Her Majesty's Top Gun
And the Decline of the Royal Navy
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Her Majesty's Top Gun
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Narrated by:
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Nigel D MacCartan-Ward DSC AFC
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By:
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"Sharkey" Ward
About this listen
This book relates the part played by Royal Navy Top Guns in defence of UK’s global national interests since World War II. It is an intimate account of the author’s “technicolour” journey to Top Gun status, the fighter pilot élite of Britain’s armed forces, and provides insight into the real world behind the blockbuster movie.
It is about the attitude and making of a war-fighter.
Instructively, it then goes on to provide the unfortunate history of the recent decline of the UK’s Naval Service revealing misleading propaganda and untruths that have been used to fraudulently influence Ministers and the UK Government.
The two stories are interlinked through personal experience of Phantom F-4K operations from the deck of HMS Ark Royal, nuclear intelligence duties within NATO, Running Sea Harrier development and production in the Ministry of Defence, successful air combat as “Mr Sea Harrier” during the Falklands War, Internecine battles within the Ministry of Defence, Whitehall.
Major-General Julian Thompson CB OBE, Royal Marines: "Painstaking preparation of his Squadron, superlative personal flying skills, and a determination to engage the enemy more closely, made Sharkey Ward a fighter leader in the mould of Bader, Johnson, Ball, and others in the past."
©2020 Nigel D MacCartan-Ward DSC AFC (P)2020 Nigel D MacCartan-Ward DSC AFCListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Her Majesty's Top Gun
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Colin Jones
- 30-05-24
The astonishing truth of the state of the defence of the UK
This is a well read (by the author) account of naval aviation in the UK. No punches are pulled, it is very direct account. Truly saddening is the incompetence exhibited in Government and Whitehall when covering up their lies and financial losses and the way the RAF has portrayed themselves to be something they are not. The RAF has forever lost their shine after listening to this factual account.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael John Potten
- 07-11-24
Alarming
The shear honesty in his attack of our MOD and Admiralty. If his opinions are correct of our current capability, which appears to reflect our present status then we should be afraid, very afraid, massive overspends, poor contracts, non-effectiveness etc etc. Most alarming. Whilst I enjoyed the content and the statements and the end Sharky should not have read this himself, I almost abandoned it within the first few minutes as his voice is very difficult to listen too. Odd how is is unable to pronounce the word ‘tactical’. As for his arrogance which others have commented on, however, ‘I like arrogance in a pilot’ lol!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 04-07-24
Great listen
Interesting view of the state of our defence, equally interesting life both in and out of the navy.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- A J TYLER
- 06-06-21
Good and bad
Overall a good book, and would be nice to hear some counteracting dialogue to all the statements.
However, it’s ruined to perfection with the barking dogs and more so the very irritating clicks at very regular intervals. For somebody who seems somewhat of a perfectionist it’s quite strange the quality is so bad.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andrew Docker
- 04-02-24
Integrity
amazing listen and great to hear truth, I also enjoyed Sharkies other book too. Sea harrier over the Falklands.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- robert ward
- 15-09-24
Authentic tale from the man himself
Saw a lot of reviews mark this down for the recording not being as polished as a pro narrator, Poppycock, he starts with an apology for it and its barely noticable. Its the man himself reading his own story, and what a story!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Simon
- 15-02-21
Fascinating
The author is clearly a fascinating, flawed and interesting character. The culture of Royal Navy aviation is an interesting (and not entirely healthy) world. The author’s career is reviewed in detail and vividly drawn. This includes some slightly Alan Partridge like views on “political correctness”, the limitations of the Royal Air Force and some unflinching descriptions of drunk driving escapades.
The heavy and proprietorial use of the title “Top Gun” is hilarious at times. Clearly Commander Ward is a highly skilled pilot and deeply committed to the Royal Navy. This commitment translates in the second half of the book to trenchant arguments for expanded defence spending which to be honest drags a bit.
Ultimately is a picture of an amazing life in different times. Having the author read it works well if a bit stilted. The authors dogs, phone and other ambient sounds intervene frequently. This to me adds character.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Toby
- 30-05-22
Worth a Listen.
The author's book about the Falklands Air War is great, this book is a nice compliment to it.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- P A Cannon
- 17-03-21
Interesting story but destroyed by the narrator
I've listened to a lot of aviation based audio books during the last troubled year and never had one ruined by the reader until now. It's an interesting tale but if you are listening to escape your world of Zoom and Teams just don't, it has it all in the back ground dogs barking, emails pinging coupled with a dull delivery that makes you have to concentrate on listening, that should not be the case. A lazy and arrogant decision to publish in this format.
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1 person found this helpful