Military vehicles Books

Book SynopsisA comprehensive country-by-country visual directory of more than 260 of the most significant examples. From the Alabama of the American Civil War to the Royal Navy's Tigers, the author traces cruiser development from ships with muzzle-loading, broadside armament, through casemates and turrets to the age of guided missiles.

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Book SynopsisThis title covers 100 years of wartime motorcycles, from the first machines of World War I to the diesel-powered types and quad bikes of today, with 230 photographs. It is a complete reference guide to a century of military motorcycles, from their first use at the beginning of the 20th century to the sophisticated models of today. It discusses machine-gun motorcycles, tracked motorcycles, diesel motorcycles, ATVs and quad bikes. It explains the anatomy of the military motorcycle - its frame, engine, transmission, final drive, front forks, rear forks, suspension and brakes. It features over 230 commissioned and rare photographs from archives, museums and private collections. During the early years of World War I, motorcycles started to enter military service, replacing the mounted despatch rider and providing a means of mechanizing machine-gun and stretcher units. This fully illustrated book covers the lively history of the military motorcycle, highlighting the varied roles motorcycles have played, as well as how the vehicles have evolved over time. It provides a country-by-country overview of military motorcycles in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, the USA, the USSR and Japan. An expertly written volume, it provides enthusiasts with key information about the history of these diverse multi-tasking vehicles.

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Book SynopsisFor centuries, battleships provided overwhelming firepower at sea. They were not only a major instrument of warfare, but a visible emblem of a nation’s power, wealth and pride. The rise of the aircraft carrier following the Japanese aerial strike on Pearl Harbor in 1941 highlighted the vulnerabilities of the battleship, bringing about its demise as a dominant class of warship. This book offers a detailed guide to the major types of battleships to fight in the two World Wars. Explore HMS Dreadnought, the first of a class of fast, big-gun battleships to be developed at the beginning of the 20th century; see the great capital ships that exchanged salvos at the battle of Jutland, including the German battlecruiser Derfflinger, which sank the British battleship Queen Mary; find out about the destruction of HMS Hood, which exploded after exchanging fire with the Bismarck, which itself was sunk after a trans-Atlantic chase by a combination of battery fire and aircraft-launched torpedoes; and be amazed at the ‘super-battleship’ Yamato, which despite its size and firepower, made minimal contribution to Japan’s war effort and was sunk by air attack during the defence of Okinawa. Illustrated with more than 120 vivid artworks and photographs, Technical Guide: Battleships of World War I and World War II is an essential reference guide for modellers and naval warfare enthusiasts.Table of ContentsContents to include: World War I: Jaureguiberry 1896 Canopus 1899 Kearsarge 1900 Mikasa 1902 Tsessarevitch 1903 Dreadnought 1906 Schleswig-Holstein 1908 South Carolina 1910 Hercules 1911 Lion 1912 Wyoming 1912 Derfflinger 1913 Kongo 1913 Royal Oak (or Revenge) 1914 Texas 1914 Andrea Doria 1915 Queen Elizabeth 1915 Barham 1915 Canada 1915 Fuso 1915 Provence 1915 Nevada 1916 Bayern 1916 Royal Sovereign 1916 Courageous 1917 Ise 1917 Mississippi 1917 World War II: Hood 1920 Nagato 1920 Jaime I 1922 Rodney 1927 Lutzow/Graf Spee 1933 Gneisenau 1938 Dunkerque 1937 Scharnhorst 1939 Littorio 1940 Bismarck 1940 Prince of Wales 1940 Richelieu 1940 Yamato 1940 Vittorio Veneto 1940 Prince of Wales 1941 Tirpitz 1941 Howe 1942 Indiana 1942 Iowa 1943 Missouri 1944 Guam 1944 Vanguard 1946

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Book SynopsisThe most iconic planes of WWII, the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, DeHavilland Mosquito and the Avro Lancaster, were all powered by one engine, the Rolls-Royce Merlin. The story of the Merlin is one of British ingenuity at its height, of artistry and problem-solving that resulted in a war-winning design.Published to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day and the 80th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Britain, Merlin is the extraordinary story of the development of the Rolls-Royce engine that would stop Hitler from invading Britain and carry the war to the very heart of Germany.The story of the Merlin engine encompasses the history of powered flight, from the ingenuity of the Wright Brothers to the horrors of World War I, and from the first crossing of the Atlantic to the heady days of flying in the 1920s. There is also the extraordinary story of the Schneider Trophy an international contest wherein nations poised on the precipice of war competed for engineering Trade ReviewPraise for Merlin ‘Merlin paints a finer, more detailed and complete portrait of the aero engine and the people who made it than almost any other single volume on the subject …Illuminating and entertaining’ Pilot magazine ‘To get deeper into the nuts and bolts of aviation, Graham Hoyland spent a year taking apart the story of the Merlin and putting it back together in a form that roars beautifully from the very start’ Simon Calder, Independent ‘A stirring account of how these hand-wrought machines, geared for speed and encased in elegant airframes … delivered us in 1940 … Merlin depicts a heroic age of smashed land, air and water speed records … and the extreme bravery of those pioneers, who incurred many fatalities. Hoyland marries the drama and excitement with a clear focus on the technical: he puts you in the cockpit and into the very guts of the machines … Anyone with a serious interest in engineering will find much to enjoy and appreciate.’ Colin Greenwood, The Spectator Praise for Graham Hoyland ‘Illuminating and entertaining’ The Times ‘A towering work full of twists and turns’ Independent ‘Richly enjoyable’ Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisRoyston Morrisâ book features a broad range of military aircraft from the First World War right up to the modern day which can be seen on display in the skies and on the ground in Britain.

