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Spearhead of the Fifth Army: The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Italy, from the Winter Line to Anzio
by Frank van Lunteren&“An excellent read for anyone interested in men at war, as well as for students of the airborne operations, the Italian Campaign, and the war in Europe&” (The NYMAS Review). Upon the completion of the Sicily and Salerno Campaigns in 1943, the paratroopers of Col. Reuben Tucker&’s 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment were among the first Allied troops to enter Naples—a ghost town at first sight. The residents soon expressed their joy at being liberated. Four weeks later, the 504th—upon the special request of Gen. Mark Clark—spearheaded Fifth Army&’s drive through the notorious Volturno Valley—the Germans&’ next stand. January 1944 seemed to promise a period of rest, but the landing at Anzio meant deployment for the paratroopers again, this time by ship. A bombing raid during their beach landing was a forecast of eight weeks of bitter fighting. Holding the right flank of the beachhead along the Mussolini Canal, the paratroopers earned their nickname &“Devils in Baggy Pants&” for their frontline incursions into enemy lines, as well as their stubborn defense of the Allied salient. In this work, H Company&’s attachment to the British 5th Grenadier Guards—and the Victoria Cross action of Maj. William Sidney—are painted in comprehensive light for the first time. The story of honorary member of the 504th PIR, Italian veteran Antonio Taurelli, is also included. Using war diaries, personal journals, letters, and interviews with nearly eighty veterans, an up-close view of the 504th PIR in the Fifth Army&’s Italy Campaign is here in unsurpassed detail. From the author of two previous works on the 504th PIR, The Battle of the Bridges and Blocking Kampfgruppe Peiper, this book shows that the Italian theater was second to none in terms of grueling combat, courage against formidable odds, and an extremely expert enemy.
Spearhead: A Novel of World War II
by Martin AbzugSpearhead, first published in 1946, is a fictional account of U.S. Army artillery and infantry units at the start of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Initially forced to retreat, the men try to regain the offensive under heavy ground fire and aerial bombardment. Tensions mount between several of the officers, one of German descent, who are at odds over the nature of evil and the war. Their differences become especially apparent in their views of Germans and Naziism, and is reflected in their differing treatment of their captured prisoners-of-war. Spearhead is a little known novel of the War, but is filled with details based on the author’s own wartime experiences, plus examines the deeper moral questions of the conflict.
Spearhead: An American Tank Gunner, His Enemy, and a Collision of Lives in World War II
by Adam MakosFrom the New York Times bestselling author of A Higher Call comes the riveting World War II story of an American tank gunner’s journey into the heart of the Third Reich, where he will meet destiny in an iconic armor duel—and forge an enduring bond with his enemy. <p><p> When Clarence Smoyer is assigned to the gunner’s seat of his Sherman tank, his crewmates discover that the gentle giant from Pennsylvania has a hidden talent: He’s a natural-born shooter. At first, Clarence and his fellow crews in the legendary 3rd Armored Division—“Spearhead”—thought their tanks were invincible. Then they met the German Panther, with a gun so murderous it could shoot through one Sherman and into the next. Soon a pattern emerged: The lead tank always gets hit. After Clarence sees his friends cut down breaching the West Wall and holding the line in the Battle of the Bulge, he and his crew are given a weapon with the power to avenge their fallen brothers: the Pershing, a state-of-the-art “super tank,” one of twenty in the European theater. But with it comes a harrowing new responsibility: Now they will spearhead every attack. <p> That’s how Clarence, the corporal from coal country, finds himself leading the U.S. Army into its largest urban battle of the European war, the fight for Cologne, the “Fortress City” of Germany. Battling through the ruins, Clarence will engage the fearsome Panther in a duel immortalized by an army cameraman. And he will square off with Gustav Schaefer, a teenager behind the trigger in a Panzer IV tank, whose crew has been sent on a suicide mission to stop the Americans. As Clarence and Gustav trade fire down a long boulevard, they are taken by surprise by a tragic mistake of war. What happens next will haunt Clarence to the modern day, drawing him back to Cologne to do the unthinkable: to face his enemy, one last time. <p><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Spec Ops
by William H. McravenVice Adm. William H. McRaven helped to devise the strategy for how to bring down Osama bin Laden, and commanded the courageous U.S. military unit that carried it out on May 1, 2011, ending one of the greatest manhunts in history. In Spec Ops, a well-organized and deeply researched study, McRaven analyzes eight classic special operations. Six are from WWII: the German commando raid on the Belgian fort Eben Emael (1940); the Italian torpedo attack on the Alexandria harbor (1941); the British commando raid on Nazaire, France (1942); the German glider rescue of Benito Mussolini (1943); the British midget-submarine attack on the Tirpitz (1943); and the U.S. Ranger rescue mission at the Cabanatuan POW camp in the Philippines (1945). The two post-WWII examples are the U.S. Army raid on the Son Tay POW camp in North Vietnam (1970) and the Israeli rescue of the skyjacked hostages in Entebbe, Uganda (1976). McRaven--who commands a U.S. Navy SEAL team--pinpoints six essential principles of "spec ops" success: simplicity, security, repetition, surprise, speed and purpose. For each of the case studies, he provides political and military context, a meticulous reconstruction of the mission itself and an analysis of the operation in relation to his six principles. McRaven deems the Son Tay raid "the best modern example of a successful spec op [which] should be considered textbook material for future missions." His own book is an instructive textbook that will be closely studied by students of the military arts. Maps, photos.
