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I dont think I've written a book review since I was 10 and had to write a review about James and the Giant Peach, but this time I wanted to share with you all the latest book that I've just finished reading:
I won't go into detail about the book, but it's very well researched, and well written and very informative. Very enlightening the way that the Accession to the throne of His Majesty is described in the opening chapters of the book. And as for the battle at the end in Mirbat, I could not put the book down it was so interesting to me.
Click this Amazon link for more details (don't worry it's not a referral thing!).
Well worth the tenner it currently costs.
The blurb says:
In early 1970, the Commanding Officer of 22 SAS flew into the strategically critical Sultanate of Oman on a covert intelligence mission. A Communist rebellion in the south threatened not only the stability of the Arabian Peninsula but more importantly the vital oil routes through the Persian Gulf.
Within six months, the Regiment arrived in theatre to lead a fierce, secret war against the rebels.
From a remote RAF airbase in the desert, an elite band of British pilots, flying difficult, dangerous missions in Strikemaster jets and Vietnam-era Huey helicopters, were scrambled alongside them.
For the British soldiers and airmen, it was to be no easy victory. The enemy were well supplied with weaponry and training from China and the Soviet Union, and despite confronting the largest assault force ever deployed by the SAS, many months later the rebels were still fighting back.
At dawn on 19 July, 1972, a force of nearly 300 heavily armed, well-trained guerillas attacked the little fishing port of Mirbat without warning. Between them and glory stood a team of just nine SAS men, and the skill of the British fighter pilots. The scene was set for an epic encounter; a modern-day Rorke's Drift. Their heroism would become SAS legend.
Drawing on extensive interviews with participants from the SAS, the RAF and the Sultan's Armed Forces, most of whom have never spoken about their involvement before, as well as previously classified documents from both the UK and Oman, Storm Front weaves an unputdownable tale of intrigue, action, daring and astonishing bravery in the face of overwhelming odds.
I highly recomend reading it.
le fin.
I won't go into detail about the book, but it's very well researched, and well written and very informative. Very enlightening the way that the Accession to the throne of His Majesty is described in the opening chapters of the book. And as for the battle at the end in Mirbat, I could not put the book down it was so interesting to me.
Click this Amazon link for more details (don't worry it's not a referral thing!).
Well worth the tenner it currently costs.
The blurb says:
In early 1970, the Commanding Officer of 22 SAS flew into the strategically critical Sultanate of Oman on a covert intelligence mission. A Communist rebellion in the south threatened not only the stability of the Arabian Peninsula but more importantly the vital oil routes through the Persian Gulf.
Within six months, the Regiment arrived in theatre to lead a fierce, secret war against the rebels.
From a remote RAF airbase in the desert, an elite band of British pilots, flying difficult, dangerous missions in Strikemaster jets and Vietnam-era Huey helicopters, were scrambled alongside them.
For the British soldiers and airmen, it was to be no easy victory. The enemy were well supplied with weaponry and training from China and the Soviet Union, and despite confronting the largest assault force ever deployed by the SAS, many months later the rebels were still fighting back.
At dawn on 19 July, 1972, a force of nearly 300 heavily armed, well-trained guerillas attacked the little fishing port of Mirbat without warning. Between them and glory stood a team of just nine SAS men, and the skill of the British fighter pilots. The scene was set for an epic encounter; a modern-day Rorke's Drift. Their heroism would become SAS legend.
Drawing on extensive interviews with participants from the SAS, the RAF and the Sultan's Armed Forces, most of whom have never spoken about their involvement before, as well as previously classified documents from both the UK and Oman, Storm Front weaves an unputdownable tale of intrigue, action, daring and astonishing bravery in the face of overwhelming odds.
I highly recomend reading it.
le fin.
Book review: Storm Front
Reviewed by Sythe
on
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Rating:
Reviewed by Sythe
on
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Rating:
Wish they make a movie out of it ! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteAre you back from Canada?
Colonel Tony Jeapes wrote an excellent account in his `SAS Operation Oman` published in 1980 when the war was still fresh in everyone`s minds.
ReplyDeleteAnne,
ReplyDeleteTony Jeapes' book, which I agree is an outstanding account and includes many relevant lessons for dealing with insurgencies today, was also published as "SAS Secret War".
It's worth noting that the SAS have never claimed to have done most of the fighting themselves - the key to their success was persuading rebels to change sides, village by village, creating the "firqa " units which still exist today, and making them the basis for local defence once villages became loyal to the government. A model of how to win 'hearts and minds'.
I don't remember the RAF featuring that prominently in the Jeapes book - perhaps this new book redresses the balance somewhat. However I wouldn't be surprised if it contains the usual grossly exaggerated claims about the effectiveness of air power.
I look forward to reading it and hope to be proven wrong.
WM
Thank you. I will add this to my collection!
ReplyDeleteAll i can say is remeber Mirbat, the BAT house, and some great Fijians.
ReplyDeleteHi, did you buy it in Muscat? And if so, where? Thanks
ReplyDeleteah dammit its not available for US kindle users..what the hell!
ReplyDeleteI borrowed the book from a friend but I understand he bought it from a bookshop at an airport, whether that was in the GCC or europe I'm not sure.
ReplyDeleteSAS Secret war is also a good read, I read that one years ago.