Many books have been written about Second World War special forces operations in Europe and the Middle East. Much less has been said about such operations in South-East Asia - those launched against the Japanese in Sumatra and the Andaman Islands, and the Germans in Goa. These operations, and the exceptional men who took part in them, have been almost forgotten. David Miller ... sets the record straight, and his narrative is fascinating reading for anyone who is interested in special operations and the war agaionst the Axis powers in South-East Asia."--Jacket.

Part I: Operation Minerva, Sumatra, 20 December 1942. Introduction ; Sumatra ; Operation Minerva, Genesis ; The men ; Air Force participation ; The operation: 20 December 1942 ; Fate ; Analysis -- Part II: Operations Baldhead and Hatch: Andaman Islands 1943-1945. The Andaman Islands ; Operation Baldhead 1 ; Operation Baldhead II ; Operation Baldhead III ; Operation Baldhead IV ; Operation Hatch ; Further operations in the Andamans ; Analysis -- Part III: Operations Longshanks/Creek: Goa, 8/9 March 1943. Introduction ; The merchant ship situation ; Cutting-out expeditions ; The situation to 1942 ; SOE (India) ; Operation Hotspur ; The plans ; The units and the men ; Preparations completed ; The voyage of the Phoebe (Hopper barge number 5) ; The raid ; Aftermath in Goa ; Aftermath in London ; Analysis -- Part IV: Envoi -- Appendix A: Glossary and abbreviations -- Appendix B: Dennis Whitehouse -- Appendix C: Sergeant Lau TengKee -- Notes -- Select Bibliography -- Index.