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Sniper One: The Blistering True Story Of A British Battle Group Under Siege
Sniper One is the gritty, awe-inspiring true story that takes you right into the heart of the Iraq war from Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Sgt. Dan Mills. 'One of the best first-hand accounts of combat that I've ever read' Andy McNab We all saw it at once. Half a dozen voices screamed 'Grenade!' simultaneously. Then everything went into slow motion. The grenade took an age to travel through its 20 metre arc. A dark, small oval-shaped package of misery the size of a peach ... April 2004: Dan Mills and his platoon of snipers fly into southern Iraq, part of an infantry battalion sent to win hearts and minds. They were soon fighting for their lives. Back home we were told they were peacekeeping. But there was no peace to keep. Because within days of arriving in theatre, Mills and his men were caught up in the longest, most sustained fire fight British troops had faced for over fifty years. This awe-inspiring account tells of total war in throat-burning winds and fifty-degree heat, blasted by mortars and surrounded by heavily armed militias. For six months, they fought isolated, besieged and under constant enemy fire. Their heroic stand a modern-day Rorke's Drift. ************** Dan Mills served for 24 years as an Infantry Soldier reaching the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2. During his long military career he served on operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Dan was awarded a 'Mention In Despatches' for Gallantry for his services during The Iraq War. Since leaving the Army in 2010, he has forged a career as a writer and security consultant, amongst other things. Sniper One is his first book.
350 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
February 25, 2015
I confess to taking considerable guilty pleasure from this one. To begin with, I have believed from the start that instead of going on about how the Iraqis were shooting at them, the US and British troops should have got the hell right out of Iraq. They had no business there in the first place. On the other hand, I loves me a good story about the brotherhood of arms, and this book is a dandy example of just that type of story.
Let's start with Sgt Dan Mills. (I love the way he uses his rank on the dust jacket; being a soldier is a major part of his identity, having signed on as a boy soldier at age 16) He deployed to Iraq with the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment at the age of 36 and was in command of the sniper platoon at Al Amarah, Iraq. From the moment their boots hit the ground, they were under attack by Iraqi citizens. I won't call them insurgents; how can you be an insurgent against a foreign force in your own country? Writers of other sniper accounts speak of Iraqis in disdainful terms, calling them "evil" or "savages" or worse. Mills avoids that trap. While he and his mates are quite aggressive in countering attacks, he seems to have a grudging respect for his lightly armed opponents. He sees both sides of the conflict and, while he doesn't praise the Iraqis, he doesn't denigrate them either. The praise he saves for his mates, and he is lavish with it.
This was one of the refreshing parts of the book; there was little "I" in it. Where other writers boast of their accomplishments, Mills is more of a "we" type of fellow. If he is lavish in his praise, he is also brutally honest in his criticism. If an officer or subordinate has messed up, Mills names them and lists their offending behavior for all readers to see.
One of the best action writers I've had the pleasure of reading in a long while, Mills holds your interest not only during the firefights but also when telling you about camp routine or describing military equipment. He spares you much of the history of his regiment and his own life story, telling you just enough to acquaint you with both but not so much that your mind wanders off. He relates all manner of detail about the platoon: the rivalries, the practical jokes, even the sexual deviancy where applicable. Some passages of this book will probably have you laughing out loud. Some parts will make you glad you're not a sniper, like the time Mills' number two had to catch his steaming number two in plastic film while Mills shat and shot at the same time.
This is a solid book, fully equipped with diagrams and photographs to guide the reader through the action. An interpreter might have been handy to get me through some of the Brit terms, but you should have little trouble with most of them. You know: rummaging through the boot and walking about with a head torch and all that. Then you get gems like this from P.240:
Put it this way, Danny, threatening the Imam Ali Mosque is like waving a giant blood-red flag with bells on it in front of a seriously histrionic bull with a persecution complex.
Seriously, if you like military non-fiction, give this a read. It's Mills' tribute to his brothers-in-arms and well worth the time.
Let's start with Sgt Dan Mills. (I love the way he uses his rank on the dust jacket; being a soldier is a major part of his identity, having signed on as a boy soldier at age 16) He deployed to Iraq with the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment at the age of 36 and was in command of the sniper platoon at Al Amarah, Iraq. From the moment their boots hit the ground, they were under attack by Iraqi citizens. I won't call them insurgents; how can you be an insurgent against a foreign force in your own country? Writers of other sniper accounts speak of Iraqis in disdainful terms, calling them "evil" or "savages" or worse. Mills avoids that trap. While he and his mates are quite aggressive in countering attacks, he seems to have a grudging respect for his lightly armed opponents. He sees both sides of the conflict and, while he doesn't praise the Iraqis, he doesn't denigrate them either. The praise he saves for his mates, and he is lavish with it.
This was one of the refreshing parts of the book; there was little "I" in it. Where other writers boast of their accomplishments, Mills is more of a "we" type of fellow. If he is lavish in his praise, he is also brutally honest in his criticism. If an officer or subordinate has messed up, Mills names them and lists their offending behavior for all readers to see.
