SAS Bravo Three Zero

This video is a recording of a live book launch which took place at the National Army Museum on 28 October 2021.
In the opening hours of the Gulf War, the SAS were flown deep behind enemy lines to hunt down Saddam Hussein’s Scud missiles. There were three SAS patrols that fateful January 1991 morning: Bravo One Zero, Bravo Two Zero and Bravo Three Zero.
The men of Bravo One Zero stepped off the chopper, took one look at the flat desert devoid of any cover and decided that no way were they deploying into all of that. But Andy NcNab’s famed Bravo Two Zero patrol did deploy, with fatal results - all bar one being captured or killed.
And then there was Bravo Three Zero. A strong patrol with Des Powell as second in command, these men decided to go down a different route. Treating as gospel the SAS’s saying ‘any fool can be uncomfortable’, they deployed with vehicles. And while there was nowhere to hide, they could always make a dash for the border if desperate.
Des Powell served in the Parachute Regiment as a sergeant major before spending 20 years in the SAS at the heart of Counter Terrorism and Special Projects teams. A former PT instructor in 1 PARA, he became the Unarmed Combat and Fitness instructor for B Squadron, and pioneered HALO, HAHO and other covert airborne entry techniques. He was the second-in command of the Bravo Three Zero patrol in 1991.
Damien Lewis is a Sunday Times No 1 bestselling author whose books have been translated into 40 languages worldwide. For 20 years, Damien worked as a war and conflict reporter for the world’s major broadcasters. Several of his books are being made into feature films. SAS Bravo Three Zero continues Damien’s iconic elite forces series: Churchill’s Secret Warriors, The Nazi Hunters, Hunting The Nazi Bomb, SAS Ghost Patrol, SAS Italian Job, SAS Shadow Raiders, SAS Band of Brothers and SAS Great Escapes.
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#sas#damienlewis

[@jamesross1799]

There's very little difference between what thease guys were doing and what the LRDG and stirlings original SAS guys were doing back in 41 42. What a bloke! What a patrol! What a Regiment. I salute you 👏

[@RalphBrooker-gn9iv]

Superb from Des. No big talk. No ego. No blame. I’m ex-infantry. On Op Banner I’ve heard the night shattered close to tgt by screams of mates in Support OPs as they go down with frostbite. Compromised. Loosing feet, hands. Careers over. And we bought our own decent gear from Silvermans. Norwegian stuff. My only bone of contention is Damien’s ‘prefer to have more ammo than warm kit’. Fermanagh 1982. Hellish weather. Hard routine in OP. You need warm kit and that understanding of how hyperthermia works. On a broader point did the Bravos achieve any tactical gain. Not blaming them if they didn’t. But the QMS/signals/terrain side of things is so unexpected. In patrol orders which the SAS use, Prelims starts with terrain and ambient light issues. How could these men have been so let down. I find it mind boggling.

[@Beauloqs]

......what has always blown my mind about that is they didn't have a single survival blanket between them.

[@thelmaviaduct]

Not called the borrowers for no reason.

[@colinstewart1432]

There were tactical gains. Time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted. So any other blokes who went in afterwards were better informed.

[@JamiHuff]

the simple fact that the iraqi army was forced to constantly keep the scuds moving. therefore less were fired as a result. a tactical victory towards the strategic end of iraq retreating from kuwait. the blame lay firmly at saddam husseins feet. war is hell. remember the blameless civilians

[@JordanLane7]

Unreal interview, glued from beginning to end

[@DannyB497]

This was a great interview cheers both!

[@jerrywarren6959]

Amazingly realistic interview.. thank the lord above that we still have people like you guys in our undisciplined country

[@GavTatu]

air troop are the lords above.

[@nortoncommandoupgradestrav2474]

Undisciplined country?... you mean free country surely, or do want a dictatorship?

[@GLYDR]

Just how is our country "undisciplined"?

[@jonomurphy1117]

@@GLYDR iff your referring to the US of A. Poor gun legislation, crumbling political and social infrastructure, a political system designed to divide the populace, ridiculous military spending, poor public health, a lack of leadership, horrendous foreign policy, a nation of people so blind that they believe they are the greatest nation on earth, a history of seeking conflict where it is not needed.

[@sillytorque]

which lord are you referring to? There are 786 of them... It's a realistic interview, because it was..... a REAL INTERVIEW.

[@wareidav]

Awesome bunch of people... Heroism is born out of his and their mentality. From WW2 to this very day we should be proud that we have THE BEST elite soldiers in the world.

[@mordocapgerlan7290]

Bravo two zero is a work of fiction , see Bravo two zero THE REAL story by Michael Asher

[@H4CK61]

@@mordocapgerlan7290 Grow up ffs it was not fiction ffs.

[@bobpage6597]

B30 - the only patrol sensible enough to take vehicles! Bravo-One-Zero on landing, aborted their mission straight away on realising how open/crappy the terrain was with no cover. McNab of Bravo-Two-Zero ignored REPEATED suggestions by the higher ups (Peter Ratcliffe) to take vehicles on the patrol. Even after being compromised, Bravo-Three-Zero had the mobility and speed afforded by the vehicles to escape. As Ratcliffe went on record to say, the majority of issues that befell McNab's patrol was based solely on his decision to NOT take vehicles, coupled with the fact each patrol member was carrying far too much kit to be nimble. As Michael Asher said (himself ex 23 SAS) during his extensive investigation into the Bravo-Two-Zero mission, for McNab to take his men into the desert, on foot, loaded down with all the gear they had was simply madness/stupidity. Asher lived with the Bedouin for 3 years, going native. To go into the desert on foot was asking for trouble! The only reason why Ratcliffe and the head-shed allowed the patrol to proceed without vehicles is because its tradition basically that the patrol leader (McNab) makes the final decision - they are the ones who live with it. And in this case, the entire mission went to shit because of McNab's insistance on NOT taking vehicles. Throw in all his lies he made up about the shootouts which Asher established never happened, its more than a little annoying when you realise McNab creamed millions in earnings on a complete fabrication. Bloating c**t!! Vince Phillips: RIP sir, you were not to blame as Asher's investigation established!

