Grenada 1983 (Men-at-Arms) [Paperback]

Lee Russell (Author), Paul Hannon (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Men-at-Arms | Publication Date: March 28, 1985

On 21 October 1983, following the death of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, the leaders of the six small nations forming the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States voted to intervene militarily to restore order in Grenada. As none possessed the forces necessary to carry out a successful operation, the United States, fearing for its citizens on the island, and wanting to curb Cuba's growing influence, decided to get involved. This book provides a day-by-day account of the US invasion of Grenada, focusing on the units and forces deployed. Numerous contemporary photographs and colour plates detail the uniforms and equipment of the US, Cuban and Caribbean forces.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Packed with specially commissioned artwork, maps and diagrams, the Men-at-Arms series is an unrivalled illustrated reference on the history, organisation, uniforms and equipment of the world's military forces, past and present.

About the Author

Lee E. Russell was born in 1947. He served in the US Army from 1966 to 1968. A member of the Company of Military Historians and the Association of American Military Uniform Collectors, he specializes in 20th century uniforms and equipment. He lives and works in New York City. He has written several titles for Osprey over the years, and has also worked as a consultant on military dress for motion pictures, television and the stage. A respected historian on 20th-century military history, M. Albert Mendez co-authored this book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (March 28, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0850455839
• ISBN-13: 978-0850455830
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.1 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #561,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > History > Americas > Caribbean & West Indies > Grenada

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best short-reference on the 1983 Invasion of Grenada, August 14, 2000

By 

Sam Damon Jr. (Fort Bragg, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grenada 1983 (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

If you need a quick review of the U.S. lead invasion of Soviet communist-troubled Grenada in 1983, this is your book! Until Major Mark Adkin's book came out (Urgent Fury: the invasion of Grenada), this was THE best reference on a short battle that was the turning point in the Cold War. While the U.S. military likes to take its time going to war to set up neat, Clausewitzian set-piece battles, the world was being engulfed by wars of "revolution" backed by Soviet/Cuban communist advisors, funds and armaments--when Grenada began to collapse into anarchy, Presiden Reagen decided to go as we are and "jump and take our lumps". This fine little book depicts the hasty preparations needed to fight modern no-notice wars and the fantastic flexibility and resolve inherent in America's elite Airborne/Rangers to change from airlanding to parachute airdrop while in flight en route when the runway was discovered to be blocked. The USAF Combat Talon pilot in charge also thought quickly, saw that Cuban anti-aircraft guns could not depress far enough and led the other C-130 Hercules down to 500 feet or below so the Rangers and two 82d Airborne Combat Engineers could jump and secure the Point Salines runway/airfield. Its too bad Hollywood didn't pick up this book and READ before making such atrocious depictions like "Heartbreak Ridge" when U.S. Army Rangers lead the way, fighting, dying and rescuing the hostages not any marines who up north landed unopposed. Maybe someday a REAL film depiction of Urgent Fury will be produced, the men who performed the mission certainly deserve it.

The "center of gravity" was the 10,000 foot runway under construction at Point Salines which would be used to land Soviet transport planes loaded with armaments as a way station to latin America to arm the "revolution" there. The Cubans in charge of the defenses miscalculated as the authors showed and dug-in on the beaches awaiting a seaborne assault by marines, which never came as we wisely avoided a public confidence-defeating frontal attack bloodbath and dropped in from the sky by parachutes using Airborne forces. American audacity carried the day, as the runway was cleared and began to accept C-141B Starlifter transports full of ragtop-helmet camouflaged Paratroopers of the 82d Airborne who together with the Rangers rescued the American medical students, captured the Soviet arms and ammunition and swept north to link up with the marines, securing the island. The victory on Grenada signaled that the "Reagen doctrine" of rolling back communism had teeth and America had the will to put men on the ground to stop evil from over-running the planet. The victory we enjoy in the Cold War began those dark days of October in 1983.

The authors of this fine book have illustrated these events with numerous pictures and color plates by Paul Hannon showing the equipment and uniforms of the combatants. What's good for the military professional is that each illustration is scrutinized for important details--from the beret-clad Paratrooper scout who used tape patterns to camouflage his M16 rifle to the STABO extraction harness worm as load bearing gear on the SFOD-Delta trooper. You can pick up insights on how to bind prisoners all the way to gain an appreciation of tactics--don't attack gun positions with helicopters using TOW missiles that require steady guidance or else you might get shot down like the two marine Cobras were, always carry anti-tank weapons to incinerate not just deflate the tires of enemy armored cars (Rangers brought 90mm Recoilless rifles for this, SEAL Tm 6 didn't for the Sir Paul Scoon recovery mission).

This is a must-have reference book for the student of modern warfare.

Airborne!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fairly objective account, June 17, 2000

By 

Dilip Susruta Samarasinghe - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grenada 1983 (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

I liked this book because it is fairly objective in its account of the US invasion in 1983 in Grenada. Though the book justifies the American invasion it does not cast Maurice Bishop in a totally negative light. It also shows the Cubans as reluctant adversaries: they were backers of Bishop but were forced into supporting the Junta that overthrew and assassinated him. Also, the US intervention is shown as not all that well executed: there were many fiascos and unecessary casualties in a relatively small war. The photos of the book are clear and the colour plates are also nicely done.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Medical Student from Grenada, January 19, 2001

By 

Per Veraas (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grenada 1983 (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

I happen to have been one of the medical students taken hostage in the Grenada war. I am writing a book myself about our incredible, untold story and look forward to reading this one.