Special Service Unit No. 1
Encyclopedia
The Special Services Unit No. 1 was a short lived special forces
unit during World War II
. Formed in July 1943, they undertook reconnaissance
for intelligence about proposed landing sites. Initially based at Cairns, Australia formed of both American and Australian personnel, they trained and undertook courses in martial arts, hand to hand combat, map making, rubber craft operation, jungle survival training, pidgin English, and underwater coral formations and sea creatures recognition. In August 1943 they moved to Fergusson Island
, New Guinea
and later in November 1943 the unit was relocated to Milne Bay
, with many men being redeployed to other units. In December 1943, the remaining officers and men of unit returned to their respective services.
Missions were undertaken at Finschhafen
, Arawe
, Gasmata
and Cape Gloucester
.
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
unit during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Formed in July 1943, they undertook reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
for intelligence about proposed landing sites. Initially based at Cairns, Australia formed of both American and Australian personnel, they trained and undertook courses in martial arts, hand to hand combat, map making, rubber craft operation, jungle survival training, pidgin English, and underwater coral formations and sea creatures recognition. In August 1943 they moved to Fergusson Island
Fergusson Island
Fergusson Island is the largest island of the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, in Papua New Guinea. It has an area of just over 500 square miles , and mostly consists of mountainous regions, covered by rain forests...
, New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
and later in November 1943 the unit was relocated to Milne Bay
Milne Bay
Milne Bay is a large bay in Milne Bay Province, southeastern Papua New Guinea. The bay is named after Sir Alexander Milne.The area was a site of the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942....
, with many men being redeployed to other units. In December 1943, the remaining officers and men of unit returned to their respective services.
Missions were undertaken at Finschhafen
Finschhafen
Finschhafen is a district on the northeast coast of the Morobe province of Papua New Guinea. It is named after the port of the same name.The port was discovered in 1884 by the German researcher Otto Finsch. In 1885 the German colony of German New Guinea created a town on the site and named it...
, Arawe
Arawe
Arawe is located on the south coast of New Britain about from Cape Gloucester. A small harbour known as Arawe harbour provides an anchorage....
, Gasmata
Gasmata
Gasmata is a village on the southern coast of New Britain, Papua New Guinea located at 6° 16' 60S 150° 19' 60E. It is serviced by Gasmata Airport.The Imperial Japanese occupied the village between 8–9 February 1942 during World War II...
and Cape Gloucester
Cape Gloucester
Cape Gloucester is a headland, in the northwest of the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea, at . During World War II, the Japanese captured New Britain, and had driven most of Cape Gloucester's native population out to construct two airfields...
.