The following is a list of known Special Air Service (SAS) operations.
Second World War Operations
The Special Air Service began life in July 1941, the brainchild of Lieutenant David Stirling of No. 8 (Guards) Commando. His idea was for small teams of parachute trained soldiers to operate behind enemy lines to gain intelligence, destroy enemy aircraft and attack their supply and reinforcement routes. The SAS carried out this role until the end of the war serving in a number of theatres and campaigns.
By the end of the Second World War on 8 May 1945, the SAS had suffered 330 casualties, but had killed or wounded 7,733 and captured 23,000 of their enemies.
North Africa
Operation Squatter, 16/17 November 1941, unsuccessful raid on forward Axis airfields in North Africa, in support of Operation Crusader Operation Green Room Operation Bigamy, September 1942, diversionary raid on the Port of Benghazi in support of Operation Agreement 13/14 September 1942 Operation Palmyra
Mediterranean
Operation Albumen, 7/8 June 1942, 4/5 July 1943, raids on Axis airfields in Crete. Operation Chestnut, July 1943, raids supporting the Allied invasion of Sicily Operation Narcissus, July 1943, capture of lighthouse in Sicily. Operation Avalanche, Allied invasion of Italy. Begonia/Jonquil, October 1943, rescue of POWs in Italy. Operation Candytuft, October 1943, raid on railway targets in Italy. Operation Maple Driftwood 1944, raid on railway targets in Italy. Operation Baobab, January 1944, raid on rail targets serving Anzio, Italy. Operation Galia, December 1944 – February 1945, 34 men from 3 Squadron, 2 SAS parachuted into northern Italy, conducted operations alongside local resistance fighters.
Northwest Europe
The below operations were overseen by the brigade formation known as Special Air Service Troops: Operations in support of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of German-occupied France: Operation Titanic, 6 June 1944. Operation Nelson, June 1944, operation in the Orleans Gap. Operation Samwest, 6 June 1944, 4th SAS Battalion (Free French) dropped in Côtes-du-Nord (Brittany) to hinder German troop movements Operation Grog /Grog, 4 SAS in conjunction with Operations Dingson and Samwest 5 June 1944. Operation Dingson, 6 June 1944, 4th SAS Battalion (Free French) dropped to Morbihan (Brittany). Operation Bulbasket, 1st SAS mission, although partly successful operation 6 June 1944. Operation Cooney, 8 June 1944, 18 teams of the 4th SAS Battalion (58 Free French) dropped to Brittany to break communications ways. Operation Houndsworth, June 1944. Operation Lost, 23 June – July 1944, British and Free French operation in Brittany. Operation Swan II, 1944. Operation Gain, 1944 (originally issued as Operation Cain but corrupted in transmission and the latter adopted). Operation Defoe, July 1944, patrols in Normandy. Operation Barker, 1944, (originally issued as Operation Barkers as it is named for a famous London department store, but subsequently truncated). Operation Derry, 5/18 August 1944. Operation Hardy I, 27 July to 19 August 1944, Raids near Dijon, France. Amalgamated into Operation Wallace. Operation Wallace, 19 August to 19 September 1944, Raids near Dijon, France. Operation Gaff, July 1944, attempt to kill or capture Erwin Rommel. Operation Dunhill, August 1944, raid in support of the breakout of American forces from the Normandy beachhead. Operation Loyton, August 1944, operations near the Belfort Gap. Operation Pistol, September 1944, operations to blow railways south of Metz and east of Dieuze. Operation Moses, September 1944, Take over from the ‘Bulbasket’ mission and aid the local French resistance forces. Operation Haggard, (part of a series of randomly allocated cryptonyms derived from famous writers). Operation Newton, August 1944, attacks on German rear areas. Operation Noah II 16 August/13 September 1944, attack on retreating Germans in Belgium. Operation Canuck, January 1945 operation in Northern Italy. Operation Cold Comfort, February 1945 failed SAS raid on railway targets near Verona. Operation Brake, (part of a series of operations named after parts of aircraft). Operation Tombola, March 1945, major operation around Bologna. Operation Archway, March 1945, reconnaissance in support of the crossing of the Rhine. Operation Amherst, In the night of 7 April 1945, more than 700 Free French SAS of the 3rd and 4th SAS were dropped in the Netherlands between Hoogeveen and Groningen. Operation Keystone, April 1945, operation near IJsselmeer. Operation Howard, April–May 1945, B and C Squadrons of 1 SAS, provided reconnaissance ahead of the Canadian 4th Armoured Division's drive towards northern Germany.