Product Description

May 2007 sees the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Falklands War, a short but vicious conflict over a group of remote south Atlantic islands that most of the world had never heard of. Fought thousands of miles from any major land base, it was essentially a naval war and one that was crucially dependant on a long and vulnerable logistics 'tail'. Providing the all-important food, fuel and ammunition to the British task force was the job of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary - whose unofficial motto boasts 'No sea too rough, no job too tough'. Belying their 'auxiliary' tag, RFA ships were in the frontline from the beginning, launching military operations and taking casualties - most notably when the two landing ships were bombed in Bluff Cove. But their real contribution has never been fully appreciated, so this book, based on numerous testimonies of those who were there, will put the record straight. Alongside moments of individual heroism emerges a wider story of the ingenuity and spirit of a 'can-do' service. With none of the protection of warships, and holds full of highly volatile cargoes - fuel, explosives and even a few nuclear rounds - serving in RFA ships required a special kind of dedication, and this book is a tribute to their extraordinary achievements.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #432978 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

About the Author
GEOFF PUDDEFOOT trained as a teacher but now earns his living as a freelance journalist . He has published dozens of articles over the last ten years, including a recent piece about naval food and the RFA. He has also written several historical novels and is currently involved in writing a second book about the RFA, which details the service's history from WWII to the present day.

Customer Reviews

A gem
I've read a ton of Falklands histories/ memoirs etc. Some excellent (Sharkey Ward, Vulcan 607, Max Hastings etc) and some not so good. At first glance (ie when I ordered it for myself for Christmas off here) I thought this would at best be readable, and worse case a reference book for the shelf. I have to say I was totally wrong. This is an absolute little gem. Really readable, lots of detail that doesn't get too bogged down in itself, and lots and lots of anecdotes from those that took part. Its very well put together and reminds in some respects of the Martin Middlebrook approach which more often that not makes for a pretty good read.
Recommended.

No Sea Too Rough
An excellent book that tells the story of a little known fleet, which are owned by the MOD, but manned by Merchant Seamen. I was entralled by the book and the story it has to tell of the work of the RFA and the supply line it forged with the Merchant Navy to keep the Royal Navy and Army supplied so that they could achieve a decisive victory.

A lazy book
The Falklands campaign was more reliant upon at-sea logistics than any other military venture in history. Consequently, a book that describes the role of this force is of obvious value. Add to that the sheer audacity of the whole campaign and this subject deserves something special. I have personal connections with the RFA and have no doubt of the courage and professionalism the RFA displayed in this campaign. That story deserves a great book. I am afraid to say that it is still waiting.

This is a lazy book. There are three reasons for that point of view,

First, it is lazy because a substantial portion is actually just verbatim recollections by veterans. First-person impressions are a critical part of military histories: they add vital human colour. In this book, however, virtually every chapter has 50-75% made up of long quotations. It is less 'written' as edited. Some of these entries give a real sense of the experience; redolent of diesel, sea, sweat and exhaustion. The majority, especially the senior ones, are reminiscent of forces' newsletters; the version they would tell their mother; full of "jolly good chaps, working against the odds and a special thank you to the WI for the cakes and balaklavas". These entries are not commented upon, added to or challenged.

Second, it is lazy because the author fails to pick up on important stories that a supposed 'freelance journalist' should be all over. There are guarded references in the veterans' stories to Hong Kong Chinese crews being 'transferred' from ships in the combat zone, some 'by military means'. Any sense that there might be a story there, Geoff? Try doing some research next time. Equally, how C-130s were refuelled by Victor tankers, when the stalling speed of the Victor is higher than the maximum speed of the C-130 is an amazing story. To save you the work, Geoff, they went to their maximum altitude and did it all in a dive, with the tanker with its air brakes on and the C-130 with its wings almost breaking off.

Third, it is lazy because there is no analysis in this book at all. This is a critical story in military history. There is no treatment of key issues such as the decrepid state of the fleet at the time (beyond jolly chaps fixing stuff - phew). The fact that over 1000 men went to war with redundancy notices in their kitbags is glossed over with the merest reference.

Worst of all, the Fitzroy episode, that saw the loss of two RFA ships and the greatest loss of life of the whole campaign is the shortest chapter. This lack of balance and analysis makes one feel this is a book written quickly, with no thought beyond banging it out and looking for quick sales from serving and ex-RFA personnel.

Many will buy it. All deserve far better.