Learn the trade secrets of special operatives. It is easy to visualize special operations troops as men in camouflage with painted faces, lurking in the shadows of modern warfare. But the truth is far more complex—and enthralling. A wide array of skills, both physical and cerebral, combines to make up the modern elite soldier. Fighting Techniques of the Elite Forces not only shows the road down which the specialist must travel to reach his place as one of the world's fighting elite, it details the equipment he uses to carry out his missions and the actual techniques he employs. Themed chapters and a wealth of illustrations explain everything you need to know about the formidably trained warriors of the British and Australian SAS, US Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, the French GIGN, and more. Learn how to select a drop zone for parachute insertions or how to execute a High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) insertion when you are twenty miles' distance from your objective. Find out how combat swimmers launch from submarines to carry out beach reconnaissance prior to an invasion. Understand the special considerations and knowledge required to fight and, more importantly, survive in such hostile environments as jungle, desert, or mountain. Discover how today's special operative must master skills as diverse as horsemanship and the compact computer, or how to kill silently with a knife or laser designator. Fighting Techniques of the Elite Forces is a must-have for anyone interested in the covert world of elite forces; it will provide the key to understanding what makes the specialist soldier so very "special."

Examines techniques used by special forces around the world: the lethal strikes of the Spetsnaz, locks and constrictions used by the Egyptian special forces, U.S. Army throws and holds, and elementary methods taught to Britain's Parachute Regiment.

From the Russian spetsnaz to U.S. Navy SEALs, Crawford records some of the most dangerous and fantastic exploits and examines the skills and weaponry used by these legendary warriors. 100 illustrations. 80 photos.

The book explores the different uses of hand weapons, from pistols to semiautomatics to sniper's rifles, from flick knives to machetes, from stun grenades to CS gas, from knuckle-dusters to nunchaku sticks. With tips and techniques from combat experts, the book explains which weapon to choose for given situations and how to use each weapon. With more than 300 easy-to-follow illustrations and handy pull-out lists of key training tips, Guns, Knives & Other Personal Weapons is the definitive guide for anyone wanting to be ready for anything.

How to Fight Like a Special Forces Soldier is the most in-depth study yet of how human beings can be turned into deadly fighting machines.

A practical manual for sniping

Written by a former member of the SAS, these are the secrets of one of the world's fiercest fighting units. Among the many SAS techniques explained here are: how to board an aircraft flying at 130 mph; how to enter a submerged submarine; how to mount ambushes; how to plan a raid on an enemy base and how to breach security around a building; how to free fall from 30,000 feet; how to set up a safe house; how to train a guerrilla army; how to avoid being tracked and how to storm places where hostages are held.