Weapons and equipment Books
CLASS WAR PLANES AH 64
Book Synopsis
£4.70
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
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£65.69
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.
£18.00
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
£29.75
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 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 *
£18.00
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.
£17.99
Penguin Random House Australia Modern Warfare: A Lowy Institute Paper: Penguin
Book Synopsis
£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
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
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
Schiffer Publishing Ltd German AntiTank Aircraft
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£9.49
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
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£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
£29.75
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.
£23.75
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 Gladiators 4th1st centuries BC
Book SynopsisThis new study lifts the veil on the high-profile but often misunderstood gladiators of ancient Rome, from their origins to the dawn of the Principate.Originating in funeral rites during the Punic Wars of the 3rd century BC, the Roman gladiator games have come to symbolize the spectacle and savagery of Republican and Imperial Rome. Increasingly elaborate rules and rituals governed the conduct of gladiator combat, with an array of specially armed and armoured gladiator types pitted against one another, either singly or in groups. While many gladiators met a grisly end, some survived to achieve celebrity and make huge fortunes.Despite the wealth of literary and archaeological evidence, many misconceptions about the gladiators and their violent world remain. Featuring eight plates of stunning specially commissioned artwork alongside photographs and drawings of key items of visual evidence, this fully illustrated account recreates the little-known and under-represTable of ContentsOrigins and evolution Becoming a gladiator The armaturae Gladiator gear Bibliography Index
£12.59
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC German Field Artillery of World War II
Book SynopsisAn illustrated study of the big guns of Hitler''s army the Wehrmacht''s field artillery, its capabilities and its role in German fighting units of World War II. Often overshadowed in military history by the tanks and aircraft of Blitzkrieg, Germany's artillery was key to its methods of waging war throughout World War II. Field artillery remained the primary killer on the battlefield, often responsible for three-quarters of combat casualties inflicted.Redressing the balance, this book surveys the major Wehrmacht guns of the war, and the basic organizational structure of the German field artillery. Its primary focus is on the divisional field guns, especially the lFH 18 10.5cm field howitzer and the 15cm sFH 18 field howitzer that formed the backbone of German artillery. A brief survey is also made of the infantry guns used at the regimental level, and of corps-level heavy artillery. The issue of the use ofBeutewaffen, captured war-booty field guns, is also looked Table of ContentsIntroduction Artillery organization Infantry guns Light infantry guns Heavy infantry guns Divisional artillery Old and eccentric: the 7.5cm field gun Backbone of the artillery: the 10.5cm light field howitzer 10.5cm gun battery organization 10.5cm leFH 18 operation The 10.5cm mountain howitzer The 15cm heavy field howitzer GHQ artillery 10cm gun 12.8cm K 81 gun 15cm guns 17cm gun K 18 in Mörserlafette 21cm Mörser 18 21cm Kanone Beutegeschütze Rocket artillery 15cm Nebelwerfer 41 21cm Nebelwerfer 42 28/32cm schwere Wurfgerät Artillery in combat Artillery on the Eastern Front 1941–45 Artillery on the Western Front 1944–45 Further reading Index
£11.69
C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd The Scientific Way of Warfare: Order and Chaos on
Book SynopsisBousquet’s landmark book examines the impact of key technologies and scientific ideas on the theory and practice of warfare and the handling of the perennial tension between order and chaos on the battlefield. Spanning the entire modern era, from the Scientific Revolution to the present, it offers a systematic account of modern warfare as the constitution of increasingly complex assemblages of bodies and machines whose integration rests upon a military assimilation of scientific thought. Reflecting the pervasive influence of scientific conceptual frameworks upon warfare, modern armies have been successively organised by reference to the paradigmatic technologies of the clock, engine, computer, and network. Conversely, major scientific developments and technological breakthroughs have become intertwined with the experience