Military history: post-WW2 conflicts Books

Book SynopsisCaptures the atmosphere of the Conflict in words and superb colour photography.

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Book SynopsisAn unusual and never before published account of the War.

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Book SynopsisA fully illustrated study of the extraordinarily successful early-generation jet, the F2H Banshee, a frontline aircraft that served with 27 US Navy and US Marine Corps squadrons and three Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) squadrons.The F2H Banshee was an extraordinarily successful early-generation jet that outlasted both contemporary and more modern fighter types on the decks of the US Navy's aircraft carriers in the 1950s. It served in a variety of roles and was a frontline aircraft for more than a decade in an era when jet fighters came and went with relatively short service careers. This book examines the entire service life of the F2H in the service of the US Navy, US Marine Corps and the RCN. Initially created as a replacement aircraft for McDonnell's pioneering FH1 Phantom, the F2H served in the Korean War as a strike fighter, close air support aircraft, B29 escort, and photoreconnaissance aircraft, including the latter's forays over the Soviet Union and Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. First Generation Jets 2. War Deployments 3. Photo-Banshee 4. Nightfighters and nukes 5. The 'Big Banjo' 6. Canadian Operations and Retirement Appendices Index

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Book SynopsisStrap in alongside the Sabre pilots as they experienced the world''s first large-scale jet-vs-jet combats. Brought to life with innovative tactical artwork and dramatic first-hand accounts from the pilots themselves.The F-86A Sabre had entered USAF service in 1949, and in December 1950 three squadrons were sent to South Korea. Despite primitive basing conditions and overwhelming Chinese opposition, the Sabre pilots stopped communist air forces from attacking UN ground troops and allowed Allied fighter-bombers to operate without threat of interception. The ensuing air battles between Sabres and MiG-15s were the first since World War II, and the last in recent times to involve large numbers of jet fighters in direct confrontation. In all of them the victorious F-86 pilots demonstrated the superiority of their training and tactics and the outstanding qualities of their Sabres. Contemporary photographs and specially commissioned artwork, including a dramatic battlTrade ReviewWhat really makes this book is the volume of personal accounts and the rich selection of mostly colour photographs. The stunning artwork showing tactics, armament, examples of dogfights in ribbon diagrams and the full two page artwork really add value to these short volumes. The high standard of Osprey Publishing is maintained with this book. This is must for any Korean War aviation fans or any F-86 Sabre fans. If you want to know what dogfighting in the F-86 against nimble and heavily armed M-15s mostly flown by Russians as we now know then this is a book for you! * Aviation News Magazine *Table of ContentsCHAPTER 1 In Battle This chapter features an account of a Sabre engagement with MiG-15s over ‘MiG Alley’ to involve the reader in the atmosphere of battle from the outset. CHAPTER 2 Setting the Scene Sabre's first clashes with MiGs. CHAPTER 3 Path to Combat Anecdotal experiences of pilots concerning training and tactical instruction. CHAPTER 4 Weapon of War Although some early pilots found the F-86A lacked manufacturing consistency (one remarked that ‘pieces kept falling off them’), the first batch of 35 F-86A-1s for the 4th FIW soon evolved into effective F-86A-5 combat machines. CHAPTER 5 Art of War USAF, Soviet and Chinese sources are used in studying the combat techniques brought to the battles over ‘MiG Alley’ by pilots from both sides. CHAPTER 6 Combat USAF pilots describe their experiences in the F-86A, explaining how their combat tactics evolved and assessing their engagements. F-86As also flew ground attack missions, although the later Sabre variants were better equipped for this. CONCLUSION APPENDICES F-86A units and bases in Korea 1950-51, notable pilots involved in these early A-model actions and aces of that period. INDEX

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Book Synopsis''Charles Guthrie has been one of Britain''s foremost soldiers as well as a terrific personality throughout his remarkable life. It is great that he is now telling his own story.'' - Sir Max HastingsField Marshal the Lord Guthrie commanded at every level in the British Army from platoon to army group, and was Britain''s senior military commander at a time of great change. He oversaw the modernization of the armed forces following the Cold War years and led Britain''s military involvement in operations in the Balkans and Sierra Leone.Charles Guthrie was commissioned into the British Army in 1959 at a time when Britain''s influence was shrinking throughout the world, and Peace, War and Whitehall describes his operational experience with both the Welsh Guards and 22 SAS in Aden, Malaya, East Africa, Cyprus and Northern Ireland.As a senior officer he commanded the Welsh Guards during an operational tour of the Bandit Country of South Armagh aTrade ReviewPithy, humorous, engaging but above all wise… will guide future generations of our military leaders, but will also fascinate the general reader for their insights into how world-changing decisions are made. * Professor Andrew Roberts *A lively and engaging account of a life well lived… [a] fascinating memoir. * Lady Antonia Fraser *Charles Guthrie has been one of Britain’s foremost soldiers as well as a terrific personality throughout his remarkable life. It is great that he is now telling his own story. * Sir Max Hastings *[Lord Guthrie’s] boldness and humour make the book fizz. * Michael Portillo *There is profound wisdom in these engaging memoirs, written with wry humour and a deceptively light touch. -- Allan Mallinson * The Spectator *Table of ContentsForeword: HRH The Prince of Wales Preface: Major General Richard Stanford, CB, MBE, Regimental Lieutenant Colonel, Welsh Guards List of Illustrations Prologue 1. Harrow 2. The Welsh Guards 3. Aden 4. The SAS 5. Germany 6. Belfast 7. Military Assistant to the Chief of the General Staff 8. Cyprus 9. Brigade Major, The Household Division 10. Commanding the Welsh Guards in Berlin 11. Commanding the Welsh Guards in South Armagh 12. The Coconut War 13. Commander, 4th Armoured Brigade 14. Sport 15. Reflections on Command 16. Kate 17. Commander-in-Chief British Army of the Rhine 18. Chief of the General Staff 19. Gold Stick, Colonel of The Life Guards 20. Chief of the Defence Staff 21. The Hinterland Epilogue Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisIrishman John-Paul Jordan, still only in his thirties, has led an extraordinary life from the Foreign Legion and security in Iraq to serving his country in Afghanistan for which he was decorated for his leadership and bravery and on to herding' journalists on the front line in Libya and hunting for gold in Afghanistan However, once back in Civvy Street, the camaraderie was gone; he found himself a prisoner of war to PTSD. Dehumanised by those professionals who he had turned to for help, this Special Forces veteran and former Legionnaire was brought to his knees. His marriage was over; his home was lost. In isolation, his world unravelled, and the seeds of destruction had been well and truly sown. Knowing he would never see military action again and faced with the realisation of the war raging within him in the spiral of PTSD, John-Paul felt condemned as a man. But, on 1 April 2016, he surrendered - life, too, it would seem, has a sense of humour. He asked for help and found the answers within. In war, John-Paul was the first to batter down the door, whether he was facing bullets or bombs. His story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit: to get back up and to lead from the front. He did not go through all that' just to go through all that'. This is his story of his return to freedom and joy. Buckle up, because this veteran doesn't do anything by halves

