Drones are the iconic military technology of many of today's most pressing conflicts. Drones have captured the public imagination, partly because they project lethal force in a manner that challenges accepted norms and moral understandings. Drone Wars presents a series of essays by legal scholars, journalists, government officials, military analysts, social scientists, and foreign policy experts. It addresses drones' impact on the ground, how their use adheres to and challenges the laws of war, their relationship to complex policy challenges, and the ways they help us understand the future of war. The book is a diverse and comprehensive interdisciplinary perspective on drones that covers important debates on targeted killing and civilian casualties, presents key data on drone deployment, and offers new ideas on their historical development, significance, and impact on law and policy.

Dubbed Warthog or just Hog the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is the worlds undisputed close air-support attack jet. As tough as it is ugly, it has built a fearsome reputation as a tank buster and infantry killer in conflicts around the globe, and its GAU-8 Avenger 30mm cannon strikes fear into the hearts of all unlucky enough to be on the wrong side. Steve Davies gets up close and personal to look at the Hog's anatomy, engines and firepower, as well as presenting compelling first-person insights into what it takes to fly and maintain.

The national defence strategy of the United States is evolving in response to changing global environments. As Congress responds to these changes, an important aspect is the responsibility for oversight and appropriations for an aging tactical airlift fleet. The United States primary tactical airlift aircraft is the C-130. Nicknamed the Hercules, this venerable aircraft has been the workhorse of U.S. tactical airlift for the past 57 years. The majority of C-130s in the U.S. government are assigned to the U.S. Air Force, but the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard also operate sizeable C-130 fleets. The potential concerns for Congress include oversight of and appropriations for an aging C-130 fleet. This book discusses the background of the C-130 aircraft as well as the issues involved.

The submarine was one of the most revolutionary weapons of World War I, inciting both terror and fascination for militaries and civilians alike. During the war, after U-boats sank the "Lusitania" and began daring attacks on shipping vessels off the East Coast, the American press dubbed these weapons "Hun Devil Boats," "Sea Thugs," and "Baby Killers." But at the conflict's conclusion, the U.S. Navy acquired six U-boats to study and to serve as war souvenirs. Until their destruction under armistice terms in 1921, these six U-boats served as U.S. Navy ships, manned by American crews. The ships visited eighty American cities to promote the sale of victory bonds and to recruit sailors, allowing hundreds of thousands of Americans to see up close the weapon that had so captured the public's imagination.

In "America's U-Boats" Chris Dubbs examines the legacy of submarine warfare in the American imagination. Combining nautical adventure, military history, and underwater archaeology, Dubbs shares the previously untold story of German submarines and their impact on American culture and reveals their legacy and Americans' attitudes toward this new wonder weapon.

Hawker Hurricane - No.151 Wing RAF (Royal Air Force) was formed at the end of July 1941 as a two Squadron Hawker Hurricane wing incorporating No.'s 81 and 134 Squadrons, which were formed in the last days of July 1941 at RAF Leconfield. The formation of the Wing followed discussions at the highest level of British government following the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. Operation Barbarossa had met with enormous success, the Soviet Forces being defeat in pitched battles, falling back all along the front. Britain was under pressure to aid its new ally, the Soviet Union. Although unwilling to provide the asked for ground forces, the British government decided that all possible material aid should be given to the Soviet Union to keep her in the fight. British Prime Minister Churchill was under no illusions; knowing well that Britain alone was never going to be able to provide the huge armies necessary to defeat Germany. The Soviet Union was now a way for the Germans to be fought en-mass. As well as material aid, it was decided to provide a RAF Wing to fight alongside the Red Air Force, while at the same time instructing Soviet pilots on the Hawker Hurricane IIB fighters so that they would form a nucleus of combat pilots from which a large force of Soviet Flown Hurricanes Squadrons would be spawned. This volume covers the formation of No.'s 81 and 134 Squadrons RAF, which constituted No.151 Wing. The Wings combat operations during September and October are covered with every operational sortie listed. Narratives cover combats with enemy aircraft and Wing Combat Reports are reproduced verbatim.

January 1945: the outcome of World War II has been determined. The Third Reich is in free fall as the Russians close in from the east. Berlin plans an eleventh-hour exodus for the German civilians trapped in the Red Army's way. More than 10,000 women, children, sick, and elderly pack aboard the "Wilhelm Gustloff, "a former cruise ship. Soon after the ship leaves port, three Soviet torpedoes strike it, inflicting catastrophic damage and throwing passengers into the frozen waters of the Baltic. More than 9,400 perished in the night--six times the number lost on the "Titanic." Yet as the Cold War started no one wanted to acknowledge the sinking. Drawing on interviews with survivors, as well as the letters and diaries of those who perished, award-wining author Cathryn Prince reconstructs this forgotten moment in history. She weaves these personal narratives into a broader story, finally giving this WWII tragedy its rightful remembrance.

Clarence "Cap" Cornish was an Indiana pilot whose life spanned all but five years of the Century of Flight. Born in Canada in 1898, Cornish grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He began flying at the age of nineteen, piloting a "Jenny" aircraft during World War I, and continued to fly for the next seventy-eight years. In 1995, at the age of ninety-seven, he was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest actively flying pilot.The mid-1920s to the mid-1950s were Cornish's most active years in aviation. During that period, sod runways gave way to asphalt and concrete; navigation evolved from the iron rail compass to radar; runways that once had been outlined at night with cans of oil topped off with flaming gasoline now shimmered with multicolored electric lights; instead of being crammed next to mailbags in open-air cockpits, passengers sat comfortably in streamlined, pressurized cabins. In the early phase of that era, Cornish performed aerobatics and won air races. He went on to run a full-service flying business, served as chief pilot for the Fort Wayne "News-Sentinel," managed the city's municipal airport, helped monitor and maintain safe skies above the continental United States during World War II, and directed Indiana's first Aeronautics Commission.Dedicating his life to flight and its many ramifications, Cornish helped guide the sensible development of aviation as it grew from infancy to maturity. Through his many personal experiences, the story of flight nationally is played out.

Ronnie Selley, a South African from rural Natal, joined the RAF on a short- service commission in 1937, considered the golden age of aviation. During these glory years of Howard Hughes and Amelia Earhart few guessed at the brewing storm and dark days to come. After completing his training on antiquated First World War aircraft, Selley was posted to 220 Squadron coastal command, the RAF's under-staffed and under-equipped poor relation to the more prestigious Fighter and bomber commands. Tasked with reconnaissance, convoy patrols and submarine-hunting the pilots of Coastal command chalked up more flying hours than any other RAF command. It was not uncommon for pilots to be in the air, searching the waters of the North Atlantic, for up to sixteen hours a day, in aircraft that were neither capable of such ranges nor, initially, adequately armed to defend their charges. From the outbreak of war until after its cessation Coastal command had aircraft in the air twenty-four hours a day, every single day. The toll this took on the men of Coastal command was unthinkable. The first RAF pilot to sink a German U-boat, Selley went on the win the DFC for his actions during the Dunkirk evacuation. He won high praise and newspaper headlines such as "Plane fights 13 German warships", "One RAF man bombs 3 ships, routs Nazis" and "One against eight" were not uncommon. Selley subsequently suffered acute battle fatigue and spent time convalescing at the Dunblane hydro. Thereafter, he was posted by the Air ministry as Air Vice-Marshal Breese's personal pilot. On 5 March 1941 Ronnie Selley, Air Vice-Marshal Breese and the entire crew of the fully armed Lockheed Hudson they was flying experienced engine problems, lost speed, stalled and exploded on impact at Wick in northern Scotland.

Drones have become the controversial new weapon of choice for the US military abroad. Unmanned details the causes and deadly consequences of this terrifying new development in warfare, and explores the implications for international law and global peace. Ann Rogers and John Hill argue that drones represent the first truly globalised technology of war. The book shows how unmanned systems are changing not simply how wars are fought, but the meaning of conflict itself. Providing an unparalleled account of new forms of 21st century imperial warfare, Unmanned shows how drone systems dissolve the conventional obstacles of time and space that have traditionally shaped conflict in the international system. It considers the possibility that these weapons will become normalised in global conflict, raising the spectre of new, unpredictable and unaccountable forms of warfare.

