WI SAS never formed.

[TheDarkMessiah]

I'm thinking about attemping a timeline, but first off I want a few ideas and help and such.

I can think of a suitable POD, which is Stirling (the man who first had the vision of the SAS) never injured himself when he tried his first parachute jump, resulting in him not having alot of free time in hospital to come up with the idea, which then results in him eventually leaving the army and leading a more or less meaningless life.

What sort of affects do you think the loss of the regiment would have, initially in the 2nd World War, and later on in other conflicts.

[Shurik]

I wonder if the Commando's wouldn't have ended up filling the same role? Also, the Americans had their own quasi-version going with the Navy Frogmen. I'd imagine the gap would have simply been filled with the same idea from a different military. If you had specific reference to the effects on the British Military, I don't have an answer for that one.

[ljofa]

No special forces? Ain't going to happen.

[TheDarkMessiah]

I think that the special forces outfit would end up being very different whatever it is, without some of the eh.. 'colourful' personalities involved in the SAS at the start. Maybe it would result in a different force being made at a later date, who would probably be much less effective [/SAS fanboy]

[Shurik]

Originally Posted by TheDarkServant

I think that the special forces outfit would end up being very different whatever it is, without some of the eh.. 'colourful' personalities involved in the SAS at the start. Maybe it would result in a different force being made at a later date, who would probably be much less effective [/SAS fanboy]

Well that explains it.

[Kome]

i bet someone else would think of it or something like it.

[David S Poepoe]

Originally Posted by ljofa

No special forces? Ain't going to happen.

They are developed and deployed, but known as 'Better than Average Forces'.

[Riain]

I think thew USMC raider battalions are broadly similar in concept to the SAS in their early operations. Their raid on Makin Island is broadly similar to SAS actions as well.

[Matthais Corvinus]

The same kind of characters will probably still arise in this ATL. The kind of work and skill sets that these units did isn't something that can be easily replicated, so I would think that those who originally participated would have participated in any similar ATL program.

[backstab]

Long Range Recce would be done by the Para's and Counter terrorism by the Police

[The Dean]

At the time Stirling started the SAS there were a raft of irregular units in the British army, Popski's private army to name but one. If Stirling had not done it Paddy Mayne and the other firebrands would have found somewhere else to vent their spleen on the enemy. There would have been something like the SAS if they had not been formed. Remember Churchill's exhortation to attack the enemy in every possible manner. Long range recce was already being carried out by the LRDG.

[Wanderlust]

I've always had a soft spot for the Popskis Could they perhaps exist to the modern day in some form, or are they just too irregular?

[Landshark]

Given that members of the Army Dental Corps were in the habit of launching two man invasions of Occupied Europe out of boredom and a desire to have a crack at the huns I think we can safely say that the armed forces of Britain and its Empire contain more than enough mad men to come up with the idea of the SAS.

Also, IIRC, the SAS existed prior to Stirling's proposal as a deception operation. The idea being to fool the Germans and Italians into thinking that Britain had a large airbourne army in its order of battle in North Africa. When Stirling suggested his raiding force someone at GHQ had the idea of making calling it L Detachment SAS to add some depth to the deception.

Initially the SAS worked in tandem with the Long Range Desert Group and eventually absorbed the LRDG as both foces were undertaking much the same mission.