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SBS – Silent Warriors
- The Authorised Wartime History
- Narrated by: John Hopkins
- Length: 14 hrs and 38 mins
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Summary
The Sunday Times best seller
The first authorised history of the SBS.
Britain’s SBS - or Special Boat Service - was the world’s first maritime special operations unit. Founded in the dark days of 1940, it started as a small and inexperienced outfit that leaned heavily on volunteers’ raw courage and boyish enthusiasm. It went on to change the course of the Second World War - and has served as a model for special forces ever since.
The fledgling unit’s first mission was a daring beach reconnaissance of Rhodes in the spring of 1941. Over the next four years, the SBS and its affiliates would carry out many more spectacular operations in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, the Channel and the Far East. These missions - including Operation Frankton, the daredevil attempt by the ‘Cockleshell Heroes’ to paddle up the Garonne river and sink Axis ships in Bordeaux harbour - were some of the most audacious and legendary of the war.
Paddling flimsy canoes, and armed only with knives, pistols and a few sub-machine guns, this handful of brave and determined men operated deep behind enemy lines in the full knowledge that if caught they might be executed. Many were.
Yet their many improbable achievements - destroying enemy ships and infrastructure, landing secret agents, tying up enemy forces, spreading fear and uncertainty, and, most importantly, preparing the ground for D-Day - helped to make an Allied victory possible.
Written with the full cooperation of the modern SBS - the first time this ultra-secretive unit has given its seal of approval to any book - and exclusive access to its archives, SBS: Silent Warriors allows Britain’s original special forces to emerge from the shadows and take their proper and deserved place in our island story.
Critic reviews
"A terrific book.... It really is one of the most enjoyable histories I’ve read in many a year." (James Holland)
"An absolute must-read if you are a fan of derring-do and Andy McNab. I am going to be telling everyone to buy it." (Rob Rinder, Talk Radio)
What listeners say about SBS – Silent Warriors
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- Jooles15
- 23-01-22
Outstanding
An incredibly detailed account that strikes a perfect balance between historical fact and narrative. The detail of each operation covered is so fine that you feel you are experiencing it first hand.
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- N J Brown
- 27-01-23
SBS
Outstanding - a broad sweeping history that just took me with it! Fascinating overlaps with other special forces stories.
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- Dave
- 21-10-23
great
accurate and very well read definitely ticks all the right boxes when it comes to special operations forces history
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- G Patterson
- 14-01-24
Excellent.
In this day and age with reference to our special forces, we know very little about their men and incidents they get involved in.
This book is probably the best one to detail the history of the SBS and the men who served during WW2. Once started it is very hard to put down and well worth reading for a second time.
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- Mitty
- 23-12-21
Interesting Listen and some great stories
This book had some amazing stories - those blokes were incredibly brave, but it felt a bit disjointed at times for me and didn't flow as well as other similar books, still glad I listened to it though.
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- Jerry G
- 19-06-23
A Fascinating Insight to the SBS and their heroics
A great mix of historical facts mixed with stories of Daring Do. Well worth a listen.
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- Jgfj Butler
- 28-11-21
reflections of hardship and perserverence
Good account of what is entailed in such times without the glitz and romanticism. Nice historical rendition of unsung heroes.
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- Steve Burgess
- 04-10-21
everyone should read
what a humbling read, very must enjoy it. a must read for all... ..
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A tale of heros
this was a well narrated history of the Special boat services and the units that started this unit.
a true tale if heros and heroism.
an excellent read.
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- Anonymous User
- 14-01-22
Love history.
Brilliant history brilliant narrative. Overall a really good story . If you love British history this is for you
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