Who are the world's best soldiers? Since the Iranian Embassy siege in 1980, the Falklands and the 1991 Gulf War, the British SAS have often been described as the greatest experts in Special Operations.

What are the secrets of their success, and how does anyone pass their arduous training programme? This reference book investigates the skills, weapons and tactics of the world's elite military units. From the SAS - Australian and New Zealand as well as British - to the special Boat Squadron, the US Special Forces, US navy SEALs, Delta Force, Germany's GSG9 and the new commando forces created from the Spetnaz units of the former Soviet army. The book includes information on the latest equipment to enter the service - from sniper rifles and silenced pistols to burst-transmission radios, satellite navigation aids, low opening parachutes and mini-submarines.