Based on what you know and have heard, who do you think is the most deadly fighting force in the world today? I'm talking any military Unit, Regiment, Corps or Service, from any country.

Judge it based on teams of equal numbers facing off against each other, not, say, 22 SAS Regt. vs the entire USMC.

In my opinion, it would be the SAS, and not because I'm British, but mainly because they train about 24 other Special Forces over the world, and I've read a lot about their training process and it seems superior to that of many other special forces. Feel free to contradict me though.

P.S. Let's not let this turn into a flame war, please be polite, and back up your arguments with proper evidence.

Internet trolls; if you strike them down they will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine

I'm going with either the Marine's First Recon or the Spetsnaz

US government.
Special training is rarely much good against launch codes.

Jonluw:
US government.
Special training is rarely much good against launch codes.

Chuck Norris can stop missles with his mind. Who needs the navy seals?

I'm going to say SAS. I have absolutely no interest in the special forces or the military, so take my guess with a pinch of salt.

We apparently don't have enough money left for education, healthcare, or stimulus, but we have a shitton of money for warfare.

Depends on what the field of war is. Few can kill more effectively than the US air force and/or Navy, they can even compete with a nuke or three in terms of destruction without too much difficulty.

But, if we're talking about soldier to soldier conflict, I am undecided between the British SAS and Shayetet 13 (the israli counterpart to the SAS) for first place, with an honorable mention for the US Navy Seals and Russian Spetznaz occupying third and fourth place respectively.

theparsonski:
In my opinion, it would be the SAS, and not because I'm British, but mainly because they train about 24 other Special Forces over the world, and I've read a lot about their training process and it seems superior to that of many other special forces. Feel free to contradict me though.

Heronblade:
But, if we're talking about soldier to soldier conflict, I am undecided between the British SAS and Shayetet 13 (the israli counterpart to the SAS) for first place, with an honorable mention for the US Navy Seals and Russian Spetznaz occupying third and fourth place respectively.

Geeze... if you're going to mention the SAS in a sentence concerning how badass a unit is and not mention the SBS, they'll be mighty pissed! SAS selection trials are hard enough as it is, but SBS training adds another month to the base UKSF selection course, the opportunities to drown are endless.

The Afghanis.

They resisted against the Russian and American elite. How about that? Afghanistan is where empires go to die.

I've heard that the Australian forces are pretty bad-ass, but I guess that could be said of any commonwealth country.

As a matter of fact, I don't think it unreasonable to assume that pretty much every developed country has forces of a quite high quality.

Ninja bears.
They're fuckin' everywhere. We just can't see them.

I'd say the Marines, their practically bred for war.

Terminate421:
I'd say the Marines, their practically bred for war.

Well, Space Marines are bred (after a fashion) for war...

And in case you didn't get the joke: whose Marines are you talking about? Virtually every major national armed forces has a Marine branch. I'ma say Royal Marines on your behalf.

SckizoBoy:

Terminate421:
I'd say the Marines, their practically bred for war.

Well, Space Marines are bred (after a fashion) for war...

And in case you didn't get the joke: whose Marines are you talking about? Virtually every major national armed forces has a Marine branch. I'ma say Royal Marines on your behalf.

Well if we're doing the Space marines than the Spartans from Halo are the greatest. They're pretty much the definition if ass-kicking soldiers.

I blame the fact that I don't like the look or the concept of warhammer 40k. War isn't glorious, it must have an end. Halo has an end.

Terminate421:
Well if we're doing the Space marines than the Spartans from Halo are the greatest. They're pretty much the definition if ass-kicking soldiers.

I blame the fact that I don't like the look or the concept of warhammer 40k. War isn't glorious, it must have an end. Halo has an end.

A couple things... the first bit, yeah, they are the definition of 'ass-kicking soldiers' while Spehss Muhreens look rather cumbersome and look more like the definition of 'ass-dragging soldiers'. However, their fluff makes them ridiculous, power-level-wise (and I'm not a Halo fan, so I'm in no position to judge whether or not they're better). 'sides, I'm an Eldar player, so I go with 'Quins any day, despite the fact they're not soldiers.

And hey, GW can't have its cash-cow dying out can it?! -_- The war must go on! *grrr*

SckizoBoy:

Terminate421:
Well if we're doing the Space marines than the Spartans from Halo are the greatest. They're pretty much the definition if ass-kicking soldiers.

I blame the fact that I don't like the look or the concept of warhammer 40k. War isn't glorious, it must have an end. Halo has an end.

