Second World War Books
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Operation Oyster WW IIs Forgotten Raid
Book SynopsisAn insightful and comprehensive historical account of a hugely successful and surprisingly overlooked Second World War operation.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Young Man Youll Never Die
Book SynopsisA unique, well-written autobiography set in some of the remotest areas of combat in WWII.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Wreck Hunter
Book SynopsisThis book shows us how one man's pioneering commitment to aviation archaeology ultimately serves as a unique tribute to thousands of young souls both lost and found of the Battle of Britain and the Blitz.
£14.39
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Hurricane Pilot Who Became a Gestapo Agent
Book SynopsisThe story covers Czech resistance, SOE operations, the death of Reinhard Heydrich, espionage, a Czech pilot in the RAF and the theft of a Hurricane; all of which led to the deaths and imprisonment of numerous people.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hitlers Hunting Squad in Southern Europe
Book SynopsisThe book relates in wonderful detail the tragedy of an era through the dreadful actions of a war criminal'' - **Nikos Marantzides**Hitler''s Hunting Squad in Southern Europe traces the violent path of Fritz Schubert and his Greek ''hunting squad'' across occupied Crete and Macedonia, offering a complete translation of Thanasis Fotiou's comprehensive study on the German Lieutenant during World War II.The author''s research reveals previously unknown aspects of Schubert''s life and his actions as an officer, including the murder and torture of civilians, and the looting and burning of homes.Fritz Schubert, born in 1897, joined the German Forces in 1914 and concluded his service in Turkey, where he settled and married. By 1934, he had joined the National Socialist Party, influenced by Nazi ideology and propaganda. Fluent in several languages, he trained at the School of Interpreters under the reserve army''s administration, attaining the rank of Unteroffizier. Hitler intended for Crete to
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Operation Dragoon and Beyond
Book SynopsisFrom the Riviera, to the Rhine and on to the Colmar pocket, all three operations are covered in this volume by Jean Paul Pallud, and each show the action and locations in our unique then and now style.
£24.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Race for the Atom Bomb
Book SynopsisTrue account of the rise and fall of the American genius Robert Oppenheimer, chosen by the U.S. military to head a team of scientists to develop the first atomic bomb. Timed with the release of Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jnr
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Operation Title
Book SynopsisPrime Minister Winston Churchill referred to Tirpitz as The Beast,' and on 25th January 1942 he wrote, The destruction or even the crippling of this ship is the greatest event at this present time. No other target is comparable to it.' With these words the seeds were sown for Operation TITLE, an Allied mission to sink Tirpitz. Harvesting began on 19th October 1942 when the fishing boat, Arthur, sailed from Scalloway with a crew of four Norwegians, a six-man team of Royal Navy divers and two chariots' in a brave attempt to tame the Beast.' Arduous training of men, fine tuning of the experimental chariots,' and the determination of those who undertook this mission all combined in a contest comparable with the biblical tale of David and Goliath. In this case Goliath, in the form of Tirpitz, survived with, sadly, the death of one Able Seaman, Robert Paul Evans RN. This book is a tribute to him and to all those who, undertaking similar dangerous deeds of valour, shared the same fate.
£18.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Polish Air Force Fighter Aircraft 19401942
Book SynopsisPolish fighter pilots received their baptism of fire over their own country in September 1939, when they were overwhelmed by the aerial might of Germany and the Soviet Union. Despite this, they claimed over 120 enemy aircraft destroyed. When the Polish Air Force was reborn in France, the same men fought against the same enemy, yet with more experience and with better understanding of their opponents' tactics though, as the author reveals, the aircraft they flew were, in most cases, quite different.Polish airmen also proved themselves during the Battle of Britain, when 145 men from Poland, the biggest non-British contingent in Fighter Command, fought for the survival one of the last bastions of democracy. With an impressive tally of 126 enemy aircraft destroyed over Poland, and a further fifty-one in France, these men, including combat pilots, flying instructors and test pilots, had to be trained to serve under the command of the RAF. They had to learn a new language that was crucial f
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Mosquito Intruders Target Burma
Book SynopsisThe exploits of the Mosquito crews in Burma, skimming at low-level and at speed along rivers and over treetops to their targets, are the stuff of legend. Surprisingly, however, only five RAF squadrons ever flew these operations. Mosquito Intruders Target Burma explores the achievements of these intruder squadrons, as well as the costs to the men who flew and supported them.Their story starts in mid-1943, almost as soon as the fighter-bomber variant of the Mossie', the iconic de Havilland Mosquito FB VI, had been introduced to squadron service in the UK. The first challenge was to deliver the new aircraft, with its radical wooden construction, to India and build a supply chain to support it.Then, with few dual-control aircraft, they needed to train the crews to operate the Mosquito to the limits of its performance in often hostile weather over inhospitable territory against an aggressive enemy. Some crews converted from a similar low-level role to extend the reach of the impressive but
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd In the Hell of Fortress Poznan
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£22.50
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Sea Wolves
Book SynopsisSea Wolves: Savage Submarine Commander of WW2 features true stories of deeply murderous intent that lurked menacingly beneath the waves.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Sherman Tank Canadian New Zealand and South
Book SynopsisIn his latest volume in the TankCraft series Dennis Oliver uses wartime photos, extensively researched text and highly-detailed colour illustrations to cover the Sherman tanks of the Canadian, New Zealand and South African armies that battled their way up the Italian peninsula.
