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Soldier Five: The Real Truth about the Bravo Two Zero Mission
The ill-fated Brave Two Zero mission of the Gulf War has become one of the most notorious episodes in military history. Several accounts of the story have already appeared in books, films and articles, but in this book the author now seeks to set the record straight and honour the memory of his three comrades who were killed.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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August 10, 2014
The only book you should read about Bravo Two Zero.
March 13, 2020
This book is sectioned into four parts: Into Action (infiltration and attempted escape), Call to Arms (Coburn's early days and military training), Guest of Saddam (time as prisoner-of-war), and Release (self-explanatory). Coburn finally details the legal headache that was the publishing this book and all that the Ministry of Defense did to try to stop it. A glossary and insert (pictures in the middle) are also included.
Into Action:
During the Gulf War, a group of eight men (all SAS) were inserted deep into Iraq to hunt for Scuds. The mission almost instantly went wrong: their communications weren't working properly (someone gave them the wrong frequencies) and their position almost compromised by a goatherder (similar to what caused Operation Red Wing's demise). Finally, an Iraqi driving a bulldozer is what gave them away. The rest of this section details their attempted escape through a snowstorm and sharp winds, hijacking a taxi and taking a policeman hostage, and almost making it across the Syria-Iraq border to safety.
Call to Arms:
Coburn discusses the path that led him to the military, specifically the New Zealand SAS, and his time spent training with various squadrons in mountains and jungles. After a while with the NZSAS, both Coburn and his friend Pete venture to Hereford to attempt to join the 22 SAS. The 22 SAS selection includes the infamous Fan Dance. (For those in States interested in a similar event that goes towards a good cause, check out the Bataan Memorial Death March.)
Guest of Saddam:
Coburn endures a mixture of brutal treatment by Iraqi police and decent medical care while a POW.
Release:
Coburn is liberated when the war ends and is reunited with surviving teammates. Together they are able to piece together what happened, and back in the UK, find out exactly who causes the mission's failure (you guessed it: a lot of people not wanting to fess up).
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Coburn (and/or his editor) is a good writer and provides excellent descriptions while sprinkling humor in every so often. Military terms and concepts are well-explained so the layperson can understand.
Other book suggestions: Lone Survivor, Black Hawk Down, and SEAL Team Six.
Into Action:
During the Gulf War, a group of eight men (all SAS) were inserted deep into Iraq to hunt for Scuds. The mission almost instantly went wrong: their communications weren't working properly (someone gave them the wrong frequencies) and their position almost compromised by a goatherder (similar to what caused Operation Red Wing's demise). Finally, an Iraqi driving a bulldozer is what gave them away. The rest of this section details their attempted escape through a snowstorm and sharp winds, hijacking a taxi and taking a policeman hostage, and almost making it across the Syria-Iraq border to safety.
Call to Arms:
Coburn discusses the path that led him to the military, specifically the New Zealand SAS, and his time spent training with various squadrons in mountains and jungles. After a while with the NZSAS, both Coburn and his friend Pete venture to Hereford to attempt to join the 22 SAS. The 22 SAS selection includes the infamous Fan Dance. (For those in States interested in a similar event that goes towards a good cause, check out the Bataan Memorial Death March.)
Guest of Saddam:
Coburn endures a mixture of brutal treatment by Iraqi police and decent medical care while a POW.
Release:
Coburn is liberated when the war ends and is reunited with surviving teammates. Together they are able to piece together what happened, and back in the UK, find out exactly who causes the mission's failure (you guessed it: a lot of people not wanting to fess up).
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Coburn (and/or his editor) is a good writer and provides excellent descriptions while sprinkling humor in every so often. Military terms and concepts are well-explained so the layperson can understand.
Other book suggestions: Lone Survivor, Black Hawk Down, and SEAL Team Six.
October 9, 2011
So much bullsh*t has been written about this patrol that it was refreshing to read what felt like a grounded, realistic account of what actually happened on the ground in Iraq. Definitely worth a read.
February 15, 2021
Finished this book today 5*/5* i have read two other books about the same ill fated mission:
The One That Got Away by Chris Ryan MM
Bravo Two-Zero by Andy McNab MM
This is from the view of Soldier Five.
I was reluctant to read this version as i wasn't sure how it would compare both Chris Ryan MM and Andy McNab MM versions, however i was pleasantly surprised as there is only one mention of Vince Phillips being Vilified (Chris Ryan shed Phillips in a bad light) there was no name calling of other members, and Coburn never once slated Chris Ryan or any other patrol member
This is his (Mike Coburn)version of events.
The one good thing is that the MOD have admitted they cocked up! If you have read the other 2 books, i recommend you read this one also.
Bob, Vince, Steve RIP Soldiers.
