Books by Chris McNab

Book SynopsisDuring World War II, the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) projected American military might across distances and with destructive force unimaginable just a decade previously. The B-17s and B-24s of the US Eighth Air Force turned much of Germany’s infrastructure to twisted steel and burnt rubble between 1943 and 1945. B-29 Superfortresses unleashed conventional raids on Japan of even greater area destruction than that created by the atomic bomb attacks (also delivered by USAAF crews). Beyond heavy strategic bombing, US bombers performed a multitude of other tactical roles, including hunting Axis submarines, bombing enemy shipping, low-level runs against precision targets, and providing heavy air support to advancing infantry and armour. While the US bombers dealt out violence, they were also prey to a terrifying spectrum of antiaircraft threats, and by the end of the war 88,119 US airmen had died in service. Bomber crews were a world unto themselves, composed of pilots, co-pilots, engineers, navigators, wireless operators, gunners, and bombardiers. And each aircraft type had its own unique characteristics and capabilities, from twin-engine B-25 Mitchells designed for strafing and skip-bombing to the four-engine workhorses of the strategic bombing campaign: the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, and B-29 Superfortress. Fighting from the Heavens presents an invaluable collection of material from US wartime manuals, including doctrinal, training, technical, aircraft-specific, and position-specific publications. Through these manuals, the reader gains an insider’s insight into the demands of US bomber warfare, including long-distance navigation, gun-turret operation, formation flying, bomber start-up procedures, and bomb aiming.Table of ContentsRoles of crew Specifics of aircraft types Operation planning Long-distance navigation Formation flying Bomb sighting Ground engineers' role

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Book SynopsisQuite simply, without engineers the U.S. Army would have been unable to fight World War II. The men of the Corps of Engineers, with the strength of more than 700 battalions mobilised during World War II, were tasked with every imaginable engineering challenge. In rear areas and back in the United States they built the facilities essential for everyday military life: showers, toilets, barrack blocks, military hospitals, training camps, storage depots, and much more. To keep logistics flowing to the front, they constructed or repaired thousands of miles of roads and bridges, plus built airfields to support Allied strategic and tactical air operations. Engineers also created endless chains of defensive positions, from simple trench systems to complex bunker networks, as well as retrieving damaged vehicles and equipment from still-contested battlefields. Combat engineers, meanwhile, occupied some of the most dangerous frontline roles in the American armed forces. Heavily armed with demolitions and weapons, plus weighed down by engineering tools and even driving armoured bulldozers, they were tasked with destroying enemy strongpoints, bridges, equipment, vehicles and many other obstacles to the advance, in both overland and amphibious operations.Building the Battlefield: Tactics and Techniques of U.S. Army Engineers in World War II brings together an exceptional collection of primary sources from engineering field manuals, technical manuals, and other official publications. They provide a detailed insight into the work and skills of the U.S. Army engineers, including building a field fortification, laying and defusing mines, making a contested river crossing, or camouflaging a defensive position properly. Through these texts, we gain practical insight into the exceptional individuals who often combined first-rate infantry fighting skills with engineering skill and problem-solving ingenuity.

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Book SynopsisIn early May 1940, the fortress of Eben Emael was a potent sentinel over the Belgian–Dutch borderlands. The fortress covered 75 hectares on the surface, had 5km of tunnels underground and was studded with bunkers, gun turrets and casemates. Add a garrison of 1,200 men and the natural protection of 60m-high canal walls, and Eben Emael gave the impression of near-impregnability. Yet on 10 May just 78 elite airborne soldiers managed to defeat this fortress in an operation of unprecedented tactical skill. Deployed by glider onto the very top of the fortifications, they utilized elite training, fast movement and specialist explosives to destroy many of the gun positions and trap much of the garrison within the fortress. Simultaneously, three other assault detachments conducted high-risk glider operations to capture critical bridges over the Albert Canal. By the end of 11 May, following the arrival of German infantry reinforcements, Eben Emael was in German hands. This Eben Emael RAID title tells the complete, fascinating story of this unique action.Table of ContentsIntroduction/ Origins/ Initial Strategy/ The Plan/ The Raid/ Analysis/ Conclusion/ Further Reading

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the origins, development, combat use and lasting influence of Nazi Germany’s automatic rifles, focusing on the Gew 41(W), Gew 43/Kar 43, FG 42 and MP 43/StG 44. The Blitzkrieg campaigns of 1939–40 convinced many observers that most infantry combat took place at closer ranges than the 750–1,000m. From 1941 Germany’s arms designers took note and produced a new series of infantry firearms. This study not only provides a detailed technical description of each weapon, but also explores how the firearms performed on the battlefields of World War II. The combat takes us from the FG 42 in the hands of Fallschirmjäger at Monte Cassino through to StG 44s being used by Waffen-SS soldiers on both the Eastern and Western Fronts. Postwar service is also studied, such as the Gew 43’s adoption by the Czech Army and the StG 44’s use by the Viet Cong in the Vietnam War. Setting each firearm in its tactical and historical context, and employing striking photographs and full-colour artwork, firearms expert Chris McNab sets out the absorbing story of this distinctive and influential series of weapons.Table of ContentsIntroduction /Development /Use /Impact /Select Bibliography /Index

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Book SynopsisWho’s going to guide you when your military boot camp class is over? What’s going to help you prepare for the next boot camp challenge? With the aid of superb line artworks, SAS and Elite Forces Guide: Extreme Fitness demonstrates to the reader how special forces soldiers are trained to reach and maintain peak physical fitness. The book explores the different training methods to build up physical strength, speed, agility and endurance, across running, swimming, weight training, circuit training and triathlon events. In addition, it addresses the importance of diet and nutrition, injuries and rest, and using mental fitness to help physical health. With more than 300 easy-to-follow artworks, training tips and workouts used by the U.S. Navy SEALs and British Royal Marines, Extreme Fitness is the definitive guide for the person who wants to be their best.Table of ContentsIntroduction1. Preparing the Body2. Military Workouts3. Extreme Running4. Extreme Water5. Extreme Resistance6. Mixing It Up7. Mental Preparation8. InjuriesGlossaryIndex

