Hostage Rescue Manual (Hostage Rescue Manual: Tactics of the Counter-Terrorist Professional) [Paperback]

Leroy Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1853674729 | ISBN-13: 978-1853674723 | Edition: First

The Hostage Rescue Manual is a comprehensive, illustrated source on the dynamic operations which have saved hundreds of lives in hostage situations around the world. It is based on strategies that have proved successful in numerous incidents, including the landmark SAS rescue at Prince's Gate, London, and is compiled by an author with intimate and practical knowledge of the field. The success of a rescue is often determined in the hours leading up to confrontation. Once an incident has been contained, a large share of the responsibility for a successful conclusion rests with the hostage negotiator, whose job it is to save the lives of both hostage and hostage-taker. But if negotiations fail, it becomes necessary to send in the hostage-rescue team to resolve the situation by force and skill. The Hostage Rescue Manual explains the complex factors that determine the entry methods undertaken by a team, with discussion of the pros and cons of stealth versus dynamic approaches, plus the significance of distraction in securing successful site entry. Operations in widely differing locations, from nuclear power plants to airliners are detailed, as are the range of special weapons available to the men and women tackling each incident. We learn of the multiple roles played by participants, such as the use of snipers as intelligence sources. With vivid photographs and diagrams of rescue units in action, Hostage Rescue Manual is the complete reference work on counter-terrorist procedures all over the world. This revised edition brings the book completely up to date with an entirely new section devoted to developments in hostage rescue, among them operations in Russia and Iraq, since first publication.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Greenhill Books; First edition (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853674729
• ISBN-13: 978-1853674723
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #937,276 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre overview, January 15, 2003

By 

Thomas (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hostage Rescue Manual (Hostage Rescue Manual: Tactics of the Counter-Terrorist Professional) (Paperback)

This book provides only a shallow overview of some of the many aspects of hostage rescue and dynamic entry. It may be suited to give an outsider a brief glimpse of what's involved in hostage rescue, but it has little to offer to anyone in the business. Billing it as a `manual' is somewhere between an overstatement and outright false advertising.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Hostage Rescue Manual- not really!, December 7, 2002

By 

Mike "xfjs" (Sweden/Thailand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hostage Rescue Manual (Hostage Rescue Manual: Tactics of the Counter-Terrorist Professional) (Paperback)

Well I say like someone else "more of an outline than an actual manual" and that is true. If you looking for room entry-tactics, well then this is not the book. It show basic information of what is needed to do on a HRT operation but still not enough. It show veichle and bus takedown but only basic, and if you have read other books on the subject then you will problably know how to do this. Don't think you can start a HRT group after reading this. I learn some things but not worth buying the book for.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not quite, February 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Hostage Rescue Manual (Hostage Rescue Manual: Tactics of the Counter-Terrorist Professional) (Paperback)

More of an outline than an actual manual. Get some insight into what's needed to learn a hostage rescue operation, but very basic, common sense information. No real, practical, training information.