SAS: Storm Front: The Storming Bestseller from the Author of Harrier 809

by Rowland White

____________________‘As vivid and compelling as the best adventure thriller, and a fitting tribute to a small band of men who became heroes’ ANDY MCNAB ‘Gripping, revealing and extraordinarily well-researched, this is a riveting new account of a little known but crucial war’ SIR RANULPH FIENNES____________________Dawn. 19 July 1972. A force of nearly three hundred heavily armed, well-trained guerrillas launches a surprise attack on the small fishing village of Mirbat. All that stands in their way is a troop of just nine SAS, aided only by an elite band of fighter pilots overhead.Two years earlier a Communist rebellion had threatened the Arabian Peninsula, in the strategically critical Sultanate of Oman. Following a covert intelligence mission, 22 SAS deployed their largest ever assault force against the rebels.But this was to be a bitter and hard-fought campaign culminating the Battle of Mirbat which would become a defining moment for the Regiment. Their heroism that day would remain part of the SAS legend for ever.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Military History, Aviation, War

452 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 9, 2011

Reviews

[Michael Jecks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read. It's a non-fiction history, but written in a highly accessible form, of the British involvement in Oman, and specifically on the defence of Mirbat by the SAS. A terrible battle, in which a tiny detachment of special forces troopers were attacked by a large force of enemy.

The book is authoritative, well-written, and very hard to put down, in much the same way that Vulcan 607 is extraordinarily hard to put down. The details are well-covered, whether it's the way that the SOAF aircraft were designed and flew, or the firing mechanism of a Browning 50 cal machine-gun. Most importantly, it's a story of individual courage and bravery that should not be forgotten.

[Ryan Wulfsohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best book I've read so far about the war in Oman in the '70s. Told to a large degree from the perspective of the mainly British pilots (both seconded from the RAF and on contract) who played such a vital role in operations there and about whom very little has been published before. Besides the stories of the Strikemaster, Huey and Skyvan pilots White also shows the actions of those in the SAS and British officers attached to Omani units. The account of the Battle of Mirbat takes up significant space in the book but White looks at the whole of the Oman war especially the first two years.

[Cropredy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book by Rowland that I have read, the first being "Harrier 809" which I enjoyed. I was enticed by the book's jacket subtitle - "The Epic Story of a Secret War, the SAS's Greatest Battle, and the British Pilots Who Saved Them". How could this book miss?

I was dimly aware that the British and especially the SAS waged a counter-insurgency war in Oman, specifically in Dhofar, which borders Yemen. Every so often, usually in novels, you'd run across some reference to a hard-bitten, yet supremely trained, soldier or airman who had served in the unforgiving climate and terrain of the desert.

Although the title promises the story of an epic battle, this doesn't occur until about page 300 or so. Before that, you get introduced to various Brits who served as officers or soldiers for either the Omani Air Force or Omani Army. Plus, there were in-country SAS troops doing hearts-and-minds work along with counter-insurgency.

So, several years worth of inconclusive campaigning is recounted. The threadbare facilities at various dusty bases runs throughout the story. The soldiers and airmen are a tough bunch, both in the field and in the base's watering holes. Oh, and there's a coup with British connivance.

Older readers will remember when the British projected power beyond their NATO responsibilities into places like Aden, Malaya, and Hong Kong. Oman was another one of those spots. The story spans the budget move by the Foreign Office and MoD to cease British military presence east of Suez - another shock to the Empire.

Rowland has a special affinity for the various aircraft, their sounds, their flying characteristics, their ordnance, and of course their pilots. You'll learn a lot about the BAC Strikemaster, a small jet used to provide ground support. Even the logistics planes like the Short Skyvan, get their due.

The highlighted battle of Mirbat reads like Rorke's Drift where an 8 man SAS troop is attacked by 100's of Adoo (Chinese-backed communists)

I give this book only 3 stars because while the battle of Mirbat was an exciting read, the 270 page lead up was only moderately interesting. Too many soldiers rotate in and out of Oman and too many inconclusive actions against the Adoo ensue across hundreds of miles of rugged terrain.

