Weapons and equipment Books
CLASS WAR PLANES AH 64
Book Synopsis
£4.70
Oxford University Press Inc Power to the People
Book SynopsisNever before have so many possessed the means to be so lethal. The diffusion of modern technology (robotics, cyber weapons, 3-D printing, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence) to ordinary people has given them access to weapons of mass violence previously monopolized by the state. In recent years, states have attempted to stem the flow of such weapons to individuals and non-state groups, but their efforts are failing.As Audrey Kurth Cronin explains in Power to the People, what we are seeing now is an exacerbation of an age-old trend. Over the centuries, the most surprising developments in warfare have occurred because of advances in technologies combined with changes in who can use them. Indeed, accessible innovations in destructive force have long driven new patterns of political violence. When Nobel invented dynamite and Kalashnikov designed the AK-47, each inadvertently spurred terrorist and insurgent movements that killed millions and upended the international system.That history illuminates our own situation, in which emerging technologies are altering society and redistributing power. The twenty-first century sharing economy has already disrupted every institution, including the armed forces. New technologies are transforming access to the means of violence. Just as importantly, higher-order functions that previously had been under state military control (mass mobilization, force projection, and systems integration) no longer are. Cronin closes by focusing on how to respond so that we both preserve the benefits of emerging technologies yet reduce the risks. Power is flowing to the people, but the same technologies that empower can imperil global security, unless we act strategically.Trade ReviewRather than broadly faulting emergent lethal technologies, [Cronin] makes a very focused and compelling case for attending to the threats posed by open-source 'off-the-shelf' technologies that are affordable and easily operated, and are easily weaponized (3D-printed guns and the arming of inexpensive hobby drones are two relevant examples)... Cronin invites readers to consider specific case studies in which similar emergence, diffusion, and affordability of lethal technology fomented and enabled unanticipated terrorist activity. * Science *In this meticulously researched book, Cronin shows how groups such as the Islamic State (or isis) exploit new technologies such as the Internet, smartphones, autonomous vehicles, and artificialintelligence. * Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Age of Lethal Empowerment PART ONE: THEORY Chapter 1: Classic Models of Military Innovation: Shaped by the Nuclear Revolution Introduction The Historical Relationship between War and Technology Innovation is Double-Edged The Social Nature of Diffusion Technology is Not Strategy Historical Context Matters Opening Pandora's Box Chapter 2: The Arsenal for Anarchy: When and How Violent Individuals and Groups Innovate Introduction The Historical Relationship between Political Violence and Technology How Technologies Were Harnessed How Lethal Nonstate Actors Innovate Everett Rogers' Theory of Commercial Diffusion Revisited PART TWO: HISTORY Chapter 3: Dynamite and the Birth of Modern Terrorism Introduction The Advent of Gunpowder Early Explosive Violence from Below Gunpowder Helps Build the Modern World Alfred Nobel's Vision Dynamite Becomes the People's Weapon The Narodnaya Volya and the Killing of the Tsar The Skirmishers and Clan na Gael The International Anarchist Movement Why Dynamite Diffused Chapter 4: How Dynamite Diffused Introduction Innovation Was Not Driven by the Military The Global Production of Dynamite Growth Despite Danger Inexorable Downward Pressure on Price The Stoking of Discontent The International Anarchist Convention of 1881 and 'Propaganda of the Deed' Dynamite Schools and Pamphlets Anarchist Newspapers and Periodicals Worldwide Mass Market Sensationalism Patterns in Numbers of Attacks How Global Dynamitings Ended Nobel's Remorse Chapter 5: The Kalashnikov and the Global Wave of Insurgencies Introduction The Evolution of Firearms and the Introduction of the Machine Gun Kalashnikov's Invention of the AK-47 Why the AK-47 Was so Widely Adopted A Humble, Yet Disruptive Innovation Chapter 6: How the Kalashnikov Diffused The Kalashnikov's Debut and Public Demonstration Trading in Kalashnikovs The Diffusion of Kalashnikovs A Proliferation of Factories The Revolutionary's Weapon of Choice Back to the USA The Impact on the Power of States Why the Kalashnikov Spread The Floodgates Opened Kalashnikov's Regret The Power of Unintended Consequences PART THREE: CONVERGENCE: WIDESPREAD LETHAL EMPOWERMENT Chapter 7: Open Innovation of Mobilization: Social Media and Conquering Digital Terrain Introduction The New Nature of Mobilization New Tools for Old Tactics New Tools Used in New Ways Boundless Interactivity Mobile Streaming Videos and Live-streaming Quality First-Person Filmmaking Technology Viral Fake News End-to-End Encryption Hijacking Psychological Tactics Unintended Consequences Redux Chapter 8: Open Innovation of Reach: From AK-47s to Drones, Robots, Smartphones, and 3-D Printing Introduction Convergent Technologies and Extended Reach The Scope of Unmanned Systems How Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Extend Private Reach Predators, Reapers, Global Hawk: Sustaining Technologies The Pattern of State-to-State Proliferation of UAVs State-to-Group Proliferation of UAVs: Hezbollah and Hamas These Are Not the Drones You're Looking For Terrorist and Insurgent Groups' Lethal UAV Programs Crowd-funded, "Grey Zone," and Private UAV Intelligence Advances in the Works Drones as Missiles Democratized