Hugh McManners

The Royal Marine Commandos were formed by Churchill during World War II and have earned a reputation as the most feared amphibious infantry in the world. They are highly trained, disciplined, tough, determined and efficient, always basing their operations on speed, mobility, surprise and fire-power.

This is a personal account of a dramatic ascent of the third highest unclimbed peak in the Chinese Karakoram, made in 1987 by a team of largely inexperienced climbers. The stresses and breakdown in relationships are discussed frankly as well as the author's battle against M.E.

Hugh McManners was among the first of the British Special Forces to land on the Falkland Islands and here, in this gripping narrative, is his first-hand account of this most famous of modern British military operations.

The Falklands War was a turning point in modern British history. On the one hand, it was what some considered to be the 'last of the great Elizabethan adventures', with the Royal Navy pulling off an incredible feat of maritime warfare, under the most appallingly risky circumstances. On the other hand, it was the first war of the modern age, using satellite surveillance, computer-driven missiles, night observation devices, and all the technologically developed power of modern weaponry. It was also a conflict that could so easily have gone terribly wrong for British forces. Instead, it was a resounding military success. And yet, the conflict's significance is often overlooked.

Hugh McManners' original interviews for Gulf War One provide a compelling picture and explode many myths of how this war was carried out, and why. From military planners and politicians to ordinary soldiers and Gulf War Syndrome sufferers, both those serving and those caught up in the war tell its history in their own words.

Get back to basics with this practical guide to mastering survival skills from the man who's done it all, Hugh McManners. Be ready for the great outdoors: find out the basics from what equipment to pack to how to stay warm and dry in the elements, to where you'll find water and food. Learn to survive in adverse conditions: easy-to-follow techniques from testing plants for poison to making your own compass to splinting a broken arm and surviving in a blizzard.

Getting away from it all is becoming increasingly popular with many people spending most of their free time visiting wild areas. But if you want to go backpacking how do you start? How do you sift through the numerous styles of equipment to find the right kit for your needs? And once you have decided on a trip where do you go?

In this book former commando and special forces major Hugh McManners saw combat in the Falklands and has trained rigorously to overcome life-and-death situations. Now he shares his specialized knowledge and skills in this practical guide to staying alive outdoors under adverse conditions. Could you recognize signs of an approaching storm, put up a dry shelter, or - if you had to - prepare a meal of slugs? Would you know how to locate water, splint a broken leg or signal for help? With this unique book you'll learn all these outdoor skills and hundreds more.

War is by far the most traumatic life event that any human can experience - a damaging combination of danger, uncertainty and horror. Yet little has been written about the actual experiences of combat - what the modern battlefield is really like and how professional soldiers, sailors and airmen, prepare to cope with carnage.

Aiming to provide a balanced view of the issues facing a modern air force, this study of the RAF takes readers behind the air displays and Royal Tournament performances, the uniforms and the war heroes, to examine the dedication and rigorous training that goes into creating a fighter pilot. Among the other topics considered are how today's pilots differ from their World War I and World War II counterparts, technology and its influence on the modern plane, and the effectiveness of the latest fighter planes.