Peter Ratcliffe's book "Eye of the Storm"

[bsmart]

Peter Ratcliffe has written his memoirs of his time in the SAS and Operation Desert Storm. It stirs up some controversy about the Bravo Two Zero situation as well as the circumstances in which he relieved an officer and took over a squadron to go find Scuds in Iraq.
Ratcliffe himself, describes four separate occasions in the book, where he knowingly shafts his fellow SAS members to achieve a result that is in his favour. No wonder he
in not well liked within the SAS.

[MEP]

I think he just laid it out the way he see things. He makes alot of interesting points and cleariflies a lot of questions about McNab's patrol and such. Like I always wondered why McNab didn't take vechicals on his patrol.
Books been out for a bit and I haven't heard anything negitive about it as far as accuracies. But like all books that are written about Spec Ops the truth isn't really known except for those that were there.

[bsmart]

I certainly agree with you about some of the points he raised, especially with regard to McNabs decision to go in on foot, especially carrying all the stuff that they were loaded down with. Both Ryan and McNab have photos in their books of the amount of kit that they had to carry. There was also a bit of a stuff up with logistics prior to entry into Iraq as well. McNab mentions manufacturing thier own claymores and other IED's, when there was a warehouse full of everything they needed right where they were. There were a few shortcomings in coordination, intell, logistics and a couple of other bits and pieces, but it's easy to point all this out after everything has taken place, the Monday Morning Quarterback, I believe you guys call it! As long as the lessons learned will remove those problems from future and current ops, that is the main thing.

[This message has been edited by bsmart (edited 11-28-2001).]

[Huey One Four]

Could somebody please tell me what he said in CQB about Mcnabbs not taking any vehicles? I had a choice of that book or one by a SBS guy. I chose the SBS one for a change.

[bsmart]

Huey One Four, CQB was written by Mike Curtis. The SBS book you're probably talking about is probably the one by Camsell?

Ratcliffe mentions in his book "The Eye of The Storm" about McNabb and his teams refusal to use vehicles. There was also the weight factor of the gear, around 250 lbs/man which made fast movement impossible, unless they cached stuff and patrolled light but it never was given the chance to develop because they were dropped into heaps of Iraqis.
Landrovers would have given them the edge, where they could have broken contact and called in some air cover and got well away and done it intact. Instead, on foot, the odds were too far against them and they paid the price
Johnno

[Huey One Four]

I agree, they probably would have done better if they had vechicles. Hindsight is 20/20.
The SBS book was "First into action" by Duncan Falconer.

[XXNavy]

I guess I'm going to have to get that one. I don't understand why they felt they had to make their own anti-personnel mines, if there were boo-koo's already there. Then there's the vehicle thing. Why walk? Make's me go Hmmm.

[bsmart]

Huey first, Falconers book is excellent, see if you can get hold of "Black Water" by Don Camsell, another good SBS read.

XNavy, the point was brought up in Ratcliffes book and also Lt Gen P De La Billierres book as well. No coordination! There were literally thousands of claymores etc sitting at the same base no 400 metres from where they were set up. If they'd asked for the gear, they would have got it...... Too used to improvising and doing things on the cheap, although a great policy as far as beancounters are concerned, doesnt apply when you are about to go in harms way though. The Britt establishment was partly to blame for that. The SAS always saw themselves as poor cousins to Delta Force. Delta had everything money could buy and then some, meanwhile the SAS had to put things together with baling wire and chewing gum because of lack of funds from the beancounters.......

[Huey One Four]

Thanks bsmart, I'll try and get that one soon. Falconers book is very good indeed, although I'm curious as to why he didnt put any dates in there. I'm quite enjoying the SBS perspective as it makes a nice change from all the SAS ones which , to be honest, have gotten a little boring. Wouldnt mind seeing some books from the SF Flight though, of which I've only read one (called Chinook). Do you know of any SASR books?

Have a good one

RH

[bsmart]

Huey, Yeah Falconers book is a lot more circumspect than Camsell's. Camsell actually lets slip some operational stuff that should not have been published, although minor in the scheme of things. As far as SASR books are concerned, the way things are going, when they get badged they should sign a book deal at the same bloody time!!! There are a couple of books coming out about the Det operators, when they get official approval from the powers that be. They should make interesting reading. Falconer spent time with them and I know of a couple of SAS guys that did the same. Pretty intense sort of work when the provos were busy!

[Huey One Four]

Yeah, the Chinook! book let slip some stuff that I would assume is OPSEC kind of stuff, but Im not too sure there.
Stuff like how to Assault a Ferry, Oil Rig and Train.
The Det stuff was very interesting to me. I agree, very intense, especialy considering how paranoid the IRA(all factions) were/are.
Is the Det still running do you know?

Cheers

RH

[bsmart]

Yeah they're probably just simmering away watching what's happening. I'd say they've been downgraded and a lot personnel have probably been moved onto other stuff so they're probably just running enough to keep an eye on things and see which way to jump in future, depending on the outcome of the "peacetalks and disarmament." The way things are shaping up, they'll probably implement a new branch to cover terrorism as a whole and that would be an ideal placement for any former det operators, it'd save the Brit government heaps of money training wise as well by utilising them. ;)
Johnno

[Huey One Four]

Ive just read Eye of the storm. Hmmm.

I get the impression that Ratcliffe thinks he walks on water.

Very bold of him to put his own name on the cover though.

Rhys

[musashi86]

Originally posted by MEP
I think he just laid it out the way he see things. He makes alot of interesting points and cleariflies a lot of questions about McNab's patrol and such. Like I always wondered why McNab didn't take vechicals on his patrol.
Books been out for a bit and I haven't heard anything negitive about it as far as accuracies. But like all books that are written about Spec Ops the truth isn't really known except for those that were there.

If all you people are questioning, why McNab didn't take vehicles, then all of you didn't actually read the book. Or maybe you guys weren't paying attention. If you actually paid attention to the book, in the briefing before they went in. He did explain all the different options they had, and did explain why he didn't want to take vehicles. So I suggest all of you asking the "vehicle" question, to go back and read the book again.