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Book SynopsisThe thrilling, edge-of-your-seat true story of one soldier''s Special Forces operations in the Falklands War''BRILLIANT. A ROLLERCOASTER OF BLISTERING ACTION, SURVIVAL AND BEHIND-THE-LINES DARING'' DAMIEN LEWIS________THE BIGGEST SINGLE LOSS OF LIFE FOR THE SAS SINCE WORLD WAR TWO . . .1982, the British task force sails to liberate the Falkland Islands. Aboard: SAS D Squadron, determined to make their mark.No one more so than Mark ''Splash'' Aston.But they have barely seen action when their Sea King helicopter crashes in freezing South Atlantic waters, killing 22 of Mark''s comrades.The last out of the sinking wreck, he suffers a broken neck. But defying medical evacuation orders, Mark sneaks off ship, re-joins his SAS comrades to land on a mountain near Port Stanley - to defend it against days of attacks by Argentine special forces . . .SAS Sea King Down is a pulse-pounding account of D-STrade ReviewBrilliant. A rollercoaster of blistering action, survival and behind-the-lines daring -- Damien LewisGripping, fast moving and completely authentic. A brilliant piece of work. Better than Bravo Two Zero -- Mike Rose, former Commanding Officer of the SASA gripping untold story of heroism, hardship and sacrifice within the SAS -- Bear GryllsBrings alive the hardships, fear and bravery of the elite soldier . . . A great tale, loaded with comradeship * Sun *

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Book SynopsisCentral to the German strategy of dealing with an Allied landing in France was the availability of a strong, mobile armoured reserve. In June 1944, as part of this force, the Army in the West was able to deploy over 300 Panther tanks, perhaps the best armoured fighting vehicle produced by Germany during the Second World War. British and American tank crews found to their horror that the Panthers could often survive numerous hits while a single round from one of their 75mm guns was enough to destroy any enemy tank. In his book, his third in the TankCraft series, Dennis Oliver uses archive photographs and painstakingly researched, exquisitely presented colour illustrations to examine the part these powerful tanks played in the Normandy battles and also the battalions that operated them. As with previous titles in the TankCraft series, a large part of this book showcases available model kits and aftermarket products and accessories, complemented by a gallery of skilfully constructed and painted models.

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Book SynopsisThis is the tenth book by David Maidment in the ‘Locomotive Portfolio’ series and covers the large number of designs from 1860 onwards of 0-6-0 saddle tanks built for both the Great Western Railway and the independent railway companies in South Wales, most of which were converted to pannier tanks in the Churchward and Collett eras as they were reboilered with raised Belpaire fireboxes between the early 1900s and the late 1920s. As well as the Armstrong and Dean engines, the book goes on to describe the design, construction and operation of the largest class of steam engines built in the UK in the last century – Collett’s familiar 57XX class, examples of which were still being built after nationalisation. Collett also designed pannier tank engines for branch passenger and freight work – the 54,64 & 74XX series, and Hawksworth continued the GW tradition with a tapered boiler version, the 94XX, after the Second World War as well as the light 16XX and the outside cylinder Walschaerts valve geared 15XX. This is a very comprehensive book covering so many classes, valuable for the modeller, and has over 400 photographs, and a full colour section.

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Book SynopsisWhen at Hitler's insistence the first Tiger I tanks went into action in Tunisia in December 1942 they rapidly gained a formidable fighting reputation despite their lack of reliability and the small number deployed. With its heavy armour and 88mm gun, it outclassed all the Allied tanks then in service and forced the Allies to accelerate the introduction of improved anti-tank guns and tanks that could match the Tiger in terms of firepower and protection. In this, his second volume in the TankCraft series on the Tiger, Dennis Oliver uses archive photos and extensively researched colour illustrations to examine the Tiger tanks and German army units that first took them into combat in North Africa and then operated them as they fell back through Sicily and Italy between 1943 and 1945. A large part of the book showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of the tanks that made such an immediate impact on the southern front during the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisIn 1859 the French navy was at a high point, having fought alongside the British in the Crimean War and developed a formidable fleet of fast wooden-hulled steam ships of the line. But in that very year the world's navies had to start over again when French naval architect Dupuy de Lome introduced the ironclad battleship. The French navy then went through three tumultuous phases. In the 1860s and 1870s it focused on building a new traditionally-structured fleet in which wooden-hulled battleships gave way to iron and steel ships with massive guns and armour. In the 1880s and 1890s this effort was disrupted by a vigorous contest between battleship sailors and advocates of fast steel cruisers and small torpedo craft, leaving France by the end of the 1890s with few new battleships (none as large as the best foreign ships) but some two hundred torpedo boats. The Fashoda crisis in 1898 revealed the weakness of the French navy and between 1900 and 1914 the French focused on building a strong battle fleet. In 1914 this fleet remained well behind those of Britain and Germany in numbers, but taken individually French warships remained among the best in the world. This book is the first comprehensive listing in English of the over 1400 warships that were added to the official French navy fleet list between 1 January 1859 and World War I. It includes everything from the largest battleships to a small armoured gunboat that looked like a floating egg. The ships are listed in three separate parts to keep contemporary ships together and then by ship type and class. For each class the book provides a design history explaining why the ships were built, substantial technical characteristics for the ships as completed and after major reconstructions, and selected career milestones including the ultimate fate of each ship. Like its predecessors written jointly with Rif Winfield, French Warships in the Age of Sail 1626-1786 and French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861, with which it forms the third in a trilogy, it provides a complete picture of the overall development of French warships over a period of almost three centuries.

