Concord Special Ops Journal of the Elite Forces & SWAT Units Vol. 26. An Eyewitness Report, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Road to Baghdad. A good booklet covering armor and troops in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Telic.

Overview

When I saw this booklet had been released, I had expected a rehash of DOD and MOD pictures that were freely available on the web during OIF. Concord had a little teaser and there were pictures I didn't recognize so I took a chance and ordered it since the local shops didn't carry it.

I was pleasantly surprised. All photos I hadn't seen before. The contents don't focus on any one vehicle or unit but instead covers a broad range of units in different locations. Each section contains several photographs and a decent background writeup. The photos cover the vehicles and troops. Even though there weren't many shot of my favorite little CVR(t)s there were pictures of armor I had rarely seen before. 64 pages total.

An added bonus is a commentary of the trials and tribulations of the author as he traveled around the war zone as a non-embedded reporter. It seems his French nationality didn't sit well with some of the troops but did save his behind at one point.

Sections

Here's a listing of the sections and a brief description where needed:
Kuwait City: A Well-protected Rear Base - security in Kuwait City with VBLs and Panhards
Ready to Go! - US convoys
Slowed Down but Still Advancing - Iraqi hulks
Desert Rats and Operation "Telic" - Challenger 2s and Warriors
US Marines at Al Zubayr
Red Devils and Oil Fields - Landrover WMIKs
US Marines on the Baghdad-Basra Highway - AAV-7A1s, Abrams and Bradleys
Baghdad-Basra Highway: 23 March, Afternoon
Sandstorm
Resistance
Leathernecks and GIs
LAV Battalion - LAV variants
Abrams and Amtracs
2nd Recon Battalion Heads to the Tigris - Marine Humvees
Humvee
Engineers, Supply, Maintenance, etc. - M88, M-9 ACE and Fox
Logistics
Afak
Raid on Al Tahir
Encounter with the MP and Fedayeen - all text