Precision Strike Capability Everyone Manufactures Everything with 3D Printing Individual Flying Devices Lagging Countermeasures Chapter 9: An Army of One Launches Many: Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence Introduction A Spectrum of Autonomy The Perils of Full Artificial Intelligence The Predictions of Lethal Empowerment Theory Autonomous Reach Self-driving Truck Bombs Hijacking the Internet of Things Autonomous Swarms Small Autonomous Killer Robots Tailored for Terrorism Conclusion: Strategy in an Age of Lethal Empowerment Powerful Economic Incentives for Diffusion Technological Optimism and a Boom in Tinkering New Communications Technologies Are Powerful Incentives to Violence Militaries Are Facing the Innovator's Dilemma Disruptive Private Armies: The ISIS Precedent Responding to the Threat The Profit Motive for Protections Regulation Is Not Necessarily Strangulation Building Up National Security Strategy in an Age of Lethal Empowerment
£26.12
The University of Chicago Press Race Rights and Rifles
Book SynopsisAn eye-opening examination of the ties between American gun culture and white male supremacy from the American Revolution to today. One-third of American adultsapproximately 86 million peopleown firearms. This is not just for protection or hunting. Although many associate gun-centric ideology with individualist and libertarian traditions in American political culture, Race, Rights, and Rifles shows that it rests on an equally old but different foundation. Instead, Alexandra Filindra shows that American gun culture can be traced back to the American Revolution when republican notions of civic duty were fused with a belief in white male supremacy and a commitment to maintaining racial and gender hierarchies. Drawing on wide-ranging historical and contemporary evidence, Race, Rights, and Rifles traces how this ideology emerged during the Revolution and became embedded in America's institutions, from state militias to the National Rifle Association (NRA).Utilizing original survey data,Trade Review"This is a deeply informed, persuasive book, offering a compelling overview of how Americans became militarized and how that militarization is increasing....An enlightening, timely study of the evolution of arguments about gun ownership." * Kirkus (starred review) *“Theoretically ambitious, empirically rich, and politically pertinent, Race, Rights and Rifles examines how guns relate to US citizenship. Reconstructing the political history of guns in the US and dissecting its ongoing impact on the present-day, Race, Rights and Rifles shows how ascriptive republicanism transforms the right to self-defense—a basic human impulse for survival—into a rallying point for political polarization and a justification for an investment in illiberal democracy.” -- Jennifer Dawn Carlson | author of "Merchants of the Right: Gun Sellers and the Crisis of American Democracy"“Why are gun killings in the United States an everyday occurrence? Race, Rights, and Rifles blends intellectual and political history, an eye-opening account of the National Rifle Association (NRA), and contemporary public opinion data to provide compelling answers. Alexandra Filindra shows that the American Revolution fused white male gun ownership with ideals of republican civic virtue in ways that the NRA has long championed. Consequentially, this has led a shocking number of Americans to believe that they have a fundamental right to engage in vigilante violence—like invading the Capitol or shooting a Black teenager who mistakenly knocks on the wrong door.” -- Rogers Smith | University of PennsylvaniaTable of ContentsList of Abbreviations Introduction Part One: Historical Foundations Chapter 1 Republican Ideology in Early America Chapter 2 An Exclusive Vision of Virtue and Citizenship Chapter 3 Militias and the Institutionalization of Ascriptive Republicanism Chapter 4 Cultural Transmission Part Two: The Origins and Worldview of the NRA Chapter 5 The Emergence of the NRA Chapter 6 An Organization of White Men Chapter 7 Political Virtue Chapter 8 Political Corruption Chapter 9 The NRA’s Theory of Democracy Part Three: Ascriptive Republicanism in Contemporary White Public Opinion Chapter 10 Ascriptive Republicanism and White Gun Attitudes Today Chapter 11 From “Stand Your Ground” to “Stand Back and Stand By” Conclusion Democratic Stability in Peril Acknowledgments Notes Index
£22.80
Palgrave Macmillan British Armour Theory and the Rise of the Panzer
Book SynopsisPreface Acknowledgements LIDDELL HART'S THEORY OF ARMOURED WARFARE Deep Strategic Penetration Combating 'Blitzkrieg' The All-arms Armoured Formation BRITISH INFLUENCE AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE PANZER ARM Origins: The 1920s and Early '30s The Creation of the Panzer Arm Conclusion Bibliography IndexTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements LIDDELL HART'S THEORY OF ARMOURED WARFARE Deep Strategic Penetration Combating 'Blitzkrieg' The All-arms Armoured Formation BRITISH INFLUENCE AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE PANZER ARM Origins: The 1920s and Early '30s The Creation of the Panzer Arm Conclusion Bibliography Index
£98.99
Schiffer Publishing Ltd German Daggers of World War II A Photographic
Book Synopsis
£62.04
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Weapons of the Battle of the Bulge
Book SynopsisThis book will showcase all the weapons used by the soldiers in the Bulge. From rifles and heavy machine guns and mortars and artillery, as well as armored cars, self-propelled artillery and tanks.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Armies of the Vikings AD 793 1066
Book SynopsisThis book covers the military history of the Vikings from their early raiding to the final failure of their expansionist ambitions directed against England.
