At 8:15 a.m. on August 6th, 1945, the Japanese port city of Hiroshima was struck by the world's first atomic bomb. Built in the US by the top-secret Manhattan Project and delivered by a B-29 Superfortress, a revolutionary long-range bomber, the weapon destroyed large swaths of the city, instantly killing tens of thousands. The world would never be the same again.

The Hiroshima Men's unique narrative recounts the decade-long journey towards this first atomic attack. It charts the race for nuclear technology before, and during the Second World War, as the allies fought the axis powers in Europe, North Africa, China, and across the vastness of the Pacific, and is seen through the experiences of several key characters: General Leslie Groves, leader of the Manhattan Project alongside Robert Oppenheimer; pioneering Army Air Force bomber pilot Colonel Paul Tibbets II; the mayor of Hiroshima, Senkichi Awaya, who would die alongside over eighty-thousand of his fellow citizens; and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist John Hersey, who travelled to post-war Japan to expose the devastation the bomb had inflicted upon the city, and in a historic New Yorker article, described in unflinching detail the dangers posed by its deadly after-effect, radiation poisoning.

This thrilling account takes the reader from the corridors of the White House to the laboratories and test sites of New Mexico; from the air war above Nazi Germany and the savage reconquest of the Pacific to the deadly firebombing air raids across the Japanese Home Islands. The Hiroshima Men also includes Japanese perspectives - a vital aspect often missing from Western narratives - to complete MacGregor's nuanced, deeply human account of the bombing's meaning and aftermath.

Lofortovo prison, built by Catherine the Great, was reputed to have niches in the walls of an underground hallway where executioners with silenced pistols concealed themselves before emerging to shoot in the back of the head an enemy of the state being walked along the corridor. Persistent rumors told of beatings and tortures at Lofortovo, but I kept repeating to myself: This is the new Russia, not the old Soviet state. The men taking me in have been pleasant, even courteous. No threats. No raised voices. "Just a few questions and you'll be on your way again."

Another eight-by-fifteen room. Three steel tablets meant as beds. One sink, one toilet, one small mirror embedded into the concrete, no bars, one opaque window. It was cold in the cell—not freezing, but 45 degrees Fahrenheit, kept at that temperature to make me miserable. I paced for a while. Nervous. Upset. Confused. Unable to sleep. Everything in the world went through my mind: I will get out of here, I won't get out of here, best-case scenario, worst-case scenario...

I lay down on the mattress, under the blanket, and was so cold that I had to put on my sport coat to keep from shivering. It was dim but not dark, as there was a light on in my cell that never went out. Every few minutes the quality of light coming from outside the opaque glass would change, and I guessed that the guards were checking in on me, making sure I hadn't tried to commit suicide or send a message from the Flash Gordon transmitter concealed in my wedding ring....
There was no sleep that night.
—from TORPEDOED

He was an innocent man: Edmond Pope—former Naval Intelligence officer, then private businessman, in Russia looking for some answers. Little did he know that he was looking in some very dangerous places.

There was the top-secret operation: Western military and intelligence agencies out to steal one of Russia's crown jewels—the plans to a submarine torpedo that traveled an astonishing 300 miles per hour.

There was the new man in charge: Vladimir Putin—former head of the KGB, now boss of all Russia and a man who wanted to set an example at almost any cost.

It would all come together, and the result would be an incredible story of duplicity, secrets, and lies. Now, for the first time ever, Edmond Pope tells the real story of what led to his becoming the first American since Francis Gary Powers to be convicted of espionage in Russia. Combining a gripping account of his arrest, trial, and 253-day imprisonment with a deeply disturbing look at today's Russia—where you can trust no one, and everything is for sale—his book reads like a John Le Carré novel come to life. And with a large dollop of espionage—insider information and secret submarine warfare technology, Pope's enthralling memoir will also remind readers of the best of Tom Clancy or Blind Man's Bluff.

Torpedoed reveals that the new Russia isn't that different from the old, that a fresh Cold War is brewing, and that Americans in Russia are at risk. With vivid portraits of Russians devoted to framing an American and Americans devoted to justice—Pope's wife Cheri first and foremost among them— it moves from dank Moscow prison cells to the White House to the inner rooms of the Kremlin. And like the secret torpedo in question, Edmond Pope's harrowing story races to a conclusion of devastating impact.

The Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA), unleashed by the integration of information technologies into weapons systems, military units, and operations is a phenomenon whose impacts have been felt well beyond the Gulf in 1991 or the Balkans in 1999. Technological developments lie at the center of these changes; however, the RMA is about more than technology. It includes the consequences of technological changes for defense and security. This study provides an assessment of the RMA that goes beyond a mere description of new defense-related technologies to deal with deeper, more fundamental issues.

