This is the story of the development of the Commandos from the courage and tragedy of Dieppe in 1942 to the biggest amphibious landings in history at Normandy on 6 June 1944, as well as the post-war conflicts in Palestine, Suez, Malaya, Cyprus, Borneo, the Falklands, Northern Iraq and Ulster. A final chapter brings the account fully up-to-date, as it discusses the role of the Commandos in Afghanistan following the terrible events of September 11th. David Reynolds documents the development in the 21st century of Britain's Royal Marine Commandos as a key element of the UK's rapid deployment force. Equipped with new assault ships and a purpose-built helicopter carrier, the green berets are on permanent readiness for operations anywhere in the world. They are, in essence, Britain's "masters of flexible response."