[@bradgray4360]

Yeah i bought the book and thought man all that gear and as soon as they get spotted then they leave it .also loosing 2 guys was i feel mcnabs fault yes he should have taken vehicles but when I read the true account by Billy and the other bloke I thought you bloody liar also i allways wondered about that dinger bloke I think thsts his name

[@colinstewart1432]

Asher isn't a credible source on this subject. He had his knickers in a twist about Mcnab for some bizarre personal reason known only to him.

[@bobpage6597]

@@colinstewart1432 Doesn't really matter when Peter Ratcliffe the RSM of 22 SAS at the time had the same concerns. I think it was Ratcliffe himself who later made a dry quip saying "Its a pity McNab was captured, at the rate he was killing Iraqi's by his own account they'd have surrendered in short order soon enough!" - basically he was taking the piss and shooting down McNab's complete BS fabrication of events. McNab is also persona non grata among many old hands in the Regiment precisely because of his fabrication, he earned millions off BS, spinning himself into a hero.

[@wessexdruid7598]

Seconded about Vince - and the knock on effect on his younger brother (my Platoon Sgt) who worshipped him. His loss killed Jeff as well, just leaving their mother, totally destroyed.

[@wessexdruid7598]

@@colinstewart1432 Are you suggesting McNab is credible? Ask Mike Coburn.

[@wonneproppen-jb2jm]

Very impressive, Greets and much Respect from Germany👍🇬🇧🇩🇪

[@bigdevine]

Is there a part 2 of this video? Fascinating

[@robashton8606]

"No one expected an SAS patrol to be 300 miles behind enemy lines"? Surely, that's exactly where one _would_ expect to find the SAS? LDG and all that.

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

That interview was awesome 👍

[@danielgarner2963]

Great interview, very frustrated they weren't given the right kit which could have saved lives.

[@wearetomorrowspast.5617]

Cool, I love this guys books.

[@drgunsmith4099]

My mate is mentioned in that book. Respect 🙏🇬🇧

[@ToddiusMaximus]

SAS guy??

[@EasyTiger.01343]

He describes locating what his team thinks is a scud site, at night, out in the middle of the desert, teeming with men and equipment, all lit up like a motorway. And yet the Coalition Pilot, looking for "Targets of Opportunity" decides to drop his entire payload on a pair of presumably unlit Land Rovers tooling around in the dark. Curious tale.

[@christopherfranklin972]

Indeed it is,you might even say incredible.

[@paullangton-rogers2390]

The US fighter jets have thermal imaging technology so in the cockpit a couple of hot Land Rovers with engine running several hours would have stood out like a sore thumb in the darkness and cold of the desert in the pilots cockpit target imaging system displaying.. that would have been an opportune target hit...he just unloaded a couple of heat seaking missiles at them as no way was the US expecting to see any friendly units that far into Iraq at that time. How they managed to escape such missiles is either astonishingly good luck (maybe those missiles went into a nearby engine of something) or quite bad tech on the US missiles if they missed the SAS Land Rover targets and there was nothing else nearby to lock onto.

[@christopherfranklin972]

@@paullangton-rogers2390 But that doesn't explain why the pilot should select unidentifiable targets when a visibly lit up option was available does it?

[@chaosncheckt9356]

Something doesn't ring true here. There were both US and UK Special Operations folks in Iraq prior to the official start of the ground war. Some were inserted with vehicles by helicopters, so some detail of their operations would have been briefed to Air Force leadership. Those units all had the capability to talk with AWACs a/c, which would have been directing aircraft over Iraq air space. None of those units had what you could describe as traditional military vehicles but that said, one of the worse fears of any pilot is a friendly fire incident, so I'm confident to say the aircraft would have been communicating with AWACs. Plus, there was an air to ground frequency given to those Special Ops units where by they could speak to aircraft overhead. That conversation usually started with "Any allied aircraft, US/UK forces on the ground at coordinates ........". Given air superiority, I'm confident the SCUD crews did not illuminate their sites/rockets/vehicles/etc. Additionally, air crews may have been informed if they ejected, there could be friendly ground units in their area. I think like the first Andy McNabb story which I believe has been debunked, this story has some embellishment and stretches of the truth. Also interesting watching the body language of the interviewer.

[@chaosncheckt9356]

@@markcooke5270 My comment "worse fear" is just that. Do you suggest your zero count extends to WWII?

[@stephenward3468]

We had C Squadron in Rhodesia.The c sqd guys RLI and our elite unit Selous Scouts did a 3 day external op into Mozambique that was Op Dingo.That op resulted in the RSF taking out about 3000 bad boys.Sadly we lost one C Squadron guy.A very successful op by all accounts.

[@kevinadamson5768]

We had an ex RLI guy in our platoon good soldier but proper racist and I mean racist, that was in 1980,s doubt he'd last long now in today's army.

[@andymoody8363]

3,000 is about the same as the USMC suffered in the svage 3 day battle of Tarawa so I'm calling BS on this, what's the evidence?

[@radfordpilgrim4393]

@@andymoody8363 you would be extremely surprised how merciless the selous scouts were, nevermind C Squadron (Rhodesia) SAS . They mopped up Mozambiquan and Zim thugs like it was Call of Duty

[@paullangton-rogers2390]

When was this exactly? Rhodesia was under sanctions from UK from 1970's until the Smith government ended.. why would the SAS be involved in that time period, it must have been pre-1970's sanctions I assume? Or are you saying despite the tough sanctions and UK political stance against the Smith government, the MOD assisted Rhodesia still and deployed the SAS?

[@radfordpilgrim4393]

@@paullangton-rogers2390 C squadron was certainly deployed, along with the Kings African Rifles, as the primary jungle warfare fighting force during the Malayan Emergency in the 1950s, and they were certainly used, officially, until 1965. After that, the Rhodesian volunteers had to apply through the British Army like everyone else as C Squadron became conglomerated in the Rhodesian Army. They then only really fought in the Bush War and various anti-communist endeavours in Angola and Mozambique with the Portuguese. This, however, does not mean Rhodesian special forces men weren't employed by the MoD unofficially because of how well respected they were as soldiers.

[@tonym992]

Brilliant!

[@Tomfromlondon]

This is well hosted by this guy. He knows when to let Des speak.

[@robertsuch3614]

That’s Damien Lewis, he’s the author of the book on the table that’s next to them 👍🏼😉

[@terrypoole7978]

Respct.i can imagine the ribbing you got from the lads back at stirlin lines,after winning the competition.

[@johnregan326]

Brilliant interview read the book Brilliant read .

[@James-is2dr]

Enjoyed, very interesting. Hindsight is as they say always 20/20 but a shame int was so wrong. Respect.

[@DataGeek903]

Bravest patrol was Bravo One Zero. Hard to make a decision when you know you'll get derided. But you didn't put your men at needless risk.

[@alandrinkwater1226]

Sas the best in the world.

[@georgespruce6028]

DataGeek in your and others opinion. How can you measure bravery and know all the true facts of all the acts of bravery.

[@musheopeaus4125]

Err they had to get the 2ic replaced because they wouldn’t go over the border in iraq for 6 days. They wouldn’t follow orders

[@welshlyn9097]

I’m reading the book 📕 now

[@Adam-Andrews-1725]

Bravo one zero sounds like it would be a quick book.

[@thelmaviaduct]

Make a great film too.

[@lifesagamesobeawinner]

Well this guys just made Mr Andy I can't show my face mcnab look silly 🙈

[@frogsin7850]

Were their American units doing the same missions at the same time .?

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

I've read of one. All Green Berets. 2 scuba qualified. Out of 7 or 8 guys about half were sniper qualified. According to the book, they were given a hide area that was flat open ground. The NCOIC set about requesitioning enough materials to dig a hide big enough for everybody. They got their time down to 7 hours. Dug in O.K. and started sending in Intel. On day 2? You guessed it. Here comes the shepherd boy from central casting. Instead of booking out, these guys started calling air support and sniping. They packed up and took off after dark to a new pick up zone. Happy ending.

[@altaylor3988]

I have enormous respect for the S.A.S. .... This is the first of such interviews/accounts that I have watched start to finish , thank you to the interviewer and Des. Many years ago as I was reading McNabs(Nom deplume) book of Bravo 2 Zero's stuff up, it did not take me long to understand that the Head Shed were responsible for the piss poor quality of Intelligence regarding the Conditions, how ever with that understood it was plainly obvious that McNab, despite apparently his patrol having a Chinese Parliament to decide if it was on foot or vehicles, McNab did NOT show sound leadership ...a. by not realising that Vehicles gave greater mobility regardless of terrain, b. As a part of his planing did NOT contain a basic precaution of upon landing to do a quick recon of the area. It now becomes known that Bravo 1 zero did exactly that and established that the op was not on. They deserved Commendation for their planning. McNab's ego prevented him from the curse of the old saying " It is oft better to keep it SHUT .... Than open it and PROVE the point" ....McNab is full of wind and piss. I first became aware of the S.A.S. in the mid 1950's during a part of my three years service in the Malayan Emergency .... Thank you to the S.A.S. for their commitments and proud achievements.

[@declanshanahan3888]

Out of interest were you there? At any stage? Ever passed selection or been close? Or just read books?

[@NomisReldas]

@@declanshanahan3888 I can answer that. The bloke wasn’t there, never been near a pair of lightweights in his life!

[@Chiller01]

Your argument is ridiculous. When Steven Mitchell wrote Bravo Two Zero the book entered the public domain. Michael Asher likewise entered the public domain with his documentary and book outlining the untruthfulness of Mitchell’s book and the harm it did particularly to the reputation of Sgt Vince Phillips. At least two more books have been written my members of that SAS unit all disagreeing with one another. This is similar to the Navy Seal unit that shot Osama bin Laden with Rob O’Neill and Matt Bissonette publishing books with differing accounts. When members of these units publish accounts that elevate their own importance the public is entitled to look at the evidence and decide if those accounts are trustworthy or not.

[@paulbantick8266]

@@Chiller01 I saw that documentary which was weak, full of opinion and unsubstantiated information. Asher was just a hack. As an aside. My dad fought in north Africa. he told me that nights could be very cold and that on one night it snowed.

