The SAS in Action

Macdonald, Peter

ISBN 10: 0283060182 / ISBN 13: 9780283060182

Published by Sidgwick & Jackson, London, 1990

About this Item

192 pages. Illustrations (some in color). Appendices. Listing of SAS Operations of World War II, Falklands Casualties, SAS Specializations, and Bibliography. Inscription to Gotabaya Rajapaksa is signed by Lionel Balasuriya, near an address label pasted on fep. From 22 March 1991 - 21 August 2007 Lionel Balasuriya worked as a Director in Kenworth Corporation (U.K.) Limited. Lieutenant Colonel Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, RWP, RSP, psc, GR (born 20 June 1949) is a retired officer of the Sri Lanka Army, a former Secretary to Ministry of Defence and Urban Development of Sri Lanka. After serving through the early parts of the country's civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels, he retired from the army in 1992 and emigrated to the US. With the election of his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa as President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was appointed Defence Secretary in November 2005. Rajapaksa played a key role towards the successes achieved by the Sri Lankan Military in defeating the Tamil Tigers and ending Sri Lanka's 26-year-long civil war. Investigations on assassinations, abductions and assaults on journalist revealed that Gotabhaya directed a death squad to attack journalists that was outside the Army command structure during this time 17 journalists and media workers were killed and others were either assaulted or abducted. DJ has some wear and edge tears. This is a comprehensive account of the battles and campaigns, weapons and equipment, training and tactics of Britain's Special Air Service. Included in the text is coverage of the Regiment's wars in the jungles of Malaya and Borneo in the 1950s and 1960s, the counter-terrorist campaign in Northern Ireland, the behind-the-lines actions during the Falklands War and the Iranian Embassy siege of 1980. There is also information on what it takes to win the beige beret and how the SAS compares with other countries' special forces. The Special Air Service (SAS) is an elite special forces unit of the British Army. The SAS was founded in 1941 as a regiment, and later reconstituted as a corps in 1950. The unit undertakes a number of roles including covert reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, direct action and hostage rescue. The corps presently comprises 22 Special Air Service Regiment, the regular component under the operational command of United Kingdom Special Forces, and 21 (Artists) Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve) and 23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve), which are reserve units under the operational command of 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade. The Special Air Service traces its origins to 1941 and the Second World War. It was reformed as part of the Territorial Army in 1947, named the 21st Special Air Service Regiment (Artists Rifles). The 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, which is part of the regular army, gained fame and recognition worldwide after its televised rescue of all but one of the hostages held during the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege. Seller Inventory # 73306

Bibliographic Details

Title: The SAS in Action

Publisher: Sidgwick & Jackson, London

Publication Date: 1990

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very good

Dust Jacket Condition: Good

Signed: Signed by Author(s)

Edition: Presumed First Edition, First printing.

About this title

Synopsis:

"SAS IN ACTION" is the story of how this unit has become one of the most admired special forces in the world today. The first section of the book looks at the fighting history of the regiment, from its beginnings in World War II through to the 1970s. The second section examines the role of the regiment in the past 15 years, including their counter-terrorist activities in Northern Ireland and in the Falklands. The final section looks at the SAS today, describing the gruelling selection procedure and how the regiment is structured so that it survives and keeps many of its activities secret. This section also looks at what the regiment would do in the event of war in Europe, and how it prepares for this possible task. It also assesses the SAS in comparison with other special forces in the world today including the Russian Spetsnaz, the US Special Forces and the German GSG9 antiterrorist squad.