Product Description
First published on the 15th anniversary of the Falklands War in 1982, THE SECRET WAR FOR THE FALKLANDS is nothing less than the secret history of the conflict, the first time the Royal Navy had been engaged by an enemy since 1945. In terms of hardware it was a test of the world's latest air and defence systems and a unique opportunity to push competing fighters to their limits in an environment that stretched men and aircraft alike. This book focuses on OPERATION CORPORATE, the task force assigned to retake the Falklands, and on the clandestine efforts to deny General Galtieri the one weapon that could have turned Corporate into a humilating defeat for Britain - the French-manufactured Exocet missile. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Defeat into victory
Battle for Falklands perhaps most significant conflict fought after World War 2. For the first time, combat aircraft fittted with sophisticated anti-shipping missiles were used to attack hostile ships at sea.More precisely, it gave an unique opportunity to test the latest in combat hardware.

Author opens his narration of conflict showing how some ships British naval Task Force managed to dodge deadly missile strike by aircraft of Argentine Naval Air Service. British fatally miscalculated the threat to the Task Force posed French-built air-launched AM-39 Exocet missiles. Miscalculation was based on the following assumptions. Firstly, missile carrier French-built Dassault Super Entendard aircraft cannot operate beyond a range of 425 miles. Fuel consumption being so high made it risky, if not impossible, for the aircraft return to the base. Secondly,Argentines would be reluctant to use KC-130 Hercules tankers for mid-air refueling as they were vulnerable. This made London to assure Task Force commanders the waters east of Falklands was relatively safe during pre-operational briefing in Ascension.

Air-launched Exocet was a reliable stand-off weapon which can be launched outside the strike envelope of anti-aircraft missile systems.Exocet after acquiring and locking on to the target came down to sea level moved ike fish skimming the waves.RN lack of airborne early warning aircraft ( AEW ) diminished the ability of Task Force to defend itself. As a result it was dependent on inadequate surface radars.

Exocet was most lethal weapon in the arsenal of Argentine Naval Air service. They extended the operational reach of the missile by attaching them to aircraft fitted with expendable fuel drop tanks. Further in a remarkable act of ingenuity Argentines modified the missile system making it capable of firing from land. Given sufficent numbers , they could have used it for interdicting RNlong, precarious supply routes. For instance, chance attack on supply ship SS Atlantic Conveyorrepresented a dangerous element in Argentine strategy. Missile attack led to fire triggered by explosions and vessel had to be abandoned. Ship was to unload valuable supplies in San Carlos bay for British forces. So London contemplated fo extending the war to Argentine mainland. This made Jorge Colombo's 2nd attack/fighter squadron at Rio Grande airbase a priority target.So SAS conceived a daring plan to knock out the base.However due to operational reasons it could not be executed.So British Secret Service carried out a covert operation designed to prevent Buenos Aries from acquiring any more Exocets.

Author debunks official interpretation of events which claims the Argentine decision to invade Falklands was taken prematurely .So it could not be foreseen or prevented.Author argues that planning for seizing Falklands was going on for six months .They were tell-tale signs ,signals.Troops, ammunition,fuel,equipment,spare parts were moved across the country.However British had insufficient means to keep these preparations under covert surveillance. Because MI 6 was obsessed with challenge posed by Soviet Union / Soviet bloc countries.

British victory gave a big boost to the image of Madam Thatcher whose Tory government had plumbed into the depths of electoral unpopularity.In ensuing election Tories swept to power by thumping majority. Author, however, has argued that Britain nearly lost the campaign.It was almost a close call .Had Argentines managed to prolong the campaign poor weather conditions in South Atlantic,logistical constraints would have forced British to withdraw. It is worth mentioning when Argentine garrison surrendered ammunition stocks of British army at Port Stanley had depleted with no prospect for further supplies.Also Galtieri regime made a mistake in timing while launching the invasion.Best option for him was to wait till September .By this time Argentina would have full complement Exocet missiles . Besides British were on the verge of scrapping 2Antartic patrol vessels carrying Wasp helicopters as a part of cuts imposed by Defence Ministry.This would have diminished London's ability to respond to foreign aggression.

Nearly three decades have passed,author says, we still don't have full-blown operational history of the conflict. Government has kept operational details classified.

It's unfortunate this book has attracted very few reviews which means it did not receive the recognition that it deserved.I don't know why?Lone review published was unsatisfactory, not to say the least. So I decided to fill this void.

Fully satisfied
The used book was as described and arrived on time. I am fully satisfied with the book and the service. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the story of the SAS raid on Pebble Island during the Falklands War. In atrocious weather, 48 men of 22 SAS Regiment were landed by Sea King Helicopter on the Island. Their task was to destroy the 11 enemy aircraft located at the Airstrip on the Island and neutralize the Argentinean force posted there to guard it. The raid was successful and all the Aircraft were destroyed but debate still goes on as to whether the raid was a political gesture to give the British Public some action or whether it was to knock out the Airbase that could have made life difficult for the landings at San Carlos Bay later in the War. The book covers sections on: history of the engagement, training and planning involved, equipment used, weapons file, breakdown of forces engaged, consequences and controversies as well as personal accounts of those involved. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excelent Book
This is an excelent book about the SAS operation's in Malvinas. In this book you can find the planning, the excecution, the equipment and the impact that had this operation in future of the war. This was made with excelence and professionalism for part of the british troops that participated in the mission.

