Book description
OPERATION STORM is the inside story - told by those who took part - of
the greatest secret war in SAS history. The tipping point, Mirbat, South
Oman, 19 July 1972 is one of the least-known yet most crucial battles of
modern times. If the SAS had been defeated at Mirbat, the Russian and
Chinese plan for a communist foothold in the Middle East would have
succeeded, with catastrophic consequences for the oil-hungry West.
OPERATION STORM is a page-turning account of courage and resilience.
Mirbat was a battle fought and won by nine SAS soldiers and a similar
number of brave local people - some as young as ten years old -
outnumbered by at least twenty-five to one. Roger Cole, one of the SAS
soldiers who took part, and writer Richard Belfield have interviewed
every SAS survivor who fought in the battle from the beginning to the
end - the first time every single one of them has revealed their
experience. OPERATION STORM is a classic story of bravery against
impossible odds, minute by minute, bullet by bullet. Roger Cole was
born in 1944. He joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) in 1964,
his first posting being to Germany. In 1968 he passed his SAS selection
course and joined B Squadron, 22 SAS in Hereford. He did various tours
in classified areas, including Dhofar, Oman. He returned to the RAOC in
1977 and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class
1. He has served with the British Army in Germany, Cyprus and the
Falkland Islands. He retired from the army in 1986.
