Book Reviews: Military History and Tactics

[Dodderynut]

I encourage anyone to pick up the book, "Trigger Men" it is a fascinating look into the world of U.S. Snipers.

http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Men-Sp.../dp/0312354568

[Harry Henkel]

I was wondering if anyone knows a book that's about the Roman Empire. I don't mean a book focusing on a certain leader or time period, but on the entire Empire, from the military to the politics. It's probably a long shot (such a book would probably be massive), but if anyone knows anything, please tell me.

[stonecutter]

After meeting and having drinks with him, I went out and got James Davis' book The Sharp End: A Canadian Soldier's Story. James is ex Canadian Airborne, served in Yugoslavia and Rwanda. I found it a very interesting read, offering a detailed picture of the inner workings of a Canadian infantryman's life and recent Canadian overseas military missions.

[SandBagger]

snipers by craig cabbell and richard brown

not a great read a few innacuracies re ww1 sniper rifles + they said p14 was main british rifle i think they meant sniper rifle and they said the germans used the aviators model 16 rifle

[SandBagger]

How true tercio67. The US has only one branch with an actual MOS involving sniping.... the USMC's 0317 (ex-8541) Scout Sniper. Notice the word Scout is first... the Scout Sniper, in my era, was assigned to a STA Platoon.... Surveillance and Target Acquisition Platoon... now replaced after Desert Storm 1 with what's generally referred to as the Scout Sniper Platoon. Gathering Intel is doctrinally the primary mission... targets of opportunity are the secondary function.

Somebody was reading jarhead , if not do its a great book that goes beyond what you see in the movie even someone who wasnt into the military would like it, its amazing how candidly he talks about himself

[James]

Somebody was reading jarhead , if not do its a great book that goes beyond what you see in the movie even someone who wasnt into the military would like it, its amazing how candidly he talks about himself

Anthony Swofford's tale has been questioned by other Marines who served in the same unit during the same period. I was in a few years after him, and we definitely served in different versions of the USMC. I'd encourage you to take it with a large dose of salt.

[SandBagger]

Anthony Swofford's tale has been questioned by other Marines who served in the same unit during the same period. I was in a few years after him, and we definitely served in different versions of the USMC. I'd encourage you to take it with a large dose of salt.

james you may have ruined my life

but seriously did not see that coming

i believe you but just out of interest can you recall any specific areas of the book?

[AmericanAirman]

I'm reading a new book titled "The Bitter Road to Freedom" by William I. Hitchcock. It talks about how painful liberation of Europe was, from the perspective of the "liberated". It's pretty good - it is making me think about things I never have before. How noble the Greatest Generation was as they accepted the mass civilian casualities, held their power over liberated, and even were racist to their fellow colored servicemen.

[James]

james you may have ruined my life

but seriously did not see that coming

i believe you but just out of interest can you recall any specific areas of the book?

I read this six years ago, so I don't remember the book too well. I used to work with some guys who were also in STA 2/7, and they said Swofford was basically a sh*tbird who whined a lot. Also, at some point he described Marines getting high when they were off duty - that never would have happened in my time (I was in from 93-97). That and the basic attitude he portrayed were just weird to me. People don't get assigned to STA, you have to volunteer and go through a short selection. My recollection is that he made it seem like being in STA was a huge chore. Another thing (and I might be mixing the movie up with the book) is the time when a young guy gets a video of his wife while she's getting it on with another guy... This is kind of an urban legend in the USMC whenever you deploy. There's always some poor dumbass in another platoon or company who got a video.

Swofford is a great writer, but I think he took some liberties - not with the way he portrayed the fighting (he's very honest about never actually shooting at anyone) but with the way he portrayed the USMC. I think he wanted to write a Catch-22 or MASH style story set around his own experiences. So, take it as a good piece of writing, but not an accurate portrayal of history or the USMC in the early 1990s.

[khalifah]

Thanks for the PM James.