£17.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Bronze Age Military Equipment
Book SynopsisThis book is a fascinating discussion of the development of the military equipment of the earliest organized armies.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Napoleons Hussars and Chasseurs
Book SynopsisSmall men, with big egos and moustaches, the hussars of Napoleon's army wore some of the most flamboyant and stylish uniforms of the epoch. In this book, the uniforms of the seventeen regiments of hussars are discussed in detail by renowned historian Paul L. Dawson, along with the dress of their brethren in the thirty-two regiments of Chasseurs à cheval, with an emphasis on the highly elaborate dress of the trumpeters.Having been granted access to over 1,000 archive boxes, held in the Service Historique de l'Armée de Terre in Paris and the Archives Nationales, the author is able to assesses how the wide ranging 1806 uniform regulations and the more famous Bardin regulations were adopted in practice. This vast resource, as yet untapped by the majority of researchers and historians for understanding the Napoleonic era in general, provides detail never previously revealed to the general public.This is possible because every year a regiment would be inspected, and the condition of the unif
£28.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Land Craft 13 Kings of Battle US SelfPropelled
Book SynopsisIt is for good reason that artillery is known as the king of battle'. In World War II the United States made good use of self-propelled howitzers, including those based on the chassis of the M4 Sherman tank. After 1945 the US developed both light and medium self-propelled howitzers, based on the M24 Chaffee, M41 Walker Bulldog and Sherman chassis. The first designs were plagued with problems and self-propelled artillery played only a minor role in the Korean War. By the mid 1960s, however, the M107 175mm, M109 155mm and M110 203mms self-propelled howitzers had entered service, and they proved their effectiveness during the Vietnam War. The M107 was relatively short-lived in US service, being retired in the late 1970s, but it played an important role with the Israel Defence Forces. The M109 served with the US Army, as well as in many NATO armies and elsewhere, and saw action in the Middle East, in the Balkans, during the liberation of Kuwait, and in the invasion of Iraq. The M109 has no
£17.09
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hitlers Revenge Weapons
Book SynopsisA comprehensive history of the V1 flying bombs and rockets that were targeted at London during the Nazi offensive.
£13.49
University of Toronto Press Medieval Military Technology Second Edition
Book SynopsisThis thorough update of a classic book includes fully revised content, new sections on the use of horses, handguns, incendiary weapons, and siege engines, and new illustrations.Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction Part I: Arms and Armor Chapter 1: Arms The Spear/Lance The Axe The Sword The Dagger The Staff-Weapon The Mace The War Hammer The Sling The Bow The Crossbow Chapter 2: Armor Early Medieval Armor Armor in the Bayeux Tapestry Twelfth-Century Armor Shields, Helmets, and Heraldry in the Thirteenth Century Fourteenth-Century Body Armor Cloth-Covered Armor from the Battlefield of Visby Later Fourteenth-Century Armor Developments Plate Armor Late Medieval Infantry Armor Late Medieval Helmets Late Medieval Shields and Barding Chapter 3: The Stirrup, Mounted Shock Combat, Chivalry, and Feudalism White's Thesis Criticism of White's Thesis Part II: Artillery Chapter 4: Non-Gunpowder Artillery Torsion Catapults Traction Trebuchets Counterweight Trebuchets Greek Fire Chapter 5: Gunpowder Artillery Early History of European Gunpower Weapons Siege, Battlefield, and Naval Applications Types and Manufacturing of Gunpowder, Gunpowder Weapons, and Projectiles Societal Impacts and Administrative Changes Chapter 6: Siege Machines Ladders Siege Towers Battering Rams and Mining Devices Part III: Fortifications Chapter 7: Early Medieval Fortifications Late Roman and Barbarian Carolingian The Viking Invasions and Reactions Chapter 8: The Motte-and-Bailey Castle The Influence of William the Conqueror Construction Techniques Chapter 9: Stone Castles The Origin of Stone Castles Eleventh- and Twelfth-Century Stone Castles Crusader Castles The Golden Age of Castle Construction Edward I's Castles in Wales Chapter 10: Urban Fortifications and Fortified Residences Fortified Residences Town Walls The Influence of Gunpowder Weapons Part IV: Warships Chapter 11: Early Medieval Warships Late Roman and Early Medieval Ships Viking Ships William the Conqueror's Fleet Chapter 12: High and Late Medieval Warships Crusader Ships Thirteenth-Century Ships Technological Innovations Later Medieval Ships Conclusion Bibliography Index
