Military History Books

Book SynopsisWhen archaeologist John Henry Phillips volunteered with a charity that took D-Day veterans back to Normandy, due to an administrative error he found himself without a hotel room and reliant on the generosity of one of the veterans who had a spare bed. That veteran was Patrick Thomas - and it was an encounter that would change both their lives forever. Patrick's landing craft, LCH 185, had led the first wave into Sword Beach on D-Day, and stayed off Normandy until the 25th June when an acoustic mine sent it to the seabed along with most of the crew. His story transfixed John, and the resulting search for the shipwreck was to consume him. Jumping back and forwards in time, between vivid descriptions of the final days on board LCH 185 and John's thrilling search to find the shipwreck, The Search is an emotional story of a devastating time in history, an unlikely, life-changing friendship and a quest to honour a wartime home and family lost over seventy-five

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Book SynopsisFrom an expert on the Eastern Front of World War II, this book chronicles the cataclysmic experience of the region that includes modern-day Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.The Baltic States suffered more than almost any other territory during World War II, caught on the front-line of some of the war's most vicious battles and squeezed between the vast military might of the German Wehrmacht and the Soviet Red Army. Combining new archival research and numerous first-hand accounts, this is a magisterial description of conquest and exploitation, of death and deportation and the fight for survival both by countries and individuals.Trade Review'A powerful pick... It comes packed with action shots and photos, first-hand accounts from soldiers on both sides - most of which have never appeared in English... No military collection strong in World War II should be without this specific, in-depth analysis.' The Midwest Book Review Praise for Prit Buttar 'a marvelously written and illustrated new work with excellent maps on a series of battles too long overlooked... [it[ deserves to be read by any true devotee of World War II.' Military AdvisorTable of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Maps Author’s Note Dramatis Personae Preface Introduction Chapter 1: Molotov, Ribbentrop and the First Soviet Occupation Chapter 2: Rosenberg, Generalplan Ost and Preparations for Barbarossa Chapter 3: The Wehrmacht in Full Flood Chapter 4: The Baltic Holocaust Chapter 5: Reluctant Allies Chapter 6: Narva, January to April 1944 Chapter 7: Breaking the Deadlock: Summer 1944 Chapter 8: From Doppelkopf to Cäsar Chapter 9: The Isolation of Army Group North Chapter 10: Courland, October to December 1944 Chapter 11: Endgame Chapter 12: Aftermath Appendix 1: Place Names Appendix 2: Ranks Appendix 3: Acronyms Appendix 4: Foreign terms Endnotes Bibliography Extract from Battleground Prussia Index

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Book SynopsisWith Hitler''s army rampaging across Europe, Winston Churchill ordered the creation of a special fighting force-- the Commandos. These valiant men were volunteers drawn from the ranks of the British Army, formed into a Special Service Brigade, and put through a rigorous but highly effective training program. Over the course of World War II they would see action in every major theater of operation, and are credited with numerous feats of gallantry during the D-Day landings. Although many units were disbanded after the war, the Royal Marine Commandos have maintained the standards of this elite fighting formation to the present day.Angus Konstam explores the history of the Commandos during their formative years, providing detailed descriptions of their training, weapons, and equipment. Battle reports are accompanied by specially commissioned Osprey artwork and historical photographs, offering readers an in-depth analysis of some of the most famous fighting units in the British Table of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology /Recruitment and Enlistment /Training /Appearance and Equipment /Belief and Belonging /Conditions of Service /Experience of Battle /After the Battle /Collections and Museums/Glossary

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Book SynopsisThe Roman Empire rules the civilized world with an iron fist, seemingly all-powerful and limitless. And yet the power of Rome is secured not by its mighty legions but by small bands of warriors and agents fighting a secret war. Tasked by the Emperor to explore ancient temples, forgotten labyrinths, and beast-haunted caverns, they seek out artifacts hidden by the gods themselves, hunt creatures of myth, and face enemies that would use dark magic against the empire. Broken Legions is a set of fantasy skirmish rules for a war unknown to history, fought in the shadows of the Roman Empire. Various factions recruit small warbands to fight in tight, scenario-driven battles that could secure the mystical power to defend--or crush--Rome. A points system allows factions to easily build a warband, and mercenaries and free agents may also be hired to bolster a force. Heroes and leaders may possess a range of skills, traits, and magical abilities, but a henchman''s blade can be juTable of ContentsCore Rules/ Special Rules/ Equipment/ Magic & Miracles/ Scenarios/ Warband Rosters/ Free Agents & Hired Swords/ Monstrous Bestiary/ Campaign Advancement

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Book SynopsisOver the last 30 years, the technical or armed pick-up truck has become arguably the most ubiquitous military land vehicle of modern warfare. Harking back to the armed Jeeps and Chevrolet trucks of the SAS and Long Range Desert Group in North Africa in World War II, the world''s first insurgent technicals were those of the Sahrawi People''s Liberation Army in Algeria in the late 1970s, followed by the Chadian use of technical in the so-called Toyota War against Libya. Since then, technicals have seen use in Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, as well as being used by Western and Russian Special Forces.Fully illustrated with commissioned artwork and providing rigorous analysis, this is the first history of how this deceptively simple fighting vehicle has been used and developed in conflicts worldwide.Table of ContentsIntroduction Origins The Toyota War Somalia: The Rise of the Technical The Taliban's APC: Afghanistan 2001 onwards The Men of Sacrifice: Iraq 2003 The Libyan Civil War The Endless War: Iraq and Syria 2011 onwards Back to Africa: Mali, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen Pimp my Hilux: Special Operations Forces Pick-ups Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFrom an internationally acclaimed expert in the field comes a detailed, analytical, and comprehensive account of the worldwide evolution of tanks, from their inception a century ago to the present day. With new ideas stemming from the latest academic research, this study presents a reappraisal of the development of tanks and their evolution during World War I and how the surge in technological development during World War II and the subsequent Cold War drove tank developments in Europe and America, transforming tanks into fast, resilient, and powerful fighting machines. From the primitive, bizarre-looking Mark V to the Matilda and from the menacing King Tiger to the superlative M1 Abrams, Professor Ogorkiewicz shows how tanks gradually acquired the enhanced capabilities that enabled them to become what they are today--the core of combined-arms, mechanized warfare.Table of ContentsIntroduction Acknowledgements Chapter 1: The Origin of the Species Chapter 2: The ‘Invention of the Tank’ Chapter 3: First World War Battlefield Debut Chapter 4: Post-War Anticlimax Chapter 5: Britain’s Lead and Failings Chapter 6: Tank Development in Europe and America Chapter 7: Creation of the Armoured Forces Chapter 8: Panzers and their Second World War Opponents Chapter 9: The Cold War’s Five Dominant Countries Chapter 10: On the Peripheries of Major Powers Chapter 11: Asia Catches Up Chapter 12: Epilogue Appendixes Notes Index

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Book SynopsisAn authoritative history of the Red Army''s armored cars, the quick and maneuverable vehicles which were used in conflicts ranging from the Spanish Civil War to the occupation of Poland. The armored car has an important place in the early history of Soviet armored fighting vehicles (AFVs)--they were the most important AFV during the Russian Civil War and figured prominently in the mechanization of the Red Army that began in late 1929. The 1930s saw the development and production of a wide variety of armored cars, which were used extensively in Soviet conflicts from then on. They saw service in the Spanish Civil War, in the 1939 Manchurian conflict with Japan, in the occupation of the Baltic states, and the invasion of Poland and Finland. Although many of its armored cars were lost in the early months following the German invasion in June 1941, Russia continued with its armored car development program, and the final model, the BA-64, was accepted for service in 1942 wTrade ReviewFull of detail from the mechanics to the weapons and the tactics, this work has something for all interests from modellers to military enthusiasts. * GunMart *Table of ContentsEarly Developments Stalin and the First Five-Year Plan Armoured Car Types Armoured Cars in Action Epilogue and Post-War Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Hurricane Pocket Manual collates authentic period sources including pilot''s notes and other Air Ministry publications to provide a unique guide to this iconic aircraft.The Hawker Hurricane was a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the RAF. Although overshadowed by the Spitfire, during the Battle of Britain the Hurricane accounted for 60% of the RAF''s air victories in the battle, and served in all the major theatres of the Second World War.The 1930s design evolved through several versions and adaptations, resulting in a series of aircraft that acted as interceptor-fighters, fighter-bombers (also called ''Hurribombers''), and ground support aircraft. Further versions known as the Sea Hurricane had modifications that enabled operation from ships. Some were converted as catapult-launched convoy escorts, known as ''Hurricats''. More than 14,583 Hurricanes were built by the end of 194Trade ReviewA fitting book for an immortal aircraft, most enthusiastically recommended ... Packs in more information than books on the subject that are more than twice the size and three times the price * Firetrench *

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Book SynopsisThis is the fully-illustrated story of the Royal Navy''s escort carriers which battled against deadly U-Boats during the Battle of the Atlantic, giving vital air cover to the convoys that kept Britain alive in World War II.In 1941, as the Battle of the Atlantic raged and ship losses mounted, the British Admiralty desperately tried to find ways to defeat the U-Boat threat to Britain''s maritime lifeline. Facing a shortage of traditional aircraft carriers and shore-based aircraft, the Royal Navy, as a stopgap measure, converted merchant ships into small escort carriers. These were later joined by a growing number of American-built escort carriers, sent as part of the Lend-Lease agreement. The typical Escort Carrier was small, slow and vulnerable, but it could carry about 18 aircraft, which gave the convoys a real chance to detect and sink dangerous U-Boats. Collectively, their contribution to an Allied victory was immense, particularly in the long and grueling Table of ContentsIntroduction /Design & Development /Operational History /Escort Carrier Roles /Camouflage /Life on Board /Escorts in Action /Specifications

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive and fascinating title describes and illustrates the armies of Japan''s Asian allies in World War II, and includes rare and previously unpublished wartime photographs.During the Japanese occupation of large parts of Asia and the Pacific in 1941--45, Japan raised significant numbers of troops to fight alongside them, as well as militias to guard their conquests. The total number of these soldiers is estimated at no fewer than 600,000 men. These ranged from the regular troops of Manchukuo (200,000 men), Nanking China (250,000), Thailand, and recruits from the puppet Burmese Independence Army (30,000) and Indian National Army (40,000), to constabularies and spear-wielding militias in the Philippines (15,000), Borneo, Indonesia, and New Guinea.Many of the recruits from former European colonies hoped for independence as part of the Greater East-Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere proclaimed by Japanese propaganda, but Japan''s intentions were entirely cyniTable of ContentsIntroduction Manchukuo, 1933-45 "Nanking China," 1940-45 Inner Mongolia, 1937-45 Thailand, 1941-45 Indian National Army, 1942-45 Burma, 1941-45 Indonesia, 1942-45 Malaya, 1942-45 The Philippines, 1942-45 Other Pro-Japanese Forces Empire of Vietnam, 1945 Plate Commentaries Index

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Book SynopsisDuring World War II, the US Army and its allies faced a formidable challenge: the need to assault Hitler's Fortress Europe' from the sea. As a result, during 194145, the US Army had to add amphibious assault to its list of combat capabilities. Officers and troops from across the US Armed Forces had to develop the techniques and technologies to assault the coasts of Axis-occupied Europe, from logistics to beach assault and beachhead consolidation, and more. In order to win and hold a contested beachhead in the face of bitter enemy resistance, the amphibious-warfare specialists played a variety of essential battlefield roles; if the US troops could not establish a beachhead quickly, they risked being thrown back into the sea. For their part, the Germans had to devise a practical defensive doctrine that made the most of the limited resources and troops available and the terrain. The German infantry defenders immediately around the landing areas had to be able to call upon support from Table of ContentsIntroduction The Opposing Sides Salerno Anzio Omaha Beach Analysis Aftermath Unit Organizations Bibliography and Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisThis is a new history of the US Army Air Force''s pioneering but costly raids on Germany''s Messerschmitt and ball-bearing factories in World War II.In 1943, the USAAF and RAF launched the Combined Bomber Offensive, designed to systematically destroy the industries that the German war machine relied on. At the top of the hit list were aircraft factories and plants making ball-bearings--a component thought to be a critical vulnerability. Schweinfurt in southern Germany was home to much of the ball-bearing industry and, together with the Messerschmitt factory in Regensburg, which built Bf 109 fighters, it was targeted in a huge and innovative strike.Precision required that the targets were hit in daylight, but the raid was beyond the range of any existing escort fighter, so the B-17s would go in unprotected. The solution was to hit the two targets in a coordinated double-strike, with the Regensburg strike hitting first, drawing off the defending Luftwaffe fighteTable of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Attacker's Capabilities Defender's Capabilities Campaign Objectives The Campaign Analysis and Conclusions Index

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Book SynopsisA fully illustrated and expertly researched guide to the tanks of Hitler''s formidable war machine.The Panzers that rolled over Europe were Germany''s most famous fighting force, and are some of the most enduring symbols of World War II. However, at the start of the war, Germany''s armor was nothing extraordinary and it was operational encounters such as facing the Soviet T-34 during Operation Barbarossa which prompted their intensive development. Tactical innovation gave them an edge where technological development had not, making Hitler''s tanks a formidable enemy. Hitler''s Tanks details the development and operational history of the light Panzer I and II, developed in the 1930s, the medium tanks that were the backbone of the Panzer Divisions, the Tiger, and the formidable King Tiger, the heaviest tank to see combat in World War II. Drawing on Osprey''s unique and extensive armor archive, Chris McNab skillfully weaves together the story of thTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION 1: The Light Panzers 2: The Panzer III 3: The Panzer IV 4: Panther Medium Tank 5: Tiger I Heavy Tank 6: King Tiger 7: Panzer Crews FURTHER READING INDEX