[digrar]

Another thing (and I might be mixing the movie up with the book) is the time when a young guy gets a video of his wife while she's getting it on with another guy... This is kind of an urban legend in the USMC whenever you deploy. There's always some poor dumbass in another platoon or company who got a video.

The story goes that it was some bloke from 2RAR when we were in Timor.

[SandBagger]

I read this six years ago, so I don't remember the book too well. I used to work with some guys who were also in STA 2/7, and they said Swofford was basically a sh*tbird who whined a lot. Also, at some point he described Marines getting high when they were off duty - that never would have happened in my time (I was in from 93-97). That and the basic attitude he portrayed were just weird to me. People don't get assigned to STA, you have to volunteer and go through a short selection. My recollection is that he made it seem like being in STA was a huge chore. Another thing (and I might be mixing the movie up with the book) is the time when a young guy gets a video of his wife while she's getting it on with another guy... This is kind of an urban legend in the USMC whenever you deploy. There's always some poor dumbass in another platoon or company who got a video.

Swofford is a great writer, but I think he took some liberties - not with the way he portrayed the fighting (he's very honest about never actually shooting at anyone) but with the way he portrayed the USMC. I think he wanted to write a Catch-22 or MASH style story set around his own experiences. So, take it as a good piece of writing, but not an accurate portrayal of history or the USMC in the early 1990s.

shame about that but thanks a lot

[Harry Henkel]

I've just finished War Made New by Max Boot. An excellent book, focusing on how change in warfare has brought down entire empires. Boot describes all revolutions from the Gunpowder Revolution using like Königgrätz, to illustrate how the changes in warfare (in this case breech-loading rifles, railways) were the key to the defeat of a larger army by a smaller one.

The only (small) downside I found to the book is that the last revolution (the Information Revolution) only consists of chapters about wars fought by the US. However, this is completely understandable: the US has fought the only few wars (Afghanistan, Iraq, etc) on a large scale with an army which has undergone the Information Revolution.
This doesn't affect the overall quality of the book though. It is incredibly well-written, comprehensive and informative.

[khalifah]

That was a good book by Boot, i especially was surprised on his take on the use of massive bombing raids and the like in ww2.

If you or anyone else is interested, he does have another book based upon most/if not all/ of the US foriegn military action that would be considered "less than war", or "Small Wars".

The book is called The Savage Wars of Peace(Small wars and the rise of American Power),and it goes throughout the whole American military expirience from the Barbary Pirates, to the Insurrection in the Philipines, Chasing Panco Villa, The Banana Wars, all up to just the first year (i think) of Afganistan today.

He has an interesting argument about the Vietnam conflict that i brought up on this board to discuss. But i'll leave it to the Vietnam Vets.

[Johnny_H02]

This book takes us through the preliminary actions taken by both enlisted men and staff in the lead up and culmination of the 'worst disaster in British Military History' where 1500 of HM Soldiers and levies were overwhelmed by an army of what seemed to be primitive natives armed with spears.

There have been ample books written on the subject some have been good others less so. More recently however there have been a number of 'revisionist' titles which have been less than accurate or flattering. Lt.Col. Mike Snook of "The Royal Welsh" formerly the Royal Regiment of Wales 24th/41st Ft. Sets the record straight. Combining his technical and historical knowledge and life time of study with his practical experience in soldiering. He pieces together the events in a way that is comprehensive and readable.

I bought this one a few years ago and found it initially to be a difficult read, however after reading more material and familiarizing myself with the British Army of the 19th Century the narrative moves smoothly and the locations of the staff and the 6 Companies of 1st/24th and G Coy. 2/24th as well as the native contingents and artillery are far easier to keep track of. So I would caution that a bit of familiarity with British army structure and doctrine of the late 19th century helps immensely in understanding the text.

This book is said to be coming out in paperback this summer and I strongly suggest it to anyone who has a soft spot for the Anglo-Zulu war and wants the real story. Its a worthy investment, it will be read multiple times (I'm on my 2nd read-through).