Underwater Defence (Turkish Armed Forces)
| Underwater Defence Group Command Su Altı Savunma Grup Komutanlığı |
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|---|---|
Logo of SAS
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| Active | 1963–Present |
| Country |
 Turkey
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| Allegiance | Turkish Armed Forces |
| Branch | Turkish Naval Forces |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role |
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| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | S.A.S. |
The Underwater Defence (Turkish: Sualtı Savunma), or SAS, is one of two special operations units of the Turkish Navy, based in the Foça Naval Base near İzmir, on the Aegean coast of Turkey.
The missions of the Su Altı Savunma (SAS) include coastal defence operations, such as clearing mines or unexploded torpedoes, and disabling enemy vessels or weapons with underwater operations; as well as counter-terrorism and VIP protection.
The first S.A.S. and S.A.T. units were established in 1963 in the city of Iskenderun, following a joint training program with the US Navy SEALs from San Diego. The original name of the S.A.S. unit was Su Altı Müdafaa (S.A.M.), while the original name of the S.A.T. unit was Su Altı Komando (S.A.K.), and they were bound to the Kurtarma ve Sualtı Komutanlığı (K.S.K.), or Rescue and Underwater Command. In 1974 the S.A.S. and S.A.T. group commands became bound to the Turkish Navy's General Command, and participated in the Turkish military invasion of Cyprus later that year.
Their main tasks are:
SAS units do not perform assault, counter-terrorism, recon or CQC missions. A real-time duty executed by the SAS has been the clearing of the Girne Beach, Cyprus, prior to the amphibious assault of the Turkish Armed Forces to the island in 1974.
Handguns
Submachine Guns
Assault Rifles
Machine Guns
Sniper Rifles
Rockets & Explosives
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Wikipedia