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Richard Freeman
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A Close Run Thing: The Navy and the Falklands War Kindle Edition

by Richard Freeman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 out of 5 stars 139 ratings
In 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, triggering the last great naval battle of the 20th-century. The British Task Force sent to re-claim the islands was the largest amphibious landing since D-day in the Second World War.

In this ground-breaking essay, the acclaimed naval historian Richard Freeman tells the story of Royal Navy in that momentous campaign. The ships had to transport the men, their machines and equipment, but also to supply them at a distance of nearly 8000 miles from their home ports. This the Navy did while under constant attack from missile-laden Argentine aircraft. The cost was high, with around 1,000 killed and wounded sailors and the loss of seven ships, twenty-four helicopters and ten fighter planes.

This dramatic, enthralling book tells the story of the naval war, and the men and ships who fought it. At the time the whole operation was hazardous in view of the depleted state of the Fleet. Today it would be impossible.

Richard Freeman graduated in mathematics before following a career in distance education. He now writes on naval history. His other books include The Great Edwardian Naval Feud.
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  1. Print length
    44 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    March 19, 2019
  5. File size
    663 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07PVBL42H
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lume Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 19, 2019
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 663 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 44 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 139 ratings

About the author

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Richard Freeman

Richard Freeman

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Richard Freeman writes books on naval history and the people who made that history. Amazon readers have greeted his style with phrases such as ‘Freeman makes military history interesting’ ... ‘Freeman’s accounts are so engaging’ ... ‘The excellent writing skills of Richard Freeman’ ... ‘Freeman is a master of scene setting’. His books regularly receive praise for combining accurate research with a compelling narrative:

‘Unsinkable’: Churchill & the First World War: ‘A wonderful addition to anyone’s collection of books about Winston Churchill’ … ‘A must read for anyone interested in Churchill’

'Admiral Insubordinate': ‘Intensively professionally researched’ … ‘Freeman is brilliant’

'Atlantic Nightmare': ‘A brilliant and readable record of this battle’ … ‘Excellent strategic look at a mammoth struggle’ … ‘A hugely competent account’

'Coral Sea': ‘Well written and delight to follow the action’ … ‘A very good book on a crucial battle of WWII’ … ‘A true WWII “eye opener” to the importance the Coral Sea’

'Dardanelles': ‘A powerful, intense, almost day-by-day description of one of the most famous and bloody campaigns of The Great War. Highly recommended.’

'Midway': ‘Should be compulsory reading for younger generations’ … ‘His analysis is excellent, bringing out extraordinarily well the key facts about the battle’

'Tempestuous Genius': ‘ must for all naval officers - and spads!’ … ‘An outstanding book of the extraordinary man who changed the Navy over 100 years ago as is evident today. Highly recommended’ … ‘Naval History at its best’

'Great Edwardia'n Naval Feud': ‘Best book on the subject’ … ‘Hard to put down’

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
139 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Ray J Cowling
    5.0 out of 5 stars Close, but no cigar!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2012
    A very informative read. As the author of `The Captain`s Story,` a book about the Royal Navy`s youngest ever Captain`s fight, to help win back the Falkland Islands, and conquer his own personal demons, this particular book really caught my eye.
    I received it as a gift and was pleased to see a well written, well researched, honest and objective account of The Falklands Conflict. The Author, an acclaimed naval historian gives us the naval perspective of the war. It is also a story of the men and ships involved in it.
    The United States Navy considered a counter invasion by the British to be a `military impossibility.` Thirteen bombs hit British ships without detonating. Lord Craig, the Retired Marshall of The Royal Air Force is said to have remarked, `Six better fuses and we would have lost.`
    One person found this helpful
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  • Linda Martin
    4.0 out of 5 stars Falklands War
    Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The author with neither malice or jingoism explains the beginning and the end of the " forgotten war"
    The book, in great detail explains how the Brits lack of preparedness and the inertia of the Argentine military became embroiled.
    The author makes the point either side could have won " if only", but history teaches us Battle of Midway was " if only.
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  • IanM
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good Read but Not What I was After
    Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    With all non fiction works the trick is to find the book that suits your particular style of reading. I find this depends on the previous knowledge that I have on a subject. If you are unfamiliar with a topic you may not want a book that goes into minute detail about the topic. Conversely if you have a degree of familiarity you may be looking for more detail.

    For me a 'Close Run Thing' did not add to my previous knowledge on the Falklands conflict; I was looking for a much greater degree of detail. This is not to say that the book is poor; far from it. The book is well written but is more suited to the person looking for a broad description of the Royal Navy component of the Falklands conflict and to that end it does a good job. I would recommend the book to those of you who have on a little knowledge on the war but want to delve into further.

    The book is well written and edited with no factual errors or typos that I could pick up.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Robert Broene
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read- the author is a very entertaining writer
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2014
    Great read- the author is a very entertaining writer. Too bad most of this takes place AFTER the fighting so we don't get to read about that.
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  • Roger Fauble
    4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable 4 star read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A Close Run Thing: The Navy and the Falklands War, my first read from author Richard Freeman. A 44-page brief history of the 1982 74 day war. I lived through thia and when the free Kindle book was available I decided to read it. I'll read more from this author. “I received a Kindle copy of book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
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  • Mr45144
    1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing new
    Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    To anyone who has read the literature on the war there is nothing new here. It does not really discuss why it was a close run thing
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Carlo P.
    3.0 out of 5 stars Falklands Summary
    Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I was a bit disappointed at what I expected to be a text/book on the subject. Instead it is a type of short summary that can be read in a hour or so. I would suggest for those who desire a more involved and serious review of the events to read the book "The Battle for the Falklands" by Hastings & Jenkins or "One Hundred Days" by Woodward.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    As a quick read with bullet point facts this book is excellent. The story is told with an easy and well explained style. Very good
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  • Klaus Intemann
    2.0 out of 5 stars In der Kürze liegt die Würze?
    Reviewed in Germany on August 9, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Das Buch beschreibt in aller Kürze die Geschichte des Falkland-Kriegs. Manchmal liegt ja in der Kürze die Würze. Hier aber eher nicht: die wenig detaillierte Abhandlung ist nur interessant für jemanden, der sich bislang nicht mit dieser Thematik befasst hat. Allen anderen Leser rate ich zu umfassenderer Literatur, zum Beispiel Admiral Sandy Woodward's Buch über den Falkland-Krieg.
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  • Richard Clemerson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Typical Freeman Fayre
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This is a very typical offering from Richard Freeman, short, easy to read, well researched and perhaps leaves the reader wanting to find out more.

    Mr Freeman seems to specialise in these short accounts of significant naval actions and manages to pack a great deal of information into very few pages.

    As with his other short books this really isn't for the serious naval buff but it is enjoyable reading and certainly reminded me of incidents from the Falklands War that I had half forgotten.

    Recommended.
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  • Lorna
    3.0 out of 5 stars Tightly packed content
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 5, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    As the title suggests mainly a naval history albeit very condensed. I would suggest this would be the sort of content to give a very brief overview of the war at sea from a matlows perspective only.
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  • Roy Robert Cox
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very concisely written in pointing out how lucky we were.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 29, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The author has been straight to the way we came close to not achieving a victory.The title is highly appropriate.p
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