£29.70
Amberley Publishing Winston Churchills Toyshop
Book SynopsisThe story of Churchill's personal weapons development department, staffed by ingenious boffins, who developed numerous innovative weapons that helped win the war.Trade ReviewA hilarious book and certain to amuse even those whose interest in weapons of war is minimal' * THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *A small piece of secret history' * THE YORKSHIRE POST *
£11.69
Amberley Publishing Roman Shields
Book SynopsisA comprehensive and amply illustrated study of Roman shields, their changing styles, their construction and their use in combatTrade ReviewA good introduction on the subject for new readers as well as an exciting read for specialists. -- Gabriele Esposito * Ancient Warfare Magazine *
£17.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC T64 Battle Tank
Book SynopsisThe T-64 tank was the most revolutionary design of the whole Cold War, designed to provide the firepower and armor protection of a heavy tank in a medium-weight design. It pioneered a host of sophisticated new technologies including laminate armor, stereoscopic tank rangefinders, opposed-piston engines, smooth-bore tank guns with discarding sabot ammunition, and gun-fired guided projectiles. These impressive features meant that the Russians were loath to part with the secrets of the design, and the T-64 was the only Soviet tank type of the Cold War that was never exported. Written by an armor expert, this detailed technical history sheds light on the secrets behind the Cold War''s most controversial tank, revealing how its highly advanced technologies proved to be both a blessing and a curse.Table of ContentsIntroduction Design & Development Operational History Bibliography Index
£11.69
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Napoleon's Imperial Guard: Organization, Uniforms
Book SynopsisA detailed analysis of the organization, uniforms and weapons of the French Imperial Guard created by Napoleon I. The author describes how this large military body evolved from the Consular Guard created by Bonaparte as early as 1799 and how this came to include dozens of different military units belonging to each branch of service (infantry, cavalry, artillery, specialist corps). The Imperial Guard was a 'miniature army' made up of veteran soldiers, who were dressed with the most spectacular and elegant uniforms ever seen on the battlefields of Europe. The Guard also included several 'exotic' non-French units that are also covered in the text: Egyptian Mamelukes, Polish and Lithuanian lancers, Tatar scouts, Dutch grenadiers and lancers. The way in which Napoleon employed the Guard in battle is discussed and also how it differed from the rest of the French Army in terms of military dress and weaponry.
£16.99
Penguin Random House Australia Modern Warfare: A Lowy Institute Paper: Penguin
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£6.64
Pen & Sword Books Ltd German Machine Guns of the Second World War
Book SynopsisGerman Machine Guns of the Second World War is a highly illustrated record of the German war machine between 1939 - 1945. Many of the photographs, all from the authors collection, come originally from the albums of individuals who took part in the war. Arranged by theatre chronologically, the book analyses the development of the machine gun and describes how the Germans carefully utilised weapons such as the MG34 and the much vaunted MG42 into both offensive and defensive roles. Supported by a host of other machine guns like the MP28, MP38/40 and the lethal Sturmgerher 44, it depicts how these formidable machine guns fought against an ever increasing enemy threat. Using over 250 rare and unpublished photographs together with detailed captions and accompanying text, this book provides a unique insight into German weaponry from early Blitzkrieg campaigns to the final demise of the Nazi empire.