One of the best action writers I've had the pleasure of reading in a long while, Mills holds your interest not only during the firefights but also when telling you about camp routine or describing military equipment. He spares you much of the history of his regiment and his own life story, telling you just enough to acquaint you with both but not so much that your mind wanders off. He relates all manner of detail about the platoon: the rivalries, the practical jokes, even the sexual deviancy where applicable. Some passages of this book will probably have you laughing out loud. Some parts will make you glad you're not a sniper, like the time Mills' number two had to catch his steaming number two in plastic film while Mills shat and shot at the same time.
This is a solid book, fully equipped with diagrams and photographs to guide the reader through the action. An interpreter might have been handy to get me through some of the Brit terms, but you should have little trouble with most of them. You know: rummaging through the boot and walking about with a head torch and all that. Then you get gems like this from P.240:
Put it this way, Danny, threatening the Imam Ali Mosque is like waving a giant blood-red flag with bells on it in front of a seriously histrionic bull with a persecution complex.
Seriously, if you like military non-fiction, give this a read. It's Mills' tribute to his brothers-in-arms and well worth the time.
May 23, 2012
Unflinching look of a British Sniper and his time in Iraq. The book tells it like it was, warts an all. The good times, the bad times, the feelings that take over one during combat. Book reads like a novel and flows excellently, it was hard to put this one down. Top notch look at modern warfare through a foreign serviceman's eyes.
April 7, 2012
Sniper One: The Blistering True Story of a British Battle Group Under Siege—5 Stars worth of high tension firefights and escapades of the British Army in Iraq. No Blair-bashing, no agonizing over why they are there, no diatribes on PTSD, some bitching about heavy-handed Americans but so what, sober acknowledgement of mistakes, a solid story.
I tell you this account of the British Army in Maysan province, Iraq is gleaming! I am just chuffed to bits to read this tale of the 1st Battalion, PWRR and their version of the Alamo, with a better ending than the original. The cheeky sods. (WARNING, translator or English to English dictionary required when reading this book, e.g., “I should be bleeding unconscious with the lack of kip I’m getting, but I feel right as rain. D’ya think they’re putting cocaine in the scoff?” ) We are two peoples separated by a common language.
I really enjoyed this account of the Princess’s of Wales Royal Regiment (PWRR). Sgt Dan Mills brings the Iraq war in 2004 down to the street battle level, the crazy ambushes, surreal vignettes, soldier humor, lucky misses and unlucky hits, adrenaline pumping firefights and silent stalking of the targets. He leads the sniper platoon but much of the daily work is patrolling and fighting just like any infantry unit. He brings the typical British understatement to the obviously tough situations they face. From April 2004, this unit “got stuck into the record books. It turned out that the Siege of Cimic House proved to be not only the longest continuous action fought by the British Army anywhere since the Korean War, but also the longest defensive stand since World War Two.”. There were a number of high awards for bravery, including a Victoria Cross.
The PWRR missed out on all the recent deployments. They missed the 2003 Iraq invasion when they had to fill in for striking firemen (and hold no hero worship for the firemen because of that). They missed out on Desert Storm when the war ended so quickly. And were set to go to the Falklands but missed that too. When finally slotted to go to Iraq in 2004, they all thought it would be another peacekeeping tour, like Bosnia or Kosovo. Not so, as shortly after they arrived in Al Amarah, the shite hit the proverbial fan.
Moqtada al Sadr is the backdrop to all the fighting as he sends his Mahdi Army out to attack the coalition forces before the handoff of power to the Iraqis and then later after he doesn’t get his way in the new civilian power structure. The Brits are caught in the middle, somewhat pissed off at the Americans and US Marines, as the US push against al Sadr. Al Amarah, a dusty, dirty, hot toilet of a city in southern Iraq, is one of Sadr’s strongholds. He sends his boys out to attack the Brits and the Mahdi army gets the worse end of it.
High points in the book include a great piece on the perspective of the enlisted fighting force that wants to take aggressive action versus the commanding officer’s view that he won’t risk his men and take losses unnecessarily. The action is spellbinding and takes place under tough daily conditions. The soldiers rapidly become addicted to the excitement of battle. When a ceasefire takes place, the lack of adrenaline-pumping action is sorely missed—but not for long when the ceasefire ends. I enjoyed the lack of political finger pointing, these soldiers are out there doing exactly what they expected to do, fight for their nation and each other. A great story and after 6 months in theater, it was “Right, you jammy git, let’s get the f#ck out of here.”
I tell you this account of the British Army in Maysan province, Iraq is gleaming! I am just chuffed to bits to read this tale of the 1st Battalion, PWRR and their version of the Alamo, with a better ending than the original. The cheeky sods. (WARNING, translator or English to English dictionary required when reading this book, e.g., “I should be bleeding unconscious with the lack of kip I’m getting, but I feel right as rain. D’ya think they’re putting cocaine in the scoff?” ) We are two peoples separated by a common language.
I really enjoyed this account of the Princess’s of Wales Royal Regiment (PWRR). Sgt Dan Mills brings the Iraq war in 2004 down to the street battle level, the crazy ambushes, surreal vignettes, soldier humor, lucky misses and unlucky hits, adrenaline pumping firefights and silent stalking of the targets. He leads the sniper platoon but much of the daily work is patrolling and fighting just like any infantry unit. He brings the typical British understatement to the obviously tough situations they face. From April 2004, this unit “got stuck into the record books. It turned out that the Siege of Cimic House proved to be not only the longest continuous action fought by the British Army anywhere since the Korean War, but also the longest defensive stand since World War Two.”. There were a number of high awards for bravery, including a Victoria Cross.
