Special and elite forces Books
Helion & Company Mau Mau: The Kenyan Emergency 1952-60
Book Synopsis
£16.10
Casemate Publishers Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War
Book SynopsisIt is a little-known fact that during the Cold War, two U.S. Army Special Forces detachments were stationed far behind the Iron Curtain in West Berlin. The existence and missions of the two detachments were highly classified secrets.The massive armies of the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies posed a huge threat to the nations of Western Europe. US military planners decided they needed a plan to slow the juggernaut they expected when and if a war began. The plan was Special Forces Berlin. The first 40 men who came to Berlin in mid-1956 were soon reinforced by 60 more and these 100 soldiers (and their successors) would stand ready to go to war at only two hours’ notice, in a hostile area occupied by nearly one million Warsaw Pact forces, until 1990.Their mission should hostilities commence was to wreak havoc behind enemy lines, and buy time for vastly outnumbered NATO forces to conduct a breakout from the city. In reality it was an ambitious and extremely dangerous mission, even suicidal. Highly trained and fluent in German, each man was allocated a specific area. They were skilled in clandestine operations, sabotage, intelligence tradecraft and able to act if necessary as independent operators, blending into the local population and working unseen in a city awash with spies looking for information on their every move.Special Forces Berlin was a one of a kind unit that had no parallel. It left a legacy of a new type of soldier expert in unconventional warfare, one that was sought after for other deployments including the attempted rescue of American hostages from Tehran in 1979. With the U.S. government officially acknowledging their existence in 2014, their incredible story can now be told.Trade ReviewThe reader learns not only the history, but also the individual soldier’s motivations and way of thinking. The work leaves nothing to be desired and closes gaps in the history of the Cold War…I recommend this book highly. * Colonel Friedrich Jeschonnek (German Army Retired), Editor, Hardthöhenkurier *The Cold War in Europe is an often overlooked part of American military history because it stayed cold. But as this book shows, for the men serving on the front lines next to the Iron Curtain, conflict was always a real possibility that could happen at any time. Their sacrifice and service helped ensure the eventual collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the peaceful reunification of Germany. * New York Journal of Books *More akin to a spy thriller...Truly a fascinating time, which this intriguing book examines from an entirely fresh perspective. * History of War Magazine *A fascinating look inside special ops in the Cold War period. * The Armourer *This study is rewarding for anyone interested in the Cold War, Special Forces, or Berlin. In fact, this is a considerable achievement, a contribution to history that gives the reader a micro-view of the realities of military life. * Dr Jonathan House, Professor Emeritus at USACGSC *This book is excellent and it is well written. One characteristic the Directorate of Operations and the Directorate of Intelligence at CIA had in common: understandable diction. Every sentence and every word is understandable. * International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence *Special Forces Berlin is a must-read for military historians and should be mandatory reading for future generations of professional military leaders. In addition to adding to the body of knowledge of the Cold War years, the author—himself a former Green Beret—has lifted the veil of secrecy surrounding an elite Special Forces organization. * Association of the United States Army *I strongly recommend this book...this is one of the best examples of applied unconventional warfare in special operations history. * Small Wars Journal.com *Reads like a thriller for much of the time - a small, select force ready for action should the Soviets escalate their activities in Western Europe - nothing much has changed in the last sixty years or so! * Books Monthly *
£21.25
Fonthill Media Ltd SAS in Italy 1943-1945: Raiders in Enemy
Book SynopsisThis is the story of Britain’s elite special force in Italy during the Second World War. In the summer of 1943 the SAS came out of Africa to carry the fight to the Germans and Fascists in Sicily and the mainland. On the Italian Armistice and Surrender in September 1943 the originator of the SAS, Scots Guards lieutenant David Stirling, was a prisoner at the high-security prisoner of war camp five at Gavi in Piedmont, north-western Italy, after being captured in January in Tunisia. He eventually ended up as a prisoner at Colditz Castle in Germany, but his work continued. The idea of small groups of parachute-trained soldiers operating behind enemy lines to gain intelligence, destroy enemy aircraft, and attack their supply and reinforcement routes, was realised in the many daring missions carried out in Italy by the men of 2nd SAS Regiment and the Special Raiding Squadron. The famous SAS motto of `Who dares wins,’ was swiftly translated into the Italian `Chi osa vince.’ This book reveals how words were turned into deeds.Table of ContentsSong of the 2nd SAS Regiment; Introduction; 1 David Stirling; 2 `Tanky’ Challenor; 3 Island Raids; 4 `Paddy’ Mayne; 5 The Capture of Sicily; 6 Roy Farran; 7 The Invasion of the Mainland; 8 Operation Speedwell One; 9 Operation Speedwell Two; 10 The Missing Men; 11 Jeep and Sabotage Operations; 12 Rescuing POWs; 13 Amphibious Operations; 14 Support for the Anzio Landings; 15 Operation Pomegranate; 16 The Return of 2nd SAS; 17 Operation Galia; 18 Attacking Enemy Communications; 19 The Germans Strike Back; 20 Operation Tombola; 21 Attack on the Corps HQ; 22 Victory in Italy.
£17.00
Quercus Publishing SAS Shadow Raiders: The Ultra-Secret Mission that
Book SynopsisThe incredible story of the radar wars - Britain's most secret battleIn the winter of 1941 an alien-seeming object was captured in a death-defying dash by an RAF reconnaissance pilot flying a lone unarmed Spitfire across the French coast. Balanced upon the cliffs near Le Havre was what appeared to be a giant convex dish, directed across the Channel at the war-torn British coastline.With Britain's cities being pounded by fearsome bombing raids, teams of experts studied the photograph worriedly. Might the dish constitute a highly-secret form of radar - one that had the capacity to tip the balance of the war decisively in the enemy's favour? If so, Nazi Germany would have leapfrogged British technology many-fold.A top-secret mission was devised to steal what had become known as the 'Wurzburg Dish,' after Enigma intercepts of coded German messages. Appropriately christened Operation Biting, this was to be the first-ever Allied raid using airborne forces. Commanded by legendary Major John 'Johnny' Frost, he demanded blind loyalty from his band of piratical raiders. 'A wild crew ... they looked horrible,' he admitted. Each and every rehearsal had proved disastrous; it was a suicide mission in all but name.On the French coast agents of the Special Operations Executive - Churchill's shadowy ministry for ungentlemanly warfare - risked all to map the target's defences. At the eleventh hour, two unwelcome additions joined Frosts's crew. One, was a shadowy German cloaked in mystery; the other a British radar specialist who could not be allowed to fall into enemy hands. Relying on files declassified for the purposes of writing this book, eyewitness testimony,and working with the families of key figures involved, Lewis reveals an untold epic of daring, ruthless rule-breaking and ferocity, coupled with bravery and ingenuity beyond measure. The results of Operation Biting would resonate throughout the war and beyond,changing the course of twentieth-century history.
£10.44
Pen & Sword Books Ltd I Had a Row With a German
Book SynopsisThis graphic first-hand account of one pilot's part in the Battle of Britain was written in 1941.
£18.00
John Murray Press The 0.1 Academy
Book SynopsisWinning once is often achievable. Winning again and again, is where true greatness lies.Join The 0.1% Academy to learn how to maintain an elite mindset to consistently deliver a high performance and avoid burnout.Performance facilitator and elite mindset coach Gareth Timmins was one of only 0.1% of Royal Marines Commando applicants to reach the end of the intensive and gruelling training, and to earn the coveted Green Beret, a world-renowned symbol of excellence.By drawing on his life experiences after reaching this elite status, his subsequent research into psychological theory and observations from elite athletes, Timmins aims to break the commonly held assumption that people who achieve consistent successes, do so with ease. As if they are somehow unaffected mentally or emotionally by the events of everyday life. This book deconstructs the attributes of a growth mindset, highlighting the positive and negative fluidity of thinking that can a
£15.29
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hitlers Secret Commandos
Book SynopsisIncludes thrilling first-hand accounts of operations undertaken.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Roman Special Forces and Special Ops
Book SynopsisTHE ONLY BOOK AVAILABLE on Rome's version of the SAS, SBS, Pathfinders, US GREEN BERETS, SEALS etc.
£18.00
PublicAffairs,U.S. Code Over Country: The Tragedy and Corruption of
Book SynopsisA hard-hitting exposé of SEAL Team 6, the US military's best-known brand, that reveals how the Navy SEALs were formed, then sacrificed, in service of American empire.The Navy SEALs are, in the eyes of many Americans, the ultimate heroes. When they killed Osama Bin Laden in 2011, it was celebrated as a massive victory. Former SEALs rake in cash as leadership consultants for corporations, and young military-bound men dream of serving in their ranks.But the SEALs have lost their bearings. Investigative journalist Matthew Cole tells the story of the most lauded unit, SEAL Team 6, revealing a troubling pattern of war crimes and the deep moral rot beneath authorized narratives. From their origins in World War II, the SEALs have trained to be specialized killers with short missions. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan became the endless War on Terror, their violence spiraled out of control.Code Over Country details the high-level decisions that unleashed the SEALs' carnage and the coverups that prevented their crimes from coming to light. It is a necessary and rigorous investigation of the unchecked power of the military-and the harms enacted by and upon soldiers in America's name.
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Gladiators 4th1st centuries BC
Book SynopsisThis new study lifts the veil on the high-profile but often misunderstood gladiators of ancient Rome, from their origins to the dawn of the Principate.Originating in funeral rites during the Punic Wars of the 3rd century BC, the Roman gladiator games have come to symbolize the spectacle and savagery of Republican and Imperial Rome. Increasingly elaborate rules and rituals governed the conduct of gladiator combat, with an array of specially armed and armoured gladiator types pitted against one another, either singly or in groups. While many gladiators met a grisly end, some survived to achieve celebrity and make huge fortunes.Despite the wealth of literary and archaeological evidence, many misconceptions about the gladiators and their violent world remain. Featuring eight plates of stunning specially commissioned artwork alongside photographs and drawings of key items of visual evidence, this fully illustrated account recreates the little-known and under-represTable of ContentsOrigins and evolution Becoming a gladiator The armaturae Gladiator gear Bibliography Index
£12.59
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Secret SAS Missions in Africa: C Squadron's
Book SynopsisThis fascinating book is the first to cover the little known C Squadron of the Special Air Service. Operating in East Africa, the Squadron was involved in almost continuous counter communist terrorist operations over the period 1968 to 1980. In the unstable final stages of British colonial and white rule, the Squadron was never short of action. African nationalist movements, backed by Russia's and China's direct and indirect support posed a constant and deadly threat to the existing regimes. Small highly trained detachments of the SAS with highly developed bush warfare skills proved devastatingly effective and achieved results out of all proportion to their size. Often their enemies believed that they were facing rival factions and turned on each other. The inevitable involvement of African wildlife adds an extra dimension of excitement Written by a seasoned former senior member of C Squadron, Secret SAS Missions in Africa paints a graphic and thrilling account of their covert operations and the colourful characters that undertook them.