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Bren Gun
Book SynopsisAdopted in 1938 and remaining in British service until 1991, the popular and reliable Bren was an iconic light machine gun, and arguably the most recognizable Commonwealth weapon of World War ll. Gas-operated and magazine-fed, it was based on a Czech design and was issued in large numbers during and after World War ll, as a section-level automatic weapon. Offering remarkable accuracy for an LMG, the Bren had an effective range of 600 yards, but could reach out to over 1,500 yards. It was generally fired from the prone position using a bipod, but could be fired from the hip when necessary. If kept clean, the Bren gave a reliable service in the harshest of environments, from the deserts of Libya to the Korean mountains in winter. As well as widespread infantry use, the Bren was widely supplied to resistance movements in Occupied Europe. Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork and based on meticulous research, this is an engaging story of the iconic light machine gun that equipped British and Commonwealth forces throughout World War II and in a host of postwar conflicts, right up to the Falklands and beyond.Table of ContentsIntroduction /Development /Use /Impact /Conclusion /Select Bibliography /Index
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC T-80 Standard Tank: The Soviet Army’s Last
Book SynopsisThe history of the little-known yet controversial T-80 and its subsequent variants. The Soviet T-80 Standard Tank was the last tank fielded before the Soviet collapse, and the most controversial. Despite having the most sophisticated fire controls and multi-layer armor ever fielded on a Soviet tank, its turbine power plant (rather than a conventional diesel) remained a source of considerable trouble throughout its career. Steven J Zaloga charts the little-known history of the T-80, covering the initial construction, through the development to the subsequent variants, the T-84 and Russia’s enigmatic “Black Eagle Tank.” Accompanying detailed cut-away artwork illustrates the unusual design features that made the T-80 so controversial.Table of ContentsIntroduction · Design and Development · Construction · Variants · Service History · Conclusion · Colour Plate Commentary · Bibliography · Index
£11.69
Key Publishing Ltd Hungarian Arms and Armour of World War Two
Book SynopsisBetween the world wars, Hungary was a relatively small country aiming to recover territory lost because of World War One, and its Army was trained, equipped, armed and prepared to fight with its neighbours, to this end. At the outset of World War Two, Hungarian involvement in the war was minimal. Then, suddenly, this small country found itself in a total war with the Allied nations, primarily the Soviet Union. Although in 1941, this war was remote, in 1944-45 it arrived in Hungary, crushing the kingdom. This book gives a brief history of the Hungarian Army (Honv ds g), focusing on the main armament of the land forces: armoured vehicles, artillery pieces, infantry weapons and motor vehicles. The Hungarian Army had an interesting mix of weaponry and equipment inherited from the Austro-Hungarian Army, purchased from Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland and produced by the Hungarian war industry, based on licences or its own designs. The 170 illustrations include 18 original colour photos and 18 colour profiles, skilfully painted by Tamas Deak.
£14.39
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Making Of The Atomic Bomb
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZEThe Making of the Atomic Bomb is the seminal and complete story of how the bomb was developed, from the turn-of-the-century discovery of the vast energy locked inside the atom to the dropping of the first bombs on Japan. Few great discoveries have evolved so swiftly - or have been so misunderstood. From the theoretical discussions of nuclear energy to the bright glare of Trinity, there was a span of hardly more than twenty-five years. What began as merely an interesting speculative problem in physics grew into the Manhattan Project, and then into the bomb, with frightening rapidity, while scientists known only to their peers - Szilard, Teller, Oppenheimer, Bohr, Meitner, Fermi, Lawrence and von Neumann - stepped from their ivory towers into the limelight. Richard Rhodes gives the definitive story of man's most awesome discovery and invention. Told in richTrade Review'A stirring intellectual adventure...clear, fast-paced and indispensable' -- Carl Sagan'A monumental and enthralling history... Alive and vibrant in the book are all the scientists...and each human being stands vividly revealed as a man of science, of conscience, of doubts, or of hubris' * San Francisco Chronicle *'The comprehensive history of the bomb - and also a work of literature' -- Tracy Kidder'The best, the richest and the deepest description of the development of physics in the first half of this century that I have yet read, and it is certainly the most enjoyable' -- Isaac Asimov'A great book. Mr Rhodes has done a beautiful job, and I don't see how anyone can ever top it' -- Luis W. Alvarez, Nobel Laureate for Physics, 1968'What I read already impressed me with the author's knowledge of much of the history of the science which led to the development of nuclear energy and nuclear bombs and of the personalities which contributed in the U.S. to the development of these. I was particularly impressed by his realization of the importance of Leo Szilard's contributions which are almost always underestimated but which he fully realizes and perhaps even overestimates. I hope the book will find a wide readership' -- Eugene P. Wigner, Nobel Laureate for Physics, 1963'I found The Making of the Atomic Bomb well written, interesting and one of the best in the great family of books on the subject. It is fascinating as a novel, and I have learned from it many things I did not know. Mr Rhodes has done his homework conscientiously and intelligently' -- Emilio Segrè, Nobel Laureate for Physics, 1959
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Wired for War
