The History of the SAS: Gripping and insightful, the ideal gift for Christmas 2025

by Chris Ryan

'Drawing on the stories of the soldiers who were there, this dramatic history of the SAS is full of bravado. Forged to fight guerrillas in the sweltering jungles of Malaya... Ryan writes with the authority of a man familiar with every nuance of the regiment's tactics, training, weapons and equipment.' - Sunday Times CultureTasked with storming mountain strongholds in the desert. Trained to hunt down the world's most wanted terrorists. This is the extraordinary story of 22 SAS. The history of the modern SAS is one of the great successes of post-war Britain. Since it was revived in 1950 to combat Communist insurgents, the Regiment has gone from strength to strength, fighting covert wars in Oman, Borneo, Northern Ireland, the Falklands, the Persian Gulf and beyond. In the process, it has become one of the most indispensable, and at times controversial, units in the British armyToday, the SAS is regarded as the world's leading Special Forces unit, renowned for its demanding Selection course and its relentless ability to adapt to the changing nature of warfare. More than anything else, however, it is the determination and ingenuity of the SAS soldiers that has made the Regiment what it is today. Drawing on his extensive network of contacts and his own experiences, Chris Ryan tells the story of the men on the ground. From the earliest patrols in the Malayan jungle, through to the storming of the Iranian Embassy, the daring raids behind enemy lines in the Gulf War, and up-to-minute missions to capture or kill notorious terrorists - this is the gripping, no-holds-barred account of Regiment operations. Above all, it is a story of elite soldiers fighting, and triumphing, against seemingly impossible odds.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, Nonfiction

492 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2019

About the author

Colin Armstrong (b. 1961), usually known by the pen-name Chris Ryan, is a British author, television presenter, security consultant and former Special Air Service sergeant.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement.

Reviews

[william l hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, at first I thought it was going to be all facts and figures and was a bit on the unsure side but it was really informative and put together well .
You can see where Chris's books are taken from and as well as other books I have read on conflicts around the world it again highlights the total incompetence and disregard that the SOME of the people in command have for all the forces when it comes to equipment etc, and what they expect our boys to do.

[Leah Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book from my local library for research purposes re: SAS I found Chris Ryan's experiences and knowledge throughout previous tours/war in NI, Iraq and Afghanistan very informative.

[John Pickles · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an impressive read!

Packed full of fact, it gives you a real understanding of what the SAD is all about: special forces from special people.

[Herrholz Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the lookout for new material to read, I looked over the shoulder of Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition in the UK government, at his bookshelf, while he was on the TV, and saw a couple of books by a guy called Chris Ryan. So now I have read a couple of his books. What impresses me most is, or perhaps it's better to say what disturbed me most, is the amount of mistakes made during the planning and execution of missions. For example the wrong radio frequencies were given to members of the SAS when going in to enemy territory so they were unable to call for help when needed. Or being given maps by which to orient themselves which are more use to a pilot, so at a totally inappropriate scale with no landmarks and so essentially useless to someone on the ground. Or the helicopter which took on too much gear and ended crashing into the sea killing men and losing the gear. The list goes on. It seems that when things start heating up, people start to loose rationality and perhaps a gung ho-ness starts to express itself. I am impressed by how the guys in Regiment can ignore all this and do their best to get the job done!

[Alistair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Ryan was the guy involved in the Bravo Two Zero disaster where he lost a few of his SAS mates and walked over 190 miles


contents

Introduction: To Dare Is to Win - ix

1. The Malayan Emergency - 1
2. On SAS Patrol - 13
3. Masters of the Jungle - 26
4. The Jebel Akhdar - 41
5. Hereford - 59
6. SAS Selection - 69
7. Green Hell - 83
8. Combat Survival - 94
9. Back in the Jungle - 106
10. Secret Wars - 117
11. Operation Storm - 130
12. Rules of Engagement - 149
13. The Group - 160
14. The SP Team - 174
15. The Iranian Embassy Siege -185
16. Raiders from the Sea - 202
17. Victory in the Falklands - 219
18. Return to the Desert - 232
19. Bravo Two Zero - 250
20. Behind Enemy Lines - 262
21. War in the Balkans - 276
22. Operation Barras - 287
23. Manhunters - 302
24. Defeating AQI - 315
25. Modern Warfare - 325
26. New Threats - 337

Appendix A: Norman Schwarzkopf: Letter of Commendation to 22 SAS Regiment - 347
Appendix B: The Regimental Clock Tower - 351
Select Bibliography - 353
Glossary - 357

[Paul Crozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved listening to this audiobook while reading it at the same time. The stories within vary from the early days ie 1950’s to present day. If you want to learn the history even earlier from the formation I’d recommend SAS Rogue Heroes by Ben MacIntyre. This one is brilliantly written each chapter about a different war ( the correct words lost in my head ).

Chris does an amazing job telling these stories and to my astonishment it wasn’t me me me like other books about the SAS. He gives credit to everyone and I mean everyone from his guys to the American Special Forces and beyond.

I thought the narration for this audiobook was brilliant and spot on ( might just be me but it started to sound like Chris himself narrating )

[Sebastian MacLeod-Bonnar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stories were great but some weren’t as encaging!
Opening was great; learning about how the group started, their first missions, tactics and how it progressed over time.
The Iranian Embassy Attack was brilliant however there were stories I wished had more information or the author delved into more!

[Vikrant Hardas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few dull moments and a few repetitive phrases (like spread thin) notwithstanding, loved reading about the SAS and their history.

Of course, the backdrop events are seen from the British/NATO POV and those events are descirbed as such, but it is informatiave nonetheless.

[Connor Agate-Woodstock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting book that goes into as much detail as you can when you’re covering 70 years of history in just shy of 250 pages. Makes me want to read up on the ins and outs of some of the conflicts and events Chris Ryan speaks about

[Gareth Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this account of the history of the SAS. What makes it easier to read ia it’s written by someone who served in the regiment.

[Nick Harriss · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book covering the post-WW2 history of the SAS. I found the earlier chapters, covering the less well-known conflicts of the 50s, 60s and 70s particularly interesting.

[Jacub Gawlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Ryan’s incredible story-telling ability takes the reader and places them in the heart of iconic era-defining moments in SAS history. This book not only provided detailed stories of engagements but also explained challenges faced by the Regiment in very specific detail. An important read for anyone who takes interest in military-related literature.