Bravo Two Zero or The Real Bravo Two Zero

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Lawman RE:Bravo Two Zero or The Real Bravo Two Zero - questions 5/16/2005 5:03:27 PM

There certainly are serious questions about the accounts of McNabb, but some of the criticisms do seem a little much. There were major problems, right from the start, notably the incompetent planning of comms gear. I think the whole idea of their foot patrols were insane - the SAS units that went in on Land Rovers had a lot of speed, which allowed them to attack a unit with numerical superiority, then withdraw. The foot patrols would have had no choice, any engagements ran the very real risk of being to the death. I think the patrol was poorly organised, but I do not agree with the contention that they went around shooting civilians left, right and center.

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HorribleSailor RE:Bravo Two Zero or The Real Bravo Two Zero - questions 5/16/2005 7:05:55 PM

Both the accounts by Andy MacNab and Chris Ryan of the same incident have been subject to question. So far as I'm aware, both are now held in massive contempt by the bulk of the British armed services as literary mercenaries with excellent imaginations.

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Yimmy RE:Bravo Two Zero or The Real Bravo Two Zero - questions 5/16/2005 7:42:56 PM

...and wallets so big they could beat whales to death.

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joe6pack RE:Bravo Two Zero or The Real Bravo Two Zero - questions 5/17/2005 9:46:30 AM

Thanks, for your take on the subject. Is there any consensus on what their actual mission was? McNab's story of cutting the fiber line, seems like a valid possibility. However, when he goes on to talk about hunting mobile SCUD launchers with an 8 man patrol on foot.. That just seems utterly mad. Michael Asher's take and I think he refers to Ryan's book seems to be that it was to just observe the MSR. Although that's a classic special forces job, I would think given the terrain it could have been more efficiently handled by other "technical" means without risking a higly valuable SAS team.

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neutralizer RE:Bravo Two Zero or The Real Bravo Two Zero - questions 5/18/2005 6:28:32 AM

It's fairly well documented that fibre cutting was a task elsewhere, that's how the SBS came to present Swartzkopf with the 40km (or somesuch) milestone to Baghdad. Observing the MSR from ground level would give a different and rather better view than other means, particularly if there was suspicion that specialist vehicles were dummied up to look innocuous from above. The ground view may also have revealed vehicle tactical markings. However, since the SAS never managed to locate UK's nuclear artillery during FTX in Germany (which spent 30 years before 1991 operating on 'shoot and scoot'), one wonders what made them think their chances were conspicuously better in Iraq! Same reasoning also applies to the air force failure. I reckon there's still a few old nuc gunners laughing there c---ks off at the antics of the SF and air forces.

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Godofgamblers joe : this topic was discussed on the ARMED FORCES OF THE WORLD board 5/24/2005 11:40:54 PM

i think it turned out that the kiwi member of B20 came forward saying that they never engaged any iraqis, they only walked 20k and were picked up by the iraqis shortly after landing. all the rest was a fantasy spun to sell books, at least the kiwi SAS member contends. i don't have the link, but i think it may still be up on the other board.

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S.C.P RE:Bravo Two Zero or The Real Bravo Two Zero - questions 8/4/2005 7:52:10 AM

You should read "The One That Got Away", Its written by Chris ryan the only member of the patrol to get away without being killed or captured.

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DropBear Joe6pack - The best book of the lot... 8/7/2005 2:10:48 AM

Mate, I bought McNabb's bravo book, read it and then bought "Eye of the Storm" by Peter Ratcliffe DCM. Big mistake! I should have bought Ratcliffe's first and not bothered with the partial fiction of McNabb. Ratcliffe was the Regimental SgtMajor and gives a more factual account of that episode. The book is actually about Ratcliffe's SAS career, but covers Iraq well.

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scraw RE:Joe6pack - The best book of the lot... 8/25/2005 2:32:47 PM

Sir Peter De La Billieres first book also gives 'McNab' a caning...

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joe6pack RE:Joe6pack - The best book of the lot... 8/25/2005 3:52:54 PM

"I should have bought Ratcliffe's first and not bothered with the partial fiction of McNabb" "Sir Peter De La Billieres first book also gives 'McNab' a caning... " I'll look for them. Thanks for the info. I have to admit I do feel a little cheated now, I was thinking I was going to reading a factual account of events. As a side, I did read a couple of McNab's "Nick Stone" books.. and wasn't very impressed..

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