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Book SynopsisModern Small Arms looks in detail at 300 of the most widely used pistols, rifles, submachine guns, machine guns and other small arms of the last 100 years. It includes famous small arms such as the AK-47, the M16, the SA80, the Lee Enfield, the MP40, the MG42, the Browning Hi Power, the M60, the Thompson sub-machine gun, the Colt .45, the Sten and the L115A3 sniper rifle. Arranged by type, each small arm is illustrated by a full colour artwork and accompanied by a detailed specifications table giving the country of origin and the technical details of the weapon, including calibre, length, weight, barrel length, rate of fire, muzzle velocity, operation and, where appropriate, magazine capacity. Each entry also contains text summarising the weapon’s development and service history. Presented in a handy, pocket-book format, Modern Small Arms is colourful, packed with information and offers a great insight into the development of weaponry over the past century.Table of ContentsIntroduction Handguns Mannlicher Model 1901 Steyr Model 1917 Glock 17 Glock 18 Glock 20 Browning Modèle 1900 Browning High-Power Model 1935 Browning Double-Action CZ75 Tokagypt 58 Helwan Chamelot-Delvigne 1874 Manhurhin MR73 MAB PA-15 Mauser Zig-Zag Bochardt C/93 Bergmann 1896 Bergmann-Bayard M1910 Mauser C/12 Parabellum P’08 (Luger) Parabellum Artillery Model Walther PPK Mauser HSc Walther P38 Heckler & Koch P9 Heckler & Koch P7 Walther P5 Webley Bulldog Webley & Scott Self-Loading Pistol 1912 Mk 1 Webley & Scott Mk 6 Webley-Fosbery Enfield .38 Fromer Model 1910 IMI Desert Eagle Pistola Automatica Glisenti Modello 1910 Beretta Modello 1934 Beretta 81 Beretta Model 93R Beretta Model 92SB Meiji Revolver Meiji Revolver Nambu 14th Year Radom wz.35 Unceta Victoria Astra Model 400 Astra Falcon Star 30M SIG P-210 SIG-Sauer P-225 SIG-Sauer P-226 .32 Savage Model 1907 Colt New Service Revolver M1917 Colt M1911 .45in Colt Army Model 1917 Colt Police Positive Colt Detective Special Colt Python Ruger Security Six Ruger Redhawk Smith & Wesson Double-Action Smith & Wesson ‘Hand Ejector’ Model 1917 Smith & Wesson Mk 22 Model 0 ‘Hush Puppy’ Smith & Wesson 459 Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson 1006 Liberator 13mm MBA Gyrojet Calico M950 Nagant M1895 Tula-Tokarev TT-33 Pistole Makarov Stechkin PSM Submachine Guns Austen MK1 Owen Steyr MP69 Steyr MP69 Vigneron FN P90 Personal Defence Weapon (PDW) Samopal CZ Model 25 Samopal 62 ‘Skorpion’ Madsen M50 Suomi Model 31 Konepistooli M44 MAS 38 MAT 49 Bergmann MP18 Erma MPE Erma MP58 MP38 MP40 Dux Heckler & Koch MP5 Heckler & Koch MP5SD Heckler & Koch MP5K Lanchester Sten Mk II Sten Mk IIS Sten Mk V Patchett Mk 1 Sterling L2A1 Sterling L34A1 Uzi Mini-Uzi Pistole Mitragliatrice Vilar-Perosa M15 OVP Beretta Model 1938/42 Beretta Model 12 Beretta SC70 Spectre Type 100 BXP Star SI35 Star Z70B Carl Gustav M/45 Fürrer MP41/44 SIG MP41 Thompson M1921 Thompson M1928 Reising Model 55 United Defense M42 M3A1 M3A1 Ingram M10 5.56mm Colt XM177E2 Commando PPD-34/38 PPD-40 PPS-43 PPSh-41 Kalashnikov AKSU -74 Skoda M1909 Machine Guns Schwarzlose M07/12 FN MAG FN Minimi M240 GPMG Lehky Kulomet ZB vz30 Madsen Let Maschingevaer Hotchkiss Mle 1914 Hotchkiss M1922/26 8mm Saint-Etienne Modèle 1907 Fusil Mitrailleur M’15 (‘Chauchat’) Fusil Mitrailleur M’le 24/29 Châtellerault Arme Automatique Transformable (AAT-52) NF-1 GPMG Maxim Maschinengewehr ’08 7.92mm Bergmann MG15Na Parabellum-Maschinengewehr Modell 14 Spandau Model 1908/15 MG34 MG42/59 MG42 7.62mm Maschinengewehr 3 Heckler & Koch 13E Heckler & Koch HK21 Heckler & Koch HK21E Maxim .45 Mk 1 Hotchkiss Mk 1 Lewis Gun Mk 1 Vickers Mark 1 (Class C) Rolls Royce MG Bren BESA BESAL Mk II Light Support Weapon L86A1 SIA Perino M1913 Perino M1913 Fiat-Revelli Modello 14 Fucile Mitragliatore Breda Modello 30 Fiat-Revelli Modello 35 Taisho 3 Taisho 11 Type 89 Type 92 Type 96 CETME Ameli Solothurn MG30 Browning M1917A1 Browning M1919A4 Browning M2HB Stoner M63 Machine Gun M60 M60E3 Minigun XM-214 M249 SAW Maxim MG1910 Degtyarev DP Goryunov SGM DShK RPD RPK 7.62mm PKM Pecheneg GPMG Steyr SSG69 Infantry Rifle Model 1889 Artillery Musketoon Mle 1892 Bolt-Action Rifles Lebel M1886 Lebel-Berthier 1907/15 FR-F1 Mauser Gewehr 98 Mauser SP66 Mauser Kar 98K Lee-Enfield Mk II Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Mk III Lee-Enfield Rifle No. 4 Mk 1 Lee-Enfield Rifle No. 5 De Lisle Carbine Parker-Hale Model 85 RSAF L42A1 Accuracy International L96A1 L115A3 Mannlicher-Carcano 1891 Moschetto Modello 1891 per Cavalleria Beretta Sniper Arisaka 38th Year Rifle Springfield Model 1903 Enfield Rifle M1917 Weatherby Mk V M40A1 TAC-50 Mosin-Nagant Rifle Steyr-Mannlicher AUG FN FAL FN FAL Para Automatic Rifles FN FNC FN F2000 QBZ-95 QBZ-03 Samonabiject Puska vz52 V almet M76 Fusil MAS Mle 1936 MAS 49/56 FAMAS Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 Maschinenpistole 43/Sturmgewehr 44 Heckler & Koch PSG 1 Heckler & Koch G3 Heckler & Koch G3SG1 Heckler & Koch G11 Heckler & Koch G36 Heckler & Koch 416 Walther WA2000 L1A1 Self-loading Rifle EM-2 Assault Rifle Enfield Individual Weapon L85A1 (SA80) Accuracy International AS50 INSAS Assault Rifle Pindad SS2 Khaybar KH2002 Galil ARM Galil Sniper IMI Tavor TAR-21 Beretta AR70/90 Beretta BM59 Beretta AS70/90 FX-05 Xiuhcoatl SAR 80 SR-88 Vektor R4 CETME SIG SG540 M1 Rifle (Garand) Browning Automatic Rifle Carbine, Caliber .30, M1 M14 Rifle M21 Armalite AR-18 M16A1 Ruger Mini-14 Barret Light Fifty M82A1 Iver Johnson Model 500 M4 Carbine M14 EBR M110 FN Scar Simonov AVS-36 Tokarev SVT-40 Simonov SKS Kalashnikov AKM Kalashnikov AK-47 Kalashnikov AK-74 Kalashnikov AKS-74 AK 103 Dragunov SVD AN-94 Abakan AK-107 AK-200 Franchi SPAS Model 12 Franchi SPAS 15 Remington M870 Shotguns Ithaca Model 37 M and P Mossberg ATPS 500 Pancor Jackhammer Winchester 12 Defender Granatpistole M79 Grenade Launcher M203 Grenade Launcher Grenade Launchers Mark 19 Grenade Launcher AGS-17 Milcor MGL Brunswick RAW Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisMilitary Vehicles is a wide-ranging guide to the world of military mobility in the twentieth century and beyond. In 300 detailed entries, it explores the combat, transport and utility vehicles that have supported military units from World War I to the present day. Categories include armoured personnel carriers, armoured cars, anti- aircraft vehicles, tank destroyers, trucks and transporters, amphibious vehicles, self- propelled artillery and more. From early iron-clad machines such as the German Büssing A5P and the Russian Garford-Putilow armoured cars to advanced machines such as the Italian MICV Dardo and the German LGS Fennek, Military Vehicles examines the development of these powerful weapons of war. Each vehicle featured is illustrated by a full-colour side-profile artwork. The service history and key features of the vehicle are explained, and a detailed specification table lists the country of origin, crew, weight, dimensions, armour, armament, powerplant and performance. The book also features an introductory history of the development of military vehicles from 1900 to the present and a full glossary of technical terms and abbreviations. Presented in a handy, pocket-book size, Military Vehicles is a colourful guide that will interest any enthusiast of military technology and modelling.Table of ContentsIntroduction Amphibious Vehicles Gillois PA Schwimmwagen Type 166 M2 and M3 Arisgator K-61 BAV-485 GAZ-46MAV GT-S Pegaso VAP 3550/1 Vickers 31 Ford GPA LVT-3 LVTP-5 AAAVR7A1 AAA V Anti-Aircraft Vehicles Crotale Shahine Flakpanzer 38 (t) Mobelwagen Wirbelwind Flakpanzer 1 Gepard Roland Sidam 25 Type 87 AWSP SA-4 Ganef SA-6 Gainful SA-8 Gecko SA-13 Gopher SA-10 Grumble SA-11 Gadfly M1 Tunguska ADATS Tracked Rapier Armoured Starstreak M727 HAWK M48 Chaparral MIM-104 (GE) Patriot Anti-Tank Vehicles VBL Raketenjadgpanzer 1 Raketenjadgpanzer 2 Jgd Jaguar 1 and 2 Wiesel TOW Centauro Type 60 Panzerjager 90 FV102 Striker M50 Ontos M901 Armoured Combat Vehicles Austro-Daimler ADGZ Pandur EGESA EE-9 Cascavel Cougar Cardoen Piranha 6X6D PA-II CGV 1906 Autoblinde Peugeot Auto-Mitrailleuse Berliet VUDB Panhard 178 Panhard EBR/FL-11 Panhard EBR/FL-10 Panhard AML 90 AMX-10RC Renault VBC 90 RPX-90 ERC 90 F4 Sagiae Bussing A5P Daimler/15 Daimler DZVR 1919 Schupo-Sonderwagen 21 Pzpw SdKfz 232 (8 Rad) Schutz...SPz 11-2 kurz Autoblinda Lancia IZ Pavesi 35 PS Fiat-Ansaldo L3/35Lf Fiat-OCTOBREDA 6616 OTO Melara R3 Capraia VCC-80/Dardo IFV Sumida M.2593 Type 89 M39 Armd Car WZ/34 TAB-72 Garford-Putilow BMP-1 BTR-80 BMP-3 BTR-90 Bionix 25 Eland Arm'd Car Rooikat VEC Cavalry Scout Landsverk 180 Grenadier Little Willie FV 721 Fox Warrior MICV Dragoon Engineer Vehicles 4KH7FA SB20 Greif ARV SIBMAS ARV Pionierpanzer 1 Skorpion MAN/Krupp Leguan Pionierpanzer Dachs 2 FSB 2000 MAN FSG Bergpanzer 3 Buffalo ARV Keiler Mine-Clearing Faun ATF 70-4 SMT-1 MDK -2M Ural-375E KET-L BREM-1 BgBv 82 Entpannungspanzer 65 Churchill ARC Chieftain AVLB FV106 Samson Challenger ARRV BAT-2 M32 Sherman T15E1 M48 AVLB M88A1 M578 M9 ACE Half-Track Vehicles BMS-1 Alacran OT-810 M23 M28 Somua MCG/S307 SdKfz 10/4 NSU Kettenkrad HK 101 SdKfz 250/3 SdKfz 4/1 Morris-Martel Burford-Kegresse Bedford Traclat Rocket Launchers XLF-40 Pluton 28/32CM Wurfkorper 251 Lars II Type 75 BM-13 BM-31-12 ZiS-6 FROG-7 SS-1c Scud B BM-22 Uragan DR-3 Reys SS-23 Spider 9A52 Smerch Honest John Pershing Lance MLRS BMG-109 Tomahawk M-77 Oganj Self-Propelled Artillery Type 54-1 M-77 Dana F3 BAK 1906 SIG 33 Geschutzwagen SdKfz 135/1 15cm Howitzer Rascal M41M90/53 2S7 SM-240 PRAMS-S G6 Rhino Birch Gun Mk II T19 Tactical Support Vehicles Saurer RR-7 Renault Char TSF Panzerbefehlswagen I Type 82 ABRA/RATAC LGS Fennek M577 Green Archer YP-104 Lynx CR M4 C2V Tracked Infantry Vehicles Saurer 4K 4FA-G1 Cobra Ram/Kangaroo Wasp Mk IIC YW 531 YW 703 OT-62 AMX VCI AMX VTT/TB SPz lang HS30 M113A1G M113 Zelda SU-60 Type 73 BTR-50 MT-LB KIFV K-200 Carden-Loyd Mk VI Bren Gun Carrier FV433 Stormer M75 M59 M114A1E1 M-60P M-80 MICV Trucks & Transporters Steyr-Puch Haflinger Steyr 680 M3 Steyr-Puch P...716M BR-100 Bombi Praga V3S Tatra T 148 Renault UE Laffly W1 5T ACMAT TPK 6.40 Lohr Fardier FL 500 Munitionstransporter IV Raupen Schlepper Ost D-Benz Unimog S 404 B Ford G398 SAM Faun L912/45A MAN 630 L2 Faun SLT 50-2 Elefant MAN N 4510 5t MAN 15 t MAN 40.633 Iveco 6605 TM GAZ-AAA ZiS-5 AT-P GAZ-66 KAMAZ-5320 KAMAZ-4310 krAZ-260 Ural-4320B Bv202 Bv206 Light Dragon Mkii Austin 10 Humber Snipe Bedford OYC Leyland Hippo Mk II M29C Weasel Mack NO M274 Mule M561 Gama-Goat M992 FAASV Oshkosh PLS Wheeled Infantry Vehicles EE3 Jararaca LAV-25 VTP-1 Orca Fahd Patria XA-180 M201 VLTT Panhard M3 VXB-170 Panhard VCR Auverland a3 Borgward B2000 VW 181 Faun Kraka 640 TM 90 TM125 TPz-1 Fuchs Condor ATF 2 Dingo GTK/MRAV FUG RBY Mk 1 RAM V-2L Fiat Campagnola 11-7 AD Fiat Melara 6614 ASA Guardian IVECO 40-10 WM Chaimite V-200 Bravia Commando III BA-20 BA-64 GAZ-67B BRDM-2 BRDM-2 SA-9 BTR-70 UAZ-469B Al Faris AF-40-8-1 Tatrapan Casspir BMR-600 BLR URO VAMTAC Sonderwagen SW1 Roland MOWAG Spy Shorland SB401 Sandringham 6 Supacat ATMP Valkyr FS100 Simba Scout Index