The One That Got Away by Chris Ryan MM
Bravo Two-Zero by Andy McNab MM
This is from the view of Soldier Five.
I was reluctant to read this version as i wasn't sure how it would compare both Chris Ryan MM and Andy McNab MM versions, however i was pleasantly surprised as there is only one mention of Vince Phillips being Vilified (Chris Ryan shed Phillips in a bad light) there was no name calling of other members, and Coburn never once slated Chris Ryan or any other patrol member
This is his (Mike Coburn)version of events.
The one good thing is that the MOD have admitted they cocked up! If you have read the other 2 books, i recommend you read this one also.
Bob, Vince, Steve RIP Soldiers.
December 2, 2019
Third account of the famous Bravo Two Zero patrol (after Andy McNab’s and Chris Ryan’s), claiming to be the only “true story”. The book is similar in structure to Andy McNab’s Bravo Two Zero, due to the two authors being captured relatively shortly after the insertion of the patrol into Iraq, as opposed to Chris Ryan, who escaped captivity. That is where the similarities end. From a literary perspective Mike Coburn’s book is not as action-packed as Andy McNab’s. If one were to treat both books as pure fiction, McNab, who has “the gift of the gab” wins hands down. That said, Coburn’s book sounds much more credible in this respect, and his account has been corroborated by third parties, based on Iraqi testimonies. Coburn’s Bravo Two Zero patrol does not kill hundreds of Iraqis or destroy APCs. Very soon after being accidentally compromised, it goes into an escape and evasion mode, and manages to avoid capture for two days, its main enemies being freezing wind, driving snow, lack of food, total communications failure, and carelessness of the SAS “head shed”. The last element, which is candidly described in Coburn’s book, is the second major difference between McNab’s and Coburn’s accounts. Not only is the SAS’s command openly ignoring the calls for support, effectively abandoning the eight operators and leaving them entirely to their own resources in a hostile land, but also subsequently engages in protracted legal battle with Coburn, most likely aimed at stopping him from disclosing these uncomfortable facts to the public. Although one cannot be entirely convinced that Coburn’s legal fight was aimed solely at protecting the good name of the three operators who died, and fending for the truth, somehow suspecting pecuniary reasons may have played an ancillary role, one cannot but sympathise with the author, who took on the might and resources of the British MoD, and in effect won, allowing for the book to be published.
April 13, 2017
The author, Mike Coburn, a New Zealand SAS (Special Air Services) soldier is drafted into the UK SAS and from there becomes involved with those troops in the 1991 Gulf War. The author recounts his army life and the events which occurred whilst in Iraq which are focussed around his squad being dropped behind the lines of the Iraq Army and basically being abandoned by the "top brass" who decided that they did not have enough aircraft to attempt a rescue.
The story at that stage is well written and makes for some tense escapades as they try to avoid the Iraqis. It is only in the latter section of the book that the whole story falls flat in my opinion. This centres around the legal challenges he made about the senior officers incompetence and their decision-making processes. The book supposedly markets itself about these legal challenges and yet I found myself really wondering if so much needed to be devoted to that aspect.
Had he instead written more about other SAS operations that he was involved with it could well have been a very good book.
The story at that stage is well written and makes for some tense escapades as they try to avoid the Iraqis. It is only in the latter section of the book that the whole story falls flat in my opinion. This centres around the legal challenges he made about the senior officers incompetence and their decision-making processes. The book supposedly markets itself about these legal challenges and yet I found myself really wondering if so much needed to be devoted to that aspect.
Had he instead written more about other SAS operations that he was involved with it could well have been a very good book.
August 3, 2013
I gave this FIVE stars, but would have given it NINE OUT OF TEN. And not just because the author is a New Zealander. No sir.
I give this book a high rating, not for its literary brilliance, but for the fact that it is real. Unlike the other two books written by "soldiers" who then became "best selling" "authors" (Andy McNab and Chris Ryan) this one tells it how it was.
Very refreshing. Thanks Mike.
I give this book a high rating, not for its literary brilliance, but for the fact that it is real. Unlike the other two books written by "soldiers" who then became "best selling" "authors" (Andy McNab and Chris Ryan) this one tells it how it was.
Very refreshing. Thanks Mike.
May 31, 2018
Overall an excellent and honest account of death-defying action behind enemy lines. I found the narrative tailed off somewhat towards the end and the descriptions of the legal wrangles did not really hold my attention. A book I would thoroughly recommend.
May 10, 2012
The real story of the ill fated Bravo Two Zero mission, without all the sensationalism (IE lies) of Andy McNab (Bravo Two Zero) or Chris Ryan (The one that got away).
A superb read, well worth it!
A superb read, well worth it!
July 4, 2017
Fantastic read.