[@Chiller01]

@@paulbantick8266 Gonna disagree with you on that one. I found Michael Asher’s evidence compelling. Steven Mitchell provides no real corroborating evidence, just his opinion. Asher interviewed first hand witnesses and had corroboration from SAS contemporaries of Mitchell as to the inconsistencies between his initial report and the subsequent book written later. Mitchell’s book is self aggrandizing at the expense of some of his comrades. Asher’s original intent was to retrace the units steps not to disprove Mitchell. I would have no problem with Mitchell’s book as historical fiction like most of his work. Unfortunately he unfairly targeted and named members of his SAS unit with tragic consequences.

[@paulmulks]

Des is the sort of gent I'd absolutely love to sit and have a few beers with and just listen 👌

[@Jimmy_Crackcorn1849]

Just a wild guess, but I think the concern was the possibility of chemical weapons

[@GIZALARF]

The stark difference between the Super Army Soldiers (SAS) and Super Boat Soldiers (SBS) (Like SAS but boat) is that the SBS work in and around water whereas the SAS walk on it

[@garryharriman7349]

It would have been nice to know why G Sqn were pulled off that TTW training to replace B Sqn on CT at Hereford. No explanation both in this and other pod casts or his book. It's also been questioned as to weather the satalite imagary regarding the massing at the SA boarder was actually in fact genuine!

[@MobstersInc]

New subscriber 🍿

[@wildandbarefoot]

One if the best nights kips I had was bundled up in a camo net. It was better than any duvet or double duvet.

[@azcop2]

Amazing how Iill prepared theses SAS units were. Their dedication and determination got most of them through.

[@javidjames3319]

To a degree they were unprepared , they took advice from intelligence and different other sources that were duff and the coms situation was bad . What We have learned from this ( with hindsight ) intelligence and communications have improved significantly since 1991 .

[@amendeb1717]

Bravo Two Zero, by contrast, was a disaster. McNab and one other SAS member of his patrol claimed they killed Iraqi soldiers, this was not true according to Peter Ratcliffe DCM Regimental Sergeant Major of 22 SAS (source: The Eye of the Storm (2000)). Ratcliffe describes McNab's SAS debriefing, which contradicts the public fiction.

[@SuperDaish]

Ex military are notorious for embellishing the truth

[@justincatman7235]

This sort of thing really pisses me off. I'm 42, joined the British Army in 97 with the PWRR and was a sniper for 8 years. People do NOT get in the military by lying, being the big I am, having a huge ego. They get in on merit, trust, professionalism and honesty. Now I was just a sniper in the regular Army. 22 SAS are the best of the best. They want a guy that blends in, is professional under the heaviest of pressures. Now why is it, places like the UK and US, love to brag about our Military, our Special Forces. Trust these guys to fire the most advanced weapon systems, to protect their country.....yet whenever they have contact, and tell people about it, they get called liars? Andy McNab, gave his account of the contact they had, the rounds they fired and what happened. People that WERE NOT THERE say he is lying. Chris Ryan that was part of the same troop and got away on foot. Tabbed to Syria, also had contact and got into large firefights. Again, people that WERE NOT THERE brandish him a liar. Marcus Luttrell, part of a SEAL team and the popular movie Lone Survivor, had shrapnel wounds from RPG's, shot 6 times, broken bones, bit his tongue in half, depleted rounds, gave his account of what happened, and AGIAN he is called a liar by PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT THERE. Chris Kyle, gave accounts of what happened on his tour, and he was called a liar! Why is it, that people that are too much of a pussy to join the military, are happy to be an analyst and go over operations and contact, in a country they weren't in, and a firefight they weren't part of, and then call the men that were trusted enough to join the military, and call them liars in the comfort of a quiet room, behind a desk??? I had to deal with this shit. We were on a joint Op with the US/UK and myself and my 2nd, Raph, were providing support or 'overwatch' if you will, for US and UK troops in Afghan. They were clearing house and rushing the process. We were instructed to get out the building we were in, get on the deck and help them clear house. Leaving us totally exposed, no cover from the South, I had not only my L11, but also an AW50 that both myself and Raph were carrying in parts because the weapon system is just too large to carry as a whole and as one. Yet we were instructed to go up on the 3rd floor, and help out. Well these buildings are tiny, no room to fart. Long story short, stacking up to breach, we heard what sounded like canisters hitting eachother. Someone shouted get down, rounds came through the wall. 1 round actually hit my burgen, and spun me round like a top. I heard more rounds fired. We went in, took out the threats, and after realised my pal had been hit 5 times. 1 oblique shot. 1 lower abdomen. 2 upper torso but the rounds didn't penetrate. 1 neck shot that was fatal. I was broken..... I genuinely was absolutely destroyed. We got home, had to give accounts of what happened. I was spoken too like a liar. I was told my grief and emotions are clouding my memory. Clouding my memory? I'm on fucking Mirtazapine, Zoplicone, Amitriptyline and Sotalol for PTSD because I actually can't get what happened out my fucking head. Apparently, we would never have been told to leave our position. We would never have been told to go and clear house. The events as 6 of us stated didn't happen in that way we told. We made the contact sound worse than it was according to the up their own asses idiots behind the desk. How fucking dare they! People hear this shit, then spread it like you are now. People can't brag about the SAS or SEALs being so great, so professional, so amazing, then when any member leaves and tells a story of what happened, people say "I don't believe you"..... how fucking backward does that sound! People that weren't there have NO right to say that people that were there and putting their lives on the line are liars.

[@andyhelstrip5002]

@@justincatman7235 Well said mate, well said.