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Book SynopsisMammals include some of the most intriguing creatures on the planet: the big cats of Africa, the monkeys that inhabit the trees of the Amazon basin, the whales and dolphins that roam the world’s oceans. This book profiles the mammals of the world, using an entry by entry approach. By including fascinating examples from all of the world’s major mammal families, Mammals offers a truly comprehensive overview of mammals from every continent and gives a sense of the incredible diversity of mammal types. The entries are grouped by order, then within each order by family (and, where necessary, within each family by subfamilies); each family section contains examples of the key species, which are illustrated with beautifully detailed, full-colour artworks. For easy reference, each entry includes a table of information on scientific name, order and family, features, habitats, distribution, diet and breeding. Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Artiodactyla–Carnivora 14 Cetacea–Insectivora 149 Lagomorpha–Pinnipedia 182 Primates–Rodentia 230 Sirenia–Xenartha 304 Glossary 312 Index 314

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Book Synopsis'The best political weapon is the weapon of terror. Cruelty commands respect. Men may hate us. But we don't ask for their love; only for their fear.' – HimmlerMost people would associate the SS with Heinrich Himmler, but the latter was not the first (or the last) leader of this infamous body. SS 1923– 1945 examines the history and development of the Schutzstaffel from its origin as Hitler’s personal bodyguard to its growth into a millions-strong organisation by the war’s end in 1945. Broken down by the key constituent parts of the SS, such as the police, concentration camps, security services, Waffen-SS, slave labour, Einsatzgruppen and so forth, the book includes exhaustive reference tables, diagrams, maps and charts, presenting all the core subject information in easy-to-follow formats. The SS 1923–1945 will be an essential reference guide for anyone interested in the history or demographics of this infamous organisation.Table of Contents1. The Origins and Rise of the Schutzstaffel 2. The Allgemeine (General) SS 3. The Waffen-SS 4. The Foreign SS 5. Einsatzgruppen and Totenkopfverbände 6. Police and Intelligence 7. SS Culture and Ideology Appendix Bibliography Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisFrom the American Civil War and the introduction of the metal cartridge in the 1860s up to the present day, The Encyclopedia of Weapons is an accessible reference guide to the most important small arms, armoured vehicles, aircraft and ships from all around the world. The book ranges from the first Gatling guns to favourites such as the Lee Enfield rifle and the AK-47; in terms of aircraft the book includes World War I biplanes, World War II’s Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero fighter and on to modern stealth aircraft; in naval weaponry the book features early ironclad submarines, classic ships such as Bismarck and the nuclear subs of today; from the first tanks on the Western Front in World War I, such as the Mark V Male, the book covers the development of armoured fighting vehicles, featuring such classics as the Soviet T-34 and modern tanks like the M1 Abrams. With an entry per page, each weapon is illustrated with two colour artworks – some of them cutaways – a colour or black-&-white photograph, an authoritative history on its development, production and service history and a box of essential specifications. Featuring more than 400 entries, The Encyclopedia of Weapons is a fascinating reference work on the most important tanks, guns, military ships and aircraft over the past 150 years.Table of ContentsIntroduction TANKS & AFVs Mark V Male (1917) Whippet (1917) Renault FT-17 Sturmpanzerwagen A7V (1918) Vickers 6-ton (1928) BT-5 (1932) Type 95 Kyugo Light Tank (1934) T-35 (1935) Panzer II Ausf F (1936) Somua S35 Char B1 bis (1937) Type 97 Chi-Ha Panzer 38(t) (1938) Mk III Valentine Infantry Tank (1939) Panzer III Ausf F (1940) StuG III KV-1A Heavy Tank (1940) Panzer IV Ausf F1 (1941) Mk VI Crusader I Cruiser Tank (1941) Churchill Mk IV (1941) M3A3 Stuart (1941) M3A3 General Lee (1941) T-70 (1942) T-34 Model 1943 (1942) Panzer VI Tiger Ausf E (1942) M4A4 Sherman (1942) Semovente DA 75/18 Panzer V Panther Ausf D (1943) KV-85 Heavy Tank (1943) M26 Pershing Churchill AVRE (1943) Churchill Crocodile T-34/85 (1944) Sherman Crab Mine-Clearing Tank (1944) Sherman VC Firefly (1944) Cromwell Mk VIII (1944) Tiger II ‘King Tiger’ (1944) Jagdpanzer VI Jagdtiger (1944) M-24 Chaffee (1944) Sturmmorser Tiger IS-3 (1945) Centurion A41 (1945) T-54/55 (1947) M41 Walker Bulldog AMX-13 (1952) M-48 Patton (1952) PT-76 (1952) M-60 Patton (1960) T-62 (1961) Chieftain Mk5 (1963) Leopard 1 (1965) M551 Sheridan (1966) Stridsvagn 103B (1967) Scimitar (1970) T -72 (1971) Merkava (1977) Leopard 2 (1979) M2 Bradley (1981) Challenger 1 (1982) Stingray (1989) M1A1 Abrams (1985) AMX-56 Leclerc (1991) T-90 (1992) M1A2 Abrams (1996) Type 99 (1998) Challenger 2 (1998) Arjun (2004) K2 Black Panther (2013) T -14 Armata Autoblinde Peugeot (1914) Panhard Type 178 (1935) SdKfz 232 SdKfz 251 SdKfz 234 Puma AEC Armoured Car Mk III T -17E1 Staghound I LVT-4 Water Buffalo Panhard EBR/FL-11 (1954) M113 (1954) M50 Ontos BMP-1 (1961) BTR-60 Saladin Marder BTR-70 (1972) LAV-25 (1983) BTR-80 (1984) Pandur (1985) Warrior MICV (1986) Centauro Ratel BMP-3 (1990) Type 89 (1991) AAV7 BTR-90 (2004) Stryker Viking BvS10 Bulldog IFV ARTILLERY & MORTARS Canone de 75 Mle 1897 (1897) Ordnance QF 13pdr (1904) Ordnance BL 60pdr Mk 1 77mm M96nA (1905) Ordnance QF 4.5in howitzer (1908) Skoda 305mm Howitzer Canon de 105mm Schneider Mle 1913 (1913) Big Bertha (1914) Paris Gun (1918) 105mm leFH 18 (1927) 15cm (5.9in) sFH 18 Katyusha rocket launcher Wurfgranate 41 122mm (4.8in) Howitzer Model 1938 (M-30) 15cm (5.9in) SIG 33 105mm Howitzer M2A1 (1941) Ordnance QF 25 pdr Mk 2 152mm Howitzer M1943 (1943) 105mm Howitzer M3 (1945) OTO-Melara 105mm Mod 56 (late 1950s) BM-21 rocket launcher D-30 Howitzer M109 155mm SP gun 2S3 (Soviet) Soltam M68 Gun (1968) 155mm Howitzer FH-70 (1974) 105mm Light Gun L118 (1976) 155mm Howitzer M198 (1978) M270 MLRS 2S19 Mista (Soviet) M777 Howitzer (2005) 40mm Bofors L/60 (1929) 88mm Flak 18 (1933) 3.7in QF Gun Mk 1 (1937) 3.7cm Flak 36 20mm Flak 38 (1939) Oerlikon 20mm (1939) 90mm M1 (1940) ZSU-23-4 Gepard M167 Vulcan (1961) 5cm Pak 38 (1940) 7.5cm Pak 40 (1940) 3in Gun M5 (1940) Ordnance QF 17pdr Gun (1942) 76.2mm M1942 (1942) ZiS-3 Ordnance ML 3in Mortar (1932) SGrW 34 81mm Mortar (1934) M1938 120mm Mortar (1938) 60mm Mortar M1 (1941) M224A1 Mortar (2011) M120 Mortar System AIRCRAFT, HELICOPTERS & DRONES Fokker E series (1915) Sopwith Camel (1916) Nieuport 17 (1916) SE.5a (1916) Fokker Dr.1 (1917) SPAD XIII (1917) Polikarpov I-16 (1934) Messerschmitt Bf 109 (1935) Hawker Hurricane (1935) A5M Claude Supermarine Spitfire (1936) Douglas SBD Dauntless (1938) Mitsubishi A6M Zero (1939) Focke-Wulf Fw 190 (1939) North American P-51 Mustang (1940) Yakovlev Yak-1/3/7/9 (1940) Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (1941) Grumman F6F Hellcat (1942) Vought F4U Corsair (1942 Messerschmitt Me 262 (1942) Northrop P-61 Black Widow (1942) Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star (1944) MiG 15 (1947) North American F-86 Sabre (1949) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (1950) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (1955) McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II (1958) Mirage III (1961) Grumman F-14 Tomcat (1970) Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon (1974) Panavia Tornado (1974) Sukhoi Su-27 ‘Flanker’ (1977) Mikoyan MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum’ (1977) Dassault Mirage 2000 (1978) McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (1978) Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle (1986) Dassault Rafale (1986) Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor (1990) Eurofighter Typhoon (1994) Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (2006) Breguet XIX Junkers Ju 87 Stuka (1935) Junkers Ju 88 (1936) Messerschmitt