£11.69
Headline Publishing Group The Complete History of the SAS: The World's Most
Book SynopsisSpecializing in covert reconnaissance, counter-terrorism and hostage rescue, the SAS is one of the world's most famous, feared and respected elite fighting forces.This book tells the full, fascinating story of the regiment, from formation in the sand dunes of Africa during World War II to present action in the Middle East, and incorporates jungle, desert and urban warfare, counter-terrorism and an insider's view at the selection and training methods employed by this usually secretive unit.Table of Contents1940s - Early History, WWII, disbanding • 1950s - Re-forming, Malaya, Oman • 1960s - Borneo, Aden • 1970s - Oman, Northern Ireland • 1980s - Falklands, Embassy Siege, Gibraltar, Gambia • 1990s - Gulf War, Central America • 2000s - Afghanistan, Iraq • 2010s - Modern Operations • 2020s - Selection, Training, After the regiment • Appendix - Organization, Chronology, Names of the Dead.
£8.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Operation Eagle Claw 1980
Book SynopsisA fully illustrated history of the disastrous 1980 attempt to rescue the 53 US Embassy hostages in Tehran, which involved the new Delta Force and a complex series of airlifts, hides and refueling stops in the Iranian desert.Following months of negotiations after the seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran on November 4 1979, President Jimmy Carter ordered the newly formed Delta Force to conduct a raid into Iran to free the hostages. The raid, Operation Eagle Claw, was risky to say the least. US forces would have to fly into the deserts of Iran on C-130s; marry up with carrier-based RH-53D helicopters; fly to hide sites near Tehran; approach the Embassy via trucks; seize the Embassy and rescue the hostages; board the helicopters descending on Tehran; fly to an airbase captured by more US forces; and then fly out on C-141s and to freedom. Unfortunately, and unsurprisingly given the complexity of the mission, things went wrong from the start and when the mission was cTrade ReviewThis is one of the best books to date on the raid -- Glenn Sands * AirForces Monthly *Table of ContentsOrigins Chronology Initial Strategy The Plan The Raid The Aftermath Analysis and Conclusion Bibliography Index
£13.29
Nine Elms Books Terror by Night: The Official History of SBS and
Book SynopsisTerror by Night, first published in 1945, tells the thrilling story of how the SBS, and Greek Sacred Squadron planned and executed their daring raids, dealing out death and destruction to the enemy and striking fear into his heart in the Aegean. Their extraordinary achievements deservedly rank high in the history of Special Forces.
£8.99
Little, Brown & Company Uncommon Grit: A Photographic Journey Through
Book SynopsisStriking, beautiful, and haunting, UNCOMMON GRIT takes a unique, unprecedented look at the toughest training in the military -- and the world -- from the vantage point of someone who lived through it. Retired Navy SEAL Darren McBurnett, includes vivid descriptions of both the physical and mental evolutions that occur as a result of the immensely challenging SEAL training process.His stunning photographs, partnered with his compelling insights and sharp sense of humor, allow the reader to laugh, cringe, gasp, and even envision themselves going through this extraordinary experience.
£36.00
HarperCollins Publishers Sisters Secrets and Sacrifice The True Story of WWII Special Agents Eileen and Jacqueline Nearne by Susan Ottaway
Book SynopsisTwo sisters. Two special agents. One War. Sisters, Secrets and Sacrifice is the incredible true story of British special agents Eileen and Jacqueline Nearne, two sisters who risked everything to fight for our freedom during the Second World War.
£10.44
HarperCollins Brotherhood of Warriors Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the Worlds Most Elite Counterterrorism Units
£14.24
HarperCollins Brotherhood Of Warriors Large Print
£17.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Navy Seals
Book Synopsis“Captures the essence of Naval Special Warfare from our storied beginnings to the current fight.” —Admiral WILLIAM H. McRAVENWritten with the unprecedented cooperation of the Naval Special Warfare community, this vivid and definitive history of the U.S. Navy SEALs reveals the inside story behind the greatest combat operations of America''s most celebrated warriors. Illustrated with forty pages of photographs and based on exclusive interviews with more than 100 U.S. frogmen (including multiple Medal of Honor recipients), here is the first comprehensive history of the special operations force (Military.com).New York Times bestselling authors Dick Couch—a former SEAL—and William Doyle chart the SEALs'' story, from their origins in the daring Naval Combat Demolition Teams, Underwater Demolition Teams, Scouts and Raiders commando units, and OSS Operational Swimmers of World War II to their coming of age in Vietnam
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Whatever It Took An American Paratroopers
Book SynopsisPublished to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, an unforgettable never-before-told first-person account of World War II: the true story of an American paratrooper who survived D-Day, was captured and imprisoned in a Nazi work camp, and made a daring escape to freedom.Trade Review"Extraordinary. ... Reveal[s] [Langrehr] as a person of great courage and strength who did whatever it took to survive." — Quad-City Times “Simply fascinating...reads with all the emotional impact of a finely crafted novel...an extraordinary and impressively presented military biography.” — Midwest Book Review
£19.00
Ebury Publishing The Originals The Secret History of the Birth of
Book SynopsisBased on over 120 hours of uncovered video and audio tape, this title tells the story of the birth of the SAS in the words of its founding members. It covers the regiment's formation in 1941 to its supposed disbanding in 1945. It is also a very human story of a gang of misfits coming together to create a unit like no other.Trade ReviewA unique inside account * The Scotsman *A fantastic first-hand story * Military Illustrated *
£14.39
Headline Publishing Group Black Ops Secret Military Operations
Book SynopsisA compendium of undercover warfare from around the world, featuring spies, soldiers, mercenaries and assassins. The secret history of 20th- and 21st-century warfare. Table of ContentsLieutenant Hans Carl Lody • The Ambassadors' Plot • The Zimmermann Telegram • Mata Hari • Richard Meinertzhagen • Dublin Castle • The Trust: The Cheka's infiltration of the anti-Bolsheviks • The American Black Chamber • Sir Compton Mackenzie • Lieutenant Wilfred Macartney • Jessie Jordan • Canned Goods • The Venlo Incident • Kurt Ludwig • Sonya • Richard Sorge • Bletchley Park • Magic • Mincemeat • The Double Cross System • Nordpol • Garbo • Maskirovna • Dragoon • Red Orchestra • Greif • Corby • Venona • Klaus Fuchs • The Cambridge Ring-of-Five • Shamrock • Pimlico • Neptune • The Skripals and the future of covert operations.
