Stories of Special Forces Operators

In February 1943, a small team of Norwegian commandos crossed the frozen mountains of occupied Norway to destroy a facility producing heavy water, a substance important to Nazi Germany’s nuclear research program. Operating under British Special Operations Executive direction, the saboteurs infiltrated the heavily guarded Vemork industrial complex, planted explosives, and escaped without suffering a single casualty. This episode examines Operation Gunnerside, one of World War II’s most remarkable sabotage missions, and how a handful of specially trained resistance fighters disrupted a strategically important component of Germany’s nuclear ambitions.

On March 4, 2002, a nighttime insertion into Afghanistan’s Shah-i-Kot Valley turned into one of the most desperate battles of the early war on terrorism. What began as an effort to establish a reconnaissance position became a deadly engagement involving Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Air Force combat controllers, and pararescuemen fighting against entrenched al-Qaeda militants. This episode examines the Battle of Takur Ghar, also known as the Battle of Roberts Ridge, and the intelligence failures, communications problems, and extraordinary acts of courage that cost seven Americans their lives.

On July 19, 1972, a small detachment of British Special Air Service soldiers and their Omani allies found themselves defending the coastal town of Mirbat against a much larger communist-backed insurgent force. Armed with rifles, machine guns, mortars, and an aging 25-pounder artillery gun, the defenders fought a desperate battle that would become one of the most celebrated engagements in SAS history. This episode examines the Dhofar Rebellion, the extraordinary actions of the defenders, and the tactical decisions that helped a small force withstand a determined assault.

In June 2005, four Navy SEALs entered the mountains of Afghanistan’s Kunar Province on a reconnaissance mission targeting a Taliban-aligned insurgent leader, only to encounter a devastating ambush that left three members of the team dead. Operation Red Wings became one of the most widely discussed missions in American special operations history, raising difficult questions about intelligence, communications, terrain, and the decisions made under extraordinary pressure. This episode examines what the historical record reveals, where popular accounts diverge, and the tactical and leadership lessons that continue to shape discussions of special operations warfare.

What would an experienced Special Forces operator notice when watching the gunfights, ambushes, and tactical confrontations in Hollywood’s biggest movies and television shows? Introducing Operators Eyes, a new podcast that analyzes close-quarters battle (CQB), situational awareness, combat psychology, and tactical decision-making in scenes from Heat, Sicario, The Terminal List, Better Call Saul, and more. Discover what Hollywood gets right, what it gets wrong, and how real-world tactical principles can change the way you understand your favorite action scenes.