Book Synopsis“[Singer's] enthusiasm becomes infectious . . . Wired for War is a book of its time: this is strategy for the Facebook generation.” —Foreign Affairs“An engrossing picture of a new class of weapon that may revolutionize future wars. . .” —Kirkus ReviewsP. W. Singer explores the greatest revolution in military affairs since the atom bomb: the dawn of robotic warfareWe are on the cusp of a massive shift in military technology that threatens to make real the stuff of I, Robot and The Terminator. Blending historical evidence with interviews of an amazing cast of characters, Singer shows how technology is changing not just how wars are fought, but also the politics, economics, laws, and the ethics that surround war itself. Travelling from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan to modern-day skunk works in the midst of suburbia, Wired for War will tantalise a wide readership, from military buffs to policy wonks to gearheads.Trade Review“. . . As Singer explores the issues raised by military robotics—meeting with entrepreneurs, engineers and operators, ethicists, and pundits—his enthusiasm becomes infectious. With its informal style and cultural references, and because of its topic, Wired for War is a book of its time: this is strategy for the Facebook generation.” —Foreign Affairs“An engrossing picture of a new class of weapon that may revolutionize future wars. . .” —Kirkus Reviews
£15.49
Dorling Kindersley Ltd The Tank Book
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£27.00
Princeton University Press The Gunpowder Age
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWinner of a 2017 Distinguished Book Award, Society of Military History "[An] enlightening new history."--Alex Monro, Times Literary Supplement "The Gunpowder Ageis a boldly argued, prodigiously researched and gracefully written work. This book has much to offer general readers, especially those with a passion for military history, as well as specialists."--Wall Street Journal "An excellent book."--Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution "A vigorous military history of China."--Kirkus "In Tonio Andrade's well-researched, balanced and comparative history of military innovation in Asia and the West, he challenges the traditional notion - compellingly set forth by Victor Davis Hanson in Carnage and Culture and Niall Ferguson in Civilization--that Western culture largely explains Western global predominance in the post-medieval world."--South China Morning Post "Tonio Andrade wipes out the conviction held by many ... in the field of Chinese history that it was Confucianism that kept China from adopting military technology... Andrade is not the first scholar to make such claims, but he leads us deeper in these directions than any scholar to date. The case he makes here will encourage new publications along those lines and will certainly make teaching more interesting."--Jonathan Mirsky, Times Higher Education "In this well-constructed new book, each chapter of which reads like an approachably paced lecture, Tonio Andrade sets this entire history on a new footing."--Timothy Brook, Literary Review "One of the best books I've read in awhile."--Thomas Ricks, Foreign Policy Blog "[The Gunpowder Age] challenges the traditional historiography and will spark debates among scholars."--Choice "An important, consistently interesting, accessible, and well-written work... Andrade is much to be congratulated for a stimulating book, one that greatly moves the field along, and one, moreover, that ably makes the case for the need to consider military history as part of the history of China, and Chinese military history as a key element of military history."--Jeremy Black, World History Connected "Tonio Andrade offers fresh insights into the perennially interesting 'great divergence' between Europe and Asia."--Pankaj Mishra, BBC History Magazine "Covering no less than a thousand years of history, marshaling a staggering array of evidence from multiple languages and disciplines, and offering sustained comparative analysis with other parts of the Western world, this is a big book in every sense of the word... Not only does Andrade significantly expand the geographical boundaries of conventional military histories to attend to global patterns, but he also offers a powerful reminder that the study of war offers insight into so much more than battles won and lost... Anyone interested in the long view of the co-evolution of war and society--and what this means for the big questions of world history--would do well to pick up this book."--David Fedman, Journal of Asian StudiesTable of ContentsIntroduction - The Military Pattern of the Chinese Past 1 PART I: CHINESE BEGINNINGS Chapter 1 The Crucible: The Song Warring States Period 15 Chapter 2 Early Gunpowder Warfare 29 Chapter 3 The Mongol Wars and the Evolution of the Gun 44 Chapter 4 Great Martiality: The Gunpowder Emperor 55 PART II: EUROPE GETS THE GUN Chapter 5 The Medieval Gun 75 Chapter 6 Big Guns: Why Western Europe and Not China Developed Gunpowder Artillery 88 Chapter 7 The Development of the Classic Gun in Europe 103 Chapter 8 The Gunpowder Age in Europe 115 Chapter 9 Cannibals with Cannons: The Sino-Portuguese Clashes of 1521-1522 124 PART III: AN AGE OF PARITY Chapter 10 The Frankish Cannon 135 Chapter 11 Drill, Discipline, and the Rise of the West 144 Chapter 12 The Musket in East Asia 166 Chapter 13 The Seventeenth Century: An Age of Parity? 188 Chapter 14 A European Naval Advantage 196 Chapter 15 The Renaissance Fortress: An Agent of European Expansion? 211 PART IV: THE GREAT MILITARY DIVERGENCE Chapter 16 The Opium War and the Great Divergence 237 Chapter 17 A Modernizing Moment: Opium War Reforms 257 Chapter 18 China's Modernization and the End of the Gunpowder Age 273 Conclusions - A New Warring States Period? 297 Acknowledgments 307 Appendix 1: Timeline 311 Appendix 2: Datasets 312 Abbreviations 317 Notes 319 Bibliography 379 Index 421
£19.80
The History Press Ltd The Royal Arsenal Woolwich
Book SynopsisLittle is generally known of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and the immortal place it holds among all the Royal Ordnance Factories. For nearly four hundred years it was a ''secret walled city'', self-sufficient and closely guarded. As it grew, and developed the nation''s weapons of war, it became the main source of all implements of war for our armed forces. Even those weapons not produced in the Arsenal very often had to be tested and approved within its boundaries. Here for the first time is a tantalising look behind the walls of the secret city, once among the most sensitive of government establishments.