Bf 110 (1936) Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik (1939) De Havilland Mosquito (1940) SBD-3 Dauntless (1940) Hawker Typhoon (1942) General Dynamics F-111 (1964) Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II (1972) McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II (1978) Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk (1981) Gotha bombers (1917) Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (1935) North American B-25 Mitchell (1939) Avro Lancaster (1941) B-24 Liberator (1941) Boeing B-29 Superfortress (1944) English Electric Canberra Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (1952) Avro Vulcan (1952) Tupolev TU-95 (1956) Tupolev Tu-22M (1972) Northrop B-2 Spirit (1989) Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1935) Consolidated Catalina (1936) Me 323 Gigant Lockheed C-130 Hercules (1954) Lockheed SR-71 ‘Blackbird’ (1962) Lockheed C-5 Galaxy (1968) E-3 Sentry UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) AH-64 Apache Mi-24 'Hind' UH-60 Black Hawk MQ-1 Predator (1991) RQ-4 Global Hawk (1998) MQ-9 Reaper (2001) MQ-8B Fire Scout (2009) WARSHIPS, AIRCRAFT CARRIERS & SUBMARINES CSS Hunley (1863) Gustav Zede (1893 USS Holland (1897) B-Class (1904) U-9 (1910) HMS E-11 (1914) Deutschland (1916) UC-25 (1916) Surcouf (1929) USS Nautilus (V-6) (1930) U-47 (Type VIIB) (1938) U-459 (Type XIV) (1941) Type XXI I-400 USS Tench (1944) USS Nautilus (1954) Sturgeon Class (1966) HMS Resolution (1966) Project 705 Lira USS Ohio USS Los Angeles (1974) Le Triomphant (1994) Kursk (1994) USS Seawolf (1995) Type 039 (Song) (1999) Dolphin Class (1999) Astute Class (2007) Type 094 (Jin Class) (2007) Soryu (2009) INS Arihant (2015) HMS Furious (1917) HMS Eagle (1924) Akagi (1927) USS Lexington (1927) Hiryu (1937) USS Yorktown (1937) USS Enterprise (1938) HMS Ark Royal (1938) Jun’yo (1942) USS Lexington (1943) USS Intrepid (1943) Shinano (1944) USS Midway (1945) HMS Eagle (1951) USS Forrestal (1955) HMS Hermes/INS Viraat (1959) Clemenceau (1960) USS Enterprise (1961) HMS Fearless (1965) USS Nimitz (1975) Kiev (1975) USS Tarawa HMS Invincible (1980) Admiral Kuznetsov (1995) HMS Ocean (1998) Charles de Gaulle (2001) USS Ronald R. Reagan (2003) Liaoning (2012) HMAS Canberra (2014) Izumo (2015) HMS Queen Elizabeth (2017) USS Gerald R. Ford (2017) INS Vikrant (2018) USS Monadnock HMS Devastation Imperator Alexander II USS Maine Mikasa HMS Dreadnought Vittorio Emanuele HMS Indomitable USS South Carolina USS Utah SMS Derfflinger HMS Royal Oak USS Texas Fuso HMS Hood HMS Rodney KMS Deutschland/Lutzow KMS Scharnhorst De Ruyter Hipper class heavy cruiser Richelieu (1940) KMS Bismarck Vittorio Veneto Yamato Tirpitz USS Indiana USS Iowa Moskva class Sovremennyy class Kirov Type 23 frigate Type 22 Broadsword Visby class Ticonderoga class Arleigh Burke class Type 45 destroyer SMALL ARMS Adams revolver Colt M1860 and M1861 Borchardt C/93 Mauser C/96 Webley & Scott Mk IV and Mk VI Pistole Parabellum Colt M1911 Colt Detective Special Browning GP35 HP (1935) Walther P38 Beretta 92 Glock 17 Desert Eagle pistol SiG P320 Chassepot rifle Dreyse Needle Gun Martini-Henry Mosin-Nagant SMLE (1903) M1903 Springfield (1903) Kar 98k (1935) M1 Garand (1936) M1 Carbine (1942) FG 42 (1942) StG 44 AK-47/AKM (1949) EM2 FN FAL/L1A1 SLR (1954) M14 rifle (1959) Heckler & Koch G3 (1959) CETME Model 58 M16 rifle (1963) M21 sniper rifle (1969) Galil rifle (1973) AK-74 (1974) Steyr AUG (1977) FAMAS (1978) PSG 1 sniper rifle Vektor R4 Dragunov M16A2 (and Colt Commando) SA80 (1985) Barrett M82A1 (1989) M4 Carbine (1994) Heckler & Koch G36 (1995) OICW QBZ-03 (2003) M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (2008) FN SCAR (2009) AK103 AK-12 (2010) M27 IAR Bergmann MP 18 (1918) Thompson M1928 MP 38/MP 40 MAS 38 Sten Mk 2 PPSh-41 Austen SMG M3A1 ‘Grease Gun’ Sterling L2A1 Uzi Heckler & Koch MP5 BXP SMG Calico M950 + M960A P90 PDW Gatling Gun (1878) Madsen Maxim M1910 (Maschinengewehr 08) Lewis Gun (1911) Vickers Machine Gun (1912) Hotchkiss M1914 BAR M1919 Browning (1919) M2 Browning .50 cal (1933) MG 34 (1936) Bren Gun (1938) MG 42 (1942) RPD machine gun (1953) RPK M60 machine gun (1957) FN MAG (1958) PK machine gun (1961) L86A1 LSW FN Minimi CETME Ameli Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisThe events of 1939–1945 had such a dramatic impact on the world that it is easy to forget that Allied victory was far from certain, especially in the early part of the war when both the Nazis in Europe and the Japanese in the Pacific were sweeping all before them. History of World War II chronicles the war as it happened, focusing on key battles and events that act as signposts in the slow change of fortunes of either side. Divided into two sections, one on each major theatre, the book describes such famous events as the attack on Pearl Harbor, the battle of Stalingrad, the Normandy landings, the fall of Berlin, and the struggle for Iwo Jima. Linking each famous event is an in-depth chronology detailing other events happening elsewhere, building into a snapshot of the war at that point. In each section are spreads comparing and contrasting the strengths of essential weapons in that battle: fighter aircraft in the Battle of Britain, tanks at Kursk, landing aircraft at D- Day and in the Pacific. Each of these spreads is packed with colourful diagrams, graphs and charts to help you grasp the relative strengths of, for example, different aircraft carriers at the Battle of Midway, US versus Japanese small arms at Okinawa and anti- tank guns in the Normandy campaign, among many other engagements. The final part of the book provides a chronology of the war. Highly illustrated with colour maps and both colour and black-and-white photographs and colour artworks, History of World War II is a both a handy reference volume on the progress of the conflict and the weapons used to fight it.Table of ContentsPART ONE: THE WAR IN EUROPE 1. Incredible victory: The battle of the River Plate 2. Battle for Finland: The winter war 3. Breakthrough: Sedan 4. The Fall of France: Escape from Dunkirk 5. The Battle of Britain: Victory of the Few 6. Operation judgement: The Taranto raid 7. O’Connor’s victory: Operation Compass 8. Hitler Strikes South: Germany invades the Balkans 9. Death from above: The airborne invasion of Crete 10. The hunt for the Bismarck 11. Panzergruppe Guderian: The drive on Smolensk 1941 12. Stalin’s winter offensive 13. Death on the Neva: The siege of Leningrad 14. The battle of Sevastopol: Conquest of the Crimea 15. Gazala and Tobruk: The Desert Fox in action 16. Forgotten sacrifice The Arctic convoys 17. Disaster at Dieppe: No second front 18. Operation Torch: America in Europe 19. Drive for the Volga 20. El Alamein: Montgomery’s victory 21. Stalingrad - Death of an Army 22. Kasserine: The Desert Fox strikes back 23. Kharkov: Manstein’s masterpiece 24. Kursk: Turning point in the east 25. Target for tonight: The night battles over Germany 26. The Schweinfurt raids. Battle over Germany 27. Operation Husky: The invasion of Sicily 28. The Battle of the Atlantic 29. Big Week: Striking at the heart of the Reich 30. Cassino: Battle for the monastery 31. ‘A stranded whale’: The Anzio landings 32. D-Day: The Normandy landings 33. The destruction of Army Group Centre 34. Normandy breakout 35. Death of a city: The Warsaw rising 36. Operation Market Garden: The battle for Arnhem 37. The last blitzkrieg: The Ardennes offensive 38. Storming into Germany: 39. Battle for Budapest 40. The battle of the Rhine crossings 41. Battle for Berlin: The Fall of the Reich PART TWO: THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC 42. Day of infamy: Pearl Harbor 43. Fall of Empires: Japanese Blitzkrieg 44. Coral Sea: Carriers in action 45. The Battle of Midway: Decision in the Pacific 46. Battle of Guadalcanal: All for an airfield 47. Solomons: The sea battles 48. Kokoda Trail: New Guinea 1942-3 49. Bloody Tarawa: Battle for the Gilberts 50. Imphal and Kohima: Victory of the Forgotten Army 51. The great Marianas turkey shoot 52. Leyte Gulf: Final victory 53. Return to the Philippines 54. Strangling Japan: The submarine war in the Pacific 55. The sands of Iwo Jima 56. The road to Mandalay: Triumph in Burma 57. Okinawa: End of an empire PART THREE: CHRONOLOGY

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Book SynopsisA hotspot in the North Atlantic, Iceland is one of the world’s most unusual countries. It is Europe’s second largest island but its most sparsely populated country. Sitting astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, linking the North Atlantic plate with the Eurasian plate, it is closer to Greenland than Europe. It lies just south of the Arctic Circle, but, warmed by Gulf Stream waters, has a temperate climate. It has fiery volcanoes and freezing glaciers, striking black sand beaches and hot geysers – the word geyser itself comes from Icelandic. And a geologically young landmass, Iceland is still taking shape: a volcanic eruption in 1963 caused the formation of the new island of Surtsey. Iceland is a fascinating exploration of this most beautiful island. From volcanoes and lava flows to geysers and geothermal pools, from bird life to whale-watching, from national parks, verdant valleys to inland tundra, and from how waterfalls are used for hydro-electric power to Reykjavik’s city life, the book is packed with 200 spectacular colour photographs. Presented in a landscape format and with captions explaining the story behind each entry, Iceland is a stunning collection of images celebrating the world’s most curious island.Table of ContentsContents Introduction Coasts Isafjordur Bolungarvik Akranes Borgarnes Keflavik Husavik Olafsfjordur Highlands Volcanoes (both active and inactive) – Askja, Eyjafjallajökull, Hrómundartindur Geysers – Geysir Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) seen from the highlands Glaciers Langjokull Hofsjokull Vatnajokull Mýrdalsjökull Þórisjökull Eiríksjökull Þrándarjökull Tindfjallajökull Torfajökull Snæfellsjökull Outer Islands Grimsey – island within the Arctic Circle Vestmannaeyjar archipelago Surtsey Reykjavik & Town Life Hallgrímskirkja Church Rauðhólar ("red hills") rock formation Blue Lagoon thermal pools Heiðmörk conservation area Tjörnin lake Nauthólsvík Austurvöllur square Alþingishúsið parliament building Akureyri - Town Lake Þingvallavatn and Þingvellir

