Product 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.

Customer Reviews (1)

An excellent case study of the "Operational Art" of amphibious operations
"3 Commando Brigade in the Falklands", by Julian Thompson, is a first-person perspective on the ground campaign portion of the Falklands War.Thompson is uniquely qualified to tell this tale, as he was the overall ground commander of the initial amphibious assault to retake the Falkland Islands from the Argentine forces.This book is his memoirs of those fateful days in 1982.

Maj Gen Thompson provides the reader with his perspectives on the initial notification of 3 Commando Brigade and the preparations for the Brigade's departure from England.His candid analysis asks many tough questions - why did it take so long for the forces to be notified?On March 29th, British Fleet Headquarters at Northwood knew about Argentine preparations to invade the Falklands.Thompson walks the reader through the process for standing up the Task Force to retake the Falklands.Included with this analysis, was a discussion of how 3 Commando was organized, and also was other units would be attached for the amphibious assault.This was essential background for readers like me who are unfamiliar with British Marine organization, doctrine and operations.

The United States Marine Corps uses the PERMA (Plan, Embark, Rehearse, Maneuver, Assault) model for conducting amphibious operations.As Thompson describes the Commonwealth preparations for battle, it is easy to see how similar the two planning functions are.Thompson describes the final preparations at Ascension Island where the forces rehearse and embark for the assault on the Falklands.While in port, it is complicated to plan which units and equipment embark on a given ship.As this flotilla headed south, the staff decided to conduct "cross decking", a non-trivial action to reallocate personnel and equipment while underway.

3 Commando Brigade conducted the initial amphibious assault on East Falkland island.Thompson discusses the staff's decision making process for selecting the assault beach.What was the defensive posture of the Argentines?How big was the landing area?How deep was the landing zone?Intriguiging as this dicussion was, Thompson also discussed the role of the Special Air Service (SAS) and the Special Boat Service (SBS) personnel.This was the first book I had read on the Falklands that provided any insight into how these special forces were used in the context of the overall operation.

As expected, the book does an excellent job of covering the combat operations on East Falkland island, with 3 Commando Brigade as the centerpiece of the discssion.The recovery of South Georgia island is briefly mentioned (4 1/2 pages) as 3 Commando Brigade was still embarking at Ascension Island as these operations occured.The focus of the book is on 3 Commando Brigade's wartime contributions, so it should be expected for these other actions to be recognized, but not in the same level of detail.

Where applicable, the book is supported with charts showing the force disposition in support of the operations.Overall, I found the book to be an excellent case study in the 'Operational Art' of amphibious operations.It is an excellent complement to"The Battle for the Falklands", by Max Hastings and Simon Jenkins, which reviews the Falklands War from both the military and political strategic level of war."ARGENTINE FIGHT FOR THE FALKLANDS", by Martin Middlebrook, focuses on the tactical (battalion) level of the war .Despite being in its third printing, the book still has a few typographical errors, but these are minor distractions from an otherwise excellent book. ... Read more

Product 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 who shared the terror of the first encounter with Argentinean forces when South Georgia was retaken from the invaders in Operation Paraquat.HMS Antrim lead the first attack into the North Falklands Sound where she destroyed enemy defenses and later became part of the main force anti-aircraft defenses in the infamous 'Bomb Alley' or San Carlos Water. During one of the many air attacks the ship was struck by a bomb that destroyed her defensive missile system, but through pure chance the bomb did not explode and remained aboard wedged in the aft 'heads'. All around the stricken ship other RN vessels were taking extreme punishment from the almost continuous onslaught from low-flying Argentinean jets. HMS Antelope, HMS Coventry and the Atlantic Conveyer were all lost within a short period whilst the army was trying to establish a bridgehead. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

His story is a vivid re-enactment of the military encounters of his times.
David Yates' BOMB ALLEY; FALKLAND ISLANDS 1982 ABOARD HMS ANTRIM AT WAR tells of the Falklands War as experienced by a below-decks sailor who participated in the first encounter with the Argentinean forces when south Georgia was retaken from the invaders in Operation Paraquat. His ship lead the first attack into the Falklands and destroyed enemy defenses, and came repeatedly under attack. His story is a vivid re-enactment of the military encounters of his times. ... Read more

Product Description
Contains the personal reflections of Admiral Sandy Woodward, during the hours up to the surrender at Port Stanley, of the repulse of the Argentinian navy and defeat of their air forces, of the sinking of the "Belgrano" and of the landing at Carlos Water, 8000 miles from home. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Read this if you study this campaign
I read this in parallel with Hastings ("Battle for the Falklands"; published soon after the war and sadly inaccurate on details, but good for UK political background and overall coverage) and Middlebrook ("The Argentine Fight for the Falklands"; he had access to Argentine records and participants and is more accurate on details, with a good view from the other side).

