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248 SPACE, SPY SHIPS AND SCANDALS
context of a global war, intelligence was deemed to be the
predominant task of SAS-type units. The only sabotage-type
activities that were considered important were efforts to destroy
enemy nuclear weapons or missile sites. 8 This emphasis on intelligence
reflected a growing anxiety that Warsaw Pact forces
might move too fast to allow sigint or air reconnaissance to
provide effective targeting intelligence for NATO artillery, and
eventually tactical nuclear strikes. Everyone knew that NATO
commanders would press for early deployment of nuclear
weapons, for fear that Warsaw Pact units would deliberately
move close to their opponents, making the use of tactical nuclear
weapons increasingly difficult. 9
In the 1960s the British Army on the Rhine developed a
secret new force for this important intelligence role. This
involved adding a Special Reconnaissance Squadron from the
Royal Armoured Corps to strengthen 23 SAS Regiment. During
an initial alert, the Special Reconnaissance Squadron was
expected to hold the fort until the arrival of 23 SAS, which
would be flown in from Britain. These units were on short
readiness times: their unofficial motto was 'Wait and Fly - Dig
and Die'.lD After the arrival of 23 SAS the two formations were
to operate as a single unit, giving priority to sightings of 'nuclear
units, formation HQs, armour, and bridging and ferrying equipment'.
Their main task would be to provide the target intelligence
for battlefield missile systems and heavy artillery.
These special units were based at Padeborn in central
Germany, and were equipped with high-frequency Morse to
provide long range and, hopefully, continued communications.
The expected onrush of Warsaw Pact tanks meant there was
no need for them to practise skills to penetrate the enemy front
line. Instead, the drill was to move forward quickly, by any
available soft transport, such as three-ton trucks. Special forces
would eventually meet the units tasked as the delaying force,
and as these elements withdrew, the special forces would stay
behind. Preparations for such operations had become quite elaborate
by the late 1960s, with pre-identified hides offering good