First Strike In The Falklands
If you are a fan of the British Special Air Service (SAS) or the1982 Falkland's War, this book provides every detail, and from both sides, of the UK's first response to Argentina. It also notes that the U.S. provided much needed intelligence from satellites that was put to good use by UK forces. Cooksey also notes the large role of the Special Boat Squadron (SBS). Pebble Island ( the book explains the name )and its importance to the Falkland's campaign is usually just a footnote in larger histories. But as Cooksey demonstrates, without the destruction of the Argentina aircraft at the grass strip on the island, there could be no landing of mass troops to take the Falklands back. This book is first in anew series and is very readable and fair to both sides. Interestingly, as the "Falklands War" is being re-examined by other authors in a negative fashion,at this time,this book of just over a 100 pages honors courage and standing up to tyranny, something that is out of fashion today. Of particular interest is the sacrifice made by Captain John Hamilton (SAS), who was actually recommended for the Victoria Cross, after his death in combat, and behind Argentine lines, not by his own government, but by the Argentine forces who fought againist him. The book should be purchased. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Quite simply the finest account of the naval war yet written
Writen by the Head of the (Royal) Naval Historical Branch, The Royal Navy and the Falklands War is quite simply the finest account of the naval war yet written. With detailed access to official documents and widely illustrated with photographs form both official and private sources, the book traces the history of the campign from the naval perspective in a day by day, blow by blow account.
The narrative is easy to follow, either as a cover to cover read or a book to dip into for specific information about key events. There is a seperate chapter dealing with ships taken up from trade, (STUFT), and appendices listing all ships from both navies that took part in the war. An excellent read and a "must have" book for the serious reader.

Quite simply the finest account of the naval war yet written
Writen by the Head of the (Royal) Naval Historical Branch, The Royal Navy and the Falklands War is quite simply the finest account of the naval war yet written. With detailed access to official documents and widely illustrated with photographs form both official and private sources, the book traces the history of the campign from the naval perspective in a day by day, blow by blow account.
The narrative is easy to follow, either as a cover to cover read or a book to dip into for specific information about key events. There is a seperate chapter dealing with ships taken up from trade, (STUFT), and appendices listing all ships from both navies that took part in the war. An excellent read and a "must have" book for the serious reader. ... Read more

Product Description
Battle Atlas of the Falklands War 1982 from the occupation of South Georgia and the Falklands Islands/Malvinas by the Argentines, the assembly and dispatch of the British Task Force, to the reconquest of the islands. Includes 48 maps, 51 photographs, and appendices listing British ships and aircraft and Argentine aircraft losses and British gallantry awards ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must have companion book for the Falklands War
This book is a must if you are reading any of the other books on the Falklands War. When a book mentions a place during the war, use this book to find the location and other information that happened at that location. Unless you were there this book is a must companion while reading other books on the Falklands War. ... Read more

Product Description
The Falklands War is an ideal showcase for how British policy evolved in the 1970s and 1980s. The background of the dispute over the island group in the remote South Atlantic (called Las Malvinas by the Argentines) is given first, then the events that precipitated the 1982 conflict and extensive examination of the military aspects of the war are provided. An overview follows of the many hypotheses offered for the British motivation to recapture the Falklands, showing that only those theories pertaining to the British perception of their national honor and the defense of democratic principles are significant. The Falklands War did not result in a dramatic shift in British defense policy, but did show the importance of external developments and political realism in policy formation, and these considerations are fully detailed here. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

very good read
I enjoyed this book. I thought it to be very insightful and accurate. A very well though out, pieced together book.

very good
As you can read the other review on this site...was obviously written by one of poor education. Dr. Daniel Gibran is an expert on all that he claims to be. The book supplies more then enough information. I am sure this book would be hard to understand, if the reader is uneducated.

Poorly written
I have a hard time believing a PHD and Department Head wrote this book.I got the book out of curiosity after hearing Dr. Gibran on TV.The book was unlike any other academic book I've ever read, it would have been a joke at any other college with a real International Relations Department.The poor guy is constantly billing himself as a International Relations expert, a History Expert, a Terrorism Expert, anything he can do to get his face on TV as an "expert" commentator.Save your money, buy Dr. Seuss. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1982, Argentina rashly gambled that a full-scale invasion of the Falklands Islands - ownership of which had been disputed with Great Britain for over a century - would put an end to years of political wrangling. However Britain's response was to immediately dispatch a task force to recover the islands by force if necessary. The 'conflict' which followed (a formal declaration of war was never given) lasted ten weeks from Argentine invasion to British liberation, the white heat of battle using 20th century technology contrasting with bitter hand-to-hand bayonet fighting in inhospitable conditions. This title features eyewitness accounts by the participants of both sides and islanders that leave us in no doubt as to the ferocity of the combat on land, sea and in the air. Its comparison photography in colour of all the battlefields, the crash sites of the aircraft shot down, the relics and the remains, together with portraits of those who lost their lives and the battlefield memorials, serve as a graphic testimony to their endeavours, 25 years after the battle."A Roll of Honour" lists the casualties of both sides and, for the first time, the graves of all the British fallen - both on the islands and the United Kingdom - have been visited and photographed as a lasting record of all those who made the supreme sacrifice I what is most probably Britain's last colonial war. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A must for any expert in "The Falklands War"
I have read a lot of books about the Falklands war, many of them of real good quality, but also some of them being poorly precise in describing the events of all the battles.
What we (war history readers) like to have in a book that describes a battle is, not only nice reading material, that must be very precise, but also nice maps and/or pictures of the terrain were the battles took place, we all love to kind of transport ourselfs to the terrain and figure really out how the events were going on at that moment, and this book is very complete, has many pictures, maps, and a nice writing, and of course it is a book of extreme good quality.
I think it is a must for any reader of the falklands war.

