The Australian SAS: The Untold History

Indonesian aggression against Malaysia during Konfrontasi in 1965 leads to the first SAS action in Borneo. This is a tough, sharp test for the new SAS. But the Vietnam War eclipses Borneo.

In Vietnam, the SASR attacks the Viet Cong infrastructure, and plays the savage Viet Cong at their own game--terror and demoralising the jungle enemy. But after Tet, anti-war Western politics frustrate the SASR.

After Vietnam the SAS has few friends in high places, and within the 'Fortress Australia' defence policy, extinction looms. But it wins a reprieve by introducing unconventional warfare training and long-range patrolling of Australia's vast northern coastline.