The PWRR missed out on all the recent deployments. They missed the 2003 Iraq invasion when they had to fill in for striking firemen (and hold no hero worship for the firemen because of that). They missed out on Desert Storm when the war ended so quickly. And were set to go to the Falklands but missed that too. When finally slotted to go to Iraq in 2004, they all thought it would be another peacekeeping tour, like Bosnia or Kosovo. Not so, as shortly after they arrived in Al Amarah, the shite hit the proverbial fan.
Moqtada al Sadr is the backdrop to all the fighting as he sends his Mahdi Army out to attack the coalition forces before the handoff of power to the Iraqis and then later after he doesn’t get his way in the new civilian power structure. The Brits are caught in the middle, somewhat pissed off at the Americans and US Marines, as the US push against al Sadr. Al Amarah, a dusty, dirty, hot toilet of a city in southern Iraq, is one of Sadr’s strongholds. He sends his boys out to attack the Brits and the Mahdi army gets the worse end of it.
High points in the book include a great piece on the perspective of the enlisted fighting force that wants to take aggressive action versus the commanding officer’s view that he won’t risk his men and take losses unnecessarily. The action is spellbinding and takes place under tough daily conditions. The soldiers rapidly become addicted to the excitement of battle. When a ceasefire takes place, the lack of adrenaline-pumping action is sorely missed—but not for long when the ceasefire ends. I enjoyed the lack of political finger pointing, these soldiers are out there doing exactly what they expected to do, fight for their nation and each other. A great story and after 6 months in theater, it was “Right, you jammy git, let’s get the f#ck out of here.”
December 5, 2008
I'm a massive fan of war memoirs - the kind popularised by Andy McNab and Chris Ryan in recent years - so when I saw the hype surrounding this book, I had to give it a go.
It totally lived up to my expectations. Somewhat inevitably, considering the setting, the action comes thick and fast, making this a modern-day version of the Battle of Rorke's Drift in the Zulu War - and it's just as exciting. Bullets fly, shells explode and our sniper heroes do what they need to do to get the job done.
Yes, it's full of profanity - it's real life after all - and anyone expecting a literary masterpiece or the kind of exemplary journalism practised by Hunter S Thompson and Norman Mailer will be disappointed. For those who want to know 'how it is' out there in the Wild East and want to sample the kind of situations that never get reported on the news, this is for you.
It totally lived up to my expectations. Somewhat inevitably, considering the setting, the action comes thick and fast, making this a modern-day version of the Battle of Rorke's Drift in the Zulu War - and it's just as exciting. Bullets fly, shells explode and our sniper heroes do what they need to do to get the job done.
Yes, it's full of profanity - it's real life after all - and anyone expecting a literary masterpiece or the kind of exemplary journalism practised by Hunter S Thompson and Norman Mailer will be disappointed. For those who want to know 'how it is' out there in the Wild East and want to sample the kind of situations that never get reported on the news, this is for you.
February 22, 2011
Oh, what to say, what to say?
I'm sure by now you've figured out that I'm in one of my "military book" phases. It'll pass, don't worry, but for now this is kind of my reading focus.
"Sniper One" was advertised as "One of the best first-hand accounts of combat that I've ever read", "highly charged [...] page-turning read", "strong, cohesive and complete."
Well, it could be. I wouldn't know. I gave up fairly soon, because I just couldn't, COULD NOT stand the stupidity. Sorry, Sgt. Mills, but you are obviously a blood-thirsty idiot and embodiment of all the bad clichés the average civilian has about soldiers - that they are in it for the killing, for the blood, because they think that war is fun.
In my nicer moments, I'd like to think that I reacted as vehemently as I did to Mills' book because I had just finished reading Fick's SUPERB "One Bullet Away". But no, that's not it. Fick's book may have been one of the best accounts of a military career I've read, but it is not the only one, and none of them, NONE, were as horribly, disgustingly stupid as Mills' book. Not even close. Not even a hint of it.
No, I don't object to the idea that one could enjoy being a soldier. I'm neither stupid nor naive. But they way Mills' writes it?
He starts off by describing how his unit gets the orders to go to Iraq, and how everyone signs up again or makes otherwise sure that they are going, because they don't want to miss finally getting to shoot Iraqis, what with having missed the first Gulf War and never going anywhere, despite being the best "killer" in the UK forces and looking all scruffy and cool while doing it. Yes, Mills, we get it - you are a killer and you think it's really cool.
It continues like that. But not only that, I think I could have lived with that - no, on top of admitting to being really not as cool as he thinks being a sniper makes him, there is stupidity in every small detail- Like, Mills doesn't know where exactly he is being deployed to, but doesn't care because "it sounds properly Iraqi". Like the fact that Mills only concern seems to be that he gets to shoot people (because that is, after all, his job). Plus, I had a really hard time with all the "lads" and "blokes" and "dicks hanging out", because using and quoting colorful language is one thing - writing a whole book in a language that is more fitting for a junior highschool boy from a bad neighbourhood trying to impress his older brothers' friends than it is for a grown-up man - no matter what his profession is.
But maybe this is what it is really like out there. Maybe this is what goes on in the brains of the people fighting these wars. Maybe this level of stupidity is what it takes to be able to do this job.