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Book SynopsisA forensic study of war, imperial history and international relations, following the Second World War and leading into the Cold War and defeat of Western imperialism in Asia. And above all, the story of the pivotal battle and French defeat at Dien Bien Phu. It shows France's revanchist attempt to regain imperial 'glory' in her former Asian empire following humiliation in the Second World War - defeat and Vichy. The effort was spurred by de Galle's chauvinism and desire to recover France’s honour and reputation, after so many humiliations by friend and foe. The Communist led Vietminh, were guided to victory by ruthless revolutionary Ho Chi Min - far from the attractive 'Uncle Ho' who is revered as a communist saint in contrast to louche playboy emperor Bao Dai – and the very able General Giap. Communist strength in rural Vietnam society - the Vietminh represented a nation in arms – was backed by supplies from Communist China and the Soviet Union. It was an existential struggle on the French side - the end of cafe society, and the gravy train for planters, officials, the military, and politicians. Military matters including General Giap’s strategy and tactics are analysed in detail,l but it was a 'soldiers' war', told at ground-level, and readers will feel the heat and fear of battle, be shocked at war crimes, and intrigued by the tales of Graham Greene et al. The global importance was not lost on the powers following exhaustion from world war and in the shadow of the Cold War. All great leaders were involved, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Churchill, Stalin, Khruschev, Chou En-Lai and Mao Zedong, Under the shadow of the A bomb, a negotiated peace and first detent of the Cold War would end in the sumptuous salons of Geneva.

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Book SynopsisThe world’s oldest still-active war correspondent, Al J. Venter has reported from the front lines for well over half a century, witnessing the horrors humanity visits upon itself in twenty-five conflict zones across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. In this memoir, Venter masterfully recounts his experiences, sharing the real stories behind the headlines and the sharp lessons he learned that enabled him to survive his countless exploits, ranging from exposing a major KGB operative in Rhodesia entirely by accident, and accompanying an Israeli force led by Ariel Sharon into Beirut, to gun-running into the United States.Table of ContentsForeword Prologue 1 Africa, the great continent with an appeal all its own 2 Home by five 3 Heading out into the unknown 4 Africa in the 1960s 5 Matilda and Albert Schweitzer’s jungle hospital 6 Palm wine and plantain in Libreville 7 Nigeria: ‘Crazy, but I love it!’ 8 A peripatetic existence 9 Rib-eye and red wine in Abidjan 10 Kids with machine guns 11 Republic of Guinea to London 12 The Londoner: my dream of a ship 13 Looking for wars and learning to write 14 A bloody battle and a narrow escape in Lagos 15 Another close call 16 Getting the job properly done 17 Independence and revolutions 18 The safari capital of the world 19 Banned from Rhodesia 20 Pen-pushing pals 21 All’s fair in love and war 22 My favourite: the realm of the underwater 23 Mayday … Mayday … Mayday 24 Lisbon: beloved city 25 You’d be lucky to be hit … 26 South Africa invades Angola 27 Battle for Beirut 28 The murder of a United States Marine colonel in Lebanon’s civil war

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Book SynopsisThe story of how the 11th Armored Cavalry overcame the perception that Vietnam was an infantry war, and demonstrated what armor could do in an insurgency.Finalist, 2020 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing AwardsWhen the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment came ashore at Vung Tau, South Vietnam, in September 1966, it faced a number of challenges. The enemy—Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese Army (NVA)—was, of course, the most critical challenge. But the terrain and weather were also factors that could adversely affect the employment of both armored vehicles and helicopters alike. The dearth of doctrine and tactics for the employment of armored cavalry in a counterinsurgency was equally challenging—especially during the pre-deployment training and initial combat operations.But just as importantly, there was an institutional bias within the Army that an insurgency was an infantryman’s war. Despite the thick jungle and monsoonal rains, despite the lack of doctrinal guidance, Blackhorse leaders found a way to overcome the obstacles and accomplish the mission. Within a year of their arrival in Vietnam, Blackhorse troopers overcame ambushes that featured volleys of anti-tank weapons, multitudes of mines, and coordinated assaults by reinforced enemy regiments against troop-sized positions. They defeated an entire enemy division twice their size. Most importantly, the 11th Cavalry successfully demonstrated the ability to operate on and off the roads, in the jungle, and during both the wet and dry seasons. By the spring of 1967, Army leaders were beginning to realize the value of armored forces in Vietnam. With the Blackhorse Regiment leading the way, armor was considered an essential part of the combat team.This is a history of the Blackhorse Regiment in the Vietnam War, and the stories of some of the 20,000 young Americans who served in its ranks during the war.Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter One: Preparing for War Chapter Two: The Blackhorse Enters Combat Chapter Three: The Fight Intensifies Chapter Four: The Blackhorse Makes Its Reputation Chapter Five: The Bloodiest Year Chapter Six: Expanding the War Chapter Seven: Mission Accomplished Epilogue: Blackhorse Forever Appendix 1:History and Patch of the Eleventh United States Cavalry Regiment Appendix 2: Glossary Appendix 3: Firepower Comparison Appendix 4: Blackhorse Medal of Honor Recipients Notes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisIt wasn't rockets or artillery that came through the skies one week during the war. It was the horrific force of nature that suddenly put both sides in awe. As an unofficial truce began, questions and emotions battled inside every air crewman's mind as they faced masses of Vietnamese civilians outside their protective base perimeters for the first time. Could we trust them not to shoot? Could they trust us not to drop them off in a detention camp? Truces never last, but life changes a bit for all the people involved while they are happening. Sometimes wars are suspended and fighting stops for a while. A holiday that both sides recognize might do it, as happened in the Christmas truce during World War I. Weather might do it, too, as it did in Vietnam in October 1970. The typhoon truce was just as real, and the war stopped for three days in northern I Corps--that area bordering the demilitarized zone separating South Vietnam from the North. The unofficial typhoon truce came because fir

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Book SynopsisA Few Bad Men is the incredible true story of an elite team of U.S. Marines set up to take the fall for Afghanistan war crimes they did not commit—and their leader who fought for the redemption of his men.Ambushed in Afghanistan and betrayed by their own leaders—these elite Marines fought for their lives again, back home. A cross between A Few Good Men and American Sniper, this is the true story of an elite Marine special operations unit bombed by an IED and shot at during an Afghanistan ambush. The Marine Commandos were falsely accused of gunning down innocent Afghan civilians following the ambush. The unit’s leader, Maj. Fred Galvin, was summarily relieved of duty and his unit was booted from the combat zone. They were condemned by everyone, from the Afghan president to American generals. When Fox Company returned to America, Galvin and his captain were the targets of the first Court of Inquiry in the Marines in fifty years. “Fred Galvin is the real deal. His dramatic retelling of his experience as commander of Fox Company reads like a thriller, full of twists and turns, filled with unassuming heroes and deceitful villains.” — Rob Lorenz, Producer/Director, American Sniper, Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima, Mystic River, The Marksman “Fred Galvin has written a real ‘page turner’ that demonstrates how politics permeates The Pentagon and posts abroad…I highly recommend this book.” — J.D. Hayworth, U.S. House of Representatives (Arizona), TV/Radio Host “This book is a must-read for every American who wants to know why, after twenty long years in Afghanistan, we did not win.” — Jessie Jane Duff, USMC, Analyst, CNN and FOX “A Few Bad Men is a must-read story of valor, betrayal, and keeping the Marines’ honor clean.” — Jed Babbin, USAF Judge Advocate, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Journalist, National Review, Washington Post “An incredible account and history of the fighting spirit of the ‘Marine Raiders’ under fire and the relentless fourteen-year campaign by their leader to clear their names.” — Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely, U.S. Army (Ret.), Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific CommandTrade Review“From changing ROE (Rules of Engagement) to a vivid story of leadership, challenging choices, betrayal, and the opportunities of the major players in the event to be either heroes of villains, A Few Bad Men creates a powerful, true story of adversity and choices...A Few Bad Men ideally will earn a place not just in military history libraries, but throughout military and civilian discussion groups interested in good and bad choices and the influences that lead not just individuals but nations into bad situations.” -- Midwest Book Review“Fred Galvin’s story is a page turner that reads like the fanciful plot of an A-list Hollywood movie. It’s an extraordinary cliffhanger that deserves attention, and shows just how dangerous ‘fake news’ can be, when no one is willing to stand up for the truth. This is a cautionary tale that should be read by all who are interested in politics, war stories, courtroom drama, and international affairs as this new world we’re living in, where simple lies are being propagated as the truth, is sadly not one that is going away anytime soon.” -- David Jung, Screenwriter and Director of films including Roam, The Possession of Michael King and Genre Summit“A Few Bad Men reveals how the U.S. military, desperate to protect its public image at all costs, sometimes sacrifices the honor of men in combat. The country’s first Marine special operations unit was falsely accused of killing Afghan civilians, then subjected to years of lies and deceit by top generals. The unit and its commander, retired Maj. Fred Galvin, were ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing, but not before their careers were ruined and their honor stained.” -- David Zucchino, Journalist covering the 2008 MARSOC Court of Inquiry for The Los Angeles Times“We take for granted that our American heroes will be supported by their own country when sent off to war. In A Few Bad Men, Maj. Fred Galvin, USMC (Ret.), and Sal Manna detail the painful story of these seven heroes who, when their honor and freedom were on the line, found themselves abandoned by those they counted on most. It reads like a Hollywood blockbuster but, as Galvin tells in personal detail, it was sadly true. It’s a story I was proud to report for local news in Los Angeles, and it’s now a story every American should read for themselves.” -- Jory Rand, television anchor with ABC-7 in Los Angeles where he covered the MARSOC 7 case for three years“Major Fred Galvin has written an incredible account of how our front-line leadership overcame insurmountable odds. A must read for all leaders.” -- Lieutenant General Thomas McInerney, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) former assistant Vice Chief of Staff—Headquarters U.S. Air Force“Simply put, A Few Bad Men captures the difficult nature of raising young men to fight our complex wars—from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and political beliefs—while expecting perfection and good decision making, while under fire, in such a short time. A Few Bad Men additionally illustrates the importance of proper training, leadership, and complete trust in the men and women on the ground fighting on the front lines. This book also shows us how big of a mistake it is to allow politics to get involved during investigations while some are chasing careers at any cost, and that there should be a separation between politics and war fighters to keep those actions that are distinctly different apart, and allow both sides to properly and honestly conduct their jobs. Major Galvin captures this well and explores the thoughts behind rushed judgments, politics, and those on the ground simply doing their jobs the best they can.” -- Sergeant Major Tom Satterly, U.S. Army (Ret.) former Command Sergeant Major of a Joint Special Operations Unit, Combat veteran, Author, Co-founder and Co-CEO of All Secure Foundation“A Few Bad Men is a journey into the mindscape of the warfighter, fought first on the battlefield, then in the court of opinion, where politicians and Monday morning quarterbacks rule. I believe that ‘the use of force produces many effects, not all of which can be foreseen.’ This book is a powerful depiction of combat and a battle for justice and vindication. A must-read.” -- Jason Van Camp, former U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment A-Team leader, Combat veteran, Executive Director— Warrior Rising, and bestselling author“Major Galvin epitomizes ‘no better friend, no worse enemy.’ This book should be required reading for the next generation of leaders who want a real-world lesson in honor, courage, and commitment from the first commander in modern Marine Raider history.” -- Nick Coffman, Journalist covering the MARSOC 7 case since 2015 for Special Operations Forces Report (SOFREP); Served in the Marine Corps in Iraq as a Sergeant“When America sends her Marines to war, we expect that our country will be as faithful to us as we are to our country; that our political and military leaders—those responsible for sending us to war—will have our backs; that we will always receive the benefit of doubt, especially in a war that we have been fighting for more than twenty years now—a war our political and military leaders seem unwilling to win, yet unable to leave. We sleep safely in our beds at night only because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us. Major Fred Galvin is, and always will be, a Marine’s Marine; driven, focused, and totally committed to mission and his Marines. Someone our political and military leaders should be humbled by, or at the very least faithful to—always.” -- Perry Puccetti, retired Marine Corps AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter pilot, current Executive Director of VMLY&R a subsidiary of WPP plc, (NASDAQ: WPPGY)“A Few Bad Men is a blistering, top-to-bottom critique of how senior Marine Corps leaders (and the institution itself) completely mishandled a situation in which members of a Marine Raider unit were falsely accused of war crimes. I found myself unconsciously squirming in my chair as I read Galvin’s litany of shocking examples of failed leadership and unethical behavior by senior officers that illustrate the undeniable fact that he and his men were not only abandoned by the Marine Corps, but were subjected to a politically expedient ‘witch hunt’ that in some ways, continues to this day. I am hopeful that current Marine Corps leaders will publicly acknowledge the innocence of the MARSOC 7, and apologize for the grave injustices these brave Marines had to endure.” -- Michael Ettore, retired Marine Corps Infantryman, Drill Instructor, Infantry officer, combat veteran, author, and retired from Kfor (NASDAQ:KFRC) serving in various C-level roles including: Director - Leadership Development Program, VP of Operations, CIO, and Chief Services Officer

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Book SynopsisWhen Taliban forces took Kabul on 15 August 2021, it marked the end of the Western intervention that had begun nearly twenty years earlier with the US-led invasion. The fall of Afghanistan triggered a seismic shock in the West, where US President Joe Biden announced an end to America's involvement in conflicts overseas. In Afghanistan itself it produced terror for the future for those who had worked with and grown up under the coalition-supported administration. Now, with the country spiralling into economic collapse and famine, Losing Afghanistan is a plea for us to keep our gaze on the plight of the people of Afghanistan and to understand how action and inaction in the West shaped the fate of the nation. Why was Afghanistan lost? Can it be regained? And what happens next? Edited by international development expert Brian Brivati, this collection of twenty-one essays by analysts, politicians, soldiers, commentators and practitioners - interspersed with powerful eyewitness testimony from Afghan voices - explains what happened in Afghanistan and why, and what the future holds both for its people and for liberal intervention.Trade Review"Those who wonder how the international community failed so dramatically in Afghanistan need look no further. This selection of essays makes sombre reading. The differing points of view demonstrate the complexity of the challenge. Losing Afghanistan explores the arguments for and against intervention and highlights the difficulty of establishing unity of purpose and effort in such demanding circumstances. Above all, it poses a question: how can we in the West claim we know so much, yet demonstrate in Afghanistan that we understand so little?" - General (retd) Sir Jack Deverell OBE, former Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe "A wonderful book of insightful essays on Afghanistan from an outsider lens." - Ezatullah Adib, head of research at Integrity Watch Afghanistan and national country representative at the World Association for Public Opinion Research "The efforts to solve the immense and complex problems in Afghanistan may have often been misdirected, but failure was not guaranteed. Unfortunately, the peace negotiations, leading to the inappropriate haste of withdrawal, fatally undermined the population's confidence, catalysing the untimely collapse of the government. The strategic question posed by these brilliant essays is: how can the doctrine of liberal intervention be reframed to ensure the West intervenes overseas to manage future humanitarian calamities for reasons beyond just national security?" - Brigadier (retd) Justin Hedges OBE

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Book SynopsisThis entry in the MiddleEast@War series is illustrated with abundant photographs from previously unused, or very rarely used, private and official sources.Air Power and the Arab World, 1909?1955 Volume 10 continues the story of the men and machines of the first half-century of military aviation in the Arab world. It tells the story of the first two weeks of the first of the Arab-Israeli Wars ? also known as the Palestine War ? in May 1948. Whilst part of an ongoing series, this volume stands alone as a history of the period covered.By that time, in Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan, newly-independent Syria, Lebanon, and, to a lesser extent, Saudi Arabia, significant efforts had already been made to strengthen these countries? armed forces. Where Egypt, Iraq and Syria were concerned, these efforts included a determination to improve or, in the case of Syria, to establish their air forces. All three air forces were thrown into the First Phase of the Palestine War and, in the view of most subsequent commentators or historians, they had failed to perform as well as their government and populations had expected. However, closer investigation and the removal of layers of propaganda which have obscured the realities of this first Arab-Israeli War show that the Arab air forces performed better than is generally realized. Arguably, they had their limitations and weaknesses, and these had also become apparent as the fighting intensified and losses began to mount. All this was always clearly pointed out in Arabic sources, both official and unofficial, unpublished, or published only with limited circulation.Volume 10 of Air Power and the Arab World focuses on day-to-day events on the ground, in the air and at sea during this hard-fought phase. It does so in remarkable detail because the authors have accessed previously unpublished Arab official military documents supplemented by translations from Arabic books and articles containing official and personal accounts by those involved. Perhaps the most remarkable such source is the Operational Diary of the Royal Egyptian Air Force?s Tactical Air Force based at al-Arish in north-eastern Sinai.Air Power and the Arab World, 1909?1955 Volume 10 is illustrated by abundant photographs from previously unused, or very rarely used, private and official sources, and includes specially commissioned color artworks.

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Book Synopsis'Read this book, it will only serve you well' Ant Middleton'Incredible ... Staz is an inspiration' Nims Purja 'A must read for anyone who wants to succeed and thrive under pressure' Dylan Hartley 'Stacked with insights ... The book you need when the going gets tough' Aldo KaneElite Discipline meets Creative EffortAnthony 'Staz' Stazicker served an impressive 13 years of distinguished and decorated military service, ten within the Special Forces, before founding the multi-million pound technical clothing company ThruDark. Throughout his career in the Special Forces - featuring gunfights, door-kicking operations, and against-the-odds escapes - he learned hard lessons that would later provide crucial intelligence equally applicable to business, innovation and enterprise.The Hard Road Will Take You Home provides a mission plan that distils the processes and tactics Staz gathered throughout his career and translates them into tools that can be used in any number of settings, and by individuals with a wide range of experience and backgrounds. It instils the psychological cues required to bring next level success to any mission. And it lays bare the levels of discipline required to maintain that next level success.Introducing four concepts that make up the life of an elite operator - battle prep; techniques, tactics and procedures; teamwork and the lessons we should all consider when learning how to innovate, persevere and succeed - this book comes stacked with insight, easily applicable techniques and psychological processes gathered from Staz's time serving with the most resilient fighting force in the world. As a creative resource, it's a weapon.Trade ReviewStaz is someone who I hugely admire and have huge respect for & more importantly who I spent my whole Royal Marines and UKSF career with and is in 'THE KNOW'! Read his book, it will only serve you well... * Ant Middleton *If you only put 50 per cent of what you learn here into practice, I reckon you'll be on to a winner ... Inspiring * Jason Fox *Table of Contentsi: Foreword by Jason Fox ii: Introduction: By Strength and Guile iii: Part One: Battle Prep 1: Into the Dark (The Leap of Faith) 2: Redefine Your Disasters 3: Darts at the Dartboard 4: Red Cell Analysis 5: How You Do Anything is How You Do Everything iv: Part Two: Techniques, Tactics & Procedures 6: Kaizen 7: The Underdog Advantage 8: Contact 9: The Controllables 10: The Armour of Daily Habits v: Part Three: In Union There's Strength 11: Never Above You. Never Below You. Always Beside You 12: Create Community, Not Work 13: Pick People Over Talent 14: Hire Smart, Fire Fast 15: You Catch More Flies with Honey than Vinegar vi: Part Four: The Hard Lessons 16: The White Belt Mentality 17: Ego is the Enemy 18: Kinetic Intelligence is a Weapon 19: Medals are for Mothers: The Success Conundrum vii: The Final Word: The Hard Road Will Take You Home viii: Plate Section: Photography Credits ix: Acknowledgements

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Book Synopsis'THE VIETNAMESE ANNE FRANK'Last Night I Dreamed of Peace is the moving diary kept by a 27-year-old Vietnamese doctor who was killed by the Americans during the Vietnam War, while trying to defend her patients. Not only is it an important slice of history, from the opposite side of Dispatches and Apocalypse Now, but it shows the diarist - Dang Thuy Tram - as a vibrant human being, full of youthful idealism, a poetic longing for love, trying hard to be worthy of the Communist Party and doing her best to look after her patients under appalling conditions.She wrote straight from the heart and, because of this, her diary has been a huge bestseller in Vietnam and continues to fascinate at a time of renewed interest in the Vietnam War.Trade ReviewThuy Tram's diary has been described as "the Vietnamese Anne Frank", combining vivid depiction of the violence and dreadful conditions of the conflict with a moving, very personal account' * Glasgow Herald *Last Night I Dreamed of Peace is a book to be read by all and included in any course on the literature of war * Chicago Tribune *The most compelling, honest account of a conflict that killed, by some estimates, between two and three million Vietnamese and other Asians, as well as 58,000 Americans...Raw with human emotions and unvarnished by government propaganda. * Independent *A personal dialogue, a place to shelter her soul and her spirit...Raw emotion is manifest in the diary. * Observer *Remarkable...This is an important and profoundly moving book, which redresses the one-sided macho and gun-toting coverage of the Vietnam War. * Sydney Morning Herald *

