Target Basra
By: Mike Rossiter
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 2008
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 309
ISBN-13: 9780593060582; 9780593060575
Subjects: Großbritannien; British Aerial operations; British; Great Britain; Aerial Military operations; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Great Britain. Royal Marines. Commando, 42; Military campaigns; Großbritannien Royal Marines; Campaigns; Great Britain. Royal Marines. Commando, 40; Irakkrieg
Description: "In the dead of night on 20 March 2003, Royal Navy Marines from 40 and 42 Commando board a fleet of twenty helicopters. With faces blackened and mouths dry at the thought of what lies ahead, they have been given the job of capturing the oil pipelines and pumping stations through which 90 per cent of Iraq's oil is exported, to seal off the whole of the Faw peninsula and hold it against any counter-attack by the Iraqi Army. They will be the first troops on the ground in Iraq, literally kicking the door down. They will also suffer the first allied casualties in the war to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Target Basra is a story of courage, fortitude and the harsh realities of modern war, fought in the context of the turmoil of the Middle East."--Publisher details.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 294-295) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction: the point of the spear; title: As midnight approaches; title: The clock starts ticking; title: The fleet sails; title: The mother of all rehearsals; title: 42 commando flies in; title: The eve of war; title: D-day; title: Securing al-Faw; title: No plan survives contact; title: Taking Umm Qasr; title: Operation Leah; title: finding the shape of the enemy; title: Kicking down the door; title: The fifth axix; title: the Manoeuvre Support Group; title: Basra; title: Don't play God; title: Conclusion: after the fall.