£999.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd From The Battle of Britain to Bombing Hitlers
Book SynopsisThe biography of an RAF pilot who flew both fighters and heavy bombers from the very first, to the very last days of the Second World War.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Mines Bombs Bullets and Bridges
Book SynopsisSuperb first hand account by a frontline bomb disposal operator.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Stalins Plans for Capturing Germany
Book SynopsisPrimary sources from inside the Soviet state apparatus, including now-inaccessible Russian archival holdings.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Churchills Arctic Convoys
Book SynopsisComprehensive account of the political and convoy operations to Northern Russia during WW2.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Churchills Spearhead
Book SynopsisThis book covers the inception, growth and employment of Britains airborne forces (parachute and glider-borne formations) between June 1940 and March 1945. It takes a comparative approach and follows tailored lines of development. Each of these lines - politics and policy, equipment and technology, personnel and training, command and control and concepts and doctrine - influence each other.The contents include:Politics and Policy: The political environment within which the major decisions were made concerning the concept of development of Britains airborne forces. Churchills personal contribution, the effect of inter-service rivalry and the influence of other government departments. Equipment and Technology: The methods and obstacles of procuring and supplying the bespoke equipment required by airborne forces. The supply of combat equipment, the provision of support aircraft and the procurement of gliders. Personnel and Training: The effort incurred to man the new force and the effect
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Formidable
Book SynopsisThis is a highly illustrated tribute to the author's grandfather, Fleet Air Arm Steward Arthur Flint, who served aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Formidable during WWII.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Gunners from the Sky
Book SynopsisA history of the 1st Air Landing Light Regiment (a glider-borne artillery unit) in Italy 1943 and at the Battle of Arnhem.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Naval Battles of the Second World War
Book SynopsisHighly illustrated account of the major naval battles fought in the Atlantic and Mediterranean during the Second World War.
£17.00
Mobius A Kennedy Affair
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Amberley Publishing Gun Button to Fire
Book SynopsisThe amazing story of one of the 'Few', fighter ace Tom Neil who shot down 13 enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain.Trade ReviewA thrilling new book... Tom Neil is one of the last surviving heroes who fought the Luftwaffe' * THE DAILY EXPRESS *The best book on the Battle of Britain' -- SIR JOHN GRANDY, Marshal of the RAFAn icon of the battle as well as one of the most successful pilots, he is uniquely qualified to tell a story that is both the ultimate military epic, and also distinctly personal' * MILITARY TIMES *Tom Neil is one of the last of the Few' * BEST OF BRITISH *Table of ContentsForeword, Author's Note, 1. Early Days, 2. 249 Squadron: May 1940, 3. Spitfire Interlude: 1 - 11 June 1940, 4. Operational in a Hurricane: 12 June-14 August 1940, 5. Into Battle From Boscombe Down: 15-31 August 1940, 6. September 1940 at North Weald, 7. An October of 109s, 8. Winter Sets In: November 1940, 9. The Last of the Year: December 1940, Epilogue: What Happened After the Battle of Britain?, Appendix - Log Book, Publisher's Acknowledgements
£11.69
Amberley Publishing Bournemouth at War
Book SynopsisBournemouth at War is a tribute to the wartime record of the people of the town of Bournemouth in the Second World War.
£14.39
Simon & Schuster Ltd When the Germans Came
Book SynopsisTrue-life recollections from the Channel Islanders who were the only British subjects to live under Nazi rule in WWII.
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group Defiant
Book SynopsisIn this startling new perspective on the Battle of Britain, Robert Verkaik reveals the surprising truth about the battle's forgotten fighter, the Boulton Paul Defiant.Trade ReviewFrom the corridors of the Air Ministry to the skies over Dunkirk, Robert Verkaik tells the story of the Battle of Britain's unlikeliest hero with verve and phenomenal grasp of detail. He brings the Defiant fighter back into focus as an important part of the victorious RAF in the hour of its greatest trial. -- Mark UrbanIn Defiant, Robert Verkaik has achieved the impossible - resurrecting the reputation of one of World War Two's worst remembered fighter planes. Unwanted, unloved and rushed into service, the Defiant nevertheless turns out to have achieved far more success in combat than has been previously acknowledged. This is mainly down to the brilliance of the officers who commanded the two operational squadrons and whose record Verkaik rightly praises. This book firmly establishes the aircraft's role in those crucial aerial battles of 1940 and elevates the brave aircrews who fought and died in their forgotten Defiants, to rank alongside their comrades in the better remembered Hurricanes and Spitfires. -- David Fairhead, director of SpitfireVerkaik is an excellent guide, making his case with a restrained passion, taking us through the inter-war rearmament before cataloguing the muddled thinking, the political infighting, the inter-service and personality rivalries. His research was clearly a labour of love, leaving no Whitehall paper or airman's letter unturned in his search for the truth, and he never forgets the human dimension behind the losses. -- Simon Humphreys * Mail on Sunday *Defiant is both a stirring testament to the courage of the men who flew them and a welcome new examination of one of the Second World War's most famous conflicts. -- Alexander Larman * Observer *Praise for Jihadi John:An exemplary account . . . The book's most important contribution is to highlight the difficulties faced by the intelligence services . . . a first-class primer on Muslim extremism in Britain. * Sunday Times *Praise for Jihadi John:Verkaik gives a fascinating if frightening picture of the jihadists in our midst. * Mail on Sunday *Praise for Jihadi John:An outstanding pulling together of the fractured career of one of the most notorious terrorist psychopathic killers of this or any other age. The book is exceptional because its author makes no false claims for what he doesn't know and never confuses explanation with explaining away . . . [an] excellent and thought-provoking book. * Evening Standard *Praise for Jihadi John:A riveting and compelling portrait of Mohammed Emwazi on his journey to the heart of darkness.Meticulously researched and rich in human and social as well as military interest, Defiant fills a crucial gap in our understanding of that most perilous time. -- David Kynaston, author of Austerity Britain
