"Bravo Two Zero" book review

[spectr17]

"Bravo Two Zero" is the true story of an 8 man British SAS team inserted into Iraq during the Gulf War to hunt down and destroy SCUD launchers. The team is quickly compromised and their mission is changed to a run for their lives. Only 5 make it out.

The book is written by Andy McNab, the team leader. McNab is very good at setting the scene, going into the subtle details and nuances of grunt life. Being British, the language and terms are a bit odd but he explains them well enough even us Yanks who don't speak the Queen's English can understand.

McNab's detailing of the torture he and his teammates endured is not easy to read. I've always been fascinated by prisoner tales and how they coped mentally and physically while captured, so this book is a great insight into how he coped for 8 weeks of pure hell.

Four bayonets up on this one. I found the papaerback at Amazon.com for about $7.00 in good condition if I remember right.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-h...1810761-8595025 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/103-1810761-8595025)

The BBC made a movie based on McNab's story starring Sean Bean ("Sharpe" movies, "GoldenEye,&quot as McNab.

McNab has also gone on to write several other good fiction books with military spec ops themes, 'Immediate Action', 'Remote Control' and 'Crisis Four'. Guess I need to pick one of them up too.

"The One That Got Away" by Chris Ryan, is a slightly different yet equally entertaining version of the events of the Bravo Two Zero mission.

[Grey Taylor]

I read Bravo Two Zero and agree, it was great. ###I especially enjoyed McNab's feelings towards his torturer's after he returned to regular life.

Immediate Action cover's McNab's life up until he left for the Gulf, including his application to the SAS. ###Very interesting and a a great read.

[Super 61]

I haven't read it yet, but I think that everyone should also read Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden. ###It is about Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia, one of the first times that the US faught against al-Qaeda troops.

[spectr17]

Grey,

I'm reading Chris Ryan's book now and have McNab's "Immediate Action" book up next.

Super61,

I read the online version of Blackhawk Down a few years ago when it came out and I think I'll get the book. Do you know if the book is any different than the online version?

[Super 61]

The print version is different from the online version.

[Hook]

Those are some good books. Here is another that is a must read in my opinion.
>> "Reflections of a Warrior" by Miller, Franklin D. <<

A Special Forces solder in Vietman. Awarded the CMH. ###

[mustystubs]

I read the book after buying at a used book store. ###Great story. ###I passed it around the office and several others read it also. ###It drew universal praise.

Then I had the good fortune to stumble upon the movie on Netflix. ###It's tough to make a movie that contains all the details relayed in a book but the good old BBC did a credible job.