Editing Special operations (section)

===Australia===
In [[World War II]], following advice from the British, Australia began raising special forces.<ref>Horner 1989, p. 21.</ref> The first units to be formed were [[Australian commandos|independent companies]], which began training at [[Wilson's Promontory]] in Victoria in early 1941 under the tutelage of British instructors. With an establishment of 17 officers and 256 men, the independent companies were trained as "stay behind" forces, a role that they were later employed in against the Japanese in the [[South West Pacific Area]] during 1942–43, most notably fighting a guerrilla campaign in [[Battle of Timor|Timor]], as well as actions in [[New Guinea campaign|New Guinea]].<ref>Horner 1989, pp. 22–6.</ref> In all, a total of eight independent companies were raised before they were reorganized in mid-1943 into [[commando]] squadrons and placed under the command of the divisional cavalry regiments that were re-designated as cavalry commando regiments. As a part of this structure, a total of 11 commando squadrons were raised.

They continued to act independently and were often assigned at the brigade level during the later stages of the war, taking part in the fighting in New Guinea, [[Bougainville campaign|Bougainville]] and [[Borneo Campaign (1945)|Borneo]], where they were employed largely in long-range reconnaissance and flank protection roles.<ref>Horner 1989, p. 26.</ref> In addition to these units, the Australians also raised the [[Z Special Unit]] and [[M Special Unit]]. M Special Unit was largely employed in an intelligence-gathering role, while Z Special Force undertook direct action missions. One of its most notable actions came as part of [[Operation Jaywick]], in which several Japanese ships were sunk in [[Singapore]] Harbour in 1943. A second raid on Singapore in 1944, known as [[Operation Rimau]], was unsuccessful.<ref>Horner 1989, pp. 26–7.</ref>