SAS Operation Storm: Nine men against four hundred

Roger Cole · Richard Belfield

Aug 2011 · Hachette UK

About this ebook

OPERATION STORM is the inside story - told by those who took part - of the greatest secret war in SAS history. The tipping point, Mirbat, South Oman, 19 July 1972 is one of the least-known yet most crucial battles of modern times. If the SAS had been defeated at Mirbat, the Russian and Chinese plan for a communist foothold in the Middle East would have succeeded, with catastrophic consequences for the oil-hungry West. OPERATION STORM is a page-turning account of courage and resilience. Mirbat was a battle fought and won by nine SAS soldiers and a similar number of brave local people - some as young as ten years old - outnumbered by at least twenty-five to one. Roger Cole, one of the SAS soldiers who took part, and writer Richard Belfield have interviewed every SAS survivor who fought in the battle from the beginning to the end - the first time every single one of them has revealed their experience. OPERATION STORM is a classic story of bravery against impossible odds, minute by minute, bullet by bullet.

Ratings and reviews

As always the way of the professional soldier is to consider his mates. They must trust and feedoff each other. I was never allowed to serve. I was not of the reqirement wanted. Clean clear descriptions of the field. Fortune favours the brave.

Such a shame that the military establishment chooses to not recognise those who gave their all under extraordinary circumstances! No wonder so many of our lads return with utter disillusionment for the military hierarchy and and government whom they fought for!

Top notch chronicle of the 'Secret War' & the ultimate sacrifice of 2 SF warriors.

About the author

Roger Cole was born in 1944. He joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) in 1964, his first posting being to Germany. In 1968 he passed his SAS selection course and joined B Squadron, 22 SAS in Hereford. He did various tours in classified areas, including Dhofar, Oman. He returned to the RAOC in 1977 and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class 1. He has served with the British Army in Germany, Cyprus and the Falkland Islands. He retired from the army in 1986.

Richard Belfield is an award-winning television producer/director, author and playwright. His television programmes have won prizes on both sides of the Atlantic. As well as Terminate With Extreme Prejudice he is the author of Can You Crack the Enigma Code? He is a Director of Fulcrum TV.