Maybe I really am this stupid and naive.
(but even if I am, I just cound't get myself to read this book).
I'm sure by now you've figured out that I'm in one of my "military book" phases. It'll pass, don't worry, but for now this is kind of my reading focus.
"Sniper One" was advertised as "One of the best first-hand accounts of combat that I've ever read", "highly charged [...] page-turning read", "strong, cohesive and complete."
Well, it could be. I wouldn't know. I gave up fairly soon, because I just couldn't, COULD NOT stand the stupidity. Sorry, Sgt. Mills, but you are obviously a blood-thirsty idiot and embodiment of all the bad clichés the average civilian has about soldiers - that they are in it for the killing, for the blood, because they think that war is fun.
In my nicer moments, I'd like to think that I reacted as vehemently as I did to Mills' book because I had just finished reading Fick's SUPERB "One Bullet Away". But no, that's not it. Fick's book may have been one of the best accounts of a military career I've read, but it is not the only one, and none of them, NONE, were as horribly, disgustingly stupid as Mills' book. Not even close. Not even a hint of it.
No, I don't object to the idea that one could enjoy being a soldier. I'm neither stupid nor naive. But they way Mills' writes it?
He starts off by describing how his unit gets the orders to go to Iraq, and how everyone signs up again or makes otherwise sure that they are going, because they don't want to miss finally getting to shoot Iraqis, what with having missed the first Gulf War and never going anywhere, despite being the best "killer" in the UK forces and looking all scruffy and cool while doing it. Yes, Mills, we get it - you are a killer and you think it's really cool.
It continues like that. But not only that, I think I could have lived with that - no, on top of admitting to being really not as cool as he thinks being a sniper makes him, there is stupidity in every small detail- Like, Mills doesn't know where exactly he is being deployed to, but doesn't care because "it sounds properly Iraqi". Like the fact that Mills only concern seems to be that he gets to shoot people (because that is, after all, his job). Plus, I had a really hard time with all the "lads" and "blokes" and "dicks hanging out", because using and quoting colorful language is one thing - writing a whole book in a language that is more fitting for a junior highschool boy from a bad neighbourhood trying to impress his older brothers' friends than it is for a grown-up man - no matter what his profession is.
But maybe this is what it is really like out there. Maybe this is what goes on in the brains of the people fighting these wars. Maybe this level of stupidity is what it takes to be able to do this job.
Maybe I really am this stupid and naive.
(but even if I am, I just cound't get myself to read this book).
November 26, 2011
Not a book for everyone, especially those that are really into political correctness, or "if only the rest of the world thinks the same way as me". The book is frank, covering a battle/siege that was little reported during Iraq invasion by coalition forces, by the leader of a British sniper team. It does not go into the politics or rights or wrongs of the conflict, it is only about an individuals experience and recollection of his time there.
I found the book to be an excellent read, that was honest and with no filtering. When your job after years and years of training, is to really in the end to kill people, I do begin to understand how important the training and discipline to reach that goal is, and I suspect it is what keeps them sane. You do get a glimpse in the end how the soldiers returning from conflicts such as this survive by turning it off afterward. Knowing UK though, I am surprised how they could return to such a controlling country without loosing it.
The book leaves little out, I don't feel the author has embellished or exaggerated his story, or his actions in it. Indeed he continually describes events where he was involved yes, but others were really more involved. Parts of the events depicted in the book can be viewed on YouTube.
I found the book to be an excellent read, that was honest and with no filtering. When your job after years and years of training, is to really in the end to kill people, I do begin to understand how important the training and discipline to reach that goal is, and I suspect it is what keeps them sane. You do get a glimpse in the end how the soldiers returning from conflicts such as this survive by turning it off afterward. Knowing UK though, I am surprised how they could return to such a controlling country without loosing it.
The book leaves little out, I don't feel the author has embellished or exaggerated his story, or his actions in it. Indeed he continually describes events where he was involved yes, but others were really more involved. Parts of the events depicted in the book can be viewed on YouTube.
February 4, 2021
Brilliant
Such an honest and genuine read. Huge respect for the men in the British Army. I really enjoyed this book. I'd give it 20 stars if I could. Some times the humour made me laugh out loud but also there were times when the shit hits the fan and I become worried for Dan and his men. This book is one of my favourites and a page turner for sure. Ive read.it.more than once
Such an honest and genuine read. Huge respect for the men in the British Army. I really enjoyed this book. I'd give it 20 stars if I could. Some times the humour made me laugh out loud but also there were times when the shit hits the fan and I become worried for Dan and his men. This book is one of my favourites and a page turner for sure. Ive read.it.more than once
January 30, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyed this first-hand account of the British siege of Al Amarah and what they went through to hold that position. Lots of good sniper lore here, even more interesting stuff about how men cope under those kind of prolonged battle conditions. Not the usual sneak-and-peek and shoot, but a story about men under siege.
December 4, 2023
It would not be a book written by a brit, if it didn't mention Algarve at least once. As a tuga, I must approve it.
I love the narration, and most of all, the details. That's where the books win me at.
I love the narration, and most of all, the details. That's where the books win me at.
January 2, 2022
Dan Mills and his platoon of snipers fly into southern Iraq, part of an infantry battalion sent to win hearts and minds. They were soon fighting for their lives.