£18.00
Hachette Books First Seals
Book SynopsisIn the summer of 1942, an extraordinary group of men united to form an exceptional unit. Known as the Maritime Unit, it comprised America''s first swimmer-commandos- an elite breed of warrior-spies who were decades ahead of their time when they created the tactics, technology, and philosophy that live on in today''s Navy SEALs. Often armed only with knives and wearing nothing more than swim trunks and flippers, the Maritime Unit''s combat swimmers and other operatives carried out seaborne clandestine missions in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Mediterranean theatres of World War II. In First SEALs , Patrick K. O''Donnell unearths their incredible history- one of the greatest untold stories of World War II.FirstSEALsBook.comTrade ReviewMilitary Review, U.S. Army "One of the world's preeminent military historians" Sacramento Bee "The Navy's Sea, Air, and Land teams (SEAL) are rightfully legendary, but until now their origin has been obscured by time. In this behind-the-scenes history, readers learn how a World War II group known as the Maritime Unit became the template for today's elite special force." Portland Book Review, 3/5/15 "Those having interest in World War II history will love the result of [O'Donnell's] research...The writing in this book is very good, very readable." Proceedings, June 2015 "O'Donnell sets the scene for today's SEALs and provides the reader with the history of the inception of Navy special operations." Seapower, June 2015 "Much of the history of the MU was buried in classified archives until unearthed by the author." Military Heritage, July 2015 "Extensive research and interviews have now brought this story back to light. The author is an established authority on special operations forces and his new book sheds light on the origin of the SEALs."
£14.99
Hachette Books The Force The Legendary Special Ops Unit and
Book Synopsis Hailed as 'masterly' (Wall Street Journal) and a 'monumental achievement' (Douglas Brinkley), this book tells the riveting, true story of the group of elite US and Canadian soldiers who sacrificed everything to accomplish a crucial but nearly impossible WWII mission.In December of 1943, as Nazi forces sprawled around the world and the future of civilization hung in the balance, a group of highly trained U.S. and Canadian soldiers from humble backgrounds was asked to do the impossible: capture a crucial Nazi stronghold perched atop stunningly steep cliffs. The men were a rough-and-ready group, assembled from towns nested in North America's most unforgiving terrain, where many of them had struggled through the Great Depression relying on canny survival skills and the fearlessness of youth. Brought together by the promise to take part in the military's most elite missions, they formed a unique brotherhood tested first by the crucible of state-of-the-
£12.34
Back Bay Books Surprise Kill Vanish
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£20.39
Mariner Books Saving Bravo
Book Synopsis
£16.79
Mariner Books X Troop
Book Synopsis“Brilliantly researched, utterly gripping history: the first full account of a remarkable group of Jewish refugees—a top-secret band of brothers—who waged war on Hitler.” —Alex Kershaw, New York Times best-selling author of The Longest Winter and TheLiberatorThe incredible World War II saga of the German-Jewish commandos who fought in Britain’s most secretive special-forces unit—but whose story has gone untold until now June 1942. The shadow of the Third Reich has fallen across the European continent. In desperation, Winston Churchill and his chief of staff form an unusual plan: a new commando unit made up of Jewish refugees who have escaped to Britain. The resulting volunteers are a motley group of intellectuals, artists, and athletes, most from Germany and Austria. Many have been interned as enemy aliens, and have lost their families, their homes—their whole worlds. They will stop at nothing to defeat the Nazis. Trained in counterintelligence and advanced combat, this top-secret unit becomes known as X Troop. Some simply call them a “suicide squad.” Drawing on extensive original research, including interviews with the last surviving members, Leah Garrett follows this unique band of brothers from Germany to England and back again, with stops at British internment camps, the beaches of Normandy, the battlefields of Italy and Holland, and the hellscape of Terezin concentration camp—the scene of one of the most dramatic, untold rescues of the war. For the first time, X Troop tells the astonishing story of these secret shock troops and their devastating blows against the Nazis.“Garrett’s detective work is stunning, and her storytelling is masterful. This is an original account of Jewish rescue, resistance, and revenge.” —Wendy Lower, author of The Ravine and National Book Award finalist Hitler’s Furies
£15.29
Taylor & Francis Ltd Special Operations Forces in the 21st Century
Book SynopsisThis book sets out the major social scientific approaches to the study of Special Operations Forces. Despite consistent downsizing, over the past two decades the armed forces of the industrial democracies have seen a huge growth in Special Operations Forces (SOF). Through increasing numbers of personnel and more frequent deployments, SOF units have wielded considerable influence in conflicts around the world, with senior SOF officers having led major strategic operations. This increased presence and unprecedented expansion for SOF is largely a result of the ânewâ kinds of conflicts that have emerged in the 21st century. At the same time, even with this high profile in the military, policy and media and popular cultural arenas, there is relatively little social scientific research on SOF. This volume aims to fill this gap by providing a series of studies and analyses of SOF across the globe, since the end of World War II. Analysing SOF at the micro, mezzo and macro leveTable of Contents1. Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Social Science: An Introductory Essay, Eyal Ben-Ari, Jessica Glicken Turnley, Kobi Michael PART I: The Emergence of Special Operations Forces 2. The Evolution of SOF and Rise of SOF Power, Bernd Horn 3. The Special Operations Forces Mosaic: A Portrait for Discussion, Emily Spencer 4. Warrior-Diplomats and Ungoverned Spaces: Narratives of Possibilities, Jessica Glicken Turnley PART II: Civilian Control and Public Imagery 5. Special Operations Forces (SOF) as the "Silver Bullet": Strategic Helplessness and Weakened Institutional and Extra-Institutional Civilian Control, Kobi Michael 6. "Unintended Acceleration": The Problematique of Civil-Military Relations of Special Operations Forces in the American Context, James Kiras PART III: Social Dynamics, Organizational Processes and Challenges 7. The Seaman's Council: A SOFish Way of Making Decisions, Tone Danielsen 8. Service Cultures and Collective Military Action: Successful Joint Operations by the Israeli Air Force and Special Operations Forces, Uzi Ben-Shalom and Yuval Tsur 9. Dutch Forward Air Controllers in Uruzgan: Aspects of Cooperation, Courage, Responsibility, Legitimacy and…. People Getting Killed, Wout Jansen and Sjo Soeters 10. In Search of Intelligence: The Dutch Special Forces in Mali, Sebastian Rietjens and Jelle Zomer 11. Aiming to Punch above Their Weight: The Belgian Special Forces, Delphine Resteigne 12. Integrating Men and Women within Naval Special Warfare Combat Teams, Deborah Gibbons, Alan Nelson and Jim Suchan PART IV: Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Military Institution 13. The Self and the Mirror: Institutional Tensions and Canadian Special Operations Forces, Eric Oullet Chapter Fourteen: Zeev Drory, E
£39.89
Penguin Publishing Group No Way Out A Story of Valor in the Mountains of Afghanistan
Trade Review"OP Commando Wrath was an operational marshmallow of the highest order where Mission Impossible and Murphy’s Law collided head on with some of the meanest mothers in the valley--Green Berets from ODA 3336. It’s Blackhawk Down in the Afghan Mountains!"--Dalton Fury, author of Black Site"The book is not just a cautionary tale in warfare, but a powerful portrait of the men who fought to save each other from certain death."--Michael D. Sallah, investigative reporter for The Miami Herald and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting"It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to know how modern battles are fought--and how they should be."--Ames Alexander, award-winning investigative reporter with The Charlotte Observer"In this compelling, multi-dimensional account, Weiss and Maurer remind us of the extraordinary risks soldiers take and the sacrifices they make every day both for their country, and for each other."--Publishers Weekly
£15.20
Penguin Publishing Group Gentlemen Bastards On the Ground in Afghanistan with Americas Elite Special Forces
Book SynopsisFrom the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of No Easy Day comes an insightful, inside look at the Green Berets—a legendary corps of soldiers whose exploits made military history. But now, its very identity and role as a fighting force may be forever changed. Until the war in Iraq, Special Forces were the military’s counterinsurgency experts. Their specialty was going behind enemy lines and training insurgent forces. In Afghanistan, they toppled the Taliban by transforming Northern Alliance fighters into cohesive units. But since that time, Special Forces units have focused on offensive raids.With time running short, the Green Berets have now gone back to their roots.Award-winning journalist Kevin Maurer traveled with a Special Forces team in Afghanistan, finding out firsthand the inside story of the lives of this elite group of highly trained soldiers. He witnessed the intense brotherhood, the rigorous selection proces
£16.97
Time Warner Trade Publishing Never Surrender A Soldiers Journey to the
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£15.19
Penguin Putnam Inc Sog
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£14.45
Basic Books Oppose Any Foe
Book SynopsisOppose Any Foe is the epic story of America''s most elite warriors: the Special Operations Forces. Born as small appendages to the conventional armies of World War II, the Special Operations Forces have grown into a behemoth of 70,000 troops, including Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces, Air Force Night Stalkers, Special Operations Marines, Rangers, and Delta Force. Weaving together their triumphs and tribulations, acclaimed historian Mark Moyar introduces a colorful cast of military men, brimming with exceptional talent, courage and selflessness.In a nation where the military is the most popular institution, America''s Special Operations Forces have become the most popular members of the military. Through nighttime raids on enemy compounds and combat advising of resistance movements, special operators have etched their names into the nation''s registry of heroes. Yet the public knows little of the journey that they took to reach these heights, a journey that was neither
£20.24
Cambridge University Press States Citizens and the Privatisation of Security
Book SynopsisRecent years have seen a growing role for private military contractors in national and international security. To understand the reasons for this, Elke Krahmann examines changing models of the state, the citizen and the soldier in the UK, the US and Germany. She focuses on both the national differences with regard to the outsourcing of military services to private companies and their specific consequences for the democratic control over the legitimate use of armed force. Tracing developments and debates from the late eighteenth century to the present, she explains the transition from the centralized warfare state of the Cold War era to the privatized and fragmented security governance, and the different national attitudes to the privatization of force.Trade Review'Elke Krahmann breaks new ground in analyzing the privatization of security. Looking through the lens of the social contract provides a fresh theoretical