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

@@justincatman7235 fkn hell mate👍

[@justin7036]

Have you watched the documentary "The real bravo two zero"? By Micheal Asher

[@LoneRangerG5]

Any 42 commando? Xx

[@MickAngelhere]

I had been in Iran the year before and when I saw and heard that Bravo Two Zero had decided to do the patrol on foot and not in vehicles, couldn’t believe it, yes the desert is quite flat and bare in parts at least they could get out of trouble faster in a vehicle. Plus in some ways the British were unprepared for the weather as it gets bloody freezing in the desert and this was in June.

[@michaelkennedy3372]

Iran ?

[@MickAngelhere]

@@michaelkennedy3372 yep and it is an amazing place, would love to go back and see more of the country as we only had a permit for seven days

[@devonshire5482]

@@michaelkennedy3372 I think that fella has got his facts mixed up lol.

[@malcolmyoung7866]

@@devonshire5482 NO he was in Iran...not a million miles from Iraq...a bit like being in France but describing what it must be like in Belgium..there isn't much difference..seeing that both countries are next to each other.

[@kevindoughty3907]

Stephen Mitchell (McNob) overruled the RSM's (Billy Radcliffe) advice and decided to fatefully go in on foot.. Wrong radio frequencies, TAC-BE never worked, shite maps and inappropriate clothing.. Worst patrol in the Regiment's history..

[@raymondyee2008]

I’m here because i’m reading the exact book above. In fact I had no idea about Bravo One Zero until now (in hindsight it was a good decision to abort mission otherwise they would have had the same fate as Bravo Two Zero).

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

All of this talk of vehicles reminds me that USSF did a lot of mobile ops in Gulf War 2. But except for half a chapter in Masters of Chaos I've never found anything about it. The program of modifying vehicles and tactics was a result of operational difficulties in Desert Storm. So, the clusters in Desert Storm weren't wasted effort.

[@chrisbrent7487]

It is always freezing in the desert at night time, especially in winter. There is no cloud cover to keep the heat in. It isn't uncommon to have 35c plus days and sub zero nights where water freezes in canteens.

[@stephenlangton3814]

They should have asked sir David Sterling what the weather was like at night

[@chrisbrent7487]

@@stephenlangton3814 I can attest to the freezing temperatures in Libya at night when you get well away fro, the coast. It gets very cold. Same in central Australia.

[@ianmansfield1317]

My first tour of Iraq, I took a jungle sleeping bag. Biggest mistake ever. Seriously cold at night.

[@robmtt1546]

I Dont Understand Why They Hung around When The Radios Failed??

[@GIZALARF]

This is why the coalition jet never hit the SAS. The missile knows where it is at all times. It knows this because it knows where it isn't. By subtracting where it is from where it isn't, or where it isn't from where it is (whichever is greater), it obtains a difference, or deviation. The guidance subsystem uses deviations to generate corrective commands to drive the missile from a position where it is to a position where it isn't, and arriving at a position where it wasn't, it now is. Consequently, the position where it is, is now the position that it wasn't, and it follows that the position that it was, is now the position that it isn't. In the event that the position that it is in is not the position that it wasn't, the system has acquired a variation, the variation being the difference between where the missile is, and where it wasn't. If variation is considered to be a significant factor, it too may be corrected by the GEA. However, the missile must also know where it was. The missile guidance computer scenario works as follows. Because a variation has modified some of the information the missile has obtained, it is not sure just where it is. However, it is sure where it isn't, within reason, and it knows where it was. It now subtracts where it should be from where it wasn't, or vice-versa, and by differentiating this from the algebraic sum of where it shouldn't be, and where it was, it is able to obtain the deviation and its variation, which is called error.

[@paulclarke4776]

So, where was it?? 😂

[@GIZALARF]

@@paulclarke4776 Well, it was where it was, then it was where it wasn't. It deviated from that position to a place that it wanted to be, over corrected and ended up back where it was from where it wasn't and where it didn't want to be. Hope that clears things up. 🤔

[@theophrastusbombastus1359]

You should tell that to the American missiles hitting blue on blue

[@derekmcnulty2559]

I hardly think he was a SM with the Paras prior to joining the SAS. Especially only 7-8 yrs with the paras. Check your descriptions

[@concorde1793]

Where Des describes the close encounter with the large Iraqi convoy the interviewer missed a trick by not asking if he thinks they would have survived a firefight ?

[@kevinadamson5768]

Read the book in 3days, brilliant read, I know where he is coming from with the duodenal ulcer very debilitating I had one what burst and I nearly bled to death internally. Top respect from an ex Scots guardsman.

[@jonmathias6159]

Bravo Two Zero. A book that just gets better with every reading.

[@motomartinski5672]

@@jonmathias6159 Unfortunately the book and account given to the media and public is credibly alleged (by regiment personnel) to contain some very significant fiction that goes beyond the common embellishment attached to many after action stories that don't match the immediate debrief. That didn't go down too well at Stirling Lines. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4HIXpaVaMp0f8k (Asher was given some unusual cooperation) Highly popular paperback and spin offs is somewhat better paid than 22 reg NCO grades. (In fact massively more reward than C.O. salary)

[@robashton8606]

@@jonmathias6159 Thanks Alan.

[@littlebull8881]

Jaeeeeee

[@littlebull8881]

Dis you want m5.11 lcoscovery going ?

[@ozzyfarrow9872]

Des sounds like the rugby league commentator on bbc

[@Valhalla88888]

Good lads those soldiers 🇬🇧

[@Broski2322]

We British we the best

[@VenturiLife]

Deserts can get very cold at night...

[@union310]

Interesting that there's no mention of the SBS taking cables back for examination having successfully cut the scud channel cables.

