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Ultimate soldier. Ultimate mission. But can the SAS recruit primitive natives to help them thwart an invading rebel force?1963: Viewing the formation of a new political entity, the Federation of Malaysia, as a threat to his dreams of expansion, Indonesian President Sukarno orders insurgents into Borneo. In response, the British organize a force of Malay, British and Commonwealth troops to contain the rebels.What is desperately needed, however, is a specialist group who can perform highly dangerous and arduous military tasks in the inhospitable, perilous terrain. Braving jungle and swamp, the SAS are dispatched to live with the primitive, headhunting natives, to try to win hearts and minds with medical aid and assistance, in the hope of recruiting them as Border Scout paramilitaries.As the training progresses, other SAS soldiers move even deeper into the unexplored jungle – ‘the Gap’ – to establish ambush sites and helicopter LZs. These ‘Tiptoe Boys’ conduct daring ‘Claret’ raids across the border, hitting hard and vanishing fast, ambushing enemy troops moving along the many jungle tracks and rivers. It will be a bloody, nightmarish war – and the SAS must win it.
This book chronicles the SAS's covert operations during the Indonesian Confrontation in Borneo. It details the 1963 deployment of British forces to counter Indonesian-backed insurgents following the formation of Malaysia, focusing on the unique challenges of operating in the dense jungle terrain. The narrative follows the SAS's strategy of engaging with indigenous headhunting tribes, aiming to recruit them as Border Scouts through medical aid and assistance, while simultaneously conducting deep-jungle raids across the border.
The book appears to offer a detailed and specific account of a lesser-known military engagement, focusing on the operational aspects and the unique challenges faced by the SAS. The narrative likely emphasizes the tactical maneuvers, the harsh environment of Borneo, and the unconventional methods employed, such as integrating with indigenous populations. The subject matter suggests a focus on historical accuracy and the gritty realities of covert operations during the Cold War era.
Page Count:
208
Publication Date:
2016-08-02
Publisher:
HarperCollins
ISBN-10:
0008155038
ISBN-13:
9780008155032
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