The Complete History of the SAS


Book Description

Specializing 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. As well as an insightful foreword by Andy McNab - one of the most famous members of the SAS - this revised, updated edition includes completely new chapters, features and information, including Key Missions of WWII, The Battle of Mirbat, Iranian Embassy Siege, Kenyan Hotel Rescue and Victoria Cross Awards.




The Complete History of the SAS


Book Description

The full story fromits foundation in World War II, and updated to include the regiment in Afghanistan and IraqThere have been many books written on the SAS, most telling of individual events in the regiment's history, but this book tells the full story, from formation in the sand dunes of Africa through eightdecades of covert warfare in some of the world's toughest battlefieldsto present action in the Middle East. The author has interviewed many ex-members, making for compelling first-hand accounts of daring raids, missions behind enemy lines, hostage rescues, and acts of incredible bravery.This historyprovides an inside look at modern selection and training and the combat engagements that have made the SAS such a unique and internationallyrespected special forces unit."




Rogue Heroes


Book Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The incredible untold story of World War II’s greatest secret fighting force, as told by the modern master of wartime intrigue—now a limited series on Epix! “Reads like a mashup of The Dirty Dozen and The Great Escape, with a sprinkling of Ocean’s 11 thrown in for good measure.”—Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times ONE OF NPR’S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • “Rogue Heroes is a ripping good read.”—Washington Post (10 Best Books of the Year) Britain’s Special Air Service—or SAS—was the brainchild of David Stirling, a young aristocrat whose aimlessness belied a remarkable strategic mind. Where most of his colleagues looked at a World War II battlefield map and saw a protracted struggle, Stirling saw an opportunity: given a small number of elite men, he could parachute behind Nazi lines and sabotage their airplanes and supplies. Defying his superiors’ conventional wisdom, Stirling assembled a revolutionary fighting force that would upend not just the balance of the war, but the nature of combat itself. Bringing his keen eye for detail to a riveting wartime narrative, Ben Macintyre uses his unprecedented access to the SAS archives to shine a light on a legendary unit long shrouded in secrecy.




The History of the SAS


Book Description

Forged to fight guerrillas in the sweltering jungles of Malaya. Tasked with storming mountain strongholds in the desert. Trained to hunt down the world's most wanted terrorists. This is the extraordinary story of 22 SAS. The history of the modern SAS is one of the great successes of post-war Britain. Since it was revived in 1950 to combat Communist insurgents, the Regiment has gone from strength to strength, fighting covert wars in Oman, Borneo, Northern Ireland, the Falklands, the Persian Gulf and beyond. In the process, it has become one of the most indispensable, and at times controversial, units in the British army Today, the SAS is regarded as the world's leading Special Forces unit, renowned for its demanding Selection course and its relentless ability to adapt to the changing nature of warfare. More than anything else, however, it is the determination and ingenuity of the SAS soldiers that has made the Regiment what it is today. Drawing on his extensive network of contacts and his own experiences, Chris Ryan tells the story of the men on the ground. From the earliest patrols in the Malayan jungle, through to the storming of the Iranian Embassy, the daring raids behind enemy lines in the Gulf War, and up-to-minute missions to capture or kill notorious terrorists - this is the gripping, no-holds-barred account of Regiment operations. Above all, it is a story of elite soldiers fighting, and triumphing, against seemingly impossible odds.




SAS in Action


Book Description




Special Force


Book Description

The exploits of the British Army's elite 22nd Special Air Service Regiment - the regiment of the SAS that forms part of the Regular army - are shrouded in mystery and myths abound about its members. But what is the truth behind the public facade of clinical professionalism? How has such a small regiment attracted so many weighty legends? And what is the purpose of the SAS in the 21st century? "Special Force" provides an original and unusually critical overview of the activities of the SAS from the Malayan Emergency of 1950 to the present day. In the context of a detailed and often controversial analysis of the post-war activities of the Regiment, MacKenzie establishes that the Regiment's almost legendary professional competence is often not backed up by reality. Far from being part of a structured deployment of strategic military assets, MacKenzie argues that the use of the SAS in recent years has been primarily driven by the 'entrepreneurial' actions of a few SAS commanding officers. "Special Force" not only offers a revelatory history of the SAS in the modern period, it is also a disturbing expose of the truth behind the myth. It will be essential reading for anyone with an interest in the British military - past, present and future.




The Complete SAS Survival Manual


Book Description

Although you may never be trained by the elite British Special Air Service (SAS), Barry Davies’ guidance makes it so you don’t need to be. With the help of this extensive manual, you’ll learn everything you need to know to keep yourself alive, from first aid and navigation to acquiring life–saving essentials such as food, water, and shelter. For military personnel and civilian survivors alike, this manual is easy to understand and will provide you with the ability to rise to the challenge of staying alive in a hostile environment.




The Complete History of the SAS: The Story of the World's Most Feared Elite Fighting Force (Large Print 16pt)


Book Description

There have been many books written on the SAS, most telling of individual events in the Regiment's history. This book tells the full story, from formation in the sand dunes of Africa in World War II to present action in the Middle East. You'll get an inside look at modern selection and training and the combat engagements that have made the SAS one of the most feared and respected special forces units. Contents: 1) 1940s Early History, WWII, disbanding; 2) 1950s Re - forming, Malaya, Oman; 3) 1960s Borneo, Aden; 4) 1970s Oman, Northern Ireland; 5) 1980s Falklands, Embassy Siege, Gibraltar Gambia; 6) 1990s Gulf War, Central America; 7) 2000s Selection, Training, Modern Operations, Afghanistan, Iraq; 8) After the regiment; Appendix Organization, Chronology, Names of the Dead, Index.







Fighting Skills of the SAS


Book Description

Double taps, three-round bursts, tabbing and CasEvac operations. These are but a few of the tactics and procedures used by the men of Britain's Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment. What do they mean, how do the elite soldiers of Britain's SAS fight and what weapons do they use? Fighting Skills of the SAS is a complete guide to the tactices, operational procedures, training and military hardware used by the SAS. Fighting Skills of the SAS contains individual chapters on weapons skills, using the deadly Browning High Power and the MP5K submachine gun; how SAS teams operate behind enemy lines; SAS sabotage techniques; concealment skills; and observation and intelligence gathering.