Apache Dawn: Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned

The first surprise when I opened this book is that it is about the British Forces, not the US. It does not give a clue about this on the cover; but in many ways for those of us interested in reading about military operations this book is of interest and a revelation. I have had a huge respect for the British Forces ever since I was stationed with them in England. Their skill, camaraderie and even their understated humor can match any of our soldiers. Their methods of quick attack and their sometimes even more maverick methods are illustrated in this story of the Apache air and ground crews of the 663 Squadron Army Air Corps and their insertion for a 100 day mission in Afghanistan in 2007. Their story starts with their training on the Salisbury Plain of England where the local village's newsletter warns of a new training schedule of parachuting, aircraft trials, jet activity, live firing, helicopter night flights, but otherwise there should be little disturbance. If you do not already know the amazing coordination needed to fly any helicopter where one foot and hand have opposite tasks to do, then you will really be astounded by these pilots who have one eye on a firing monocle and another doing the `seeing`, much less controlling over 200 buttons with 4 functions each. You will certainly have a new respect for the fighting men of all forces who fly these deadly instruments of war. In the first 15 pages the descriptions of soldiers strapping themselves to the outside of the Apache with their heads in front of the screaming engines in order to rescue a wounded Royal Marine you will know that you are in for a book that can leave you filled with awe for what the military can ask and accomplish with their men. The rules of engagement are covered and can be a surprise to those who do not know or respect how the allied forces attempt to avoid civilian casualties. Also covered are some of the differences in American methods of Apache flying, mainly at close to ground level and the British preferred higher aerial. Both have their advantages, but of course this is written from a British Forces viewpoint and that belief is the preferred method in this book; as is the more democratic coordination between the front and rear pilots. The writing style is a more subdued, less emotional reporting of the missions and the men's thoughts; but the operations are well covered. Hopefully the British vocabulary does not leave too many in the dark with council houses, kilometers, liters and gob smacking; but that should not deter you from an interesting read. There is a glossary of military terms at the end. Those of you that think the marching guards in front of Buckingham Palace are show forces, realize that these men might have just come from the battle zone or might shortly be deployed. There is much to be learned and respected here about modern warfare, and our fighting men and allies and especially such a fearsome weapon as the Apache is.

This is another very enjoyable book by Damien Lewis, after the narration of the true stories of operation Barras as told in Operation Certain Death and Bloody Heroes about Afghanistan the author returns to the Afghan battlefield to narrate de story of the British Attack Helicopter Squadron. The action takes place all in the badlands of the Helmand Province in South western Afghanistan where the British forces are engaged in tough fighting against a determined Taliban foe. The story centers around Flight Ugly, a two apache helicopter team and its advntures while providing close air support to British and American ground forces. As expected we are presented with many heroic deeds of the brave pilots in their technological advanced and mortal machines, they truly change the balance of power in the battlefield saving countless allied lives and badly damaging the enemy. The use of the Apache Attack Helicopter flying high above the battlefield enabling to better use the advanced optical devices and sensors and displaying a fearsome array of weaponry ranging from a 30mm chain gun to flechette rockets and antitank missiles is a winning combination that practically negate any advantage the taliban can have in the battlefield. When contrasted with the way the U.S. Army uses the same helicopter practically flying at treetop level seems the British way is a better way of handling the helicopter because at high altitude a better visibility of the battlefield is achieved and the weapons can be used in a more accurate way. But for all the technical ingennuity and bravery the British or Americans display in the battlefield and after having killed thousands of Taliban and Foreign fighters the Jihad is still going strong with no signs of a clear victory in the short term. After nine years (three more than WWII) of continous one wonders when is this war going to end, will it become a "Forever War" ? What will take to make the enemy quit ? Should the war be conducted in a diffrent way? Part of the answers lie in trying to stablish a better relation with the civilians whose freedoms the allis are trying to protect, if the Tribal elders in Helmand and other wild border areas in Afghanistan still prefer the rule of the Taliban to the ANA (Afghan National Army) because of the corruption and cupidity of the government forces the war will contin ue becaise there is a local base of support. The Afghan Army and Police are the clue and if people don't trust them and prefer the harsh Taliban regime because it is al least honest and keeps the peace more effectively the allies will have to stay in Afghanistan indefinitely. I wonder how many schools, hospitals, houses, or food could have been bought with all the ordnance that Flight Ugly in Afghanistan, should money still be used without regards to cost to kill the enemy rather than rebuilding the country ?