Battles / military campaigns Books
The History Press Ltd Culloden and the 45
Book SynopsisLooking beyond the trappings of Stuart romance
£12.34
The History Press Ltd Battle Story Singapore 1942
Book SynopsisBattle Story – the only books that will ensure you know what happened and why at every battle in history
£10.44
The History Press Ltd Maiwand
Book SynopsisOn 27 July 1880 the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment fought a terrible battle on the dusty plains of Afghanistan. The battle went down in history as a massacre which effectively wiped out the regiment. They lost 10 officers and 276 men. Nonetheless, their valiant fighting was an inspiration to many, from Kipling to Conan Doyle, who based Dr Watson on the 66th medical officer Major Preston. Queen Victoria presented medals to the survivors, and it was Maiwand and the 66th''s battle against the Zulus the year before which resulted in the British Army no longer carrying Colours into battle. This book tells the story of this fine Victorian regiment from 1870 when they went to India through Afghanistan and back to England in 1881, bringing the regiment to life and concentrating on the characters who made it what it was.
£16.99
The History Press Ltd Loos 1915
Book SynopsisIn little over three weeks of intensive fighting, which not only witnessed the first British use of poison gas, but also the debut of New Army divisions filled with citizen volunteers, British forces at Loos managed to drive up to two miles into the German positions. However, they were unable to capitalise on their initial gains. After suffering nearly 60,000 casualties (three times the number suffered by their opponents) and being driven from the German lines in disorder, bitter recrimination followed. Nick Lloyd presents a reassessment of the Battle of Loos, arguing that it was vital to the development of new strategies and tactics. He places it within its political and strategic context, as well as discusses command and control and the tactical realities of war on the Western Front during 1915.
£14.39
The History Press Ltd DDay in Photographs
Book SynopsisAndrew Whitmarsh is military history officer for Portsmouth Museums & Records Service, a role which includes the curatorship of the D-Day Museum and Overlord Embroidery. The D-Day Museum opened in 1984 and is the United Kingdom’s only museum with the sole purpose of telling the story of D-Day.
£17.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Loos Hill 70
Book SynopsisThe Battle of Loos formed part of a wider offensive conducted by both French and British Forces in September 1915. The British First Army, under the leadership of General Haig, were to break through the German line at Loos thanks in part to their superior numbers, while other operations were to achieve a similar result in Champagne and at Vimy Ridge. Due to lack of artillery the Loos attack was planned to be preceded by a massive gas attack. Chlorine gas would hopefully entirely overcome the Germans inadequate gas masks and lead to a swift breakthrough. Unfortunately all did not go to plan. First some of the gas was blown back into the British trenches causing over 2,000 casualties. Then when the assault itself took place the attackers were met by fierce German resistance, none more so than at Hill 70 where the German defenses were strong. Despite many waves of attack, very few troops made it into enemy trenches. After a few days the attack had to be called off. It had cost 60,000 British casualties for virtually no gain. Rudyard Kipling''s son John, serving with the Irish Guards, was also lost.
£10.44
Avonmore Books South Pacific Air War Volume 1
Book SynopsisSouth Pacific Air War Volume 1 is the first book in a trilogy chronicling the early months of the Pacific War in the lead up to the Battle of the Coral Sea.Trade ReviewTo draw on so many threads and weave them together is no easy feat. Putting it in a relatively compact package is rather brilliant. * Flightpath Magazine *The two authors are uniquely qualified to tell this story. […] For the modeller there is plenty of colour reference material in profiles etc. supplied as well as some good period photographs of aircraft. All in all, this book is a good read and useful for the modeller. Well recommended. * Model Airplane International Magazine 19/07/2021 *An interesting aspect of the book is that – unusually – it also describes the campaign from the Japanese viewpoint. * Flypast Magazine 01/05/2019 *
£21.21
Cambridge University Press Kiev 1941 Hitlers Battle for Supremacy in the
Book SynopsisIn just four weeks in the summer of 1941 the German Wehrmacht wrought unprecedented destruction on four Soviet armies, conquering central Ukraine and killing or capturing three quarters of a million men. This was the Battle of Kiev - one of the largest and most decisive battles of World War II and, for Hitler and Stalin, a battle of crucial importance. In this book, David Stahel charts the battle's dramatic course and aftermath, uncovering the irreplaceable losses suffered by Germany's 'panzer groups' despite their battlefield gains, and the implications of these losses for the German war effort. He illuminates the inner workings of the German army as well as the experiences of ordinary soldiers, showing that with the Russian winter looming and Soviet resistance still unbroken, victory came at huge cost and confirmed the turning point in Germany's war in the East.Trade ReviewReviews of the hardback: 'David Stahel has written a remarkable book. Not only is it the fullest English-language account of the Battle of Kiev, based on an expert knowledge of the records of the German formations directly involved, but it is also a stimulating attempt to put what appeared to be Hitler's greatest victory into the context of his eventual defeat.' Evan Mawdsley, author of Thunder in the East: The Nazi-Soviet War'David Stahel's new book on the battle of Kiev is a brilliant contribution to our knowledge of the German-Soviet war. Ranging widely over strategic debates within the high command, operational and tactical details of the fighting, the logistical situation behind the front, and industrial production at home, this is an essential book for any student of World War II. A major addition to the literature from a master scholar.' Robert M. Citino, author of Death of the Wehrmacht: The German Campaigns of 1942'A fitting follow-on to Stahel's previous books, Kiev 1941 is a fresh, accurate, and authoritative volume. A thoroughly enjoyable read, it injects a healthy dose of realism into the history of this dramatic battle. Dismantling myths left and right, the book sets right one of the most significant stages of Operation Barbarossa.' David Glantz, author of Barbarossa Derailed: The Battle for Smolensk, 10 July–10 September 1941'Building on his work in Operation Barbarossa and Germany's Defeat in the East, in Kiev 1941 David Stahel further highlights how German operational successes were no compensation for strategic miscalculation. Stahel uses a rich mix of German archival and other sources to provide a comprehensive analysis of the battle from a German perspective - a valuable contribution to the literature.' Alexander Hill, author of The Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, 1941–1945: A Documentary Reader'Most original … a thoughtful and thought-provoking text.' Richard Overy, Literary Review'… this book is essential reading for what was the greatest military encounter of the Second World War. In a succinctly worded, well-argued text, it has opened a new debate on the very ability of Nazi Germany to wage a major war … Stahel is to be congratulated for a controversial and stimulating book. It comes highly recommended.' Military History Monthly'[Stahel's] incisive survey cuts through much of the postwar myth making [and] shows mastery of the German sources … Issues of logistics and command are leavened by valuable insights into the strategic miscalculations of Hitler and his high command and vivid use of veteran testimony.' Michael Jones, BBC History Magazine'Even readers familiar with the Russian theater of WWII will find much to intrigue them here, although the wonder of Stahel's book is how accessible it is to the non-specialist; in addition to recounting the history of a pivotal battle, [he] is very conscious that he's telling a story as well. A dark story – two evil nations tearing each other's guts out – but, in Stahel's hands, a powerful and a necessary one as well. A highly recommended account.' Open Letters Monthly'Relying mainly on German sources, [Stahel] brings new evidence to bear on the conflict with the official war diaries of German divisions, as well as making good use of published editions of the private field-post letters and diaries of German soldiers of all ranks … overall [he] conveys extremely complex military action with exemplary clarity.' Richard J. Evans, The New Republic'Like [Stahel's] previous book, Kiev, 1941 is a magnificent work of historical revision, a first-rate example of how military history ought to be written.' Mackubin Thomas Owens, The Weekly Standard'[Stahel] makes extensive use of the diaries and letters of German soldiers as well as works by and about German generals and political figures like Hitler and Goebbels – there are about a hundred pages of endnotes and bibliography. Excellent maps and tables clarify the complex military operations … To sum up, in this most detailed English-language treatment of the battle of Kiev, David Stahel furnishes ample evidence that, despite its Ukrainian victories in late September 1941, Germany remained ill prepared to defeat the USSR.' Walter G. Moss, Michigan War Studies Review'Stahel provides vivid depictions of the Ostheer's growing 'demodernization' … and convincingly shows that the victory in Ukraine was a result both of Hitler's insistence on turning his forces southwards and away from Moscow, and of Stalin's determination to hold on to Kiev despite the clear indications of a looming catastrophe.' Omer Bartov, The Times Literary Supplement'To historians with a serious interest in the Eastern Front in World War II, David Stahel is fast becoming a household name … While a number of historians before him have also dealt with the subject, Stahel has brought to his study a remarkable familiarity with primary and secondary German sources as well as a willingness to unambiguously re-address a question which has mystified generations of historians: did the Ostheer ever have a chance of inflicting crippling damage on the USSR in 1941?' Klaus Schmider, The Journal of Military History'Stahel has written a well-balanced, often provocative … book, which sheds much new light on our knowledge of the fighting around the capital of the Ukraine.' Martijn Lak, The Journal of Slavic Military Studies'… masterful … superbly researched and well written …' Leo J. Daugherty, III, The Journal of Slavic Military StudiesTable of Contents1. The bulldog, the eagle and the bear; 2. Germany's defeat in the east; 3. The road to Kiev; 4. War in the Ukraine; 5. Ominous horizons; 6. The battle of Kiev; 7. Slaughter in the Ukraine; 8. Visions of victory; 9. The calm before the storm; 10. Moscow in the crosshairs; Conclusion.
£25.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Battles of El Alamein
Book SynopsisAimed at the new or returning modeller, featuring easy to copy building, painting, weathering and detailing techniques to help bring the model to life.
£15.29
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Britain Against the Xhosa and Zulu Peoples
Book SynopsisA revealing study of the confrontation between an eminent Victorian general and two of South Africa's warrior nations.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Betrayal of an Army
Book SynopsisThe Mesopotamia Campaign ranks among the greatest British military disasters and this is the first book to cover the Mesopotamia Commission in detail, written by published author and expert on the subject.
£15.29
Pen & Sword Books Ltd End Game Burma 1945
Book SynopsisThis is an overdue study of a major campaign with huge implications for the outcome of the War.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Normandy Beyond The Beaches
Book SynopsisThis latest Images of War series book examines the controversial development of the Allied campaign in Normandy in the weeks after the D-Day landings. After overcoming Rommel's beach obstacles and Atlantic Wall' fortifications, a secure Allied lodgment of the five beaches developed along the Caen-Bayeux-Carentan axis with a period of consolidation while reinforcements and supplies were built up. The early arrival of 12th SS Hitlerjugend, 21st Panzer and the Panzer Lehr Divisions delayed Montgomery's Anglo-Canadian capture of Caen until mid-July and prevented an early breakout into the countryside inland from Gold, Juno and Sword which was suitable for armoured combat. An early American goal was to cut the Cotentin Peninsula in two at its southern base to prevent the Germans from supplying and strengthening the deep-water port of Cherbourg, which U.S. VII Corps captured on 26 June. Inland from Omaha and Utah, the close bocage' country proved advantageous to the German defenders. T
£15.29
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Aftermath of the Battle of Little Big Horn
Book SynopsisLt. Col. George Armstrong Custer died at the hands of native americans by thebanks of the Little Big Horn in Montana 25th June 1876. This is an establishedundisputed fact. What is disputed is the real reason that he died.So forget all you have been led to believe and begin to learn the truth.George Custer was an anathema to his superiors, but the populace loved him. Ifhe were to stand for president in the coming elections there was a strongpossibility that he would win. Neither William T. Sherman nor Little Phil'Sheridan could allow that to happen. Thus they conspired to put Custer in aposition in the field where the opposing Sioux and Cheyenne were stronger andcould deliver the Coup de Gras'.This is the second of two books dealing with the circumstances that arose leading the nativeamericans on a collision course with the US Army that fateful day and the deathof a national hero. Subsequently the conspiracy is uncovered and shows howthese men used their powers and positions and so deft
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Dieppe Raid
Book SynopsisIn the introduction the authors explore just why Winston Churchill authorised a super-raid' upon German-held territory. Examines why the French port of Dieppe was selected as the target.