Adm. Woodward's memoirs are required reading if you want to understand this complex land/sea/air campaign, because he was the one who was there and did it. The narrative is at times almost dipolar; sometimes thoughtful/insecure/self-effacing and at others cold/hard/kiss my arse. Hey, I never met an actual admiral, maybe that's how they are. The tactical details don't add much to what you get from other sources, but he does give a little in the way of logistics, a seldom appreciated aspect of strategic war. His respect and admiration for the men and officers under his command comes through loud and clear. Read it, you may not like it (or him) but you will definitely learn something.

Well Written & Interesting Account by Royal Navy Commander
I am not a navy man, but I did enjoy the personal perspective from which this tale was told about an important historical event (the Falklands War).I really felt part of the action and inside the head of a man who had to command the Royal Navy battle group and the difficult decisions he had to make.The war was short but quite vicious from a human and material perspective.Also, I did not realize how much weather affected his operations.

In short, It was a very good read and I would definitely recommend.Note to the publisher; add a few more maps in the next addition!

Fantastic battle study of the British naval campaign
British Admiral Sandy Woodward recalls his experiences from the 1982 War in the Falklands in this 1992 classic, "One Hundred Days: The Memoirs of The Falklands Battle Group Commander."He offers very candid and poignant perspectives on what it was like to bear the burden of command of this naval armada.Even in 2010, this is an important work since the War in the Falklands is still the only war featuring a successful, sustained aerial assault of jet aircraft against a naval battle group.

Sir Max Hastings and Simon Jenkins "The Battle for the Falklands" is still the most complete book on the campaign, featuring not only the combat operations, but also the political perspectives of London, Buenos Aires, and Washington DC.Readers will learn about the operational level of war for the naval combat in this book.This book is a perfect complement to Brigadier Julian Thompson's "3 COMMANDO BRIGADE IN THE FALKLANDS: No Picnic"

A great peek into the British military mind
A fascinating insight into the British military mind. I almost put it down around page 50 as unrealistic--which of course, it can't be--and then persevered. The problem for me was that the British Naval strategizing and decision making is quite different from what we Americans believe to be good military leadership. Admiral Woodward struggled over decisions, plodded to the inevitable end, worried about losing boats and helicopters over men, often had to check in with Britain to confirm--or approve--decisions, found it nearly impossible to react quickly to circumstances. The war had lots of time for organizing, rethinking, dotting t's and crossing i's. This is not the Israeli six-day war, nor the American 100-day ground war in Iraq. Where's the Patton in Woodward?

Once I got beyond that, I loved it. It is a fascinating look into the British military mind. Woodward was a humane leader, constantly complemented his fellow officers, understood those sailors broken by war--held no grudge against them. He valued history and knew it in minute detail.

I read this book because it includes a description of the sinking of the cruiser, General Belgrano, the only time in history a nuclear sub has sunk a cruiser. This, like everything else, was covered in excellent detail and satisfied my need to know.

Overall, I'd say read this book with no preconceptions about what war should be and you'll enjoy every page of it.

Candid account of the Falklands campaign
Assorbing account from the perspective of the taskforce's commander that doesn't get clogged down in minutiae, like many books of it's type.

It features a number of interesting anecdotes, like the abortive attempt to retrieve a depthcharge-laden helicopter from the water, which could have resulted in disaster if they had detonated near the Hermes. The book also outlines how the defective Sea Wolf and Sea Dart systems resulted in needless loss for the British forces.