£14.39
Schiffer Publishing Ltd DFS 228 Schiffer Military History Book
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£17.09
Schiffer Publishing Ltd The Tiger I in Combat
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£8.99
Schiffer Publishing Ltd German Daggers of World War II A Photographic
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£62.04
Schiffer Publishing Ltd German Daggers of World War II A Photographic
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£58.39
Schiffer Publishing Ltd Germanyâs V2 Rocket
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£31.44
Schiffer Publishing Ltd Sword Fighting
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£27.19
Schiffer Publishing Ltd Deadly BeautiesRare German Handguns Vol. 1
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIf you have a spare few minutes, check out the review of our book Deadly Beauties by the YouTube account Forgotten Weapons.
£58.39
Schiffer Publishing Ltd The Sten
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£20.69
Schiffer Publishing Ltd The Colt M1911 .45 Automatic Pistol
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£19.54
Johns Hopkins University Press A History of Greek Fire and Gunpowder
Book SynopsisNo recent book in English (or for that matter in any language) has attempted a concise survey of the subject."-from the PrefaceTrade ReviewPartington's classic study reappears in this welcome reprint edition enhanced by an informed and useful introduction by Bert Hall. Hall's appreciation of Partington's work explains why we are in his debt and what we should beware of when consulting him. -- Alex Roland Technology and Culture The story of the evolution of chemical explosives for 600 years... a must volume for any historian, military or civilian, interested in gunpowder. -- Larry S. Strett Gun Week
£26.10
Schiffer Publishing Ltd German AntiTank Aircraft
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£9.49
Trustees of the Royal Armouries Islamic Arms and Armour Arms and Armour Series
Book SynopsisThe Royal Armouries' collection of Islamic arms and armour is one of the finest in the world. This introductory book showcases the arms and armour of the medieval and early modern periods, where a rich and vibrant diversity of military cultures existed in the Ottoman Empire, Arabia, North Africa, Persia, Afghanistan, India and Indonesia.
£8.99
Trustees of the Royal Armouries Arms and Armour of the Medieval Joust
Book SynopsisJousting is the most iconic form of mounted combat. For more than five hundred years, the sport itself, and the chivalric culture that surrounded it, took on almost mythical qualities. Here, Tobias Capwell explains the glitz and glamour of a sport that attracted enormous popular audiences throughout the late middle ages.
£8.99
Dorling Kindersley Ltd The Military History Book
Book SynopsisA compelling visual guide to the history of the military!Travel through time and explore 5000 years of weaponry in stunning detail with this riveting military book - from the spears and swords of ancient times to the guns and grenades of modern warfare.This beautifully illustrated definitive military guide charts the evolution of battlefield technology. Here''s what you''ll find inside:- It includes objects taken from collections that are not available to the public or have never been photographed before- Features comprehensive catalogues of the key weapons, armour, equipment, and military technologies of each period, along with full specification details and information about special features- Includes stunning close-up virtual tours on subjects as diverse as a Roman fort, a medieval castle, a WWI trench system, a WWII tank, and a modern aircraft carrier, to name a few- Narrative spreads and timelines provide historical context for
£28.50
Abrams The Bomb
Book Synopsis
£17.59
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The History of the Panzerwaffe
Book SynopsisThis is the definitive history of the evolution of the feared German Panzerwaffe, from its earliest beginings to the height of its success. With rare and revealing combat reports and photographs sourced from previously unseen private and archival collections, it uncovers the technical and operational stories of the formidable armored beasts that formed the backbone of the German war machine--tanks such as the Panzer I, II and 38(t).The Germans transformed armored warfare from a lumbering and ponderous experiment in World War I, into something that could decide the outcome of conflicts. This technical and operational history is the definitive guide to the legendary Panzerwaffe, from its very infancy to the days when it made Europe its garden path at the height of Nazi German power.Table of Contents1 Laying the foundation – pre-war establishment 2 The seizure of Czechoslovakia – backing the Panzerwaffe 3 Poland – the ordeal 4 France – at eye level 5 The Balkans – the unwanted campaign 6 Russia – an overmighty opponent? 7 1942 – upgrading the Panzers 8 North Africa – defeat instead of superiority 9 Dark prospects – Waiting for the new tanks 10 Tank recovery and repair 1935–42
£28.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Railway Guns of World War II
Book SynopsisWorld War II marked the zenith of railway gun development. Although many of the railway guns deployed at the start of the conflict were of World War I vintage, Germany''s ambitious development programme saw the introduction of a number of new classes, including the world''s largest, the 80cm-calibre Schwerer Gustav and Schwerer Dora guns, which weighed in at 1,350 tons and fired a huge 7-ton shell.This book provides an overview of the types of railway guns in service during World War II, with a special focus on the German railway artillery used in France, Italy and on the Eastern Front, and analyzes why railway guns largely disappeared from use following the end of the war.Table of ContentsIntroduction / French Railway Artillery / Belgian Railway Artillery / German Railway Artillery / Italian Railway Artillery / Soviet Railway Artillery / Finnish Railway Artillery / Japanese Railway Artillery / British Railway Artillery / US Railway Artillery / Conclusion / Bibliography / Index
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Weapons of the Viking Warrior