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group Queen of Codes
Book Synopsis''One of the greatest codebreakers of the twentieth century'' Suzannah Lipscomb An astounding story of codebreaking, personal sacrifice and a life lived in the shadows. The history of British codebreaking is often considered a men-only preserve, ignoring the fact that the vast majority of codebreakers were women. And foremost among them was one who is largely unknown to the public: Emily Anderson. A leading member of British intelligence, Anderson played a pivotal role in both world wars. Amongst the first codebreakers to move to Bletchley Park, she later transferred to Cairo where her exceptional skills in decoding diplomatic and military intelligence were instrumental in the first Allied victory of the Second World War, for which she was awarded the OBE. Remarkable in many ways, she was also the first female Junior Assistant in the civil service and led the fight for equal pay for women at GCHQ. Revealing newly discovered material and Trade ReviewA thoroughly researched and highly readable account of a woman who may have appeared to the world as the epitome of ordinary, but was in truth anything but. -- Physics WorldA meticulously-researched biography that explores the secret life of a codebreaker equally comfortable playing the piano or living a life of high-stakes drama in a war zone -- SpyscapeAnderson's role in the war effort, and her very substantial contributions to modern musicology, are now rightly recorded * The Irish Mail on Sunday *Some women are missing from history books for the simple reason that - under the Official Secrets Act - they could not speak the truth about their lives. Among these was Emily Anderson, one of the greatest codebreakers of the twentieth century - an unsung heroine of both World Wars. In Jackie Uí Chionna she at last finds her biographer. In unravelling Anderson's story, Uí Chionna shines a light on an extraordinary woman who literally changed the course of history -- Suzannah LipscombQueen Of Codes describes the extraordinary work and legacy of Emily Anderson during the Second World War. Anderson played a key role at our wartime home in Bletchley Park and at our regional centre in the Middle East. She is one of our best, and least recognised, codebreakers. This fantastic piece of work by Dr Jackie Uí Chionna highlights the critical role that women have played in our organisation's history -- Dr. David Abrutat, Departmental Historian, GCHQCompletely compelling, endlessly illuminating and richly intriguing - Jackie Ui Chionna's wonderfully written and deeply researched work has at last pulled back the curtain of secrecy from one of Bletchley Park's most extraordinary unsung figures. This is a story not just of a pioneering codebreaking genius, working through two world wars, but also - movingly - about a dazzlingly brilliant woman creating a space for herself and her passions in a rigid world and at a rigid time. -- Sinclair McKayThe groundbreaking contribution of Emily Anderson to codebreaking in the 20th century has been hidden for far too long... until now. One of the most important biographies of recent times -- Dr Helen FryThis book is a compelling biography, by any standard, and among the best studies of any intelligence officer. That this book could even be written is a wonder of research. Emily Anderson shunned publicity, and worked with British codebreakers who embodied skill and secrecy. That this book is so well written is a delight to match the grace of Emily Anderson's scholarship on Beethoven and Mozart -- John Ferris, author of Behind the EnigmaAs one of the world's greatest codebreakers, Emily Anderson has been forgotten for far too long. Based on rigorous research and brilliant storytelling, Uí Chionna has produced a seminal biography that Anderson would have approved. -- Claire Hubbard-Hall
£12.34
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Long Range Desert Group in World War II
Book SynopsisEstablished in June 1940, as the brainchild of scientist and soldier Major Ralph Bagnold, a contemporary of Lawrence of Arabia, the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) allowed the British Army to gain a crucial advantage in the North African Front of World War II.Traversing great swathes of the desert that had never before been explored by Europeans, the LRDG was able to launch hit-and-run raids against remote enemy targets, such as the fort and airfield at Murzak. From December 1941 until the end of the Desert War in May 1943, the LRDG carried out numerous missions in tandem with the Special Air Service, using their unparalleled knowledge of the desert to navigate the SAS to enemy airfields on which attacks would be launched. As well as in Africa, the LRDG also fought in the Aegean, undertaking numerous dangerous missions in Yugoslavia, Albania, Italy, and Greece, displaying their extraordinary versatility by operating in boats, on foot, and by parachute. Using never-befTable of ContentsDedication Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: From Scientist to Soldier Chapter 2: Only the Tough Need Apply Chapter 3: into Action Chapter 4: Expansion and Excitement Chapter 5: Fight at the Front Chapter 6: The Afrika Korps Arrive Chapter 7: Misuse and Malaria Chapter 8: Heavy Losses and New leader Chapter 9: The Saviours of the SAS Chapter 10: On the Back Foot Chapter 11: Courage in the Face of Calamity Chapter 12: The Eyes of the Alamein Offensive Chapter 13: Adventures in the Aegean Chapter 14: The Battle for Leros Chapter 15: A Different Type of Warfare Chapter 16: Valour and Versatility Chapter 17: Until the Bitter End Epilogue Endnotes Bibliography Index
£22.50
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Heinkel He 177 Units of World War 2
Book SynopsisIn many ways, the Heinkel He 177 ''Greif'' (Griffon) was Nazi Germany''s ''lost'' strategic bomber. With some fundamental creases ironed out, and built in large numbers, the He 177 would have offered the Luftwaffe the means with which to carry out long-range, mass bombing attacks against targets of a strategic nature. Although competing interests and personalities served to prevent this from happening, from mid-1943 the aircraft nevertheless saw service over England, the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and in Russia. The He 177 flew to the end of the war, with some machines undertaking extremely hazardous low-level missions against Soviet armour in Poland in late 1944-45. This fascinating book, filled with detailed artwork and contemporary photographs, tells the story of this aircraft, including the political infighting at the top of the Luftwaffe's hierarchy that stymied its development, its radical technical design and its state-of-the-art weaponry.
