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By Strength and Guile: A History of the British Special Boat Service
Paperback
Series: Battles & Commanders: The Tudor Finneran Military History Collection
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Aug 14 2025
Pages: 204
Weight: 0.62
Height: 0.43 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
The definitive account of Britain's most secretive warriors-the elite maritime special forces who have operated in the shadows for over eight decades.
From the folding canoes of World War II to the high-tech operations of the 21st century, the Special Boat Service has remained Britain's most mysterious military unit. Operating by their motto By Strength and Guile, these maritime commandos have conducted some of the most daring and classified missions in modern warfare-from Nazi-occupied coastlines to the mountains of Afghanistan.
Unprecedented Access to a Secret World
Military historian Tudor Finneran has been granted exceptional access to previously classified materials, veteran interviews, and official records to tell the complete story of the SBS for the first time. This gripping narrative reveals:
- The wartime origins of maritime special operations, from Roger Courtney's experimental raids to the legendary Mediterranean campaigns that helped turn the tide of World War II
- Cold War shadows, when SBS operators conducted classified reconnaissance missions against Soviet naval forces that could have changed the balance of global power
- The Falklands crucible, where the SBS proved their continued relevance in modern warfare through extraordinary feats of endurance and courage in the South Atlantic
- Northern Ireland's hidden war, revealing the unit's controversial role in countering IRA maritime operations during the Troubles
- The global war on terror, from the mountains of Afghanistan to the pirate-infested waters off Somalia, showing how ancient maritime skills adapted to 21st-century threats
More Than Military History-A Study in Human Excellence
Beyond the operations and equipment, this is the story of extraordinary individuals who voluntarily undertake missions others consider impossible. Finneran takes readers inside the legendary SBS selection process, revealing what transforms ordinary soldiers into operators capable of spending weeks behind enemy lines or conducting underwater infiltrations that would challenge the limits of human endurance.
Written with unprecedented cooperation from the Royal Marines and Ministry of Defence, yet maintaining complete editorial independence, this book balances historical accuracy with the security requirements that still protect ongoing operations.
Featuring detailed appendices including operational chronology, equipment evolution, and profiles of legendary figures like Victoria Cross winner Anders Lassen, By Strength and Guile is both the definitive history and essential reference for understanding Britain's maritime special forces.
Perfect for readers of:
- SAS: Rogue Heroes by Ben Macintyre
- The Quiet Professionals by Dick Couch
- First Light by Geoffrey Wellum
- Immediate Action by Andy McNab
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