One Hundred Days: Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander

A very well written account by the battle group commander during the Falklands conflict. It is very down to earth which concentrates mostly on the naval warfare of the battle. It does not go into the subsequent land battle in detail as woodward was not involved much with this.

Falls short of five stars for the lack of documentation and extra bits. There is only two very simple maps and the pictures are only 'mugshots' of the commanding officers and none of the actual conflict.

Overall it gives an excellent account and a real feel for the difficulty in surface-to-air warfare.

A good account of the responsiblities of command (11/11 people found this helpful)

One of the most interesting things about the book is the new foreward that Admiral Woodward has written to accompany this new edition. In it he acknowledges the communications problems that beset the British during the war, and the problems that led to with some of his opposite numbers such as Brigadier Thompson and Commander Mike Clapp (who commanded the amphibious group).
Woodward admits that during the fighting, he often wasn't aware that sometimes he had stepped on his counterparts' toes.
A better satellite communications system would certainly have helped cure some of these headaches, it seems.

What comes across is something of the loneliness of command. Wodward says he dealt with it by letting off steam in his diary -- of which there are chunks in the book.

In all a well-written account - for which the Admiral quite properly thanks Patrick Robinson, who wrote most of the book.

Woodward denies HMS Invincible was hit on 30 May (2/42 people found this helpful)

The fact that HMS 'Invincible' had a damaged gas turbine engine replaced under the cover of darkness on 5 June 1982 (See Rodney Burden et al, Falklands: The Air War, p. 238, Arms & Armour Press, 1986) and that with the fighting at an end the aircraft carrier anchored on 1 July 1982 off the Islands sporting a new coat of sea grey paint (See John Godden, Harrier: Ski-Jump to Victory, Brasseys, 1983, p. 79) seemed in Argentinian eyes to confirm their belief that some damage had been inflicted on the 'Invincible' during 30 May. It is of some interest that Admiral John Woodward does not mention these facts in his memoirs. (See Sandy Woodward with Patrick Robinson, One Hundred Days: The Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander, HarperCollins Publishers, 1992) It should be stated that painting 'Invincible' in the foaming brine, the cold, the yawning swells, with General Winter whipping up 20-foot waves would have been extremely difficult. Worser still the British Ministry of Defence claimed shortly after that the last Exocet missile was fired into the smouldering hulk of the 'Atlantic Conveyor' (See Paul Eddy & Magnus Linklater, The Falklands War: Sunday Times Insight Team, Andre Deutsch, 1982), a story which was disproved the following year in Air War South Atlantic by Jeffrey Ethell and Alfred Price. Admiral Woodward may persist in denying the 'Invincible' had been attacked, but the night of 30-31 May was indeed marked by a single Vulcan bomber fitted with Shrike anti-radar missiles mounting an attack on the Westinghouse long-range radar in Stanley which had been tracking the aircraft-carrier.

A fascinating insight into the difficulties of top command (9/9 people found this helpful)

Woodward honestly exposes his own fears, flaws and failures alongside his victories in this eminently readable insight into the problems of top command before and during a major conflict. The first half of the book focussing on the preparation of the leader and the behind the scenes work to prepare the task force is perhaps more insightful then the second half which seems a little rushed. However, this is an excellent insight into the naval problems faced by an fleet admiral asked to achieve the seemingly impossible with very limited means.

Not only full of facts but readable, too! (9/9 people found this helpful)

Not a hero's tale but a factbook offering an inside view of how the situation developed for the Task Force Commander. It is very readable, not only because of the honesty on human errors and technical shortcomings. This, together with healthy self-irony makes it a worthwile read.

One Hundred Days: Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander

Sandy Woodward, Patrick Robinson

Reader Reviews:

Down to earth account of the Falklands naval warfare (2/2 people found this helpful)

A good account of the responsiblities of command (11/11 people found this helpful)

Woodward denies HMS Invincible was hit on 30 May (2/42 people found this helpful)

A fascinating insight into the difficulties of top command (9/9 people found this helpful)

Not only full of facts but readable, too! (9/9 people found this helpful)

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