Special Forces from the beginning

World War I Special Missions Units

 

 

 

 

The most used weapons during World War 1 were pistols, rifles, and occasionally flamethrowers and bayonets. The use of flamethrowers quickly declined because of how dangerous and inefficient they were. Since flamethrowers were heavy if carried by a single person, the user was inevitably going to move slowly. Since the majority of battles during World War 1 were fought from trench to trench, having a slow movement speed would undoubtedly increase one’s chances of being shot while crossing to another trench. Because the flamethrower was only effective at closer ranges, users had to get closer to the enemy trench. Combined with this slow motion across what was called “No Man’s Land”, was the fact that flamethrowers required the user to have the gas container that fueled the flamethrower to be carried on the back. Even if the array of bullets that would most likely be flying back and forth across “No Man’s Land”, didn’t hit the flamethrower user, it is more likely that it would hit the gas tank considering it is higher up and thicker than the user’s body, triggering an explosion killing the user and all other soldiers that happen to be around the area of explosion.

The Origin of Special Forces

 

 

Special operations are nothing new to the American soldier. Before Green Berets were teaching counterinsurgency to foreign armies, there were grim-faced men stalking the enemy in woods and swamps during the French and Indian War. Known as Rogers' Rangers after their commander Major Robert Rogers, they were the first of America's unconventional forces.

 

 

 

Though the era they lived in was simpler than the present age, the skills necessary to become an elite soldier were the same. Rogers' Rangers fought in terrain that normal men shunned. They crept up on an enemy with the stealth of a slithering snake, and delivered blows with the lethality of a Cobra bite. "Move fast and hit hard," Rogers told his men, and they obeyed, thereby setting the standard for generations to follow. The tradition continued during the American Revolution with Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox who led daring guerrilla raids on British forces in South Carolina and Georgia. His troops harassed the enemy with a success out of all proportion to their small numbers because Marion used the element of surprise to its greatest potential.

 

Special Forces from the beginning

 

 

 

 

The Art of Fighting

Special Operations Forces

 

 

 

 

nofficially there was a form of Special Forces, (SF) from the French and Indian war led by a Major Robert Rogers. His group was known by the name Rogers Rangers. Rogers' him self and at the time of his   group was fighting for the Crown of England. After that he turned aginst the crown in the War of Independance. It wasn't till World War One till we saw the use of trained men to conduct special missions. In World War Two there was a variety of groups. The Devil's Brigade was a US/ Canadian Special Assault team trained in Mountain/ cold weather frighting. There was also the American 10th Mountain Division out of Watertown , NY. There was also Darby's Rangers, Merrill's Marauders and the Alamo Scouts. As for the SF as we know them today it wasn't till June 19th, 1952 and the "Father" was a Col. Aaron Bank. I hope this answers your question and intrest you in learning more on the other named groups. They all desserve the title Special Forces.

 

Special Forces from the beginning

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