Book SynopsisBetween the late 8th and late 11th century Viking warriors had a massive impact not just in northern Europe, but across a huge arc from the western Mediterranean round through northern Europe and the Baltic to the Middle East and Central Asia. Their success depended in part on their skills in battle, their unique sense of strategic mobility, and on the quality of their weapons and equipment. Written by an expert on early medieval weaponry, this book examines the weapons of the typical Viking warrior, dispels some of the myths of the popular image, such as double-headed axes, and considers the range of weapons that actually underpinned the Vikings' success including bows and arrows.Drawing upon contemporary literary and historical accounts from the North Atlantic to the Arab world, surviving examples of weapons and armour, and practical experimentation and reconstructions by modern weapon-smiths and re-enactors, this study casts new light on how Viking weapons were made and u
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Modern Russian Army 19922016
Book SynopsisA full and authoritative illustrated history of Russia's army since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, including Air Assault and Navy ground forces.Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia''s army has undergone a turbulent transformation, from the scattered left-overs of the old Soviet military, through a period of shocking decay and demoralization, to the disciplined force and sophisticated ''hybrid war'' doctrine that enabled Vladimir Putin to seize Crimea virtually overnight in 2014. Using rare photographs and full colour images of the army in action, profiles of army leaders and defence ministers, as well as orders of battle and details of their equipment and dress, this is a vivid account of the army's troubled history and of its character, capabilities and status.Written by an internationally respected author with remarkable access to Russian-language sources and Russian veterans, this study is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the growing power Table of ContentsIntroduction Born in Crisis – the 1990s: creating a new army in the wreckage of the USSR – First Chechen War – peacekeeping missions – the damaging 'grandfather' culture in the ranks. 'Reform Tomorrow' – the 2000s: slow beginnings of reform under Putin – Second Chechen War – uncertainty and inertia at the top – the Cossack revival. The Georgian Turning Point - 2008: profiting from errors and lessons – Defense Minister Serdyukov and Chief of General Staff Makarov force through reforms. The Russian Army Today: structures, organization, chain of command – major annual exercise cycles, and what they teach us. Two Armies: the reformed one-third, and the unreformed two-thirds. The human dimension: volunteer soldiers and conscripts – Ukraine – continuing problem of crime in the military. Intervention Forces: Air Assault and Naval troops – Spetsnaz – anti-piracy operations – Crimea – 'non-linear war' doctrine. Tools of the Trade: weapons, vehicles, specialist AFVs – latest 'Ratnik' uniforms and equipment – drones. Select Bibliography
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Panther
Book SynopsisThe German Panther is one of the most famous, and greatest, tanks of World War II. Often considered the most elegant tank design of the war, it embodied a balance of firepower, armor protection, and mobility unmatched by any other tank of the period. This new study by German armor expert Thomas Anderson draws upon original German archival material to tell the story of the birth of the Panther in response to the Soviet tanks encountered in 1941. He then analyzes its success on the battlefield and the many modifications and variants that also came into play. Illustrated throughout with rare photographs and drawings, many of which have never been published in English before, this is a unique history of one of the most famous tanks of World War II.
£22.50
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Weapons of the US Special Operations Command
Book SynopsisThe units and formations of the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) have privileged access to the finest weaponry in the world's arsenal. Whether Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines, the SOCOM troops select weapons that match their mission requirements, but which also sit at the cutting edge of combat technology. This means that, while SOCOM troops frequently use standard-issue weaponry, they also adopt many specialist pieces of kit that are not so accessible to the broader armed services, including sniper rifles, battle rifles, and machine guns, as well as high-tech tactical accessories used to transform standard weaponry into something exceptional. Assessing the technology and capabilities of these combat weapons, as well as how they have been used in modern combat, this fully illustrated study lifts the veil on some of the most distinctive hand-held weapon systems of US special operations forces since 1987.Table of ContentsIntroduction / Development / Use / Impact / Conclusion / Bibliography / Index
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Roman Shields
Book SynopsisThe introduction of the scutum in the 4th century BC revolutionized the way the Romans fought. Instead of being purely defensive, the shield became a weapon in its own right. Using the top edge or boss to punch an opponent, or the lower rim to smash down on their feet, it served to unbalance an enemy and allow the sword to do its work. The versatility of the scutum was characterized by the testudo, a formation the Romans used offensively like a pedestrian tank. Meanwhile, other shield types equipped the auxiliaries who fought alongside the legionaries. The curved, rectangular scutum survived into the 3rd century AD, only to be replaced by an oval, slightly domed shield derived from the oval shields of Early Imperial auxiliaries.Drawing together historical accounts, excavated artefacts and the results of the latest scientific analyses of the boards and fittings, renowned authority M.C. Bishop reveals the development, technology, training and use ofTable of ContentsIntroduction Legionary Shields Auxiliary Shields Gladiatorial Shields Manufacture and Decoration Use Bibliography Index
£14.24
