About the Book
This little-known story of Australia's M/Z Unit commandos, and the part they played in the Southwest Pacific during World War II, is a fascinating account of daring, clandestine operations conducted by the Allies deep into enemy-held territory. M Unit personnel were secretly landed to set up coastwatching posts and radio stations to report on Japanese shipping movements and bombing flights heading to raid Allied positions. Members of the Z Unit carried out assigned raids into enemy controlled areas, and also attacked targets of opportunity. Many commandos were delivered on their missions by U.S. Navy submarines that sneaked into dangerously shallow waters to put the men ashore—and then returned to pick them up. Other operatives were inserted by PT boats, Catalina aircraft, parachute, and snake boats. Many of these operations are still classified.
Table of Contents:
Foreword by Colonel Robert Barr Smith, USA, (Ret.)
Acknowledgments
The Beginnings of Allied Intelligence and the Pensacola Convoy
The "Rimau" Expedition
Commando Training
Operation "Python" in Borneo
Operation "Politician": The USS Bream Patrols
The USS Pargo at Woody Island
The "Politician" Patrols of the USS Bluegill
The USS Boarfish and "Politician" at Tourane Bay
Operation "Starfish" and the USS Rock
The USS Perch II and "Platypus at Balikpapan
The USS Hawkbill and Operation "Crocodile
"Semut" Operations and the Invasion of Sarawak
"Semut IV": Rowan Waddy's Story
Rescue From New Britain: Fred Hargesheimer's Story
Epilogue
Afterword by Captain George W. Folta, USN, (Ret.)
Afterword by Captain John Keith Leasure, USNR, (Ret.)
Selected Bibliography
Index
About the Author :
A. B. FEUER is a military historian and freelance newspaper and magazine journalist./e
Review :
"A.B. Feuer's Commando! deserves to be added to all serious collections on the history of World War II in the Far East. It illuminates the cooperation between fearless Australian commandos and equally intrepid American submariners in a little-known war of stealth against the Japanese. Feuer's account of their sabotage, rescue, and intelligence sorties, and the folboats and limpet mines that were the instruments of their secret missions, reminds us that World War II played itself out in many strange ways. Thanks to the author's impressive research, we now know a great deal more about one of the strangest--the world of cyanide capsules and headhunters."-Barry F. Machado, Professor of History Washington & Lee University
?A.B. Feuer's book...captures the despiration and danger of 14 M/Z unit operations and the involvement of 13 USN submarines. He lets the men involved tell their stories in their own words with just enough of his own to provide continuity. The lack of sensationalism and the low-key approach to these wonderful tales is commendable....This book is a must for the serious World War II historian, the submarine buff, and the crewmen of the submarines Kingfish, Narwhal, Redfin, Harder, Bream, Pargo, Flounder, Bluegill, Boarfish, Perch, Hawkbill, Gato, and Rock.?-Ft. Meyers (FL) News-Press
?Australian commandos and U.S. Submarines, PT Boats, and Catalina aircraft teamed up in the Southwest Pacific to carry out daring clandestine operations that were to have an important effect on the war. "M" unit personnel were secretly landed to function as coastwatchers, while "Z" unit commandos carried out raids into enemy controlled areas. This world of cyanide capsules and headhunters is brought to life by Feuer's extensive research and vivid writing.?-Proceedings
?Here is a new release that has it all and reads more like a Tom Clancy novel than non-fiction....The author takes you on 14 thrilling missions that run the gamut from the terror of being trapped in a badly damaged sub to miraculous escapes from enemy ambush. Many of the incidents are told by the men who undertook and survived these forays. Any chapter would make the basis for an exciting, suspense-filled feature film. And best of all, every word is true! A great book on a little known aspect of the Pacific War.?-Sea Classics
?This book is an inspiring record and serves to highlight the urgency of documenting more completely the story of Special Operations in the SW Pacific whilst some of the participants are still alive. Commando! is a fine book.?-Naval Historical Review, Australia
"Australian commandos and U.S. Submarines, PT Boats, and Catalina aircraft teamed up in the Southwest Pacific to carry out daring clandestine operations that were to have an important effect on the war. "M" unit personnel were secretly landed to function as coastwatchers, while "Z" unit commandos carried out raids into enemy controlled areas. This world of cyanide capsules and headhunters is brought to life by Feuer's extensive research and vivid writing."-Proceedings
"Here is a new release that has it all and reads more like a Tom Clancy novel than non-fiction....The author takes you on 14 thrilling missions that run the gamut from the terror of being trapped in a badly damaged sub to miraculous escapes from enemy ambush. Many of the incidents are told by the men who undertook and survived these forays. Any chapter would make the basis for an exciting, suspense-filled feature film. And best of all, every word is true! A great book on a little known aspect of the Pacific War."-Sea Classics
"This book is an inspiring record and serves to highlight the urgency of documenting more completely the story of Special Operations in the SW Pacific whilst some of the participants are still alive. Commando! is a fine book."-Naval Historical Review, Australia
"A.B. Feuer's book...captures the despiration and danger of 14 M/Z unit operations and the involvement of 13 USN submarines. He lets the men involved tell their stories in their own words with just enough of his own to provide continuity. The lack of sensationalism and the low-key approach to these wonderful tales is commendable....This book is a must for the serious World War II historian, the submarine buff, and the crewmen of the submarines Kingfish, Narwhal, Redfin, Harder, Bream, Pargo, Flounder, Bluegill, Boarfish, Perch, Hawkbill, Gato, and Rock."-Ft. Meyers (FL) News-Press
