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Commandos - Churchill's 'Hand of Steel'

~~$27.95~~ $19.95

Spearhead - Book 11

Author - Simon Dunstan
Published in 2003 by Ian Allen Publishing, UK
Softcover, 96 Pages
Size - 25cm * 19cm

The Commandos were formed in summer 1940 and their first raid was on the Lofoten Islands on 4 March 1941. Later, the attack on Vaagso showed how effective Commandos could be, destroying a German garrison, taking 102 prisoners, blowing up a coastal defence battery and destroying 18,000 tons of shipping at a cost of 20 killed.

Amphibious raids pointed up to the need for better intelligence and control on the beaches, so the RN Commandos were formed. They took part in all the main amphibious operations from then on - including Dieppe, Torch, Husky, Monte Cristo and Pantelleria, Salerno and Anzio, Elba, Arakan, Overlord, Walcheren and crossing the Rhine. Elsewhere, Commandos performed with great glory in the Desert War and in the Middle East.

Spearhead looks at the cutting edge of war, units capable of operating completely independently in the forefront of battle. The series examines the unit's:

* Origins and history
* Organisation, order of battle and how this changed
* Battle history, theatre by theatre
* Insignia and Markings
* Top people biographies of commanders and personalities

Each book ends with an assessment of unit effectiveness – as seen by itself, its opponents and the wider viewpoint of history – and a full reterence section including:

* Critical bibliography
* Relevant museums or exhibits
* Website links
* Re-enactment groups
* Memorials

About the author
Simon Dunstan is a long-established author with over 30 books to his name. His particular field of expertise is the tactical and technical employment of AFVs since World War 2, notably during the Korean, Vietnam and Arab-Israeli Wars. As an accomplished photographer and film maker, he has produced numerous military history television documentaries. He resides in London and is married with one son and two daughters

Fully Illustrated with B&W photos, 4 colour photos, 5 pages colour drawings and 9 maps