This is an absolutely brillant book
This is an amazing book the amount of research done is staggering, each picture of then and now is accompanied by interviews of the veterans from the British and Argentinian armed forces giving a balanced view of what it was like for the men on both side who were actually there. ... Read more

Product Description
Martin Middlebrook is the only British historian to have been granted open access to the Argentines who planned and fought the Falklands War. It ranks with Liddell Hart's The Other Side of the Hill in analyzing and understanding the military thinking and strategies ofBritain's sometime enemy, and is essential reading for all who wish to understand the workings of military minds.

Customer Reviews (4)

Comprehensive and readable
This is an excellent book, compelling and well written. The author clearly went to tremendous efforts to research and understand the Argentine perspective. The many quotes from the Argentine military help one get an understanding of the rather miserable experiences they had fighting the British. Rather worryingly, the author gently suggests they might try again, even though the current Argentine govenment has allegedly ruled out the military option.

Well written
A good book covering the angles from a different side - detailed in some areas but silent on others especially as a cross reference against the very British publications (eg Max Hastings etc).
A very good book on the individual stories and very well worth the read if nothing more than on the very different perspective from the Argentine side.

A must read if you have any interest in this conflict...
I have never read one of Mr Middlebrook's books before, but I am now searching for other titles by him.Because this was one of those books that I had a hard time putting down. Up front let me say that my nationalty is British and I can remember the Falklands War like it was yesterday.However despite having read numerous accounts of the British Victory very little has been said from the perspective of the soldiers who wore the Argentine Unform.This book changes all that, and thru what where obviously some pretty intense interviews as you read this book you start to get a feeling and even an understanding of the passions and emotions of the young soldiers facing the Brits. In the western press we hear about the superiority of the British War machine during the conflict; however the Argentines did put up a spirited if ineffective defence of the Falklands.Another thing that I thought was very interesting about this book is that we get to see how and why misinformation was distributed in the fog of war.I suppose the difference between the British and Argentine governments is that we laid open the books after the conflict to the public versus the Argentines who outright lied to preserve face. Then there are the issues of the foot soldiers on the Argentine side who despite facing what is arguable the best trained army in the world, displayed uncommon gallantry far and above what the pro British press has previously reported. About the only thing I wish Mr Middlebrook had fleshed out a little more is politcs of the Argentines on the mainland.

The Falklands War from an Argentine Perspective?
For those of you looking for something different to Sir Lawrence Freedman's official history, or Max Hastings 'Falklands War', try Martin Middlebrook's 'The Argentine Fight for the Falklands'. I bought it thinking it was another Argentine perspective. But for Falklands analysts it is still worth having in the library. Pages 131-132 alone are worth the price. Two British frigates were very nearly sunk by an Argentine submarine. Why they survived makes interesting reading and is very useful for capability analysis today. ... Read more

Product Description
"Must be read by all our military people and anyone who wants to find out what really happened on the Falkland Islands." —James M. Gavin ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Engaging account of every aspect
Engaging and complete is the less I can say about this book. The authors tell the story of British side of events, from a brief description of the history of the island, the Argentine occupation by force and the following diplomatic offensive -- to the preparation, deployment and succesive war either by sea and land. The book is full of interestings facts, like the logistics problems of the British, the submarine warfare and the difficult task that it was to deal with air and missile attacks (exocets). Here you see the importance of aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates, artillery fire, good radar systems, ground-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles and no less important, a good prefessional army.
The Argentine Junta gambled and they lost, and they lost big since this totally diminished any bargaining position. There is no such thing as share sovereignity, and to finish the war was the best thing to do by the British. There was a cost of lives, we could not see much about the sufferings in combat, we just could see how the Argentine airplanes made brave incursions on the British ships and we can only imagine the horrors of this war in both sides. When I saw the images of the Argentine concripts in their trenches, I just felt pity for them -- What on earth the Argentines were thinking, really? Patriotism only is not enough againts an army with tradition and experience. Fortunately, the war was short and no more blood was shed at Port Stanley. For Chile, this was the best outcome indeed for peace and stability reign again in the region. Finally, I consider the Falklands and South Georgia of strategic importance, we might not think this now but you never know what the future can say.

great book on the falkland war
this was a great book on the falkland war i would recommend it to any millitarty history buff!

A valuable account of a strange and improbable war
Covering the political, diplomatic and military aspects of the Falklands crisis and conflict, the authros produced a nice account of those days of April - June 1982 tragic events within a very short time from the actual events. The book does not leave any stone unturned regarding the British side, but it somehow poorer about the Argentinians, their strategy, tactics and experiences. There are some good maps included and also some b&w photos. The strong point of the book is the description of the decision making processes, the sketches of the personalities involved and the many misjudgements and misunderstandings that bothered both sides, while embarking on an improbable war. Recommended, especially in conjunction with Martin Middlebrook's excellent book "The Fight for the Malvinas" as a balance from the Argentinian side.

Definitive history of the Falklands War
Sir Max Hastings and Simon Jenkins have written a masterpiece in "Battle for the Falklands".In a single volume, between the two authors they provide a comprehensive look at the diplomatic efforts and an unparalleled record of the events on the ground.

Almost 30 years later, what lessons does the Battle for the Falklands have for the world?The lessons from "Aftermath" contain lessons learned that are still very applicable today.There is an oft quoted maxim in the US Military that "Amateurs talk about strategy, dilettantes talk about tactics, and professionals talk about logistics."The Falklands battle only serves to reemphasize that lesson.The Argentine soldiers had stockpiles of materiel in the towns that never made it out to the field.The British soldiers had to completely redesign their logistics plan when they lost a significant portion of their helicopter fleet when the Atlantic Conveyor sank.

After two major American wars with instantaneous reporting from embedded reporters, the world does not have the patience to wait two weeks for news from the front.More importantly, there are lessons here for releasing information to the media.In the battle for Goose Green, the defenders heard media reports that the British were ready to attack.Until that moment in time, the defenders had no idea the British were even in the area.

From a battle study perspective, the book contains all the important elements - the strategic context for the battle, the sequence of events, and the units involved.It also contains the most important element - that of the personal histories of the men involved in the fighting.

The only perspective missing is that of the defenders.Considering the nation was run by a military junta whose only goal was to stay in power, we will probably never see the opposing side of the war.Overall, it's a fantastic book that would do justice to any military historian's library.

A special war
The Falklands war was one of the most peculiar wars of the 20th century.
Argentine`s Galtierei was a gambler who lost against the determined Mrs Thatcher and her "crew". But today he would perhaps have got away with it.

The authors have described the development of the conflict very thorougly,
with interesting descriptions of the considerations on both sides, and of the battles. Exciting subject - well written!
... Read more

Product Description
For many people it was 3 Commando Brigade, commanded by Major General Julian Thompson, and made up of Royal Marines and Para's that recaptured the Falklands. Yet 5th Infantry Brigade played a key and until now little acknowledged role in this extraordinary saga. Cobbled together in haste (having been stripped of its assets to bring 3 Commando Brigade up to strength), it comprised principally of two Guards battalions (2nd Scots and 1st Welsh) and the Gurkhas. Many felt it was inadequately trained when it sailed from Southampton on the QE 2 and this view was given substance by early disasters such as the tragedy at Bluff Cove. Yet by the end, its contribution, of which Tumbledown is the best known, could not be denied. Why then was its commander (Brigadier Tony Wilson) so conspicuously ignored when the medals and decorations were handed out? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

On sea, On land
Exceptionally well written story.If you are a combat leader in the military today, purchase a copy, you won't regret it.

Battalion level view of Combat
Nick Vaux's memoir of his experiences as a Commando (battalion level) commander during the Falklands Island War should be mandatory reading for anyone aspiring to tactical command.His book, well written and entertaining, provides valuable insight into the stresses and strains that affect the commander.Battle focused training, hasty planning, and the effects of the environment on combatants are also topics that he addresses.

Outstanding narrative of leadership during Falklands.
Nick Vaux commanded the 42 Commando during the Falklands campaign and has written about it in this non-fiction work.This engaging, fast read follows his command from England to the Falkland Islands where the unit suffers appalling conditions and undergoes horrendous demands but has a spectacular fight in the final liberation of the island.This is highly recommended for members of the profession of arms and provides other readers a sense of the desperate conditions of modern war. ... Read more

Product Description
This large format, highly illustrated book tells the story of the extraordinarily swift British response to the invasion of the Falkland Islands by the armed forces of Argentina in 1982.

It is now 20 years since those events unfolded, since the "task force" set sail with only five days notice. The book describes how this mammoth effort of 110 ships and 28,000 men was put together, with sufficient logistical backing, and shows how the victory was accomplished within the limited resources available.

It also tells how a skilled force of highly trained professional soldiers, sailors and airmen were able to dislodge the Argentineans leading to one of the most outstanding military feats of the late twentieth century.

Illustrated with over 70 color photographs as well as numerous black and white photographs, illustrations, charts and maps. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first serious in-depth analysis of the role of air power in the Falklands conflict. A number of instant books were published in the 1980s soon after the events in the South Atlantic bases had occurred; it is now time for a more reflective and analytical work.

The book is a comprehensive history of the role of British and Argentinean air power in the conflict. The narrative is enhanced with extracts from interviews with personnel involved. Many of the book's illustrations, from the collections of participants rather than official sources, are published here for the first time.

Details of individual aircraft and ships are given with and a detailed chronology of the course of the conflict. The book, written by a respected military writer and researcher who is Head Librarian at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Shrivenham, sets out to position the war in a historical perspective, and to draw conclusions and lessons from the campaign which are applicable today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The definitive work on a forgotten war
A day by day detailed account of this largely forgotten conflict. One thing that I found quite interesting of this book is that it has a 360° degree vision of the War, with both Argentinian and British accounts of the conflict.

For anyone interested in modern air warfare this will be a very welcome addition.

Very good book on the subject
Falklands war, 1982, between Argentina and Britain, has been and remains a fascinating subject for modern aviation warfare enthusiast. The campaign that captures the imagination by the challenges taken by British task force and Argentinean counter effort focused on preventing the landing. During avery short period of engagement (1st May - 14 June)over a small piece of land, many air battles were fought, resulting in dozens of aircraft shot down, several ships sank, many 'first time' and 'record breaking' events.Not surprisingly, the first books began to appear back in 1983, shortly after the end of hostilities. Since then, several books became available, accompanied by many more articles in very respectable aviation publications - Air Enthusiast - to name one.
This book, up till now, is the best one available on the subject.
General: the quality of the book is great; I personally like album format books, so this one fits my library perfectly. With many color and b/w photos, some - rarely seen in publications on the topic, the book gives a good and easy reading.
The book is divided into 2 main sections - War Chronology and Assessment.
War Chronology - taking coverage of historical background, pre war, invasion, shooting war and post war operations. The information is presented in day by day chronology of events. All the events are connected to the people, particular aircrafts and ships. The data is given from both sides - British and Argentinean.
Assessments - data on aircraft types, weapons and their roles are covered together with individual aircrafts and ships.
The book is not an encyclopedia of Falklands campaign - it lacks some features available in other sources, but a well done research and comprehensive coverage of the conflict from historic perspective. One would wish more details on the Argentinean side, pilot stories, ship attack profiles and aerial engagement diagrams. It will be great if we could see the people that made the history from both sides - pilots.
This book will be a great complementary to any aviation enthusiast, interested in modern aviation warfare and history. Although, it would be more fair to give this book 4.5 but I give it 5, as I liked it very much.
... Read more

Product Description
Every member of the armed forces who took part in the Falklands Campaign of 1982 can claim that his particular role was unique in that it was experienced by himself alone.But in so far as it is possible for one thing to be more unique than another, Ewen Southby-Tailyour's role certainly qualifies for that accolade.

In 1977 he was ordered to the Falkland Islands to command the Royal Marines detachment then stationed there and to restructure the defence procedures for the Islands over the following year.During this time he also conducted an exhaustive study of the coastline, carrying out the only detailed survey to be made of many of the beaches and their immediate approaches since the mid-nineteenth century. He returned to England in 1979 and when the Argentinians invaded the Islands three years later he immediately put his unquestionably unique experience and information at the disposal of the Task Force then being rapidly assembled.He added one priviso, that he be allowed to accompany the Force.Brigadier (then) Julian Thompson had no hesitation in accepting both his offer and his terms, and in very short time he was heading south once more.

Reasons in Writing tells his story largely through the medium of diaries and letters written during his peacetime tour of duty in the seventies and the war itself.As he explains, his somewhat maverick role did not always met with the approval of someof the more conventionally-minded senior officers, but although modesty restrains him from making such a claim, there can be no doubt that, without his unrivalled knowledge of the Islands, the job which the Task Force so successfully accomplished would have been immeasurably more difficult and taken considerably longer.

Reasons in Writing, is unlikely to be rivaled for its immediacy, insight and deep and genuine feeling for the Islands themselves, based on experience gained (unlike any other participant civilian or service) before, during and after that austral winter of 1982. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Narcissism, Nineties Style
After terrible disappointment and mind-bending boredom inflicted by the author's "Falkland Islands Shores", I promptly committed an admittedly irrational act and returned for more.

Yes, this author is a skilled raconteur, but one can't escape the feeling that he has been dining out on these well-honed anecdotes for years and years.The last half of the book is devoted to the 1982 Falklands War, with every conceivable pat upon his own camo-clad back, but did we really need to know the details of his vasectomy?Does his having roundly dissed his commander, aka Colonel Strawberry, portray a disciplined and loyal officer?And why on earth would we want to know that he got tanked on Black Velvets at the Guinness tent at Cowes?

This book reverberates to the overwhelming refrain of "I-I-I-I, me-me-me-me".Pass up this narcissistic paen by a Royal Marine peon.Read Nick Vaux's "Take That Hill!" instead.

A Well-Chosen Title by A Controversial Author
There are many things to like about this colorful and delightfully personal memoir by one of the most centrally-placed participants in the Falklands Conflict.Southby-Tailyour's role in helping senior British commanders understand their battlefield and ultimately choose their landcourse of action was pivotal.He describes his contribution in abundantdetail, going back to his pre-war posting in Stanley with his wife andchildren and his rocky, sometimes bitterly frustrating relations with theFalklands civil authorities, to covering how his detailed knowledge of thegeography and weather later influenced wartime operational analysis.Mostimportant, however, are the details he provides about his strangelyunconventional role during the land campaign itself, specifically duringthe amphibious assault at Port San Carlos and the catastrophe that befellSir Galahad and Sir Tristram in the climactic days of the Battle forStanley.Readers from other armies will be fascinated by the esprit andcourage of the British marines as well as the seemingly murky anddisorganized mission analysis and situational thinking of both British seaand land commanders.The complexities of British military-politicalrelations is richly illustrated on several levels.In all, this book is animportant contribution to our understanding of the Falklands Conflict andis delightful to read thanks to the first-hand knowledge, enthusiasm andeccentricity of its author.