of war, especially since the Second World War’s unprecedented mobilisation of scientific rationality and technical expertise. This increasingly tight symbiosis between science, technology, and war is at the heart of both the tremendous powers and enduring pathologies displayed by the contemporary military machine. In this new and revised edition, Bousquet extends the analysis to encompass the latest developments in the scientific way of warfare in the midst of renewed great power competition and a wave of technological innovation in artificial intelligence and robotics.Trade Review'The most lucid and well-developed history of the growing affinity between science and military practice available. Essential reading for the student of modern military affairs.' -- Army History'The Scientific Way of Warfare is a remarkable work of synthesis, drawing on the contemporary writing of Manuel Castells, Paul Edwards, John Arquilla, and (especially) Martin Van Creveld. The book's broad historical sweep doesn't get caught up in the finer details, though, which might frustrate readers looking for a more detailed military history. Instead, it boils its subject down to "four distinct regimes of the scientific way of warfare, each of which is characterized by a specific theoretical and methodological constellation: mechanistic, thermodynamic, cybernetic, and chaoplexic warfare." At the heart of each, he writes, "we find an associated paradigmatic technology, respectively the clock, the engine, the computer and the network." * Wired *'This is a remarkable work. Bousquet does for the history of science as military metaphor what Marc Buchanan in Nexus: The Groundbreaking Science of Networks does for complexity science and networks in a social context: he translates a series of profound scientific developments and thought into an accessible and engaging narrative of technology as artefact and metaphor. Bousquet writes with greater eloquence and texture, while simultaneously treating complex theoretical issues with the light touch that will ensure this book a larger audience.' * Michael Innes, Syracuse University *'An intellectual feast to which we are all invited, an intellectual frontier we are free to explore. The range of this work is truly impressive, yet it never obscures the unifying theme: the quest through the centuries for order on the battlefield. In Iraq and Afghanistan the West has found such order more elusive than ever, yet the quest has never been more urgent.' * Christopher Coker, London School of Economics *Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Technoscientific Regimes of Order in Warfare - A Theoretical and Methodological Framework 3: Mechanistic Warfare and the Clockwork Universe 4: Thermodynamic Warfare and the Science of Energy 5: Cybernetics and the Genesis of the Computer 6: Cybernetic Warfare: Computers at War 7: A New Informational Paradigm: Chaos Theory and Complexity Science 8: Towards Chaoplexic Warfare? Network-Centric Warfare and the Non-Linear Sciences
£17.09
Amber Books Ltd German Aircraft of World War I: 1914-1918
Book SynopsisOrganised chronologically by type, German Aircraft of World War I offers a highly-illustrated guide to the main types of aircraft used by the German Air Force during World War I. The book offers a comprehensive survey of German aircraft, from the Albatros B.1 and Fokker E.II of the early years, to the more sophisticated Fokker D.VII and Junkers CL.1 of the final months of the war. All the major and many minor types are featured, including monoplanes, biplanes, single-seater fighters, two-seater fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, night bombers, giant bombers and floatplanes. This includes both well-known and lesser- known models, such as the LVG and Pfalz single-seater fighters, the Gotha and Zeppelin Staaken large bombers, AEG ground attack aircraft, and the Albatross, Halberstadt and Brandenburg two-seater biplanes. Each featured profile includes authentic markings and colour schemes, while every separate model is accompanied by exhaustive specifications. Packed with 110 full-colour artworks with detailed specifications, German Aircraft of World War I is a key reference guide for military modellers and World War I enthusiasts.Table of ContentsContents: Introduction Single Seat Fighters D types Albatros D.I Albatros D.II Albatros D.III Albatros D.V & Va Fokker D.I, D.II, D.IV Fokker D.III Fokker D.V Fokker D.VI Fokker D.VII Halberstadt D.II, D.III, D.V Junkers D.I Roland D.II & D.IIa Roland D-VIa & D-Vib Pfalz D.III & IIIa Pfalz D.VIII Pfalz D.XII Siemens-Schuckert D.I Siemens-Schuckert D.III Siemens-Schuckert D.IV Dr & F types Fokker Dr.I E types (Eindecker – armed monoplanes) Fokker E-I Fokker E-II Fokker E-III Fokker E-IV Fokker E-V/D-VIII Pfalz E-types (E-I & E-II) Two-seater Reconnaissance and General Purpose A & B types Albatros B-types Aviatik B-types Fokker A-series Fokker B-series Taube C types (armed