One Hundred Days

Description

Updated for the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War, this is the bestselling, highly-acclaimed and most famous account of the conflict, written by the commander of the British Task Force. On 5 April 1982, three days after the invasion of the Falkland Islands, British armed forces were ordered to sail 8,000 miles to the South Atlantic unaware of what lay ahead of them or whether they would be committed to war with Argentina. In these engrossing memoirs, Admiral Sandy Woodward, Task Force commander from the aircraft carrier Hermes, takes us from day one to day one hundred of the conflict; from sailing through the waters of the Atlantic with hopes of a political settlement fading, and war becoming increasingly likely, to the repulse of the Argentinian navy and the daring amphibious landing at San Carlos Water. The war, which cost the lives of over 1,000 men, has left a legacy of many historical debates and controversies, from the sinking of ships such as HMS Coventry, HMS Sheffield and Sir Galahad, and the Argentinian cruiser, the Belgrano, to wider issues such as what was it like to command and fight a modern air and naval war, the biggest naval action since World War II. 'One Hundred Days' is unique as a dramatic portrayal of the world of modern naval warfare, where despite the use of sophisticated equipment and communications, the margins for human error and courage were as wide as they were in the days of Nelson.

Admiral Sir John Woodward entered the Royal Navy at age 13 in 1946; he became a submarine specialist. As Rear Admiral in 1981 he assumed the duties of Flag Officer First Flotilla. In 1982, flying his Flag in the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes, he commanded the South Atlantic Task Groups in the Falklands War, after which he was awarded the KCB. He retired from active service in 1989.He is married with two children.

'One of the most gripping, convincing and realistic accounts of a naval battle ever published.' John Keegan, Daily Telegraph 'Perceptive, vivid, engaging.' Guardian 'One of the clearest and frankest accounts ever written of modern naval warfare.' Field Marshal Lord Carver, Sunday Telegraph