£16.14
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Rabaul 194344
Book SynopsisIn 1942, the massive Japanese naval base and airfield at Rabaul was a fortress standing in the Allies' path to Tokyo. It was impossible to seize Rabaul, or starve the 100,000-strong garrison out. Instead the US began an innovative, hard-fought two-year air campaign to draw its teeth, and allow them to bypass the island completely. The struggle decided more than the fate of Rabaul. If successful, the Allies would demonstrate a new form of warfare, where air power, with a judicious use of naval and land forces, would eliminate the need to occupy a ground objective in order to control it. As it turned out, the Siege of Rabaul proved to be more just than a successful demonstration of air power it provided the roadmap for the rest of World War II in the Pacific.Table of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Attackers' Capabilities Defenders' Capabilities Campaign Objectives The Campaign Aftermath and Analysis Bibliography Index
£16.14
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Pacific Carrier War
Book SynopsisA detailed and comprehensive study of the carrier formations of the Pacific War, including their origins, development, and key battles from the Coral Sea, through Midway and Guadalcanal to the battle of the Philippine Sea. The defining feature of the Pacific Theater of World War II was the clash of carriers that ultimately decided the fate of nations. The names of the battles become legendary as some of the most epic encounters in the history of naval warfare. Pre-war assumptions about the impact and effectiveness of carriers were comprehensively tested in early war battles such as Coral Sea, while US victories at Midway and in the waters around Guadalcanal established the supremacy of its carriers. The US Navy''s ability to adapt and evolve to the changing conditions of war maintained and furthered their advantage, culminating in their comprehensive victory at the battle of the Philippine Sea, history''s largest carrier battle, which destroyed almost the entire JapanTrade ReviewAn excellent book, thoroughly recommended. * Miniature Wargames *An excellent introduction into the decisive role played by aircraft carriers in the Pacific campaigns. * History of War *Pacific Carrier War provided a thought-provoking, engaging read, and is recommended. * The Naval Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Ships, Aircraft, and Men 2. The First Six Months 3. Clash of Carriers in the Coral Sea 4. Ambush at Midway 5. The Battle of the Eastern Solomons 6. Showdown at Santa Cruz 7. Preparing for the Ultimate Carrier Battle 8. The Battle of the Philippine Sea 9. Conclusion and Analysis Bibliography Index
£999.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Japan 194445
Book SynopsisJapan 1944-45 examines the only time in history that a major war was ended by the use of air power. It shows how the United States used a combination of industrial capability and geography to devastate Japan from the air, and why the Japanese, despite a promising start to their defense, proved unable to prevent the XXIst Air Force from destroying their country. Since the early 1930s air power advocates had claimed that aerial bombardment alone could defeat a nation. Yet by January 1945, while it had been the key to winning ground campaigns, from the German Blitzkrieg to the Allies'' advance across the Pacific, air power had failed to demonstrate their most audacious claim: that strategic bombing, by itself, could win a war.The United States sought to prove it by reducing the Japanese Home Islands'' military and industrial capability through bombing alone until they had to surrender.Table of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology /Attacker's Capabilities /Defender's Capabilities /Campaign Objectives /Order of Battle /The Campaign /Analysis /Conclusion /Bibliography /Index
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Hunt the Bismarck
Book SynopsisHunt the Bismarck tells the story of Operation Rheinübung, the Atlantic sortie of Nazi Germany''s largest battleship, Bismarck, in May 1941 and her subsequent pursuit by the Royal Navy. Bismarck entered naval service in the summer of 1940. She was well-armed, with eight 15in guns as well as a powerful array of lighter weapons, while her armoured protection earned her the reputation of being unsinkable.This claim was put to the test in May 1941 when she sortied into the Atlantic and fought the legendary battle of the Denmark Strait, destroying HMS Hood, the pride of the Royal Navy. Bismarck was now loose in the North Atlantic. However, damage sustained in the battle limited her ability to roam at will, and the Royal Navy deployed the Home Fleet to avenge the sinking of the Hood. The stage was set for the greatest chase story in the history of naval warfare. Drawing on a wealth of first-hand accounts and iTable of ContentsPrologue Time, Speed, Distance and Bearing Preface Chapter 1: The Bismarck Chapter 2: Germany’s Atlantic Strategy Chapter 3: The Home Fleet Chapter 4: Preparations Chapter 5: Through the Baltic Chapter 6: Sojourn in Norway Chapter 7: Move and Countermove Chapter 8: The Denmark Strait Chapter 9: Duel at Dawn Chapter 10: Hood Has Blown Up Chapter 11: Breakout into the Atlantic Chapter 12: Hunting for the Bismarck Chapter 13: Air Strike Chapter 14: Destroyers in the Night Chapter 15: The Final Battle Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index
£14.24
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Guadalcanal 194243
Book SynopsisThe campaign for Guadalcanal, which stretched from August 1942 until February 1943, centered on Henderson Field. The airfield was captured by the US on 8 August and placed into operation by 20 August. As long as the airfield was kept operational and stocked with sufficient striking power, the Japanese could not run convoys with heavy equipment and large amounts of supplies to the island. Instead, they were forced to rely on night runs by destroyers which could not carry enough men or supplies to shift the balance decisively against the American garrison on the island. The American air contingent on the island, named the Cactus Air Force', comprised Marine, Navy and Army Air Force units. It had the challenging mission of defending the airfield against constant Japanese attacks, and more importantly, of striking major Japanese attempts to reinforce the island. The mission of neutralizing Henderson Field fell primarily to the Imperial Navy's Air Force flying out of airfields in theTable of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology /Attacker's Capabilities /Defender's Capabilities /Campaign Objectives /Order of Battle /The Campaign /Analysis /Conclusion /Bibliography /Index
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC World War II US Fast Carrier Task Force Tactics
Book SynopsisDrawing on difficult-to-access wartime documents and other contemporary sources, this is the first compact, illustrated study of the tactics and techniques of the US fast carriers of Task Forces 50, 58 and 38 during the naval war against Japan in 194345. This title concentrates on exactly how these highly successful forces actually operated: their composition in ships, aircraft and men; the essential technology at their disposal; the evolving doctrine for their employment; the opposition and dangers they faced; and how they overcame them at the tactical level. It explains in straightforward terms the intricate details of topics such as how ships manoeuvred, how aircraft were deployed and recovered, the formations and approaches used by fighters, dive-bombers and torpedo-bombers against naval and land targets, and how Task Forces defended themselves. The text is supported by a wide range of wartime photos and full-colour illustrations, showing, for example, the formations employeTable of ContentsIntroduction Composition Organization Air Group Equipment & Organization Operations & Tactics Surface Combat Air Combat Conclusion Select Bibliography Index
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Bolt Action Campaign DDay British Canadian
Book SynopsisNew scenarios and rules for Bolt Action covering the British and Canadian sectors of Operation Overlord.Covering the fiercely contested British and Canadian sectors of D-Day, including the beaches of Gold, Juno, and Sword. This new Campaign Book for Bolt Action allows players to refight the Anglo-Canadian beach landings, beach head breakouts, and Airborne assaults. New, linked scenarios, rules, troop types, and Theatre Selectors provide plenty of options for both novice and veteran players alike.
£21.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Nierstein and Oppenheim 1945
Book SynopsisA highly illustrated updated study of Patton's daring attempt to bounce the river Rhine in March 1945. In January 1945, the collapse of the German front along the Siegfried Line led to a large-scale dissolution of German combat forces and capability. Pressed hard by Allied forces advancing eastward, German units often found themselves trapped west of the Rhine River. With his eye on history, US Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. was determined to be the first leader since Napoleon to make an assault crossing of the Rhine. The most logical crossing-place was at Mainz, as it served as a major railroad logistical link from west to east. However, Patton was aware that this would be obvious to the Germans, and therefore he and his staff made rapid plans for another site at Nierstein and Oppenheim, about 12 miles south of Mainz. The crossing began at 2230 hours on 23 March, when the first boats carrying 11th Infantry Regiment troops left the western bank of the Rhine. They met with little opTable of ContentsOrigins of the campaign Chronology Opposing Commanders Opposing Forces Opposing Plans The Campaign Aftermath The Battlefield Today Further reading Index
£15.19
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Stalingrad 194243 3
Book SynopsisThe final part in a three-book series on the Battle of Stalingrad, examining the Soviet encirclement, German relief efforts, and the final surrender of Paulus' 6.Armee.Having fought hard just to reach the outskirts of Stalingrad, the Axis forces found themselves embroiled in a protracted urban battle amid the ruins of a devastated city on the Volga. The Soviet Red Army was able to hold onto the city then mount a surprise winter counter-offensive known as Operation Uranus, which succeeded in encircling the German 6.Armee at Stalingrad. Despite a desperate German relief operation, the Red Army eventually crushed the 6.Armee and hurled the remnants of the German southern front back in disorder. This third and final volume in the Stalingrad trilogy begins just after the German 6.Armee has been isolated at Stalingrad, and covers the period from 24 November 1942 to 2 February 1943. The specially commissioned maps and 3D diagrams guide the reader in step-by-step, easily to follTrade ReviewA worthy addition to anyone's bookshelf. * Army Rumour Service *Precise analysis of the battle and lessons learnt. * The Armourer Magazine *Table of ContentsORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING COMMANDERS Soviet Axis OPPOSING FORCES Soviet Axis Orders of Battle, 19 November 1942 OPPOSING PLANS Soviet Axis THE CAMPAIGN Operation Uranus, 19–23 November 1942 The initial German reaction, 24–28 November 1942 The Battle of the Chir River, 30 November–15 December 1942 Wintergewitter, 12–29 December 1942 Little Saturn, 16–28 December 1942 Stalingrad Kesselschlacht, 1–31 December 1942 Operation Ring and the end of 6.Armee, 1 January–2 February 1943 ANALYSIS THE BATTLEFIELD TODAY FURTHER READING INDEX
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Truk 194445
