Falklands War

Product Information

They took up defensive positions in and around Government House and on the approaches to Stanley to protect the Governor and delay the enemy’s advance.

With the sudden Argentine invasion of the remote Falkland Islands on 2 April 1982 the United Kingdom found itself at war.A full sized aircraft carrier capable of handling conventional aircraft and more and better equipped anti-aircraft ships would have made an enormous difference. Vince Bramley – former 3 Para in the Falklands and veteran of the battles of Mount Longdon and Wireless Ridge – brought us one of the most visceral first-hand accounts of the fighting in the Falklands ever seen.

I commend the book to those interested in gaining a more complete understanding of the Falklands campaign and to those who wish to gain a better understanding of leadership and courage in war at the tactical level.It also features valuable insights into the conditions experienced by both sides during the conflict and the effects of Argentine occupation on the Falkland islanders themselves and those fighting. The game offers a further metaphor too: for Gamerro, it conveys something of how the war was experienced in Argentina through contemporary news reports. Written by one who experienced at first hand that reality, Ordeal by Exocet is a gripping read for historian, enthusiast and general reader alike. Contained are firsthand accounts of the air-sea battles and landings that wrested the islands back the Argentine force. I'm giving it three stars because over the course of the book I decided that I should have probably just read the wikipedia page on the Falklands War.

This is a book that is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the history of that conflict. Mike Curtis, a former coal miner and likely Welsh rugby international, served with 2 Para in the Falklands before going on to join the SAS. Access to read all our leading aviation magazines online - meaning you can enjoy the likes of FlyPast, Aeroplane Monthly, AirForces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, Aviation News, Airports of the World, PC Pilot and Airliner World - as soon as they leave the editor’s desk. I was a serving RN Officer in April 1982 and was always surprised that the actions of the very brave Royal Marine detachment NP8901 did not have their story better told at the time. The book focusses on the military side of the story, but obviously politics and local history are part of the cause of this conflict and needed to be included.In more recent years (and I’ve heard this said myself by Argentine veterans) it transpires that many of the interviews felt a bit restricted and forced and that there was a definite sense of ‘get it right’ from the Argentine military to their still-serving veterans who were not allowed much lateral space to vent their full thoughts.

The book covers: preparation and departure; at sea; planners and hoaxers; Ascension Island; and HMS Intrepid in "bomb alley". After the war, and through to 1984, he pieced them together again and created one of the most compelling first-hand narratives of the Falklands War by those who were there throughout the invasion, occupation and liberation with everything from the weather to the scraps of news of the task force, the hopes of liberation, the local gossip and the Argentine propaganda as well as a detailed insight into life under military occupation. Arming a few dictators but not others: The politics of UK arms sales to Chile (1973–1989) and Argentina (1976–1983). His account describes his experience from the moment the ship was hit until he was winched to safety. It is enhanced by a good introductory Foreword by General Julian Thompson and is certainly well recommended.The second, in Bosnia, Curtis found himself working closely with all factions and leading a protection team guarding visiting heads of state. The one thing I wish this book would have had is an epilogue that talks about the outcomes of the war. My subject is no picture book saint but a very human priest, wracked by doubt, who struggles to be a true witness of his faith in challenging circumstances.