Chindit 1942-45 Osprey Warrior 136 Written by Tim Moreman Illustrated by Peter Dennis Osprey Publishing 2009, 64 pages ISBN: 978-1-84603-373-5 Chindit 1942-45 at Osprey... Extract from rear cover: “Named after the mythical beasts guarding Buddhist temples, the Chindits were an elite unit of the British Army in World War II, whose distinctive fighting methods were tested deep behind enemy lines in the jungles of Burma.” The Chindits have fascinated me for quite some time. They were the first British Commonwealth force in India that earned a recorded victory against the Japanese invaders. Finding a good source of information on this impressive unit can be difficult, so when the new Osprey book arrived in the office I grabbed it from Chris straight away. The book opens with the politics behind the formation of the Chindits. It then goes on to discuss the arduous training regimes the officers and infantrymen were subjected to.

The book opens with the politics behind the formation of the Chindits. It then goes on to discuss the arduous training regimes the officers and infantrymen were subjected to. This intense training was implemented to bring what was at the time average regular army troops up to an elite level of fitness along with self-sufficient jungle survival skills. One of the most interesting sections contains information on the tactics, weapons and equipment.  A Chindit unit was a hard-hitting and compact force equipped to fight behind enemy lines for extended periods. Concealment and ambush tactics were the key elements of their success coupled with an unshakeable faith in their own abilities and training. The final section of the book discusses the two most important operations that the Chindit forces were deployed on, Operation Longcloth, February-April 1943 and Operation Thursday, March-May 1944. Operation Longcloth was a deep penetration mission targeting key rail lines and bridges inside Japanese occupied China. In a number of actions the Chindits destroyed their targets and successfully avoided there pursuers. Operation Thursday was a more traditional style of warfare with the Japanese troops attacking Chindit and British strong points with the Chindits counter striking at the Japanese forces every step of the way. Initially, the book is a bit hard going as the politics and recruitment information is quite repetitive and seemingly confusing. However it is worth persevering as the book becomes far more engaging from the tactics section onwards and you will discover all sorts of little pieces of interesting information. The book is very well illustrated with paintings and black and white photos and it is obvious from the level of detail that both Tim Moreman and Peter Dennis are quite passionate about the subject matter.  All in all, a good introduction to one of the British Empire’s most remarkable Special Forces unit. Kyran