Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • Hammerhead Six

  • How Green Berets Waged an Unconventional War Against the Taliban to Win in Afghanistan's Deadly Pech Valley
  • By: Ronald Fry, Tad Tuleja - contributor
  • Narrated by: Ronald Fry
  • Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (84 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Hammerhead Six

By: Ronald Fry, Tad Tuleja - contributor
Narrated by: Ronald Fry
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

Two years before the action in Lone Survivor, a team of Green Berets conducted a very different successful mission in Afghanistan's notorious Pech Valley. Led by Captain Ronald Fry, Hammerhead Six applied the principles of unconventional warfare to "win hearts and minds" and fight against the terrorist insurgency.

In 2003, the Special Forces soldiers entered an area later called "the most dangerous place in Afghanistan". Here, where the line between civilians and armed zealots was indistinct, they illustrated the Afghan proverb "I destroy my enemy by making him my friend." Fry recounts how they were seen as welcome guests rather than invaders. Soon after their deployment ended, the Pech Valley reverted to turmoil. Their success was never replicated.

Hammerhead Six finally reveals how cultural respect and hard work (and the occasional machine-gun burst) were more than a match for the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

©2016 Ronald Fry (P)2016 Hachette Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

Outlaw Platoon cover art
Dagger 22 cover art
The Chosen Few cover art
The Only Thing Worth Dying For cover art
The Operator cover art
Into the Fire cover art
All Secure cover art
Alone at Dawn cover art
We March at Midnight cover art
The Reaper cover art
Murphy's Law cover art
Survivor cover art
Lone Survivor cover art
MOB VI: A Seal Team Six Operator's Battles in the Fight for Good over Evil cover art
Bullet Magnet cover art
American Soldier cover art

What listeners say about Hammerhead Six

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    65
  • 4 Stars
    11
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    57
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    59
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding, insightful, humble and moving!

A fantastic account of the realities of what is required for deconfliction between differing cultures.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding

A refreshingly unconventional story of soldiering with an emphasis on cultural deference and understanding that offers up an alternative vision for how the most recent war in Afghanistan might have been 'fought' and 'won'. Well written and very well-read. It took me a chapter or two to get into but is well worth the credit.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enlightened Approach

Interesting and informative insight into how an unconventional war could be and should be undertaken. The most important aspect is understanding the ordinary people just want to live in peace but when pushed into a corner will, if they are given the opportunity, come out fighting. It's such a waste of lives, time and money when the hearts and minds approach is shunned by the body count merchants. After the experiences of Vietnam and Irag it saddens me that the military leaders in the United States refuse to learn.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Riveting story and a naunced perspective

A riveting narrative that was easy to digest and fascinating. Not a typical infantry account but a nuanced interpretation of how to most effectively use special forces and conduct counter-insurgency operations intelligently.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

How it could be

Great story of a never to be forgotten history.
When do politics wake
up. They had it right and did the right thing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

genuinely enlightening

i always like books narrated by the author, the story always seems more authentic and genuine.
when i started this book i was expecting another story of intense fighting and sacrifice, but what i got was so much more. as an ex army nco i truly beleive this book should become a standard text for anyone of rank in any military ground force. the author's selfless leadership style, respect for his subordinates and willingness to fully understand the local culture in which he he operates, is both brilliant and humbling to listen to. if only we had more Ronald Fry's in this world....

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

There is another way

One of the very best books I have read. Having read what the Red Bearded Commander managed to accomplish through care and protection over against gung-ho bravado it was not surprising that the follow up tours were more of the usual bullets, collateral damage and resentment, that's what the politicians want, it pays the bills. Awesome accomplishments from the professionals though and what they achieved. Brilliantly written with humility.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful