Raid Series 31
Author: Clayton K.S. Chun
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-84908-584-7
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 80
The UN involvement in Somalia during the early 1990s was a challenge from the beginning that quickly degraded into a quagmire. In October 1993, a simple mission changed instantaneously when Somali fighters shot down two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. Later made famous by the movie Black Hawk Down, this latest title in the Osprey Raid series examines the events surrounding that mission and the overall Operation Gothic Serpent.
The book is broken down into several key chapters. It starts with the origins of the conflict in Somalia and the UN response to the problem. The book then delves into the initial strategy of the UN and American forces, followed by a more detailed examination of the deployment and operational plans. The majority of the book, though, deals with the shootdown of the two Black Hawk helicopters and the subsequent battle and rescue mission. The final pages cover the analysis and conclusion, which definitely had far-reaching effects on American involvement in these kinds of situations.
This is a very well researched and thoroughly documented history of this pivotal event, and as such it should be a welcome addition to any military library. My thanks to Osprey Publishing for the review copy.