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Book SynopsisWorld’s Worst Military Disasters examines some of the worst battle defeats in military history from ancient times through to the present day, including some of the most famous battles in history. The accounts range from remarkable stories of how the world’s great powers met military defeat at the unlikely hands of ill-equipped native peoples, such as the events at Little Big Horn, to embarrassing technical failures and miscommunication evidenced during Operation Eagle Claw. World’s Worst Military Disasters investigates military catastrophes originating from all kinds of circumstances. Each fascinating account gives a full and detailed analysis of the events leading up to the disaster, followed by studies of the strategies used during the manoeuvres and the reasons for their failure. Learn about the blunders at Pearl Harbor, the attack at Stirling Bridge and find out the reasons for thousands of people dying at the siege and fall of Jerusalem. Each story is highly illustrated bringing every battle and military mishap to life, plus key facts outline the most important information and allows the reader the see facts at a glance. Whether the result of enemy action or pure human error, World’s Worst Military Disasters offers an educational and riveting read.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Ancient Battles 2000BC-300BC Battle of Megiddo (c.1479) Kadesh (c.1274 BC) Marathon (490 BC) Salamis (480 BC) Battle of Gaugamela (331 BC) 2. Roman Victories, Roman Defeats 300 BC-AD450 Cannae (216 BC) Battle of Zama (202 BC) Battle of Carrhae (53 BC) Battle of Actium (31 BC) Teutoburger Wald (AD 9) Battle of Adrianople (378) 3. The Dark Ages 450-1100 Battle of Vouille (507) Battle of Dara (530) Battle of Tours (733 or 734) Battle of Talas (751) Jerusalem (1099) 4. Medieval Melees (1100-1500) Hattin (1187) Stirling Bridge (1297) Bannockburn (1314) Crecy (1346) Nicopolis (1396) Battle of Tannenberg (1410) Agincourt (1415) Fall of Constantinople (1453) Nancy (1477) Battle of Bosworth (1485) 5. Early Modern Disasters 1500– 1763 Flodden (1513) Lepanto (1571) Battle of Nagashino (1575) Spanish Armada (1588) Yellow Ford (1598) Magdeburg (1631) Breitenfeld (1631) Blenheim (1704) Culloden (1746) Rossbach (1757) Leuthen (1757) Minden (1759) 6. Imperial Disasters 1760–1900 Saratoga (1777) Ulm (1805) Austerlitz (1805) Jena/Auerstadt (1806) Retreat from Moscow (1812) Burgos (1812) Afghanistan (1842) Antietam (1862) Fredericksburg (1862) Little Bighorn (1876) Isandlwana (1879) Adowa (1896) Spion Kop (1900) 7. Modern Catastrophes 1900–2000 Verdun (1916) Somme (1916) Dunkirk and the Fall of France (1940) Crete (1941) Kiev (1941) Pearl Harbor (1941) Singapore (1942) Midway (1942) Dieppe (1942) Stalingrad (1942/43) Kursk (1943) Byelorussia (1944) Warsaw uprising (1944) Arnhem (1944) Korea (1950) Dien Bien Phu (1954) Six-Day War (1967) Operation Eagle Claw (1980) Bravo Two Zero (1991) Mogadishu (1993) Fall of Mosul (2014) Index

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Book SynopsisWorld’s Worst Historical Disasters examines some of the most significant natural and man-made disasters in world history, from those almost lost in the mists of time, such as the plague in Athens which killed 75 per cent of the population and the earthquake in Corinth that left 45,000 people dead to modern day catastrophes such as the New Delhi air collision and the Samastipur train disaster which both cost hundreds of lives. All kinds of horrendous disasters are covered including plagues, earthquakes, volcanoes, genocides, floods, train crashes and aeroplane crashes. Each fascinating account gives a full and detailed analysis of the events leading up to the disaster, the actual disaster itself and then the extent of the damage and the dreadful aftermath. Learn about the massacre at Milan, the great fire of London and the historic San Francisco earthquake. Each story is highly illustrated bringing every disaster to life, plus key facts outline the most important information and allows the reader the see facts at a glance. Whether the result of mankind or an inevitable and uncontrollable act of nature, World’s Worst Historical Disasters will provide an educational and riveting read.Table of ContentsAncient Disasters: 3000BC – 0 Sodom and Gomorrah (2nd millennium BC) Modern science throws light on what could have caused the violent event recounted in the Bible. Indus Valley (1750 BC) The soil turns saline in the Indus Valley, the crops fail, and two great cities (Harappa and Mohenjo- Daro) fall into ruin. Thera (1628 BC) A massive volcanic eruption destroys the city of Akrotiri in Greece and turns the sky yellow over China. Aegean (c.1650) A tsunami 150m (500ft) high devastates the coastline of Crete. Athens (429 BC) Seventy-five per cent of Athens is wiped out by plague. Imperial Disasters: 0 – 1000 AD Rome (64) Fire beginning in the Circus Maximus destroys half the city. Pompeii (79) Pompeii is destroyed in a massive volcanic eruption from Mount Vesuvius. Rome (189) Plague kills 2000 people every day in Rome. Antioch (526) Over 200,000 people are killed in a massive earthquake Milan (539) The population of Milan, 300,000 people, are massacred by the Ostrogoths. Constantinople (732) Plague reduces the population of Constantinople by around 50 per cent. Corinth (856) An earthquake destroys the great city, leaving 45,000 dead. Medieval Disasters: 1000 – 1500 Jerusalem (1099) The Crusaders kill 40,000 people in Jerusalem, although they themselves have suffered 240,000 dead from disease and starvation. Northern Hemisphere (c.1200) The onset of the ‘Little Ice Age’ results in starvation, crop failure and epidemics across the northern hemisphere. Japan (1274) Kublai Khan’s invasion fleet is destroyed off the coast of Japan by a typhoon, sending 200 ships and 13,000 men to the bottom of the sea. Europe (1347–51) The Black Death plague kills 75 million people – one third of the population of Europe. Hispaniola (1493) The Spanish begin colonizing the Americas, beginning the destruction of entire American civilisations and the deaths of 24 million from war and disease. Africa (1497) Portugal establishes its first colonies in Africa, and begins the transatlantic slave trade which will cost over 10 million African lives. Early Modern Disasters: 1500 – 1700 Lisbon (1531) An earthquake wrecks the historic city. Natal (1552) The Portuguese ship Sao Joao runs aground on the Natal coast, drowning 100 and costing the lives of a further 500 during their walk to the nearest Portuguese outpost. Shansi province (1556) An earthquake kills 830,000 people, the greatest seismic disaster in history. New England (1617) Smallpox decimates the North American Indians of New England. North Atlantic (1622) The Spanish galleon Atocha sinks in a storm with 200 people and 200 million pesos on board. India (1632–69) Famine kills four million people in India following a severe drought. London (1666) The Great Fire of London turns large parts of central London to ashes. Zenta (1697) 10,000 Turks drown in the River Zenta when attacked by the army of Eugene of Savoy. Industrial Age Disasters: 1700 – 1900 Japan (1703) The city of Edo is wiped out by earthquake, with 200,000 dead. Lisbon (1755) A huge underwater earthquake destroys Lisbon through tremors, fire and tsunamis. India (1769) Ten million people die in the Great Famine of Bengal. Japan (1783) The eruption of Mount Asama wipes out Japanese crop yields, resulting in massive famine and infanticide. Moscow (1812) Moscow is burnt to the ground by Russian saboteurs. Sumbawa Island (1815) An enormous volcanic eruption in Indonesia ejects 50 cubic kilometres of magma into the air. Russia (1830) A cholera epidemic kills one million people. Ireland (1845) The potato crop fails and Europe-wide starvation takes hold. Mississippi River (1865) The paddle steamer Sultana, chronically overloaded with Civil War veterans, blows up and kills 1700 soldiers. Mobile, Alabama (1865) An ammunition magazine explodes, wrecking the town of Mobile and killing 300 persons. Abergele (1868) The UK’s first major rail disaster kills 33 passengers Chicago (1871) A city-wide fire leaves 100,000 people homeless. Fiji (1875) Measles is introduced into Fiji accidentally by the king, and kills a third of the population. China (1876–79) The worst drought ever recorded, in which nine million people lose their lives. Krakatoa (1883) The island of Krakatoa is destroyed by the biggest volcanic eruption in history. Disasters of a New Century: 1900–45 Martinique (1902) Mont Pelee erupts, killing the entire population of the nearby town of St Pierre. New York (1904) Fire aboard the steamboat General Slocum kills over 1000 people on the East River. San Francisco (1906) The San Francisco earthquake destroys two thirds of the city. West Virginia (1907) An explosion at the Fairmont coal mine kills 362 men and boys. New York (1911) Nearly 150 sweatshop employees of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company die in a factory fire. Atlantic (1912) The cruise ship Titanic hits an iceberg and sinks on her maiden voyage. Ireland (1916) The liner Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat off the Irish coastline, costing 1198 lives. Global (1918–19) A worldwide influenza pandemic kills over 21 million people. USA (1925) A three-state tornado kills nearly 700 people in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. France (1930) The British airship the R101 crashes north of Paris. China (1931) A dam across the Yangtze bursts, flooding 104,000 square kilometres of land and precipitating a famine. Soviet Union (1936–38) Stalin’s Great Purge extends over two years and costs the lives of around 10 million Soviet citizens. Nanking (1937) Japanese soldiers commit a month-long massacre of the citizens of Nanking. Leningrad (1941–44) The four-year siege of Leningrad causes the deaths of nearly 800,000 people. Connecticut (1944) The tent of the Barnham & Bailey circus catches fire, and 162 audience members of killed. Baltic (1945) The German refugee ship Wilhelm Gustloff is sunk by a Russian submarine, resulting in history’s worst maritime disaster. Modern Disasters 1945–Present Day China Famine (1959–61) Around 40 million people die of famine, a famine caused mostly by the political tamperings of the communist government. Baikonur Space Centre explosion (1960) The world’s worst space exploration accident – 91 people are killed when an R-16 rocket explodes at the Baikonur Space Centre in Kazakhstan. Aberfan (1966) Over 100 children are killed in their school by a coal waste tip landslide. Bangladesh Cyclone (1970) One million people die when a massive cyclone hits the Ganges Delta Islands, Bangladesh. Tenerife air crash (1977) In the world’s worst civil aviation disaster, two Boeing 747s collide on the runway at Los Rodeos, Tenerife, resulting in 582 dead. Samastipur Train Disaster (1981) A train plunges off a bridge into the Bagmati River in Bihar, India, killing 800 people in the world’s worst train disaster. Bhopal (1984) Thousands die at Bhopal, India, after poisonous gas leaks out from the Union Carbide Factory. Chernobyl (1986) An explosion at the Chernobyl nuclea power station leads to over 2000 deaths from the effects of radiation poisoning. Hillsborough (1989) A crowd surge at the Hillsborough stadium, Sheffield, leads to 96 fans being crushed to death against perimeter railings. New Delhi air collision (1996) Two passenger aircraft collide over New Delhi, killing 351 people. World Trade Center (2001) The worst terrorist attack in history is unleashed against the World Trade Center, New York. Space Shuttle Columbia (2003) The Space Shuttle Columbia breaks up over Texas 16 minutes before landing. Iranian Earthquake (2003) An earthquake in Bam, Iran, results in huge urban destruction and a death toll approaching 40,000. Asian Tsunami (2004) The worst tsunami incident in history kills over 120,000 people in territories bordering the Indian Ocean. Hurricane Katrina (2005) South-eastern America's coast is left devastated by flooding. Haiti Earthquake (2010) One of the world's poorest countries suffers widespread damage and approximately 250,000 people killed. Index

