Book Description
During the Falklands war Jerry Pook, a pilot in No. 1(F) Squadron RAF, flew air interdiction, armed reccon, close-air-support and airfield attack as well as pure photo-reccon missions. Most weapons were delivered from extreme low-level attacks because of the lack of navigation aids and in the absence of Smart weapons. The only way he could achieve results was to get low down and close-in to the targets and, if necessary, carry out re-attacks to destroy high-value targets.Apart from brief carrier trials carried out many years previously there had been no RAF Harriers deployed at sea. The RAF pilots were treated with ill-disguised contempt by their naval masters, their professional opinions ignored in spite of the fact that the RN knew next to nothing about ground-attack and reccon operations. Very soon after starting operations from the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes the squadron realized that they were considered as more or less expendable ordnance. The Harriers lacked the most basic self-protection aids and were up against 10,000 well-armed troops who put up an impressive weight of fire whenever attacked. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

R.A.F. Ground attack Falklands
This book is an interesting read for those with a passion for Jet Combat, the Falklands war and the inner workings of the modern military. It is unique in that a member of the airforce comes under the command of the Navy with perhaps typical tension and frustration. The tactics of air combat in the early 80's, set in a unusual environment make this book enjoyable to anyone who loves stories about fast jets! ... Read more

Book Description
In 1914 Great Britain's naval supremacy was challenged for the first time since Trafalgar. A century of Pax Britannica had convinced the public that the Royal Navy was invincible. But it was not, as von Spee demonstrated so ably at Coronel, and in Britain public bewilderment soon turned to anger.

First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, and Lord Fisher, First Sea Lord, ordered the destruction of von Spee's squadron. The Germans went to attack the Falklands and fell into the waiting clutches of a powerful British fleet. The British wreaked afamous revenge upon the Germans. ... Read more

Book Description
On the night of 1–2 April 1982, the Argentinian Junta led by Gen. Leopoldo Galtieri made its move against the Falkland Islands. On 3 April British Prime Minister Mrs. Margaret Thatcher faced an appalled and furious House of Commons to announce that Argentine armed forces had landed on British sovereign territory; had captured the men of Royal Marine detachment NP8901; had run up the Argentine flag at Government House; and had declared the islands and their population to be Argentine. This absorbing text by William Fowler details the land forces that contested the Falklands War. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good descriptions and interesting
It's a good book to get information about the Falklands Campaign, orders of battle, detailed equipment, forces involved and good pictures and plates. It is an excellent research.

The problem is that it is almost completely focused on British Forces and their point of view (event about statistics. I think you must have it if you are interested in the last modern war fought between two Western countries for an old "colonial" adjustment... ... Read more

Book Description
Drawing of a vast range of government archives previously classified as well as interviews with key participants, the first volume of the official history of the Falklands Campaign provides the most authoritative account of the origins of the 1982 war. In the first chapters the author analyzes the long history of the dispute between the difficulties faced by successive governments in finding a way to reconcile the opposed interests of the Argentines and the islanders and the constant struggle to keep the Islands viable. He subsequently gives a complete account of how what began as an apparently trivial incident over an illegal landing by scrap-metal merchant s on the island of South Georgia turned into a major crisis. Thanks to his access to classified material, Sir Lawrence Freedman has been able to produce a detailed and authoritative analysis which extends the coverage given by the Franks Committee Report of 1983. This volume is ultimately an extremely readable account of these events, charting the growingrealization within the British government of the seriousness of the situation, culminating in the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands at the start of April 1982. ... Read more

Book Description
This book suggests that institutional culture can account for a great deal of the activities and rationale of the Royal Navy. War highlights the role of culture in military organizations and as such acts as a spotlight by which this phenomenon can be assessed separately and then in comparison in order to demonstrate the influence of institutional culture on strategy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great story
Great story of what it is really like to be a harrier pilot in a war.The book goes into detail about the problems with equipment and bureacracy, the manoeuvres and strategies used to gain an advantage.This complements the descriptions of the actual air battles against the Argentinians.

Brilliant Indictment of Bureaucracy vs. Fighting Men
History of training and tactical development of Sea Harrier aircraft.Description of preparations and training as task force sails to Falkland Islands.Graphically exposes ship-to-ship and inter-service rivalries thatcompromise the mission.Describes command and staff failures to understandabilities of weapons systems causing unnecessary deaths and ship losses. Makes one wonder if wars are won because losers bureaucracy was moreincompetent than winners.

Great first person view of the Falkland's air war
Wonderfully blunt first person account of the Falkland's air campaign, the Harrier jet, and air combat in general. Read along side of Admiral Sandy Woodward's "100 days" on the naval campaign, one gets contrasting views of the same events. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the Falkland's war in general or in air combat in particular. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Updated look at the Falklands war
The author wrote this book 10 years after the war.The hype had faded but the interviews brought out details that were glossed over in the first books.The author does a decent job trying to look at the confict through the eyes of the Argentinian soldiers as well.I think this book paints a more neutral picture of the activities during the war.I thoroughly enjoyed it. ... Read more

Book Description
The announcement of the imminent withdrawal of the British Royal Navy's ice patrol ship HMS endurance in early 1982 prompted the Argentinian Junta in Buenos Aires to plan a military grab of the Falklands-a siege they assumed would succeed with little resistance. Such an adventure was attractive as a distraction for the Argentine public at a time of political unease. In April the Junta, led by Gen. Leopoldo Galtieri, made its move. This fascinating book examines the history, organization and equipment of the Argentine forces that battled for control of this remote British outpost. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Essential for journalists and historians
The author served along the British general in command of the Royal Marines Brigade in the Malvinas and later wrote Nine Battles to Stanley (published in 1999) that studied the ground war in much greater detail.Nicholas van der Bijl establishes that the 601st and 602nd Commando Units of the Argentine Army gave the British patrols a lot of trouble prior tothe final battles.He sheds new light on the battle for Goose Green byproving that an Argentine company there was made up of tough hand-pickedconscripts that had undergone Commando-training.I believe that this wasthe reason the Paras went through such a horrible time at Goose Green.Ienjoyed this book for its colour plates and pictures of the elite RI 25. It is a good companion to his latest book Nine Battles to Stanley (click"Book Search" to find it or otherwise you will makeno progress)in which he describes in great detail the ground war from theArgentine side, naming practically all the Argentine platoon commandersthat saw action on Mount Harriet and Two Sisters, describing in detail thenumerous Argentine platoon-sized nocturnal counterattacks that took placeand which involved roughly 600 Argentine conscripts and regulars.TheBritish commanders as his second books establishes, severely underestimatedthe Argentines, which resulted in higher (that could have otherwise beenavoided)casualties among the British patrolsand platoons that took thehills. ... Read more

Book Description
An important contribution to the political science and military history literature, this is the first book to present the Argentinean side of the battle for the Malvinas (Falklands) in May 1982. The author, a senior official in the Argentine Air Force who took part in the conflict himself, uses a wealth of documents, including previously unreleased British intelligence data and records of conversations between the top authorities, to construct a comprehensive account of the political and diplomatic aspects of the war, as well as the day-by-day military operations in the South Atlantic. The author begins by examining the facts and circumstances that put Great Britain and Argentina on a collision course, paying particular attention to the points at which war could have been avoided. He goes on to provide a detailed account of events, such as the attempts by the United States to intervene, the deployment of forces, the battle of May 1, the sinking of the cruiser ARA General Belgrano and the subsequent sinking of the British destroyer HMS Sheffield, the battle of San Carlos, the fight for Darwin-Goose Green, the march to Fitz Roy and Mount Kent, and the last stand of Puerto Argentino. In addition to offering a full portrayal of the battles and conflicts themselves, Moro also provides a cogent analysis of the interaction of political and military events in modern conflict, a particularly valuable case study of U.S.-Latin American relations, and a fascinating examination of weapons systems in modern warfare. Moro takes issue with published British reports that treat the war as a discreet event that is now over, arguing that the conflict is not only still alive but also threatens both hemispheric peace and U.S. influence in Latin America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Appalling
A sad and twisted account of an invasion that went awry when the invaded nation decided to fight back.On finishing this book, it is difficult to see how it might have been improved except by, perhaps, not writing it.The author's claims are ludicrous rhetoric, easily falsifiable with even the most cursory glance at the facts.One suspects that the entire work was meant to justify the Air Chief's failures as a commander, besides the obvious politically nationalist angle in a nation that has never really other than toyed with democracy.I predict it will be a best seller in Argentina and not really help educate Argentinians on the realities of the political situation (or the war itself) in any way.

The real story of the war that british will always hide
The whole world knows that if it werent because of the type of bombs Argies were using, more than a half, or maybe more of the fleet itself would be in the bottom of the sea right now...
This book tells the real story, the truth about what happened in this war. Argentine forces are not meant to be shown as heroic by Comodoro O. Moro, but they REALLY ARE... why? i'll tell u some facts that make this people really heroic, even if they lost the war: while argentine air force planes faced a highly sofisticated british technology, in land, beside their cannons, argentine anti air artillery made disasters on enemy harriers which were afraid and couldn't destroy, Port Stanley runway of 1,250mts of lenght, while argie fighters/bombers were tired of hitting british frigates of only 120mts lenght. AND THAT IS THE ONLY TRUTH THAT NO ONE CAN DENY.
About the Invincible, i talked with one of the pilots that attacked the ship, and i can affirm that: THE INVINCIBLE WAS ATTACKED because: a turbine was sent from england 2 replace in that aircraft carrier, because it entered port stanley docks by the end of august and it arrived to england on 17th september 1982, because in its external repairs you could see the new paint, because there is a pic of a runway with a bomb impact, because after its arrival to portsmouth it entered in dry docks 2 be repaired on the inside, because it was about 2 be sold2 australia and they offered the hermes in replace of the invincible.
The book express what the people who fought in that war saw with its own eyes, and u can buy it 2 prove that i'm not wrong and then compare with other british books that lie with their numbers
Give it a try and then make a review from it.
You wont be dissapointed

A Grave Disappointment
A glaring gap exists in the historical coverage of the Falklands War. That gap is due to the British monopoly in the writing of this war's history. The reader picks up Moro's book hoping and expecting to find a welcome new perspective, that of Argentina. The hopeful reader is destined to be disappointed, as the book is beset by severe deficiencies that render its value as negligible. The major flaw of this work is its credibility. The accounts presented are an obvious mixture of fact and fantasy that result in even the accurate narrations being cast in doubt. Wild claims of the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible being bombed and severely damaged are a good example, as are claims for British aircraft downed in fantastic numbers. Argentine forces are portrayed as heroic and effective to the extent that the uninformed is liable to believe that Argentina won the war.The reader is left frustrated, as it seems that the British accounts must be tainted with a lack of objectivity on occasion. Ruben Moro, however, does little but thicken the fog of uncertainty. Another disturbing flaw is the style in which the book is written. It is devoid of any objective and academic character, and is consumed by emotive and partisan rhetoric. At times the reader is impressed that he is reading an official history of the Galtieri Junta, published by the Ministry of Information of the time. History is yet to be graced by a serious and dependable Argentinian perspective of this war. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
In April 1982 the military government of Argentina, under General Leopoldo Galtieri, invaded the Falkland Islands, British sovereign territory in the South Atlantic. This act precipitated a diplomatic crisis and consequent British military action, action that resulted in a short but intense conflict and led to Britain successfully reclaiming the islands. In June 2002, exactly twenty years after the cessation of hostilities between Britain and Argentina, many of the participants in the 'Falklands Conflict', as it became known, came together at a major international conference. This conference, held at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and organized jointly by RMA Sandhurst and her sister institution Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, aimed to re-examine the events of spring 1982 from the perspective that only twenty intervening years can bring. The Conference mixed those who had participated in the events of spring and early summer 1982, diplomats, politicians, civil servants, soldiers, sailors and airmen, with historians, political scientists and journalists. The result was a fascinating discussion of the origins of the conflict, the political and diplomatic response to the Argentinean action as well as illuminating accounts of the military action to retake the islands, at every level of command. This edited volume brings together the various papers presented to the conference. These accounts and interpretations of the conflict shed new light on one of the most interesting and controversial episodes in recent British history. ... Read more

Book Description
Falkland Islanders were the first British people to come under enemy occupation since the Channel Islanders during the Second World War. This book tells how islanders' warnings were ignored in London, how their slim defenses gave way to a massive invasion, and how they survived occupation.

Book Description
Since he was in charge of the amphibious operations in the Falklands War, it goes without saying that there is no one better qualified to tell the story of that aspect of the campaign than Commodore Michael Clapp.

Here he describes, with considerable candor, some of the problems met in a Navy racing to war and finding it necessary to recreate a largely abandoned operational technique in a somewhat ad hoc fashion.During the time it took to 'go south' some sense of order was imposed and a not very well defined command structure evolved, this was not done without generating a certain amount of friction.

He tells of why San Carlos Water was chosen for the assault and the subsequent inshore operations.Michael Clapp and his small staff made their stand and can claim a major role in the defeat of the Argentine Air and Land Forces. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A singularly credible account.
2007 sees the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War of 1982. In the UK at least, it seems as though everyone and each of our television channels is reliving that war in one way or another. Some authors and commentators are simply climbing onto the bandwagon with material which, to put it simply, is suspect. NOT SO!, with this book.

Michael Clapp was "Commodore Amphibious Warfare" during the Falklands War and co-author Ewen Southby-Tailyour was a serving Royal Marine Officer during that same conflict and whose knowledge of the waters of the Falklands was so invaluable before during and even after the landings. It was Southby-Tailyour who warned the officer in charge (Not!, the Commanding Officer I hasten to add) of the party of Welsh Guardsmen on board the "Sir Galahad" to get ashore before they were attacked and offered assistance to this end. That officer, incidentally, refused the request and the Sir Galahad was later attacked with great loss of life.

Those, then, are the credentials of the two men who have collaborated in the writing of this book. It is an important historic document.

The Captain of any ship is "Master" of that ship. He also commands all the ship's boats and is ultimately responsible for ensuring the safe embarkation and disembarkation of all on board. Fromships lifeboats (even life-rafts) to assault craft, considerable training and expertise is required in getting passengers safely away and safely ashore. Never more so than when under fire from a belligerent enemy.

In early 1982, a hastily assembled Royal Navy Task Force was steaming towards the Falkland Islands which had been invaded by a foreign force. The British troops on board the various ships were tried and tested veterans of Northern Ireland but had no experience of what was to come. Worse still, apart from the Commandos, most had little or not experience in going to war by sea.

The responsibility for putting them safely ashore rested with their Royal Navy `chauffeurs' and that responsibility came down to Michael Clapp. In this book he reveals - with considerable honesty, the full story of the events that led to the resultant victory on land. In so doing he had to adopt old, forgotten methods in a bid to find common ground for all concerned. It upset some - but then nobody likes change foisted upon them, especially senior officers. Point is, it worked!

The reasons why San Carlos Water was chosen is fully explained and, with hindsight, is probably the one single factor - more than any other, that led to the eventual victory.

I can identify with a no-nonsense, straight-talking officer who cares not what feathers he may ruffle when given an important task. It says much for his style and the decisions he took that nobody - senior officer or below, has ever challenged his honesty or the importance of this book.

For those with an interest in the Falklands war of 1982, this is essential reading.

NM
(Retired British army major)

It takes Logistics to conduct the amphibious operations
1. I had read this book about two years ago and liked it great deal....Falkland war was a unique war in many respects. It was a war fought on doorsteps of adversary by a nation thousands of miles away. To regain a piece of land (or should I say an island) captured by not so weak enemy, whose logistics train was much much shorter was per-se a military operation, but in true sense it was first of all a major logistics exercise to make that military might reach that far from UK and then make that military might fight the battle. Operations actually were a much smaller part of the whole game.

2. Commodore Michael Clapp, was Commander of Amphibious Task Force of Royal Navy. He was the man at the most happening part of the war. It was very easy for him to push all the shortcomings and problems under the carpet and brag about the successes, which were by no means small. The virtues of the Victor are generally remembered and the vices forgotten. One must however remember that the ones who do not learn from history (past lessons) soon themselves become history. Commodore Clapp has been forthright in his approach and has very systematically brought out the chaos and problems of such operations. In the fog of war confusion and chaos would reign, but a side that minimises it, generally fares better.

3. He has highlighted as to how the then strategic perspective of UK had resulted into cutting of forces. How a maritime nation had become land centric and was reducing its naval forces. In such circumstances, it received a jolt at Falklands, which was contrary to the perception prevailing at that time. This jolt forced an ill prepared nation to gather itself and brace up for war. What was achieved in such a short span was commendable, but Cmde Clapp has done an essential service by putting the preparations and the war in correct perspective. Highlighting the plus and the minus dispassionately. Britain won the war, but few set backs due to logistics problems would have turned the tables. When at war one must fight whole-heartedly, but an analysis in retrospect is always very important to learn from them and not to repeat the same mistakes next time. Cmde Clapp deserves praise for doing that essential task, though it might have been unpleasant to do so.

4.A must read for those having interest in maritime affairs in general and in amphibious operations in particular.

Battle from the top
I found the book "Amphibious Assault falklands" veryinteresting. It gives us the perspective of one of the leaders of thecampain, and shows us all the considerations and planning before theassult. Together with the book "No picninc" I think this in oneof the most informative books about the war, if you want to know the warfrom the top.

Buried in logistics -- where's the war?
If you are writing about the Falklands War, this would be an important source book for details on some aspects. But if you want to know about the war, pick another book. Michael Clapp was Commodore (permanent rank wasCaptain) of the amphibious assault force, the naval officer in overallcommand of getting the marines a soldiers ashore along with their supplies.His book, written with a colleague, is a numbing and intensive descriptionof logistical matters liberally strewn with incomprehensible acronyms. Muchmuted complaining about bad communications and fuzzy organization. It's awonder the Argentines lost! Events outside his immediate concern get littlenotice. Sinking of the Belgrano and its consequences merits a meredismissal as left wing whining. There is no sense of humanity here at all.Still, one has to give credit for the enormous logistical task successfullycompleted at such a distance from home base. But it's easy to put down. ... Read more

Book Description
This is the untold story of the Falklands War as experienced by a below-decks seaman on one of the most important ships to be dispatched to the South Atlantic. It is a no-holds-barred account as seen through the eyes of a Royal Navy matelot. ... Read more

Book Description
Major General Julian Thompson first wrote No Picnic when the momentous events of April - June 1982 were fresh in his mind. As Commander of 3 Commando Brigade, he was at the heart of the planning and conduct of the War. Under his direct command had been the Royal Marine Commandos and the two battalions of the Parachute Regiment who conducted the lion's share of the fighting.No-one therefore is better qualified to tell the extraordinary story of there-taking of the Falkland Islands from the Argentineans. The author, now a celebrated military historian, has revised his earlier book and added, for this 25 Anniversary edition, more of his own personal thoughts and impressions.It is all too easy to overlook just how perilous and risky a venture this expedition to the depths of the Southern Hemisphere was.Victory and defeat hung in the balance. Even those who feel they know about this most remarkable of wars will learn more from reading this classic account. ... Read more

Book 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 Argentinians 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

Book Description
The dramatic account of the last British bomber raid — the long-range attack on Stanley airfield that opened the Falklands War.

Before dawn on May 1st, 1982, a lone RAF Vulcan B2 bomber made its way towards the runway at Port Stanley airport. It was aiming to strike the first blow of Britain’s campaign to retake the Falklands. The flight was the culmination of a huge military effort and was the longest-range attack in aviation history. It was also the last time that the RAF flew heavy bombers into combat, before the old techniques and equipment were replaced with the digital, fly-by-wire, precision-guided weaponry of modern warfare.

When war broke out, the Vulcan was already facing retirement. The aircraft had to be completely overhauled, and the story of how a seemingly endless list of problems and unexpected difficulties was overcome is a story of true British ingenuity.

The mission came perilously close to disaster. Two Vulcan bombers took off in the late evening of April 30th to begin a twelve-hour round trip to the Falklands. Within minutes of take-off, the lead Vulcan was forced to turn back because of mechanical difficulties, leaving Vulcan 607 and her crew alone to undertake a mission. Vulcan 607 is the dramatic retelling of this singular mission. Using extensive interviews with the combatants, residents of Stanley, and military command, Rowland White has reconstructed the flight and its preparation in gripping detail. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Wow!
This book is amazing.

I'm not normally into factual books, but this one took my fancy while back home in England and I had recently discovered the efforts to get Vulcan 558 restored and flying again - I saw one at an air show as a kid and it was awe inspiring, both the sight and the noise. It also didn't hurt that Clive Cussler, my favorite author, had a quote about the book on the back cover.

The book had me hooked immediately and I made time to read it instead of reading it when I had time. The story itself provoked a number of emotions being a Brit, firstly embarrassment and anger reading about the state of the RAF's fleet, but then an immense sense of British pride when the massive obstacles had been eliminated and the attack was on. I was 12 when the actual event took place, so didn't think it was a big deal. This book highlighted what an immense achievement it really was.

There is naturally a lot of acronyms involved throughout the story relating to Rank, job title or equipment etc. and they can get a bit confusing, but they are integral to the story and didn't break up the flow.

I really didn't want this book to end and I'm now looking for other books either Falklands war related or other British war related as I loved the way you could see the events unfold and how it all came together.

I'd recommend this to anyone who remembers the Falklands as a kid as it's a real eye opener. If you get the chance to see XH558 fly for the Falklands 25th commemoration you will see what all the fuss was about.

BTW - thanks Bill for your involvement on Ascension Island.

The Empire strikes back!
Like the author, I was ten years old at the time of the Falklands Conflict and I can remember it well. I can also remember the incredible noise when a Vulcan bomber made a low-level pass at a local airshow.These two memories made the subject matter immediately applealling.

Rowland White has accomplished a considerable feat in researching the conflict and the historical records concerning the Vulcan and its crews. It is questionable whether Britian made a significant impact (militarily) by bombing the Argentine forces at Stanley, but the raid undoubtably sent the message that Britain was taking the invading forces seriously.National pride and righteous indignation was the order of the day and the armed forces had the immediate support of the British public.

Not only has the author given a historically accurate account of the Falklands War but has also provided several accounts of Soviet activities during the Cold War - the incursions into British airspace and the monitering of British activities off the coast of Acsension Island were two ancedotes that the British public had very little idea of during that time.10 out of 10 for a well researched book and deserving of a 5 star rating.

I was there!
I was stationed on Ascension Island as the US Base Commander at the time of the Falkland war and played a part in the drama told in this book.The author, Rowland White has gone to great effort to gather the facts of this story and then weave them into a most interesting book.Military buffs and fliers everywhere should enjoy the planning and execution of this most daring raid.Well written and well told.

Bill Bryden ... Read more