Urgent Fury

In 1983, the United States launched a military operation to remove the military junta that had taken over the Caribbean island of Grenada. This operation, code-named Urgent Fury, was held out by the Regan Administration as a major military success and a victory against communism. In some ways it was. In others it was a foregone conclusion, a victory against a discredited regime with little support internally or externally.

Urgent Fury: Grenada 1983 examines the genesis of the Grenadian Revolution of 1979, the eventual fall of the Gairy Regime, and establishing of the English-speaking Caribbean’s only Soviet-bloc client state, albeit a short-lived one, and the rise and fall from grace of the populist Maurice Bishop. The growth and development of the People’s Revolutionary Armed Forces of Grenada are discussed and their strength, weapons and training are examined along with detail of Cuba’s military and civilian and presence and Castro’s agenda to influence the Grenadian Revolution.

The fall of Bishop’s government, and his subsequent arrest and murder, along with the popular backlash that this sparked are discussed, and the call for intervention is analysed with attention being paid to the role of the Eastern Caribbean States and their contribution towards legitimising the US action.

The planning, preparation and execution of Urgent Fury are detailed with attention being paid to the role of the Regional Security System and the Barbados Defence Force in this process. Operation Urgent Fury itself is covered in detail, with an emphasis upon the resistance of Grenadian Forces, despite many not reporting for duty. 

Urgent Fury: Grenada 1983 is illustrated throughout with photographs, along with original colour artworks detailing the vehicles, aircraft and troops employed by both sides.

"The iconographic apparatus always lives up to expectations, with over 100 photos (61 in color), 22 profiles in which they are portrayed land and air vehicles, with some "goodies" including the AH-1T and helicopters UH-1N of the Marines depicted with the unusual typical "Olive Drab" camouflage of the US Army vehicles. Three maps and a summary table of forces rebels in the field help to trace a broad and detailed account of an operation that contributed significantly to refine techniques, tactics and means deployed in far more important operations and on a larger scale in subsequent years." Marco de Montis, Panorama Difesa 

"Much more detail than the simple story of the 4-days of Urgent Fury itself, and I found it an interesting read. There are plenty of archive photos to illustrate the story throughout, along with the usual group of pages with colour maps and equipment profiles in the middle of the book. Another good addition to the series in my view." Robin Buckland, Military Model Scene

"...I highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in US special operations, airborne and amphibious operations, or an interest in Grenada or the Caribbean altogether. You will not be disappointed and it will challenge previous assertions and works on this unique operation." Todd Shugart

"This well illustrated monograph pretty much captures the essentials for understanding the events of October 1983 in Granada." The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation