Read a good book lately?

**Winston001** · 27th August 2011, 20:51

An excellent book about the history of submarines.

http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Killers...4434994&sr=1-1

**Winston001** · 27th August 2011, 21:01

This is a good book for anybody interested in the Afghanistan campaign. Jon Krakauer is a fine writer who ably carries the reader through potentially boring pieces (descriptions of American football) to the core events. A decent young American soldier, Pat Tillman, gives up a million dollar sports career to serve in the Army Rangers.

He is killed by friendly fire.

Its a lesson in the unromantic reality of armed conflict.

**Winston001** · 27th August 2011, 21:16

I've read a lot of SAS biographies but few army reports of modern conflicts. So this book cured that in spades - it was almost too much.

Attack State Red is the record of the Royal Anglian Regiment's mission in the Sangin Valley, Afghanistan in the spring of 2007.

Fields of poppies and maize concealing Taliban fighters, narrow alleyways between mudbrick compounds, overgrown ditches and canals, mines, etc. Heat, dehydration, heavy bodyarmour, biting insects, jammed rifles... plus the Taliban are experienced fighters and no walkover.

A very realistic well written record. Recommended.

http://attackstatered.com/

**Usarka** · 6th September 2011, 18:50

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

I just finally had some time to read and have finished Ed Macy's APACHE. Just started HELLFIRE. Loved both of them. And the highlight of APACHE is the last sortie: they either had to give him a MC or DFC, or cashier him!... Unbelievable.

Chur bro, just finished reading Apache. Almost put it down about a third of the way through because it was starting to feel like every other special forces/helicopter pilot/grunt/etc book that's come out recently. Very glad I perservered.

**ynot slow** · 7th September 2011, 07:51

Finished reading Croz=Larrikin Biker,very easy read biography of the legend,and written the way he rode,loose as lol.Can still recall the kwaka at Wanganui around 1977 ish on one wheel,he was our hero to all us kids at the time.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 7th September 2011, 11:37

I am still reading David Kilcullen's "The Accidental Guerilla" will finish on hols next week.

**george formby** · 7th September 2011, 11:52

Originally Posted by Usarka

Chur bro, just finished reading Apache. Almost put it down about a third of the way through because it was starting to feel like every other special forces/helicopter pilot/grunt/etc book that's come out recently. Very glad I perservered.

Cue twilight zone music. I have just been loaned that book (Apache) & Kenny Roberts road racing technique. Review's in a bit.

**george formby** · 17th September 2011, 13:22

Just finished reading Seven Troop, Andy Mcnab. Have only read Bravo Two Zero from him before.
Interesting & readable book but gets bloody depressing towards the end.
It covers his time in the SAS from first training in the jungle after selection, skimming through Northern Ireland, Belize, Oman & Iraq with recollections on his youth & different training throughout. The end of the book focuses on what happens when you leave the regiment, this is when it gets heavy & shows they are not super men.

One quote which hints at this is "more soldiers committed suicide after the Falklands war than died in it" Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Lots of swearing, larrikins & shooting but also a lot about the consequences.

**Zedder** · 17th September 2011, 15:08

Originally Posted by george formby

Just finished reading Seven Troop, Andy Mcnab. Have only read Bravo Two Zero from him before.
Interesting & readable book but gets bloody depressing towards the end.
It covers his time in the SAS from first training in the jungle after selection, skimming through Northern Ireland, Belize, Oman & Iraq with recollections on his youth & different training throughout. The end of the book focuses on what happens when you leave the regiment, this is when it gets heavy & shows they are not super men.

One quote which hints at this is "more soldiers committed suicide after the Falklands war than died in it" Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Lots of swearing, larrikins & shooting but also a lot about the consequences.

Check out "The real bravo two zero" by Michael Asher. It gets behind the facts of the mission and provides a different perspective.

**Winston001** · 17th September 2011, 22:41

Originally Posted by george formby

Just finished reading Seven Troop, Andy Mcnab. Have only read Bravo Two Zero from him before.

I have read both. Bravo Two Zero is well written and a good read. But. McNab exaggerated and invented incidents to make it more exciting. For that reason I don't read him any more.

FYI Sgt McNab lead the Bravo Two Zero patrol to watch the MSR (main supply route - road) between Jordan and Baghdad. He could have taken trailbikes but elected to do it hard by tabbing in from the helicoptor drop off. With over 100kg per man. Bad decision. On top of that the guys had no warm gear despite it being winter with desert nights at freezing level.

Vince Phillips and Legs Lane died of hypothermia while evading the Iraqis.

McNab portrays himself to be the hero but the SAS debriefed the survivors and had a far different view.

If you want a good read on the SAS, try Peter Ratcliffe: Eye of The Storm. He retired as Regimental Sergeant Major and talks about McNab's mistakes at one point but mainly the Falklands and other operations.

Also, for the 1991 Iraq War, Sabre Squadron by Cameron Spence is an excellent book. Its about SAS squadrons in Pinkies roving around the deserts of Iraq and giving the locals some nasty surprises. Recommended.

**Winston001** · 17th September 2011, 22:48

Originally Posted by Zedder

Check out "The real bravo two zero" by Michael Asher. It gets behind the facts of the mission and provides a different perspective.

Yeah there are at least four books on the mission and a TV documentary. Its a fascinating account of how a special forces patrol operates and just how easily things go wrong. Radios didn't work. No warm clothing.

**george formby** · 18th September 2011, 09:10

Originally Posted by Winston001

Yeah there are at least four books on the mission and a TV documentary. Its a fascinating account of how a special forces patrol operates and just how easily things go wrong. Radios didn't work. No warm clothing.

Yup, I read Chris Ryans account a few years ago too, the name escapes me at the mo.

I still reckon the best og the lot is the the history of the LRDG & how David Stirling started off the whole special forces thing. Truly hard bastards.

**Zedder** · 18th September 2011, 11:38

Originally Posted by Winston001

Yeah there are at least four books on the mission and a TV documentary. Its a fascinating account of how a special forces patrol operates and just how easily things go wrong. Radios didn't work. No warm clothing.

Andy McNab just laughed off the assertions about his incompetance though and reckons the publicity has actually helped him sell more books.

**Drunken Monkey** · 18th September 2011, 14:56

Originally Posted by george formby

Yup, I read Chris Ryans account a few years ago too, the name escapes me at the mo.

"The one that got away" - it's easy enough to remember, he was the one that got away!

Mike Coburn's Soldier Five is more grounded than the McNab and Ryan versions, worth a read.

**Blackbird** · 18th September 2011, 15:11

I've just read Aussie Paul Carter's latest book "Is that a diesel?" about his ride round Australia on a Cagiva-framed adventure bike, powered by a small single cylinder pump engine running on cooking oil.

Paul writes in a style where you immediately identify with him and is one of the funniest writers around... as in snot coming down your nose! He's an ex-oil rig worker and his two previous books on rig life are outstanding too.

The review of his latest book is on my blog: http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2011/...ok-review.html