members of Irish republican and Ulster loyalist paramilitary groups. Members of the unit were recruited from regular Army battalions and trained in an eight-week course by the Special Air Service (SAS). The unit, then numbering 120 men, was deployed to Northern Ireland in November 1972.[2] [3] Their responsibilities included intelligence gathering and assessment and tracking down and neutralising suspected paramilitaries. Allegations of collusion with loyalist paramilitaries were made against the unit. In 1987, the unit became part of the newly formed United Kingdom Special Forces directorate, and formed the core of the new Special Reconnaissance Regiment in 2005..[1] [4]

Predecessor

The Special Reconnaissance Unit, also known as 14 Intelligence Company, was the successor to the Military Reaction Force (MRF).[5] Selection to 14 Intelligence Company was available to all serving members of the British armed forces and to both sexes. For the first time, women could become members of a UK Special Forces unit. Candidates were required to pass a rigorous selection process, designed to select only those individuals possessing the highly specialized qualifications needed to deal with the stresses of undercover covert operations. In one selection course, out of 1000 applicants, only 17 were ultimately deployed to Northern Ireland.

Wilson briefing

"Special Reconnaissance Unit" is the term appearing in official documents from the 1970s. An April 1974 briefing for Prime Minister Harold Wilson states:

The term "Special Reconnaissance Unit" and the details of its organisation and mode of operations have been kept secret. The SRU operates in Northern Ireland at present under the cover name "Northern Ireland Training and Advisory Teams (Northern Ireland)" – NITAT(NI) – ostensibly the equivalent of genuine NITAT teams in UKLF and BAOR.[6]

Structure

Authors claiming to be former members of the unit describe an organisation[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] with a depot in Great Britain and four operational detachments in Northern Ireland.

Selection and training of personnel from all arms of the British Armed Forces was conducted in a number of locations in Great Britain. Candidates, both male and female, volunteered for special duties for periods of 18–36 months, before being returned to a parent unit. Trained surveillance operators could volunteer for re-deployment after a period with the parent unit, with potential opportunities to serve in command, staff or training roles within the organisation or higher command structure.

Weapons issued

While the unit was active, there was a wide variety of firearms utilized by the unit.[4]

Collusion accusations

14 Intelligence was accused of acting in collusion with loyalist paramilitaries by former intelligence personnel Fred Holroyd and Colin Wallace in regards to the death of senior Provisional Irish Republican Army member John Francis Green, the Miami Showband killings and the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.[12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Casualties

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Urban, Mark . Mark Urban . Big Boys' Rules: The SAS and the Secret Struggle Against the IRA . 1992 . . London . 9780571161126.
  2. David A. Charters, Counter-insurgency Intelligence: The Evolution of British Theory and Practice, The Journal of Conflict Studies, Volume 29 (2009).
  3. Dr Huw Bennett, The reluctant pupil? Britain’s army and learning in counterinsurgency, Royal United Services Institute, 11 October 2009.
  4. Web site: 14 Company - 'The Det' . eliteUKforces.info . 3 December 2017.
  5. Web site: The long shadow of the Military Reaction Force . Tom . Griffin . Spinwatch.org . 20 November 2013 . 15 April 2015.
  6. Web site: PREM 16/154: Defensive Brief D - Meeting between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach, 5 April 1974 "Army Plain Clothes Patrols in Northern Ireland" . . London. 15 April 2015.
  7. Book: Rennie, James . The Operators: On the Streets with Britain's Most Secret Service . Pen & Sword Military Classics . Barnsley . 2004 . 9781844150991.
  8. Book: Ford, Sarah . One Up: A woman in action with the SAS . HarperCollins . London . 1997 . 9780002558198.
  9. Book: George, Jackie . She Who Dared: Covert Operations in Northern Ireland with the SAS . Leo Cooper . Barnsley . 1999 . 9780850526868.
  10. Book: Falconer, Duncan . First into Action: Dramatic Personal Account of Life Inside the SBS . Warner . London . 2001 . 9780751531657.
  11. Book: Connor, Ken . Ghost Force: Secret History of the SAS . Orion . London . 1999 . 9780752826974.
  12. News: The killing of John Francis Green . Laura . Friel . . 6 January 2000 . 15 April 2015.
  13. Web site: Revealed — how British threatened harsh sanctions over SAS arrests . Barry . McCaffrey . . 13 July 2006 . 15 April 2015.
  14. House of Commons . Northern Ireland Act 1974 . 7 July 1987 . 231 . 237 . . Member for Brent East.
  15. Web site: Interim Report on the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Bombing of Kay's Tavern, Dundalk . Houses of the Oireachtas

    Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights

    . July 2006 . 15 April 2015.
  16. Book: Holroyd, Fred . War Without Honour . Hull . Medium . 1989 . 9781872398006 .
  17. Web site: Remembering the Past: Henry Hogan and Declan Martin | An Phoblacht. www.anphoblacht.com.
  18. Brits: The Secret War, BBC
  19. https://www.independent.ie/opinion/the-inside-story-of-the-brutal-killing-of-wood-and-howes-35057557.html "The inside story of the brutal killing of Wood and Howes"