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Book SynopsisThe different national tank doctrines of the United States and Imperial Japan resulted in a terrible mismatch of the predominant tank types in the crucial Central Pacific campaign. A flawed Japanese doctrine emphasized light infantry support tanks, often used in small numbers. Tactically, tanks were often frittered away in armored versions of the familiar banzai attacks. Meanwhile, the Americans saw the tank as an infantry support weapon, but developed a more systematic tactical doctrine. They settled upon a larger medium tank in the case of most Marine Corps tank battalions, the diesel-powered M4A2 (unwanted by the US Army). This superbly detailed title reveals how both the two sides' tactical and technical differences in the approach to armored warfare soon became apparent over a series of deadly engagements, from the first tank fight at the battle of Tarawa in November 1943, through to engagements on Parry Island, Saipan, and Guam, before ending with Peleliu in STable of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Design and Development Technical Specifications The Strategic Situation The Combatants Combat Analysis Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTaking a populist approach to a serious subject, Myke Cole combines a novelist''s flair for drama with an ancient historian''s eye for detail to create a unique book that delves into one of the most popular areas of the Ancient World.From the time of Ancient Sumeria, the heavy infantry phalanx dominated the battlefield. Armed with spears or pikes, standing shoulder to shoulder with shields interlocking, the men of the phalanx presented an impenetrable wall of wood and metal to the enemy. Until, that is, the Roman legion emerged to challenge them as masters of infantry battle.Covering the period in which the legion and phalanx clashed (280168 BC), Myke Cole delves into their tactics, arms and equipment, organization and deployment. Drawing on original primary sources to examine six battles in which the legion fought the phalanx--Heraclea (280 BC), Asculum (279 BC), Beneventum (275 BC), Cynoscephalae (197 BC), Magnesia (190 BC), and Pydna (168 BC)--he shows how Trade ReviewOn the face of it, this could be a turgidly dry chin-stroking look into ancient warfare tactics but, thanks the brio of author Myke Cole, it's anything but. [...] The author points out elements that are largely accepted as fact thanks to detailed reports, and others where supposition comes into play, but he does this with a skill that makes it seem like a discussion between friends, not a lecture. With an excellent colour plate section full of photos of armour, illustrations, ancient graphics and diagrams of troop dispositions you have a highly entertaining and yet worthy look into how and why the Roman Legion was so effective against the Phalanx that had previously dominated the battlefield. * The Armourer, January 2019 *Amazing, detailed, thoroughly researched and genuinely exciting. * Anna Stephens, Author of 'Godblind' *Table of ContentsPreface Chronology Maps PART I: And in this Corner . . . Examining the Legion and the Phalanx 1. Who Would Win in a Fight? The Eagle and the Lion 2. Not your Father’s Phalanx: The Legacy of Iphicrates 3. Mules that Kill: Under the Eagle of Rome PART II: Fight! The Legion versus the Phalanx in Six Battles 4. Heraclea (280 BC): Rome’s First Test 5. Asculum (279 BC): "One more such victory, and we are undone." 6. Beneventum (275 BC): Pyrrhus’ Last Gasp 7. Cynoscephalae (197 BC): The Legion Triumphant 8. Magnesia (190 BC): No Refuge for Hannibal 9. Pydna (168 BC): The Fall of the Antigonids 10. Legions and Phalanxes Glossary Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFew weapons developed a more deadly reputation than the German ''88'' in the role of anti-tank gun, its long reach and lethal hitting power making it a significant problem for every type of British and later American armour. Despite its individual potency, it was almost always utilized as part of a comprehensive system of defences that relied on a mix of weapons carefully deployed in anticipation of the enemy''s likely avenue and method of attack. Used in this way, the 88 became a particularly deadly part of the Afrika Korps'' attempts to shatter British armoured power in the Western Desert.Initially extremely successful over the course of 1941 and 1942 in Operations Battleaxe and Crusader, the Allies'' tactics and vehicles (such as the American-made M3 and the Crusader III) eventually evolved to deal with the 88''s awesome power. This detailed new book tells the story of that evolution and provides an in-depth treatment of this key weapon of World War II.Table of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Design and Development Technical Specifications The Combatants Combat Analysis Aftermath Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA beautifully illustrated study of the dramatic British/German clash in the North Sea that resulted in the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst.The German battleship Scharnhorst had a reputation for being a lucky ship. Early in the war she fought off a British battlecruiser and sunk a carrier, before carrying out two successful forays into the Atlantic. In the spring of 1943, the Scharnhorst was redeployed to Norway. There, working in concert with other German warships such as the battleship Tirpitz, she posed a major threat to the Arctic convoys the Allied sea lifeline to Russia. Her presence, alongside Tirpitz, forced the British to tie down ships in Arctic waters.When Tirpitz was put out of action, and Hitler demanded naval support for the war in Russia, the crew of the Scharnhorst under Rear-Admiral Bey, had to act. In late December 1943, she put to sea, her target an Allied convoy passing through the Barents Sea on its way Table of ContentsOrigins of the campaign Chronology Opposing commanders Opposing forces Opposing plans The campaign Aftermath The Wreck of the Scharnhorst Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisA concisely detailed guide to the Allied tanks that fought from D-Day to the break out from Normandy, their qualities, numbers and performance, and how they were used on the battlefield.When Allied tanks began to roll off the landing craft on D-Day, it marked the start of one of the great periods of tank warfare in World War II. Often outgunned by the German Panzers, and fighting in the close confines of bocage country, they nevertheless managed to break out of Normandy and begin the liberation of Europe. It was a battle that was dominated by the Americans'' legendary Sherman, but also saw a wide and complex range of armour committed to battle across the many armies involved, from British Churchills and special-purpose ''Funnies'' to the Canadians'' Ram tank.This book explains the qualities, strengths and weakness of the major British and US tank types as well as associated Allied units in Normandy including those of the Canadians, Poles and French, and descriTable of ContentsTHE CAMPAIGN DOCTRINE AND ORGANIZATION British tank organization in Normandy US tank organization in Normandy TECHNICAL FACTORS British tanks and AFVs British cruiser tanks British infantry tanks British tank destroyers British light tanks US TANKS AND AFVS IN NORMANDY BATTLE ANALYSIS Organizational and doctrinal lessons Technical lessons Tank casualties FURTHER READING INDEX