This volume is designed as an overview of the description and USAF service use of the F-84. In some cases data may conflict with other published data. However, all technical and operational data comes from manufacturers and operators records. In some cases varying technical data may be noted for a single variant such as engine type and power output. This could occur for a number of reasons such as a single variant using different engine models. Other reasons for this may be that often manufacturer's figures conflicted with operators figures for power output of a given engine variant. While no US designed jet aircraft saw operational service during World War II, many would be employed in the 1950 - 1953 Korean War, including the Republic F-84 and the earlier Lockheed F-80, both of which were employed in large numbers. The F-84 was designed during the latter stages of World War II, known then as the XP-84 (The USAF changed from the 'P' for Pursuit to the 'F' for Fighter designation in 1948). The aircraft was redesigned and did not fly until 26 February 1946, with the first production variant, the P-84B (later F-84B) attaining an Initial Operational Capability in December 1947. Designed primarily as a fighter, the introduction of more advanced fighters like the North American F-86 Sabre and the fielding by the Communist Air Forces of the swept wing MiG-15 saw the F-84 quickly outclassed in the air to air arena during the Korean War, which began on 29 June 1950, lasting until 27 July 1953. F-84's were deployed to Korea in November 1950, primarily as escort fighters protecting Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bombers. However, bomber losses to MiG's led to the USAF abandoning the daylight bombing role for the B-29, after which, F-84's increasingly moved more and more to the air to surface role.

Gloster Meteor - The advent of the gas-turbine engine pioneered in the late 1930's by Frank Whittle in Britain and Germany's Dr Hans von Ohain, and its subsequent development into operational jet-propulsion units led to the introduction of a new breed of combat aircraft in the last year of World War II. While Germany developed, built and flew many jet powered aircraft during the war, with several of these subsequently entering operational service, only a handful of allied jet designs actually flew before the war's end. Of these, only the Gloster Meteor twin-jet fighter actually entered service; No.616 Squadron becoming the first jet powered squadron in the world to be declared operational. In many respects, 616Squadron gained this accolade on paper only, as some German Units were operating jet powered aircraft in contested air defence zones prior to the Meteor being declared operational. Flying their first operational sorties against V-1 Flying Bombs on 27 July 1944, the Meteor was at the time being operated on an ad hoc basis, as a direct response to the V-1 attacks against southern Britain. The Squadron did not fully relinquish its Spitfire VII's until 13 August 1944, the date on which the last operational Spitfire mission was flown. The Meteor I was flown operational against the V-1 from late July 1944 until early September that year, following which it entered an intensive period of training through February 1945, by which time the Squadron had been transferred to the 2nd Tactical Air Force for operations on continental Europe supporting the allied armies advancing towards the German hinterland. A handful of aircraft began operating from Belgium from early February 1945, albeit in a non-operational role. The rest of the Squadron, which had been temporarily transferred back to RAF Fighter Command, commenced flying Anti-V-1 operations from early March 1945, until the 19th of that month, after which it reverted back to 2nd Tactical Air Force, flying out to Belgium on the 31st of the Month. The Squadron commenced operational missions as part of 2nd Tactical Air Force on 1 April, flying air defence and reconnaissance/ground attack sorties until the war in Europe ended, flying its last operational sorties on the 4 May 1945. By this time 504 Squadron was on the strength of Fighter Command, with several other squadrons commencing conversion to the Meteor III before World War II ended. Within weeks of the war's end the Meteor IV, which had flown on 15 August, captured with Word Speed Record with an average speed of 606 mph. This volume covers the development of British jet aircraft and the operational service of the aircraft from summer 1944, when the aircraft were employed against V-1 flying bombs until late 1945, including the aircrafts service with 2nd Tactical Air Force supporting the allied armies during the final advance into Germany.

Gathered in these two volumes is the legendary Luftwaffe aircraft: the Messerschmitt 109 and 110, the Focke-Wulf 190 and the jets that appeared at the end of the conflict. More than 600 color profiles detail a wide variety of insignia and camouflage paints. Together, these two books are an augmented compilation (new photographs, new profiles) and an improvement on the previous editions published in the series Aircraft & Drivers. THIS BOOK IS IN ENGLISH.

With Shilka Publishing's "Digital Reinforcements," buy the print edition, and get the ebook FREE. Details at www.shilka.co.uk/dr

The Kaiserliche und Konigliche Kriegsmarine -- The Austro-Hungarian Navy -- was in at the beginning of World War I when Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie lay in state aboard its flagship, and at the end when it dissolved along with the empire that commanded it. During the war, this small but powerful "fleet in being" forced the Allies to maintain a blockade of the Otranto Straits. German and Austro-Hungarian U-boats ran riot in the Mediterranean even though the capital ships almost never left port.

Illustrated with thirty photographs and drawings, this book provides a comprehensive and detailed listing of the ships that made up the KuK Kriegsmarine, its operations, and the unique problems this unusual fleet faced, from contentious duelling parliaments to ships built by landlocked Hungary.

This is the light-hearted memoir of a young Royal Navy recruit serving on board the fleet's flagship in the 1960s, HMS Bermuda.

This volume has been prepared using technical and performance information direct from the manufacturers and operators documents. The Panavia Tornado ADV was adopted for the RAF to fight the predicted air battle over the North and Icelandic Seas. This could have involved large formations of Soviet long-range bombers, strike aircraft and maritime patrol aircraft, some of which would have been capable of releasing stand-off cruise missiles at distances of around 300-miles from the UK's shores. To meet this requirement the RAF did not require a small agile fighter, but rather a long-range interceptor, which would be capable of carrying a load of at least eight air-to-air missiles and be capable of detecting the enemy at long-ranges and intercepting them as far from the UK as possible. In the 1970's, a number of off-the shelf options were looked at. A two-crew aircraft better served the demanding mission for the air defence of the UK and it was eventually decided to pursue a European solution by adopting a variant of the Tornado strike aircraft then in development. The resultant Tornado F MK.2 and F Mk.3 was ideally suited to the long-range interception mission it was designed for. However, from the early 1990's, the aircraft was deployed on operations in a counter-air role; a mission for which it is less well suited, but could still accomplish more than competently despite ill informed reports to the contrary. The introduction of new weapons and systems introduced with the capability sustainment program introduced in the late 1990's along with other upgrade programs allowed the aircraft to remain a potent air defence aircraft until its retirement from RAF service in 2011. The book covers the genesis of the Tornado program and the emergence of the ADV fighter variant. The Tornado ADV is described in detail, as is its operational service with the RAF, Saudi Arabia and Italy. A chapter looks at the upgrades to mission systems and weapons including air to surface weapons allowing the Tornado ADV to remain at the cutting edge of air defence technology well into the 21st century. All technical information comes direct from official documents for example the passage on page 17 "The swept tail unit is of cantilever all-metal construction and comprises a single broad chord, swept twin spar vertical tail fin, with rudder mounting with low set all moving horizontal surfaces called tailerons." Has been reviewed by the manufacturer BAE Systems and passed as 100% factually correct.

Intended as a progressive development of the twin-engined Bf 110 Zerstoerer ('destroyer' or heavy fighter), the Me 210 first took to the air in September 1939. However, due to a lack of sufficient flight-testing before being declared service-ready, the Me 210 suffered from a less than satisfactory reputation in respect to its flight characteristics and weak undercarriage. After enhancements were made to the fuselage and wings, and the power of the plane was increased, the Me 210 became the Me 410 in late 1942. By this stage of the war much was expected of the two types, which were forced to fly in very dangerous skies over North Africa and in the defence of the German homeland. Both aircraft were deployed as heavy fighters, fighter-bombers, reconnaissance platforms and interceptors, seeing service with a number of different units. The Me 410 was fitted with 30 mm cannon, 21 cm underwing mortars and the colossal 5 cm BK cannon that was intended to pack a punch against the USAAF's four-engined bombers which threatened the Reich in large numbers from 1943 onwards. In this title, supported by contemporary photography and full-colour artwork, Robert Forsyth tells the complex story of the Me 210 and 410, detailing their development and assessing their capabilities as combat aircraft.

A detailed description of the early jet powered fighters designed, tested and procured for the United States Air Force. This volume covers every turbojet powered fighter aircraft to enter service or be developed for the United States Air Force and its forebear the United States Army Air Force from the Bell XP-59, which flew in 1942 to the McDonnell XF-85 which flew in 1948. While no US designed jet aircraft saw operational service during World War II, many would be employed in the 1950 - 53 Korean War including the F-80 and F-84, both of which were employed in large numbers.

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 popularised the light helicopter trainer, mass-produced the first turbine-powered light observation helicopter, led the way in hot cycle rotorcraft 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.

The purpose of this volume is to provide a detailed log of the operations of the Royal Navy Battle Cruisers and associated units from July 1914 until the end of June 1915. During this time the Battle Cruisers were engaged with elements of the German Fleet on a number of occasions; most notably in the Battle of the Heligoland Bight in August 1914, The Battle of the Falkland Islands in December 1914 and the Battle of the Dogger Bank in January 1915. In only the Dogger Bank action did the opposing forces Battle Cruisers engage in battle which resulted in a material and strategic defeat for the German High Seas Fleet, albeit at the cost on one British Battle Cruiser severely damaged. In the Heligoland Bight action on 28 August 1914, the British Battle Cruisers provided support to light forces engaging German Light forces. The result was a defeat for the German Fleet, which now concentrated in strengthening the defenses of the area. The Battle of the Falkland Islands in December 1914 was a pivotal moment for the advocates of the Battle Cruiser concept. It successfully engaged and defeated enemy Armoured Cruisers, and Light Cruisers; the very role for which it had been designed. Intended as an operational history of the employment of the British Battle Cruisers, it is not the intention of this volume to go into the details of the rights or wrongs of the Battle Cruiser concept. It will suffice for the purposes of this volume to state that the designs emerged as an evolution or replacement of the Armoured Cruiser. Not tied to any single role, the new Battle Cruiser was capable of operating as independent units hunting down enemy Cruisers, as in the Falklands battle, or in larger scale operations with the Battle Fleet; scouting ahead with the potential to operate as a fast wing of the Battle Fleet in a fleet action. For this latter role, later in the war the British Battle Cruisers in particular proved unsound in design, tactics or a combination of both. During the first year of the War British Battle Cruisers would be employed in all of the above roles.

All technical data in this volume has been written from information received from the manufacturers records for this and a previous volume for which thanks go to BAE SYSTEMS, EADS Germany and its forebear MBB, CASA, Eurofighter GmbH, Eurojet and ITP Sener; the later providing details of EJ200 thrust-vectoring developments. Not since the legendary R.J Mitchell's Supermarine Spitfire of the 1930's or the ill fated BAC TSR-2 of the 1960's has a military aircraft been so much in the Spotlight as Eurofighter Typhoon under its many guises over the last three-decades. Designed primarily as a multi-role fighter to replace a number of combat aircraft types in the air forces of Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, Typhoon has metamorphosed into a world-leading combat aircraft capable of meeting any current or near term adversary. While the initial production batches were delivered with an air combat capability the aircraft was cleared as multi-role capable by the RAF in 2008. Full operational capability scheduled for introduction with Tranche 3 will enable Typhoon to perform the full-spectrum of air to air and air to surface mission. Conceived in the 1980's, Eurofighter was designed to Cold War requirements, but emerged into a completely different military political environment that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992. The flexibility of the concept allowed the aircraft to absorb the changing military requirements resulting in an aircraft ideally suited to the missions for which it is being procured. The program has been dogged with many problems, both political and technical. Political indecision and the complexities of a four-nation consortium saw the program threatened with reductions and even cancellation. Much blame was laid at Germany's door with suggestions that the program would have benefited from a German withdrawal. However, this is far too simplistic a view. Germany's technological and financial contribution to the program has been considerable. With the fall of the Berlin wall and the subsequent unification of East and West Germany, Germany was handed the burden of financing the re-unification, an expense that none of the other three partner nations had to contend with. The program survival was assured when the Eurofighter Consortium and the four-partner governments in 1998 signed an umbrella contract for 620 aircraft. The Eurofighter Typhoon production phase has been underway for more than a decade, with the first two-seat instrumented production aircraft flying for the first time in April 2002. The first two-seat series production aircraft conducted its first flight in February 2003; with first deliveries to air forces of the four partner nations commencing in the second half of that year, following four-nation type acceptance in June 2003. All four countries had taken delivery of their initial two-seat Tranche 1 Typhoons by the end of 2003, and the first instrumented production single-seat Typhoon conducted its maiden flight on 27 February 2004. By late 2011, 300 Typhoons had been delivered to six different customers. Austria had become the first export customer when it took delivery of the first of 15 aircraft in 2007. Saudi Arabia ordered 72 Typhoons to replace its fleet of Panavia Tornados', with the first two Typhoons being delivered in June 2009. The aircraft is described in detail as are its systems and weapons. The development aircraft flight test program is covered comprehensively as is the follow on Instrumented Production Aircraft program and on toe series production and operational service. Future developments cover the development of the Captor-E Active Electronic Scanned Array, which is planned for future production batches. The developments of the thrust-vector controlled Typhoon is covered including manufactures figures showing the benefits of such a system. The volume is supported by appendices and a detailed chronology of the program.

In April 2009, then Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced he intended to significantly restructure the Army's Future Combat System (FCS) program. The FCS was a multiyear, multibillion dollar program that had been underway since 2000 and was at the heart of the Army's transformation efforts. It was to be the Army's major research, development, and acquisition program, consisting of 18 manned and unmanned systems tied together by an extensive communications and information network. This book provides an overview of the development and considerations of the Department of Defense with regard to combat and tactical vehicles, with a focus on the Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) and Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC); the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV); Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles; and other defence acquisitions.

On October 12, 2000, eleven months before the 9/11 attacks, the USS "Cole" docked in the port of Aden in Yemen for a routine fueling stop. At 1118, on a hot, sunny morning, the 8,400-ton destroyer was rocked by an enormous explosion. The ship's commander, Kirk Lippold, felt the ship violently thrust up and to the right, as everything not bolted down seemed to float in midair. Tiles tumbled from the ceiling, and the ship was plunged into darkness, beginning to sink. In a matter of moments Lippold knew that the "Cole "had been attacked. What he didn't know was how much the world was changing around him. The bombing of the "Cole" was al Qaeda's first direct assault against the United States and expanded their brazen and deadly string of terrorist attacks throughout the Middle East. In this gripping first-person narrative, Lippold reveals the details of this harrowing experience leading his crew of valiant sailors through the attack and its aftermath. Seventeen sailors died in the explosion and thirty-seven were wounded--but thanks to the valor of the crew in the perilous days that followed, the ship was saved. Yet even with al Qaeda's intentions made clear in an unmistakable act of war, the United States government delayed retaliating. Bureaucrats and politicians sought to shift and pin blame as they ignored the danger signaled by the attack, shirking responsibility until the event was ultimately overshadowed by 9/11. "Front Burner" captures a critical moment in America's battle against al Qaeda, telling a vital story that has--until now--been lost in the fog of the war on terror.

As the possibility of war loomed in the 1930s, the British Admiralty looked to update their fleet of destroyers to compete with the new ships being built by Germany and Japan, resulting in the commissioning of the powerful Tribal-class. These were followed by the designing of the first of several slightly smaller ships, which carried fewer guns than the Tribals, but were armed with a greatly enlarged suite of torpedoes. The first of these, the 'J/K/M class' was followed by a number of wartime variants, with slight changes to their weaponry to suit different wartime roles. Designed to combat enemy surface warships, aircraft and U-boats, the British built these destroyers to face off against anything the enemy could throw at them. Using a collection of contemporary photographs and beautiful colour artwork, this is a fascinating new study of the ships that formed the backbone of the Royal Navy during World War II.

Air Commanders combines short military biographies and operational analyses to reveal how the personalities, attitudes, and life experiences of twelve outstanding U.S. airmen shaped the central air campaigns in American history. From Gen. Carl "Tooey" Spaatz, who began his career in World War I, to the contemporary Gen. T. Michael "Buzz" Moseley, the case studies illuminate the character of these airmen, the challenges they confronted in widely disparate armed conflicts, and the solutions that they crafted and implemented. Their achievements proved decisive not only in the campaigns they led, but also in shaping the U.S. Air Force and the dominant role of airpower in modern warfare.