Chris Ryan: The One That Got Away - Junior edition

Dear Reader,

The thing I am asked most about when I meet you and do talks and events is my time in the SAS — especially the Bravo Two Zero mission during the Gulf war in 1991.

It’s now almost exactly twenty years since I walked out of the Iraqi desert. Over my seven-day escape, I lost over sixteen kilos in weight, my gums had receded so that the roots of my teeth were exposed, my nails had all fallen off and my mouth was constantly burning.

It is apparently the longest escape and evasion in SAS history. But I didn’t understand why I was given a medal afterwards — or the other guys from Bravo Two Zero, for that matter. There were soldiers who stayed more than forty days behind enemy lines and took part in big actions. They didn’t get medals. My friends Stan and Dinger didn’t get medals.

I coped because I knew what I had to do. It was something I was trained to do, and I did it. Although I had reached the edge of my physical and mental limits, I stayed alert. I avoided capture.

When you’re given a task to do in the SAS, you get on and do it. I did just that.

So here it is. This is my story. I hope you enjoy it.

BergenHaversack

Bivvy bagA cross between a sleeping bag and a tent

CasevacCasualty evacuation

COCommanding officer of the regiment

CommsCommunications

ContactIn action against the enemy, using weapons

Director, theOfficer commanding Special Forces, generally a brigadier

DishdashCotton robes, worn by people in the Middle East who live or work in deserts

DPMDisruptive pattern material camouflage clothes

Escape mapA lightweight map with basic details, carried on operations

FMBForward Mounting Base

GPSGlobal positioning system

Gulf WarA war between Iraq (led by Saddam Hussein) and 34 coalition countries who were against the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. It lasted 2 August 1990–28 February 1991

IntIntelligence

Laager pointA camp, especially one surrounded by a ring of vehicles

LoadieCrewman on RAF military flight

LUPLying-up point

MagWeapons magazine, holding rounds

NBCNuclear, biological and chemical

OCOfficer commanding the squadron

OPObservation post

Regiment, theThe SAS

RoundsBullets

RVRendezvous

SangarFortified enclosure

SatcomTelephone using satellite transmission

ScudsMissiles, transported and fired from mobile launchers

ShamagShawl used by Arabs as a headdress

SOPStandard operating procedure

SP TeamSpecial projects or counter-terrorist team

SQMSSquadron Quartermaster Sergeant

SSMSquadron Sergeant Major

Stand ByTo get ready for action

StagSentry duty

TabbingProgressing at speed across country, often with heavy loads

TACBETactical rescue beacon

TELTransporter-erector-launcher vehicle

WadiA watercourse in a desert region; dry, except in the rainy season

Zero a weaponTo set your sights to ensure the weapon is accurate

TristarAircraft used for air transport and in-air refuelling

HerculesLarge plane, used for troop transports

ChinookHelicopter with two rotary blades

B-52US bomber plane

203Combination of 5.56 calibre automatic rifle (top barrel) and 40 mm grenade launcher below

.50Heavy machine gun

66Disposable rocket launcher

AK-47Assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Kalashnikov

Claymore minesAnti-personnel mines; unlike more conventional landmines, the claymore fires metal balls like a shotgun

GPMGGeneral-purpose machine gun, also known as a ‘gympi ’

LAW 90Rocket launcher

Minimi5.56 calibre machine gun

M19Rapid-fire grenade launcher

SA80British small arms (Small Arms for the 80s); includes rifles that are the standard issue for the British Army

Our target was a disused mental hospital.

Five terrorists were inside, holding nine hostages captive. After a three-day siege, matters were moving swiftly to a head.

As commander of the SAS eight-man sniper team of ‘B’ Squadron, I was in charge of seven other men. We were positioned with our rifles at observation points in outhouses, trees and on the ground. Two men were watching each face of the hospital and sending back running commentaries over their throat-mike radios to the command centre. This had been set up in a separate building 200 metres from the front door. Each face of the hospital had been given a special code so that everyone knew which bit they were talking about.

From the command centre a police negotiator was talking to the chief terrorist. The terrorist was demanding safe conduct to Heathrow airport for himself and his colleagues; otherwise he would shoot one of the hostages. Meanwhile, the military officer commanding the SP (Special Projects, or counter-terrorist) team was working out how to attack the building if the negotiations failed.