February 10, 2025
This account of a UK recon patrol in the 1991 Gulf War has similarities with every war story ever told. Although the war was short lived with relatively few casualties, the soldiers of Bravo Two Zero experienced what warriors have always faced in battle. The unit was made up of five Brits, a Scot, an “Aussie, and a “Kiwi” (Coburn). They were close-knit, having nicknames and given to frequent badgering with each other, part of a group dynamic that binds them together and prepares them for what lies ahead. Unit cohesion along with their superb professional skills is what keeps most of them alive in the days that follow.
At the staging area in Saudi Arabia, team member Vince reports, “we’ve got a job – a big one!” It’s a covert operation hundreds of miles behind enemy lines. A flurry of activity follows, building suspense as the team prepares to leave. They are inserted in northern Iraq on a mission to spot mobile SCUD missiles and target them for destruction. But the team finds trouble immediately: they are far from the intended drop zone. They march most of the night looking for a suitable “lying up point” (LUP), settling in a wadi or dry creek bed. When trying to report their status they discover their radio set is inoperable. The streak of bad luck continues when daylight reveals they are within a mile of an enemy anti-aircraft installation with a large enemy contingent. Hundreds of miles from friendly forces, they learn they have been abandoned and have only each other for support.
On the third day they are discovered and set out on a perilous withdrawal. Taking enemy fire as they flee along the wadi, the onset of darkness is all that saves them. Staying hidden during day, they are forced to evacuate when a sub-freezing snow storm strikes and they continue the flight toward Syria. They become separated and Coburn is shot and captured within a mile of the border. He suffers torture, poor medical care, and wretched conditions in prison before being released six weeks after his capture with war’s end.
Coburn gives a lucid account of the five days the eight man patrol operates deep in enemy territory. He plumbs the depth of his soul in the telling, the fear that seems to beset him at every turn. At one point in their concealed position he hears a noise “that no foot soldier in these conditions would ever want to hear: tank tracks.” With the sound getting closer, he pulls an M72 anti-tank weapon to his shoulder as he hides behind a large boulder. He looks out, preparing to fire but sees only a bulldozer. This is one of many scenes where his darkest fears come to nothing but at other times when the unexpected happens it is much worse than anything he could have imagined.
The book is replete with examples of small unit tactics. On their first night when four men are sent out to scout the area, knowing that sound is amplified in the desert, the patrol stopped regularly for a two minute “listening halt.” It was then that they formed a cross formation, letting them look in all directions.
After being written, the book took five years to be published because of legal entanglements with the British Ministry of Defense. Coburn persisted because he believed the upper command had never admitted their mistakes and that a dead team member had been slurred. With the book’s release he achieved his goal of seeing that the truth of Bravo Two Zero was finally told. The title comes from the pseudonym Coburn was given to conceal his identity during interviews with the U.N. commission seeking damages from Iraq.
Serving 13 years in the military, a time of almost continuous physical training and exercises, Coburn was a professional soldier and his book is authentic in all respects. The author’s skill imparts a tactile sense of what is happening, putting the reader in their ranks and keeps the pages turning to the very end. His book is a moving account that goes to the heart of what it means to be a soldier on the field of war.
At the staging area in Saudi Arabia, team member Vince reports, “we’ve got a job – a big one!” It’s a covert operation hundreds of miles behind enemy lines. A flurry of activity follows, building suspense as the team prepares to leave. They are inserted in northern Iraq on a mission to spot mobile SCUD missiles and target them for destruction. But the team finds trouble immediately: they are far from the intended drop zone. They march most of the night looking for a suitable “lying up point” (LUP), settling in a wadi or dry creek bed. When trying to report their status they discover their radio set is inoperable. The streak of bad luck continues when daylight reveals they are within a mile of an enemy anti-aircraft installation with a large enemy contingent. Hundreds of miles from friendly forces, they learn they have been abandoned and have only each other for support.
On the third day they are discovered and set out on a perilous withdrawal. Taking enemy fire as they flee along the wadi, the onset of darkness is all that saves them. Staying hidden during day, they are forced to evacuate when a sub-freezing snow storm strikes and they continue the flight toward Syria. They become separated and Coburn is shot and captured within a mile of the border. He suffers torture, poor medical care, and wretched conditions in prison before being released six weeks after his capture with war’s end.
Coburn gives a lucid account of the five days the eight man patrol operates deep in enemy territory. He plumbs the depth of his soul in the telling, the fear that seems to beset him at every turn. At one point in their concealed position he hears a noise “that no foot soldier in these conditions would ever want to hear: tank tracks.” With the sound getting closer, he pulls an M72 anti-tank weapon to his shoulder as he hides behind a large boulder. He looks out, preparing to fire but sees only a bulldozer. This is one of many scenes where his darkest fears come to nothing but at other times when the unexpected happens it is much worse than anything he could have imagined.
