Specialstyrker og elitestyrker

Venetian front, 1915. The Austro-Hungarian army has taken control of key mountain locations facing the plains. The Fassa Alps are well guarded, and heavy casualties are expected. Mount Collo and Mount Saint Osvaldo are excellent launch points for an all-out offensive which is already in the works behind the grim vista of the Glockenthurm. The Italian High Command is paralyzed by outdated methodology, wasting precious time with failed assaults and flanking maneuvers that end with red snow. Men watch from their trenches, hiding along the parapets with their guns pointing at no man's land, and the tension in the Italian lines has taken the form of a grim silence, as if the men already know their doom is approaching and wish only for it to envelop them quickly. Colonel Baseggio of the Italian Royal Army, a veteran of many mountain engagements in Africa, creates a new section, based not on doctrinal tactics, but on intrepid actions which he calls "Ardite." Assembled with volunteers drawn from the entire Italian Royal Army, his hastily trained company strikes deep into Austro-Hungarian lines, shocking the world with their courage and daring, often carrying the day with little more than knives and grenades. In the mud and snow of the Carso mountains, the "Arditi Company Cristoforo Baseggio"-the first of the famed Arditi formations-grows to carry the name of The Death Company. This first hand historical account details one of the most fascinating military phenomena of the Great War. Antelope Hill Publishing is proud to present Cristoforo Baseggio's The Death Company, for the first time in English, to preserve and expand access to the story of these extraordinary men.

The Special Operations Executive (SOE), Britain's TOP SECRET subversive organisation during the Second World War, were informed before and after D-Day that some surrendered or captured German prisoners of war who had been brought to camps in England claimed not to be supporters of Hitler. They had been compelled to join the Wehrmacht, the German army, and, when asked, volunteered to be trained and infiltrated back into Germany by the Allies on sabotage, subversion and assassination missions. Bernard O'Connor's four-volumed 'SOE Bonzos' has used recently released personnel files, country section correspondence, training reports and mission papers to tell for the first time the stories of over fifty anti-Nazis who were brave enough to return to Germany on secret operations. Volume One includes the stories of Heinz Doring, Alois Buchtik, Paul Penczok and Alfred Lengenfeld. Some succeeded in getting back to Britain. It provides details of the successes and failures of their missions and includes accounts of conditions in Germany towards the end of the war. There are also details of SOE's German Section officers who planned the operations, having to negotiate with the Bayswater Interrogation Section, the Training, Camouflage, Forgery, Finance and Quartermaster Sections; officers in other country sections; the American Office of Strategic Services; the RAF who arranged parachute drops and the Special Forces operating with the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force operating in France, Belgium and Germany.

The Special Operations Executive (SOE), Britain's TOP SECRET subversive organisation during the Second World War, were informed before and after D-Day that some surrendered or captured German prisoners of war who had been brought to camps in England claimed not to be supporters of Hitler. They had been compelled to join the Wehrmacht, the German army, and, when asked, volunteered to be trained and infiltrated back into Germany by the Allies on sabotage, subversion and assassination missions. Bernard O'Connor's four-volumed 'SOE Bonzos' has used recently released personnel files, country section correspondence, training reports and mission papers to tell for the first time the stories of over fifty anti-Nazis who were brave enough to return to Germany on secret operations. Volume Two includes the stories of Johann Hoch, Gerhard Taplick, Will Vonderheidt, Erich Klau, Horst Weber, Werner Porzig, Andreas Wiedemann, Heinrich Wellings, Valentin Raab and August Kunzig. Some succeeded in getting back to Britain. It provides details of the successes and failures of their missions and includes accounts of conditions in Germany towards the end of the war. There are also details of SOE's German Section officers who planned the operations, having to negotiate with the Bayswater Interrogation Section, the Training, Camouflage, Forgery, Finance and Quartermaster Sections; officers in other country sections; the American Office of Strategic Services; the RAF who arranged parachute drops and the Special Forces operating with the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force operating in France, Belgium and Germany.