perspective and comparing not just the United States and Britain but also Germany offers novel empirics. Her thoughtful argument should be of interest to both academic and policy audiences.' Deborah Avant, University of California, Irvine'Amidst the growing number of studies on the privatization of security, Dr. Krahmann's book stands out as a unique and special contribution. Through its utilization of political theory, the book identifies the sometimes troubling implications posed by the privatization of security to the democratic control of armed force. What is more, these implications, in their scope and nature, vary from state to state as made clear in the book's emphasis on relevant case studies.' Christopher Spearin, Canadian Forces College'In probing the paradoxes surrounding the democratic control of armed forces with specific regard to the proliferating use of private military forces in Europe and North America, this important work manages to shed new light on the transforming relationships among states, soldiers, and citizens and to induce readers to rethink their most fundamental assumptions about the nature of security on the contemporary world.' Robert Mandel, Professor of International Affairs, Lewis & Clark CollegeTable of ContentsAcknowledgements; Acronyms; Lists of figures and tables; 1. Introduction; 2. The state monopoly on violence and the democratic control over military force; 3. The transformation of the state and the soldier; 4. United Kingdom: private financing and the management of security; 5. United States: shrinking the state, outsourcing the soldier; 6. Germany: between public-private partnerships and conscription; 7. Iraq and beyond: contractors in deployed operations; 8. The future of democratic security: contractorization or cosmopolitanism?; 9. Conclusion; Selected bibliography; Index.
£29.44
Houghton Mifflin Heart and the Fist The The Education of a
Book SynopsisLike many young idealists, Eric Greitens wanted to make a difference, so he travelled to the world's trouble spots to work in refugee camps. In studying humanitarianism, he realized a fundamental truth: when an army invades, the weak need protection. So, he joined the Navy SEALs. This book tells his story.
£13.56
Transworld Publishers Ltd Immediate Action
Book SynopsisPresents an account of Andy McNab, from the day he was found in a carrier bag on the steps of Guy's Hospital to the day he went to fight in the Gulf War. Recounting his activities in the Special Forces unit, McNab offers an insight into the world of surveillance and intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism and hostage rescue.Trade ReviewA richly detailed picture of life in the SAS * Sunday Telegraph *The real thing... The strength of Immediate Action lies in its detail... much more than a jingoistic adventure story * The Times *A joy... An absorbing insight into the controlled thuggery and intimate comradeship that are the the hallmarks of the SAS * Daily Telegraph *
£11.69
Transworld Publishers Ltd Damn Few
Book Synopsis**THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER**With all the SEALs'' recent successes, we have been getting a level of attention we are not used to. It''s been flattering but something important has been missing from the discussion. People keep describing what we do, but no one has even scratched the surface of how and why. The unique psychology behind it.Operating in the world's most hostile environments, the Navy SEALs are highly skilled warriors, finely tuned and ready for action. Now, for the first time, Lieutenant Commander Rorke Denver offers a compelling and profound insight into the extreme bravery, borderline lunacy, and touching camaraderie of this elite brotherhood.Packed with tales from the gruelling training process and real-life operations, Rorke Denver recounts his evolution from a young SEAL hopeful pushing his way through Hell Week, into a warrior engaging in dangerous stealth missions across the globe, and finally into a lieutenant commander Trade ReviewIf you’ve ever wished you could read the testament of a Jedi Knight, here it is. Damn Few takes us inside the mind of a born warrior. This is timeless stuff, worthy of being read in the era of Caesar, Alexander, Leonidas—or a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. * Steven Pressfield, author of 'Gates of Fire' and 'The War of Art' *Interweaving tales of battle and reflections on what it means to be a professional killer, Denver crafts an awe-inspiring sketch of soldierly excellence. * Publishers Weekly *
£10.44
Transworld Publishers Ltd Battle Scars
Book SynopsisJason Fox joined the Royal Marine Commandos at sixteen, serving for ten years, after which he passed the gruelling selection process for the Special Forces, serving with the Special Boat Service for over a decade and reaching the rank of Sergeant.Today you are most likely to find him gracing our television screens and giving us a taste of action and adventure around the world.Trade ReviewA must read. * Ant Middleton *The most important book you’ll ever read… Battle Scars will save lives. * Tom Marcus, author of SOLDIER SPY *A vivid, searing account of a life at war, that tells of some incredible moments of strength and courage. * Bear Grylls *Get hold of a copy of Battle Scars. A brutally honest account of war and all that follows from the perspective of a Special Forces soldier. * Andy McNab *
£10.44
Harvard University Press Underdogs
Book SynopsisThe Marine Corps has always considered itself a breed apart. Since 1775 America’s smallest armed service has been suspicious of outsiders and deeply loyal to its traditions. Undying faith in its exceptionalism made the Marines one of the sharpest, swiftest tools of American military power, but developing this brand did not come without costs.Trade ReviewO’Connell [separates myth from reality] with brio in his absorbing account of the Marines between 1941 and 1965. -- Max Boot * Wall Street Journal *A fascinating history. -- Malcolm Gladwell * New Yorker *O’Connell, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, analyzes the development of the corps’ culture from World War II to the Vietnam era. The Marine ethos was defined by a commitment to toughness ingrained at boot camp and a willingness to suffer reinforced by the high casualties the corps experienced in World War II and the Korean War. O’Connell does not shrink from describing the physical and mental toll this culture takes on individual marines and the violent behavior, drunkenness, and domestic abuse that represent its dark side. He also details the organization’s relentless self-promotion, which helped turn it from the least to the most admired of the services and guaranteed its independence. The corps has a deserved reputation for assiduously cultivating politicians, journalists, and filmmakers to help burnish its public image and win bipartisan support on Capitol Hill. This is an honest, but not unsympathetic, take on the Marines and a fine contribution to the study of military culture. -- Lawrence D. Freedman * Foreign Affairs *O’Connell’s depth offers military professionals, serious history enthusiasts and ordinary armchair buffs enlightening insights via easy-to-understand explanations of why the Corps always has considered itself unique and superior to the other U.S. Armed Forces… O’Connell patiently cuts through the origins of the USMC’s cultural power, delineating its maneuvers, contradictions and effects on mid-20th-century American life… [Underdogs] deserves high honor and distinction. -- Don DeNevi * Leatherneck *As well as detailing the inner psychological effects of front-line fighting on Marines, O’Connell describes how war turns public opinion, and how the Corps employed the media, movies, and Congressional support to build a positive public relations network. -- C. D. Quyn * Sacramento Book Review *[A] thoroughly researched and splendidly written book. -- John R. Coyne, Jr. * Washington Times *O’Connell has penned an important, extraordinary volume—wonderfully descriptive, copiously referenced, and richly punctuated by anecdotal presentations… A wonderful book, but more importantly, a significant addition to military historical literature. -- J. Stanley * Choice *Unlike the other branches of the armed forces, writes O’Connell, the Marines did not rush into nuclear technology after World War II. Instead, he argues, the Corps built on its combat record, especially in the Pacific island-hopping campaign, to re-orient itself as an elite, naval or helicopter-borne, quick-reaction force, able to provide various combinations of unit strength on very short notice. Using an equipment and technology budget line from the Navy, the Marines expanded in size and technical capability to meet this adopted objective. The real eye-opener here is O’Connell’s account of the behind-the-scenes lobbying and PR work conducted by the Chowder Society, ‘an unofficial organization of…well-connected officers’ dedicated to protecting the Corps from postwar defense reorganizations. According to the author, this went beyond lobbying and included spying, leaking classified documents and smearing opponents. The group made full use of the Marine’s press networks, building especially on the wartime centralization of news distribution. Headquarters had developed tactics for dealing with the press, such as preparing ‘Joe Blow’ stories of hometown combat troops. O’Connell shows how Hollywood transformed the image of the Marines, who sustained a casualty rate double that of the Army, by crafting stories that depicted them as military heroes. Then, to support peacetime political combat, those stories were tweaked to portray them as gentle protectors of families and motherhood. The author contrasts the stories with the reality… A powerful account of the relationship between fighting war and preserving peace, viewed through the lens of the stories that built support for both. * Kirkus Reviews *[O’Connell] attributes the rise of the Marines from a tiny, unpopular 1941 corps to preeminent armed service in 1965 to the success of the Marine Corps’ public relations campaign… This insightful cultural history is recommended for those interested in U.S. military history and modern U.S. history. * Library Journal *O’Connell offers an excellent analysis of how the marines became the Marines. * Publishers Weekly *A superb cultural history of the modern U.S. Marine Corps. This book makes a significant and original contribution to both the military history of the Cold War and the ongoing conversation about the militarization of American culture. -- Beth Bailey, author of America’s Army: Making the All-Volunteer ForceUnderdogs is a probing history of one of the most storied institutions in American life: the United States Marine Corps. Aaron O’Connell takes readers inside the culture of the Corps to explore its strengths, its weaknesses, and the lessons it can teach to us all. -- Nathaniel Fick, author of One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine OfficerThis fascinating and sometimes frightening cultural history highlights the Marines’ exceptional agility in catering to and cultivating the changing needs of American power, and the costs of doing so. -- Michael S. Sherry, author of The Rise of American Air Power: The Creation of ArmageddonA brilliant synthesis of military and cultural history. Underdogs will do for Marine Corps history what Peter Karsten’s The Naval Aristocracy did for naval history. -- Ronald H. Spector, author of In the Ruins of Empire: The Japanese Surrender and the Battle for Postwar Asia
£24.26
MP-KAN Uni Press of Kansas The OSS in Burma Jungle War against the Japanese
Book Synopsis
£37.76
MP-KAN Uni Press of Kansas The Making of a Paratrooper Airborne Training
Book SynopsisThe memoir of paratrooper Kurt Gabel - a German Jew who emigrated to the US in 1938, joined the 513th Regiment of the 17th Airborne Division, and fought against his former countrymen in the Battle of the Bulge. Gabel conveys with rare immediacy an in-depth look at the training of a paratrooper, the dangers of combat, and his transformation from romantic idealist to warrior.
£25.60
MP-KAN Uni Press of Kansas Silent Coup of the Guardians The Influence of US
Book SynopsisArgues that US military elites play an exceptionally powerful role due to their extraordinary influence over policy process, outcome, and implementation. A silent coup of the guardians has occurred, and professionals and citizens need to ask what should be done rebalance US civil-military relations.Table of ContentsList of Figures and TablesAcknowledgmentsDisclaimerList of AcronymsPrefaceIntroduction1. Military Elites and Praetorian Propensities2. Genesis of the Guardians3. The Scholarly Road Map4. Military Elites as an Epistemic Community5. The Role and Influence of Military Elites6. ConclusionsAppendix A: Sample PopulationAppendix B: Wave OneAppendix C: Wave TwoAppendix D: Interview MethodologyAppendix E: Military Elite Conceptual Attributes and Theoretical ImplicationsAppendix F: Analysis of the National Security Strategies of the United StatesReferencesIndex
£42.46
Hachette Australia Marching with the Devil
Book Synopsis''An unpretentious Aussie''s experiences in one of the most ramshackle and soul-destroying military organisations on Earth.'' COURIER-MAILA real-life boy''s own adventure, MARCHING WITH THE DEVIL is a hell-raising account of five years in the infamous French Foreign Legion.''In 1894 a French Foreign Legion General said, Legionnaires, vous etes faits pour mourir, je vous envoie la ou on meurt. Legionnaires, you are made for dying, I will send you where you can die. When I was in my mid-teens and first read those words they were powerful and confronting. I read them as a challenge and an invitation. The words, and the feelings they evoked, remained with me until I was ready. On 20 May 1988, I enlisted in the French Foreign Legion.''Searching for something he wasn''t finding in his life in Australia, David Mason joined the French Foreign Legion. This is a frank account of how Mason came first in basic training, trained other Legionnaires, went to Africa, did sniper, commando and medic training and took part in two operations, both in the Republic of Djibouti where a civil war nearly crippled the nation. It tells of his daily life in the Legion, in the training regiment, in Africa and with the Legion''s Parachute Regiment. But more than this: it reveals his disillusionment, frustration and disappointment with the much mythologised Legion, and how the Legion today is not what it seems - or could be. Now part of the HACHETTE MILITARY COLLECTION.''Remarkable'' THE AGETrade Review‘Since its creation in 1831, the French Foreign Legion has become the stuff of myth, fiction and dreams... Anyone thinking of joining up would be well advised to read this book first.’ * The Sun Herald *‘Remarkable... It's hard not to think it a shame that a man of such obvious gifts should have wasted them on the legion, just so as not to have to feel like a quitter, even if this book was the result.’ * The Age *‘Marching with the Devil quickly turns into an insightful and honest account of an unpretentious Aussie's experiences in one of the most ramshackle and soul-destroying military organisations on Earth.’ * Courier Mail *‘A strangely compulsive read about one man’s quest for self knowledge.’ * Men's Health Magazine *‘Mason left a comfortable life in Australia to test himself in the crucible of the legion, and he writes about it 20 years after his service time necessary to give himself the distance and context he needed to write about an extraordinary and painful experience.’ * Sunday Mail Brisbane *‘It’s a rollicking, readable memoir of extreme adventures.’ * Burnie Advocate *
£8.99
Hachette Australia Crossing the Line
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 ABIA GENERAL NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 WALKLEY BOOK AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL BOOK OF THE YEAR''There is no doubt the truth would have been concealed and our concerns buried without Nick McKenzie''srelentless pursuit of justice.'' SAS Afghanistan veteranWar is brutal. But there are lines that should never be crossed. In mid-2017, whispers of executions, and cover-ups within Australia''s most secretive and elite military unit, the SAS, reached Walkley Award-winning journalist Nick McKenzie. He and Chris Masters began an investigation that would not only reveal shocking truths about Ben Roberts-Smith VC but plunge the reporters into the defamation trial of the century.For five years, McKenzie led the investigation, waging an epic battle for the truth to be acknowledged. His fight to reveal the real face of Australia''s most famous and
£17.09
The History Press Ltd The Knights Templar in Yorkshire
Book SynopsisThe Knights Templar in Yorkshire
£16.19
Little, Brown Book Group Zero Footprint
Book SynopsisSimon Chase''s life is a maze of burner phones, encrypted emails, secret meetings, and weaponry - all devoted to executing missions too sensitive for government acknowledgement. Working for shadowy British and American organisations, Chase has been on the trail of Bin Laden in Afghanistan, protected allied generals in Iraq, and been part of an operation directly related to the attack in 2012 on the US consulate in Benghazi.Zero Footprint takes us to this dangerous and thrilling world, and tells the true story of a private military contractor whose work forms the foundation for western security abroad, especially when the UK and US military, intelligence agencies, and departments of state need something done that they can''t - or won''t - do themselves.
£12.59
The History Press Ltd UXB Malta Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal 194044
Book SynopsisFaced with the terror of the unexploded bomb, the Maltese people looked for help to the Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Section, who dealt with all unexploded bombs, outside of airfields and the RN dockyard, across an area the size of Greater London.
£13.49
Orion Publishing Co Go Go Go The SAS The Iranian Embassy Siege The
Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive account of the storming of the Iranian Embassy in London in 1980.Trade ReviewThe full story behind the six day siege in 1980 is a fascinating one * SOUTH WALES ARGUS *Action-packed ... a comprehensive, detailed and also grippng description of the six-day dramam that shook Britain in 1980. * HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER *An engrossing story of a seminal hostage situation - the authors offer a clear-eyed account without falling victim to over-simplification. * SUNDAY BUSINESS POST *Gripping from page one right up until the end. A must read. * BURTON MAIL *
£9.49