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Book SynopsisThis manual explains the evolution of British coalmining from the 18th to the 20th century, the heyday of British mining, and examines every aspect of life as a pit worker.

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Book SynopsisElon Musk is one of the world''s most successful entrepreneurs -- the CEO of Tesla, the founder of SpaceX and one of the richest people on the planet. Raised in South Africa, he attended a number of universities, before founding the software company Zip2 in 1995. Just four years later it was bought for $307 million. X.com, the online bank he founded in 1999, merged to form PayPal the following year. His business interests have expanded to include aerospace, artificial intelligence and neurotechnology. This book is a deep dive into his career and how he built his business empire. A fascinating read for aspiring entrepreneurs or anyone looking to build a successful business.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Visionaries series brings together entertaining biographies of leading figures within business world and beyond, tracing their lives, careers and the innovative thinking that made them world-famous.

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Book SynopsisWhat is the key to Jeff Bezos''s success? This biography takes a deep-dive into his career and the decisions he made to become the world''s most successful business magnate.Entrepreneur and e-commerce pioneer Jeff Bezos is a success story of the business world. The executive chairman of Amazon and founder of Blue Origin, he became the first centibillionaire on the Forbes wealth index and one of the world''s most recognisable names in modern history. This book explores his empire of achievement and how his vision and hands-on efforts have led him from a start-up in his garage to his legacy today.Featuring photographs which chronicle his rise to success, this book is fascinating read for aspiring entrepreneurs or anyone looking to build a successful business.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Visionaries series brings together entertaining biographies of leading figures within business world and beyond, tracing their lives, careers and the innovative thinking that made them world-famous.

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Book SynopsisAirmen and soldiers, knights and pages, gentlemen and rogues: to you we say stiffen your lip and tighten your sword belt! Tie down your trebuchets, wax your moustache and delve into this manliest of manuals, containing everything the well-bred British man needs to know.The Manual for British Men teaches day-to-day skills such as how to besiege a castle, fire a longbow, correctly clean a Maxim machine gun and capture an enemy trench; sporting sciences such as jousting, fencing and boxing (Queensbury Rules, of course); and domestic essentials such as how to hunt, kill, clean and cook a wild boar.

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Book SynopsisThe Luftwaffe – the German Air Force – played a crucial role in the Wehrmacht’s blitzkrieg tactics, providing both air cover and air artillery for Germany’s panzer troops on the ground. Germany’s successful invasions of France, the Low Countries, the Balkans and the Soviet Union are due in no small part to the professionalism, dedication and skill of the Luftwaffe. Broken down by campaign and key battles within each theatre of war, German Luftwaffe in World War II illustrates the strengths and organizational structures of the Third Reich’s Air Force, building into a detailed compendium of information. Full-colour order of battle tree diagrams at Luftflotte, Gruppe and Geschwader level help the reader understand how and where the fighters and bombers of the German Air Force were employed at any given time between 1939–45. Reference tables provide squadron strengths while organizational diagrams show the types and numbers of aircraft employed in specific operations, such as in the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940 and the opening stages of Operation Zitadelle in July 1943. With extensive organizational diagrams and full-colour operations maps, German Luftwaffe in World War II is an easy-to-use guide to the German Air Force. The book is an essential reference for any serious enthusiast of air warfare in World War II.Table of ContentsThe Pre-War Luftwaffe Invasion of Poland: 1939 Denmark and Norway: 1940 France and the Low Countries: 1940 Battle of Britain and the Blitz: 1940–41 North Africa and the Mediterranean: 1941–45 The Balkans and Greece: 1941–45 Eastern Front: 1941–45 Northwest Europe: 1942–45 Maritime Operations: 1939–45 End of the Reich: 1945 Glossary of Key Abbreviations Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisThe German Navy – known as the Kriegsmarine – played a crucial role during World War II in disrupting Allied shipping, especially in the early years, when Britain stood alone against Nazi aggression following the fall of France. Broken down by campaign and key encounters within each theatre of war, German Kriegsmarine in World War II illustrates the strengths and organizational structures of the Third Reich’s naval forces, building into a detailed compendium of information. Full-colour order of battle tree diagrams at fleet and flotilla level help the reader quickly understand how and where the ships and U-boats of the German Navy were employed at any given time between 1939 and 1945. Reference tables provide fleet strengths while organizational diagrams show the types and numbers of ships involved in specific operations, such as the U-Boat wolfpacks that hunted Allied merchant shipping in the North Atlantic and the invasion fleet used for the assault on Crete. With extensive organizational diagrams and full-colour operations maps, German Kriegsmarine in World War II is an easy-to-use guide to German naval forces. The book is an essential reference for anyone with a serious interest in the naval warfare of World War II.Table of ContentsThe Pre-War Kriegsmarine Early Operations: 1939–40 Surface War in the West: 1941–43 The U-Boat War: 1939–41 The U-Boat War: 1942–45 The Mediterranean: 1941–45 Defeat in the North: 1942–45 Appendices Glossary of Key Abbreviations Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisFarming – whether domestic crops, forestry, fish or livestock – is one of the pillars of human civilization, dating back to the early settlements of Neolithic times. Today, approximately one billion people work the land, providing food and other products for our ever-increasing human population. Arranged geographically, Farming explores the many types of farm and farming that exist today. See how farmers in Malaysia extract milky latex from the bark of rubber trees, used to make everything from protective gloves to vehicle tires; be amazed at the gorgeous stepped rice fields of Bali, where the traditional subak irrigation system is created around ‘water temples’ and managed by Hindu priests; marvel at the vast corn and soya bean fields of Ontario, much of it used for animal feed to support Canada’s beef industry; learn about nomadic pastoralism in low rainfall areas such as Somalia, where herders move camels, cattle, sheep and goats in search of grazing; explore the wineries and vineyards in Bordeaux, where more than 700 million bottles of wine are produced each year by more than 8,500 châteaux; and see how freshwater prawns are harvested for export in the watery deltas of Bangladesh. Presented in a landscape format and with more than 180 outstanding photographs of farming from every part of the planet, Farming offers a pictorial celebration of mankind’s deep connection with the land that sustains us.Table of ContentsContents include: Europe • Livestock farming, cows and sheep – Germany, France • Dairy farming – everywhere • Fruit farming – Kent • Hop farms and oast houses – Kent • Hill farming – Wales • High tunnel greenhouses • Wind farms • Oranges, apricots, lemons – Spain • Wineries and vineyards – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece • Champagne, France – largest farms in France North America • Cattle ranches • Arable crops – Midwest • Peanut farms – Georgia • Aquaponics • Fruits, vegetables, and nuts –Salinas valley, California • Corn belt – Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, southern Michigan, western Ohio • Wheat belt – from Alberta tocentral Texas • Cotton and tobacco farming – Deep South • Catfish farm, Mississippi • Scallop farms, Vancouver Island • Cattle, grains and oilseeds – Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan • Wild berries, caribou, musk, ox – Nunavut Central & South America • Sugarcane, coffee, soybeans – Brazil • Cattle ranches – Argentina • Cocoa – Ecuador • Coffee, cocoa, plantation – Columbia • Vineyards – Chile, Argentina • Andean farming – maize, potatoes Africa and the Middle East • Nomadic herding – Saharan Africa (Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Libya, Algeria) • Farming around the Nile – crop rotation, corn (maize), rice, wheat, sorghum, and fava • Citrus, wine, table grapes, corn and wool – South Africa • Tea, coffee – Kenya • Cocoa – Ivory Coast and Ghana • Maize and cassava – Nigeria Asia and the Pacific • Poppy farms – Afghanistan • Fruit farms – Afghanistan • Dry farming – India, Iran • Tea plantations – India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia • Rubber plantations – Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia • Rice cultivation – China, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam • Bali – subak irrigation system and water temples • Sugarcane, cassava (manioc), corn (maize), sweet potatoes – Vietnam • Sorghum farming – China • Fish farms – Fujian coast, China • Tilapia pens in Laguna de Bay, Philippines • Slash-and-burn – Indonesia • Subsistence farming – China, India, Nepal • Fish farms – India, Bangladesh, Thailand • Cocoa – Indonesia • Palm oil – Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo • Coconut farming – Malaysia, Thailand • Vertical farming – Japan • Sugarcane – Queensland • Stock farming – Australia • Wheat, barley, chickpeas – Australia