The battle of Mirbat spelled the end of the insurgency but the evidence for why the Sultanate of Oman prevailed is given in a matter-of-fact way without convincing me. It could be true but I would need to read more.

If you are an SAS fan boy or fan girl, or are generally interested in the Dhofar counter-insurgency campaign from the British perspective, this is the book for you. But the multi-year scope of the narrative will not keep you turning the pages until the final 1/4 of the book.

There are several maps which are essential as well as dozens of photos.

[Chris Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long-winded title, excellent book! This was an informative, well-written and gripping account of the UK's secret war in Oman in the early 1970s. The bulk of the book focuses on the RAF pilots who were seconded to Oman to fly helicopters and jets, and gives a fascinating insight into the last opportunity for RAF pilots to experience the freebooting of a squadron that was relatively independent of central command. The other main actor in this story is the SAS, and their involvement in Oman was noteworthy for a number of reasons. First, this was a decade before the SAS swept into the public consciousness in such dramatic fashion when they stormed the Iranian Embassy in London, and it is poignant to reflect on the fact that this small group of men fought and were killed in a desperate and savage conflict, without the knowledge of the nation or even of their families. Second, it is interesting that the SAS fought for much of their time in Oman as highly trained infantry, rather than in the covert, sabotage and counter-terrorism with which they are associated today. Third, Oman was the setting for one of the most famous SAS actions, the Battle of Mirbat.

The pace and tempo of the book increase from around page 300, as the account of the battle gets underway. The heroism of this small group of men is unbelievable, as they fought for hours against highly motivated, well-trained and well-equipped Communist guerrillas at odds of 30 to 1. Interwoven with the desperate fighting in Mirbat is the frustration of the SOAF pilots in being unable to deliver effective support due to the inclement weather. White manages to pull a chaotic and fast-moving series of events into a coherent battle narrative, and one that feels is, immediate and deeply moving.

Ironically, given the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the ongoing chaos in Syria, the intervention in Oman was a success. The Communist insurgency was comprehensively defeated, and Oman has flourished in the 45 years since Sultan Qaboos seized power. This book does a great job of telling the story of the small group of seconded British Army officers, RAF pilots, and SAS soldiers that helped make that happen.

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the middle of July, 1972, the British SAS fought one of the most impressive special forces battles of the Cold War. The name Mirbat is one that means nothing to most people, but it is a town in Oman, and a remote battlefield in the insurgency supported by the Soviets and Chinese against the British backed government. While the Vietnam War was raging in Southeast Asia, the British were trying to conduct a secret war on the cheap - supporting and training the nascent Omani Forces. Rowland White is an author with an interest in Aviation History and a long trail of magazine articles and books to his name and he is telling the story of the whole campaign- even as the battle of Mirbat is the crescendo of the piece. The Omani Air Force- largely piloted by ex-RAF or seconded serving pilots came to the rescue- and played a large part in the story overall, and is one of White's entry points into the story.

The communist supported insurgency , know as the "Adoo", was trying to destabilize Oman as part of their Gulf Regional strategy. The SAS was sent in to train the regular Omani forces, while also supporting the local irregulars and former Adoo forces. They faced many difficult tactical choices, fighting a war with minimal resources. Even as they wanted to shore up anti-communist governments in the region- Her Majesty's government simply could not slather military logistics onto this problem in the style of their American Ally in Southeast Asia. When the battle reaches its climax- both sides are straining the limits of both sides' logistics and human capital. The tale is gripping- and its not often when two British Fijians are the heroes of stories of the great British Empire, even receding Empire. I really enjoyed this one and think readers of all stripes will too.