An amusing aside is Woodward cursing the ground forces for dragging their feet in deploying from San Carlos, but in hindsight realising the enormous difficulty Thompson was operating under at the time. ... Read more

Product Description
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1916 edition by Tomas Nelson and Sons, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and New York. ... Read more

Product Description
The war fought between the United Kingdom and Argentina in 1982, for the possession of the Falkland Islands was probably the last 'colonial' war that will ever be undertaken by the British. This book shows how the key to British success was the speed with which the British gained and then maintained air superiority over the islands and the waters around then with their small force of Sea Harrier STOVL warplanes, which operated from two aircraft carriers. Though subsonic, the Sea Harrier and its Sidewinder AAM were a combination altogether superior to Argentina's mix of supersonic and subsonic warplanes with older weapons, and this advantage was emphasised by the significantly greater tactical acuity of the British pilots. The Argentine pilots fought with considerable piloting skill and enormous courage, and scored a number of stunning successes against British warships, but ultimately they could not prevent the British landing and the following land campaign that resulted in complete Argentine defeat. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

..just a brief coverage of the aerial campaign
The subject of the book, to my understanding, is the coverage of the aerial operations during the 1982 Falklands campaign. I don't know what the goal of the author was, but I took it straight forward - as the subject. So the main idea is to go through the conflict, showing different applications of the aviation and main events.

I believe Osprey format is not sufficient to cover such topics in a comprehensive way. It is simply impossible to put all the data, pictures, maps, stories, etc into the 96pp book.

The book gives general information on every aspect of the aerial operations, briefly covers the events, giving the pictures and drawings in a proportion applicable to all Osprey books.
The information and photos are the same that can be found in other sources, nothing new. Some mistakes here and there. The color plated are poor, I would wish a better quality and more of them. I would not relate to this book as a research, it is a publication of a known story in Osprey format.

The book doesn't give any value to the enthusiast researching the Falklands war, I would suggest other sources. What it gives - a very brief and general coverage of events and air ops, in a user friendly and easy reading.

Not among the best of Osprey's
I write from a modelmaker point of view. The book has an adequate but basic history of the war. However colour profiles has many bad mistakes: even the front cover pictures represents wrongly the post-war camouflaged Sea Harrier. The code of XZ451 was "006" during the hostilities. Colour plate no 4 has a same machine but a different text under it: ZA174 had a medium grey scheme. I also doubt that Argentine navy A-4 Skyhawk (plate no 8) wore Super Etendard style camouflage during the conflict (if ever). Photos are very useful even there is also pre- and post-conflict photos among them. Argentine losses are listed, British are not. But it is nice to read that Mr Chant tries to be neutral, for example, the "own goal" Gazelle loss (6th June 1982) is mentioned. I still believe this book belongs to modelmakers and historians desk but it cannot be trusted solely as an concise history of the Falklands air war.

Mr.Chant should put more effort in
No pictures of the pilots,gun cameras or the "MiG" killing Harriers.Makes mistakes like the BBC reporters at the time by calling NAVY pilots "Flight Luietenants" and vice versa for the RAF pilots, as Luietenant. No in depth look at the battles or pilot's accounts.I think Commander "Sharky" Ward will do a backflip to see that he was in Mike Blisset's squadron,800 NAS, at one stage in this book.
I really think Mr.Chant should get some tipps from Shlomo Aloni's books about the Isreali Aces.

Well balanced and accurate
Christopher Chant has written a fine account of the Falklands air war keeping a perfect balance between the British and the Argentinians and explaining in great detail the tactics, the weapons and the controversies of that campaign. The appendices at the end of the book are also a treasure of information and statistics.

Fairly good book
The book is fairly good. Had a few factual errors (Rio as the capital of Brazil for example), as well as a couple of typos.

Good description of the overall event, although light on the sinking of the General Belgrano, which was a major combat event in terms of significance and loss of life (even though not air combat related). ... Read more

Product 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 (5)

Miraculous story of a logistical nightmare
Mike Clapp deserves a lot of the credit for Britain's success in the Falklands war. Any guy who can lead a team that organizes the transport of a light division, with an old force of half forgotten landing ships, and integrate them with so many merchant vessels and then land them on an unknown shore nearly 8000 miles from home is worth his weight in gold. Plus, they did it in 7 weeks from a standing start. This is a story of logistics, rather than the war, told with humanity and a lot of technical detail. It is compelling and well written, and its main audience must be serious students of war, rather than the casual reader.