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Book SynopsisWho’s going to guide you when your military boot camp class is over? What’s going to help you prepare for the next boot camp challenge? With the aid of superb line artworks, SAS and Elite Forces Guide: Extreme Fitness demonstrates to the reader how special forces soldiers are trained to reach and maintain peak physical fitness. The book explores the different training methods to build up physical strength, speed, agility and endurance, across running, swimming, weight training, circuit training and triathlon events. In addition, it addresses the importance of diet and nutrition, injuries and rest, and using mental fitness to help physical health. With more than 300 easy-to-follow artworks, training tips and workouts used by the U.S. Navy SEALs and British Royal Marines, Extreme Fitness is the definitive guide for the person who wants to be their best.Table of ContentsIntroduction1. Preparing the Body2. Military Workouts3. Extreme Running4. Extreme Water5. Extreme Resistance6. Mixing It Up7. Mental Preparation8. InjuriesGlossaryIndex

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Book SynopsisThey define landscapes, people risk their lives to climb them, and they can even make their own weather. Mountains often serve as geographic features that determine natural borders of countries. Their height can influence weather patterns, stalling storms that roll off the oceans and squeezing water from the clouds. And many are the subject of myth and legend, both expressions of nature’s power and symbols of the sacred. Mountains is arranged by geographical region, featuring the greatest, most spectacular, most infamous and legendary mountains from every part of the world. Read about Mount Aconcagua, with an elevation of 6,959 metres (2,831ft), and the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere; or Half Dome, the semi-spherical mountain that towers over the valley floor in Yosemite National Park; or Mount Olympus, reputed home of the Ancient Greek gods; or K2, considered by many to be the most difficult mountain to climb in the Himalayas; or Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia – a popular hike for many thousands of tourists each year, and the highest mountain in Southeast Asia; or Gunung Agung, the active volcano that remains sacred to the Balinese people as a replica of the mythological Mount Meru of Hindu legend. Each entry is accompanied with a caption explaining the significance and history of the mountain. Illustrated with 200 outstanding colour photographs, Mountains is a visual feast for those who want to gaze down from the roof of the world.Table of ContentsEUROPE Matterhorn Grossglockner Mount Aragats Mount Olympus Mont Blanc Pasterze Ben Nevis Snowdon Shkhara Triglav Dufourspitze Kirkjufell Mount Ahkka Mount Galdhøpiggen Trollveggen Mount Elbrus Tre Cime di LavaredoASIA & PACIFIC Mount Everest Jebel Shams Qurnat as Sawda’ Mount Ararat Karakorum Range Takht-e Soleyman Damavand Sabalan Hindu Kush Hemis National Park Kangchenjunga Himal K2 Makalu Mount Khan Tengri Khüiten Peak Mount Fansipan Lhotse Kumaun Himalayas Mount Tasman Mauna Kea Mount Hallasan Annapurna I Gasherbrum II / K4 Annapurna III Gasherbrum II Mount Hua Mount Kinabalu Mount Rinjani Mount Agung Mount Merapi Mount Tambora Mount Fuji Mount Yari Aoraki/Mount CookAFRICA Mount Toubkal Simien Mountains Kilimanjaro Mount Kenya Stanley Speke Drakensberg Mountains KarisimbiNORTH AMERICA Elbert Mount Mitchell Denali Saint Elias Mount Rainier Foraker Logan Lucania El Capitan Pico de Orizaba/Citlaltépetl Mount Whitney Lone Pine Peak Half Dome Grand Teton Popocatépetl Mount VancouverSOUTH AMERICA Mount Fitz Roy Pico Cristóbal Colón Pico Paraná Andes Cordillera Oriental Mount Huascarán Licancabur Aconcagua Ojos del Salado Mercedario

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Book SynopsisWith striking color photographs exploring 100 areas, Abandoned Towns is a fascinating visual history of the mysteries of lost worlds.   Gold rush towns abandoned when new boomtowns emerge elsewhere or the gold has run out, towns deserted when caught in war zones, settlements evacuated due to natural disasters or chemical spills—seeing a town devoid of people is an uncanny feeling. Where has everyone gone? And why aren’t they coming back? From Pripyat in Ukraine to Bodie in California to English villages requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence during World War II, from Greek leper colonies to deserted Italian mountain villages, Abandoned Towns is a brilliant pictorial work examining lost worlds. With reasons ranging from the collapse of local industry to being pushed aside to make way for a new industry, from earthquakes and volcanoes to man-made chemical spills, from war zones to demilitarized zones, the book explores a wide range of desolate urban environments from around the globe. And with these places left to nature, we can not only see how nature reclaims the land, but also gain a glimpse into the past free from humankind’s modernizing hands.

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Book SynopsisThis Pitkin Guide explores the reality, and unpacks the myths, of ‘Tommy’, the British soldier on the Western Front in the First World War. It looks at every aspect of his personal experience – uniform, kit, trench cuisine, health and hygiene, pay, training and weaponry. It conveys the horrors of the early days of industrial warfare, from machine guns and artillery barrages to close-quarters combat within the enemy trenches and bunkers, and much much more. As well as the most visible aspects of the Tommy’s experience, it also delves into more hidden worlds, and answers key questions. What did the Tommy do on his rest periods behind the frontlines? What caused him to suffer from shell shock, and how was he treated? How was he punished for disciplinary offences? These questions and many more are answered through a factual narrative.

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Book SynopsisAdemás de facilitar un estudio sobre la historia de la Luftwaffe y su experiencia de combate en todos los teatros de la guerra, el autor aporta una perspectiva fascinante sobre los aspectos humanos y materiales de esta organización única. Se examinan los ases y las tripulaciones aéreas que volaron misión tras misión sin descanso, y también se analizan en detalle sus aviones, junto a estudios sobre sus uniformes, equipamiento y tácticas.

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Book SynopsisFamosas por sus cualidades de combate, su fanatismo y su brutalidad, las Waffen-SS pasaron de ser la guardia personal de Hitler en la década de 1920 a constituirse en el ejército que encabezó el asalto a la Unión Soviética y defendió incondicionalmente el Reich durante los últimos días de la II Guerra Mundial. Este volumen está ilustrado con una amplia variedad de dibujos en color y grabados sobre uniformes y más de 200 fotografías.

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Book SynopsisSobrevivir a una emergencia en plena naturaleza implica, sin duda, un buen grado de suerte. Sin embargo, conocer ciertas técnicas militares de supervivencia puede, con toda seguridad, equilibrar la balanza a tu favor. Este tipo de habilidades evitarán que tomes decisiones erróneas en momentos créticos y permitirán que te centres en los objetivos primordiales de preservar tu salud y mantenerte a salvo.Este libro te ayudará a adquirir las capacidades que necesitas desarrollar para hacer frente a una emergencia cuando esta se produzca.Este libro proporciona el consejo de expertos en el campo de la supervivencia.Este manual introduce las herramientas y las habilidades necesarias que son necesarias desarrollar para sobrevivir en la naturaleza. Con consejos y técnicas basadas en las prácticas de las fuerzas especiales de elite de las mejores unidades militares del mundo. El libro se divide en siete capítulos que tratan el equipamiento y la vestimenta, el agua y los alimentos, caz

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Book SynopsisCualquiera que sea el punto de vista defendido respecto a las armas de fuego, es innegable que se encuentran entre los inventos más influyentes de la historia de la humanidad. Antes de su aparición, el armamento personal dependía principalmente de la potencia individual del que la usaba, de su fuerza física y de unas habilidades concretas para blandir una espada, un hacha o una maza, o para tensar ballestas y arcos. Las armas de fuego cambiaron radicalmente esta situación. Este libro pertenece a la promoción libros bélicos.

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