There are a fair number of adult themes, and some pretty harrowing passages , so this a best for the Junior Reader over 13/14 years. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast, this is a good resource, but needs to be used with others. There are a few operations discussed that would make good scenarios or even campaigns- but the Gamer will need colour guidance and more info and maps. For the Modeler, this is a good contributory text- but additional colour and other guidance would be useful for builds and dioramas, The Military Enthusiast gets a fun popular historical look at an almost forgotten conflict from the Cold War. General audience readers get a well written tick tock of a battle that made the sterling reputation of the modern SAS.

[Matthew Kresal · Rating 4 out of 5]

By the very nature of how they operate, the activities of special forces units tend to be secretive. Indeed, the way they tend to make headlines is through dramatic events, either good or ill, but otherwise staying away from the headlines. The secret war that Britain's Special Air Service fought during the Dhofar Rebellion stands as an example, culminating in the 1972 Battle of Mirbat. Rowland White's 2010 book Storm Front tells the story of that epic battle, which was nothing short of a 1970s Rourkes Drift ( the 1879 battle made famous in the movie Zulu with Michael Caine), where nine members of the SAS faced down hundreds of communist guerillas. White also explores the delicate politics of British involvement in Oman, the story of the RAF pilots who help turn the tide of the battle, and puts Mirbat in context as part of the larger war. As such, the events at Mirbat itself occupy only about twenty percent of the book's page count, with the opening half of it being the lead-up to the fight for Mirbat. As such, the subtitle is perhaps something of a misnomer, but White knows how to write a compelling narrative of soldiers, politics, and wartime that any military history buff should enjoy. Not to mention the bravery and luck that can turn the tide of battle.

[milo Murakami · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like a secret storm — quiet, yet full of power
The author writes with a calm, restrained style, revealing the truth and humanity behind war — both brutal and deeply moving
The missions of the SAS special forces aren’t just about bullets and firefights; they’re also a test of belief and inner strength

What struck me most were the details: their fear, their persistence, and the silent understanding between comrades
After finishing the book, you walk away with a new understanding of “courage
It’s not the absence of fear, but the choice to keep moving forward despite it

If you enjoy true war accounts, strategic operations, or stories that explore human nature under extreme pressure — this book is absolutely worth reading

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storm front interesting book about the SAS and the Battle of Mirbat.

Allegedly some people think it's the SAS answer to Rorke's Drift.

I've unfortunately rated this low as I was perhaps expecting more seeing as this is an SAS book that said it does take you right to the heart of the action.

I believe this is an account of a little known but maybe crucial war and I don't believe I've heard of many accounts of any campaigns in Oman but this book brings that to life.

Unfortunately for me I guess it's not the book I was hoping for.

[Scott Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is ambitious in how it approaches this chapter in history, from two main view points. The story it tells is complex and extremely well researched and remains captivating throughout. Despite it feeling a little slow in places, the final chapters covering the battle of Miribat are exhilarating and well worth the wait. This account is truely remarkable and the writing is superb. Couldn't put it down!

[C K Dundas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to believe that this is a true story ,these people should always be remembered .the only problem with this book is the
Use of a lot abbreviations which I know are necessary but can be confusing

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

[Peter Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start, good build & great story

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was in parts a really interesting read about a long forgotten Campaign that gets little coverage today.
Very detailed and informative but i felt it dragged on somewhat as a lot was about the politics and presonel changes of the campaign.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

As can be expected from this author, the attention to detail and storyline is good. The SAS are here presented as fighting a series of mainly infantry skirmishes up until the final pitched "Battle of Mirbat" with some astonishing bravery presented from both soldiers and pilots.

Easy to read and follow, despite the little known nature of the conflict.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most interesting thing about this book is the account of the coup by which the present Sultant replaced his father and started to transform his country into a modern state. Worth reading for this reason alone.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled with the acronyms through the book and remembering what they stood for. The military have so many! However the story and the focus on the units and individuals really made a great account of the Oman conflict.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing account of Operation Storm and the battle of Mirbat in Oman in the 1970's.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible!!!