two seat biplanes) AEG C-types Albatros C-III Albatros later C-types Aviatik C-types DFW C-types Halberstadt C-types LFG Roland C.II and C.III 'Walfisch' LVG C.II and C.IV LVG C.V and C.VI Rumpler C.I Rumpler C.III and C.IV Ground Attack and Escort Fighters CL types (close support & two seat fighters) Halberstadt CL.II and CL.IV Hannover CL-II Hannover CL-III and CL-IIIa Junkers CL.I J types (ground attack) Albatros J.I and II Junkers J.I Bombers and Seaplanes G & K types (Grossflugzeuge – large bombers, originally Kampfflugzeuge – battleplane) AEG G.I - IV Friedrichshafen G.III & IV Gotha G.I (the Gotha UWD is a seaplane version) Gotha G.II-V Rumpler G series R types (Riesenflugzeuge – giant bombers) Siemens-Schuckert R-series Zeppelin-Staaken R-series W types and other seaplanes (Wasser – floatplane) Gotha WD series Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 (1917) (fighter) Hansa-Brandenburg W.19 (reconnaissance) Hansa-Brandenburg W.29 (1918) (fighter) (includes AEG J.I) Airships Zeppelin and Schutte-Lanz dirigibles
£16.19
Amber Books Ltd Modern Russian Military Aircraft: Fighters,
Book SynopsisThe Russian Air Force is the world’s second largest military air arm, capable of deploying more than 4,000 military aircraft, including 1,522 helicopters, 497 trainers, 873 fighters, 424 transports, and more. Illustrated throughout with detailed artworks with authentic markings and exhaustive specifications, Technical Guide: Modern Russian Military Aircraft is a compact guide to the military aircraft deployed by the Russian Air Force from the end of the Cold War to the present. Organised by type, this book includes every significant aircraft used by the Russian military over the last 30 years, from the latest Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter and Kamov Ka-50 ‘Black Shark’ attack helicopter to the evergreen Sukhoi Su-25 close air-support aircraft and the venerable Ilyushin Il-76 airlifter transport. The guide is illustrated with profile artworks, three-views, and dynamic view artworks of the more famous aircraft still in service, such as the Sukhoi Su-27 ‘Flanker’, Mikoyan MiG-29 multirole fighter and Tupolev Tu-160 heavy bomber. Illustrated with more than 110 detailed artworks, Technical Guide: Modern Russian Military Aircraft is an essential reference guide for modellers and aviation enthusiasts with a passion for modern military aircraft.Table of ContentsContents include: Fighters & Attack Aircraft Mikoyan MiG-29 Mikoyan MiG-29K Mikoyan MiG-29M and MiG-35 Mikoyan MiG-31 Sukhoi Su-24M Sukhoi Su-25 Sukhoi Su-27 Sukhoi Su-30 Sukhoi Su-33 Sukhoi Su-34 Sukhoi Su-35 Sukhoi Su-57 Sukhoi Checkmate Long-Range Bombers Tupolev Tu-22 Tupolev Tu-95MS Tupolev Tu-160 Transport & Reconnaissance Antonov An-124 Antonov An-140 Antonov An-148 Beriev Be-200 Ilyushin Il-76 and Il-78 Ilyushin Il-112 Beriev Be-12 Beriev A-50 and A-100 Ilyushin Il-20 and Il-22 Ilyushin Il-38 Ilyushin Il-80 Ilyushin Il-82 Tupolev Tu-142 Tupolev Tu-214 Trainers Tupolev Tu-134 Yakovlev Yak-130 Yakovlev Yak-152 Helicopters Kamov Ka-27 Kamov Ka-29 Kamov Ka-31 Kamov Ka-52 Kamov Ka-226 Kazan Ansat Mil Mi-8 Mil Mi-14 Mil Mi-24 and Mi-35 family Mil Mi-26 Mil Mi-28 Mil Mi-38
£16.19
Amber Books Ltd Allied Fighter Aircraft 1939–45: American,
Book SynopsisAllied Fighters 1939–45 offers an highly-illustrated guide to Allied fighter aircraft that fought in Europe during World War II. Featuring all the main models flown by the Allied air forces from 1939 to 1945, the book offers a wealth of detail, including unit markings, organization, numbers of aircraft flown by campaign and exhaustive specifications for each model.The book is arranged first by country and then chronologically by campaign so that every aspect of the air war in Europe is covered. The guide features fighters from throughout World War II, including early models, such as the Morane Saulnier MS.406C.1, Hawker Hurricane Mk I and Fokker D XXI, and the most advanced fighters of the period, such as the Lavochkin La-7, P-51K Mustang and Gloster Meteor Mk I.The book also covers aircraft that were used for air-to-air combat (Supermarine Spitfire), ground attack (P-47 Thunderbolt), bomber escort (P-51B Mustang), night defence (Bristol Beaufighter) and photographic reconnaissance (P-38 Lightning).Packed with more than 200 profiles and dozens of archive photographs of every major Allied fighter aircraft, Allied Fighters 1939–45 is a core reference volume for modellers and World War II aviation enthusiasts.Table of Contents1. Polish Air Force 2. Norway/Netherlands/Belgium 3. Armee de l’Air 4. RAF Advanced Air Striking Force 5. RAF Fighter Command 6. RAF Desert Air Force 7. Soviet V-VS 8. RAF Fighter Command 9. RAF 1st Tactical Air Force 10. RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force 11. US 8th Air Force 12. US 9th Air Force 13. US 12th Air Force 14. US 15th Air Force 15. RAF Fighter Command 16. RAF Coastal Command and FAA 17. Soviet V-VS 18. Minor airforces (Brazil, Italian co-belligerent, Greece etc) Appendices Orders of battle, glossary, terminology, total production numbers. Index
