1 (Special OP) Squadron
Covert surveillance and reconnaissance patrol squadron of the Honourable Artillery Company
| 1 (Special OP) Squadron
| |
|---|---|
| Type | Army Reserve surveillance and reconnaissance patrol squadron |
| Headquarters | Finsbury Barracks, City Road, London |
| Remarks | Sub-unit of the Honourable Artillery Company; also called 1 (Special Operations) Squadron |
1 (Special OP) Squadron is the surveillance and reconnaissance patrol squadron of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), an Army Reserve regiment based at Finsbury Barracks in London. The HAC says the squadron "delivers a Surveillance and Reconnaissance (SR) Patrols capability. Working in small and often isolated teams, the role of SR Patrols is to conduct high-risk static covert surveillance in order to deliver joint effects at range."[1] The British Army calls it "1 (Special Operations) Squadron".[2]
Origins
The HAC describes the SR Patrols as "the direct successor to the OP parties created in 1973 for employment in BAOR".[1] Its history page says that 1 (Special OP) Squadron is "the direct successor to the OP squadrons established in 1973" and "now delivers a high-risk covert surveillance patrol capability".[3] The same page says that in 1973 the regiment "was re-organised as four patrol squadrons, fielding two operational squadrons for the British Army of the Rhine and two home-defence squadrons". In 1985 they were "reduced to three Patrol Squadrons", all assigned to "the delivery of Special OPs". Under the Army 2020 reorganisation "the Special Observer capability was consolidated into a single Squadron (1 Sqn)".[3]
Role
The British Army describes the patrol soldier's role:
- On successful completion of the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Patrol Course (Reserve), you will achieve the Special Observer Qualification and can begin your career as an STA patrol soldier within 1 (Special Operations) Squadron. In this role, you will conduct covert surveillance from observation posts or by emplacing remote sensors. STA patrols typically operate in high-risk areas, often at range and well beyond conventional forces. Deploying in small teams, your role is to find high value targets and provide intelligence on them, as well as delivering a deep strike capability by directing artillery or air-delivered weapons.[2]
The Army lists the skillset as including "covert observation and reporting; close target reconnaissance; long range secure communications; photography and technical surveillance… land survival, evasion, resistance to interrogation and escape skills; and human terrain reconnaissance".[2]
Selection
Service in the patrols "requires successful completion of the SR Patrol Course, which selects and trains soldiers for the substantial mental and physical challenges of the role" (HAC).[1] In its Spring 2026 review of the regiment's year, the Journal of the Royal Artillery reported "the most successful SRPC (Special Recce Patrol Course) (R) recorded with 50 starting and 6 soldiers successfully completing the course".[4] The Army says that completing the course gives the "Special Observer Qualification".[2]
Operations
The Journal of the Royal Artillery reports that "1 (Special OP) Squadron contributed four soldiers to Op ELGIN 15 in Kosovo, conducting heli recces, mapping tasks and partner-force integration".[4]
Chain of command
The squadron's parent regiment, the Honourable Artillery Company, says on its own website that, as of 2019, it was "Assigned to the 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade". Its regiment page still says it is "part of the Army's 77 Brigade". Army FOI replies of June and September 2026 list it as a unit of the Land Special Operations Force.[3][5][6][7] The September 2026 reply also lists "4/73 Battery Royal Artillery" in LSOF. The HAC says one of its soldiers was "serving with 4/73 (Special OP) Battery in Afghanistan" when he was killed in 2007.[7][3] The Army withheld the sub-unit composition of LSOF units under section 26(1)(b) (Defence) of the Freedom of Information Act.[7]
See also
- Honourable Artillery Company
- Land Special Operations Force
- Army Special Operations Brigade
- 4/73 Battery Royal Artillery
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Honourable Artillery Company, Soldiering hac.org.uk, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 British Army, Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) army.mod.uk, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Honourable Artillery Company, 1947 – Present hac.org.uk, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Journal of the Royal Artillery, "The Honourable Artillery Company", Spring 2026, pp. 21–22, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ Honourable Artillery Company, The Regiment hac.org.uk, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ Army Policy and Secretariat, LSOF and former 77 Brigade Freedom of Information response ArmySec/FOI2026/10971, 23 June 2026, via WhatDoTheyKnow, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Army Policy and Secretariat, Land Special Operations Force organisation, nomenclature and formation insignia Freedom of Information response Army/PolSec/FOI2026/17115, 16 September 2026, via WhatDoTheyKnow, accessed 1 November 2026.