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Book SynopsisOn the eve of the first Chechen war in the 1990s, Mikail Eldin was a young and naïve arts journalist. By the end of the second war, he had become a battle-hardened war reporter and mountain partisan who had endured torture and imprisonment in a concentration camp. His compelling memoir traces the unfolding of the conflict from day one, with vivid scenes right from the heart of the war. The Sky Wept Fire presents a unique glimpse into the lives of the Chechen resistance, providing testimony of great historical value. Yet it is not merely the story of the battle for Chechnya: this is the story of the battle within the heart, the struggle to conquer fear, hold on to faith and preserve one's humanity. Eldin was fated to witness key events in Chechnya's history: from the first day of the attack on Grozny, and the full-scale Russian invasion that followed it, to the siege of Grozny five years later that razed the city to the ground and has been compared to the destruction of Dresden. Resurrecting these memories with extraordinary lyricism, Eldin observes the sights, the sounds and smells of war. Having fled Grozny alongside the droves of refugees, he joins the defending army - yet he always considers his role as that of journalist and witness. Shortly after joining the Chechen resistance, Eldin is captured in the mountains. He undergoes barbaric torture as his captors attempt to break his will. They fail to make him talk, and he is eventually transferred to a concentration camp. There a new struggle awaits him: the battle to overcome his own suicidal thoughts and ensuing insanity.Trade ReviewThe descriptions of seeing the first surreal signs of war are detailed, acute, and horrifying. Alongside the grit runs a poetry of introspection... Powerful, lyrical and disturbing -- Arifa Akbar * Independent *[This] is going to be a 21st century classic about war and conflict. In its humanity and honest, it is unlikely to be surpassed. Anna Gunin deserves high praise for her excellent translation - she wove the mood music of the Russian original into smooth English * Tribune *Expertly translated... an unflinching portrait of an oppressed people and a brutal and little-understood battlefront -- Malcolm Forbes * National *Deeply harrowing and searingly honest... A heartfelt, passionate story * New Internationalist *The Sky Wept Fire has a haunting and defiant lyricism * Russia Beyond the Headlines *Anna Gunin captures the elegiac tone of Eldin's prose... [It] vividly conveys the passions and almost inconceivable suffering that accompanied the latest Russo-Chechen conflicts... Riveting [and] lyrical -- Anna Brodsky * TLS *A remarkable work of life-writing and a brilliantly rendered translation * Oxonian Review *

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Book SynopsisDuring five years of research for the four volumes of the Fleet Air Arm Boys book series covering the post-war FAA, former personnel not only contributed a huge quantity of stories but also sent many thousands of photographs, largely taken by themselves, and mostly never previously seen. It soon became clear that what was needed was a stand-alone photograph-heavy book, showing off many of these superb photos to best effect by giving them up to a full page or more with high quality reproduction. Whereas the ‘Boys’ books are all about fascinating stories supported by photos, here you have fascinating photos supported by some explanation and the occasional short supporting story. The opportunity has also been taken to expand the coverage to cover the whole history from the start of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) before the First World War to today, illustrating the changing equipment and roles of the service. Coverage is not limited to just a large representative group of aircraft, but also includes many ships and air stations. Most importantly, air and ground crew are highlighted throughout, both at work and at play, and those who lost their lives are suitably remembered. Flying with the Navy is a once-in-a-lifetime publication and a must-have for all devotees of this truly astounding branch of the armed forces.

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Book SynopsisFor Operation Telic, the 2003 campaign in Iraq, the UK was the junior partner alongside their American allies but still contributed a substantial force. This was based around the 1st Armoured Division consisting of 7th Armoured Brigade, 16 Air Assault Brigade and 102 Logistics Brigade, with the Marines of 3 Commando Brigade under command. This photographic diary concentrates on 16 Air Assault Brigade's two parachute battalions, 1 and 3 Para. Beginning with the invasion and operations in the southern oilfields, the story follows 3 Para's successful entry into Basrah, before the action switches to 1 Para and a move to Baghdad to secure the British Embassy. This is followed by a look at life at the Embassy and on patrol in the city before 3 Para's return south. Written by a media escort and photographer with 3 Para, who was himself a Para for 23 years and continued to serve as a reservist, this book shows how paratroopers looked and fought during the campaign. Illustrated with over 200 colour photographs, it shows the reality of British forces in a modern-day war, with insights into the Parachute Regiment's equipment and operations.

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Book SynopsisOwen W. Gilman Jr. stresses the US experience of war in the twenty-first century and argues that wherever and whenever there is war, there will be imaginative responses to it, especially the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since the trauma of September 11, the experience of Americans at war has been rendered honestly and fully in a wide range of texts--creative nonfiction and journalism, film, poetry, and fiction. These responses, Gilman contends, have packed a lot of power and measure up even to World War II's literature and film.Like few other books, Gilman's volume studies these new texts-- among them Kevin Powers's debut novel The Yellow Birds and Phil Klay's short stories Redeployment, along with the films The Hurt Locker, American Sniper, and Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. For perspective, Gilman also looks at some touchstones from the Vietnam War. Compared to a few of the big Vietnam books and films, this new material has mostly been read and

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive and detailed illustrated examination of the development and combat performance of US battle tanks from the end of World War II through to the present day.In this, the second of two highly illustrated volumes telling the full history of the design, development and operational use of US Army and US Marine Corps battle tanks, Steven J. Zaloga draws and expands on material published in Osprey's New Vanguard and Duel series to explain how the US Army attempted to come to grips with the challenges of the nuclear battlefield, as well as the introduction of new tank designs such as the famous Patton tank series. He also covers the short-lived attempts to develop more radical tanks such as the T95 as well as the overly ambitious and failed MBT-70 tank program and the more austere M1 Abrams that followed a tank that proved to be the best US tank design of the post-World War II period and is still in service today.Packed with dozens of intricate color pr

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Book Synopsis**The New York Times Bestseller****The book of the landmark documentary, The Vietnam War, by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick**The definitive work on the Vietnam War, the conflict that came to define a generation, told from all sides by those who were there.More than forty years after the Vietnam War ended, its legacy continues to fascinate, horrify and inform us. As the first war to be fought in front of TV cameras and beamed around the world, it has been immortalised on film and on the page, and forever changed the way we think about war.Drawing on hundreds of brand new interviews, Ken Burns and Geoffrey C. Ward have created the definitive work on Vietnam. It is the first book to show us the war from every perspective: from idealistic US Marines and the families they left behind to the Vietnamese civilians, both North and South, whose homeland was changed for ever; politicians, POWs and anti-war protesters; and the photographers and journalists who risked their lives to tell the truth. The book sends us into the grit and chaos of combat, while also expertly outlining the complex chain of political events that led America to Vietnam.Beautifully written, this essential work tells the full story without taking sides and reminds us that there is no single truth in war. It is set to redefine our understanding of a brutal conflict, to launch provocative new debates and to shed fresh light on the price paid in ‘blood and bone’ by Vietnamese and Americans alike.Trade ReviewStunning ... the best single-volume history of the war -- Mark Bowden, bestselling author of BLACK HAWK DOWNA vivid and often captivating volume … a valuable resource -- David Greenberg * New York Times Book Review *Ward and Burns take a vast topic and personalize it … an outstanding, indispensable survey of the Vietnam War * Kirkus *Vivid, affecting, definitive * Booklist *Exquisitely written * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTUREThe heartbreaking and inspiring story of one of the deadliest battles of the Afghanistan war, acclaimed by critics as a classic.A mind-boggling, all-too-true story of heroism, hubris, failed strategy, and heartbreaking sacrifice' Jon Krakauer, author of Into the WildAt 5:58 AM on October 3rd, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating, located in frighteningly vulnerable terrain in Afghanistan just 14 miles from the Pakistani border, was viciously attacked. Though the 53 soldiers stationed there prevailed against nearly 400 Taliban fighters, their casualties made it the deadliest fight of the war that year. Four months after the battle, a review revealed that there was no reason for the troops at Keating to have been there in the first place.In The Outpost, Jake Tapper gives us the powerful saga of COP Keating, from its establishment to eventual destruction, introducing us to an unforgettable cast of soldiers and their families. This modern classic of military history is anTrade Review‘Brilliant, dedicated reporting by a journalist who goes to ground to get the truth. A sad, real tale about this war, America and the brave warriors who live-and die-at the point of the spear’ Bob Woodward, author of Fear ‘For those wishing to understand the middle years of the war, they could do no better than to read The Outpost’ Time ‘There have been many books written on the subject of America's seemingly endless engagement in Afghanistan, but none better than The Outpost’ Atlantic ‘The Outpost is a mind-boggling, all-too-true story of heroism, hubris, failed strategy, and heartbreaking sacrifice. If you want to understand how the war in Afghanistan went off the rails, you need to read this book’ Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild "The power of The Outpost lies in Tapper's development of the main characters … He juxtaposes dramatic battles, complete with limbs blown off and eyes dangling from sockets, with poignant scenes of wives and parents first learning of the deaths of their loved ones’ Washington Post ‘Tapper lays bare the poor decision-making that shattered dozens of American lives in the pursuit of an ill-conceived goal’ Wall Street Journal ‘A heartbreaking chronicle of the rotation of soldiers asked to oversee an underfunded, often thankless mission’ Huffington Post ‘The seminal work of documentary journalism to emerge out of the post-9/11 war in Afghanistan’ Business Standard

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Book SynopsisThe defeat of South Vietnam was arguably America's worst foreign policy disaster of the 20th Century. Yet a complete understanding of the endgame--from the 27 January 1973 signing of the Paris Peace Accords to South Vietnam's surrender on 30 April 1975--has eluded us. Black April addresses that deficit. A culmination of exhaustive research in three distinct areas: primary source documents from American archives, North Vietnamese publications containing primary and secondary source material, and dozens of articles and numerous interviews with key South Vietnamese participants, this book represents one of the largest Vietnamese translation projects ever accomplished, including almost one hundred rarely or never seen before North Vietnamese unit histories, battle studies, and memoirs. Most important, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of South Vietnam's conquest, the leaders in Hanoi released several compendiums of formerly highly classified cables and memorandum between the Politburo and its military commanders in the south. This treasure trove of primary source materials provides the most complete insight into North Vietnamese decision-making ever complied. While South Vietnamese deliberations remain less clear, enough material exists to provide a decent overview. Ultimately, whatever errors occurred on the American and South Vietnamese side, the simple fact remains that the country was conquered by a North Vietnamese military invasion despite written pledges by Hanoi's leadership against such action. Hanoi's momentous choice to destroy the Paris Peace Accords and militarily end the war sent a generation of South Vietnamese into exile, and exacerbated a societal trauma in America over our long Vietnam involvement that reverberates to this day. How that transpired deserves deeper scrutiny.

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Book SynopsisFully illustrated with stunning full color artwork, this is the fascinating story of arguably the world''s first modern air campaign. Following the failure of Rolling Thunder US aircraft were now armed with new technologies such as new laser-guided bombs and electronic warfare capabilities. The Air Force now had the fearsome AC-130 gunship and a new generation of Wild Weasel anti-radar aircraft, and the US Navy aviators now had much better dogfighting training thanks to the new TOPGUN fighter school. As the Paris peace talks floundered in early 1972 and the US began to disengage from Vietnam, it was clear that the North Vietnamese were conducting a major build up for an attack into South Vietnam. Screened by bad weather and heavy air defenses in the north, the attack advanced quickly but the US quickly pushed back with an air campaign named Operation Linebacker. Their objective: defeat the invasion, preserve the government of South Vietnam, and bring tTrade ReviewA truly excellent title. * Panorama Difesa *Table of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology /Attackers' Capabilities /Defenders' Capabilities /Campaign Objectives /The Campaign /Analysis and Conclusion /Further Reading /Index

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Book SynopsisNoted authority Steven J. Zaloga charts the development, combat use, and influence of man-portable air defense systems, from the late 1960s to the present day.The first attempts at developing a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) based around a guided missile began in the mid-1950s, as a response to the increased speed and maneuverability of jet aircraft. This book charts the technological evolution of the MANPADS and explores their combat usage and the lessons from these encounters. Besides detailing the missiles, it also surveys the various methods developed as countermeasures to the MANPADS threat.The first generation of MANPADS, such as the US Army's Redeye and the Soviet Strela-2 (SA-7 Grail), saw combat use in the Vietnam War in 1972 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973. The next generation of infrared-guided MANPADS, such as the US Stinger and Soviet Igla, came to prominence following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Since the 1970s, MANPADS have been used in iTable of Contents[provisional] Introduction Development Use Impact Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThis fascinating book is the first to cover the little known C Squadron of the Special Air Service. Operating in East Africa, the Squadron was involved in almost continuous counter communist terrorist operations over the period 1968 to 1980. In the unstable final stages of British colonial and white rule, the Squadron was never short of action. African nationalist movements, backed by Russia's and China's direct and indirect support posed a constant and deadly threat to the existing regimes. Small highly trained detachments of the SAS with highly developed bush warfare skills proved devastatingly effective and achieved results out of all proportion to their size. Often their enemies believed that they were facing rival factions and turned on each other. The inevitable involvement of African wildlife adds an extra dimension of excitement Written by a seasoned former senior member of C Squadron, Secret SAS Missions in Africa paints a graphic and thrilling account of their covert operations and the colourful characters that undertook them.