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Book SynopsisThis fully illustrated study assesses the origins, development, and combat record of the legendary Tiger and Churchill Tanks during World War II.The Tiger and the Churchill are two of the most recognizable heavily armoured tanks of World War II. Both were designed hastily in the early years of the war, and both witnessed inauspicious debuts in battle in August 1942 (the Churchill in the disaster at Dieppe, the Tiger near Leningrad). Despite their heavy weight, both tanks, which were intended to serve in breakthrough operations, had surprisingly good tactical mobility. Yet there were key differences between them too, chiefly in the effectiveness of their main armament. This fascinating and detailed work explores the design and development of these famous tanks and its influence on their head-to-head encounters, the effectiveness of the support services each tank relied upon, and the skills and experiences of the crews that fought in them. The specific battlefield conditions of NoTrade ReviewReaders will find this a thought provoking work and the conclusion is the subject of many debates. -- John Norris * Gun Mart & Militaria Mart magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Design and Development The Strategic Situation Technical Specifications The Combatants Combat Statistics and Analysis Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA fascinating study of the EB-66, which from 1965 to 1967 was the US Air Force''s only platform for jamming and escort duties for its strike operations over heavily-defended areas. Without the bravery and skill of EB-66 operators, US losses would undoubtedly have been much higher during the Vietnam War, with large tactical strikes on North Vietnam and Arc Light B-52 raids only available when EB-66 support was possible.Studies of air combat in the Vietnam War inevitably focus on the MiG-killing fighter engagements, B-52 onslaughts or tactical strikes on the Hanoi region. However, underlying all these was the secretive ''electron war'' in which highly-skilled electronic warfare officers dueled with Soviet and North Vietnamese radar operators in the attempt to enable US strike forces to reach their targets with minimal losses. Orbiting at the edge of heavily-defended territory, the vulnerable EB-66s identified and jammed the enemy''s radar frequencies with electroTable of Contents1. Naval Origins 2. Cold War Bomber 3. Yokota and Shaw 4. Into the Fire 5. Thundering On 6. The Final Round 7. Still in Europe Appendices - Colour plates commentary - Index

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Book SynopsisAn informative and visually appealing quiz book covering all aspects of Churchill''s extraordinary life.Do you think you know everything there is to know about Churchill? Have you seen every film and read every book ever produced about this great British statesman? Then delve into The Churchill Quiz Book to find 800 fascinating questions on every aspect of his heroic, colourful and controversial life!With multiple-choice questions, anagrams, truth or fiction sections to baffle and intrigue, picture quizzes from the Imperial War Museums'' archive, and much more, you will find there is still something new to learn about the compelling icon who led Great Britain to ultimate victory in World War II.Trade ReviewIt really is a nice gift for anyone interested in our wartime PM. * The Armourer *Table of ContentsIntroduction Acknowledgments How to Use This Book Questions 1. Beginnings 2. Passion and Politics 3. Politics, Empire and the Road to War 4. War and Wilderness 5. Alone and at War 6. Darkest Hours 7. Adversity and Striking Back 8. Liberating Europe 9. Victory and Defeat 10. Post-war and Legacy Answers Further Reading About the Author Imperial War Museums

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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 SynopsisA history and analysis of one of the most dramatic moments in both air power and naval history. With the sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse, no battleship was safe on the open ocean, and the aircraft took its crown as the most powerful maritime weaponIn late 1941, war was looming with Japan, and Britain''s empire in southeast Asia was at risk. The British government decided to send Force Z, which included the state-of-the-art battleship Prince of Wales and the battlecruiser Repulse, to bolster the naval defences of Singapore, and provide a mighty naval deterrent to Japanese aggression. These two powerful ships arrived in Singapore on 2 December - five days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But crucially, they lacked air cover. On 9 December Japanese scout planes detected Force Z''s approach in the Gulf of Thailand. Unlike at Pearl Harbor, battleships at sea could manoeuvre, and their anti-aircraft defences were ready. But it did no gTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION CHRONOLOGY ATTACKER'S CAPABILITIES The new rulers of the sea DEFENDER'S CAPABILITIES The Royal Navy’s mission to Singapore CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES The imperial rivals THE CAMPAIGN The last day of the big-gun battleship ANALYSIS FURTHER READING INDEX

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Book Synopsis''What a brilliant book this is a terrific narrative of Hitler''s Ardennes offensive of December 1944 superb storytelling that achieves a skilful balance between drama and detail.'' - James HollandThe Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive in the West. Launched in the depths of winter to neutralize the overwhelming Allied air superiority, three German armies attacked through the Ardennes, the weakest part of the American lines, with the aim of splitting the Allied armies and seizing the vital port of Antwerp within a week.It was a tall order, as the Panzers had to get across the Our, Amblève, Ourthe and Meuse rivers, and the desperate battle became a race against time and the elements, which the Germans would eventually lose. But Hitler''s dramatic counterattack did succeed in catching the Allies off guard in what became the largest and bloodiest battle fought by US forces during the war.In this book, Anthony Tucker-JoneTrade ReviewAnthony Tucker-Jones’s study of these battles is timely and important. * Professor Peter Caddick-Adams, author of 'Snow and Steel: Battle of the Bulge 1944–45' *What a brilliant book this is… a terrific narrative of Hitler’s Ardennes offensive of December 1944 – superb storytelling that achieves a skilful balance between drama and detail. * James Holland, author of 'Brothers in Arms' *Tucker-Jones has delivered another gem. Hitler’s Winter takes the reader on a breath-taking ride from the “other side of the hill” and is a must-read compendium to the vast corpus of Allied accounts of the Battle of the Bulge. Simply stunning. * David O’Keefe, author of 'Seven Days in Hell' *Anthony Tucker-Jones offers a fresh insight into the Battle of the Bulge that few historians have matched. Although several books have been written about the Ardennes from the German perspective, very few authors have captured the spirit of the conflict through the eyes of the combatants themselves. * Mike Guardia, author of 'Arracourt 1944: Triumph of American Armor' *An excellent themed analysis of why the objectives set by Hitler could never be achieved. * Aspects of History *For those who want to fully understand the Battle of the Bulge, then this is a 'must read'. * Iron Cross *Table of ContentsForeword by Professor Peter Caddick-Adams Prologue: The Pied Piper List of Maps List of Illustrations PART ONE: A DARING PLAN 1. Scarface 2. Big or Small Solution 3. The Holy Grail 4. How Many Rivers? PART TWO: SCRAPING THE BARREL 5. People’s Grenadiers 6. Exhausted Panzers 7. Unleash the Tigers PART THREE: WHERE'S THE LUFTWAFFE? 8. Fighter not a Bomber 9. The Big Blow 10. ‘Stubble-hoppers’ PART FOUR: INTO BATTLE 11. Peiper Leads the Charge 12. Krauts Speaking English 13. The Losheim Gap 14. Falcon Takes Flight PART FIVE: RACE AGAINST TIME 15. Victory at St Vith 16. Stalled at Bastogne 17. Clear Skies PART SIX: HERE COME THE AMERICANS 18. Almost to the Meuse 19. American Counter-attack PART SEVEN: TOO LATE TO HELP 20. Rockets to Antwerp 21. Battle of the Airfields 22. Alsace Diversion PART EIGHT: COMPLETE FAILURE 23. Back Where They Started 24. Where Did It All Go Wrong? Appendix Notes and References Bibliography 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 SynopsisA new history of the large, fast, and long-ranged armored cruisers of the US Navy, and the roles that these warships played in the fleet as America developed into a great naval power.At the dawn of the Steel Navy era, the rapidly expanding US Navy''s fleet of capital ships consisted not only of battleships but also armored cruisers, the forerunner of the battlecruiser. Armored cruisers sacrificed the battleship''s superlative firepower and protection for superior speed and range but, as this study shows, their role was not always easy to define. Controversial because they were as large and expensive as battleships but not able to withstand a battleship in battle, contemporary strategists pointed out that, naval wars are not won by running away from stronger ships.Despite being produced at great expense, tactically they never really had a legitimate missiontraditional deployments were commerce raiding and protection, but despite this, author Brian Lane Herder Trade ReviewThe book is an authoritative, well-written and entertaining read. Illustrated with black and white photographs and some excellent coloured line drawings. -- James Bosbotinis * The Naval Review *Table of Contents(Subject to confirmation) Introduction Development Construction Weapons Armored Cruisers Semi-Armored Cruisers Operational History Conclusion Bibliography

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Book SynopsisFeaturing specially commissioned artwork and archive illustrations, this engrossing study describes the US Marine Corps'' early operations and illustrates its evolving uniforms and personal equipment. The US Marine Corps'' uniforms, personal equipment, insignia, and weaponry are all described and illustrated in this book, complemented by a succinct history of the Marines'' military record from their beginnings to the eve of the American Civil War, by which time the US Marine Corps had established itself as a small but vitally important part of the United States'' armed forces. Organized in 1775, the first American Marines distinguished themselves throughout the American Revolutionary War, and even raided mainland Britain before being disbanded in 1783. Reestablished in 1798, the US Marine Corps fought in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, both at sea and on land. The years after 1815 saw the Corps involved in a wide variety of conflicts, from the Seminole WTable of ContentsThe American Revolutionary War The Birth of the US Marine Corps The First Barbary War The War of 1812 New Challenges 1815-35 The Second Seminole War The Mexican–American War Expanding Empire Harpers Ferry Select Bibliography 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 SynopsisA compelling account of the heavily armed and highly mobile Soviet river gunboats which took on the Germans during World War II.Russia''s enormous river system has long been its highway and, as early as 1908, the Tsar''s armies were developing armoured riverboats that brought tank-like mobility, firepower and survivability to Russian battlefields.This book, the first history of these vessels in English, explains how this concept led to one of the most remarkable naval weapons of World War II, the Soviet ''river tank'', or Armoured Motor Gun Boat (AMGB). Highly mobile, capable of carrying up to 20 infantrymen directly into action and providing immediate firepower from their tank turrets, machine guns or Katyusha rockets, their military value was widely recognized. They were versatile enough to be used in naval landing operations off the Gulf of Finland, the Azov Sea and the Black Sea, and their capabilities were prized by local commanders.Using meticulously researched new Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION The river gunboat in Imperial Russia DEVELOPMENT Planning Project 1124 Organization Project 1125 RIVER TANKS AT WAR Shoulder to shoulder with Nazi Germany, 1939–41 The German invasion of 1941 The German advance, 1942 Turning point, 1943 The Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe, 1944–45 The Amur Flotilla, 1945 AFTERMATH River gunboats in The Cold War Projects of the 190 series Project 1204 End of an era CONCLUSION FURTHER READING INDEX

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Book SynopsisA unique comparison between the two most numerous British and German tank types from 1941 to 1943.Although much has been written about the Panzer III, little attention has been given to the equally prominent Valentine tank. This work compares the respective strengths and weaknesses of these iconic tanks, which frequently went head-to-head in brutal battles across Europe, Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia. It documents the upgrades made to each AFV type over three years, as up-gunned and up-armoured variants ever more lethal, ever more survivable arrived in North Africa.Dr Bruce Newsome explores the two tanks' encounters, from the first Valentine vs Panzer III clashes in 1941, to the Axis drive into Egypt, and on to the Tunisian fighting of 19421943. Colour artworks include profile, weaponry and gunsight, and battlescene views of both tanks, while maps chart the campaigns in which they met. Each AVF's performance is also covered, along with their technical details, design evolution, anTable of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Design and Development The Strategic Situation Technical Specifications The Combatants Combat Statistics and Analysis Aftermath Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA history of the small, mass-produced warships that defended the Atlantic convoys from U-boats and secured Britain''s lifeline to the United States.As the Battle of the Atlantic grew fiercer, Britain and the Commonwealth needed large quantities of new warships to defend their shipping which could be produced cheaply. The two largest type of ship produced were the escort destroyer and the frigate. Escort destroyers were essentially small destroyers optimized for anti-submarine warfare, with speed and anti-surface weaponry sacrificed, while frigates were simpler, designed so they could be built quickly in civilian shipyards. Nearly 200 were built.These warships were key to protecting convoys in the Atlantic Ocean where their range and seagoing qualities made them well-suited for operations. They were also used to form hunting groups, and collectively accounted for the destruction of scores of German U-boats. Their arrival came at a critical time for the Royal NTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT - Escort vessels - The escort destroyer - The frigate CAPABILITIES - General capabilities - Weaponry and sensors ESCORTS IN ACTION THE WARSHIPS - Hunt Class Escort Destroyers (Type 1) - Hunt Class Escort Destroyers (Type 2) - Hunt Class Escort Destroyers (Type 3) - Hunt Class Escort Destroyers (Type 4) - River Class Frigates (Group 1) - River Class Frigates (Group 2) - Loch Class Frigates - Bay Class Frigates SPECIFICATIONS FURTHER READING INDEX

