No ultralighters in SAS

“Just watched a BBC movie called "Bravo Two Zero" based on the true story of a Special Air Service patrol behind the lines during the Gulf War. Their "bergens," as they called their backpacks, weighed more than 200 lbs. at mission start. First task, a 20-km night hike from their heli drop to their target zone. Ouch.

And that was before things got bad.”

“Pekka, 200 lbs!!!!!Is that really possible? I feel like such a baby.”

“Yeah, the mission leader is the narrator throughout the movie and he specifically notes the weight after they spread out all unit gear evenly. He gave it in pounds and compared it to a full-grown man of X number "stone," that good ol' Brit measure.

Plus that didn't cover their assault rifles and ammo/gear on their load-bearing belts. SAS are tough suckers, the Brits' Green Berets types. The heli pilot says in the film that if they crash, the heli crew will go the other direction from the SAS, since the Iraqis consider the pilots "just air crew," but the SAS are "Friday the 13th." Interesting way to put it.”

“And they're serious about "Leave No Trace"...they carry their garbage and poop with them.”

“I need to see that. I've heard about their mission. Undercover, out in the desert, taking out targets.

Interestingly, I saw some Marine competition on ESPN last night where two teams complete various challenges. One was a 9 mile hike in the sun with 100lb pack. It did not look fun. I can't imagine 200lbs. Can you say "stress fracture"?”

“Weren't the SAS the model for all Us special forces?”

“I read that book and thought it was a thrill a minute! How big and heavy were their packs? One of the guys took a 40 MM round to the back and the pack stopped it from penetrating.

Was this on BBC America? I'd love to catch the repeat of it. BBC's show Castaway is cool too.”

“nigal, it is just out on videotape. Check your local movie shop. Sean Bean, who is in LOTR, plays Andy McNab, the squad leader who wrote the book and co-wrote the screenplay. Runs 2 hrs.”

“Thanks Pekka. I checked out Hollywood Video and Blockbuster's sites and found no releases and no search results. 8( I'll go down to the store and see if they have it. Is it a BBC production? This will seriously piss me off if I can't find it.

Anyone else chomping at the bit ti see Blackhawk Down on the 29th?”

“Anyone else chomping at the bit ti see Blackhawk Down on the 29th?"
nigal
07:55:27 AM
01/01/02

Definitely. I read the book in October. It really steamed me. Another example of our military forces being sacrificed by our politicians. It is often billed as a disaster mission, but the mission was successful in the face of overwhelming opposition. The disaster was the regional stategy and poor leadership in Washington. I have heard the movie is very well done.”

“The of the greatest mistakes I think our military/political leaders make is they throw multiple groups together (Delta/Rangers/Seals) together and then wonder why sh!t happens. Even if separate units work very well together there is not that unit cohesion that is needed in a situation like that. Even with all the cross training the different branches do with each other they can not go out with other units and have the same efficiency they do with their own men. The mission into Iran to rescue the hostages is the greatest single example I can find of how generals just HAVE to get in on something so we end up with a goatf@#k and a bunch of higher-ups pointing the finger at each other.”

“Cant wait to see the flick. Loved the book. I wonder how "hollywood" the movie will be.”

“speaking of LOTR references...

orlando bloom (legolas) is also in blackhawk down.”

“Does he get bada$$ with his bow in this one?

I'm looking forward to this one too.”

“I wonder how they will treat Bill Clinton--or if he is addressed at all. I did not read the book-pathman was Clinton mentioned?”

“nigal, wow, I can't believe Blockbuster doesn't know about it. I got it at our local video shop that's a branch of our local grocery chain. They have five or so copies.

Also looking forward to Blackhawk Down. Hope Ridley Scott does as well for this as for Bladerunner.”

“Josh man, about the only thing that Clinton could be blamed for was sending the troops in the first place, beyond that it wasnt his gig.

Its pretty easy to cast the blame on certain individuals. I would submit however that IF (a big IF) the helicopters hadnt been shot down that the mission would have gone without incident. War is a b!tch and things like this happen. The most important thing that this book reveals is how the soldiers involved reacted. The were (as I recall) neither bitter nor angry. They viewed the mission as a success.

Part of being a Ranger is accepting if not anticipating your own death for the sake of the mission. This really frees up the mind to function and focus on the task at hand.”

“Clinton was mentioned. He decided to walk away from the Somalia mission BEFORE the firefight described in Blackhawk down. He just didn't bother to tell anybody in Somalia. Almost the day after the incident, he pulled the plug on the mission. Now, how does that make a unit feel about going in, facing death and losing buddies? If it wasn't worth it the day after, why was it worth it the day before?”

“I don't need 200 pounds worth of anything!
They're Crazy!”

“I did find it at my local video store and rented it. I thought it was a great movie! It stuck to the book very well and it wasn't a slicked up, Hollywood film.”