Special Air Service REGIMENT Challenge Coin that depicts a helmeted VIKING Warrior with the term "STRANDHOGG"

This is a VERY SCARCE (quite recent issue) challenge coin

The ONLY EXAMPLE that I have ever owned or offered for sale

I have seen a couple for sale on the WWW over the last 2 years that were "serial numbered" (IE I 34 or I 36) & another, like mine that was devoid of such letter/number code

The sellers of those coins seemed unfamiliar with exactly what UKSAS (Or Aussie SASR?) unit had issued them, & they were variously described as being.....

"British Royal Navy Boat Team 22 SAS Special Air Service Strandhogg Serialized Challenge Coin"

OR = "UK Special Air Service Strandhögg SAS SASR SBS Direct Special Services TIER1 SMU"

I have seen genuine SASR regimental "hoodies" with the Viking & Strandhögg logo device printed on the back, but on inquiry to a friend & former SASR operator, as to what this WAS? I received no reply, so did not push-my-luck

So I must ASSUME that this is some form of HIGHLY SECRET S.A.S. activity POSSIBLY a shared training or operation UKSAS (SBS?) & SASR. The badge IS the Oz SASR

Strandhögg in old Norse was a Viking tactic consisting of a coastal raid with the intention of capturing livestock & indigenous peoples for the slave trade. This tactic was enhanced by Viking longships' shallow draft

The Vikings had already developed spy networks from their many commercial encounters with vicus. These spies informed them of the local customs, the dates of religious feasts, helped with translation & indicated places to plunder & personalities to be removed & held for ransom.

It happened that Vikings made these raids against their own countrymen as well

Harald I, known as Harald Fairhair, prohibited strandhögg on the Norwegian territory.

The term remains in use in Iceland. With the rise of neoliberal, free-market ideology in the country in the 1990s, it came to be used of hostile takeovers and other aggressive business practices by Icelandic businessmen