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Book SynopsisThe German panzer armies that swept into the Soviet Union in 1941 were an undefeated force that had honed their skill in combined arms warfare to a fine edge. The Germans focused their panzers and tactical air support at points on the battlefield defined as Schwerpunkt - main effort - to smash through any defensive line and then advance to envelope their adversaries. Initially, these methods worked well in the early days of Operation Barbarossa and the tank forces of the Red Army suffered defeat after defeat. Although badly mauled in the opening battles, the Red Army's tank forces did not succumb to the German armoured onslaught and German planning and logistical deficiencies led to over-extension and failure in 1941\. In the second year of the invasion, the Germans directed their Schwerpunkt toward the Volga and the Caucasus and again achieved some degree of success, but the Red Army had grown much stronger and by November 1942, the Soviets were able to turn the tables at Stalingrad. Robert Forczyk's incisive study offers fresh insight into how the two most powerful mechanized armies of the Second World War developed their tactics and weaponry during the critical early years of the Russo-German War. He uses German, Russian and English sources to provide the first comprehensive overview and analysis of armored warfare from the German and Soviet perspectives. His analysis of the greatest tank war in history is compelling reading.

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Book Synopsis'Excellent ... a raw and visceral, bird's-eye view of the action from the men who were there' The Times This is the story of a tank regiment: the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in the Second World War. Raw and visceral personal recollections from the men themselves recall some of the most dramatic and horrific scenes imaginable - the sheer nerve-wracking tension of serving in highly inflammable Sherman tanks, the sudden impact of German shells, the desperate scramble to bail out, and the awful fate of those who couldn't. Even if they made it out of the tank, they were still vulnerable to being brutally cut down by German infantry. Yet amidst these horrors, the humanity of these men shines through. And as we follow in their tracks, through letters, diaries and eye-witness accounts, they will change how we think about tank warfare forever.Trade ReviewWhat Hart has done superbly is to weave many voices into one seamless narrative ... Conveys in sobering detail the relentless grind of modern warfare -- Simon Griffith * Mail on Sunday *Dramatic and horrific scenes ... Peter Hart puts us in the shoes of the soldiers who served in tanks in the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry * BBC History Magazine *Excellent ... a raw and visceral, bird's-eye view of the action from the men who were there -- Saul David * Times *Praise for Peter Hart: 'A superb account of the tactics that finally brought victory on the Western Front -- Max HastingsThought provoking, erudite, yet eminently readable and entertaining: Peter Hart is a historian and author at the peak of his powers -- Richard van EmdenExquisite ... Hart lets these [men] speak -- Gerard de Groot * The Times *Memory can play false, of course, but these recollections, admirably curated, have authenticity -- Allan Mallinson * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisThe Jeep is among a handful of motor vehicles, along with other classics such as the VW ''Beetle'', the Mini, the E-Type Jaguar and the Citroën 2CV which are deserving of that over used adjective; iconic.During WW2, the Jeep could be found wherever the Allies were fighting and soldiers soon learned that here was a dependable, go-anywhere machine. Waterproofed Jeeps took part in the D-Day landings, before fighting their way across France and the Low Countries and into Germany. In the appalling conditions of the Eastern Front, Jeeps struggled against the odds to win the admiration of the Red Army and in the Far East where roads were non-existent, Jeeps were even adapted to travel on rails. By the time the war was over, more than 640,000 Jeeps had been built by Ford and Willys. After the end of the war another 28,000 were built in France by Hotchkiss during the 1950s.This book, now enlarged and revised with many new pictures covers the story of the development of this iconic military vehicle and the myriad post-war ''lookalikes''. It also provides insights into what is involved in finding, restoring and running a military Jeep more than 80 years since the first prototype was delivered to the US Army in July 1940. It is a reliable guide to help enthusiasts find parts and decide how a particular Jeep can be authentically restored. The book''s author, Pat Ware, is amongst the world''s foremost writers on historical military vehicles, with more than 60 titles and countless magazine articles on his credits.

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Book SynopsisThis is the second volume in Luigino Caliaro''s trilogy on the main Italian fighter types to see service in the Second World War. This book focuses on the fighter designs that emanated from the Turin-based Fiat company. The author describes the long and illustrious history of Fiat and introduces the early biplane designs of the gifted engineer, Celestino Rosatelli, before dealing with four of Fiat''s most successful and acclaimed aircraft.Constructed of fabric-covered light alloy, the CR.32 biplane was one of the most outstanding fighters of the late 1930s. Besides flying with the Regia Aeronautica in the Spanish Civil War, it also saw service with the air forces of China, Austria, Hungary, Paraguay and Venezuela. The CR.42 Falco, Rosatelli''s evolution of the CR.32, became the last single-seat biplane fighter to be built by the belligerent nations of the Second World War and it was also exported to several other nations, including Belgium and Sweden, as well as the Luftwaffe. The CR.42 saw service in the Mediterranean and North Africa, the Balkans and Iraq, and there was a nightfighter variant. In terms of monoplane fighters, the radial-engined G.50 Freccia, designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli, became the first Italian all-metal, single-seat fighter with a retractable undercarriage. It saw wide deployment in Spain, the Balkans, the Aegean and North Africa, while machines also went to Finland and Croatia. The G.55 Centauro, powered in its ultimate variant by the RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone liquid-cooled engine, which was a license-built version of the German DB 605A-1, equipped both the Regia Aeronautica and the Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR).Drawing on company documents and reports from military archives, the book explores the design, development and operational career of each type, as well as production, prototypes, technical aspects and much else. The volume is illustrated throughout with hundreds of rare and fascinating photographs.

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Book SynopsisSpecial Forces are a key component of every modern army, capable of carrying out clandestine operations, reconnaissance, and incisive attacks behind enemy lines. Units such as the British SAS, US Navy SEALs, the US Army’s Delta Force, Polish GROM and the France’s National Gendarmerie Intervention Group are famous for their bravery and formidable record. Aircraft are a key element of their functionality, without which Special Forces would not be able to move quickly to the combat zone. Arranged into chapters divided by transports, gunships, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles, the book includes the AC-130H gunship, which can be armed with weapons such as the M61 Vulcan rotary cannon and can destroy ground targets from a range of 2,000 metres; the CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, which can land large numbers of men and material in tight spaces because of its STOL capabilities; the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II, used by the British Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW) for the insertion of small units behind enemy lines; and the Mil Mi- 171Sh Storm rotorcraft, used by the Russian Spetsnaz commandos for operations in difficult terrain. Illustrated with 140 photographs and artworks, Aircraft of the Special Forces is a dynamic guide to the specialist aircraft and UAVs deployed by Special Forces throughout the world today.Table of ContentsContents to include: Aircraft & Gunships: CV-22 Osprey AC-130H/U Gunship MC-130E/H Combat Talon I/II MC-130P Combat Shadow MC-130J Commando II AC-130J Ghostrider MC-130W Combat Spear MC-130W Dragon Spear EC-130J Commando Solo U-28A MC-12W Liberty C-146A Wolfhound Boeing C-32B Helicopters: Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat Eurocopter EC725 Caracal NHIndustries NH90 NHIndustries MRH-90 Taipan Airbus H145M MH-53J/M Pavelow MH-60 Black Hawk MH-60L DAP Gunships AH-6 / MH-6 Little Bird MH-47 Chinook HH-60H Rescue Hawk Kamov Ka-27 Kamov Ka-29 Kamov Ka-31 Kamov Ka-226 Kazan Ansat Mil Mi-8 Mil Mi-14 Mi-171Sh Mil Mi-26 Mil Mi-38 Attack helicopters: Eurocopter Tiger Mil Mi-24 and Mi-35 family Mil Mi-28 Kamov Ka-52 Bell AH-1 Cobra Agusta A129 Mangusta AH-64 Apache Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: MQ-1C Gray Eagle RQ-4 Global Hawk MQ-4C Triton RQ-7 Shadow MQ-8B Fire Scout/MQ-8C Fire Scout MQ-9 Reaper CQ-10 Snowgoose RQ-11 Raven RQ-12 Wasp MQ-19 Aerosonde RQ-20 Puma RQ-21 Blackjack RQ-170 Sentinel RQ-180 Black Hornet Nano Coyote Snipe NAV Switchblade Maveric Stalker ScanEagle Northrop Grumman Bat

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Book SynopsisOrganised chronologically by type, Russian Tanks of World War II offers a highly-illustrated guide to the main armoured fighting vehicles used by the Red Army during World War II. The book offers a comprehensive survey of Soviet AFVs, from the pre-war T-18 light tank and BT fast tank series to the heavy Joseph Stalin tanks and self- propelled guns of the final months of the war. All the major and many minor tanks are featured, including every significant variation of the T-26 light tank, KV series and T-34 to see action on the Eastern Front. There are also chapters on the many types of self-propelled guns developed by Soviet industry, as well as Allied Lend-Lease AFVs, such as the British Churchill and Valentine tanks and American Sherman and Stuart tanks. Each featured profile includes authentic markings and colour schemes, while every separate model is accompanied by exhaustive specifications. Packed with 120 newly-commissioned, full-colour artworks with exhaustive specifications, Russian Tanks of World War II is a key reference guide for military modellers and World War II enthusiasts.Table of Contents1. Light Tanks Light tanks of the 1920s and 1930s, including the T-18, T-26, T-40, T-50 and T-60. 2. Medium and Fast Tanks Tanks such as the T-24, T-28 and BT fast tank series. 3. The T-34 The classic Soviet tank: includes the A-20 prototype, Model 1940, Model 1941, Model 1942 and Model 1943, plus the T-34/85 and the limited production T-44. 4. Heavy Tanks Including the T-35, KV-I and KV-II, IS-1, IS-2 and IS-3 tanks. 5. Self-Propelled Guns Includes the SU-76, SU-85, SU-100, SU-122, SU-152, ISU-122 and ISU-152. 6. Lend-Lease Tanks Allied tanks like the M3, Sherman, Churchill, Matilda that were supplied to Russia by her allies and used on the Eastern Front. Appendices Tanks compared, production numbers, losses Index

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Book SynopsisArguably two of the finest fighters built during the course of World War II, the Me 262 and P-51 Mustang heralded new dawns in aircraft performance. Making its operational debut in the summer of 1944, and powered by the Jumo 004 jet engine, the Me 262 outclassed Allied planes in terms of speed and firepower ratio, offering a formidable punch with four 30 mm MK 108 nose-mounted cannons. However, in the P-51, fitted with the Rolls-Royce (Packard) Merlin engine and drop tanks, the USAAF finally had a fighter that had the legs' to escort its heavy bombers deep into Reich airspace and back. If flown to its strengths, the P-51 was more than capable of taking on the feared Me 262 on an equal footing, despite the differences in power and top speed. Indeed, the Mustang proved to be the Luftwaffe fighter arm's nemesis. When the P-51D sortied over Germany from the summer of 1944 onwards, it shredded through the ill-trained and depleted Gruppen of the Luftwaffe's defence wings.This bTable of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology /Design and Development /Technical Specifications/ The Strategic Situation /The Combatants /Combat /Statistics and Analysis /Aftermath /Further Reading /Index

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Book SynopsisThe Deutsche Afrika Korps (best known as simply Afrika Korps) built up a well-deserved reputation as a superb fighting machine. While this was founded on the leadership and tactical genius of its legendary commander Erwin Rommel and the fighting skills of its officers and men, another vital element was its equipment in general and armour in particular. This superbly illustrated Images of War book reveals the full range of German armoured vehicles that saw service in North Africa over the two year period 1941 to mid-1943\. As well as the formidable panzers , such as the Tiger and Panther tanks, there were Sturmartillerie equipments, reconnaissance vehicles, half- tracks, armoured cars, Panzerkampwagens and motor cycles. All had their roles to play. While the Allies triumphed in North Africa ultimately, the combination of German design and engineering with superb generalship and fighting spirit, very nearly changed the course of the Second World War in 1942\. Military historians and equipment enthusiasts will find this a fascinating and authoritative book.

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Book SynopsisInitially designed as a fast medium bomber, the Junkers Ju 88 was also used as a Zerstörer heavy fighter by the Luftwaffe. It saw its combat debut over Poland in 1939, and heavy fighter variants saw action on every front up to VE Day. The ultimate Ju 88 fighter variant was the G-model of 1944, which boasted a FuG 220 or 227 radar, an astounding array of cannon and machine gun armament and advanced Junkers Jumo or BMW engines. A dedicated nightfighter, the first Ju 88G-1s entered service with the Nachtjagd in the summer of 1944, replacing Ju 88C/Rs as well as some Bf 110Gs. Despite suffering heavy losses in the final months of the war, Ju 88Gs also inflicted serious casualties on Bomber Command throughout the war.From patrolling over the Bay of Biscay, to the Arctic circle opposing Allied convoys and, most successfully, as radar-equipped nightfighters engaging RAF heavy bombers during defence of the Reich operations from late 1941, this is the story of tTable of ContentsChapter One: Early Beginnings Chapter Two: Radarless Nightfighters Chapter Three: Bloody Bay of Biscay Chapter Four: Arctic Operations Chapter Five: Ju 88G – Ultimate Nightfighter Appendices Index

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Book SynopsisBy 1944, the evolution of armored doctrine had produced very different outcomes in Britain and Germany. Offering a good balance of speed, protection, and firepower, the British Cromwell tank was much faster than its German opponent. However, the Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer had a high-velocity main gun and a lower profile that made it formidable on the defensive, especially in ambush situations. The two types would fight in a series of bloody encounters, from the initial days of the struggle for Normandy through its climax as the Allies sought to trap their opponents in the Falaise Pocket. Using archive photographs, specially commissioned artwork, and battle reports, this fascinating study expertly assesses the realities of tactical armored combat during the desperate battles after D-Day.Table of ContentsIntroduction / Chronology / Design and Development / The Strategic Situation / Technical Specifications / The Combatants / Combat / Statistics and Analysis / Conclusion / Further Reading / Index

