The War That Never Was

Raiding Forces #15

by Phil Ward

The 575th Ranger Task Force, Raiding Forces are conducting a fighting withdrawal back to the Salerno Beachhead following their drop on Benevento, Italy. The jump was widely scattered with one plane load missing the drop zone by in excess of 100 miles. While the 575th RTF has been away conducting a hit and run guerrilla campaign, blocking roads by downing trees, cutting rail lines and blowing bridges, an element of Sea Raiders from the Brandenburger Regiment have raided Castelrozzo. Major the Lady Jane Seaborn is MIA. On his return to friendly lines Colonel John Randal takes the first men to arrive back and are immediately flown to Alexandria by Major General Sam Houston Blackwell in two of his Troop Transport Command's C-47s to marshal for a drop on Raiding Forces Advanced Base Castelrozzo (ABC). Meanwhile the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) and the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) are attached to Raiding Forces. The problem is they are on Leros which is being invaded by a combined German amphibious/airborne force. Col. Randal decides to rescue the remnants of the two units even though he has no authority to do so. The mission continues.

514 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 21, 2022

About the author

Phil Ward is a decorated combat veteran commissioned at age nineteen. A former instructor at the Army Ranger School, he has had a lifelong interest in small unit tactics and special operations. He lives in Texas on a mountain overlooking Lake Austin.

Reviews

[Laron D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

entertaining read

I do enjoy this historical fiction series. My pros/cons:

Pros:
- The narrative pacing is fast and captures combat action with insight from an author who has been there, done it, got the t-shirt
-I love the flamboyant characters
- I love ‘to hate’ the inept Allied Commanders - an all too often an occurrence and one, I suspect, the author has a front row seat to
- the detailed weapons descriptions and characterization

Cons:
- I still dislike the (imo) overuse of the nicknames/handles/call signs. I believe the author has improved on this but feel it could still be cut back. I suggest re-reading the Patrick O’Brien Aubrey/Maturin series (assuming the author has read them, unthinkable if he has not) as O’Brien does a masterful job of referencing his close-knit band of characters throughout his 20+ volume masterpiece without belaboring each individuals full name for every mention.
- I am more than willing to suspend disbelief … but the (warning, partial plot reveal) trip to North Carolina in the middle of the goat-rope Aegean crisis pressing on Col. Randall is (pun intended) a ‘bridge too far’.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aegean Sea AO

Improvise, adapt, overcome is the "trifecta" of battlefield tactics for Raiding Forces. I would add to that, "Make Do, Can Do!" Reading this series I was previously unfamiliar with some of the military units, equipment, and tactics the author describes in his stories. My only CON to the series is the use of Rank, full name with nicknames, and military awards of each individual present in each meeting of staff. My eyes tend to glaze over those half page descriptions.

[Ellis lee Knox]

The best ever

I have thoroughly enjoyed each installment. Col. Randal and his team are an excellent example of Americans ability to adapt to any situation. It also inadvertently underscores the inability of the planners in the rear to understand the actual complexity of of battle. To often unseasoned or peacetime officers are unable to break the mold to adapt to the reality of the situation.

[edward cates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Workman construction

We have seen all of these characters before and I don’t know my WW2 history well enough to know the if there is any factual basis for the events. I have been to Greece and flown over the many islands so it all sounds plausible to me and I do know that Churchill wanted to retake Greece and the Balkans but was overruled by Roosevelt and Stalin. I am anxious to read the next book

[Peter Hendrycks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book includes so much detail, it makes your head swim a bit. Randal is being pulled in multiple directions, and it has to be wearing him down. The last few chapters are quite intense. Being a German paratrooper does not sound like a fun assignment, compared to how Raiding Forces does it! I continue to be impressed by Mr. Ward's knowledge of military tactics and armament. He tells a great story, that makes you want to keep reading.

[Richard Cowart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding series

While the raiding forces are helping with the invasion of Italy their base on Castellerone is attacked by the Germans and Lady Jane is missing. Col Randle and his team are furious and go in search of Germans and Lady Jane. Exciting reading following the evolution of parachute troops during WWII.

[John E. Heisel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much repetition!

It seems the author was counting his words as a HS student might when required to write a 150 word composition! Too numerous lists of briefing attendees and their ranks over and over. Often whole sentences and or paragraphs are repeated several times to add to the word count without requiring any effort on the author's part.


JH
USMA '68

[Larry Don Block · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally!!

This was well worth the wait. The book shifts focus between the US Airborne developing policies and the ongoing Raiding Forces story in Aegean theater. I hope the next installment arrives sooner than this one. I was disappointed in the delay.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the whole series so far. Non stop action, outstanding characters and believable plots. If you are looking for WWII fiction this is my favorite.

[Charles Moffett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspense at its best.

Very thorough is detail n every situation.
Great job. I can't wait for the next book. Keep us posted when it will be available.

[J. Trent · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Page Turner

Another great story in the Raiding Forces saga, although the spelling and punctuation would make an English teacher cringe. Looking forward to the next book.

[Michael W. Gray Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent Raiding Forces novel

Col. Randal is fighting not only the Germans but the incompetent upper echelon of his own military also they have a spy in their midst’s

[Paul Grogger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where is book16?

Another get story in a wonderful series. I cannot wait for the next book. One must enjoy reading another book of the series.

[JOE L WOODWARD · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book

Another great book. A real page turner. I’m sorry I read it so fast. I’m also sorry that I’m almost caught up.

[Jim Purcell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Colonel continues to move up in the military hierarchy but has to return to defend his home turf. Looking forward to future installments.

[Robert L · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing

I’ve read the previous books in the series. In this book the author was so busy using all forms of the characters names and long, long descriptions of the weapons that the story took a backseat. A chore to read through to the end.

[Tom Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series of novels is wonderful (I've read it three times). The military tems and weapon effectiveness sparkle in their veracity and the story sticks to my memory.

Lady Jane rocks!