Also in 2002, the BBC's Panorama series released a documentary titled "A Question of Betrayal" featuring both Coburn and MacGowan, alleging that the patrol's distress calls had been received and ignored. [22] [23]

Told in first person in an almost conversational style, it was so easy to fall into step alongside Des Powell and his regiment as he navigates his way through that fateful, and almost fatal, mission into Iraq to hunt down the locations of Saddam Hussain's scud missiles. As a unit who almost didn't get deployed to Iraq, originally due to remain in the UK on counter terrorism duties, we join the Powell and his fellow soldiers as they learn of their impending deployment, as they engage on pre-mission training, much condensed, and as they make those first moves behind enemy lines. Interspersed with this story are some of the key moments in Des Powell's career, from his initial attempt at selection for the SAS - which, aside from the intensive and gruelling exercises he needed to endure, ended in pretty grim fashion - through to some of the happier moments in his private life and the near miss moments in his career that make you wonder just how many cats he had to barter will to obtain some of their extra lives. It certainly seems as though he used a good number up without even making it into combat. a b Cowell, Alan (5 March 1991). "AFTER THE WAR: P.O.W.'S; 6 Americans, Including Woman, Among 10 Released by Baghdad". The New York Times . Retrieved 25 October 2011. Special forces had not originally been intended to play a large part in the Gulf War, but following an escalation in the conflict were rushed to the Middle East. They were therefore badly equipped and prepared, Des Powell was even in the middle of buying a house when he was deployed. The SAS selection training is in three parts. The first part is the hill phase and the navigation tabs. The middle part is the jungle phase and the last part is the escape and evasion phase. So over six months is split into three phases. The most difficult one, I think that most guys find it also, is the middle phase, the jungle. So on selection, because the jungle is such a harsh environment, they keep that as a tester. 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.a b c d Coburn, Mike (2004). Soldier Five. Great Britain: Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84018-907-0. If he’s a pure beginner, has no experience whatsoever, and I always say this to people, don’t go by the watch. Get used to carrying the weight, it doesn’t have to be 35lbs, but make sure that you get used to the correct boots, the correct clothing, the correct Bergen. And just get used to the environment because the most challenging thing is the elements, the wind, the rain, the cold, the snow and you’ve got to have the right equipment. You got the right boots and cold weather clothing and got used to carrying the weight. Just get used to walking over distances, a couple of hours and then three hours, four hours and so forth. Get used to good map reading techniques. Get used to being out in the elements and just comfortable with what you’re doing. Because you start to get aches and pains and have injuries with your ankles and knees. I call it getting acquired to the hills. You’ve gotta get used to the hill work. Just get used to your body getting fitter and fitter. And as you get fitter, you find that you naturally walk faster. And getting used to being outside in the elements. When people ask me, what’s the hardest physical thing I’ve done, I go, being outside in the cold, the wind, the rain and the snow. Fighting the elements takes more energy than working in the gym. And that’s mainly because your body is trying to stay warm. So just get acquired to the hills, get used to your fitness, get used to carrying equipment and then you can start to worry about how fast you should tab. Usually, special forces operators have grown up in broken homes, usually the dangle on the edge. If you weren’t military and SF, which direction would you see yourself going? a b "torinternational" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2011 . Retrieved 25 October 2011.

My third book regarding SAS patrols in Gulf War 1 completes the picture of the true grit and termination of the squardrons deployed during this conflict This patrol and their story is now the stuff of elite forces legend and so it should be. Des Powell and the men of Bravo Three Zero are the bravest of the brave. They went far behind enemy line and taking out targets as they went. As I read Des Powell’s story, I was left humbled by their actions. But none of these men should ever have to go into action with sub-standard equipment. The first public literary mention of the patrol was in the autobiography of Lieutenant-General Peter de la Billière, the commander of the British Forces during the Gulf War. Storm Command ( ISBN 0002551381) only mentioned the patrol in passing. The book was released in 1992. Mitchell was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions during the mission, [4] whilst Armstrong and two other patrol members (Steven Lane and Robert Consiglio), [5] were awarded the Military Medal.