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Book SynopsisThe latest edition of Warship, the celebrated annual publication featuring the latest research on the history, development, and service of the world''s warships.For over 45 years, Warship has been the leading annual resource on the design, development, and deployment of the world''s combat ships. Featuring a broad range of articles from a select panel of distinguished international contributors, this latest volume combines original research, new book reviews, warship notes, an image gallery, and much more, maintaining the impressive standards of scholarship and research with which Warship has become synonymous. Detailed and accurate information is the keynote of all the articles, which are fully supported by plans, data tables, and stunning photographs.This year''s Warship includes features on the secret battleship design that Mussolini''s Fascist Italy sold to Stalin''s USSR, the little-known German flak ships of World War II, the Trade ReviewStimulating articles, beautifully produced and published, yet again this series has delivered a wonderful collection which is also great fun to read. I look forward to Warship 2024! -- Peter Wykeham-Martin * Warship World *One of the great if idiosyncratic pleasures of this long-running title is the fact that it is not really a single volume but a continuing contribution to the soundest and most detailed minutiae of modern naval history. Articles can be split over more than one volume while the editor and/or hugely varied range of contributors can pose questions and seek responses from readers. To all intents Warship is a reference work created over several decades to the very highest standards of accuracy and withwhat is in effect a degree of community engagement. * The Mariner’s Mirror *I have reviewed the Warship series for a number of years and they never disappoint. This latest edition is a fascinating eclectic mix of articles on subjects ranging from bizarre designs to modern weapons systems and current naval thinking. The editor John Jordan is to be congratulated on editing such a heady mix from authoritative contributors -- Peter Wykeham-Martin * Warship World *The extent of the scholarship of the contributors to Warship 2023 is readily evident from the detail in the articles and the extensive endnotes. The book is also fully illustrated with clear line drawings, tables and black & white photographs. -- REAR ADMIRAL R. G. MELLY * The Naval Review *The 2023 edition of the popular Warship series continues in the established tradition of its predecessors in offering detailed insights into comparatively under-researched aspects of naval development relevant to military historians and armchair enthusiasts of the post-sail era. In so doing it treads a careful critical line which pulls in innovations, technical details and broader geopolitical trends shaping naval development. Moreover, the relative diversity and accessibility of the content is matched by the quality of production, with the hardback version having a distinct ‘coffee table’ feel. -- Jesse Heley * Intelligence and National Security Journal *Table of Contents(Subject to confirmation) THE LOSS OF HMS AUDACIOUS CLEMENCEAU AND FOCH: FRANCE’S FIRST MODERN AIRCRAFT CARRIERS THE ITALIAN CONNECTION: ANSALDO’S UP.41 DESIGN TAKASAGO, KASAGI AND CHITOSE: THE IJN’S FIRST 8IN-GUN PROTECTED CRUISERS THE ITALIAN NAVY AND THE BATTLESHIP IN THE 1930s: THEORY AND PRACTICE POSTWAR ELECTRONIC WARFARE SYSTEMS IN THE ROYAL NAVY THE GERMAN FLAK SHIPS PART I: THE GERMAN AND EX-NORWEGIAN HULLS THE STRANGE FATE OF GENERAL ALEKSEEV’S GUNS THE BATTLESHIP MASSENA THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOKOSUKA NAVY YARD Naval Books of the Year WARSHIP Notes WARSHIP Gallery

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Book SynopsisThe legendary Supermarine Spitfire was designed solely as an air protection interceptor, to engage and destroy enemy bombers attempting to attack targets in the British Isles. This book describes the design and development of this outstanding combat aircraft, and includes eyewitness accounts from pilots who flew it during the Battle of Britain.

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Book SynopsisThe United States and Soviet Union began a race to develop the first and most capable fifth generation stealth fighters in the late 1970s. The Cold War's end, however, was followed by both a near total collapse of Russian efforts and major cuts and delays to American programs. This provided an opening for a rising and fast modernising Chinese defence industry to kick off its own ambitious program to produce a world leading fighter jet with next generation capabilities. Once unveiled, the program came to be seen as a herald of China's rising status as a leading player in high tech and major world power. Development of the Chengdu J-20 began in the 1990s and has since consistently far exceeded expectations in both its performance and its development timeline. The fighter made its first flight in 2011 and began deliveries to the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 2016 a small fraction of the time its American and Russian rivals would take. Today it is the world's second most numerou

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Book SynopsisTechnical history of the M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

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

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Book SynopsisA new affordable softcover edition of a bestselling work on the perennially popular subject of battleships. Well researched and thoughtfully illustrated. Fascinating insights into a great industrial achievement.

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Book SynopsisThis title explores the ships and history of the enterprising American patriots who fought the Royal Navy as privateers, and played a major part in winning the Revolutionary War at sea. During the American War of Independence (177583), Congress issued almost 800 letters of marque as a way of combating Britain''s overwhelming naval and mercantile superiority. At first, it was only fishermen and the skippers of small merchant ships who turned to privateering, with mixed results. Eventually though, American shipyards began to turn out specially-converted ships, while later still, the first purpose-built privateers entered the fray. These American privateers seized more than 600 British merchant ships over the course of the war, capturing thousands of British seamen. Indeed, Jeremiah O''Brien''s privateer Unity successfully fought the first sea engagement of the Revolutionary War in the Battle of Machias of 1775. With just 40 men, their guns, axes, and pitcTable of ContentsIntroduction Background Design & Development The Business of Privateering Life on Board Privateers in Action Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisInitially projected as a maritime reconnaissance version of the Lincoln bomber, itself a development of the famous wartime Lancaster which saw post-war service in a General/Maritime Reconnaissance role, (see Flight Craft No 4), the Avro Shackleton, (named after the polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton) was a completely new design, powered by four Rolls Royce Griffon 57 engines driving six blade contra-rotating propellers.Split into three main sections, this latest Flight Craft title, perfectly timed to coincide with the release of the first examples of the eagerly awaited new tool 1/72 scale Airfix kit, offers a concise history of the Shackleton's development and operational career from the prototype and initial entry in to RAF service in 1951, and its use with the South African Air Force, the only other operator of the type. Section 1 chronicles its design, ongoing improvements and development through the three main Marks, in both the Maritime Reconnaissance and Airborne Early Warning

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Book SynopsisThe Panzer IV Panzerkampfwagen IV was one the foremost German fighting vehicles of the Second World War, and this volume in the TankCraft series is an ideal introduction to it. With detailed captions, text and illustrations the book tells the story of the technical development of the Panzer IV and the numerous variants that went into production, and it describes how it evolved from an infantry support vehicle to become the backbone of the Panzer units. It was modified and upgunned to face the ever-increasing enemy threat, and it proved to be so diverse and effective that it earned a unique tactical role on the battlefield. A large part of the book showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined in order to provide everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of the only Panzer that stayed in production throughout the war.