Book SynopsisA fully illustrated history of how the US Navy destroyed Truk, the greatest Japanese naval and air base in the Pacific, with Operation Hailstone, and how B-29 units and the carriers of the British Pacific Fleet kept the base suppressed until VJ-Day.In early 1944, the island base of Truk was a Japanese Pearl Harbor; a powerful naval and air base that needed to be neutralized before the Allies could fight their way any further towards Tokyo. But Truk was also the most heavily defended naval base outside the Japanese Home Islands and an Allied invasion would be costly. Long-range bombing against Truk intact would be a massacre so a plan was conceived to neutralize it through a series of massive naval raids led by the growing US carrier fleet. Operation Hailstone was one of the most famous operations ever undertaken by American carriers in the Pacific.This book examines the rise and fall of Truk as a Japanese bastion and explains how in two huge raTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION CHRONOLOGY ATTACKER'S CAPABILITIES Long-range air power in 1944 DEFENDER'S CAPABILITIES The ‘Gibraltar of the Pacific’ CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES Keystone of the Pacific War Allied objectives and plans Japanese objectives and plans THE CAMPAIGN From feared bastion to the Allies’ punchbag Background: 1939-January 1944 Operation Hailstone: February 1944 April Showers: April 1944 Truk Besieged: March 1944–June 1945 Operation Inmate: June 14-15, 1945 AFTERMATH AND ANALYSIS Surviving Aircraft FURTHER READING INDEX
£14.24
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Big Guns in the Atlantic
Book SynopsisIn the early months and years of World War II, it was Germany''s cruisers and battleships that most ravaged the Atlantic Convoys. This is the history of those raids, and how the success of 1941''s Operation Berlin led directly to the Kriegsmarine sending into the Atlantic its greatest battleship - the mighty, ill-fated Bismarck.At the outbreak of World War II the German Kriegsmarine still had a relatively small U-boat arm. To reach Britain''s convoy routes in the North Atlantic, these boats had to pass around the top of the British Isles - a long and dangerous voyage to their hunting grounds. Germany''s larger surface warships were much better suited to this kind of long-range operation. So, during late 1939 the armored cruiser Deutschland, and later the battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were used as commerce raiders, to strike at Allied convoys in the North Atlantic. These sorties met with mixed results, but for Germany''s naTrade ReviewThe artwork in this book is extremely good and the narrative details the Kriegsmarine’s early Atlantic raids which led directly to the ill-fated Bismarck’s only voyage, that in turn led to Hitler’s loss of confidence in his surface Navy. -- SIMON HAILL * The Naval Review *Table of Contentsintroduction Initial Strategy Planning For War The Atlantic Sorties Aftermath Analysis Conclusion Further Reading Index
£13.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC P47 Thunderbolt vs German Flak Defenses
Book SynopsisA detailed look at the tactics and techniques used by both P-47 fighter-bomber pilots and the German flak gunners charged with preventing their attacks. Analysis will focus on the employment of Allied tactical air power in Europe from 1943 and how German defenses struggled to counter the overwhelming air threat.Since the end of World War 2, the tactical air war over Europe has been largely overlooked by historians and authors alike in favor of analysis of the higher profile strategic bombing campaign. Involving just as many aircraft as the daylight heavy bombing campaign, the fighter-bombers (principally of the Ninth Air Force) wreaked considerably more havoc on German ground forces. Indeed, Thunderbolt units undertaking such missions effectively complemented the strategic campaign, ensuring the defeat of Nazi Germany. P-47 pilots paid a high price to achieve this victory, however, as the German flak arm was well equipped (nearly a quarter of all war-related productioTrade ReviewIf you want to look at an analysis of how the P-47 fared against the formidable and numerous German Flak defenses then this is a book you need on your shelf. -- Todd Shughart * The Aviation Historian *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Design and Development Technical Specifications The Strategic Situation The Combatants Combat Statistics and Analysis Aftermath Further Reading Index
£12.59
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Z Special Unit
Book SynopsisLeading expert Gavin Mortimer tells the remarkable origin story of a wartime special forces unit that defied the odds.Z Special Unit, one of the most intrepid but arguably the most unsung of Allied Special Forces of the Second World War waged a guerrilla war against Japan for two years in the south-west Pacific. On some of their 81 operations Z Special Unit slipped into enemy harbours in canoes and silently mined ships before vanishing into the night; on others they parachuted into the dense Borneo jungle to fight with headhunters against the Japanese and on one occasion they landed on an Indonesian island and smuggled out the pro-Allied sultan from under Japanese noses. The Japanese weren''t the only adversary that Z Special Unit encountered in the brutal terrain of the Pacific. In the mango swamps of Borneo and the dense jungle of Papua New Guinea they were faced with venomous snakes, man-eating crocodiles and deadly diseases. But it was the enemy soldiers who proved the mosTrade ReviewWith superb production standards and lots of interesting photos, this is an intriguing look at the chaotic world of spec ops down under. * The Armourer *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Stirling effort Chapter 1: Lyon hearted Chapter 2: Operation Jaywick Chapter 3: An Old Krait Chapter 4: ‘Good luck and God’s Speed’ Chapter 5: Singapore Struck Chapter 6: The Wizards of Oz Chapter 7: Another Crack Chapter 8: Sleeping Beauties Chapter 9: Pirates and Porpoise Chapter 10: Tiger Hunting Chapter 11: 'A blow to us all' Chapter 12: Jungle Challenge Chapter 13: Allies and Headhunters Chapter 14: Guerrilla Army Chapter 15: Victory in Borneo Chapter 16: Savage Revenge Chapter 17: The Elusive Truth Epilogue: 'War’s pretty grim' Index