Special Deception (The SBS Trilogy)
by Alexander FullertonA former British SAS hero returns to service for a deadly mission in Syria in this cold War military thriller. Charlie Swale of Britain&’s elite Special Air Service had been a hero in his day. Then he hit the bottle. And then he hit hard times. As low as he got, he would never dream of betraying his country. But he never would have imagined that the Soviets would be able to dupe him, either. Now Charlie will do anything to redeem himself. Given the chance on a top-secret Special Boat Service mission to Syria, he knows he has to pull it off. Fueled by a renew sense of purpose, Charlie travels to the arid unforgiving desert plains, where he stumbles into a political minefield. Almost before he knows it, Charlie finds himself on the point of blowing international relations sky-high . . .
Special Deliverance (The SBS Trilogy)
by Alexander FullertonA top-secret mission to change the course of the Falklands War—first in the trilogy that continues with Special Dynamic and Special Deception. In the war-torn, storm-swept South Atlantic, a small band of highly-trained SBS experts embarks on a vital secret mission: to sabotage Argentina&’s stock of deadly Exocet missiles. The course of the Falklands War depends on their success. One man, Andy MacEwan, an Anglo-Argentine civilian recruited to the team as guide and interpreter, has more than the mission on his mind. His brother is a commander in the Argentine Navy Air Force and there is no love lost between them. The coastline is exposed and treacherous, the missile base is surrounded by vast tracts of open land, and they must complete their deadly work without ever being detected. Some say it&’s impossible . . . but this lethal band of elite warriors are used to upsetting the odds. An absolutely gripping war novel from one of the genre&’s most celebrated authors, perfect for fans of Alistair MacLean and Jack Higgins. Praise for the writing of Alexander Fullerton &“His action passages are superb, and he never puts a period foot wrong.&” —The Observer &“The most meticulously researched war novels that I have ever read.&” —Len Deighton, author of The Ipcress File &“You don&’t read a novel by Alexander Fullerton. You LIVE it.&” —South Wales Echo &“The research is unimpeachable and the scent of battle quite overpowering.&” —The Sunday Times
Special Duties Pilot: The Man who Flew the Real 'Inglorious Bastards' Behind Enemy Lines
by John M. BillingsIf there was ever a man who was born to fly, it is John M. Billings. He took his first plane ride in 1926, began taking piloting lessons in 1938, and joined the US Army Air Force in July 1942. After training he was assigned to fly Consolidated B-24 Liberator long-range bombers. He joined the 825th Bombardment Squadron of the 484th Bombardment Group. After flying fifteen daylight strategic bombing missions, Billings was selected for assignment to the 885th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (Special). As its designation suggests, the 885th was no regular bombing unit. The 885th specialized in flying top secret, low-altitude missions at night in support of the clandestine operations of the OSS and the Special Operations Executive. The unit’s covert missions included parachuting OSS and SOE agents and supplies deep inside German territory. The most eventful and dangerous of Billings’ thirty-nine secret missions with the 885th was his assignment in February 1945 to clandestinely insert a three-man OSS team, code-named Greenup, into Austria. The drop zone selected for the Greenup insertion was located on a glacier in a valley surrounded by mountains in the middle of the snow-covered Alps. Billings and his crew finally found the weather in the Alps clear enough to spot the drop zone, slip their unwieldy B-24 between the mountain peaks and descend to an altitude just a few hundred feet above the moonlit snow. On Billings’ signal, the OSS agents parachuted right on target. The insertion of this OSS team was the inspiration for the feature film Inglorious Bastards. However, Brad Pitt’s vengeful character was far removed from the leader of the Greenup team, Fred Mayer, who achieved success by infiltrating enemy ranks to gain vital intelligence. After the war, John Billings flew with Trans World Airlines and Eastern Airlines. He also flew more than 300 ‘Angel Flight’ airlift missions which involve the specialized aerial transportation of critically ill medical patients. This is one man’s story of a remarkable lifetime of flying, both in peace and in war.