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Book SynopsisThe Hawker Hunter is one of Britain's classic post-war jet aircraft. Initially introduced in 1954 as a swept-wing, transonic, single-seat day interceptor, it rapidly succeeded the first-generation jet fighters in RAF service such as the Gloster Meteor (see Flight Craft 13) and the de Havilland Venom. Powered by the then newly developed Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet, the Hunter's performance transformed the RAF's day fighter squadrons from the mid-1950s until the advent of the English Electric Lightning from the early 1960s (see Flight Craft 11). Even then, as successively improved variants of the type were produced with increasingly more capable engines and expanded fuel capacity, the Hunter successfully transitioned into a strike/ground attack fighter-bomber and fighter reconnaissance platform. Two-seat variants were developed for training and other secondary roles with the RAF and the Royal Navy and a few remained in use until 2001, albeit with specialised MoD Test and Evaluation units - well over forty years after the type's initial introduction. Hunters were also famously used by two RAF display teams, the 'Black Arrows', who looped a record-breaking twenty-two Hunters in formation, and later the 'Blue Diamonds' as well as the Royal Navy's 'Blue Herons'. The Hunter saw combat service with the RAF in a range of conflicts including the Suez Crisis as well as various emergencies in the Middle East and Far East. The Hunter was also widely exported, serving with many foreign air forces, in which it also saw active service, which unfortunately lies outside the scope of this particular publication. Almost 2,000 Hunters were manufactured by Hawker Siddeley Aviation, as well as being produced under licence overseas and will remain one of the UK's most iconic aircraft designs of all time.

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Book SynopsisConceived as part of a Top Secret project to disrupt Nazi Germany's atomic bomb program, the hastily developed Studebaker Weasel went on to one of, if not THE most successful of the wartime all-terrain vehicles. Designed with light weight to facilitate both air-dropping and efficient, high-speed operation in the snow, the vehicles were soon found to have excellent performance in the mud. Always amphibious, the later models, the M29C, were equipped with flotation tanks on each end and dual rudders in the rear for even more efficient operation in the water. Weasels were used on numerous fronts during WWII, were once again deployed in Korea, by the French in Vietnam, and numerous outposts during the Cold War. These pages provide an overview of the development, and a detailed look at the deployment and the machines themselves, of these iconic, all-terrain vehicles.

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Book SynopsisThe actions of the German armoured forces during the Second World War is well known. What has not yet been so well told are the actions of the armoured forces from Germany's allies. While it is true that their performance was generally quite secondary in comparison to the Reich,the actions of the Hungarian armoured forces should be highlighted. Hungary not only managed to organize its armoured forces, but developed its own military industry that was able to supply weapons and equipment to its troops. The Hungarian military was able to produce all kinds of weapons, vehicles and armoured vehicles, although they were generally under-gunned and under-armoured. This book rescues Hungary's participation during the Second World War from oblivion through the use of superb photographs, which take the reader from the beginning of the USRR campaign and the conquest of Soviet lands, before ending with the bloody battles to avoid the Soviet and Romanian advance into Hungary (the Siege of Budapest) and the last clashes in Austrian and Slovenian territory before the army's unconditional surrender. The author highlights the bravery and courage of these men, as well as the terrible fate of the Hungarian armoured forces when the Soviet Army invaded Hungary.

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Book SynopsisThe Sdkfz 251 halftrack was one of the most versatile armoured vehicles produced by either side in the Second World War. Designed by the firm of Hannoversche Maschinenbau AG, or Hanomag, production ran to over 15,000 vehicles and it was eventually built as twenty-three separate variants serving as not only a personnel carrier, but also a command vehicle, mobile rocket launcher, armoured ambulance and bridge-layer. In his first book in the LandCraft series Dennis Oliver examines the Sdkfz 251 variants armed with the 7.5cm gun, initially used as an infantry support and reconnaissance halftrack and later as a tank killer as the result of Hitler's desperation to arm as many vehicles as possible with anti-tank weapons. Drawing on official documentation and unit histories Dennis investigates the formations that operated these deservedly famous vehicles and uses archive photos and extensively researched colour illustrations to examine the markings, camouflage and technical aspects of the Sdkfz 251/9 and 251/22 halftracks that served on the Western and Eastern Fronts in the last months of the war. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.

