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Chris Ryan
Special Air Service
who dares wins
British Army Elite Special Forces Unit
Role 21 SAS - Close Target Reconnaissance
22 SAS - Counter-Revolutionary Warfare/Counter-Terrorism
23 SAS - Close Target Reconnaissance
Size Three Regiments
Part of UK Special Forces
Garrison/HQ RHQ - Credenhill
21st Regiment - London
22nd Regiment - Credenhill
23rd Regiment - Wolverhampton
He joined the SAS in 1984. During his ten years he was involved in overt and covert operations and was also Sniper team commander of the anti-terrorist team. During the Gulf War, Chris was the only member of Bravo Two Zero, an eight-man patrol, to escape from Iraq, of which three colleagues were killed and four captured. It was the longest escape and evasion in the history of the SAS. For this he was awarded the Military Medal. For his last two years he was selecting and training potential recruits for the SAS.
He left the SAS in 1994 and, in
1995, wrote about his experiences in the Gulf War in The One That Got Away. He
has since gone on to write a number of best-selling novels such as Land of Fire,
Stand By, Stand By and Zero Option.
The SAS
Ryan originally joined the 23rd Territorial SAS regiment after unsuccessfully trying to get into the army as a boy soldier at 16. His cousin, Billy was already in it, so he suggested that Ryan came down to the base for a few weekends to see what the army was really like. Ryan loved doing this, and he came down every weekend, eventually almost passing selection several times, but he was too young to continue selection and do 'test week'. He eventually joined the 23rd SAS and shortly afterwards began selection for the 22nd, regular SAS. He passed, joining 'B' squadron but needing a parent regiment, he planned to spend three months with the parachute regiment, but this was cut to four weeks when he was called back to go with 'B' squadron to Aden to help secure the beach heads whilst the British pulled out. He then spent seven years doing both covert and overt missions with the SAS in various theatres of the world.
How can we measure a man's worth? An online survey says it's based on a man's financial status and the amount in his savings accounts. Various religious groups say it's how well a man serves and follows his God's words. Idealists say it depends on the way a man preserves his honour and credibility. Ask this to anyone who knows a member of the SAS and they'll tell you to just throw all these parameters out the window and look at what they have done so far - no one has done so much with so little.
Bravo Two Zero
One of Ryan's final missions was as part of the Bravo Two Zero patrol in Iraq in the First Gulf War, they were meant to report on enemy positions and call in aircraft to take out any worthwhile targets, as well as destroying fibre optic communication lines. The patrol's signaller was initially given the wrong codes for the radio, making it useless. Their emergency TACBE radio devices which were thought to be able to communicate with coalition aircraft in extreme circumstances were in fact almost 250 miles out of their operational range. They were also unprepared for the terrain, as they were told they would be operating in a hot and sandy desert. As it was, the area was barren and rocky and the temperatures plummeted during the night.During their second day in the OP, their position was compromised by a young goat herder who made eye contact with the patrol. During the ensuing few days, in their attempt to escape, several fire fights with the enemy occurred. All of the patrol escaped without injury, where they continued to evade the enemy until the patrol got split into two groups. Out of the initial eight SAS soldiers, Ryan was the only soldier to successfully escape from Iraq and into Syria who had agreed to return any escaped coaltion servicemen.
He traveled over 200 miles in seven days on foot, in both the freezing cold and baking sun. He suffered sleep deprivation, starvation, severe dehydration and other such physical ailments. He had even lost all his toenails. He lost a considerable amount of weight (36 lbs), something that could have killed him. Three of the original squad of eight died. Two of hypothermia and one of being shot as he ran out of ammo. The rest including the leader Andy McNab were captured and brutally tortured. "Chris Ryan" made history with the "longest escape and evasion by an SAS trooper or any other soldier". This achievement was recognised by the award of the Military Medal. This feat had only ever been matched by another SAS trooper, Jack Stilleto, while lost in the Sahara Desert in 1942 although Chris beat his distance by over 100 miles, but they were in entirely different circumstances. He spent his final two years in the SAS training and finding potential recruits.
Since leaving the SAS in 1993, "Ryan" has written several books, including The One That Got Away (ISBN 1-57488-156-6) — his own account of the Bravo Two Zero mission—as well as a number of novels, including Greed and The Increment. He has also gone on to write a series of books for younger readers — the "Alpha Force" books - and combines a successful career juggling roles as a bestselling writer, motivational speaker and presenter of television documentaries including Hunting Chris Ryan.
In 2005, "Chris Ryan" presented a BSkyB show called "How Not to Die", explaining how one should act in various life-threatening situations.
He helped to develop the game I.G.I.-2: Covert Strike.
Chris Ryan also helped and starred in the TV show Ultimate Force. He was a technical adviser and played a small role of 'Blue Troop' leader, Jonny Bell.
The One That Got Away
One Blank Too Far
Geordie Sharp (character)
Stand By, Stand By (1996)
Zero Option (1997)
The Kremlin Device (1998)
Tenth Man Down (1999)
Other
The Hit List (2000)
The Watchman (2001)
Land Of Fire (2002)
Greed (2003)
The Increment (2004)
Blackout (2005)
Ultimate Weapon (2006)
Strike Back (2007)
Code Red
Flash Flood (2006)
Wildfire (2007)
Alpha Force
Alpha Force 1: Survival (2002)
Alpha Force 2: Rat-catcher (2002)
Alpha Force 3: Desert Pursuit (2003)
Alpha Force 4: Hostage (2003)
Alpha Force 5: Red Centre (2004)
Alpha Force 6: Hunted (2004)
Alpha Force 7: Blood Money (2005)
Alpha Force 8: Fault Line (2005)
Alpha Force 9: Black Gold (2005)
Alpha Force 10: Untouchable (2005)
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