The SAS had taken part in counter-insurgency operations abroad since 1945 , and had trained the bodyguards of influential people whose deaths would be contrary to British interests . Thus , it was believed to be better prepared for the role than any unit in the police or elsewhere in the armed forces . The CRW Wing 's first operational experience was the storming of Lufthansa Flight 181 in 1977 , when a small detachment of soldiers were sent to assist GSG 9 , the elite West German police unit set up after the events of 1972
Lufthansa Flight 181
Lufthansa Flight 181
Iranian Embassy siege