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Book SynopsisThis is a complete guide to aircraft carriers, from zeppelin and seaplane carriers to V/STOL and nuclear-powered carriers. It examines the evolution of the aircraft carrier, from the first flights from ships in World War I, developments during the inter-war years and World War II battles such as Pearl Harbor, through to modern carriers used in the Falklands. It is a comprehensive country-by-country directory of all the major aircraft carriers, with expert text describing each vessel's construction, appearance, function and history. It features over 500 photographs illustrating each type. Specification boxes provide information about country of origin, the company that built the carrier, construction and completion dates, displacement, dimensions, types of aircraft carried, armament, power and performance. This impressive encyclopedia is both a fascinating history of the aircraft carrier's development and a comprehensive visual directory of more than 170 of the world's aviation ships over nearly a century. Each entry is accompanied by a specification panel, and all the carriers are accompanied by identification photographs, many of which have never previously been published together in one volume. With magnificent illustrations and up-to-date information, this book provides both enthusiasts and historians with key information about the world's aircraft carriers, and is an essential reference for everyone interested in naval aviation.

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Book SynopsisThis title charts the history of amphibious warfare in conflicts around the globe, from World War I to the present day. It features conventional personnel and cargo carriers, welldeck "dock ships", modern multi-function ships, ramped beaching craft and high-speed air-cushion craft. It explores the fascinating history of the five recognized categories of amphibious operation: assault, raids, demonstrations, feints and withdrawal. It includes detailed analyses of key naval operations in Gallipoli, Dieppe, the Pacific, Normandy, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, Vietnam, the Falklands and the Middle East. It includes over 220 archive photographs and a glossary explaining naval acronyms, abbreviations and terminology. Wars are decided definitively through the occupation of an enemy's territory - a task for military forces, which may have to be transported by sea. This authoritative volume covers the complete history of amphibious warfare vessels: the ships that travel from shore to shore, and the craft that move from ship to shore. Through the use of historical examples, it highlights the many activities necessary for a successful operation, from surveying and minesweeping to fire support, fighter direction and tri-service control. With over 220 photographs from museums and historical sources, the book provides enthusiasts with a lively guide to this fascinating subject.

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Book SynopsisThe German Panther is arguably the finest medium tank of the Second World War and one of the greatest ever built. Combining unmatched firepower, armour protection and mobility it was the primary nemesis of the Russian T-34 tank on the Eastern Front., Author Mark Healy looks at the development, construction and fighting qualities of the Panther, as well as including insights into what it was like to operate and maintain. He focuses on the surviving Panther Ausf A at the German Armour Museum, Munster, and the UK Tank Museum's Panther Ausf G., Author: Mark Healy is the author of the Haynes T-34 Tank Manual as well as Midway 1942, The Tiger Tank Story and Zitadelle: The German Offensive against the Kursk Salient 14-17 July 1943. He also produced the best-selling video series Die Deutschen Panzer. He lives in Dorset.Table of ContentsCONTENTS 1 THE PANTHER STORY Dealing with Russia – a lesser affair than France! Flawed German assumptions about the Red Army’s tank force The KV-1 and T-34 shock The Panzer Commission to Russia There can be only one The essentials of the MAN Panther 2 PRODUCTION OF THE PANTHER AND ITS VARIANTS Production of the Panther Panther variants: part one The production status of the Panther and the Emergency Panzer Programme of January 1945 Panther variants: part two Panther variants: part three 3 ANATOMY OF THE PANTHER Introduction Part one: the hull exterior Part two: the hull interior Part three: the turret and main armament 4 PANTHER WALK-AROUND 5 PANTHER AT WAR ‘Our problem child’ Into combat – the Panther at Kursk The Panther in Italy Panthers in action on the eastern border of Poland, late summer 1944 Preparing for the invasion in the West Panthers in Normandy Reflections APPENDIX Panther Ausf G specifications Select bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from the success of Victor Boys and Vulcan Boys, Tony Blackman, in collaboration with Anthony Wright, brings you Valiant Boys to complete the V Force set. This is a fascinating collection of personal accounts of operating Britains first V bomber by aircrew and ground crew. The book tells the story from the aircrafts birth taking off from Vickers tiny airfield at Brooklands to its premature death from fatigue. There are tales of testing atom bombs in the Australian desert, dropping hydrogen bombs in the middle of the Pacific and, as a complete contrast, attacking airfields with conventional bombs in Egypt during the very brief and abortive Suez campaign. We are reminded of how the Valiant provided the UKs first nuclear deterrent by always having some armed aircraft on stand-by twenty-four hours a day, supported by their air and ground crews, ready to be flown at a moments notice on a one-way trip to launch an atomic war. Some Valiants were given a photographic role providing accurate images from high altitude and were used not only to gather military intelligence but also to survey the UK and countries overseas. Others were developed into flight refuelling tankers breaking point to point records before enabling Britains fighter aircraft to be refuelled and fly anywhere in the world. This book completes Tony Blackmans trilogy of the three V bombers. As Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael Beetham makes it clear in his foreword: It is good to have a book written by aircrew and ground crew telling their stories and how they operated the aircraft so that all these things are recorded and not forgotten. Not as well known as the Vulcan and Victor, the Valiant is often overlooked; this book will go a long way to redress the balance.Trade ReviewA good book that fills a previously lamentable gap. * Britain at War *This is an excellent book, into which one can dip at random and always find something interesting. * Aeroplane *This is a splendid book, which supports the Valiant's groundbreaking place in aviation history. * Airfix Model World *

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