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In the Service of the Sultan: A first-hand account of the Dhofar Insurgency Hardcover – Illustrated, January 1, 2006

by Ian Gardiner (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 317 ratings
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While the Americans were fighting in Vietnam, a struggle of even greater strategic significance was taking place in the Middle East: the Sultanate of Oman guards the entrance to the Arabian Gulf, and thus controls the movement of oil from that region. In the 1960s and 70s, the Communists tried to seize this artery and, had they succeeded, the consequences for the West and for the Middle East would have been disastrous - and yet, few people have ever heard of this geo-political drama at the height of the Cold War.

In the Service of the Sultan tells, first-hand, the largely unknown story of a small number of British officers who led Muslim soldiers in this hard-fought anti-insurgency war which has shaped today’s Gulf. After outlining the historical, geographical and political background, the book describes military action in a stark and mountainous environment, including operations with irregular forces and the SAS as well as action in the air and at sea. The book gives a gripping, moving, funny account of all these and paints a powerful and illuminating picture of the realities of war.

It will appeal to all who are interested in the Cold War and relationships between the Western and the Arab worlds. Politics, history, irregular warfare, religion, international affairs: all are ingredients in this absorbing, informative read. In the light of the current insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is also timely to be reminded how a rare victory was won over Communist guerrillas.
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  1. Print length
    208 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pen and Sword Military
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2006
  5. Dimensions
    6.1 x 1 x 9.2 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    184415467X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1844154678
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ian Gardiner is a historian and author.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen and Sword Military; First Edition (January 1, 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 184415467X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1844154678
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.1 x 1 x 9.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 317 ratings

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Ian Gardiner

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
317 global ratings
Great, not often told story !
5 Stars
Great, not often told story !
Want a great story! The war in Oman finally gets the attention deserved. What happened there impacts how the world has developed since.
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Top reviews from the United States

M. Sullivan
5.0 out of 5 stars A well-written account of a successful counter-insurgency campaign
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2007
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A well written book by Ian Gardiner about a little known, and barely studied example of a successful counter-insurgency campaign against communist insurgents in the Dhofar region of Oman in the 1970s. Gardiner shares his first-hand accounts of what he experienced working with the Omani government, with the Dhofari people and the fighting against the communist insurgents in some of the most inhospitible terrain on the planet. From blistering heat, to monsoon-like rains, the British, Omanis and other forces fought against a communist-lead insurgency. Working both politically and militarily against the insurgents, the Dhofar campaign is a study in how to conduct a successful COIN effort.

Gardiner's writing is both descriptive and easy to read. His writing style keeps the reader captivated, easily bringing you through his accounts of the insurgency and the efforts against it. Although you cannot lay the template for success directly over current counterinsurgency operations but the lessons learned, the political/military approaches and the timeless lessons of working with the host nation (Oman) remain valuable for today's fight.
8 people found this helpful
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Pavel
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book....formatting issues are annoying.
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2018
Verified Purchase
As with Ian Gardiners other book, “The Yompers”, this is a great read. You get history of the area, history and background of the conflict, insight on the people and their culture and of course the nitty gritty of the fighting itself. Again written from a ground commanders perspective, you get the feel of what is was like to be a grunt on the ground. As a former Army Infantryman, I could identify with what the author was writing about..the heat, dirt, fear and camaraderie.

I gave this book 4 stars not because of content and writers style, the book gets 5 stars for that, but for the issues with the digital formatting. Throughout the book the letter “F” is missing from the beginnings of some words; “fire, fine, etc.”. It is manageable most of the time, but some words that are missing the “f” throw you off for a moment. There are other missing letters occasionally as well.

The book is great, just prepare for some grammar/syntax issues.
3 people found this helpful
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J. Lowe
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read though skip the Kindle edition
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2018
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The Dhofar insurgency was without question of vastly greater strategic importance than the Vietnam war and yet hardly anyone has heard of it. This book does a fantastic job of covering this conflict at the strategic, tactical and human level. Given the current situation in Yemen now is a great time to read up on this conflict.

Do order the actual book and not the Kindle edition. The Kindle edition was badly done with the letter "f" frequently being left out resulting in sentences such as "we drew enemy ire" or "they're thinking was deeply lawed". Very annoying.
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David Andrews
3.0 out of 5 stars An interesting war
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2018
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I knew absolutely nothing about the war in Dhofar back in the 70s before reading this book, and now I know at least a little, though not as much as you would think.