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

Product Description
As the 21st century dawns, the world is experiencing a firestorm of local and regional wars. But these wars are significantly different from other such wars during the past hundred years. The two major differences are the current advanced state of weaponry and the presence of big mediasimultaneously constructing different and contradicting realities. National identity mobilization is the driving force behind these disputes which UN seems unable to resolve. The Falklands-Malvinas War between Argentina and the United Kingdom is particularly instructive for understanding of regional and local wars. The participants were from different continents, cultures, military strengths and possessed vastly different basic assumptions. The author examines this war as a case study crucial to a clearer understanding of national self-images; mobilization of national identity, and aggressive decision-making ... Read more

Product 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 seperately and then in comparison in order to demonstrate the influence of institutional culture on strategy. ... Read more

Product Description
The first-hand account of one special forces team's operations in the Falklands War in 1982. The book covers: preparation and departure; at sea; planners and hoaxers; Ascension Island; and HMS Intrepid in "bomb alley". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

falklands commando
has to be the definitive work on soldiering in the falklands war, by a rather unusual soldier. ... Read more

Product Description
Part of a three-volume study of the military events and lessons of major international conflicts. The series covers a range of topics from combatants and terrain to chemical and nuclear weapons. This volume covers the first naval battle and the only Soviet military defeat since World War II. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

War in Detail
This book is the third of a series of four books chronicling modern conflict.

Vol 1. The Arab Israeli Conflicts 1973-1989. Vol 2. The Iran-Iraq war. Vol 3. The Falklands and Afghanistan. Vol 4. The Gulf war.

These books provide an in depth analysis of the various forces engaged in the conflicts and the losses sustained by both sides. The authors have studied the weapons systems employed and the tactics used, and from these have drawn their conclusions on what was the route cause of success or failure in these modern military conflicts.

The authors conclusions are hardly mind shattering but they are sensible. Based on what happened and without an agenda.

Aside from errors concerning the Blowpipe missile (which manages to make an appearance in nearly all the wars) and its vulnerability to flares, (it isn't vulnerable at all) and the failure of this type of missile against crossing targets. (The operator's not the system itself) The books are quite accurate and thoroughly researched.

These series of books are a valuable tool for any student of modern conflict. ... Read more

Product Description

Product 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.

Product 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.

While some established a cautiously pragmatic modus vivendi with the occupiers, some Islanders opted for active resistance. Others joined advancing British troops, transporting ammunition and leading men to the battlefields.Islanders' leaders and 'trouble makers' faced internal exile, and whole settlements were imprisoned, becoming virtual hostages.

A new chapter about Falklands history since 1982 reveals that while the Falklands have benefited greatly from Britain's ongoing commitment to them, a cold war continues in the south Atlantic. To the annoyance of the Argentines, the islands have prospered, and may now be poised on the brink of an oil bonanza. ... Read more

Product 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.

While some established a cautiously pragmatic modus vivendi with the occupiers, some Islanders opted for active resistance, using banned radios to transmit intelligence and confuse the Argentines. Others joined advancing British troops, transporting ammunition and leading men to the battlefields. They often came under Argentine fire.

Islanders' leaders and 'trouble makers' faced internal exile, and whole settlements were imprisoned, becoming virtual hostages. Those who remained in besieged Stanley found themselves in the same dangerous situation as their enemy, enduring British naval shelling, artillery attacks and bombing raids. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An engrossing account of a modern war
This is an engrossing account of the occupation of the Falklands by an invading Argentine force and the subsequent liberation by the British military.There are numerous POV's featured in the book, including those of Falkland Islanders, Argentine officers and British soldiers.The book recounts the daily threats the Islanders endured from the occupying Argentines.In 1982 Argentina was controlled by a Junta responsible for the deaths of its own citizens, and some of the Argentine officers threatened to quash the Islander's resistance by using the same tactics employed in Argentina's Dirty War.The book details the heroic efforts of one Argentine officer who stepped in to protect the Islanders and diffused tense situations that could have devolved into serious loss of civilian lives.Still, several Islanders died during the war along with hundreds of Argentine and British soldiers.Twenty years on the wounds are still fresh, but this book offers reflection, solace and even laughter to those who lived through the conflict. But more importantly it gives a voice to the Falkland Islanders, their history and their community at long last.

