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Tim Jones
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SAS Zero Hour: The Secret Origins of the Special Air Service Kindle Edition

by Tim Jones (Author), Rannulph Fiennes (Contributor) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 45 ratings
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The historian and author of Postwar Counterinsurgency and the SAS reveals the full story of how the Special Air Service Regiment began during WWII.

Britain’s elite Special Air Service Regiment is one of the most revered special-ops units in the world. Its high-profile operations include the storming of the Iranian Embassy in London in 1980 and the hunt for Osama bin Laden in southern Afghanistan following 9/11. Since its inception during the Second World War, the SAS has become a byword for the highest possible standards in both conventional and unorthodox methods of warfare.

In SAS Zero Hour, military historian and SAS expert Tim Jones offers fascinating new insight into how this elite regiment began. It is commonly held that the unit was the brainchild of just one man, David Stirling. While not dismissing Stirling’s considerable contribution, Jones’s historical investigation reveals many other factors that played a part in shaping the SAS, including the roles of military deception specialist Dudley Clarke, Field Marshals Archibald Wavell and Claude Auchinleck, and others.

Drawing extensively on primary sources, as well as reassessing the more recent regimental histories and memoirs, SAS Zero Hour is “The most comprehensive and enlightening version of these seminal events yet” (Sir Ranulph Fiennes, from the Forward).
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  1. Print length
    318 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Frontline Books
  4. Publication date
    October 30, 2017
  5. File size
    10.4 MB
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

TIM JONES is a noted specialist on the SAS whose previous publications include _Post-War Counter-Insurgency and the SAS_, _1__945–1952: A Special Kind of Warfare_ and _SAS, the First Secret Wars: The Unknown Years of Combat and Counter-Insurgency_.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B079FXWLYH
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Frontline Books; Reprint edition (October 30, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 30, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 10.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 318 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 45 ratings

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Tim Jones

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3.9 out of 5 stars
45 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Michael D.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reading
    Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Lots of History, I like reading the History of the LRDG & SAS. These Men wrote History, plus there's lots of Colorful Characters! Reminds me of some of the Guys I served with in Nam 68-69
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  • Shawn McDowell
    4.0 out of 5 stars SAS Zero Hour
    Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This ebook is a fantastic read about how the British Special Air Service was formed and what was the precursor to them and also who played a key factor in the formation of them.
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  • skip davis
    5.0 out of 5 stars SAS
    Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    One of many books I have read on the SAS and Desert LRP. Filled in a few more blanks on the SAS origins
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A extremely detaited account of how and why the SAS was formed
    Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2007
    During World War II the British formed a large number of special operations forces such as SOE, Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), Lovat's Scouts, Special Night Squads, and many more. Several traditional raiding forces, such as the Royal Marines and the Commandoes grew is size and capability.

    The most famous of these units was the Special Air Service (SAS), which is one of the few organizations to survive into modern times. The author, who has written several books on the SAS, is obviously extremely knowledgeable on the subject. The level of detail is staggering. The author mentions the names of hundreds of early members of the SAS and how they started their military careers in special operations.

    The book is not an action packed story of daring raids and special missions, instead it is a painstakingly detailed account of how and why the SAS came to be. Due mainly to Winston Churchill's fascination with special forces and the dedication of several officers and NCOs the SAS was born. The majority of the book is an account of the personalities and bureaucratic dealings that led Britain to form the SAS, despite already having a number of other special operations units. The analysis of the family and school connections of the upper class officers who were drawn to form special operations units was particularly well done.

    I found it interesting that Churchill continued to believe in special forces, despite very few early successes. The book details several early pre-SAS operations that were either failures or minimal successes.

    To the serious student of special operations military history, the book is a treasure. The author's detailed use of original sources and deep research should be commended. Those looking for a fast-paced military action adventure may want to look elsewhere.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • John Matlock
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Well Done History that Complements his other books
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2006
    As the sub-title says, this is the story of the beginnings of the SAS, the foremost British special operations unit. While there have been persistent stories that the SAS was the brainchild of one man, David Sterling, there were a lot of individuals involved.

    In most wars there have been such small elite units being formed. In America, even before the Revolutionary war Rogers Rangers were formed to participate in the French and Indian War. In World War I Laurence of Arabia led a similar organization behing Turkish lines. In World War II there were many such organizations: the Commandos, Merrill's Marauders, Ord Wingate's Chindits and so on.

    During this time the SAS was formed, and alone of these organizations remains not only a viable, but a well known, well respected, and very active organization. This is a beautifully written story about how the SAS came to be. While it stands alone as a history, it fits in very well with the same authors other books on the SAS.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Ray Hall
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is an eye opener on the origins of the SAS
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is an eye opener on the origins of the SAS though this book is set in a time after the initial formation, well written by someone who was there
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  • jasper
    5.0 out of 5 stars good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    excellent read as discribed arrived on time
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  • brian
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for the job
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Very good read
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