£16.99
Amber Books Ltd American Fighter Aircraft of World War II
Book SynopsisThe United States Army Air Force (USAAF) came into its own during World War II, building some of the premier fighters of the era. American Fighter Aircraft of World War II is a detailed guide to all the fighter aircraft types deployed by the USAAF and US Navy from 1941 to 1945. Organised chronologically, this book includes all-time greats, such as the highly- adaptable P-51 Mustang bomber escort, the carrier-based F6F Hellcat – which outperformed the legendary Japanese A6M Zero fighter – and the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, with its distinctive twin-boom design; as well as lesser-known types, such as the Boeing P-26 Peashooter, the high-altitude Republic P-43 Lancer, and the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, the USAAF’s only operational jet fighter during the war. The entries are accompanied by exhaustive captions and specifications. The guide is illustrated with profile artworks and three-views, as well as two-page dynamic artworks of some of the more famous aircraft in service, such as the P-40 Warhawk ground-attack variant, the twin-engined P-61 Black Widow night-fighter, and the robust P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bomber. Illustrated with more than 100 authentic artworks with accurate markings and camouflage, American Fighter Aircraft of World War II is an essential reference guide for modellers and military aviation enthusiasts.Table of ContentsContents:IntroductionEarly-War Fighters • Curtiss Hawk III • Curtiss-Wright CW-21 Demon • Boeing P-26 Peashooter • Seversky P-35 • Curtiss P-36 & Hawk Model 75 • Republic P-43 Lancer • Bell P-39 Airacobra • Curtiss P-40 WarhawkLate-War Fighters • Vultee P-66 Vanguard • North American P-51 Mustang • Republic P-47 Thunderbolt • Supermarine Spitfire • Bell P-63 KingcobraHeavy Fighters • Bell YFM-1 Airacuda • Bristol Beaufighter • de Havilland Mosquito • Douglas P-70 Havoc • Lockheed P-38 Lightning • Northrop P-61 Black WidowNaval Types • Brewster F2A Buffalo • Grumman F4F Wildcat • Grumman F6F Hellcat • Grumman F7F Tigercat • Grumman F8F Bearcat • Vought F4U CorsairJet Aircraft • Bell P-59 Airacomet • Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star • Ryan FR-1 FireballIndex
£16.19
Amber Books Ltd American Bomber Aircraft of World War II
Book SynopsisThe United States built the best strategic bombers of World War II, and by the end of the conflict America’s bombers dominated the skies in both Europe and the Pacific. American Bomber Aircraft of World War II is a detailed guide to all the bombers deployed by the USAAF and US Navy from 1941 to 1945. Organised chronologically, this book includes all the great types of the era, such as the B-17 Flying Fortress, which led the daylight bombing campaign against German industrial targets; the B-24 Liberator, which carried out the famous raid on the Ploesti oil refinery in Romania in 1943; the rugged Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber, flown by US Navy pilots at the Battle Midway in that key turning point in the Pacific War; and the B-29 Superfortress, the aircraft most responsible for degrading Japan’s ability to wage war with their constant aerial attacks throughout 1944 and 1945. The guide is illustrated with profile artworks and three-views, as well as two-page dynamic artworks of some of the more famous aircraft in service, such as the highly- adaptable B-25 Mitchell, which served in every theatre in a variety of roles, the Douglas Dauntless SBD naval scout plane, and the Martin B-26 Marauder, one of the fastest medium bombers of its era. Illustrated with more than 100 authentic artworks with accurate markings and camouflage, American Bomber Aircraft of World War II is an essential reference guide for modellers and military aviation enthusiasts.Table of ContentsIntroductionBOMBERS: Strategic Bombers Douglas B-18 Bolo Boeing B-17 B-17C B-17D B-17E B-17F B-17G Consolidated B-24 Liberator B-24A, B-24C B-24D B-24F, B-24G B-24H B-24J North American B-25 Mitchell B-25C B-25G B-25H B-25J PBJ-1H Boeing B-29 Superfortress Consolidated B-32 DominatorTactical Bombers Vultee A-31 Vengeance Martin 166 B-10 Martin 167 Maryland Martin 187 Baltimore Curtiss A-12 Shrike Douglas DB-7/A-20 Havoc Douglas A-26 Invader Martin B-26 Marauder: B-26A–G modelsNaval Bombers Northrop BT-1 Brewster SB2A Buccaneer Grumman TBF Avenger Curtiss SBC Helldiver Curtiss SB2C Helldiver Lockheed Hudson/Ventura Vought SB2U Vindicator Douglas SBD Dauntless Douglas TBD Devastator Douglas AD-1 Skyraider Consolidated TBY Seawolf Martin AM-1 MaulerTransports & Flying Boats DC-3/Douglas C-47 Skytrain Curtiss C-46 Commando Martin PBM Mariner Grumman J2F-4 Duck PBY Catlina Vought OS2U Kingfisher Curtiss SO3C-1 SeamewIndex
£16.19
