A naval task force led by two aircraft carriers steams more than 7,000 miles from home waters in response to the invasion of disputed islands by a numerically superior foe. While this may sound like a notional U.S. Navy combat scenario in the western Pacific for the 2020s, it is actually the setting for Harrier 809, which centers on the Royal Navy's efforts to expel Argentinian military forces from the Falkland Islands in 1982. This book gives readers a comprehensive look at the Herculean efforts by the United Kingtom to achieve a victory that was far from assured. Much of Harrier 809 focuses on preparations for combat operations, and while the spotlight is decidedly on British efforts, author Rowland White does a fantastic job of integrating Argentinian perspectives, having collected firsthand accounts from personnel on both sides of the conflict. Particularly interesting are lesser-known stories regarding inventive efforts to support or disrupt kill chains through diplomatic channels and nontraditional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance methods.
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