C.Q.B. (Close Quarter Battle)

Written by someone o played rugby with in comprehensive school - Mike (not his real name) is is as hard as **** and brutally honest about his life and what it takes to be ‘elite’. A great read - very engaging

Fantastic book, absolute effortless read, honestly didn't want it to end.

This was a very enjoyable read. The author manages to outline the training and exploits of the SAS without making it sound like he think's he's some kind of superman. The stories and anecdotes are entertaining, informative and often witty.I've read a few books along the same lines as this, but this is easily one of the best.

Firstly, great book. One of the best of the 'how I ended up in the Regiment' autobiographies, and deserves more recognition. I'd be interested in reading a follow-up book on what Mike did after.Oddly, page 277 of CQB (describing 'Deltex' / Delta Force) is repeated word for word by McNab in Seven Troop p59-60. (Search 'Fort Brass' in Amazon's Look Inside function.) Half the quote is attributed to Frank and another bit to Andy himself. CQB was first published by Bantam Press in 1997, and Seven Troop wasn't published until 2008, also by Bantam Press. Maybe Andy is using the same shadow writer? If not, I hope some contributor credit found its way to Mike.

What a superb read ! An honest account of his life from the coal mines of the Rhonnda Valley through the rigorous training of the Parachute regiment and on to the pinnacle of his career with the Special Air Service.Probably one of the best reads about the life of a special forces soldier who not only gives his all ,but suffers the consequences with his personal life.

Great read about a great Tommie. I agree with just about everything said about this book so no point in going there. To make it just that little bit better: maps and pictures (I know I'm not alone). I always want these as it keeps things in order/real for me - so I have to get my own off the internet and stick them in the book.

Great read, "Mike Curtis" recounts his experience of the Falklands as a PARA. Going through 22 Regiment selection and his account of the Gulf War, where he was also part of Regimental history attending a Sergeants mess meeting behind enemy lines. A real page turner of his life, and history in the Regiment.

Follows Mikes journey from a Welsh mining village to witnessing at first hand the horrors of Bosnia. In between he sees action in the Falklands with the Paras, several chapters on this. Goes through SAS selection, twice! And being involved behind enemy lines in the Gulf War. There are plenty of details about training exercises, including joint maneuvers with the American Delta force. There are a good few chapters on his time in Yugoslavia, covering what the SAS were doing there. Only a very brief mention of his time in N. Ireland.

ACREDITAVA QUE SERIA UM LIVRO MAIS TECNICO

Good read and very interesting book

I bought this book mainly out of curiosity and I really, really enjoyed it. There so no "cow-boy style" drama but only an honest, enticing account of the life of a special forces' member who joined the SAS in the early 80s and took part in most of the events of the 80s and 90s (Falklands, Iraq and Bosnia). There is British humor and humanity, fun and sadness.This is not only a book for fans of war/special forces books, but for curious people in general.Strongly, strongly recommended.

Was sind das nur für Männer im Special Air Service, die diese unmenschlichen Strapazen durchstehen? Mike Curtis ist einer von ihnen. In diesem Buch erzählt er die Geschichte seines Lebens: Kindheit und Jugend im rauhen Walisischen Kohlerevier, ohne Aussicht jemals Karriere machen zu können, der Eintritt in die Armee als einziger Ausweg, der Horror des Falklandkrieges als Fallschirmjäger, dann die Qualifikation für den SAS und unzählige Einsätze in den schlimmsten Kriesengebieten der Welt.Dabei macht der Rugby-Fan Curtis einen durchaus sympathischen Eindruck. Gar nicht blutrünstig, sondern mit einer eher abgeklärten Attitüde wirft er einen Blick zurück. Auch privates wird dabei nicht ausgespart, z.B. das unvermeidliche Zerbrechen seiner Ehe. Schließlich scheidet er vorzeitig aus der Armee aus, doch er findet sich im Zivilleben nicht richtig zurecht. Und so tritt er dem "Circuit", den privaten Sicherheitsfirmen, bei. Denn das ist es, was er am besten kann.

Once started you won't lay away the book until you've finished it. There are, however, some mistakes in the details, what brings the appreciation for the author and his book a little bit down. This is disappointing because these mistakes are made by the author, a former member of the SAS elite force. Examples: Introducing himself as born in 1957 he describes himself as 22-years-old when being in the Falklands War in 1982. While trying the SAS selection for the first time in 1985 he suddenly tells about being 26-years-old. What's that ? Can't he count ? Telling about the Gulf War of 1991 he talks about a combat-search-and-rescue-mission of the U.S.-troops and states that there was flying a "Jolly Green Giant (Chinook)". So he meant the Boeing/Vertol CH-47 Chinook tandem-rotored transport helicopter. Apart from the fact that this type was indeed used for CSAR-missions in the first Gulf War (Operation "Desert Storm") this nick-name was firstly added to the HH-3E version of Sikorsky's S-61 helicopter while it was servicing for the U.S. forces in the Vietnam War. And from that time on this nickname remained with this type of Sikorsky helicopter.