ULTIMATE SPECIAL FORCES

Introduction

Perhaps the most striking of heroic images, crack forces like the US Delta Force and British SAS hit the headlines with dramatic and daring feats when they are called upon to deal with seemingly irretrievable crises. But how much do we really know about these highly sophisticated combat units? Ultimate Special Forces, written by Hugh McManners, a former commando and defence correspondent for The Sunday Times, traces the discipline and principles behind each force and reveals their little-known techniques, specialized equipment, and outstanding military achievements by land, sea and air.

Advanced operational tactics
Whether it be HALO (high altitude, low opening) free-falling from 28,000 feet on a night-time parachute mission, sabotaging supply lines in hostile territory, or placing a limpet mine on the hull of an enemy warship, discover what it is really like to be on a critical mission with one of the world’s elite fighting forces. Recounting many famous operations - from the SAS Iranian Embassy siege in London to the assault on Baghdad in the 2003 Iraq War - as well as missions to combat despotic warlords and enable humanitarian disaster relief, Ultimate Special Forces reveals how highly trained military units perform the vital and dangerous tasks demanded by every kind of extreme situation, both in peacetime and in war.

Special weapons and equipment
From historic weapons, such as the Stun gun and the Bazooka, to the very latest combat equipment including the Colt M16 assault rifle and the FN P60 submachine gun, this book covers all the important weapons and specialized equipment used by today’s special forces. Aircraft, submersibles, combat vehicles, missiles, grenades, assault rifles, advanced communication equipment, medical kit - everything a well-equipped military force needs to survive and achieve tactical objectives in extreme conditions, from the arctic to the desert, are revealed here in full-colour.