Raid
Raids carried out by small units, special forces and counter-terrorist operatives are a military quandary. They can be astoundingly successful, defying the odds as a small number of soldiers operating in difficult environments are able to exact a massive tactical victory, sometimes capable of changing the course of a war. Or the raiders can find themselves isolated, surrounded by a superior enemy force and with no chance of escape, their mission a colossal failure.
Raid is the new series from Osprey Publishing, which looks at both sides of these engrossing stories. Its unique approach will give the reader a detailed analysis of each raid, describing the background, the initial strategy, how the action played out, and an assessment of its success. Bringing each of these epic engagements to life, Raid uncovers some incredible tales of heroism and military skill, discussing what went right, what went wrong and revealing the men behind these bold actions.
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The Great Expedition
RAID 17 Multiple formatsIn 1585, the English launched a pre-emptive strike against Spain, by attacking her New World colonies. Led by Sir Francis Drake, in command of 21 ships and 1,800 soldiers, the expedition struck first at... -
Dambusters
RAID 16 Multiple formatsIn May 1943 a specially established RAF squadron made its permanent imprint on military aviation history by flying a high-risk, low level, nighttime attack against German hydro-electric dams vital to the... -
A Far-Flung Gamble
RAID 15 PaperbackAt the height of the Seven Years' War, Great Britain made an audacious strike at the heart of Spanish colonial power in the Caribbean. Gathering troops from bases in Britain and Canada and sailing across... -
The Los Banos Prison Camp Raid
RAID 14 Multiple formatsOn the southwest shore of Laguna de Bay in the Philippines stood the Los Banos Internment Camp. Held within were 2,147 starving POWs, surrounded by thousands of Japanese troops. As the desperate battle... -
The Bruneval Raid
RAID 13 Multiple formatsIn the darkest days of World War II, the British planned a daring airborne operation to capture the secret of the new German radar. Lead by Major John Frost, a company of paratroopers dropped into Bruneval... -
Roughshod Through Dixie
RAID 12 Multiple formatsOn April 17, 1863 Benjamin Grierson led a force of 1,700 Union cavalrymen across enemy lines into Confederate-held Tennessee in a bold diversionary raid. Over the next seventeen days, Grierson's horsemen... -
Pegasus Bridge
RAID 11 Multiple formatsThe night before D-Day, light infantry and a detachment of Royal Engineers landed by gliders at Pegasus Bridge, which spanned the Caen Canal. Quickly overwhelming the guards, they managed to hold the bridge... -
The Blocking of Zeebrugge
RAID 7 Multiple formatsOn the night of 22-23 April 1918 the Royal Navy carried out a raid on the German held ports of Zeebrugge and Ostend - Operation Z-O. Under the cover of clouds and smoke, over 70 ships and an assault force... -
Certain Death in Sierra Leone
RAID 10 Multiple formatsIn September 2000 the notorious militia gang, 'West Side Boys' kidnapped eleven British soldiers in Sierra Leone and Operation Barras was launched as the rescue operation. Fast roping in from helicopters,... -
Rescuing Mussolini
RAID 9 PaperbackThe successful rescue of imprisoned Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from atop the Gran Sasso plateau was one of the most dramatic special forces operations in military history. Arrested by his own officers...
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