Through the contributions of American, Canadian, Chinese, and French experts, this book surveys the RMA from various perspectives and evaluates it from the standpoints of military history and military science. The authors conclude that, while the RMA represents a significant challenge for defense establishments, it may fall short of being truly revolutionary. Whether one looks at power projection or information warfare, it appears that emerging technologies will translate into significant improvements in capabilities, but not necessarily a revolution in warfare. From a comparative perspective, the United States remains well ahead in thinking of and implementing changes that stem from the RMA, although other nations may make selective use of the RMA to promote regional security goals.

The period from the Indian wars to WWI saw the evolution of the U.S. Army from a 25,000 man frontier constabulary to a modern professionally led two million man force fighting in a coalition war in Europe. This study describes the context within which the Leavenworth schools--begun in 1881--evolved.

This volume is the only current treatment of security issues in Central Asia for the nonspecialist, as well as specialists and policy-makers. Global Security Watch—Central Asia is the first authoritative examination of the security issues affecting, and affected by, the region where Russia, South Asia, China, and the Middle East meet. The author provides a comprehensive account of the strategic importance and challenges facing Central Asia written for policymakers, students, researchers, and interested general readers alike. Global Security Watch—Central Asia goes behind the scenes to explore both the internal factors and global influences affecting the stability of region and the nations that comprise it. Coverage includes the dynamics of each country's domestic politics, the allure of the region's natural resources, Central Asia's role in U.S./Russian relations, and the renewed focus on the region in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Perhaps no one in history has played the role of scientist as celebrity with as much skill--and as much deception--as Wernher von Braun. America's leading rocket expert and most enthusiastic advocate of space travel, he had a closet full of secrets that would have shocked his colleagues and millions of admirers if they had been told during his lifetime. "Wernher von Braun: The Man Who Sold the Moon" is the first critical biography of the young German aristocrat who created Hitler's most advanced terror weapon, the V-2 rocket, and who came to the U.S. under the Army's Project Paperclip to develop missiles as a central weapon of the Cold War. The book reveals that factions of the U.S. Army, in their zeal to have von Braun's team of scientists working for American interests, covered up what they knew about his complicity in Nazi causes and abetted him in the perpetuation of the myth he carefully created about his past.

Declassified Army documents and war crime transcripts, as well as the discovery of Europe of Dora concentration camp survivors' accounts, and von Braun's published writings and personal papers, have enabled biographer Dennis Piszkiewicz to document von Braun's career more fully than any previous historian. The man who tirelessly promoted space travel, worked with NASA to collaborate with Walt Disney creating television programs and the Tomorrowland section of Disneyland, and put the first astronauts on the moon, was actually a member of the Nazi party, held a rank in the SS equivalent to that of Major, and was an accomplice in the use of slave labor from the Dora concentration camp to produce his V-2 rocket. When the Third Reich collapsed, von Braun unashamedly switched his allegiance to the victor, and adroitly distanced himself from his Nazi partners. By going on to promote NASA and sell the American people on his dreams of space exploration, he became the man who sold the moon--a man who began his brilliant career by selling his soul to the Nazis.

ARS MECHANICA traces the comprehensive history of the Herstal Group, renowned worldwide through its brands FN Herstal, Browning, and Winchester. Almost 130 years of technological innovation and unique know-how has allowed the company to develop, manufacture and commercialize leading quality products Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre (FN) was a pure product of Belgium in the nineteenth century. It could not have emerged at any other time or in any other place. The industrial strength of the country and of its Liège Region, combined with its centuries-old tradition of arms-making, successfully ensured Belgium’s military independence through this period.   ARS MECHANICA retraces the history of this landmark company, now called the Herstal Group, which has emerged as a global industrial force under the control of the Belgian government over the decades. Through this period, FN has endured successive crises and upturns, alongside devastating wars and periods of patient reconstruction. Mechanical engineering is surely the top driver of its progress and resilience, and this clearly shows in the wide variety of FN’s products arms, ammunition, bicycles, cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, aircraft engines and more besides—that have been produced by the Herstal Group over the years. In putting this know-how into practice, the company has adeptly adapted to various historical changes. By innovating, inventing and occasionally harnessing current patents to launch new products, FN has indelibly stamped its singular authority through its mechanical engineering genius. Distributed for Mercatorfonds

This book covers the design and use of the self-propelled armored vehicle Wespe in WWII.

A classic work in the history of science, and described as “a good book on rocket stuff…that’s a really fun one� by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, readers will want to get their hands on this influential classic, available for the first time in decades.   This newly reissued debut book in the Rutgers University Press Classics imprint is the story of the search for a rocket propellant which could be trusted to take man into space. This search was a hazardous enterprise carried out by rival labs who worked against the known laws of nature, with no guarantee of success or safety. Acclaimed scientist and sci-fi author John Drury Clark writes with irreverent and eyewitness immediacy about the development of the explosive fuels strong enough to negate the relentless restraints of gravity. The resulting volume is as much a memoir as a work of history, sharing a behind-the-scenes view of an enterprise which eventually took men to the moon, missiles to the planets, and satellites to outer space.  

New, updated edition of this classic pastoral staple for members of the United States military, published in partnership with the Presiding Bishop's Bishop Suffragan for the Chaplaincies. With its compact 4 x 5.5 trim size and durable soft binding, the book is designed to fit into side pockets and knapsacks - especially convenient for personnel in or near combat zones. Contents include Daily Devotions (English and Spanish); Holy Baptism, including Emergency Baptism (English and Spanish); the Holy Eucharist in several forms for battlefield conditions; Confirmation; the Sacrament of Penance; Rites for the Sick, the Wounded, and the Dying; Ecumenical and Interfaith Rites at the Time of Death; Burial Rites; and an appendix with selected psalms, hymns, Bible readings, and prayers.

An illustrated account of the first jet-powered combat aircraft, the Messerschmitt Me 262, and its short but action-packed career during World War 2.

Powered by the Jumo 004 jet engine, the Me 262 outclassed anything the Allies had in terms of speed and firepower, offering, as an interceptor, a formidable punch with four 30 mm MK 108 nose-mounted cannon. Such a blend of armament and speed allowed the Me 262A-1a not just to inflict carnage on the Allied heavy bomber formations, but also to evade their fighter escorts – even the later marks of Spitfire and the formidable American P-51 Mustang.

In this new study, Luftwaffe historian Robert Forsyth utilises first-hand accounts from Me 262 pilots to chronicle actions against Allied bombers and their escorts, as well as detailing hit-and-run bomber attacks on road junctions, Allied airfields, vehicle columns, troop assemblies and supply dumps. All of these aspects of the Me 262 are enhanced by vivid illustrations, including archival photographs and specially commissioned profile artworks.

This new textbook gathers an international roster of top security studies scholars to provide an overview of Asia-Pacific's international relations and pressing contemporary security issues. It is a suitable introduction for undergraduate and masters students' use in international relations and security studies courses. Merging a strong theoretical component with rich contemporary and historical empirical examples, Asia-Pacific Security examines the region's key players and challenges as well as a spectrum of proposed solutions for improving regional stability. Major topics include in-depth looks at the United States' relationship with China; Security concerns presented by small and microstates, the region's largest group of nations; threats posed by terrorism and insurgency; the region's accelerating arms race and the potential for an Asian war; the possible roles of multilateralism, security communities, and human security as part of solutions to regional problems.

Discover the spiritually incisive strategies for peacefully resolving conflict in this masterpiece of military strategy. Written 2,500 years ago by Chinese general Sun Tzu, The Art of War is a poetic and potent treatise on military strategy still in use in war colleges around the world. Yet its principles transcend warfare and have practical applications to all the conflicts and crises we face in our lives—in our workplaces, our families, even within ourselves. Thomas Huynh guides you through Sun Tzu's masterwork, highlighting principles that encourage a perceptive and spiritual approach to conflict, enabling you to: Prevent conflicts before they arise Peacefully and quickly resolve conflicts when they do arise Act with courage, intelligence and benevolence in adversarial situations Convert potential enemies into friends Control your emotions before they control you Now you can experience the effectiveness of Sun Tzu's teachings even if you have no previous knowledge of The Art of War. Insightful yet unobtrusive facing-page commentary explains the subtleties of the text, allowing you to unlock the power of its teachings and help prevent and resolve the conflicts in your own life.

An illustrated history of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida

A history, as well as biographies, photos, anecdotes, past Presidents.

The 24th Infantry Division, the Victory Division, has distinguished itself as one of the most outstanding divisions in the United States Army. The soldiers who graced the ranks of the 24th Infantry Division earned the distinct of being the first to inflict enemy casualties on December 7, 1941, in defiance of the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor. As a result the Division's motto was selected to be "First to Fight!" Dubbed "Taro Leafers" because of the Division's Hawaii birthplace, their motto took on new meaning as they proved their ability to respond rapidly to crises anywhere in the world.

This book is for the young adult who is interested in enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. It will walk him or her through the enlistment and recruit training process: making the decision to join the military, talking to recruiters, getting qualified, preparing for and learning what to expect at basic recruit training. The goal of the McFarland Joining the Military book series is to help young people who might be curious about serving in the military decide if military service is right for them, which branch is the best fit, and if they are qualified for and prepared for military service. Includes lists of books, web links, and videos; a glossary; and an index.

This book is for the young adult who is interested in enlisting in the United States Army. It will walk him or her through the enlistment and recruit training process: making the decision to join the military, talking to recruiters, getting qualified, preparing for and learning what to expect at basic recruit training. The goal of the McFarland Joining the Military book series is to help young people who might be curious about serving in the military decide if military service is right for them, which branch is the best fit, and if they are qualified for and prepared for military service. Includes lists of books, web links, and videos; a glossary; and an index.

This book features the most significant military rotary-wing aircraft currently in service around the world. The book also looks at the many different types of aircraft manufactured and designed within the European Union, and from the former Soviet Union. Helicopters have been grouped according to their respective countries. This book will certainly generate interest for readers of war related equipment and the role played by the helicopters.