£16.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Great Battles of the Classical Greek World
Book SynopsisGives a clear narrative for 18 selected battles and sieges from the Classical Greek period.
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Dnepr 1943
Book SynopsisAgainst the wishes of Hitler, German forces under Erich von Manstein were forced to retreat following the failure of their offensive at Kursk in July 1943. The weakened force had only one possible refuge, behind the wide Dnepr River. The race to the natural defensive line was on, with the Soviets launching one of their largest offensives of the war--with over two million men on the move. Expert Eastern Front historian Robert Forczyk describes the dramatic four-month campaign that saw the Red Army not only succeed in crossing the Dnepr at multiple points, but also liberate Kiev, the capital of the Ukraine. Revealing new details about the largest Soviet airborne operation of the war and the increasingly desperate delaying tactics employed by von Manstein as catastrophic casualties mounted on either side, Forczyk charts the course of the battle that confirmed that the relentless Soviet advance westward could not be halted. Berlin would be next.Table of ContentsIntroduction/Chronology/Opposing commanders/Opposing armies/Opposing plans/The campaign/Aftermath/The battlefield today/Further reading/Index
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Kursk 1943
Book SynopsisMauled at Stalingrad, the German army looked to regain the initiative on the Eastern Front with a huge offensive launched near the city of Kursk, 280 miles southwest of Moscow. Armed with the new Panther tank, Hitler and Field Marshal von Manstein were confident that they could inflict another crushing defeat on the Soviet Union. What they did not know is that the Soviets knew about the coming attack, and they were ready.This book focuses on the southern front of this campaign, which featured the one of the biggest clashes of armor of the war, as over a thousand tanks clashed in the battle of Prokhorovka. It examines in detail the tactics and mistakes of the army commanders as they orchestrated one of the bloodiest battles in World War II. Using campaign maps, stunning photographs, and vivid artwork, this new study, a companion to CAM 272 Kursk 1943: The Northern Front, examines whether the German offensive was doomed from the start as it takes the reader through this
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Battle of Britain 1940
Book SynopsisThe Battle of Britain was one of the most iconic campaigns of World War II, where the Few of the Royal Air Force took on the might of the German Luftwaffe. At stake was not just air superiority over the British Isles--a German victory would enable Hitler''s plan to invade and conquer the last Allied country left fighting.While most narratives of the battle focus on the brave pilots of Fighter Command, this book tells it from the perspective of the German strategists as they attempted to clear the skies over Britain. Explaining Hermann Göring''s plans, the Luftwaffe''s capabilities in 1940, the RAF''s defenses, and how the fierce aerial battles over south-east England were fought, this fully illustrated fresh study is based on original documents and new analysis by an expert on the campaign.
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Malta 194042
Book SynopsisIn 1940, the strategically vital island of Malta was Britain's last toehold in the central Mediterranean, wreaking havoc among Axis shipping. Launching an air campaign to knock Malta out of the war, first Italy and then Germany sought to force a surrender or reduce the defences enough to allow an invasion. Drawing on original documents, multilingual aviation analyst Ryan Noppen explains how technical and tactical problems caused the original Italian air campaign of 194041 to fail, and then how the German intervention came close to knocking Malta out of the war. Using stunning full colour artwork, this fascinating book explains why the attempt by the Axis powers to take the British colony of Malta ultimately failed.
£14.24
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Case Red
Book SynopsisIn Case Red, Robert Forczyk shows that there was much more to the fall of France than Dunkirk. In fact, even after that legendary evacuation in June 1940 there were still large British formations fighting the Germans alongside their French allies. After mounting a vigorous counterattack at Abbeville and then engaging a tough defense along the Somme, the British were forced to conduct a second evacuation from the ports of Le Havre, Cherbourg, Brest, and St. Nazaire. While France was in its death throes, politicians and soldiers debated what to do--flee to England or North Africa, or seek an armistice.Case Red captures the drama of the final three weeks of military operations in France in June 1940, and explains the great impact it had on the course of relations between Britain and France during the remainder of the war. It also addresses the military, political, and human drama of France''s collapse in June 1940, and how the windfall of captured military equipmeTrade ReviewThe book constitutes an excellent summary of the conflict in the West from September 1939 to May 1940, the best for a long time. * Ligne de Front *This is a gem of a book on a relatively little-known element of the fighting in 1940. * Miniature Wargames *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: The Path to Disaster, 1918–39 Chapter 2: A Shadow of Doubt Chapter 3: The Centre Cannot Hold Chapter 4: To the Sea Chapter 5: Failure at Abbeville Chapter 6: The Weygand Line Chapter 7: Decision on the Aisne Chapter 8: Disintegration Chapter 9: Mussolini’s Gamble Chapter 10: Occupation Glossary Appendices Notes Bibliography Index
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Velikiye Luki 194243
Book SynopsisA highly illustrated study of one of the most dramatic yet overlooked episodes on the Eastern Front in World War II, the siege of Velikye Luki by Soviet forces in 1942--43.Velikiye Luki had been an important Russian fortress city since the 13th century and had become an important rail-hub by the 19th century. In August 1941, the Germans occupied the city of 30,000 during Operation Barbarossa and made it a bulwark on the boundary between Heeresgruppe Nord and Heeresgruppe Mitte. In the winter of 1942--43, while Soviet forces were encircling Stalingrad, the Stavka (High Command) conducted a simultaneous offensive to isolate and destroy the 7,500-man German garrison in Velikiye Luki. After surrounding the city on November 27, 1942, the Soviet 3rd Shock Army gradually reduced the city to rubble, while the German garrison, sustained by Luftwaffe air lifts, hunkered down in the medieval city and awaited rescue. This illustrated title reveals the full story oTable of ContentsOrigins of the Campaign Chronology Opposing Commanders Opposing Forces Opposing Plans The Campaign Aftermath The Battlefield Today Further Reading Index
£15.19
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Aleutians 194243
Book SynopsisAleutians 194243 is the full story of the forgotten battle to liberate American soil from the Japanese during World War II.It is often forgotten that during World War II, the Japanese managed to successfully invade and conquer a precious part of American home soil--the first time this had happened since 1815. Capturing the Aleutian Islands, located in Alaska territory, was seen by the Japanese as vital in order to shore up their northern defensive perimeter. Fighting in the Aleutians was uniquely brutal. It is a barren, rugged archipelago of icy mountains and thick bogs, with a climate of constant snow, freezing rains, and windstorms. These geographic conditions tended to neutralize traditional American strengths such as air power, radar, naval bombardment, and logistics. The campaign to recapture the islands required extensive combined-ops planning, and inflicted on the United States its second highest casualty rate in the Pacific Theater. Featuring the largeTrade ReviewA really fine account. * Miniature Wargames *Table of ContentsOrigins of the campaign/Chronology/Opposing commanders/Opposing armies/Orders of battle/Opposing plans/The campaign/Aftermath/The battlefields today/Further reading/Index
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC In Cold War Skies
Book SynopsisFrom acclaimed aviation historian Michael Napier, this is a highly illustrated survey of the airpower deployed by NATO and Warsaw Pact countries throughout the Cold War.Throughout the second half of the 20th century, international relations across the globe were dominated by the Cold War. From 1949 until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, US and Soviet strategic forces were deployed across the Arctic Ocean in North America and Northern Russia, while the best-equipped armed forces that the world had ever seen faced each other directly across the Iron Curtain in Europe. In Cold War Skies examines the air power of the major powers both at a strategic and at a tactical level throughout the 40 years of the Cold War. In this fascinating book, acclaimed historian Michael Napier looks at each decade of the war in turn, examining the deployment of strategic offensive and defensive forces in North America and Northern Russia as well as the situation in EuropeTrade ReviewA fantastic looking book. -- Duncan Evans * The Armourer *Packed with superb illustrations... [this] is a very interesting and well-written account of a crucial and sometimes highly dangerous period of recent history. * Aviation News *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION 1: A Peace That Is No Peace, 1949–59 2: We Will Bury You! 1960–69 3: Freezing Frontiers, 1970–79 4: Tear Down This Wall! 1980–89 In Neutral Skies AFTERWORD APPENDIX - Air Orders of Battle INDEX GLOSSARY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
£28.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Barents Sea 1942
Book SynopsisA gripping examination of the Battle of the Barents Sea, fought in the near darkness and icy cold of the northern winter, in which the Kriegsmarine sought to sever the crucial Allied Arctic Convoy route once and for all.The Arctic convoys that passed through the cold, dangerous waters of the Barents Sea formed a vital lifeline a strategic link in tanks, supplies and above all goodwill between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. In December 1942, under Operation Regenbogen (Rainbow), the German Kriegsmarine sought to strike a crippling blow on the Arctic convoys and finally sever this all-important sea route.In this fascinating work, renowned naval expert Angus Konstam documents the fate of the Allied Convoy JW 51B as it came under attack from some of the Kriegsmarine''s most powerful surface warships a pocket battleship, a heavy cruiser and six destroyers. Illustrated with stunning battlescene artworks, maps, 3D diagrams and photographs, it explores theTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION Origins of the campaign CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING COMMANDERS The Kriegsmarine The Royal Navy OPPOSING FORCES The Kriegsmarine The Royal Navy Orders of battle OPPOSING PLANS The Kriegsmarine The Royal Navy THE BATTLE OF THE BARENTS SEA JW-51A heads north The forces converge The northern pincer closes Captain Sherbrooke’s fight Kummetz springs his trap Burnett’s attack AFTERMATH REMEMBERING THE BATTLE FURTHER READING INDEX