Special Dynamic (The SBS Trilogy)
by Alexander FullertonBritish special forces encounter deadly Russian operatives preparing for a subarctic invasion in this Cold War military thriller. Ollie Lyle, a former captain of Britain&’s elite Special Boat Service, is assigned to a civilian expedition into Norwegian Lapland. In that remote region of the far north, a nationalist movement&’s actions have seemingly escalated into terrorism and murder. But Lyle and his team soon discover a far more dangerous scenario unfolding. Neighboring Russia has deployed a vicious undercover operation as a prelude to a full-scale invasion. What began as a peaceful, fact-finding mission becomes a deadly struggle against two implacable enemies. Hampered by his inexperienced companions, Lyle must draw on all his combat and survival skills to stand any chance of coming out alive.
Special Force: Origin And Development Of The Jedburgh Project In Support Of Operation Overlord
by Major Wyman W. IrwinThis study examines the history of the Jedburgh project from the origin of the concept, through development of the Jedburgh plan, to final preparations for deployment. It includes a study of the recruitment process used to man the force and the training program undertaken to prepare the Jedburghs for their unconventional warfare (UW) mission. The Jedburgh plan provided for 100 three-man teams composed of American, British, French, Belgian, and Dutch special forces personnel. These teams operated well behind German lines, with the primary mission of coordinating the activities of the various resistance elements to ensure that their operations supported the overall Allied campaign effort. These operations, indeed the very concept of a force designed to work directly with partisans in an occupied country in support of conventional forces, remain significant because they are the doctrinal basis for our current special forces. Today's UW doctrine centers increasingly around the support of revolutionary insurgents in a low intensity conflict environment. U.S. Army Special Forces leaders must understand the different and complex nature of conducting UW with partisans in a mid to high intensity conflict, though, if they are to remain prepared to conduct these operations. The amount of lead time required to develop such a capability will probably not be available in future conflicts.
Special Forces Camps in Vietnam 1961-70
by Gordon RottmanIn 1961 US Special Forces units began entering remote areas of Vietnam dominated by the Viet Cong. Their task was to organize local defense and strike forces aimed at stopping the enemy from gaining further control of such areas. The Green Berets set up fortified camps from which indigenous troops defended local villages and attacked and harassed the enemy. How these camps were constructed, developed, and defended is documented here for the first time. This book also covers the weapons, barriers, and obstacles used in these camps, providing specific examples of camp design, and details how they withstood the test of battle against a determined and resourceful enemy.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Special Forces Command And Control In Afghanistan
by Major Richard G. RhyneThe purpose of this study is to examine the nature of the command and control relationship between Special Forces and conventional forces. Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan serves as a case study in practice and doctrinal application. Against the backdrop of World War II, Operations in Panama, Haiti, Somalia, Bosnia, and Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, this thesis provides an analysis of the complex issues arising from the necessity to fight jointly.
Special Forces Commander: The Life and Wars of Peter Wand-Tetley MC Commando, SAS, SOE and Paratrooper
by Michael ScottEarly in the Second World War, Peter Wand-Tetley volunteered for special service. He saw action first with the newly formed Commandos raiding the North African coast and then in the fierce fighting on Crete. Operations with the LRDG in the Western Desert were followed by SAS actions as Rommel retreated to Tunis. Remarkably he then transferred to the Special Operations Executive and was parachuted blind into enemy occupied Greece in 1943. His role was to train and equip Andarte guerillas and his contribution and courage were recognized by the award of an immediate MC.Following victory in Europe he sailed with the Parachute Regiment to Javo where he fought in the counter-insurgency war.As well as describing his exemplary war record, Special Forces Commander covers Wand-Tetleys early life (he was a superb marksman) and his career post war in the turbulent days of the end of Empire.