A Well-Chosen Title by A Controversial Author
There are many things to like about this colorful and delightfully personal memoir by one of the most centrally-placed participants in the Falklands Conflict.Southby-Tailyour's role in helping senior British commanders understand their battlefield and ultimately choose their landcourse of action was pivotal.He describes his contribution in abundantdetail, going back to his pre-war posting in Stanley with his wife andchildren and his rocky, sometimes bitterly frustrating relations with theFalklands civil authorities, to covering how his detailed knowledge of thegeography and weather later influenced wartime operational analysis.Mostimportant, however, are the details he provides about his strangelyunconventional role during the land campaign itself, specifically duringthe amphibious assault at Port San Carlos and the catastrophe that befellSir Galahad and Sir Tristram in the climactic days of the Battle forStanley.Readers from other armies will be fascinated by the esprit andcourage of the British marines as well as the seemingly murky anddisorganized mission analysis and situational thinking of both British seaand land commanders.The complexities of British military-politicalrelations is richly illustrated on several levels.In all, this book is animportant contribution to our understanding of the Falklands Conflict andis delightful to read thanks to the first-hand knowledge, enthusiasm andeccentricity of its author. ... Read more

Product Description
Sharkey Ward commanded 801 Naval Air Squadron, HMS Invincible, was senior Sea Harrier adviser to the Command, flew over sixty missions and was awarded DSC. Yet had he followed all his instructions to the letter, Britain might well have lost the Falklands War. HIs dramatic first-hand story of the air war in the South Atlantic is also an extraordinary, outspoken account of inter-Service rivalries, bureaucratic interference, and dangerous ignorance of the realities of air combat among many senior commanders. As Sharkey Ward reveals, the 801 pilots were fighting not just the enemy, exhaustion, and the hostile weather, but also the prejudice and ignorance of their own side. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Sea Harriers
A very interesting book and I still dont know what to make of it - you would have thought that Sharkey won the falklands war on his own (and the squadron).
This is especially confronting when reading other books like Vulcan 607 and other historical books that attribute very little to the harrier force -especially on CAP and ground attack.
In saying that it is probably the best book on understanding how the task force operated it's air cover and covers some of the "politics" of being in the task force

Brave and honest men are useful in war but ¨useless¨ in peace
Lt Com. Ward has written a fascinating and honest memoir about his participation in the Falklands War of 1982 and he reveals many interesting details of the action there. He was the CO of 801 NAS, equipped with Sea Harriers and based on the brand new carrier "Invincible". Half the book is decoted to the prewar months, when Ward and his pilots were preparing for combat in a most professional way, absolutely dedicated to their duty and doing their utmost for proficiency in the air. Despite some teething problems of the Sea Harrier, they expertly managed to take the most out of the Blue Fox radar, they practised night missions and strikes and they explored the innermost secrets of the close air combat. As a result, 801 NAS was a tremendous outfit in 1982, having beat US Aggressors 27-10 and F-15s 7-1! Ward does not imply that there was no anxious moments during the actual campaign and in many cases praises the Argentine pilots for their curage and flying skill which was really breath taking! Superior tactics and weapons (i.e. AIM-9L all-aspect missiles) won the day for the British but there are also some bitter battles to be won against the bureaucracy and the Navy people who didn't know or didn't care to learn about the Sea Harrier operational abilities and liabilities. Ward faced opposition many times and he even clashed head-on with his immediate superior but he preserved his integrity and proved that wars are won by a different kind of people than those who teem the corridors of peace-time military hierarchy. His visit to the Falklands after their liberation produced some very interesting notes and the insulting behavior of the RAF against this war hero with three air-to-air "kills" is extremely frustrating. The book has some nice black and white photographs in two sections, three diagrams of particular air engagements (Sea Harriers against Mirage III and Pucaras on 1 May 1982 and against Daggers on 23 May) and an appendice of air combat fundamentals for the layman. Highly recommended!

Sharkey sure is no wall flower
Like him or hate him, Sharkey is a colorful figure. The book makes very interesting reading although its seems a tad biased in favor of Sharkey.... in my humble opinion!

Fascinating view of the Falklands War from the sharp end
Commander Ward led the Royal Navy's 801 Sea Harrier squadron against the Argentinean Air Force during the 1982 Falklands War.
Apart from his vivid writing and fascinating descriptions of combat, his in-depth involvement in the development of the Sea Harrier as a weapons platform (he was director of the program) lend the book even more credibility and interest.
Extraordinary too are the facts about the contrasting abilities of the two Sea Harrier squadrons involved.800 squadron, embarked in the flagship, were far less capable at air combat due to their inability to make the most of the Sea Harrier's avionics package.
The force commander too, seems to have been less than understanding of the capabilities of the aircraft.
Finally Commander Ward comments with great candour on the politics of the Royal Navy and Airforce and the reluctance with which the success of the Sea Harrier was accepted.
Altogether an intriguing book on all levels - the detailed descriptions of combat; the development of the Sea Harrier; the idiocy of Whitehall bureaucracy.
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Falklands conflict or indeed in modern air combat.

You will learn a lot about modern naval air warfare
Sharkey immerges the reader in the world of sea harrier before and during the Falklands war. The book is well written, being both precise and exciting. It depicts with maestria the tactics and technics of naval air warfair as seen from the deck and from the cockpit. It also describes all the hassle of interservice rivalries (mainly between the navy and fleet air arm, and RAF and Navy).

Sharkey's tactical points of view are convincingly explained and supported by real cases. However it seems definitely one-sided (Sharkey himself admit it) and I guess I should read another Falklands war story as seen from the Navy or the RAF (although it seems they were not really present on the battlefield) point of view.

In summary, this a good bookin which you will learn a lot about modern air warfare and carrier-based operations. ... Read more

Product Description
The extensive bibliography of the Falklands War has one glaring exception, the part played by the legendary Gurkhas. Regarded by many as the world's finest infantry soldiers, the fiercesome reputation of these Nepalese troops for bloodthirsty aggression and stealth put real fear into the Argentine troops and civil population. They sailed with 5 Infantry Brigade on the QE 2 and played a key role in the surrender of the occupiers.

Written by one of their officers, this book conveys the professional, personal and emotional aspects of the Gurkhas' involvement. It provides a unique insight into a fighting force surrounded by mystique. ... Read more

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Viva La Gurkhas
The Book was well written.I could not put it down for anything.The author has done wonderful job. The author's honest and accurate description is very commendable.I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I know the Gurkhas follower would enjoy the the book tremendously.I particularly like the actual and factual information in the book.The Argentines were not describing the Gurkhas accurately.I suppose that was the good projection of Gurkhas when the reality is distorted.The best part I ejoyed reading about the Gurkhas are the professionalism and discipline they show in the kaos of the battle field no matter where they are in the globe.I am proud say that their duty, devotion to soldiering and resposobility are next to none. I very strongly recomment this book to all the Gukhas followers.I'll always be the Gurkhas follower.Jai Gurkhas. ... Read more

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25th Anniversary of the Falklands War
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War. I was a kid when this war broke out.It seemingly came out of nowhere, even though there was a long history associated with it.I first read this book not long after the conclusion of the war.Reading it again 25 years later it still comes across as a nice, concise history of the conflict.To most Americans the Falklands seemed an absurd confrontation. This book provides a pretty good background for events leading up to and including the war.The determined Argentine position is contrasted by the almost absent-minded policy of the British Foreign Office.Included are the bumbling US efforts by Reagan and Haig to try and halt the war at the last minute.The US finally had to throw its lot in with the UK after several embarrassing episodes involving Jean Kirkpatrict at the UN.

The war itself was a throwback to another time.Similarities to Queens Victorias Little Wars of the 19th Century were certainly there, but that is where it ended.This would be a late 20th century conflict with all the modern military technology in play.Both sides would have pros and cons.The more professional and stronger British military was balanced somewhat by logistics, and by the advanatges Argentina had with closer land-based aircraft.Both sides would make the most of their positions, and each played a strong game.The Argentine Air Force, considered the weaker player within themilitary Juanta at the time, actually put in the best performance.

The vulnerability of the Royal Navy at San Carlos, aptly called Bomb Ally, could have lost the conflict for the British.British resources, while superior, were not abundant, and the Task Force sent under Sandy Woodward was only just adequate for the job.In the end it was the vastly superior quality of the British infantry, Royal Marines, Paras, Guards and Gurkhas that decisively tipped the balance on land, despite heavy odds.One is struck by the relatively light casualties in the conflict, especially on land.Argentine losses were higher for sure, but it seems both sides could have lost a lot more men considering the open nature of the fighting on land.The single greatest loss of life was the sinking of the aging Belgrano Cruiser, itself a very controversial act.
The war provided a fascinating study for NATO weapons systems, with both sides using them to advantage.

This book, put together by the British Times News experts on scene provides a very readable, and for the most part balanced account of the war.The tone may be slightly pro-British at times, but not excessively so.Most of the eye-whitness descriptions are British, and if the book suffers at all it is from a lack of Argentine perspective.Still, as an introductory book on the war I found that it holds up well after 25 years!
What the fate of the Falkland Islands will be in the future only time will tell.Could we see a second Falkland's War on the Horizon?

Incomplete
As with any war, the military aspect of it is only part of the story, and that is where the book fails.The war in the Malvinas was not between Britain and Argentina, it was between the Military Government in Argentina and the Argentinean people.Britain was a bystander that necessarily had to be involved.The country was falling apart, and, as is correctly highlighted, the governmment hoped to stir a wave of patriotism somehow.The Malvinas were as good an excuse as any.But there is no way a bunch of untrained, hungry kids (yes, kids), wearing cloth tennis shoes and thinking of nothing else but going home were going to win a war against Britain, regardless how many miles the English had to travel.The Argentineans were already distrustful of the military dictatorship (with good reason).If the military dictatorship in Argentina was at all concerned about winning, they would have made sure that the clothes and food donations being made throughout the country to support the troops would have actually gotten there (necessary morale boost).But nothing happened.The British were more efficient than they had hoped for and the rest is history.The Malvinas were an example of a government deliberately murdering its own people in a last gasp effort to survive.Britain is the smallest element of this story, and a book that doesn't address this fact is incomplete.

A small, but very significant war, excellently covered.
The Falkland Islands, (Islas Malvinas), are a windswept, rainy archipelago in the South Atlantic, peopled by persons of British descent who are largely engaged in sheep raising.Not a place to fight a bloody war over, you say?Wrong, and the Sunday Times Insight team does a most excellent job of explaining how and why the war came about, how it was fought, and how the British prevailed.

My fellow reviewer has excellently reported the problems faced by the United States in this war, and I can add nothing.Instead, I would like to address the Insight team's analysis of the problems faced by the Argentines and the British, commencing with the latter.

The lack of British anticipation of the Argentine invasion is detailed, as are the reasons for it.The Argentine plan was to present a fait accompli to the world, but the British were not prepared to abandon the islands so easily, even though they were 8,000 miles away.Instead, a makeshift armada was jury-rigged, and plans were made as the ships proceeded south.Distance continued to plague the British in terms of air battles, as heavy bombing was almost impossible.The Argentine planes had superior speed, but the British carrier-based Harriers were more manuverable and carried the day.Heavy weather equally bothered both sides.

The Argentine Navy was no match for the British and immediately retired to port after a single cruiser was torpedoed and sunk.The Argentine Air Force had no real bombers and used Skyhawks and Mystere fighter jets as bombers.The Argentine Exocet missile raised hob with British ships and the war may have gone differently had a few more been available.

The key difference was in the armies.The Argentines occupied the Falklands with a great many more troops than were available to the British, yet the British easily routed the Argentines.I agree with the Insight teams's conclusion that the reason lies in the fact that British soldiers are trained for warfare, which includes such things as washing clothes and dishes, digging latrines, making tents, and like menial tasks, as well as fighting battles.Argentine troops came from an army trained to break up riots, keep civil order, and the like, and the referenced menial tasks were deemed beneath their dignity. In a cold, windy, rainy place like the Falklands, under battlefield conditions, the Argentine Army broke down, and although many of their troops fought bravely, their units were simply "outtrained" and outmatched.

We now know that the Falklands, and their surrounding continental shelf, show extremely promising oil formations, and that Argentina's action may have been a prelude to further sub-Antarctic and Antarctic territorial claims.This the British could not endure, and so they fought.

This war had larger implications than first seen.Certainly, the course of Argentine history was greatly affected, as the country's military government fell after the defeat, and was replaced by a civilian-led democracy.Naval strategy, worldwide, changed after it was seen how a few well-aimed missiles could nearly destroy a fleet, and how aluminum-built vessels easily caught fire..The area remains a potential tinderbox, but is heavily garrisoned by British troops, who actually outnumber the local inhabitants.

This book is well written, well-supplied with photographs and maps, and is the best book on the topic, I believe.Very highly recommended to war buffs and students of history.

Even-handed explanation of a small war that changed a lot
The war in the south Atlantic over the Falkland Islands (Isles Malvinas) between Britain and Argentina in 1982 was one that seemed inevitable, and yet at the same time pointless. The historical record of ownership, well explained in the book, is a murky one, with neither nation having a paramount one. At that time, the military junta ruling Argentina was in a desperate state. The Argentine economy was in trouble again, and there was a growing undercurrent of popular discontent. Therefore, the leadership decided to launch a foreign war of expansion, based on two assumptions, only one of which was true.
They correctly believed that a successful invasion of the Falklands would unleash a wave of patriotism throughout Argentina that would submerge all the other problems in their society. However, they underestimated the resolve of Britain to maintain their control of the islands, and completely misread the position of most of the other nations in the world, especially the United States. It should have been obvious to the Argentines that the United States could not allow their NATO ally to be defeated, and therefore the Reagan administration ultimately would come down on the side of Britain.
The series of negotiations that led to war, described so well in the book, was a situation where both sides felt that they could not budge from their rigid positions. In many ways, there was a sense of inevitable tragedy about the positions taken by both the Argentines and the British. In this atmosphere, not even personal intervention by President Reagan could avoid the conflict. Of course, there was posturing between the major figures handling foreign policy for the Reagan administration. Specifically, Secretary of State Alexander Haig and Ambassador to the United Nations Jeane Kirkpatrick had opposing views that were played out in the press and served to complicate the issue.
Two major points in the book made a significant impression on me. The first was how outnumbered the British really were. Some of their victories were successful assaults against an entrenched enemy where they were outnumbered three and four to one. This is not to say that the Argentine forces simply gave up. They fought very well, in many cases the fighting was vicious hand-to-hand that was to the death. It truly was a war that was won by the bravery and tenacity of the British troops, and not really due to the technical prowess of the weapons. The second was the fact that a few more Exocet missiles could have led to an Argentine victory. The ones they had were able to inflict great damage to the British ships, and had the Argentines been able to hit the British aircraft carriers, it is most unlikely that the British could have won. To sum it all up, the clear conclusion is that while the British victory was total, it could have easily gone the other way.
While it will go down in history as a minor war over a very minor set of islands, the Falklands war ushered in a new era in warfare, in that ships were now more vulnerable than ever to weapons launched from great distances. It also led to a dramatic change in the Argentine political climate, leading to an end to the military rule that had carried out an extensive and one-sided civil war. This book will place you in the center of the action, military, diplomatic and political, and explains a great deal about how it all came about. ... Read more

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Falkland War
A different approach to the Falkland Island War. The authors take you on tour of the of the conflict from start to finish with out being opionated. This should be read by those who want a quick understanding on the conflict/ ... Read more

Product Description
'A required book for anyone who wishes to understand the Argentine situation before and after the Falklands War' GRAHAM GREENE Jimmy Burns was the only full-time British foreign correspondent to remain in Argentina covering the Falklands War. In The Land that Lost Its Heroes, he gives a detailed account of the military planning of the invasion, exposing not only the hidden motives and nature of Argentina's military regime, but also the pitifully inadequate reactions of both British diplomacy and intelligence. Burns exposes the duplicity of other Western nations and the international banking community and gives a vivid first-hand account of the end of the regime, the debt crisis and the return to democracy under Raul Alfonsin. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must in order to better understand the Argentine context
This book is very well written and has a very complete understanding of the facts leading up to the war. Excellent for any research paper or even for a simple pass time. ... Read more