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC East China Sea 1945
Book SynopsisThis study describes the air-sea offensive supporting the ground-force invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in February and April 1945, which led to the sinking of the Yamato and the onslaught of the Japanese kamikaze.The island invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa were the last two major ground campaigns to be initiated during the Pacific War. This superbly illustrated volume explores the airsea aspects of these pivotal battles. Among the events covered are the ''death ride'' of the Japanese battleship Yamato (the largest ever built), and the mass kamikaze attacks off Iwo Jima and Okinawa, as well as the amphibious invasions themselves, including the airsea bombardment of the two islands. By early 1945, the US Navy had reached an exceptional level of coordination in its amphibious operations and was able to overrun and subdue Japanese territories efficiently. Faced with the increasing might of these forces and to prevent further defeat, Japan deployed its squadron of kamikTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION The strategic setting Origins of the campaign CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING COMMANDERS Japanese Allied OPPOSING FORCES Japanese Allied Operation Iceberg orders of battle, April 1, 1945 OPPOSING PLANS Japanese Allied THE CAMPAIGN Commencing Detachment, February 16–20, 1945 Kamikaze attacks against Fifth Fleet, February 21 Winning Iwo Jima, February 24–March 26 Iceberg preliminaries, March 1945 L-Day at Okinawa, April 1 The Great Onslaught: Kikisui No. 1, April 6–7 Ten-Ichi-Go: Yamato’s death ride, April 6–7 Kikisui No. 2, April 12–13 Kikisui No. 3, April 16 Kikisui No. 4, April 27–28 Kikisui No. 5, May 3–4 Kikisui No. 6, May 10–11 Kyushu diversion, May 13–14 Air and naval gunfire support of Tenth Army Kikisui No. 7, May 23–25 Kikisui No. 8, May 27–29 Okinawa secured, June–July 1945 AFTERMATH THE WARSHIPS TODAY FURTHER READING ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS INDEX
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Going Downtown
Book SynopsisThis vivid narrative history tells the full story of the US Air Force's involvement in the wars in the air over Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.The involvement of the US Air Force in the Southeast Asian Wars began in 1962 with crews sent to train Vietnamese pilots, and with conflict in Laos, and finally ended in 1972 with the B-52 bombing of Hanoi, though there were Air Force pilots unofficially flying combat in Laos up to the end in 1975. The missions flown by USAF aircrews during those years in Southeast Asia differed widely, from attacking the Ho Chi Minh Trail at night with modified T-28 trainers, to missions Downtown, the name aircrew gave Hanoi, the central target of the war. This aerial war was dominated by the major air operations against the north: Rolling Thunder from 1965 to 1968, and then Linebacker I and II in 1972, with the latter seeing the deployment of America's fearsome B-52 bombers against the North Vietnamese capital Hanoi. These operations wTrade ReviewAs ever, the author provides a sublimely distilled and perfectly readable account of a grueling period of history. * Flypast *A fascinating inside story of what it was like for pilots over south east Asia. * The Armourer *An outstanding overview of the Air Force’s war in Vietnam…This is combat history in the words of the aviators themselves… and shaped by the author's detailed archival research, oral history interviews, and a commanding knowledge of the available literature… [A] riveting account that constitutes at once both an outstanding history and a tribute to the airmen who flew across Southeast Asia more than a half-century ago. * Dr Richard P Hallion, former Historian of the US Air Force and author of 'Rolling Thunder 1965-68: Johnson's Air War Over Vietnam' *In Going Downtown Thomas McKelvey Cleaver provides a rare combination, a macro-micro view of the war in the air. In setting the context of Southeast Asian air operations, the author adroitly combines Vietnam history with some heart-pounding combat episodes. * Barrett Tillman, author of 'Dragon's Jaw: An Epic Story of Courage and Tenacity in Vietnam' *There are many “I was there” books telling the USAF story in Vietnam; but Going Downtown: The U.S. Air Force in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia 1961–75 by Thomas McKelvey Cleaver paints a much broader picture of that air war. In this extensively researched and well written book, Cleaver gives you the action from the cockpits of both the North Vietnamese MiGs as well as the American jets. This book gives you the perspective of the decision makers in Washington, the generals in theater, and the pilots and crews in the cockpits. If you want to get a true understanding of USAF operations up North Going Downtown is for you. * Thomas E. Rodgers, Lt.Col., USAF (ret.) *Table of ContentsList of Maps and Illustrations Preface Foreword 1. “Zorro-16 - Nail-43. You are on Fire. What Are Your Intentions?” 2. Good Intentions and Ignorance 3. Planning for the Wrong War 4. Early Days – 1962–65 5. Going up North – 1965–66 6.Feather Duster 7. Bridges, Sams, and MiGs – the Widening War 8. Blackman and Robin 9. The MiGs Fight Back 10. Bloody May and June 11. The Hot Summer of 1967 12. Rolling Thunder’s Zenith 13. The End of Rolling Thunder 14. Interregnum – 1968–72 15. The Easter Offensive 16. Operation Linebacker 17. The Christmas Bombing 18. The Final Wars in Southeast Asia Bibliography Glossary Index
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC ANZAC Soldier vs Ottoman Soldier
Book SynopsisIn 191518, ANZAC and Ottoman soldiers clashed on numerous battlefields, from Gallipoli to Jerusalem. This illustrated study investigates the two sides' fighting men.The Gallipoli campaign of 191516 pitched the Australian and New Zealand volunteers known as the ANZACs into a series of desperate battles with the Ottoman soldiers defending their homeland. In August 1915, the bitter struggle for the high ground known as Chunuk Bair saw the peak change hands as the Allies sought to overcome the stalemate that set in following the landings in April. The ANZACs also played a key part in the battle of Lone Pine, intended to divert Ottoman attention away from the bid to seize Chunuk Bair. The Gallipoli campaign ended in Allied evacuation in the opening days of 1916. Thereafter, many ANZAC units remained in the Middle East and played a decisive role in the Allies' hard-fought advance through Palestine that finally forced the Turks to the peace table. The fateful battle of Beersheba in OctTrade ReviewIf you haven't read much about the Ottomans and ANZACs in WW1, this is a good introduction. * The Balkan Wargamer *Table of Contents(Subject to confirmation) Introduction The Opposing Sides Lone Pine, 6–10 August 1915 Chunuk Bair, 7–19 August 1915 Beersheba, 31 October 1917 Analysis Aftermath Bibliography Index