Special Forces Father: Six Weeks To Catch A Cowboy Special Forces Father The Sheriff Of Wickham Falls (American Heroes #41)
by Victoria PadeFrom a USA Today–bestselling author: surprised to learn he has twins, a marine moves in with the nanny and gets a crash course in fatherhood and love.Marine Liam Madison has always been focused on serving his country. But when he learns that he’s the father of orphaned four-year-old twins, service takes on a whole new meaning. Fortunately, the kids’ loving, gorgeous nanny, Dani Cooper, is by his side every step of the way as he learns the ropes. And as Liam falls hopelessly in love with his children, he might just be falling in love with their nanny, too . . .
Special Forces Fitness Training: Gym-Free Workouts to Build Muscle and Get in Elite Shape
by Augusta DeJuan HathawayReshape your body with the intense Navy SEAL and Army Ranger workout program created by a United States military strength and conditioning coordinator. Do you have what it takes to be a special ops soldier? To be a member of the military&’s most elite units—Navy SEALs, Marine Force Recon, Army Rangers or Green Berets—you must be in phenomenal condition, able to endure high levels of physical and mental stress. In this book, author Augusta DeJuan Hathaway shows how to get in the best shape of your life using the program he developed as a strength and conditioning specialist for the U.S. military special forces. Be prepared to go all in or go home! Special Forces Fitness Training presents gym-free regimens that challenge you to train like a bad-ass. With the thirty hardcore workouts in this book you will: • Develop massive strength • Increase speed & agility • Extend fatigue threshold • Improve balance & flexibility • Boost mental fortitude
Special Forces Heroes
by Michael AshcroftThis ebook edition contains the full text version as per the book. Doesn't include original photographic and illustrated material. This book tells the stories of forty heroes, all awarded bravery medals for their conduct during Special Forces missions over the last 150 years. Often covert hit-and-run operations involving very small numbers of highly skilled men, those who partake in these missions know that their goals involve a high level of risk. They are men who would die for their country, no questions asked. With many incredible stories, particularly from the Second World War, including the Cockleshell Heroes, and other conflicts from the twentieth century, such as the Iranian Embassy siege, this collection of real-life action adventure brings the bravery of Britain's heroes to life. Every medal in Lord Ashcroft's extensive collection tells a story and these are some of the most thrilling.
Special Forces Interpreter: An Afghan on Operations with the Coalition
by Eddie IdreesThe first memoir of an Afghan interpreter with the Coalition who served with both US Special Forces and the SAS over an eight year period.Eddie Idrees, a pseudonym for security reasons, has a fascinating and inspiring story to tell. Born in Afghanistan, he spent time as a refugee in Pakistan during the civil war dreaming of serving with the military. As this unique memoir reveals, his wishes came true in spades. For eight years from 2004, Eddie worked as an interpreter with, first, American Special Forces before moving across to the Special Air Service. A veteran of over 500 operations, he describes the most notable ones including breaking into a Taliban prison to free prisoners about to be executed. He was the first Afghan interpreter to parachute in with the SAS. His aim in writing his story is to explain the interpreter’s role and contribution and the challenges and threats they faced, not just from the Taliban. For all the media attention, these have never been fully understood. Eddie concludes by describing his experiences and emotions on leaving his fractured and politically corrupt homeland and making a new life in the United Kingdom. Special Forces Interpreter demands to be read and not just for its vivid and thrilling descriptions of Special Forces’ operations.
Special Forces Pilot: A Flying Memoir of the Falkland War
by Richard HutchingsAs a Commando helicopter pilot, the author served with 846 Naval Air Squadron in the Falklands War and was decorated for gallantry (DSC). The author relives his part in operations, in particular Special Forces intelligence gathering and direct action missions, including the Pebble Island raid. Events are described in detail including the development of pioneering night operating procedures and the conduct of covert and other operationally sensitive missions. The book includes hitherto undisclosed material relating to Operation MIKADO, the ill-fated Special Forces mission in Argentina with its disastrous consequences for the Task Force. Dick was Captain of the Sea King that carried the Special Forces team into Argentina. The operation is described in detail including events in the air and on the ground in Argentina and Chile. Dick recalls his encounter with the Chilean authorities, meetings with British Embassy officials in Santiago, the international press conference, his eventful repatriation to the UK, debriefings in the MoD and time spent in an MI-6 safe-house somewhere in England. The book concludes by describing a follow-up visit to Chile by the author in November 1982, at the behest of the Chilean Government.
Special Forces Rendezvous (The Hunted)
by Elle KennedyA beautiful doctor and a soldier on the run are out to stop a major terror attack in the New York Times–bestselling author’s military romantic thriller.Unless they stop it, the deadly virus decimating San Marquez will be unleashed on America. Fugitive Sgt. Sebastian Stone and Dr. Julia Davenport have stumbled onto the shocking conspiracy behind a terrifying ultimatum—but exposing it could cost them their lives.Sparks of passion have already threatened their mission. Though both Sebastian and Julia don’t “do” commitment, they rush headlong into a casual affair. On the run from both the government and terrorists, neither Sebastian nor Julia knows who to trust. As the clock runs down, they must survive long enough to risk their hearts . . .
Special Forces Seduction
by C.J. MillerWhen two spies reunite, sparks fly in the most dangerous of circumstances... Go undercover one final time to bring down a drug lord. That's all Finn Carter wants from his ex, Alex "Hyde" Flores. But the sexy spy never counted on his feelings for her roaring back to life! Hyde's made it clear she's looking for forever while he's committed to staying in the field. Things change when their mission goes awry... Hyde wants out of the black ops game, yet she can't resist one more assignment. If she lays her life and her love down one last time, she demands nothing less from Finn. As the risky takedown spirals out of control, both spies must use all their wiles to stay alive...and have a future together!
Special Forces Sniper Skills
by Robert StirlingThis hard hitting account details the men, weapons and techniques used to coldly eliminate high value targets on the battlefield, in hostage situations, in political assassinations and elsewhere. Though many books have become best sellers through telling one side of the story - a sniper's experiences, a training manual or a weapons catalogue - none before have combined the whole spectrum of a sniper's life and skills into one gripping book. Selection, history, training, weapons, field craft, tactics, special operations and much more. This book goes beyond the general infantry use of snipers: it examines the role of the sniper, and the unique skills employed, when serving as part of a Special Forces unit including the British SAS, the US Navy Seals and the Russian Spetznaz. The book is illustrated throughout with photographs of every aspect of the sniper's trade and stories from the real-life experiences of the author's comrades: men who have served in almost every overt and covert conflict since the Second World War.
Special Forces Vehicles (Images of War)
by Pat Ware"What is the ideal vehicle for special forces operations, for dangerous missions performed by small units of highly trained troops often working in enemy territory, behind enemy lines? And which vehicles have the worlds armies selected, adapted and developed since modern special forces established themselves as a key arm of the military during the Second World War? Pat Ware, in this authoritative and highly illustrated book, uses all his expert knowledge of the history of military vehicles to show the fascinating variety of machinery that has been used, from converted Jeeps and Land Rovers to a bizarre collection of even more remarkable, sometimes purpose-built strike vehicles the Scorpion, Cobra and Supacat Jackal, the LRDG Chevrolet, the Mechem, the Pinzgauer and the Warrior among them. As well as describing the anatomy of the typical special forces vehicle, with particular reference to the iconic SAS Jeeps and the Land Rover 'Pink Panther', he illustrates all of the known special forces vehicles, giving technical data, including information on power units and transmission, type of weapons, auxiliary equipment, armored protection, speed and mobility, and weight. He also explains the nature of special forces and describes their historic origins, with emphasis on units such as the LRDG, the SAS and Popski's Private army during the Second World War, and he looks at modern special forces and their role. "
Special Forces at War: An Illustrated History, Southeast Asia 1957–1975
by Shelby L. Stanton“A rare insider’s experience paired with a scholarly historical approach, making it an essential standout for any military library.” —Midwest Book ReviewMore than 8.7 million Americans reported for military duty in Southeast Asia, but only a select few wore the Green Beret, the distinctive symbol of the U.S. Army Special Forces. These elite soldiers played a crucial role during the protracted conflict.Special Forces at War: an Illustrated History, Southeast Asia 1957–1975 by wartime veteran and military historian Shelby L. Stanton shows Special Forces’ activity from the first deployments of Green Berets into battle, through their training, wartime advisory, border surveillance, strike force, and special operations roles.Unprecedented in scope, this photographic history features rare and unpublished images, providing an exclusive, insider view of covert activities such as Project Delta, whose Special Forces-trained Vietnamese commandos posed as North Vietnamese Army or Viet Cong troops behind communist lines. It depicts Special Forces’ camps before, during, and after enemy assaults. It features an array of lethal weapons used by resourceful Green Berets fighting to preserve their remote outposts, as well as allied and enemy documents and propaganda. From ordinary camp life to special missions, no aspect of Special Forces activities during the Second Indochina War has been overlooked.Stanton knows his subject first hand. During six years of active duty as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, he served as a paratrooper platoon leader, an airborne ranger advisor to the Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Center, and a Special Forces long-range reconnaissance team commander in Southeast Asia before being wounded in combat in Nam Yu, Laos.