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Book Synopsis''ENORMOUS FUN'' GUARDIAN''SO ENTERTAINING'' THE TIMES''GOSSIPY, LIGHT AND FUN'' TLSQueen Bees looks at the lives of six remarkable women who made careers out of being society hostesses, including Lady Astor, who went on to become the first female MP, and Mrs Greville, who cultivated relationships with Edward VII, as well as Lady Londonderry, Lady Cunard, Laura Corrigan and Lady Colefax. Written with wit, verve and heart, Queen Bees is the story of a form of societal revolution, and the extraordinary women who helped it happen.In the aftermath of the First World War, the previously strict hierarchies of the British class system were weakened. For a number of ambitious, spirited women, this was the chance they needed to slip through the cracks and take their place at the top of society as the great hostesses of the time. In an age when the place of women was uncertain, becoming a hostess wasTrade ReviewSo entertaining - and there's lots of insider fun to be had... Excels at anecdotes and punchlines... The strength of Queen Bees is its wealth of detail and its author's nose for a human story... This book dances in and out of its subject to the sound of plate-smashing, cut-glass gossip, ukeleles, Beecham's orchestras, jazz bands, Nazi anthems and bombs. "I've been to a marvellous party," wrote Noël Coward. Thanks to Queen Bees, we can feel as though we were there too. * The Times *The book, like their parties, is often "enormous fun" * Guardian *Delightful... Crammed with fascinating anecdotes * Independent *If guest lists and gossip columns, invitations and address books, seating plans and social mountaineering tick your box, this is the book for you. * The Times *Rich in anecdote... a fascinating account... Group biography is a difficult trick to pull off, but Evans is deft with her interweaving of narrative and history... * The Sunday Times *This is a whirl of a book, gossipy, light and fun * Times Literary Supplement *Evans's pacy account of these intrepid social lion-hunters sparkles with famous names * Mail on Sunday *Gloriously gossipy... A snapshot of a bygone age from Gosford Park-style big country house parties to dancing until dawn in Park Lane mansions long demolished. * Red Magazine *The individual characters of these unusual women are well delineated and all played significant roles in their time... An entertaining "spectacle of celebrity, talent, and burning ambition". * Sunday Express *An irresistible and witty account * Woman & Home *A compelling portrait of six inspiring women * The Lady *Wonderfully readable * Country Life *An exciting read, Evans has painted a compelling portrait of six inspiring women. * The Mitford Society *Evans makes a good case for her hostesses' importance as purveyors of soft power: the artistic, cultural and political reach of their address books, she argues had a profound impact on modern British society. All were marvellously quotable, as spiteful as they were ambitious, mistresses of the apparently throwaway remark designed to draw blood, but their success was due as much to their status and fortunes as to their brilliance. One of the pleasures of books like these is that you close them with a feeling of overwhelming gratitude for your own mundane life * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisLt Cdr Robert Hichens became a legendary MGB commander and the most highly decorated RNVR officer in the Second World War. His biography provides thrilling first hand accounts of close naval action in the North Sea and English Channel.

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Book SynopsisAn exceptional memoir describing operations by, and in support of, the SAS and SBS during the Falklands War.

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Book SynopsisComprehensive illustrated history of the most effective German tank of the Second World War

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Book SynopsisThe full story of Poland's part in WW2 from failure of pre-war diplomacy and planning, through to betrayal by Allies leading to civil war and Soviet occupation in immediate post-war years.

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Book SynopsisStories of the men who served the guns on the D-Day beaches

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Book SynopsisCovers Devon in the Second World War, from the commencement of the conflict in September 1939, until its end in September 1945, featuring many forgotten news stories of the day.

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Book SynopsisThe first book charting Hampshire s War at sea and on land

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Book SynopsisCovers the events and happenings of the whole of Southampton during the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisA important study of a previously neglected but crucial element of the Kriegsmarine which includes previously unpublished photographs and contains stirring first-hand accountsTrade Review'Naval Books of the Year'. "This book is an excellent treatment of a side of naval warfare that is rarely given the attention it deserves. It is thus heartily recommended." --Warship

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Book SynopsisThe untold story of one of Bletchley Park's less-celebrated geniuses.

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Book SynopsisThe book unpicks the orders and analyses how the infantry and the armour failed to marry up to deliver a joint attack around the south of Arras but fought a series of separate despiurate battles.

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Book SynopsisWhat greater pride might a young man feel than to serve shoulder to shoulder with his friends in time of war? To enlist into the army with his pals, chums, mates, filling the ranks of battalions that drew their strength from the local community, from amongst factory workers, miners, shop-workers and tradesmen. In August 1914, what more fitting role was there to play than to answer the country's call to arms?The past is another country, of course: the world in which these men grew up and the mores that took them to the Western Front might appear innocent and naive today. The Somme battle eviscerated many of these free-spirited battalions. But the raising of this New Army a purely volunteer army lives on in the public consciousness, their collective story part of our heritage.Who were these volunteers who poured into recruiting offices, overwhelming the staff? What motivated these men too often just boys - to join up? How did they feel about one another and the new military regime int

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Book SynopsisCompelling study of the British campaigns in India during the Napoleonic Wars. Focuses on the campaigns of Arthur Wellesley - later Duke of Wellington - and General Lake.

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Book SynopsisDetailed narrative of military events of Roman Empire 457-518, including detailed analysis of several hitherto neglected battles.

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Book SynopsisFirst-hand accounts of opening the air attack against dictator Saddam

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