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Texian Volunteer vs Mexican Soldier
Book SynopsisFully illustrated with specially commissioned artwork and mapping plus carefully chosen archive illustrations, many in color, this lively study investigates the Mexican soldiers and Texian volunteers who fought one another in three key battles during the Texas Revolution.Following unrest throughout Mexico, in 1835 a revolt began in Texas among the Anglophone and Tejano-speaking settlers, known as Texians. Having retreated after their defeat at Bexar in December 1835, Mexican troops were ordered to re-occupy Texas in early 1836. In this volume, US military history expert Ron Field explores in detail three key battles that ensued. From February 23, Mexican forces besieged the Texian forces at the Alamo at San Antonio de Bexar; in the subsequent battle on March 6, almost all of the Texian defenders were killed. On March 19, forces en route to join the main Texian army were surrounded by Mexican troops at Coleto Creek. Following their surrender, about 340 Texian prisonersTable of ContentsIntroduction The Opposing Sides The Alamo, March 6, 1836 Coleto Creek, March 19-20, 1836 San Jacinto, April 20-21, 1836 Analysis Aftermath Orders of Battle Select Bibliography Index
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC 2SAS
Book SynopsisDrawing on recently declassified files and interviews with veterans, this is a fascinating history of Bill Stirling and 2SAS pioneering founders of modern special forces. David Stirling is the name synonymous with the wartime SAS, but the real brains behind the operation was in fact Bill Stirling, David's eldest brother. Bill was described in the SAS War Diary as a man from the shadows'; it was an apt description for, unlike his attention seeking brother, Bill shunned the spotlight. Now for the first time the truth and the triumph of 2SAS is revealed. Having originally joined the SOE in March 1940, Bill Stirling sailed for Cairo in 1941 and there had the idea for a small special forces unit to be led by his mercurial brother. But despite some success, David allowed the legendary 1SAS to drift under his leadership. Following his capture, Bill re-directed 2SAS, under his personal command, to the strategy he had originally envisaged: parachuting behind enemy lines to gaTrade ReviewVivid and meticulously researched... Gavin Mortimer has certainly done the history of the SAS justice in this book. -- Paul de Zulueta * The Spectator *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Chronology Prologue: Stirling and Stirling Chapter 1: Commando College Chapter 2: Territorial Dispute Chapter 3: Cleaning up the Chaos Chapter 4: Warmer Climes Chapter 5: Training-ville Chapter 6: The Best Die First Chapter 7: Eyeing Up Italy Chapter 8: Use Your Initiative Chapter 9: Hitler's Henchmen Chapter 10: The Farren Phenomenon Chapter 11: The Hell of Termoli Chapter 12: Blinded by Science Chapter 13: Difference of Opinion Chapter 14: Hushed Up Chapter 15: Hell Raisers Chapter 16: Thick with Germans Chapter 17: The Winter War Chapter 18: Up Close to Evil Chapter 19: Boy's Own Finale Epilogue Glossary Notes Bibliography Index
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Roman Barbarian Wars The Era of Roman Conquest
Book SynopsisCovers Rome's centuries-long struggles with the tribal people of Europe - Celts, Germans and Iberians. Clear, accessible, fast-paced narrative of the campaigns and battles.
£16.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Battle of Actium 31 BC War for the World
Book SynopsisPossibly the most important battle in Roman history, Actium drew the final curtain on the Roman Republic and ushered in the Roman Empire
£16.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Frankforce and the Defence of Arras 1940
Book SynopsisThe BEF s 1940 Campaign - part of a series of Battleground Europe books on the performance of the British Expeditionary Force during the successful German Blitzkrieg conquest of northern Europe.
£11.69
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Objective SaintLo
Book SynopsisDay-by-day account of the battle for Saint-Lo, one of the key cities to the opening of the Falaise Gap, which ultimately allowed Allied forces to expel German forces from northern France.
£999.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Battle of the Odon
Book SynopsisDay-by-day account of the First Battle of the Odon
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Battle of Cotentin
Book SynopsisDay-by-day account of the Battle of Cotentin
£16.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hitler versus Stalin The Eastern Front 1943 1944
Book SynopsisThe third volume in a four-volume photographic history of the war between Germany and the Soviet Union.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Battle for Budapest 1944 1945
Book SynopsisPhotographic history of the struggle for Budapest, one of the key battles fought during the closing months of the Second World War
£14.24
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Lepanto 1571: Christian and Muslim Fleets Battle for Control of the Mediterranea.
The battle of Lepanto has long been considered one of the decisive naval battles of history. Yet, the savage fighting on Sunday, 7 October 1571 left the strategic map unchanged and the defeated Ottoman Turks were able to replace their losses and launch a new fleet the following year. Nic Fields re-examines the battle and concludes that, while it merely confirmed a strategic reality that had already emerged during the 16th century (i.e. that naval supremacy lay with the Sublime Porte in the eastern Mediterranean, and with Habsburg Spain and its Catholic allies in the western Mediterranean), it's vital importance was psychological. It sank the perception of Ottoman dominance and the inevitability of Islam's westward encroachment beyond the Balkans. With over 200 ships per side, it was the largest naval battle in sixteen centuries and the last major fight between fleets composed entirely of the muscle-driven galley. These slender ships were the direct descendants of the Classical trireme but carried cannon and marines bearing firearms, although massed archery and cold steel still played a major r le on the fateful day. Nic Fields gives an excellent account of this fascinating and spectacular battle.