A couple things... the first bit, yeah, they are the definition of 'ass-kicking soldiers' while Spehss Muhreens look rather cumbersome and look more like the definition of 'ass-dragging soldiers'. However, their fluff makes them ridiculous, power-level-wise (and I'm not a Halo fan, so I'm in no position to judge whether or not they're better). 'sides, I'm an Eldar player, so I go with 'Quins any day, despite the fact they're not soldiers.

And hey, GW can't have its cash-cow dying out can it?! -_- The war must go on! *grrr*

Wow, agreement with someone about that.

I think thats the one thing that also pulls me wrong about Warhammer 40k, the power armor is just too over the top. The helmets can look cool at times but outside of that, its supposed to be armor, not a fucking car.

Even with Gears of war, it looks like their armor is used to protect them rather than make them look tougher.

Fictional wise, I'd say the Spartans from Halo are the greatest soldiers

But real world, I'll go with the Marines. The SEALS, Spetsnaz, SAS, are all tough but from what I can gather, the Marines go all the way and then some.

I probably wouldve given it to Israel for the fact they train their soliders from children and they have a VERY large military due to this.. its not someone id want to be messing with anytime soon.

ElPatron:
The Afghanis.

They resisted against the Russian and American elite. How about that? Afghanistan is where empires go to die.

Except their victory against the Russians was because the Americans secretly pumped millions into training and supplying them. Kind of funny to think we trained the people who ended up founding Al-Qaeda.

A better version of that end sentence is Guerrilla Warfare is where Empires go to die.

Anyways on topic I do believe the SAS are pretty boss, I mean they do train America's Seals. Other than that my other choices would be Israel (Krav Migah!), the Russian Special Forces (Spetnaz? I forget), or Delta Force.

I am going with an air force. Any will do. Even in small numbers. Say it's ten on ten 2 people manning any sufficiently armed aircraft. The rest as support crew (air control, maintenance, all on the ground kilometers away). With the exclusion of the navy there is basically no group of infantry units set to handle that right?

How about the Spartans (the real ones from Sparta) if you are going to get historical.

Mossad. How can you fight when YOU'RE ALREADY DEAD?

Guy Kazama is at super hero rank, so it's probably him.

From what I've gathered the Canadian special forces are pretty hardcore. If there's a top 10 list of special forces and the Canadians are in it at all, they're at the top. Otherwise SAS and the Israeli special forces generally win.

It's the stories we've never heard of. Shadow men who leave no trace. We've no idea really who is the best, and if you do find out. You won't be alive for long.

The shit eaters rank high, but FORECON has the toughest training on the planet. Plus their not as insane.

Check it:

While I would feel bad if the SASR didn't get a mention, special forces are pansies. Gurkha FTW. Big guy with a scowl and a small knife vs small guy with a smile and a fucking huge knife. Put your money on the Gurkha every time.

Terminate421:

Fictional wise, I'd say the Spartans from Halo are the greatest soldiers

Fictional wise, Spartans can't hold a candle, because fiction covers a lot of stuff. Stuff filled with better equipped, trained, and bred soldiers. Like... Spaes Mureenz (yep).

Relevant to Earth, I'd say the SAS. They train many other special forces. That says something.

While SAS, Delta Force, Navy Seals, and Spetsnaz are all worth a strong mention, I think Red Cell is probably the most effective.

US Air and Naval forces.

There is literally not a single air or naval force on the planet that poses a threat to the US Air Force(s) and Navy. Not even our allies. And when you can't control the sky or the water, your ground forces don't mean squat.

Though, when it comes to ground forces, its a monkey shit fight really.

Mossad. Maybe SAS too.

Terminate421:

SckizoBoy:

Terminate421:
I'd say the Marines, their practically bred for war.

Well, Space Marines are bred (after a fashion) for war...

And in case you didn't get the joke: whose Marines are you talking about? Virtually every major national armed forces has a Marine branch. I'ma say Royal Marines on your behalf.

Well if we're doing the Space marines than the Spartans from Halo are the greatest. They're pretty much the definition if ass-kicking soldiers.

I blame the fact that I don't like the look or the concept of warhammer 40k. War isn't glorious, it must have an end. Halo has an end.

Where the fuck have you been? Halo 4 is coming out this year. That shit'll never end as long as fanboys will buy the adventures of Master Chief and his aesthetically schizophrenic sidetits.

Kahunaburger:
a shitton of money for warfare.

It's all modernized too. That'd be a pretty cool game about warfare in the modern era.