Stories from a medic serving with the highly classified SOG U.S. Special Forces unit in Vietnam.

The first English-language history of the "Alpini", Italy's elite mountain troops.

How special-purpose, special mission units have been used in operations over the last two centuries.

Featuring specially commissioned artwork and archive illustrations, this engrossing study describes the US Marine Corps' early operations and illustrates its evolving uniforms and personal equipment. The US Marine Corps' uniforms, personal equipment, insignia, and weaponry are all described and illustrated in this book, complemented by a succinct history of the Marines' military record from their beginnings to the eve of the American Civil War, by which time the US Marine Corps had established itself as a small but vitally important part of the United States' armed forces. Organized in 1775, the first American Marines distinguished themselves throughout the American Revolutionary War, and even raided mainland Britain before being disbanded in 1783. Reestablished in 1798, the US Marine Corps fought in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, both at sea and on land. The years after 1815 saw the Corps involved in a wide variety of conflicts, from the Seminole Wars to the Mexican-American War; Marines even reached China and Japan. As the prospect of civil war began to threaten the United States, a small battalion of Marines was responsible for the capture of abolitionist John Brown at Harper's Ferry on October 18, 1859. The diverse operations and evolving appearance of the Marines are captured in this absorbing study from an acknowledged authority on US military costume.

Reprint. Originally published: New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994

After the British withdrawal from Aden in 1967 the war in Dhofar was a major step in the fight against the spread of communist domination in the Gulf. Dissidents in rebellion against the feudal rule of the old Sultan of Oman exploited the poverty and want in the countryside in order to win converts to their cause and found backing from the communist Yemen. With the help of the British, alarmed by such a threat, the Sultan's son Qaboos deposed his father and promptly set about the modernization of his country and the alleviation of poverty.At the same time Britain sent out a small team from 22 Special Air Service Regiment to aid the Sultan's Armed Forces in their fight against a communist enemy in the Dhofar region of Oman. But an army is only as good as its supplies. However inaccessible the places the patrols were fighting in they had to receive essential supplies. Air Despatch units came into being during the Second World War dropping arms and equipment to Resistance Fighters and Special Forces in Europe and other theatres' of war. They also played a vital role at Arnhem, the jungles of Burma and later Malaya and Borneo and also in the deserts of the Middle East. By the time of Dhofar 55 Air Despatch Squadron RCT, to which the author belonged, was a seasoned unit with an exemplary record of performance and several medals for gallantry. In his very readable recollections of the war, David (Geordie) Arkless recounts his sorties flying into extreme danger and of his encounters with the enemy. He also describes the day to day difficulties of living in the desert, and the methods of grappling with the complicated and intricate tasks in dropping a variety of vital supplies to the troops on the ground. First published in 1988 this second edition has been extended to include more detailed accounts of various actions along with the names of those who took part. It also contains many photographs including some not previously published.

After the British withdrawal from Aden in 1967 the war in Dhofar was a major step in the fight against the spread of communist domination in the Gulf. Dissidents in rebellion against the feudal rule of the old Sultan of Oman exploited the poverty and want in the countryside in order to win converts to their cause and found backing from the communist Yemen. With the help of the British, alarmed by such a threat, the Sultan's son Qaboos deposed his father and promptly set about the modernization of his country and the alleviation of poverty.At the same time Britain sent out a small team from 22 Special Air Service Regiment to aid the Sultan's Armed Forces in their fight against a communist enemy in the Dhofar region of Oman. But an army is only as good as its supplies. However inaccessible the places the patrols were fighting in they had to receive essential supplies. Air Despatch units came into being during the Second World War dropping arms and equipment to Resistance Fighters and Special Forces in Europe and other theatres' of war. They also played a vital role at Arnhem, the jungles of Burma and later Malaya and Borneo and also in the deserts of the Middle East. By the time of Dhofar 55 Air Despatch Squadron RCT, to which the author belonged, was a seasoned unit with an exemplary record of performance and several medals for gallantry. In his very readable recollections of the war, David (Geordie) Arkless recounts his sorties flying into extreme danger and of his encounters with the enemy. He also describes the day to day difficulties of living in the desert, and the methods of grappling with the complicated and intricate tasks in dropping a variety of vital supplies to the troops on the ground.. First published in 1988 this second edition has been extended to include more detailed accounts of various actions along with the names of those who took part. It also contains many photographs including some not previously published.