War and the expereince of those who were there
For me what was so deep about this book was that it not only reaccounted the miltary aspect of what occured during the Falkland war but it also shared the expereince of the people of the Falkland islands.Some parts were sad and brought tears other were funny and brought gasps of laughter.The style of writing enabled you to gain a window to what the war was like.For me, as a woman I found this approach of writing about the war, including the human aspect of how people thought and felt was what enabled me to read it.From my expereince most war stories are written just from the battle prospective without any reference to the individuals experience, emothions.

I think the writer was able to bring to life the horrows of war, the horrows of what it must have been liked to be occupied, espcially by the regime that was then in power in Argentine and the silent pains that war leaves.

I look forward to reading many more books by this writer.A writer that has recognised that when writing about a war you need to also remember to think and write about the expereince of all that were there.

Patricia Proudfoot-Omeresten ... Read more

Product Description
An expose of the Regan Adminstration's role in the warthat ended Argentina's nuclear program and helped keep MargaretThatcher in power. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Internal disputes affecting foreign policies?
This book is GREAT!!!

It shows how three National Governments define their foreign policies working from/amongst/within their internal disputes. The 3 nations involved are Argentina, Great Britain and the United States. The issue at stake is the Argentine claim, and 2nd April 1982 take-over, of the Malvinas (for Great Britain: Falkland) Islands. I guess it could be just anything else...

So it goes:
1) In the US: Haig vs Weinberger
2) In the UK: Nott vs Thatcher
3) In Argentina: Galtieri vs Viola

The books even reveals how Argentina lost the islands because of the steps taken by General Viola (de facto president ousted byGeneral Galtieri) to make sure that the take-over was anticipated, which in turn gave the UK the time-window they needed (badly) to perform the re-taking.

Fascinating Study
This is a fascinating work of detailed scholarship.Thornton has put together a compelling retelling of the War, and by giving us hitherto undisclosed details as to the political infighting within Argentina, theUnited Kingdom and the United States he has managed to give meaning to somany unanswered questions which other writers simply dismiss as being'illogical' or 'unexplicable' behaviour.Piecing together a wide web ofinter-related intrigue, Thornton has put the entire conflict into a wholenew light.Highly recommended.

The Falklands Sting is worthy of praise.
Richard Thornton's book is an important study for understanding the diplomatic machinations of the Cold War era in general and the Reagan-Thatcher partnership within it in particular.Hitherto, the British-Argentine conflict has been treated either as a sideshow in the history of international relations or as a symbolic reassertion of British power in what seemed to be its imperial sunset.Thornton's approach is entirely new and original, setting the conflict sqaurely where it belongs in the chronology of Cold War history.With substantial support the author argues that the conflict was a sting designed to divest Argentina of its military government and nuclear weapons program (a little-known fact, the details of which are only recently being elaborating) while strenghthening America's strategic relationship with Thatcher's Britain.Thornton gives great care to relate the nature of the divisions existing within the various (American, British, Argentine) leaderships and how they influenced the outcome of the war.Particularly relevant to Cold War students is his treatment of the machinations behind Thatcher's ability to make a necessary war and Reagan's ability to support her. Thornton exposes the attempts of Alexander Haig and the "wet" foreign ministers Lord Carrington and Francis Pym to sideline the military solution, secure Thatcher's political defeat, and implement a renewed detente relationship with the Soviet Union.The Reagan-Thatcher defeat of the detente cabal is of crucial importance to understanding the origins of the war and the place of its outcome in Reagan's strategy of renewed containment. Barring a few factual errors of the minor sort, Thornton's analysis is a true example of what American scholarship of the Cold War should be.It is a proud refutation of the left-wing view that international relations are simplistic or irrelevant and that the broad social trend is what should concern historians most. ... Read more

Product Description
This work presents the Argentinian side of the battle for the Malvinas (Falklands). Commodore Moro, who took part in the operations on the Argentine side flying C-130s, later headed the Rattenbach Commission. This work points out the facts and circumstances that put Great Britain and Argentina on a collision course and treats the political and diplomatic aspects of the war as well as the day-by-day militay operations in the South Atlantic. The work also presents the interaction of political and military events in modern conflict and an analysis of weapon systems in a modern war. ... 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