Author: Bret Werner
Illustrator: Michael Welply

About this book
This is a concise history of the unique integrated commando-style brigade of US and Canadian volunteers formed in 1942. Hand picked, and trained in airborne, amphibious, mountain and winter warfare, demolitions and close-quarter tactics, they left a combat legacy still recognized amongst today's Special Forces. This book explores the remarkable results the FSSF achieved in Italy - in the harsh mountain fighting on the Winter Line, in the trenches of Anzio, and in the breakthrough to Rome. Accompanied by unique combat photography and illustrations of their distinctive uniforms, this is an insight into a famous, but little explored unit.

Contents

• Introduction - the plan for Operation 'Plough', and formation of the FSSF
• Organization & structure
• Training: airborne - skiing - mountain - demolitions - amphibious
• Operations: Kiska (Aleutians) - Mte Camino (Italy) - Mte la Difensa - Mte Majo - Anzio - Rome - Southern France - Franco-Italian border - disbandment
• Uniforms
• Uniforms of successor units
• Equipment
• Weapons
• Special insignia

Paperback; November 2006; 64 pages; ISBN: 9781841769684