£21.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Battle of Malta
Book SynopsisA detailed, illustrated exploration of the land, sea and air units that defended Malta, and the repeated Axis attempts to bring the crucial Allied island fortress to its knees.On 11 June 1940, the British crown colony of Malta which dominated the central Mediterranean and all-important sea routes to and from North Africa was bombed for the first time by aircraft of the Italian Regia Aeronautica. The Italians were joined in their efforts by the German Luftwaffe in January 1941. Malta was effectively beleaguered for nearly two and a half years, dependent for survival on naval supply convoys and reliant for defence on often-outnumbered fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft guns. Anthony Rogers provides a retelling of these events, drawing on accounts from both sides. This work features carefully selected photographic images, some previously unpublished. Seven specially commissioned colour maps explore the strategic situation in the Mediterranean in this period, the military sectors Trade ReviewGreat history well told an all-round excellent read. * Gunmart *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING COMMANDERS British Axis OPPOSING FORCES British Axis OPPOSING PLANS THE BATTLE Start of the air war First naval surface engagements Operation ‘Hurry’ Malta Convoys Operation ‘Excess’ and the ‘Illustrious Blitz’ Messerschmitt Bf 109s join battle Spring–summer, 1941 Italian seaborne attack on Grand Harbour Autumn, 1941 Destruction of ‘Maestrale’ Convoy Early U-Boat operations Return of the Luftwaffe Schnellboot operations Spitfires join battle ‘M.W.10’ April, 1942 ‘C3’/‘Herkules’ May, 1942 3.Schnellbootflottille Axis clandestine operations Operation ‘Julius’ Operation ‘Pedestal’ Autumn 1942 and the final Axis offensive SUMMARY THE BATTLEFIELD TODAY ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Smashing Hitlers Guns
Book SynopsisWritten by one of the world''s leading experts on D-Day, Smashing Hitler''s Guns is a ground-breaking new history of the legendary Rangers'' attack on Pointe-du-Hoc.The Ranger attack on the German gun batteries at Pointe-du-Hoc in the early morning hours of D-Day is the stuff of legend. The gun batteries were strategically positioned between the two American D-Day landing beaches, and were considered the main threat to the Operation Neptune landings. In spite of the confusion and chaos of the June 6, 1944 mission, the Rangers succeeded in scaling the 100-foot cliffs, but the guns were nowhere to be found.Spreading out in all directions, a Ranger team managed to find and spike the guns at their hidden location south of Pointe-du-Hoc. For two days, this small force fought off repeated German attacks, until an American relief force finally arrived on 8 June, by which time more than half the Rangers were casualties. The heroic Ranger missioTrade ReviewWell written and researched and essential reading for those interested in US Special Forces. * Army Rumour Service *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction Author’s Note Acknowledgements Chapter 1: The Guns of Pointe-du-Hoc Chapter 2: The Coastal Gun Threat Chapter 3: “Hard Men for Dirty Work” Chapter 4: Refining the Ranger Plan Chapter 5: Spying on Pointe-du-Hoc: The Intelligence Battle Chapter 6: Softening Pointe-du-Hoc Chapter 7: Obliteration Chapter 8: Assault Group O-4 Chapter 9: Carnage on Charlie Beach Chapter 10: The Stormy Voyage to Pointe-du-Hoc Chapter 11: Force A Strikes Pointe-du-Hoc Chapter 12: Spiking the Guns Chapter 13: The Germans Strike Back Chapter 14: Night Attack Chapter 15: Ranger Force C on Dog Green Beach Chapter 16: The Crazy March on D+1 Chapter 17: Relief from the Sea Chapter 18: Final Mission: The Maisy Gun Batteries Chapter 19: Battle Analysis Afterword: The Rangers in Cinema Appendix A: Ranger Organization, Equipment, and Combat Awards Appendix B: The Pointe-du-Hoc Guns: Doctrine and Technology Appendix C: Naval Fire Support for the Rangers Appendix D: The Guns of Maisy Endnotes Further Reading Glossary Index
£21.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Royal Navy torpedobombers vs Axis warships
Book SynopsisDrawing on rare, historical photography and specially commissioned artwork, Matthew Willis explores the heroic feats of the few Royal Navy's obsolescent biplanes that stood between the state-of-the-art Axis warships and their objectives.Focusing on the technical specifications of both opponents, using original records, and detailed armament and cockpit views, this book explores the key attributes and drawbacks of the disadvantaged Royal Navy torpedo-bombers against the mighty Regia Marina and Kriegsmarine destroyers and raiders, covering a wide range of sea battles, from the more famous attacks such as the strike on the Bismarck, the tragic events of the Channel Dash or the clash with the Italian battle fleet at Taranto, to less covered sea battles such as the Battle of Matapan.Despite their powerful weaponry and heavy armour protection, the Axis warships proved vulnerable to a skillfully and audaciously flown torpedo-bomber, thanks to innovative commanders Table of Contents(Subject to Confirmation) Introduction Chronology Design and Development Technical Specifications The Strategic Situation The Combatants Combat Statistics and Analysis Aftermath Further Reading Index
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Soviet Tanks in Manchuria 1945
