Unsung Hero of the Falklands War: The Life and Career of Commodore Michael Clapp CB by Dr Anthony Cumming.
Delighted a book on one of my mentors will be published shortly (October 2025, Pen and Sword Books UK). It was an honour to aid the author on this project and my remarks are contained within and on the jacket along with Professor Andrew Lambert’s within.
The contribution of Commodore Michael Clapp has been overlooked when compared with the other senior Falklands commanders and the time is ripe to redress the balance. Despite commanding the Amphibious Task Group and being responsible for Operation Sutton, the successful San Carlos landing, Clapp was overlooked for promotion and instead received several snubs including not being allowed a seat at the top tables of public events celebrating this stunning victory.
Sadly, his naval superiors showed no interest in learning the amphibious lessons, and others, of the war preferring to focus on supporting the British army in a potential conflict with the Soviet Union in Europe. Michael Clapp’s career has illustrated many of the corrosive effects of inter-service rivalry and the author asks if the military establishment has now lost interest in amphibious operations in their purest form.
This highly readable and controversial work covers Clapp’s distinguished wider career which included active service in Korea, the Cyprus Emergency and the Indonesia-Malayan confrontation where he gained a reputation for decisive action. He was an observer and squadron commander in the Fleet Air Arm; took command of several warships and served in staff posts, playing a crucial role in the introduction of the famous Sea Harrier V/STOL strike aircraft before his appointment as Commodore Amphibious Warfare.
I am grateful to Dr Cumming’s and Micheal for the use of my work in the description and context of Micheal’s career. Some examples are included below:
