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Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > Weapons & equipment > Military vehicles
Special Forces are a key component of every modern army, capable of
carrying out clandestine operations, reconnaissance, and incisive
attacks behind enemy lines. Units such as the British SAS, US Navy
SEALs, the US Army’s Delta Force, Polish GROM and the France’s
National Gendarmerie Intervention Group are famous for their
bravery and formidable record. Aircraft are a key element of their
functionality, without which Special Forces would not be able to
move quickly to the combat zone. Arranged into chapters divided by
transports, gunships, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles,
the book includes the AC-130H gunship, which can be armed with
weapons such as the M61 Vulcan rotary cannon and can destroy ground
targets from a range of 2,000 metres; the CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor
aircraft, which can land large numbers of men and material in tight
spaces because of its STOL capabilities; the Eurocopter AS365
Dauphin II, used by the British Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
(JSFAW) for the insertion of small units behind enemy lines; and
the Mil Mi- 171Sh Storm rotorcraft, used by the Russian Spetsnaz
commandos for operations in difficult terrain. Illustrated with 140
photographs and artworks, Aircraft of the Special Forces is a
dynamic guide to the specialist aircraft and UAVs deployed by
Special Forces throughout the world today.
For centuries, battleships provided overwhelming firepower at sea.
They were not only a major instrument of warfare, but a visible
emblem of a nation's power, wealth and pride. The rise of the
aircraft carrier following the Japanese aerial strike on Pearl
Harbor in 1941 highlighted the vulnerabilities of the battleship,
bringing about its demise as a dominant class of warship. This book
offers a detailed guide to the major types of battleships to fight
in the two World Wars. Explore HMS Dreadnought, the first of a
class of fast, big-gun battleships to be developed at the beginning
of the 20th century; see the great capital ships that exchanged
salvos at the battle of Jutland, including the German battlecruiser
Derfflinger, which sank the British battleship Queen Mary; find out
about the destruction of HMS Hood, which exploded after exchanging
fire with the Bismarck, which itself was sunk after a
trans-Atlantic chase by a combination of battery fire and
aircraft-launched torpedoes; and be amazed at the
'super-battleship' Yamato, which despite its size and firepower,
made minimal contribution to Japan's war effort and was sunk by air
attack during the defence of Okinawa. Illustrated with more than
120 vivid artworks and photographs, Technical Guide: Battleships of
World War I and World War II is an essential reference guide for
modellers and naval warfare enthusiasts.
Over the last 20 years, the role of unmanned aircraft systems in
modern warfare has grown at an unprecedented rate. No longer simply
used for intelligence, data collection or reconnaissance, drones
are routinely used for target acquisition and to strike enemy
targets with missiles and bombs. Organized by nationality, Military
Drones offers a compact guide to the main unmanned aerial vehicles
being flown in combat zones today. These include classics, such as
the MQ-1 Predator, primarily used for intelligence gathering; the
Black Hornet Nano, a micro UAV that is so small it can fit in the
palm of your hand and is used by ground troops for local
situational awareness; the Chinese tri-copter Scorpion, which is
ideal for the stationary observation and strike role in a built-up
area; and the French EADS Talarion, a twinjet long-endurance UAV
designed for high-altitude surveillance. Illustrated with more than
100 photographs and artworks, Military Drones provides a detailed
insight into the specialist military unmanned aerial vehicles that
play a key role in the modern battle space.
Illustrated with detailed artworks of German tanks and their
markings with exhaustive captions and specifications, Wehrmacht
Panzer Divisions 1939-45 is the definitive study of the equipment
and organisation of the Wehrmacht's armoured divisions. Organised
by division, the book describes in depth the various models of tank
in German service during the war with each individual armoured
division, with listing of the unit commanders and any famous tank
aces. Each divisional section is further broken down by campaign,
accompanied by orders of battle, a brief divisional history of the
campaign and any specific unit markings. With information boxes
accompanying the full-colour artworks, all drawn to the same scale,
Wehrmacht Panzer Divisions 1939-45 is an essential reference guide
for modellers and any enthusiast with an interest in the armoured
divisions of the German Wehrmacht.
The Spitfire a " there have been many hundreds, maybe even
thousands, of books written about this beautiful R.J Mitchell
designed, elliptically winged areoplane. But there has yet to be a
book published, which has focused solely on the lesser-known
two-seat variant of graceful Spitfirea |Until now! In two-seater
spitfires, Greg Davis, John Sanderson and Peter Arnold trace the
history of this iconic aircraft a " from its initial design through
to those still taking to the skies today.
Over the last 30 years, Special Forces have become a key component
of the world's armed forces, often employing unconventional tactics
as part of airborne operations, counterinsurgency,
counterterrorism, hostage rescue, covert ops and intelligence
gathering. To carry out their role effectively, specific vehicles
have been developed for these elite units. Organized by type, the
book explores a wide range of vehicles, from the light utility
vehicles through mine-resistant protected vehicles (MRAP) to mini
bikes and quad bikes. Discover the Pinzgauer High-Mobility
All-Terrain Vehicle, a high clearance, all-wheel drive transporter
used by Delta Force and the New Zealand SAS; the fast, light Arquus
Scarab, a protected vehicle that can turn both the front and rear
wheels simultaneously, allowing it to move sideways like a crab;
the MRZR, used by the U.S. Marines for fast forward deployment and
off-road reconnaissance; the Toyota Hilux pick-up, which due to its
simplicity and rugged durability, has proved its worth in conflicts
from South America to Central Asia; and the Christini AWD
motorcycle, used by U.S. Navy SEALs in Afghanistan. Illustrated
with more than 100 photographs and artworks, Special Forces Land
Vehicles provides a detailed guide to the specialist vehicles used
by elite soldiers in the modern era.
Fading Eagle - Politics and Decline of Britain's Post-War Air Force
looks at the rise and fall of British air power from a more
critical than usual angle, in particular the impact of political
ineptitude. The Royal Air Force, following a troubled start as a
result of resentful contention by the other services, rose to
prominence during the Second World War countering imminent invasion
and striking at Hitler's army and industrial complex before the
Normandy landings. Air power also proved a vital factor in support
of both land and sea operations. Post-war, the RAF continued its
newfound prominence among the armed forces, again as the principal
defender of the United Kingdom from likely Soviet air attack and as
the principal means of delivering the nuclear deterrent, countering
the submarine threat and providing rapid comprehensive air support
across the globe. Despite this, the change in political aspirations
and priorities led to decisions and policies which resulted in
unintended and unnecessary weakening of the RAF and other services.
When the Cold War ended in 1991, many western nations, Britain not
least among them, were determined that modern warfare as understood
was at an end, air power quickly became sidelined despite being
relied upon extensively since. In an era of high demand on the
armed forces in tandem with less and incompetently managed funding,
there have been calls for the RAF to be disbanded, as had been so
during the early years of its existence.
Unshackled Spirit was a unique 'Spitfire' fighter aircraft
purchased by allied prisoners of war whilst imprisoned in Germany;
the book explains how this remarkable achievement was possible
using previously restricted and secret material. In addition,
accounts are compiled from a collection of original YMCA personal
wartime logs as issued to RAF prisoners of war in 1944. 'Unshackled
Spirit' draws out the story of each aviator, how they became a
prisoner of war and life in the various camps across occupied
Europe. Extensive and amazingly detailed pieces of artwork are
taken from the logs and illustrated in the book. The balance of
fact and inspired drawings makes for an impressive collection from
a number of incarcerated aviators. The hardship of POW's and the
extraordinary means adopted to escape are touched upon, but more
importantly the aspect of how agencies helped by supplying all
manner of equipment to the thousands of men behind barbed wire. The
role of MI9 is revealed and how it participated in those agencies
exploring the efforts taken to smuggle escape material into the
prisoner of war camps without breeching the Geneva Convention and
finally the extraordinary measures taken to secure intelligence
during the process of prisoner repatriation.
Allied 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.
Illustrated with detailed artworks of World War II-era German
aircraft and their markings with exhaustive captions and
specifications, Luftwaffe Squadrons 1939-45: Identification Guide
is the definitive study of the equipment and organisation of the
Luftwaffe's combat units. Organised by theatre of operations and
the many campaigns fought by the Luftwaffe, the book describes in
depth the various units that were fighting on the front at key
points in the war and describes the models of aircraft in service
with each unit along with their individual and squadron markings.
With information boxes accompanying the full-colour artworks,
Luftwaffe Squadrons 1939-45 is an essential reference guide for
modellers and any enthusiast with an interest in the aircraft of
the German war machine.
Modern Military Aircraft is a fascinating guide to the most
important military aircraft developed since World War II. This
highly illustrated book features a wide range of aircraft that
served in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, conflicts
in the Middle East and the Falklands. Types of aircraft range from
front line fighters to reconnaissance aircraft to bombers to
interceptors and helicopters. Spanning such famous planes as the
Lockheed Blackbird and the MiG-21, Modern Military Aircraft also
includes lesser-known examples such as the South African Atlas
Cheetah and the EH101 Merlin helicopter. Arranged by countries,
each of the 75 featured aircraft is presented with outstanding
fully annotated three-view colour artworks, development and service
history, specification tables and colour and black-&-white
photographs. With a wealth of information and splendidly presented,
this book is a must for aviation enthusiasts.
Illustrated with colourful artworks of carrier aircraft and their
markings, Allied Carrier Aircraft of World War II is a detailed
guide to all the aircraft deployed by the Allied navies from 1939
to 1945. Organised chronologically by type and nationality, this
book includes fighters, fighter-bombers, torpedo bombers,
dive-bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, floatplanes and flying
boats. All the best-known types are featured, such as the Grumman
F4F Wildcat, Douglas TBD Devastator and Douglas SBD Dauntless that
fought at the battle of Midway in 1942, as well as the Fairey
Swordfish torpedo bomber that proved so effective at the Battle of
Taranto in 1940 and helped sink the German battleship Bismarck in
1941. The entries are accompanied by exhaustive captions and
specifications. The guide is illustrated with profile artworks,
three-views, and special cutaway artworks of the more famous
aircraft in service, such as the Blackburn Skua torpedo bomber,
Curtiss SB2 Helldiver dive-bomber and the Vought F4U Corsair heavy
fighter. Illustrated with more than 100 artworks, Allied Carrier
Aircraft of World War II is an essential reference guide for
modellers and enthusiasts of military aircraft of World War II.
THE SUNDAY TIMES NON FICTION BESTSELLER WHSmith NON-FICTION BOOK OF
THE YEAR 2018 'The best book you will ever read about Britain's
greatest warplane' Patrick Bishop, bestselling author of Fighter
Boys 'A rich and heartfelt tribute to this most iconic British
machine' Rowland White, bestselling author of Vulcan 607 'As the
RAF marks its centenary, Nichol has created a thrilling and often
moving tribute to some of its greatest heroes' Mail on Sunday
magazine The iconic Spitfire found fame during the darkest early
days of World War II. But what happened to the redoubtable fighter
and its crews beyond the Battle of Britain, and why is it still so
loved today? In late spring 1940, Nazi Germany's domination of
Europe had looked unstoppable. With the British Isles in easy reach
since the fall of France, Adolf Hitler was convinced that Great
Britain would be defeated in the skies over her southern coast,
confident his Messerschmitts and Heinkels would outclass anything
the Royal Air Force threw at them. What Hitler hadn't planned for
was the agility and resilience of a marvel of British engineering
that would quickly pass into legend - the Spitfire. Bestselling
author John Nichol's passionate portrait of this magnificent
fighter aircraft, its many innovations and updates, and the people
who flew and loved them, carries the reader beyond the dogfights
over Kent and Sussex. Spanning the full global reach of the
Spitfire's deployment during WWII, from Malta to North Africa and
the Far East, then over the D-Day beaches, it is always accessible,
effortlessly entertaining and full of extraordinary spirit. Here
are edge-of-the-seat stories and heart-stopping first-hand accounts
of battling pilots forced to bail out over occupied territory; of
sacrifice and wartime love; of aristocratic female flyers, and of
the mechanics who braved the Nazi onslaught to keep the aircraft in
battle-ready condition. Nichol takes the reader on a hair-raising,
nail-biting and moving wartime history of the iconic Spitfire
populated by a cast of redoubtable, heroic characters that make you
want to stand up and cheer.
On 9 May 1912 the first airplane take-off from a ship was made from
the deck of the HMS Hibernia. In July 1918, seven Sopwith Camels
launched from the converted battlecruiser HMS Furious damaged the
German airbase at Tonder and destroyed two zeppelins. The age of
the carrier was born. In the interwar years the Lexington, Akagi
and Courageous-class carriers were developed, but it was only
during World War II that the aircraft carrier finally came into its
own. Fleet carriers carrying 30-40 aircraft allowed the Japanese
and US navies to project air power across the vast Pacific Ocean,
with the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor presaging a new kind of
warfare. With the sinking of hundreds of ships during World War II,
including the German battleship Bismarck in 1941, by the end of the
war carriers ruled the waves and the era of the battleship had
passed. Aircraft Carriers features 52 of the most significant flat
tops and amphibious assault ships built since the 1920s until the
present day, from the USS Yorktown, which survived direct hits
during the battle of Midway (1942), through the Falklands War
veteran HMS Invincible, to the mighty Nimitz class, the core of the
US Navy's carrier battle groups today. Also included are
significant amphibious assault ships, such as the USS Tarawa and
French Mistral. Each entry includes a brief description of the
ship's development and history, a colour profile view or cutaway,
key features and specifications. Packed with more than 200 artworks
and photographs, Aircraft Carriers is a colourful guide for the
naval warfare enthusiast.
Get up close to more than 400 of the most important tanks and
armoured vehicles ever built. In 1916, the British built a machine
that was impervious to enemy fire, and could dominate the
battlefield, crushing obstacles and barbed wire in its path. The
first tank, or "Mother" as it was known, had arrived. In The Tank
Book you can view it in detail, along with other iconic models,
including the German Panzer, the legendary Tiger, the Vickers
Medium Mark II, the Centurion, and the Hellcat - the fastest
armoured fighting vehicle ever. This comprehensive volume takes you
through the most exciting story in recent military history with the
development of heavy artillery, anti-tank weaponry, and the men -
such as Sir William Tritton and Mikail Koshkin - who designed these
awe-inspiring beasts. It shows each key model in stunning detail,
highlighting elements such as their armour and weaponry, and much
more besides. Produced in association with The Tank Museum, The
Tank Book traces the tank's development in response to two world
wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, and many other conflicts. If
you are interested in modern warfare, The Tank Book is truly
unmissable reading.
Ever since man first took to the air, combat aircraft have been at
the cutting edge of aviation technology, resulting in some of the
greatest and most complex designs ever built. Military Aircraft
features 52 of the most important military aircraft of the last
hundred years. The book includes all the main types, from biplane
fighters and carrier aircraft to tactical bombers, transport
aircraft, multirole fighters, strategic strike aircraft and stealth
bombers. Featured aircraft include: the Fokker Dr.1 triplane, the
legendary fighter flown by German flying ace Manfred von
Richthofen, 'the Red Baron', during World War I; the Mitsubishi A6M
Zero, Japan's highly-manoeuvrable fighter that dominated air-to-air
combat in the early part of the Pacific War; the tank-busting Il-2
Shturmovik, the most produced aircraft in World War II; the Harrier
jump jet, a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fighter that has
been service for more than 40 years; the B-2 Spirit bomber, an
American precision strike aircraft used in recent conflicts in
Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan; and the F-22 Raptor, an air
superiority fighter with state-of-the-art stealth technology that
makes it almost invisible to radars. Each entry includes a brief
description of the model's development and history, a profile view,
key features and specifications. Packed with more than 200 artworks
and photographs, Military Aircraft is a colourful guide for the
military aviation enthusiast.
With the United States producing almost 90,000 AFVs during World
War II, American tanks made up the bulk of those deployed by the
western Allies, and were even supplied through the lend-lease
scheme to the Soviet army on the Eastern Front. American Tanks of
World War II explores the tanks, self-propelled guns, halftracks
and armoured cars deployed by American forces, from the Torch
landings in Algeria to the hard fighting in Normandy and the bitter
Ardennes offensive. Organised chronologically by type, the entries
include the M3 Stuart, the first American-crewed tank to engage the
enemy in tank combat in the war; the ubiquitous M4 Sherman, which
proved cheap and reliable and was built in great numbers and in
many variants; the M22 Locust light tank, designed to be
air-dropped in support of airborne units; and the M26 Pershing, a
heavy tank that arrived late in the war and was capable of beating
the best tanks Germany had to offer. There are also chapters on the
many motor gun carriages used by US forces, including the M8 HMC
and T12 halftrack, both designed to provide close support for
infantry. Illustrated with expert colour profile artworks for each
entry and completed with technical specifications, American Tanks
of World War II is a detailed reference guide for modellers and
enthusiasts with an interest in World War II AFV technology.
Fully illustrated in a striking landscape format, Ships contains
300 mercantile and military vessels arranged in chronological
order, from ancient times to the present day. Every type of vessel
from every part of the world is featured, from Phoenician war
galleys from 1500BC, through the graceful trading clippers of the
nineteenth century, to the sophisticated and heavily armed
submarines of the nuclear era. In these information-packed pages
you will find out about ancient galleys, Viking longships, medieval
cogs, galleasses, galleons, men-of-war sailing ships, coastal
gunboats, iron-clad steam boats, dreadnoughts, aircraft carriers
and nuclear submarines. Many well-known ships are included, such as
Nelson's flagship HMS Victory, the ill-fated passenger liner
Titanic, the infamous German World War II battlecruiser Bismarck
and many, many more. Each ship is illustrated with a colourful
artwork, while lively text offers a concise service history of the
ship and a specification box provides comprehensive technical data,
including displacement, dimensions, machinery, armament, speed and
complement.
Howard Hughes, the movie mogul, aviation pioneer and political
hound dog, has always fascinated the public with his mixture of
secrecy, dashing lifestyle and reclusiveness. Companies responsible
for major technological leaps often become household names. An
exception is Howard Hughes s pioneering helicopter company, Hughes
Helicopters, a name that has fallen into oblivion. Yet most
schoolboys in the world have heard of the company s prize-winning
product: the Apache helicopter. Hughes popularized the light
helicopter trainer, mass-produced the first turbine powered light
observation helicopter, led the way in hot cycle rotor craft
propulsion research and, finally, developed the world s most
advanced attack helicopter that was purchased and saw service with
the UK. Here s how some of the world s most innovative helicopters
were developed. Covering the period from the Second World War until
the mid-1980s, you will learn why Hughes military aircraft
contracts came under close scrutiny by the US government. The story
is rich with tales of technological breakthrough and test-flying
bravado made possible by a small crew of engineers and daring
pilots. Written by a technical expert and insider to the industry,
Howard s Whirlybirds: Howard Hughes Amazing Pioneering Helicopter
Exploits is a fascinating and alternative view on the phenomenal
pioneer with unpublished photographs and material that will
fascinate the aviation and military historian as well as the casual
reader and cinema buff."
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