The men of Bravo One Zerostepped off the chopper, took one look at the flat desert devoid of any cover and decided no way were they deploying into all of that. But Andy NcNab’s famed Bravo Two Zeropatrol did deploy, with fatal results – all bar one being captured or killed. According to McNab, the four captured patrol members (McNab, Pring, MacGown and the wounded Coburn) were moved numerous times, enduring torture and interrogation at each successive location. [2] According to MacGown, however, "incidents such as teeth extraction and burning with a heated spoon did not happen. It is inconceivable that any such incidents could have occurred without them being discussed or being physically obvious." [17] At the time of the release on 5 March of MacGown and Pring, they were described as "in good shape" by a Red Cross representative. [10] In part the book is autobiographical of Des Powells life it gives a sense of his upbringing and utter determination to succeed, where most would fail The men ofBravo One Zerostepped off the chopper, took one look at the flat desert devoid of any cover and decided no way were they deploying into all of that. But Andy NcNab’s famedBravo Two Zeropatrol did deploy, with fatal results – all bar one being captured or killed. This is not a book of self congratulatory glory written for the sake of it. It is an account of one one the pivotal moments in world history. Des Powell is clearly an extraordinary man as are those who he served with, he comes across in the book as a person of honour and integrity,

What should my average pace be with loaded Bergen? No military experience, but looking into taking on a challenge next year. However they are very different stories, Bravo Two Zero focuses on the patrol’s fight for survival after being compromised. Bravo Three Zero focuses on their patrol’s battle to complete their mission.The story of Bravo Two Zero’s patrol during the First Gulf War is the stuff of legend, not surprisingly it is less well documented that there were two other ‘Bravo’ patrols. Bravo One aborted due to conditions on the ground and Bravo Three is the subject of this book. And generate a lot of questions about the mission and what happened to the other two patrols, knowing the ill-fated Bravo Two patrol story. Des Powell was a member of the Parachute Regiment who got selected for the SAS and during a twenty year career with 'Them' he was involved in Op Granby as part of the Scud hunting patrols Bravo One Zero, Bravo Two Zero and Bravo Three Zero. Told in first person in an almost conversational style, it was so easy to fall into step alongside Des Powell and his regiment as he navigates his way through that fateful, and almost fatal, mission into Iraq to hunt down the locations of Saddam Hussein’s scud missiles. As a unit who almost didn’t get deployed to Iraq, originally due to remain in the UK on counter terrorism duties, we join the Powell and his fellow soldiers as they learn of their impending deployment, as they engage on pre-mission training, much condensed, and as they make those first moves behind enemy lines. Interspersed with this story are some of the key moments in Des Powell’s career, from his initial attempt at selection for the SAS – which, aside from the intensive and gruelling exercises he needed to endure, ended in pretty grim fashion – through to some of the happier moments in his private life and the near miss moments in his career that make you wonder just how many cats he had to barter will to obtain some of their extra lives. It certainly seems as though he used a good number up without even making it into combat.

One of those questions, and the next one I ask Des, is naming the most challenging moment his team experienced on the ground. However the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Saddam Hussain had begun to launch Scud missiles at Israel, trying to draw the Arab Alliance against him into switching sides and provoke World War III. ITV produced a one-off dramatic version of Armstrong's book, also titled The One That Got Away, in 1996. The film starred Paul McGann as Ryan and was directed by Paul Greengrass. Exceptionally well written account of what is required to be part of the elite in the services. Told with such honesty and clarity. When the book develops and he talks about his experiences and own character flaws that change into trust/belief in the Regiment's ethos/attitude he comes across as a more likeable person. As does the sensible restrained patrol commander - none of the Andy McNab BS here.

Speed was of the essence and the patrol had to improvise with poor equipment and beg, borrow and steal basic supplies. The most concerning aspect of this was the poor intelligence. The patrol was told to expect mild weather, ‘England in the spring’ and were unprepared for the ‘worst winter in living memory’. The weather became their main enemy, with snow drifts in the desert to combat. The book chronicles the patrol’s tenacity and initiative to survive, even resorting to wearing their rubber NBC suits. Des Powell gives a harrowing account of the constant cold, with little protection from the elements and having no way to get warm. Join Damien Lewis and Des Powell as they launch their new book, marking both the 80th anniversary of the SAS and the 30th anniversary of the Gulf War. There were three SAS patrols that fateful January 1991 morning: Bravo One Zero, Bravo Two Zero (Andy McNab) and Bravo Three Zero. It was the opening hours of the Gulf War and the SAS were flown deep behind enemy lines to hunt down Saddam’s Scud missiles.