Special Forces in the War on Terror
by Leigh NevilleWithin weeks of the devastation of 9/11, United States Special Operations Forces were dropping into Afghanistan to lead the war against Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Ten years later, the Navy's SEAL Team 6 carried out Operation Neptune Spear to hunt down and kill Osama Bin Laden. In Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Somalia and Mali, the role of Special Ops has been a game changer on the battle field as they have fought terrorist from Al Qaeda, al Shebaab and Boko Haram, as well as insurgents and the Taliban. But that has been a war that has largely hidden from view--until now. In Special Forces in the War on Terror, author Leigh Neville takes readers inside that shadow world of Special Operations. Drawing upon recently declassified material and first-hand accounts from his SOF contacts in the US, UK, and other coalition countries, Neville reveals the remarkable results achieved by these secret soldiers, and gives readers an unprecedented blow-by-blow description of all major SOF operations.Neville uncovers the true story behind the dramatic rescue of two aid workers from chaotic Somalia by a SEAL team from kidnappers linked to the notorious al Shebaab. Parachuting in at night, the team struck the kidnappers at dawn in a coordinated assault that left all of the kidnappers dead with no injuries to the hostages or the assault team. The SEALs kept the hostages safe until the men of the Nightstalkers--the US Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment--arrived to fly them all to safety. Also included is the story of the Delta Force Master Sergeant who won the Silver Star by single-handedly holding off an assault by some 300 insurgents in war torn Fallujah. Attached with two other Delta operators to a Marine infantry platoon, 25 of the 37 men he was with were wounded during the attack. The Delta sergeant held off the insurgents from a roof-top position, moving constantly to keep the enemy back and confusing them on the actual number of defenders until the wounded could be evacuated.Highlighted in Special Forces in the War on Terror is the history of the secret drone war run by the United States Joint Special Operations Command, which rivals the CIA's highly publicized drone campaign in Pakistan, the real history of the contentious "Night Raids" by American and British Special Forces in Afghanistan and the true story of the "industrial grade" counter-terrorism effort which swung the war against al Qaeda in Iraq.Unlike other books on SOF, Special Operations Forces in the War on Terror offers a single, detailed analysis of all significant SOF missions, and includes maps, combat diagrams, and full-color photographs. The book is the definitive record for a remarkable period in military history when the world's elite soldiers fought against overwhelming odds to yield results out of all proportion to their numbers.
Special Forces, Strategy and the War on Terror: Warfare By Other Means (Cass Military Studies #Vol. 28)
by Alastair FinlanThis volume undertakes a systematic analysis of the relationship between Special Forces and contemporary strategy, explaining the resurgence of interest in Special Forces, particularly in the West, by exploring their appeal over traditional conventional force options in the current ‘War on Terror’. Special Forces, Terrorism and Strategy comprises four overarching themes: theory and practice command and control culture and technology operations and the ‘War on Terror’. By developing a credible theory about the role of Special Forces in contemporary strategy, Alastair Finlan assesses the changing character of the relationship between conventional forces and Special Forces, illustrating the prominent role of these forces in the ‘War on Terror’. This book will be of great interest to students of strategic studies and military history, as well as for professional military colleges.
Special Forces: A Guided Tour of U.S. Army Special Forces
by Tom Clancy John GreshamThey are sent to the world's hot spots-on covert missions fraught with danger. They are called on to perform at the peak of their physical and mental capabilities, primed for combat and surveillance, yet ready to pitch in with disaster relief operations.<P><P> They are the Army's Special Forces Groups. Now follow Tom Clancy as he delves into the training and tools, missions and mindset of these elite operatives.Special Forces includes:The making of Special Forces personnel: recruitment and trainingA rare look at actual Special Forces Group deployment ExercisesTools of the trade: weapons, communications and sensor equipment, survival gearRoles and missions: a mini-novel illustrates a probable scenario of Special Forces interventionExclusive photographs, illustrations and diagramsPlus: an interview with General Hugh Shelton, USA, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (and the former Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Special Operations Command-USSOCOM)