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Book SynopsisAn urgent, insightful account of the human side of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine by seasoned war reporter Tim Judah Making his way from the Polish border in the west, through the capital city and the heart of the 2014 revolution, to the eastern frontline near the Russian border, Tim Judah brings a rare glimpse of the reality behind the headlines. Along the way he talks to the people living through the conflict - mothers, soldiers, businessmen, poets, politicians - whose memories of a contested past shape their attitudes, allegiances and hopes for the future. Together, their stories paint a vivid picture of what the second largest country in Europe feels like in wartime: a nation trapped between powerful forces, both political and historical.''Visceral, gripping, heartbreaking'' Simon Sebag Montefiore''Haunting . . . timely . . . Interviewing a wide range of people who have been caught up in the recent conflict, Judah concentrates skilfully and affectingly on the human cost'' Alexander Larman, Observer ''Comes close to the master, Ryszard Kapuscinski'' Roger Boyes, The Times ''A kaleidoscopic portrait . . . Judah looks at the present - what Ukraine looks and feels like now'' Marcus Tanner, IndependentTrade ReviewHaunting . . . timely . . . Judah concentrates skilfully and affectingly on the human cost of manoeuvres in Ukraine. He seldom makes his own thoughts and opinions seem intrusive, instead letting his eloquent and compassionate subjects give a far greater insight into the horror and privations -- Alexander Larman * Observer *Tim Judah has got a lot closer to the war in eastern Ukraine than most western reporters - close enough to be able to convey vividly to readers the smells and sounds . . . His experience of the Balkan Wars of the 1990s helped Judah spot this war as it mutated from malignant propaganda into blood-spattered reality. As a reporter, he excels at letting the Ukrainians themselves do the talking. -- Niall FergusonThe strength of Judah's In Wartime lies in the depth, range and balance of his reportage and his eye for telling details. -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *Tim Judah . . . does not tell us what to think about war but instead teaches us how: with courage, humility, attention to human detail, and admirable historical intuition. -- Timothy SnyderVisceral, gripping, heart-breaking and often shocking, based on interviews with witnesses and victims on the ground, In Wartime is both astute political analysis and vivid war reportage of what's really happening in the dirty war in Ukraine by a veteran observer of the Balkan wars who truly understands the complexities and nuances -- Simon Sebag MontefioreA compelling and acute piece of contemporary reportage -- David Edgar * London Review of Books *Judah has carved out a reputation as one of Europe's best writers on the Balkans. His job description should be something like History Wars Correspondent . . . comes close to the master, Ryszard Kapuscinski -- Roger Boyes * Times *A kaleidoscopic portrait . . . Judah Looks at the present - what Ukraine looks and feels like now. He criss-crosses the country from the Russian-speaking east to the Ukrainian-speaking west. -- Marcus Tanner * Independent *A timely account . . . a vivid human portrait -- Annabelle Chapman * Prospect *Essential for anyone who wants to understand events in Ukraine and what they portend for the West. . . . Mr. Judah has written the first important book about the war in Ukraine, and it should be on the shelf of every diplomat and journalist shipping out to the region * Wall Street Journal *The historical analysis in "In Wartime: Stories From Ukraine" is deep, fastidious and detailed. Judah articulately and comprehensively explains what happened in the region during World War II, and the important connection between history and present-day violence.... rich and beautiful... an impartial account of the situation today that depicts people from all sides of the conflict in a fair and respectful way. Additionally, "In Wartime" brilliantly explains the significance of the past, covering in detail World War I and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires. * Chicago Tribune *A fascinating and often grim portrait of Ukraine... Judah offers a compassionate human view of these conflicts, mixing personal stories, history, politics, and reportage... This special and timely book will provide lay readers with an apt introduction to Ukraine, and specialist will appreciate its atypical yet enlightening approach * Publishers Weekly *A fascinating and often grim portrait of Ukraine... Judah offers a compassionate human view of these conflicts, mixing personal stories, history, politics, and reportage... This special and timely book will provide lay readers with an apt introduction to Ukraine, and specialist will appreciate its atypical yet enlightening approach * Foreign Affairs *Judah's book is full of detailed reporting from both Western and Eastern Ukraine-he covered the conflict with Russia for The New York Review of Books-and although he sympathizes with the attempts to strengthen the government in Kiev and repel Russian aggression, his book offers a nuanced portrait of people on all sides of the conflict. -- Isaac Chotiner * Slate *Vividly clear... A portrait of what it's like living during wartime... Judah gives a very helpful overview of Ukraine's systematic economic difficulties... Brave, thoughtful, self-effacing, and effective. -- William T. Vollmann * Bookforum *An important new book... fast-paced and very topical... Judah's expertise is appealingly ambitious in its scope... Readers won't forget the pathos and violence Tim Judah has described, and they owe him a vote of thanks for that. * Christian Science Monitor *

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Book SynopsisMost Americans are now familiar with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and its prevalence among troops. In this groundbreaking new book, David Wood examines the far more pervasive yet less understood experience of those we send to war: moral injury, the violation of our fundamental values of right and wrong that so often occurs in the impossible moral dilemmas of modern conflict. Featuring portraits of combat veterans and leading mental health researchers, along with Wood''s personal observations of war and the young Americans deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, WHAT HAVE WE DONE offers an unflinching look at war and those who volunteer for it: the thrill and pride of service and, too often, the scars of moral injury.Impeccably researched and deeply personal, WHAT HAVE WE DONE is a compassionate, finely drawn study of modern war and those caught up in it. It is a call to acknowledge our newest generation of veterans by listening intently to them and absorbing their storie

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Book Synopsis"A gut-wrenching story told with honesty, restraint, and dignity." —Ha Jin, National Book Award-winning author of Waiting Chanrithy Him felt compelled to tell of surviving life under the Khmer Rouge in a way "worthy of the suffering which I endured as a child."Trade Review"Intelligent and morally aware…[Him] tells us what it was like to struggle to survive while others played out utopian dreams." -- New York Times"An inspiring story that draws hope from horror." -- Seattle Times"There are few books that give a refugee’s point of view as clearly and passionately as Him’s." -- Time Out"Astonishing and heartbreaking…Written in spare, visual prose that makes the world it describes tangible." -- Katherine A. Powers - Boston Globe"A touching and illuminating human account and should not be missed by anyone around the world." -- Le Ly Hayslip, author of When Heaven and Earth Changed Places

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThe new edition of The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare, written and updated by a team of nine distinguished military historians, examines how war was waged by Western powers across a sweeping timeframe, beginning with classical Greece and Rome, moving through the Middle Ages and the early modern period, down to the wars of the twenty-first century in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. The book stresses five essential aspects of the Western way of war: a combination of technology, discipline, and an aggressive military tradition with an extraordinary capacity to respond rapidly to challenges and to use capital rather than manpower to win. Although the focus remains on the West, and on the role of violence in its rise, each chapter also examines the military effectiveness of its adversaries and the regions in which the West''s military edge has been - and continues to be - challenged.Trade Review'Here is the story of war as the driving force in the rise of the West from the Greeks to our own day, now updated to 2019. In the fifteen years since the first edition of this book, war has unfortunately not become less central to our concerns - just the opposite. This remarkable volume, written by some of the world's leading experts in military history, helps us to understand why and how something as terrible as war remains so important in the history of the West and the world. Rarely has so much learning, lucidity, and wisdom been found between two covers.' Barry Strauss, Cornell University, and author of Ten Caesars: Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine'This is, simply, the best survey of the history of warfare in half a century. It explains what the Western way of war is, whence it came, and how it dominated the planet down to the present day. The product of the collaboration of some of the best military historians now writing, it offers judgements as well as a compelling narrative, an argument as well as a story. There can be no better introduction to the study of military history.' Eliot A. Cohen, Robert E. Osgood Professor, Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies'Highly polished and well illustrated, this book is a comprehensive history of the Western (European) way of war … The text is superbly supported by numerous and handy sidebars providing details, insights, and anecdotes.' Library Journal'… this is a well-written and handsomely presented volume … the illustrations are pertinent, and the captions interesting … the range of scholarship is impressive … and it has all been pulled together by the finest military historian currently writing, who has also contributed several important sections'. History in Focus'… exceptional … and beautifully illustrated … A highly readable book, and an interesting one, both for the expert and the amateur enthusiast. A must for college libraries.' USI Journal'… impressive …' Contemporary ReviewTable of ContentsPreface; Introduction: The Western way of war Geoffrey Parker; Part I. The Age of Massed Infantry: 1. Genesis of the infantry, 600–350 BC Victor Davis Hanson; 2. From phalanx to legion, 350–250 BC Victor Davis Hanson; 3. The Roman way of war, 250 BC–AD 300 Victor Davis Hanson; Part II. The Age of Stone Fortifications: 4. On Roman ramparts, 300–1300 Bernard S. Bachrach; 5. New weapons, new tactics, 1300–1500 Christopher Allmand; 6. The gunpowder revolution, 1300–1500 Geoffrey Parker; Part III. The Age of Guns and Sails: 7. Ships of the line, 1500–1650 Geoffrey Parker; 8. The conquest of the Americas, 1500–1650 Patricia Seed; 9. Dynastic war, 1494–1660 Geoffrey Parker; 10. States in conflict, 1661–1763 John A. Lynn; 11. Nations in arms, 1763–1815 John A. Lynn; Part IV. The Age of Mechanized Warfare: 12. The industrialization of war, 1815–1871 Williamson A. Murray; 13. Towards world war, 1871–1914 Williamson A. Murray; 14. The West at war, 1914–1918 Williamson A. Murray; 15. The world in conflict, 1919–1941 Williamson A. Murray; 16. The world at war, 1941–1945 Williamson A. Murray; 17. The post-war world, 1945–1991 Williamson A. Murray; 18. The new world disorder, 1991–2019 Peter Mansoor and Geoffrey Parker; Epilogue: The future of Western warfare Geoffrey Parker and Leif A.Torkelsen; Reference guide; Chronology; Glossary; Bibliography; The contributors; Notes; Picture acknowledgements; Index.