[@nilepax8168]

The SBS Vs SAS rivalry is infamous. Blue on blue fire in the Falklands resulted in the only fatality in the SBS 's history. On the vessel taking the troops back home a comment was made by an sas guy and the ensuing battle resulted in the entire sas being helicoptered off the ship. Duncan Falconer s book first into action - best account of SF you will ever read.

[@union310]

@@nilepax8168 I am quite happy listening to what my brother says when he is in the mood to. As for the only one killed in their history,sadly you are wrong by a long shot.

[@nilepax8168]

@@union310 if I'm wrong I accept that. That's the account I read albeit the book is from the 90s. No wish to upset you or anyone else. Respect to your brother and you.

[@union310]

@@nilepax8168 My brother sadly lost a number of good friends some of which I had the great pleasure to meet. Ordinary men doing nothing that special is how he describes it.

[@nilepax8168]

@@union310 it was not my intention to denigrate or dismiss that bravery at all. No way. However I did mention that it was the first death in action, however. I thank your brother for his incredible service and courage.

[@tonywoodham3760]

Awesome

[@archstanton6310]

Just read the book then this , totally mad how you bluffed the passing patrol , i was 2 para

[@dc-gb2zx]

If I pull myself off are people gonna think I've bottled it 🍼 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@crazyhorse562]

I have done parachute training and l am sure they are all basically the same. 1 of your six basic jumps is to pretend your main canopy hasn't opened and you open your reserve. I saw many incidents over the years and nearly all deployed the reserve successfully. The stupid released the main and hit the deck. Maybe he had time because of altitude, but sounds like he panicked and didn't follow procedure.

[@yes7631]

Des - not sure if your tummy problem fixed - I had same problem eventually fixed with a course of particular antibiotics - worked a treat no problem since.

[@joey1317]

Not surprised the Land Rover didn’t start up

[@korsu1234]

Was these those dudes that freeze to death,exept few of them😮

[@theculturedthug6609]

8:21 if he pulls himself off... Lmao.

[@jhare18]

SOLID AS TITANIUM.

[@mikegleed5842]

Concrete Reg!💪

[@stanbligh9217]

It seems that Andy McNab does not let the truth stand in the way of a good story.

[@thelmaviaduct]

You can't get a false story classified, quite clever really.

[@xxxremastered3264]

💯💯💯

[@devonshire5482]

Far too many operators from the Regiment now starting to write books or do TV programmes, Whatever happened to being SAS, Secret and Silence?

[@catlee8064]

Money and fame....thats all it takes to bring out these men.

[@davidh6300]

I agree, I think it's getting out of hand . In a way the was is becoming a victim of its own success.

[@bandk2000]

Statute of limitations on secrets, the war was 20 something years ago now, those operators are likely ex forces by now so it makes no matter if its out in the open or not. In other words its history!

[@catlee8064]

@@bandk2000 I understand exactly where youre coming from, BUT, our SF are supposed to be a cut above all others, silent professionals. This just lowers us into the filth of SEALs and Green berets...

[@MrStevemarc]

Devon Shire.... In my day 80s the Ruperts called it writing there memoirs, so if its good for them.....

[@stephenfarrell4796]

“ Mighty sas had been hit” ? I was told by a member of the SAS they never referred to them selves as sas

[@JammyDodger45]

That must get very confusing when they need to speak to Army Manning and Records.

[@stephenfarrell4796]

@@JammyDodger45 I mean the word sas not S.A.S

[@davidlewis8318]

Correct! Only other term would be 'The Regiment'@

[@scudger99]

@@davidlewis8318 Or blades.

[@ianmansfield1317]

@@scudger99 or badges, if SBS

[@grahamconquer8117]

Sounds llike anything any motivated paras could do special forces are mainly foor high value targets or recon

[@kevinporter3212]

The Iraqi Wolfgang! :)

[@paullangton-rogers2390]

How they got the intelligence so badly wrong on this really astonishes me, especially when sending in the SAS our most elite regiment of unique highly trained skilled soldiers..those guys are not ordinary expendible soldiers they're the best of best and deserved better intelligence and ops planning. Granted, in that era we didn't have the tech we have today as precise, but it was so far off what the reality was on the ground that it's pretty astonishing. And, not just the temp, but the actual ground terrain too. If they had just called up someone in Iraq (and the US and Israel must have had loads of intelligence operators all over Iraq) and asked what the desert is like (or better still, sent out out someone to go take a look before the op even started) they would have avoided any uncertainty and been dropped with the proper kit to do the mission. You can't guess with stuff like that, it's fundamental life or death... everyone knows the desert can be well below freezing at night in certain places and times of the year and still extremely hot during the day.

[@penelopeoates511]

Hello Paul. I've just made some chutney. My husband loves chutney.

[@dietmarholtz188]

Time, unfortunately it takes time to set up really good int-cell and this was a immediate action mission,hence not all kit was in situ,it happens

[@alanwilkin8869]

I find it hard to believe that a regiment that’s origin was the desert forgot it gets cold at night,

[@Karmaisreal629]

🤣😂

[@engineersforpeace4795]

You expressed very well my own thoughts and reservations about that patrol. An awful;lot of taxpayers money goes into training an elite group of soldiers like the SAS and the support they get should also be of the very best. Those involved in supporting the regiment whether catering, logistics, ammunition and all equipment should also be an elite team whereby it becomes one of the highly sought after positions - it is a matter of selection and training the odd thing is that THEY KNOW this when it comes to training the troops themselves but they massively drop the ball when it comes to supply, support and maintenance issues!