Back home we were told they were peacekeeping.
But there was no peace to keep.
Because within days of arriving in theatre, Mills and his men were caught up in the longest, most sustained fire fight British troops had faced for over fifty years.
The author details the story of the PWRR, primary the sniper platoon during their tour to Al Amarah, Iraq, and the siege of CIMIC House.
The title of the book, Sniper One attracted me to this book, sadly one of the weakest war books I have read, slow paced, talky, lack of action and more about the arguments between soldiers, his strong opinions on the officers, too many characters to keep up with and not anything like expected.
No tension, no action, no fast paced thriller parts, lacked a strong story...
Sorry not for me, read The Terminal List by Jack Carr !!
Back home we were told they were peacekeeping.
But there was no peace to keep.
Because within days of arriving in theatre, Mills and his men were caught up in the longest, most sustained fire fight British troops had faced for over fifty years.
The author details the story of the PWRR, primary the sniper platoon during their tour to Al Amarah, Iraq, and the siege of CIMIC House.
The title of the book, Sniper One attracted me to this book, sadly one of the weakest war books I have read, slow paced, talky, lack of action and more about the arguments between soldiers, his strong opinions on the officers, too many characters to keep up with and not anything like expected.
No tension, no action, no fast paced thriller parts, lacked a strong story...
Sorry not for me, read The Terminal List by Jack Carr !!
July 24, 2015
I certainly enjoyed the read.
The story centres around a group of British Army snipers deployed into Iraq in 2004.
They were kept very active by the local population - being involved in the longest fire fight British troops had been party to for over 50 years.
The description of the base itself, where they spent a considerable part of their deployment defending its walls, is very good.
Consequently you can visualise what's happening all around them when they're attacked.
If you're in any way interested in modern theatres of warfare then this is a book it's worth sitting down with.
The story centres around a group of British Army snipers deployed into Iraq in 2004.
They were kept very active by the local population - being involved in the longest fire fight British troops had been party to for over 50 years.
The description of the base itself, where they spent a considerable part of their deployment defending its walls, is very good.
Consequently you can visualise what's happening all around them when they're attacked.
If you're in any way interested in modern theatres of warfare then this is a book it's worth sitting down with.
October 10, 2012
I think this book is amazing! It was written by sgt. Dan Mills and is about him and his sniping platoon. The story takes place in Iraq over a 6 month period. At the beginning of the story his platoon does a tour around the Cimic house and the city they will be in. During one of the tours they get into an ambush. Then a grenade bounced off their landrover and exploded. Luckily none of his people took serious damage, but kept them pinned down behind the landrover. Throughout the whole story they had to always be ready to react to mortars being dropped and being attacked at the house. Overall I think if you like military stories, you will most likely like this book.
January 18, 2013
As real as it gets. I bought this book wanting to learn more about how the military worked and little did I know that it was completely not how I expected it to be. Still a good read: learning what the soldiers had gone through was a big learning experience for me.
February 5, 2008
Extremely good book reflecting the reality of the war in Iraq. Very much a soldier's 'behind the scenes' perspective.
March 25, 2008
A really good read and insight to what a soldier goes through. And even though they doing a really tough job, they still have a sense of humour when you least expect it.
April 12, 2010
This book was amazing, I love reading true stories like this where some people have a lot more to deal with in their job than most and they deal with it really well.
November 16, 2010
Incredible, another great book that gives a proper insight into what these soldiers have to go through every day. I have nothing but respect for these guys.
November 2, 2017
Excellent book, couldn't put it down.
March 13, 2018
Sniper One: The Blistering True Story Of A British Battle Group Under Siege received 4.22 stars out of 5, and also I can tell that a lot of readers that gave this book 5 including me got a thrill out of it. The readers that give this book 1 stars didn't even leave a comment and I would agree with them because this book is not for everyone. But I strongly disagree when some people said it is not worth reading. This book has so much thrill, adventure, and action that gets the reader involved in it and I just wanted to keep on reading more to know what is going to happen next. The reason I gave this book 5 stars is that he explains a lot about everything that he is seeing on the battlefield and in his Cimic house. If you read the description and then close your eyes you can imagine and sometimes pinpoint the stuff author is trying to describe, like when he describes his shot down warriors and him taking a bullet on his back. He also introduces many characters in this book but it doesn't require you to remember all of them to understand this book. So I like how he wrote this book that creates a rush and you can almost feel like you are fighting next to him sometimes.
I think the type of the reader that would enjoy most enjoy this book is a reader that knows a little bit about guns and is interested in history and war that happened in the past. As most of my classmates also updated that this book is interesting and they want to read it someday I believe that a lot of other people would be interested too. Loving war and guns is going to help the reader get the most thrill out of this book. This book has a whole lot supply of description of guns, gears they were wearing, thickly armored warriors and challenger tanks. Not only that but also author describes the encounters he has with OMS terrorist organization face to face and how he got out of it and how he shot them down. You don't have to necessarily know about guns and wars if you have a good imagination and you can imagine what the author is trying to describe.
One of the strengths of this book is Plot. He does a wonderful job of setting up the plot and it is easy to understand it because of the pictures he provides within the book itself at some intervals. The other strengths of the book is creating suspense and conflicts. He creates suspense in every fight he has mentioned in this book which makes the readers take guesses on what going to happen next. Some of them are quite easy to guess because all the clues lead to the same answer. The ending of the book is what a normal person would expect. When the contract of the soldier expires he goes back home to his family and friends. I would have expected a more surprising ending but as this book is not a fiction that surprising ending would not have worked. Overall I loved this book and I got the best thrill out of it.
I think the type of the reader that would enjoy most enjoy this book is a reader that knows a little bit about guns and is interested in history and war that happened in the past. As most of my classmates also updated that this book is interesting and they want to read it someday I believe that a lot of other people would be interested too. Loving war and guns is going to help the reader get the most thrill out of this book. This book has a whole lot supply of description of guns, gears they were wearing, thickly armored warriors and challenger tanks. Not only that but also author describes the encounters he has with OMS terrorist organization face to face and how he got out of it and how he shot them down. You don't have to necessarily know about guns and wars if you have a good imagination and you can imagine what the author is trying to describe.
One of the strengths of this book is Plot. He does a wonderful job of setting up the plot and it is easy to understand it because of the pictures he provides within the book itself at some intervals. The other strengths of the book is creating suspense and conflicts. He creates suspense in every fight he has mentioned in this book which makes the readers take guesses on what going to happen next. Some of them are quite easy to guess because all the clues lead to the same answer. The ending of the book is what a normal person would expect. When the contract of the soldier expires he goes back home to his family and friends. I would have expected a more surprising ending but as this book is not a fiction that surprising ending would not have worked. Overall I loved this book and I got the best thrill out of it.
May 31, 2021
An excellent account, that conveys the grim and not-so grim reality of a "boring peace-keeping tour in Iraq" (a running gag). Objective and detailed, whilst being concise and captivating, with a good dollop of humour. A must-read if you like non-fiction military accounts.
April 13, 2020
Brilliant book! Very well written and told in a way that makes you want to keep reading from Start to finish in one sitting! Any military book fan needs to read this book.
April 22, 2013
I bought this book when I was going through a period of reading lots of the genre. Sniper One: The Blistering True Story of a British Battle Group Under Siege has to be one of the most honest stories I've ever read. Sergeant Dan Mills doesn't hide anything.
The first thing that the reader has to accept is that snipers are a breed apart. They are specialists and they take great pride in their skill. To them, the more lethally effective they are, the better the chances of their comrades (and themselves) going home alive. If you deplore war, then don't read the book! Dan Mills doesn't pretend to be anything but a very effective specialist who enjoys being successful - bringing maximum harm to the enemy.
The story involves the deployment of Dan Mills' platoon of snipers, part of an infantry battalion, to southern Iraq. The battalion's mission: win the hearts and minds of the local people. It was supposed to be no more than that. Unfortunately, events elsewhere had led to an explosion of violence in many areas, and the battalion walked right into a hornet's nest that somebody else had just kicked! What followed was nothing less than a small contingent of soldiers trying to operate to mission intentions while virtually under siege from heavily armed militia. They were, effectively, engaged in the longest, most dangerous firefight any British troops had experienced in over half a century.
Mortars pounding the compound the soldiers operated from, militia attacking at every opportunity, these soldiers were isolated, fighting virtually alone. The snipers came into their own. They inflicted heavy damage on the enemy ruthlessly. But they were, after all, only a small platoon. Casualties mounted slowly, but they couldn't afford any losses. And then the enemy came in waves that threatened to overrun the British position.
A tale of courage, brutal combat, and a soldier's celebration of his comrades' outstanding performance under impossible conditions, Sniper One is reminiscent of the famous Battle of Rorke's Drift during the 19th Century Zulu War (filmed in Hollywood style as Zulu).
It's not the only tale of British forces facing such a position. Many of those who have served in Afghanistan can tell similar tales of facing impossible odds under siege conditions. What's remarkable here is the honest pleasure in the execution of combat skills expressed by Dan Mills. It's also one of very few books concerning the war in Iraq.
I don't hesitate in giving this book 5 stars, but I repeat my warning: if you are sensitive, don't read it. And do remember that, while I believe many young people would learn valuable lessons from these books about real warfare, this is very definitely a book for adults!
The first thing that the reader has to accept is that snipers are a breed apart. They are specialists and they take great pride in their skill. To them, the more lethally effective they are, the better the chances of their comrades (and themselves) going home alive. If you deplore war, then don't read the book! Dan Mills doesn't pretend to be anything but a very effective specialist who enjoys being successful - bringing maximum harm to the enemy.
The story involves the deployment of Dan Mills' platoon of snipers, part of an infantry battalion, to southern Iraq. The battalion's mission: win the hearts and minds of the local people. It was supposed to be no more than that. Unfortunately, events elsewhere had led to an explosion of violence in many areas, and the battalion walked right into a hornet's nest that somebody else had just kicked! What followed was nothing less than a small contingent of soldiers trying to operate to mission intentions while virtually under siege from heavily armed militia. They were, effectively, engaged in the longest, most dangerous firefight any British troops had experienced in over half a century.
Mortars pounding the compound the soldiers operated from, militia attacking at every opportunity, these soldiers were isolated, fighting virtually alone. The snipers came into their own. They inflicted heavy damage on the enemy ruthlessly. But they were, after all, only a small platoon. Casualties mounted slowly, but they couldn't afford any losses. And then the enemy came in waves that threatened to overrun the British position.