£24.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Greece 1941: The Death Throes of Blitzkreig
Book SynopsisBlitzkrieg. Lightning war. We are all familiar with the rapid thrusts the Germans made in the early days of the Second World War that saw the demise first of Poland and then the Low Countries and France. But were the German tactics, which appeared at the time to smash through all resistance, really as devastating as they seemed? That is the major question Jeffrey Plowman asks in this absorbing new study of the campaign in Greece in 1941\. Within three weeks they overran the country but, by looking into the campaign in detail, the author claims that at no time did the Germans gain ascendency over the token British and Anzac force sent to bolster the Greek defenders. They came close to doing so, but the Anzac troops and their Greek allies put up a spirited defence that sometimes turned the Germans' own methods against them. This perceptive new account should prompt a reassessment of the Greek campaign. It also offers a fascinating insight into the weaknesses of the Germans' all-conquering method of warfare which became increasing apparent during the later stages of the war.
£16.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd St Nazaire Raid, 1942
Book SynopsisThe raid on St Nazaire has gone down in history as one of the most daring commando raids of all time. Given the code name of Operation Chariot, it took place in the early hours of Saturday, 28 March 1942, and was a joint undertaking by the Royal Navy and British Commando units. The port at St Nazaire, which sits on the Loire estuary and the Atlantic Ocean, has a dry dock that was capable of accommodating some of Germany's biggest naval vessels, such as the _Bismarck_, or the _Tirpitz_. By putting the port out of action, any repairs or maintenance work that needed to be carried out would instead have to be undertaken back home at the German port of Bremerhaven. To do this, the German vessels would either have to navigate the waters of the English Channel or the North Sea, with both journeys potentially bringing them to the attention of the Home Fleet of the Royal Navy. A raiding force of 612 officers and men were assembled and dispatched from Falmouth to carry out the raid, sailing on board the obsolete British destroyer HMS _Campbeltown_, along with 18 Motor Launches. The idea was to ram the destroyer in to the outer gates of the dry dock at St Nazaire and put it out of action for as long as possible. The raid was a success, but came at a price: of those who set out, 169 were killed whilst a further 215 were captured. Only 3 Motor Launches and 228 men escaped and made the return journey back to the UK. Many brave men gave it their all during the action at St Nazaire, to such an extent that 89 of those who took part in the raid were awarded decorations for bravery, including 5 who were awarded the Victoria Cross.
£17.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871: Touring the
Book SynopsisIn 1870 France embarked on a war with Prussia and her allied German states that was to be a complete disaster. For Napoleon III, after his ignominious surrender with thousands of his troops from the Army of the Rhine and the Army of of Chalons, it meant his abdication and exile. For France it resulted in the humiliation of her army, a bitter civil war in Paris, the loss of two Provinces (Alsace and Lorraine) and a heavy indemnity. Maarten Otte provides background chapters to place the lead up to the war and the issues that were involved; he describes the make up of the opposing armies and some of their principal commanders.The campaign around Sedan was short, fought in the fag end days of August and early September 1870, though the war was to drag on for four months. The Sedan Campaign was fought over a relatively small area and the locations of some of the key battles have changed little, though some of those near the built up areas, such as Sedan itself, require some imagination. After the war several German regiments erected monuments and a surprising number remain today, often hidden away in isolated fields and copses. Several communal cemeteries have a number of German graves. Perhaps one of the most macabre of these is the ossuary in Bazeilles, where the visitor is able to see skeletons that still have shreds of uniform and footwear on them. A notable feature of this battlefield is to see memorials to the conflicts of the twentieth century - the Great War and the Second World War - Sedan was a focus of the most recent and most bloody western European wars.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Battle of the Catalaunian Fields AD451:
Book SynopsisEvan Schultheis reconsiders the evidence for Attila the Hun's most famous battle, the climax of his invasion of the Western Roman Empire that had reached as far as Orleans in France. Traditionally considered one of the pivotal battles in European history, saving the West from conquest by the Huns, the Catalaunian Fields is here revealed to be significant but less immediately decisive than claimed. This new study exposes over-simplified views of Attila's army, which was a sophisticated and complex all-arms force, drawn from the Huns and their many allies and subjects. The 'Roman' forces, largely consisting of Visigoth and Alan allies, are also analysed in detail. The author, a reenactor of the period, describes the motives and tactics of both sides. Drawing on the latest historiography and research of the primary sources, and utilizing Roman military manuals, Evan Schultheis offers a completely new tactical analysis of the battle and a drastic reconsideration of Hun warfare, the Roman use of federates, and the ethnography of the Germanic peoples who fought for either side. The result is a fresh and thorough case study of battle in the 5th century.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Wingate's Men: The Chindit Operations: Special