[@CaWFly]

A Legend of Legends

[@i.marr.6688]

They walked to Saudi then did a U-Turn and head up to Syria ,that's not a easy feat

[@sandymackenzie8413]

Why do you want to tell the world your story? I worked with a man who was ex sbs. He never told anyone his past or future. I only sussed his past when his comrades entered a north sea oil rig on exercise and he spoke to an old friend. He never told the world how wonderful he was.

[@sandymackenzie8413]

My big fingers made a mistake. If you guys think you are heroes for what you signed up for you are wrong. That is what you signed up for. Wow ,do you really think you are special?

[@wilco148]

@@sandymackenzie8413 there's an old saying - 'never let the truth get in the way of a good story'! this isn't even a good story!!!!

[@barryhamilton7845]

These guys are the real heroes and hardmen,not your gangsters,wannabe gangsters, drug dealers and the likes,that many young guy aspire to be like.

[@angloaust1575]

Third time lucky!

[@CaboloNero]

Interviewers watch could do with resizing 😅

[@Hoserfishing]

So many stories about conflict show how completely inept and disorganized militaries really are.

[@reidspeed77]

Paddy Main drove through a French village full of Gerry's in 1944,thay waived at the panzers and thay waived back,....

[@colinstewart1432]

Paddy Mayne was a absolute mentalist. He pretty much invented the IDGAF attitude.

[@robertszymkowiak1573]

Very slim guy. Posture of Bruce Lee. I suppose his very, very good endurance.

[@jasondylansargent2195]

The sas the special air service class the greatest special forces of all time

[@thomasandersen6719]

Not at all

[@B_Co.407th]

Seal team 6 would disagree

[@TheBobcraft]

Few details missing, only two helicopters for 3 patrols and shared loads, the vehicle decision was easy really, as there were not any! The patrols were only short term OPs until the two sqns got into the area. The mistake was at HQ as storming Norman wouldn’t authorise the Sqns in early enough and he got caught out and panicked hence sending 3 patrols in at short notice.

[@truthmediarebel5816]

Anyone who does selection twice must have a screw lose, Lofty Wiseman also did it twice, say no more.

[@Bingpot_Cowabunga]

Presenter guy is a bit condescending. “Right?” “Do you remember?” Err, he was there and it’s his book, bro.

[@zaynevanday142]

8:22 “if I pull myself off” wince & Cringe 😂😂😂

[@raybrooking8084]

Poor intelligence from the off led to failure. Who the hell was responsible for that . Shocking.

[@here.3070]

We wore noddy suits all the time back in the 80s when it was cold. Shit gear back then. Horrible things to run in when its warm, but a godsend when you're cold with crap kit.

[@tonyaughney8945]

The Israelis would never have parachuted a battalion into Baghdad. That's just a silly anecdote.

[@brentmonkhouse6638]

As good as Israel is it would be suicide, Israel would have just used airstrikes and maybe sf .

[@tonyaughney8945]

@@brentmonkhouse6638 I doubt the army would have entertained the idea.

[@tonyaughney8945]

@@brentmonkhouse6638 I doubt the army would have entertained the idea.

[@enricol5974]

I remember that Israel was very close to go to war and maybe even use nuclear weapons . The US sent Patriot launchers to Israel on the spot to shoot down incoming Iraq Scuds, just to keep Israel out of the Gulf war. Israeli warplanes bombed Osirak , the only Iraq nuclear power station in 1981, that is well before the Gulf war. Maybe a Israelis parachuted battalion in Bagdad is a crazy idea, but just remember the Entebbe Raid in Uganda (1976): 100 Israelis commandos were sent to Entebbe , before writing off that possibility . BTW that is what their SAS officers told them.

[@tonyaughney8945]

@@enricol5974 you're comparing Iraq to a piss poor African country with a rabble of an army, seriously? 'Their officers told them'? Officers no matter what unit rarely know more than their subordinates.

[@markhudson3354]

Very selfish of him not to have got it sorted before.

[@leeholmes9962]

I thought it was called bravo two zero ???

[@colinstewart1432]

There were 3 Bravo patrols. Bravo One Zero, Bravo Two Zero & Bravo Three Zero.

[@geovanniali6060]

Many young men of 20 said good bye TAL

[@richrcwx1685]

I read a book by an ex sas officer who refused the patrol of bravo 2 zero an advised against it, "mcnab" took it on. My problem with it is not one took a basic compass brave as fck an my heart goes out to most of those guys

[@waynetaylor6337]

You need to have a word with the pudroe lad he tells a different point altogether no names obviously

[@iankillen5242]

@@waynetaylor6337 Prudoe is how its spelt.

[@MrAndywills]

SNAFU!

[@kmag7122]

y not take the jeeps it was madness not 2 and because you never look at the price you all had to pay

[@georgejoseph4164]

Lets hope they learned from the past...

[@AD-kv9kj]

Always find it weird when ex-soldiers often deliberately say things like "We were going there as BCRs which means Battle Casualty Replacements..." Why not just immediately say to the civilian public you're talking to "We were gong there as battle casualty replacements..." Why are abbreviations considered so important to always tell people when you know you're just going to have to explain them anyway? I don't mean when they just accidentally slip an abbreviation out of habit and then realise they have to explain what it means, but like here when it's deliberate. The abbreviation is just to keep things brief when talking within the military, there's zero need for the public to be told abbreviations like that. Just odd is all. It's like if a plumber was talking about plumbing to random public audiences and went, "And then I asked my colleague to fetch some SLG, okay? That's Silicone Lubricant Grease." It's completely unnecessary to tell people the abbreviation. Not knocking anyone who's been in special forces or military at all, but just don't get why they do this all the time. Anyway, I HYAHAGD - that's Hope You All Have A Good Day, right? Got that? Make a note!