A tale of courage, brutal combat, and a soldier's celebration of his comrades' outstanding performance under impossible conditions, Sniper One is reminiscent of the famous Battle of Rorke's Drift during the 19th Century Zulu War (filmed in Hollywood style as Zulu).
It's not the only tale of British forces facing such a position. Many of those who have served in Afghanistan can tell similar tales of facing impossible odds under siege conditions. What's remarkable here is the honest pleasure in the execution of combat skills expressed by Dan Mills. It's also one of very few books concerning the war in Iraq.
I don't hesitate in giving this book 5 stars, but I repeat my warning: if you are sensitive, don't read it. And do remember that, while I believe many young people would learn valuable lessons from these books about real warfare, this is very definitely a book for adults!
December 5, 2015
Sgt. Dan Mills really wrote an astonishing book when he wrote Sniper One. This book follows Sgt. Dan Mills and his sniper team through the streets of Iraq. The conflict begins in the very beginning of the book when he and his squad get attacked by the OMS. A grenade injures one of his comrades. The authors purpose is to explain what went on in Iraq and how it was not as sugar-coated as CNN explained it. The book is written in first person as you can feel what the author felt as if you were really there.
The theme of Sniper One is obviously a military theme as it covers many firefights and battles in Iraq. The author stated very clearly he liked the action in Iraq and was interested in fighting for his country. A great quote from this book is “gunman top window”(xxi). This demonstrates all of the action in the book before it even gets started. The book was packed full with small firefights, engagements and knowledge about Iraq on a firsthand account. Another quote that can be an example is this. “ One RPG after another screamed over our heads”(63).
Dan Mills’ style is narrative. The style being a narrative is superior in this book, because it gives the readers Dan’s perspective so you get all of the story firsthand. A good example for this is in this quote. “ The Specters pulverized any enemy resistance as soon as they came out” (107). The book takes place in Iraq in the early 2000’s and at a time when the U.S and the British were really accepting the challenge and fighting the terrorists. Therefore the description combined with the style of narrative writing really makes you feel like you are right there at that time.
My overall opinion of the book is that I think it is great. I loved Sniper One for many reasons. The first being it is action packed of course. Another reason is that it is from a soldier’s perspective and not a reporter. If I could change one thing about this book though it would be that Dan gave a little more background of himself that way the readers would know more about him as well. Sniper One is a bit different from other military book and even other sniper books in the fact that (like mentioned before) has a lot of action. Dan Mills truly outdid himself when he wrote this book.
June 25, 2012
This book tells the story of the Battle of Al Amara. A horrible violent hell hole, more Iranian than Iraqi. During 2004 the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment was sent to occupy the town. While the main force was located up at Camp Abu Naji a small battle group was stationed in the main Ba'ath party building in the city centre.
The town was under almost complete control by Muqtada Al'Sadars Mahdi army. The British found themselves very quickly under attack. The poor equipment supplied by the MOD such as soft skinned vehicles quickly became a problem. The only way to bring supplies in was by warrior APC's. These came under attack that even they had trouble dealing with. It was during one battle that Johnson Beharry won the VC for bravery.
The writer of the book commanded the Sniper platoon. Such was the pig headed ignorance about what the British forces would face in Iraq they almost were banned from bringing their sniper rifles. The initial round of violence cooled off for most of the summer. Until later on in the year when the Americans thought it would be a good idea to shell the holiest site in the world to Shia Muslims. A brutal siege of the base was begun. Ammunition ran very low and the Mahdi army made an attempt to storm the base which was ultimately defeated.
Its an amazing look into the modern British army at war. And especially the British experience in Iraq. I can see why the MOD wanted to ban the book. At the time of its release they were desperately trying to cover up how bad things were in Iraq.
The town was under almost complete control by Muqtada Al'Sadars Mahdi army. The British found themselves very quickly under attack. The poor equipment supplied by the MOD such as soft skinned vehicles quickly became a problem. The only way to bring supplies in was by warrior APC's. These came under attack that even they had trouble dealing with. It was during one battle that Johnson Beharry won the VC for bravery.
The writer of the book commanded the Sniper platoon. Such was the pig headed ignorance about what the British forces would face in Iraq they almost were banned from bringing their sniper rifles. The initial round of violence cooled off for most of the summer. Until later on in the year when the Americans thought it would be a good idea to shell the holiest site in the world to Shia Muslims. A brutal siege of the base was begun. Ammunition ran very low and the Mahdi army made an attempt to storm the base which was ultimately defeated.
Its an amazing look into the modern British army at war. And especially the British experience in Iraq. I can see why the MOD wanted to ban the book. At the time of its release they were desperately trying to cover up how bad things were in Iraq.