The book is at its best when it reads more like a piece of travel writing. Oman seems very interesting, both then and now. As a piece of war writing though, the book falls a bit flat.
One person found this helpful
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Robert Ricks
5.0 out of 5 stars By a warrior, for warriors
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2011
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An easy read about one of the most important "small wars" of the 20th Century. Mr. Gardiner's narrative is self-effacing, humble, and inspiring. The story's action is centered on the famous "Hornbeam Line". Gardiner's description of the environment, the people, and the combatants on both sides is compelling to the point where one has to wonder why we don't know more about this strategically significant conflict. This was a resounding and hard-fought victory against a well equipped and trained Communist threat. If you want to read about how to lose a war, read any book about the American experience in Vietnam. If you want to gain insight on the trials and struggles on the path to achieving a victory in modern war, "In The Service of the Sultan" is a must-read.
5 people found this helpful
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Reader and Traveler
4.0 out of 5 stars Oman - Discovered
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2010
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A soldier's account of an important, but largely unknown episode in the Cold War that protected the oil supply from the Persian Gulf for the West and gave birth to modern Oman.

After deposing is father, with help from the British, the Sultan, Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, defeated a communist insurgency in the South of his country, by military means (again with help from the UK, Iran and others) as well as through enlightened domestic policies that have dramatically improved the lives of the Omani people. I read this book in parallel with "The Sultan in Oman," account by Jan Morris of her trip in the mid-1950s with Qaboos' father when he united the country.

Anyone traveling to Oman (also recommended) should read both books. It will allow you to appreciate all the more how far this country has progressed in the past 50 years.
6 people found this helpful
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David B. Carpenter
5.0 out of 5 stars A good read on a little known victory!
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2021
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Excellent book about a forgotten victory. The NDA could be used elsewhere. Very readable with handy maps. Left me thinking about what would that area been like today without the leadership provided by the British forces.
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Donna Alexander
5.0 out of 5 stars Omani History
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2019
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Good book, very straightforward account of the Dhofar war. Appreciated the author’s point of view and comparison to the Vietnam War. He’s right, the world would have heard about this war and the consequences, if they’d lost it. Oman does have some uneven development but is a wonderful place to live.
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CLIVE M D'SOUZA
5.0 out of 5 stars A brutal war, you’ve probably never heard of...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2020
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The strategic significance of the war in the Dhofar region of Oman in the 1960s/70s is not to be underestimated, yet it barely rates a mention in the annals of history of those times. It’s for this reason that Ian Gardiner’s book is of seminal importance. Gardiner’s story is first hand account of his time as a Royal Marines Officer on loan to the Sultan of Oman’s forces, and the waging of war in the most harsh and extreme conditions. The Sultan’s forces were an odd coalition of soldiers from willing nations and were mainly led by British officers. The participating nations had an interest in suppressing a Communist insurgency of Dhofari locals. Although those locals had very legitimate grievances against the regime, their Communist ideology made it easy for the Sultan to galvanise the support of other nations. The civil war is viewed against the backdrop of the Cold War geopolitical landscape of the times.

Gardiner has led a remarkable life and his decorated service in Oman appeared to be his coming of age as an Officer. His writing is first-rate and reflects the honesty, humility and humanity of the man himself. Much of the book centres on the prosecution of war in the harshest of conditions. Chapter 10 is the most significant chapter of the book as it’s full of valuable leadership lessons. He reiterates an important principle that if one is to win a war, one should first respect one’s enemies. Chapter 11 details the strategic significance of the war and the hypothetical consequences if the war had been lost.

If you enjoy the book, I would then recommend the book The Yompers, also written by the author about commanding a company of Marines during The Falklands conflict.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written account of a little known war
Reviewed in Canada on June 27, 2017
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Excellent book on a little known conflict. Great writing made this very enjoyable. Enough detail about weapons and tactics to satisfy the military reader. Give this book a read if you enjoy the personal account of a leader who respected not only his own men but the enemy.
5 stars very good purchase, highly recommended!
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Sid Pass
5.0 out of 5 stars Dhofar insurgency ca. 1963 - 1976
Reviewed in Germany on May 30, 2018
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An excellent book for those who served in Dhofar - Oman, and those interested in the war.
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Sid Pass
5.0 out of 5 stars Dhofar insurgency ca. 1963 - 1976
Reviewed in Germany on May 30, 2018
An excellent book for those who served in Dhofar - Oman, and those interested in the war.
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Flavien
5.0 out of 5 stars Un récit sur une guerre oubliée mais très importante pour le monde libre
Reviewed in France on May 8, 2014
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Vivant non loin, au Yémen, en Iran puis dans les Émirats, pendant ces années, j'avais entendu parler de la guerre du Dhofar. Le but des Sud-yéménites et des rebelles Dhofaris à l'époque, aidés de l'Union soviétique et de la Chine était d'étrangler l'approvisionnement de l'Occident en pétrole et gaz en contrôlant tous les détroits (Bab el Mandeb et Hormuz) et, à plus long terme, d'installer des régimes communistes dans toute la région, ce qui fut tenté de nouveau par le nord 3 ou 4 ans plus tard par l'invasion soviétique de l'Afghanistan....Le livre de Ian Gardiner démontre comment une poignée de militaires et la volonté du Sultan Qaboos vint à bout de ce plan diabolique dans l'indifférence internationale....
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars good read
Reviewed in Canada on July 28, 2019
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book was in excellent condition. Very satisfied.
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