[@ianjones1034]

i should imagine it's force of habit ,abbreviations and acronyms are used to convey precise communications within the military the audience were more than likely military buffs so could probably understand the jargon

[@louissanderson719]

That’s a lot of pointless knit picking there 👍

[@seandillon8167]

Pointless comment.

[@esmeecampbell7396]

Lots of reasons, mostly it'll be when they slip out, other times it'll be because they will use that acronym a lot in the talk (like MSR - main supply route) and just want to make sure that people know what they mean and save himself saying it the long way each time. Lastly I'd say it is what people want, this is public speaking, people have come to hear a soldier and they have (from Hollywood or whatever) a certain preconceived notion of what they will sound like, the speaker may want to play up to the character of firing out acronyms because the audience expect it and want it, as opposed sounding boring and reading the full thing out, most jobs use acronyms though I'm sure even binmen have acronyms these days.

[@stuartellison6895]

And you don’t use the abbreviation TRV and then have to revert explaining what that means to a customer?

[@edwardodonnell6857]

Ps I hope there was a hidden intelligence task if there wasn’t then God help us.

[@conlaiarla]

I'd love to hear more about the SAS unit captured in Ireland by the Irish police and army whilst on a black ops mission in 1976. Its on wiki as The Flagstaff Incident.

[@pilgrimmaster21]

Not black ops mission Deus, simple map reading error during a covert recce.

[@conlaiarla]

@@pilgrimmaster21 Elite soldiers who make such an elementary mistake ? I doubt it. Doesn't sound very plausible does it?

[@Twirlyhead]

Still shrouded in secrecy. Reading up on the incident one is left with a distinctly fobbed off feeling.

[@paulglancy3867]

You always get fobbed off. SAS wouldn't tell you what time the Postman arrives. Nothing but "success" Aye right you are! When, if they get killed say by the PIRA, well the soldiers die in Germany in an accident. Nobody gets the credit for outsmarting them.

[@pilgrimmaster21]

You'd be surprised Deus!😉

[@badgertheskinnycow]

Running total of poor decisions made: * Choice of trousers for the interview * Entering into Sun fittest couple competition * Not getting his medical problem sorted x 2 (once after first selection, once after second) * Not taking cold weather gear (who does not know it can get bitterly cold in the desert at night) * Still believes Israel was going to send 'a battalion of paras' alone into Bagdad!

[@jpfarrell66]

Got to laugh "the regiment teaches us how to handle hypothermia", I got taught this as recruit, still laughing. Undoubtedly great soldiers and beyond my capabilities but they give the impression everyone else is stupid and can't soldier like them or problem solve. Another set of memoirs in book form but nothing new.

[@FTW523.]

I've read on this book meh. Is very good

[@john1653]

I was career U.S. Navy, but I am not just picking on some ground pounder. I am speechless! (Not really, but you get the idea...) The Brits spend billions of farthings (or whatever) to recruit, train, maintain these truly special soldiers...build up an almost mystical, and mythical, reputation around them...and then in a most crucial situation, they send them into the middle of Iraq with two tin cans and a piece of string for comm equipment, and in silk underwear and a beanie for uniforms! And THEN you have trained them to shrug these things off..."Oh, 'salright mates; if we get cold we can cover ourselves with sand and do a group hug!" This is incomprehensible to me, as a Navy Master Chief (E9.) I am surprised your NCOs didn't send them packing with sling shots and BB guns for firepower. Specialized, crucial comm gear is blown off, essential cold weather gear is missing. I am just blown away. Had I been their sergeant major, I would have sabotaged those vehicles before I let my men go off unequipped to do the job for which we send them! I mean, these are not special plastic forks to eat their pork 'n beans! This is mission specific, mission essential equipment! Why would this happen? Educate me, please?

[@snuffthemagicdragon9721]

Never any juicy secrets....

[@barryhamilton7845]

​@@john1653 Remember General Swartzkopf,personally thanked the SAS for what they done.

[@john1653]

@@barryhamilton7845 Yes, Barry, but he should have awarded them the Presidential Unit Citation, our unit award equal to your Victoria Cross award for individual soldiers. Your SAS and SBS are truly unique...head and shoulders above any special warfare units.

[@theculturedthug6609]

Back in Nam in 83 when I was with the sns we were in a major battle with the japanese army.

[@Roscoe.P.Coldchain]

10 years to late pal

[@davidvickers3797]

83..😆 🤣 😂..all over by then 🤔🤡

[@theculturedthug6609]

@@davidvickers3797 you calling me a liar?

[@davidvickers3797]

@@theculturedthug6609 yes..

[@davidvickers3797]

@@theculturedthug6609 The Vietnam war ended in 1975,also no Japanese were involved,well not officially to my knowledge So not sure why you would be fighting Japanese soldiers in Vietnam 1983 🤔🤷🙂 Be facisnated to know tbf.

[@jasondylansargent2195]

And the German ksk.

[@vickyking3408]

MOD as usual have a lot to answer for !!!

[@willscarlet3620]

Hope you kicked f...k out of the communication guy & the weatherman when you got back Dez

[@scrimmy45]

SBS selection sounds harder. Quite a few SAS have failed SBS selection but not the other way around. Cold and claustrophobia see to that.

[@user-vk9kx5nh3j]

It's the same selection course - once they pass, paras generally go to SAS and marines generally to SBS.

[@imixmuan9081]

Same course, haven't done separate courses for donkey's years...