February 22, 2015
This book is more about small unit combat leadership than the moral dilemma of taking someone's head off at 300 meters. I think Mills has captured the tensions (fistfights in the DFAC, idle soldiers with internet access), the challenges (getting rid of a non-performer in the unit by moving him somewhere he'd be happier and less likely to get people killed), and the frustrations of the kind of war we were waging in Iraq (full disclosure--I'm an Iraq veteran, and aware of the running "cooperation" dialog we had with people like Sadr). I also have spent some time working with British military professionals, so the Cockney Rhyming Slang (e.g., "Pete Tong" = "Wrong"; "Scooby (Doo)" = "Clue") wasn't so confusing in the text. I think the author has adequately pointed out the role of SOF as combat multipliers--i.e., 2 dudes with a Barrett .50 cal and a radio that talks to airplanes; the application of the AC-130 to any nocturnal shenanigans--and I thoroughly enjoyed his narrative on the Siege of CIMIC House. My one gripe with this book is the lack of good maps. There's only one included, and when the author is talking about troublesome enemy mortar positions, main supply routes, and checkpoints, those aren't clearly depicted on it. As a war memoir, I would recommend "Sniper One", but it could be much more useful to a reader (and small unit combat leader) if he could follow that narrative action on a good map.
October 6, 2012
Don't look out for great literature. But that's not what a soldier's life is about is it? This stuff is all action and from the heart. It very realistically puts the reader in the midst of the action. I don't know if this will come easier for those who know or have known military life - maybe it does and this may possibly bias my opinion? But I could feel events happening and see them in front of me. These guys are/were terrific soldiers. The way they speak, interact, react - that's all the real deal. The complaints of some readers about lack of respect for locals - hey people, this is life or death stuff. There is no time to be nice. This is the ultimate polarised situation. Politics aside, it is good to see how all soldiers in the platoon get the same respect from Mills - Brit, Fijian, Caribbean, South African, American, etc - there is a horisontal, non-hierarchical code of duty binding these men together. That essential element, combined with formidable training and intelligence made them the fighting force they were in this protracted battle. A five star modern warfare classic - all the way.
June 27, 2011
I thought before starting that this would be another typical gung-ho war book. Not that I don't enjoy those from time to time, but what I mean is with lowered expectations as to any 'deep thoughts'.
Wrong. Although it seemed to go that way at first, soon the story became much more of a human drama as you re-live the summer of 2004 with the British fighters literally stuck all on their own in a southern Iraqi hellhole under virtually constant attack by insurgents in the town.
There's an awful lot of technical talk, but presented in an understandable way. Likewise a lot of boo-yah military talk, but with the men involved, and the situation they're in, I'd be disappointed if there weren't.
Before you know it, you're wrapped up in the personalities and the mood of the situation so that when the "where they went after the war" piece comes at the end of the book, you actually care.
Great Book.
Wrong. Although it seemed to go that way at first, soon the story became much more of a human drama as you re-live the summer of 2004 with the British fighters literally stuck all on their own in a southern Iraqi hellhole under virtually constant attack by insurgents in the town.
There's an awful lot of technical talk, but presented in an understandable way. Likewise a lot of boo-yah military talk, but with the men involved, and the situation they're in, I'd be disappointed if there weren't.
Before you know it, you're wrapped up in the personalities and the mood of the situation so that when the "where they went after the war" piece comes at the end of the book, you actually care.
Great Book.
October 14, 2014
My first introduction to true war stories, I have to say that the beginning was very memorable and delves straight into the action. One can only imagine the feelings that these soldiers must go through in these situations. War is a terrible thing, the world should be able to function without it, but sadly power and money are often the contributing factors to such atrocities and the soldiers on the ground are but pawns in a deadly game of chess.
That being said, Mills put together a fine story and an interesting read, I highly recommend it. I have read some american true war stories after reading this book and can only say that the British soldiers appears less gung-ho about the act of war than their american counterparts. Give this a read, you won't be sorry.
That being said, Mills put together a fine story and an interesting read, I highly recommend it. I have read some american true war stories after reading this book and can only say that the British soldiers appears less gung-ho about the act of war than their american counterparts. Give this a read, you won't be sorry.
April 21, 2015
This was a fantastic war memoir. Probably one of the best I've ever read. It was also unique to me because it was the first war story from the second Iraq war from a British point of view I've read. It's not as if they had it any better, but I did enjoy the change of pace with all of the cheeky British slang you wouldn't normally get in a war story.
The action and pace of the story is lightning fast, and definitely keeps your attention. And it's an all around war story. The title may give the impression that it's only about sniping, but that's not the case. Sgt. Mills platoon did a little bit of everything, and experienced every possible scenario of a modern war. If this kind of thing interests you, I promise you will enjoy this book.
The action and pace of the story is lightning fast, and definitely keeps your attention. And it's an all around war story. The title may give the impression that it's only about sniping, but that's not the case. Sgt. Mills platoon did a little bit of everything, and experienced every possible scenario of a modern war. If this kind of thing interests you, I promise you will enjoy this book.
July 23, 2014
I sit here thinking how I can sum up this historical account, doing it enough justice and I finding myself failing for enough superlatives. I rarely give a book 5 stars because I always think, to do so would say this is perfection, and no matter how much I've enjoyed a novel in the past, I always think that maybe it was lacking in something that may have given it a little more edge, but this was perfection and a joy to read, it kept me on the edge of my chair right the way through. This was perfection and would love to see more of this from Dan Mills.
Really enjoyed this book, and would return to read it many times over.
DO NOT LOSE OUT, READ THIS AND YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY I PROMISE.
Really enjoyed this book, and would return to read it many times over.
DO NOT LOSE OUT, READ THIS AND YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY I PROMISE.
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