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Book SynopsisExceptional and unusual collection of personal anecdotes, many amusing and others serious but all entertaining.

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Book SynopsisWith the outbreak of Gulf War hostilities a unit from 22 SAS slipped quietly over the border and into the enemy''s backyard. It would be six weeks before any of the patrol again reached safety.Sabre Squadron recounts in graphic detail their scud-busting operations deep inside Iraq. They were operating alone and out of reach of reinforcements, with the threat of detection and its fatal consequences ever present. Yet their determination to wreak havoc behind enemy lines remained undimmed, culminating in an attack that decisively reconfirmed the regiment''s awesome reputation.Cameron Spence, a senior NCO on the operation, takes you as close to the fighting SAS as you are ever likely to get, conveying the relentless tension, black humour and camaraderie punctuated by explosive, nerve-shredding action that characterized the mission.This is the true story of an SAS operation of breathtaking audacity and flair, carried out under unimaginable pressure, Trade ReviewA brilliantly authentic account of war with an SAS patrol, it's a fantastic read -- Andy McNab, bestselling author of Brave Two ZeroTense and at times terrifying... a well-told action story * Sunday Telegraph *A terrific read * The Times *Blood, guts and military macho - as authentic as anything you are likely to read * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisGRIPPING, MOVING AND INSPIRING: the remarkable life of a world-leading expert in chemical weapons defence.Unlike any account of warfare I''ve read - Billy BillinghamFor thirty years, Hamish has served and volunteered in conflict zones around the world. As the army''s foremost chemical weapons expert, he built a unique first-hand understanding of how to prevent attacks and train doctors on the frontline - saving countless lives in the process.After suffering near-death experiences time and again, Hamish discovered he had a ticking time bomb in his own chest: a heart condition called Sudden Death Syndrome that could kill him at any time. But with a new awareness for the fragility of life, he fought harder to make his count.Despite facing extraordinary personal danger, Hamish has unearthed evidence of multiple chemical attacks in Syria and continues to advise the government at the highest level, including after the 2018 Novichok poisoning iTrade ReviewA gripping account * Daily Mail *A fascinating memoir * Salisbury Journal *Gripping * Daily Express *A page-turning read, full of urgent questions, from one of the world's finest chemical and biological weapons experts. Compelling and unforgettable. * John Simpson *Hamish de Bretton-Gordon has been one of my closest comrades on the front line. Completely fearless, he is one of the leading chemical weapons expert on the globe. His training has saved lives and given hope. * Professor David Nott, bestselling author of WAR DOCTOR *A career at the cutting edge of Britain's chemical weapons defence has bequeathed Hamish a deep and heartfelt mission for protecting the innocent victims of such heinous crimes. The risks he has taken to do so are legion, his commitment beyond belief, his inspiration truly humbling. One of my heroes, a word I do not use lightly. * Damien Lewis, bestselling author of APACHE DAWN *This book is where theory meets reality. DBG is one of only a handful of highly experienced practitioners in this field. Of course, the science matters - but its application is what requires our full and undivided attention. DBG shines a light into that dark corner. * Sir Graeme Lamb, former director of UK Special Forces *The international community has generally ignored the plight of the Syrian people, but there are a few bright lights and Hamish is one of the brightest. He is a brilliant humanitarian activist. * Dr Ghanem Tayara, Syrian doctor *Hamish's incredible life story is unlike any account of warfare I've read. His courage on the front line and drive to make a difference in the world is truly inspiring. * Billy Billingham, 'SAS: Who Dares Wins' *Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is an outstanding humanitarian who has fought for justice and accountability for Syrians. He is one of the few heroes in a story of evil, misery and law breaking. * Andrew Mitchell MP *Hamish de Bretton-Gordon's autobiography starts like the opening of a high-octane film * The New European *It is a remarkable story of rising above a truly terrifying experience and making a genuine difference in the world... DBG's writing is clear and enjoyable, making the book a pleasure to read * History of War *Chemical Warrior reads as a fast-paced thriller, each derring-do tale worthy of a book in itself. * Wiltshire Life *

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Book SynopsisIn late January 1968, some 84,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops launched a country-wide general offensive in South Vietnam. The bitter fighting that raged in Hue for more than three weeks drew the attention of the world.Hue was the ancient capital of Vietnam, and as such, had been previously avoided by both sides; it had not seen any serious fighting prior to 1968. All that changed on the night of January 31 that year when four North Vietnamese battalions and supporting Viet Cong units simultaneously attacked and occupied both parts of the city straddling the Perfume River.The Communist forces dug in and prepared to defend their hold on the city. US Marines and South Vietnamese soldiers were ordered to clear the city, supported by US Army artillery and troops. A brutal urban battle ensued as combat raged from house to house and door to door. Eventually, the Marines and the South Vietnamese forces retook Hue, but it was a bloody fight and resulted in laTrade Reviewa nicely balanced look at the battle -- Robin Buckland * Military Model Scene *Table of ContentsORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN - The Tet Offensive - Hue City CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING PLANS - North Vietnamese - Allied OPPOSING COMMANDERS - Allied - North Vietnamese OPPOSING FORCES - Allied - The NVA and VC - Orders of battle, Hue City, January 31–March 2, 1968 THE BATTLE OF HUE - Prelude to the battle - The initial attack - The Marines respond - Fighting south of the Perfume River continues - The fight for the Citadel - The final push AFTERMATH THE BATTLEFIELD TODAY BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

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