A Black Hawk Down of the war in Afghanistan, the deadliest day for the U.S. in 12 years of that conflict--and a military investigation that covered up evidence of an inside job by the Taliban. Don Brown, a former U.S. Navy JAG officer stationed at the Pentagon, and former Special Assistant United States Attorney, has in his possession one of four copies of The Colt Report, which reveals a possible cover-up in relation to the August 6, 2011, killing of 30 men from the United States, including 17 members of Navy Seal Team Six--warrior brothers from the same Team that ninety days before killed Osama Bin Laden--potentially by undercover Taliban operatives.

"A raw and authentic war story about untamed Green Berets in action."-Dalton Fury, New York Times bestselling author of Kill Bin Laden Southern Afghanistan was slipping away. That was clear to then-Captain Rusty Bradley as he began his third tour of duty there in 2006. The Taliban and their allies were infiltrating everywhere, poised to reclaim Kandahar Province, their strategically vital onetime capital. To stop them, the NATO coalition launched Operation Medusa, the largest offensive in its history. Dispatched as a diversionary force in support of the main coalition attack, Bradley's Special Forces A-team watched as the NATO force was quickly engulfed in a vicious counterattack. Key to relieving it was possession of Sperwan Ghar, a modest patch of high ground. Bradley's small detachment assaulted the hill and, in the midst of a savage and unforgettable firefight, soon learned they were facing nearly a thousand seasoned fighters. Now Bradley recounts the whole remarkable story as it actually happened and brings to life the men who impossibly won the day-Americans and Afghans alike-each unique, all indelible in their everyday exercise of extraordinary heroism.Praise for Lions of Kandahar "A powerful and gripping account of a battle that helped shape the war in Afghanistan . . . With crisp writing and page-turning action, Lions of Kandahar is one of the best books written about the conflict."-Mitch Weiss, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist and co-author of Tiger Force: A True Story of Men and War "One of the most important documents to emerge from the war in Afghanistan."-The Seattle Times "Powerful . . . a riveting account of a strategic battle that doesn't glorify war or focus on heroic deeds . . . Make room on your military bookshelf for Lions of Kandahar."-San Antonio Express-News "Bradley takes the reader into battle."-Time

Mossad unveils the defining and most dangerous operations, unknown heroes, and mysterious agents of the world's most respected?and most enigmatic?intelligence service. Here are the thrilling stories of daring top secret missions, including the capture of Adolf Eichmann, the eradication of Black September, the destruction of the Syrian nuclear facility, and the elimination of key Iranian nuclear scientists.Drawn from intensive research and exclusive interviews with Israeli leaders and Mossad operatives, this riveting history brings to life the brave agents, deadly villains, and major battlegrounds that have shaped Israel and the world at large for more than sixty years.

For the first time ever, the explosive truth behind the world's most secret Special Operations organizationA top-secret U.S. Army Special Operations unit has been running covert missions all over the world, from leading death squads to the hideout of drug baron Pablo Escobar to capturing Saddam Hussein and, in one of the greatest special operations missions of all time, helping to track down al-Qa'eda leader Osama bin Laden. "The Activity," as it became known to insiders, has achieved near-mythical status, even among the world's Special Operations elite. Hidden from the politicians and the government bean counters, the Activity has been carrying out deniable operations, preparing the way for Delta and SEAL Team Six.Now journalist Michael Smith gets inside this clandestine military team to expose their explosive history and secrets. Smith has spoken to many former members of the Activity and reveals the incredible truth behind the world's most secret Special Operations organization, a unit that is at the forefront of the War on Terror.

Captures the essence of Naval Special Warfare from our storied beginnings to the current fight. Admiral WILLIAM H. McRAVENWritten with the unprecedented cooperation of the Naval Special Warfare community, this vivid and definitive history of the U.S. Navy SEALs reveals the inside story behind the greatest combat operations of America's most celebrated warriors. Illustrated with forty pages of photographs and based on exclusive interviews with more than 100 U.S. frogmen (including multiple Medal of Honor recipients), here is "e;the first comprehensive history of the special operations force"e; (Military.com).New York Timesbestselling authors Dick Coucha former SEALand William Doyle chart the SEALs' story, from their origins in the daring Naval Combat Demolition Teams, Underwater Demolition Teams, Scouts and Raiders commando units, and OSS Operational Swimmers of World War II to their coming of age in Vietnam and rise to glory in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11.

The full visual history of the special forces combat diver from World War II to the present day.Combat divers are an elite within an elite. Every special forces combat diver is required to pass selection twice - first into the elite military unit and then a combat diving qualification. The combat dive units themselves are tiny and the operations highly classified. The role of a military diver is inevitably a lonely and a dangerous one, whether clearing mines or striking from the sea against enemy-held targets. Fully illustrated with rare and unusual images, Combat Divers reveals their little-known yet fascinating operations, from Dutch Special Forces combat divers covertly operating against Somali pirates to the actions of Soviet Spetsnaz divers in Swedish territorial waters during the Cold War. It also examines how the most famous units, such as the US Navy SEALs and the Royal Navy's SBS, are currently operating and adapting to threats in a multitude of theatres. Combat Divers gives an insight into specialist kit and vehicles presently used and equipment that is being developed and trialed throughout the world. Covering a variety of kit, from dry deck shelters to mini-submarines and swimmer delivery vehicles, former Royal Marines Commando Michael G. Welham draws on his own extensive diving experience to reveal exactly how this equipment is used by special forces dive teams. As their kit and equipment constantly evolve, so does the nature of their work and even the team element. Combat Divers also details the first female combat divers and includes their own first-hand accounts about their groundbreaking roles within their respective units to create a fascinating history of these elite special forces operatives.

A riveting follow-up to Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal's account of the most memorable missions of the Mossad, No Mission Is Impossible sheds light on some of the most harrowing, nail-biting operations of the Israeli Special Forces In No Mission Is Impossible, Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal depict in electrifying detail major battles, raids in enemy territory, and the death- defying commando missions of the Israeli Special Forces. The stories are often of victories, but sometimes also of immense failures, and they run side by side with the accounts of the lives and accomplishments of some of Israel's most prominent figures. Captivating and eye-opening, No Mission Is Impossible is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how these crucial missions shaped Israel, and the world at large.

Drawing upon Soviet sources, this book assesses the evolving organization, uniforms, insignia, weaponry and personal equipment of Soviet naval infantry units from 1917 to 1991.Featuring eight plates of specially commissioned artwork alongside carefully chosen archive photographs, this study charts the history and appearance of the Soviet Union's naval infantry, from the October Revolution to the end of the Soviet era.Although Russian naval infantry achieved fame during the October Revolution they were quickly disbanded, only being re-established in 1939. Following the Axis invasion of 1941 some 500,000 Soviet Navy personnel served on land, fighting in the defence of Leningrad, Odessa and Sevastopol and the recapture of the Crimea in 1943-44; Soviet naval troops also participated in the invasion of Manchuria in 1945.During the Cold War era the Soviet Union developed an amphibious assault capability that had a vital strategic role - to capture an aggressor's geographical exits to the oceans and thereby forestall threats to Soviet submarine bases. Naval infantry forces could deploy a wealth of firepower assets, while the use of amphibious ships, hovercraft and helicopters aided their rapid deployment, even amid ice-bound terrain in the Arctic. All of these developments are described and illustrated in absorbing detail in this study.