Book SynopsisA new illustrated study of the devastating, but little-known, Soviet armored blitzkrieg against the Japanese in the last weeks of World War II, and how it influenced Soviet tank doctrine as the Cold War dawned.Although long overshadowed in the West by the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the USSR''s lightning strike into Manchuria in August 1945 was one of the most successful and unique campaigns of the era. Soviet forces, led by over 5,500 tanks and self-propelled guns, attacked across huge distances and deserts, marshes, and mountains to smash Japan''s million-strong Kwantung Army in a matter of days.Japanese forces were short of training and equipment, but nevertheless fought fiercely, inflicting 32,000 casualties on the Soviets. Red Army operations were characterized by surprise, speed, and deep penetrations by tank-heavy forces born of the brutal lessons they had learned during years fighting the Wehrmacht. Lessons from the campaiTrade ReviewIt can be confidently said that this text will obtain a very good reputation as a concise summary of the campaign and any enthusiast of the Soviet / Japanese / Chinese campaign ought to obtain a copy. * Military Archive Research *Despite my lifelong interest in the history of WW2, this is a story I knew nothing about beforehand, so I found this one especially fascinating. * Military Model Scene *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION - Red Blitzkrieg SOVIET ARMORED FORCE EVOLUTION, ORGANIZATION, AND DOCTRINE TECHNICAL FACTORS - Self-propelled guns - Miscellaneous AFVs THE CAMPAIGN - Forces and plans - Across deserts and mountains: The Trans-Baikal Front - Through the fortified hills and forests: The First Far Eastern Front’s attack - Supporting attack: The Second Far Eastern Front - Amphibious operations on the flanks - Surrender and seizing the spoils BATTLE ANALYSIS - Japanese tank, antitank tactics, and operations AFTERMATH FURTHER READING INDEX
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC US Destroyers vs German UBoats
Book SynopsisAn absorbing study of the duels fought between the US Navy''s escort warships and Hitler''s U-boats between December 1941 and May 1945. Although the Battle of the Atlantic lasted several years, its most critical phase began once the United States entered World War II. By December 1941, the British had mastered the U-boat threat in the Eastern Atlantic, only to see the front abruptly expand to regions the US Navy would patrol, chiefly the Atlantic Seaboard. Unless the US Navy overcame the U-boat threat, the Allies would struggle to win. The Battle of the Atlantic was made up of thousands of individual duels: aircraft against U-boats, aircraft against aircraft, aircraft against ships-but most crucially, ships against U-boats. The individual clashes between Germany''s U-boats and the Allied warships escorting the vital convoys often comprised one-on-one actions. These stories provide the focus of this detailed work. The technical details of the U-boats, destroyeTrade ReviewLardas writes well and clearly knows his material, and he is ably supported by Osprey’s usual excellent illustrations, including some 3D colour graphics and maps. -- Neil Smith * Wargames Illustrated *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Design and Development The Strategic Situation Technical Specifications The Combatants Combat Analysis Aftermath Further Reading Index
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Mighty Eighth
Book SynopsisThe perfect companion to Masters of the Air on Apple TV+, this is a superbly illustrated examination of the aircraft, pilots, crews and operations of the US Eighth Air Force.The US Eighth Air Forceknown as the Mighty Eighthwas a combat air force activated in Georgia, USA on January 28, 1942. Its bomber command soon moved to Northern Europe to conduct strategic bombing missions, seeking to destroy Germany's ability to wage war. Among the major operations it participated in were Big Week in February 1944; the D-Day landings in June 1944; and the defeat of the Luftwaffe and destruction of German industry. Eighth Air Force was the largest of the deployed combat Army Air Forces in numbers of personnel, aircraft, and equipment. At peak strength, Eighth Air Force had 40 heavy bomber groups, 15 fighter groups, and four specialized support groups. This work provides a superbly illustrated and fully comprehensive exploration of the Mighty Eighth's bomber and fighTable of ContentsIntroduction Genesis VIII Fighter Command Chapter 1: The Friendly Invasion: “Over Paid, Over Sexed, and Over Here!” Strategic Air Depots Daily Life and Conditions of Service Easily Replaced Love, London, and Longing Tents and Castles “Consider Yourselves Already Dead” Chapter 2: The Light of Day: The USAAF Strategic Bombing of Germany 1942–45 1942: First Missions 1943: A Decisive Year 1944: Winning the Argument 1945: Crippling Nazi Germany Chapter 3: Organization of Eighth Air Force: Air and Ground Units Air Units Ground Crews and Personnel Eighth Air Force order of battle, January 1945 Chapter 4: Aircraft of the Eighth Air Force: Bombers, Fighters, Reconnaissance Bombers Fighters Photo-recon and Reconnaissance Chapter 5: The Tools of Battle: Training, Formations, Technology, Armament, Tactics Training Formations Technology Armament Fighter Tactics Chapter 6: The Experience of Battle: Facing the Flak, Dueling the Fighters Enemy Coast Ahead 12 O'Clock High Receiving Flak Bailing Out Air Sea Rescue Returning Home Relief and Debrief Casualties Combat Focus: 303rd Bomb Group “Hell’s Angels” Fighter Mission Combat Focus: 4th Fighter Group “Debden Eagles” Combat Focus: 56th Fighter Group The Opposition: Defending the Reich Chapter 7: Eighth Air Force Personnel: Leaders and Aces Senior Leadership of Eighth Air Force Heroes at the Sharp End Chronology Further Reading and Research List of Acronyms and Abbreviations Acknowledgments Index
£24.00