Book SynopsisPossibly the most famous fighting formations of the Burma campaign during the Second World War were the Long Range Penetration Groups, more commonly known as the Chindits. Colonel Orde Wingate was given permission to attempt long-range operations deep within Japanese-held territory with the aim of sowing alarm and confusion amongst the enemy and disrupting Japanese plans for the invasion of India. For this, Wingate was given the Indian 77th Infantry Brigade. In February 1943 this force crossed into Burma on its first Chindit operation, codenamed Loincloth. The Chindits took the Japanese by surprise, putting one of the main railway lines out of order, but the Japanese responded quickly, interdicting supply drops to the Chindits who soon began to suffer severely from exhaustion and shortages of water and food. With three brigades chasing them, the Chindits headed back to India, being forced to break up into small groups to avoid capture. By the time the 77th Brigade crossed the border, it had lost a third of its strength. Despite the heavy losses, Wingate had shown that British troops could operate successfully against the Japanese in inhospitable terrain. Promoted to acting major general Wingate was granted permission to undertake another Chindit operation, but this time on a far greater scale. In Operation Thursday Wingate aimed to fly a force of 10,000 men, 1,000 mules, equipment and supplies into clearings in the heart of Burma behind enemy lines. The operation proved a considerable success, the Chindits causing mayhem amongst the Japanese forces. Wingate, though, did not live to see the end of Operation Thursday, as he was killed when the aircraft in which he was being transported to one of the Chindit bases crashed into the jungle. In this wonderful collection of photographs, drawn in large part from one man's photograph albums, we see the harsh conditions in which the Chindits had to operate, and the terrible physical state of many of the men who survived the jungles, the dry plains, and the ferocious Japanese enemy.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Allied Intelligence and the Cover Up at Pointe Du
Book SynopsisVolume 1 of this two-part work puts the reader firmly into the footsteps of the 2nd and 5th Rangers as they arrive in England in 1943\. It follows them during their intensive training with the Commandos and the Royal Navy as they head towards D-Day - including cliff climbing, assault landings and the Slapton Sands dress rehearsal'. The orders given to the Rangers, along with dozens of aerial reconnaissance photographs of Omaha Beach, Pointe et Raz de la Perc e, Pointe du Hoc and Maisy - as well as French Resistance reports - detail the information given to the Rangers' commander Lt. Col. Rudder. Shown in chronological order and in their original format, many of the documents are still marked TOP SECRET and were only recently released after nearly 70 years. The author fills in the gaps that many have only guessed at concerning the Rangers' real missions on D-Day, and in Volume 2 he explains why a battalion commander was removed whilst onboard ship prior to the landings, why the individual Rangers were not briefed on all of their D-Day objectives - as well as the extraordinary role that Lt. Col. Rudder played at Pointe du Hoc. Described by US historians as 'one of the most detailed works about the D-Day Rangers ever written', this work is the culmination of four years of detailed research within the US Archives and backed up by evidence uncovered in Normandy. It is a real historical game-changer that pulls no punches as it challenges conventional studies of one of the most iconic battles of WWII. There can be no doubt that this work will change the way that historians view the Pointe du Hoc battle from now on.
£28.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The First Helicopter Boys: The Early Days of
Book SynopsisThe Indonesian Confrontation that raged from 1963 to 1966 stemmed from Indonesia's opposition to the creation of Malaysia. Fighting in the challenging jungle terrain of Borneo and in the countryside straddling the Malaysia/Indonesia border, where there were few roads, posed significant logistical challenges to both sides. That the conflict was ultimately a victory for the Commonwealth forces was in due in no small part to the fact that they enjoyed the advantage of vastly superior helicopter resources and better trained crews - many of which were provided by British units. During the Confrontation, many of these vital helicopter assets were flown by pilots and crews who had gained their knowledge and experience first-hand during the Malayan Emergency, one of the Cold War's first flash-points which had begun in 1948. Without doubt, the Malayan Emergency marked the formative years of the RAF's and Royal Navy's helicopter operations - the very early days in fact, when equipment and knowledge were much more basic. It was a time when operational procedures were still under development, even though the helicopters were already being flown on front line service. Told in the main through their own words, by the RAF and Royal Navy air and ground crews involved, this is the story of how these guinea pigs' undertook many of Britain's first rotary wing combat operations and, therefore, cemented their rightful place in the history of the helicopter.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Disaster at Stalingrad: An Alternate History
Book SynopsisIt is early September 1942 and the German commander of the Sixth Army, General Paulus, assisted by the Fourth Panzer Army, is poised to advance on the Russian city of Stalingrad. His primary mission was to take the city, crushing this crucial centre of communication and manufacturing, and to secure the valuable oil fields in the Caucasus. What happens next is well known to any student of modern history: a brutal war of attrition, characterised by fierce hand-to-hand combat, that lasted for nearly two years, and the eventual victory by a resolute Soviet Red Army. A ravaged German Army was pushed into full retreat. This was the first crucial defeat of Hitler's territorial ambitions in Europe and a marked a critical turning point in the Second World War. But the outcome could have been very different, as Peter Tsouras demonstrates in this thought-provoking and highly readable alternate history of the fateful battle. By introducing minor but realistic' adjustments, he presents a scenario in which the course of the battle runs quite differently - which in turn sets in motion new and unexpected possibilities for the outcome of the entire war. Cleverly conceived and expertly executed, this is alternate history at its best.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The German Army at Cambra.
Book SynopsisThis latest German Army book by Jack Sheldon covers a shorter (three week) timeframe than his earlier works. After an introductory chapter tracing the development of the Hindenburg Line, the author concentrates on German aspects of the bitterly fought battle of Cambrai from 20 November to 6 December 1917. The narrative splits easily into two parts. First the defensive battle 20 29 November followed by the counter-attack which saw the German Army regain not only most of the ground lost in the opening phase but more besides. Detailed descriptions are given of the struggle for Flesquires Ridge and the see-saw battles for key terrain, including Bourlon Wood, as the German Army rushed reinforcements to the sectors under attack before we witness the German offensive. As with his other books full use is made of primary source material from the Munich Kriegsarchiv, the Hauptstaatsarchiv in Stuttgart, regimental histories and personal accounts. Of particular interest are the controversial interventions in operational matters of Ludendorf which were sharply criticised by Crown Prince Rupprecht. But for many the most fascinating aspect will be the experiences of the front line soldiers.
£14.39