The book is replete with examples of small unit tactics. On their first night when four men are sent out to scout the area, knowing that sound is amplified in the desert, the patrol stopped regularly for a two minute “listening halt.” It was then that they formed a cross formation, letting them look in all directions.
After being written, the book took five years to be published because of legal entanglements with the British Ministry of Defense. Coburn persisted because he believed the upper command had never admitted their mistakes and that a dead team member had been slurred. With the book’s release he achieved his goal of seeing that the truth of Bravo Two Zero was finally told. The title comes from the pseudonym Coburn was given to conceal his identity during interviews with the U.N. commission seeking damages from Iraq.
Serving 13 years in the military, a time of almost continuous physical training and exercises, Coburn was a professional soldier and his book is authentic in all respects. The author’s skill imparts a tactile sense of what is happening, putting the reader in their ranks and keeps the pages turning to the very end. His book is a moving account that goes to the heart of what it means to be a soldier on the field of war.
April 23, 2022
When we study history it is imperative we analyze three elements:
Author and the times which influenced/produced them.
The text in question and the times which influenced it.
The internal evidence of the text.
Bravo Two Zero was the ill-fated mission launched by the British SAS to assist American air power during the Gulf War. It was undertaken by eight men led by two Sergeants. Upon insertion into Iraq, the mission was compromised and the eight arrested. One died of hypothermia; one escaped and six were later released. What exactly transpired and when?
All eight have differing perceptions but Mike Coburn unites the majority to make a compelling case that:
(a) The British Military high command did not collect adequate intelligence and played with the lives of the eight men.
(b) The British Military high command supported Andy McNab's and Chris Ryan's (both members of the infiltration team) highly falsified accounts which scapegoat Sergeant Vince Phillips unfairly and unjustly.
(c) The British Military high command refused to learn from the failure.
The legal battles which Coburn fought to be allowed to uncover the dismal truth behind Bravo Two Zero while augmenting the veracity of the book also encapsulates a separate part of his story. The tragedy here is that a lesser known military maxim holds that the final thanks a soldier receives is vilification. Coburn put his life on the line but received nothing much from his high command. Through the medium of this book, at least, he succeeds in providing justice to lost voices.
Author and the times which influenced/produced them.
The text in question and the times which influenced it.
The internal evidence of the text.
Bravo Two Zero was the ill-fated mission launched by the British SAS to assist American air power during the Gulf War. It was undertaken by eight men led by two Sergeants. Upon insertion into Iraq, the mission was compromised and the eight arrested. One died of hypothermia; one escaped and six were later released. What exactly transpired and when?
All eight have differing perceptions but Mike Coburn unites the majority to make a compelling case that:
(a) The British Military high command did not collect adequate intelligence and played with the lives of the eight men.
(b) The British Military high command supported Andy McNab's and Chris Ryan's (both members of the infiltration team) highly falsified accounts which scapegoat Sergeant Vince Phillips unfairly and unjustly.
(c) The British Military high command refused to learn from the failure.
The legal battles which Coburn fought to be allowed to uncover the dismal truth behind Bravo Two Zero while augmenting the veracity of the book also encapsulates a separate part of his story. The tragedy here is that a lesser known military maxim holds that the final thanks a soldier receives is vilification. Coburn put his life on the line but received nothing much from his high command. Through the medium of this book, at least, he succeeds in providing justice to lost voices.
July 19, 2021
The best account of the doomed from day one mission. I completely understand why the MOD wanted this banned... I am glad it wasn't.
My utmost respect to Mr Coburn for what he has chronicled.
If you only read one book about BTZ, make it this one.
My utmost respect to Mr Coburn for what he has chronicled.
If you only read one book about BTZ, make it this one.
August 23, 2021
I honestly loved this book! This book is extremely honest and just a great read over all! For those wanting to join the SAS this is the book for you! All kinds of little facts and tid bits that make this book very enjoyable to read!
September 13, 2020
Interesting to read another view point on the infamous Bravo Two Zero pattol
September 20, 2023
Clearly he is a soldier not a writer.
Interesting story - especially the fight for publication
Interesting story - especially the fight for publication
February 18, 2024
It’s been a long time since a book has actually made me cry. Tears of relief, happiness and also for the unnecessary loss. A book written by a true hero.
December 2, 2024
Read in 2020. It was hard to find a copy of this one but got one second hand.
An excellent read which sort of ties in with the Real Bravo Two Zero book!
An excellent read which sort of ties in with the Real Bravo Two Zero book!
March 2, 2023
I have read Bravo Two Zero, The One That Got Away, Soldier Five, and SAS Bravo Three Zero. They each tell an interesting story.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews