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.

HMS Cavalier is a 'C'-Class destroyer, one of 96 War Emergency Programme destroyers that were ordered between 1940 and 1942. She saw action on convoy duty off Russia, and later, in 1945, was sent to the Far East where she provided naval gunfire support during the battle of Surabaya. She continued with the British Pacific Fleet until May 1946. Now designated as a war memorial to the 142 RN destroyers and 11,000 men lost during WWII, she is on display at Chatham Historic Dockyard. As is the case for many museum ships there is a surprising shortage of informative and well illustrated guides, for reference during a visit or for research by enthusiasts - ship modellers, naval buffs, historians or students. This book, in the Seaforth Historic Ship series, redresses the gap. Containing more than 200 specially commissioned photographs, the book takes the reader on a superbly illustrated tour of the ship, from bow to stern and deck by deck. Significant parts of the vessel - for example, the gun turrets and engine rooms - are given detailed coverage both in words and pictures, so that the reader has at hand the most complete visual record and explanation of the ship that exists.In addition, the importance of the ship, both in her own time and now as a museum vessel, is explained. No other book offers such superb visual impact nor brings the ship so vividly to life.

In the immediate post-World War II period, Army aviation began to evolve from an observatory role to a mobility role. Helicopter air mobility began to develop in the Army from 1949 onwards. The outbreak of the Korean war assisted and accelerated the acceptance of greater helicopter air mobility within the Army. The Eisenhower period was a golden age for Army aviation, with rapid and extensive developments in air mobility doctrine and tactics. There was also a strong research and development effort to overcome the initial technological lag. These developments allowed the formation of the first air mobile division in 1965 to meet the growing demands of the Vietnam war. This work gives a new understanding of the process of military innovation. Moreover, this case study has important general implications for future military policy-making.

Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2015 One of the most significant and controversial developments in contemporary warfare is the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly referred to as drones. In the last decade, US drone strikes have more than doubled and their deployment is transforming the way wars are fought across the globe. But how did drones claim such an important role in modern military planning? And how are they changing military strategy and the ethics of war and peace? What standards might effectively limit their use? Should there even be a limit? Drone warfare is the first book to engage fully with the political, legal, and ethical dimensions of UAVs. In it, political scientist Sarah Kreps and philosopher John Kaag discuss the extraordinary expansion of drone programs from the Cold War to the present day and their so-called 'effectiveness' in conflict zones. Analysing the political implications of drone technology for foreign and domestic policy as well as public opinion, the authors go on to examine the strategic position of the United States - by far the world's most prolific employer of drones - to argue that US military supremacy could be used to enshrine a new set of international agreements and treaties aimed at controlling the use of UAVs in the future.

Since the 1980s, the American M2/M3 Bradley has overcome its controversial debut, and is now regarded as among the finest cavalry/infantry fighting vehicles in the world. This book is a concise look at the background, development, and Army operational history of the Bradley from the 1980s to the present. The author, who brings a unique perspective and authority as a Bosnia veteran and former M1A1 tank gunner with the United States Army's 1/104th Cavalry, was granted behind-the-scenes access to the US Army's collection of rare vehicles at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He also includes the Bradley's service in lesser known places-not just Iraq and Afghanistan-such as Cold War Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Korea, and Africa. The book is superbly illustrated with more than 200 color images. Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

The Hawker Hurricane has rightly earned its place in military aviation annals. Although only preceding the Spitfire by four months in its prototypic launch, the Hawker machine was available in measurably greater numbers by the Battle of Britain, a very critical stage of WWII for Britain and its Empire. Its rugged qualities saw use in the Mediterranean and Far East Theaters, and on the Russia Front. It adapted equally well to naval operations as a CAM-ship "protector" for Allied convoys and then as the first truly modern British fighter design to operate off the Fleet Air Arm's aircraft carriers. The solid wing structure lent itself naturally to the carriage of bombs and heavier-scale weaponry such as the 40 mm cannon that dealt out a fair measure of punishment. The few airworthy examples are a poignant reminder of Britain's WWII aviation prowess. Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

A facsimile reprint of the original NATOPS flight manual for the F-4J.

Failure to exploit the potential of an original idea is a recurring phenomenon in our national history. Few failures, however, can have been so costly in human life as that of our military commanders early in 1916 to appreciate that the tank was a war winning weapon. The slaughter of the Somme, Passchendaele and Ypres salient had to be endured before accepted conventional methods were abandoned and the tank given a chance. Bryan Cooper describes the early tank actions in vivid detail, with many eye-witness accounts. He tells of the courage and endurance of the crews not just in battle but in the appalling conditions in which they had to drive and fight their primitive vehicles. Scalded, scorched and poisoned with exhaust fumes, constantly threatened with being burned to death, these crews eventually laid the foundation for the Allied Victory in World War I. The book is well illustrated with many original photographs which give the present day reader a glimpse of the infancy of a dominant weapon of modern war.

Organised chronologically by type, Russian Aircraft of World War II offers a highly-illustrated guide to the main types of aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force during World War II. The book provides a comprehensive survey of combat aircraft, from the compact, revolutionary Polikarpov I-16 fighter of the Winter War in Finland, to the Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik and Petlyakov Pe-2, two of the outstanding ground-attack aircraft of the Eastern Front campaign. All the major and many minor types are featured, including fighters, dive-bombers, ground-attack aircraft, night bombers, strategic bombers and reconnaissance and transport aircraft. This includes both well-known models, such as the classic MiG-3 fighter and Ilyushin Il-4 bomber, through lend-lease aircraft like the Douglas A-20 and Bell P-39, to lesser-known models, including the Yermolayev Yer-2 medium bomber and Bereznyak-Isayev BI-1 rocket-propelled interceptor. 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, Russian Aircraft of World War II is a key reference guide for military modellers and World War II enthusiasts.

Since the 1980s, the American M1 Abrams series of tanks has been widely regarded as among the finest main battle tanks in the world. This volume is a concise look at the background, development, and Army and Marine operational history of the Abrams from the 1970s to the present. The author, who brings a unique perspective and authority as a former M1A1 tank gunner with the United States Army's 1/104th Cavalry, was granted behind-the-scenes access to photograph the US Army's collection of rare tanks at Fort Benning, Georgia. He also shows the Abrams tank's service in lesser known places-not just Iraq and Afghanistan-such as Cold War Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Somalia, and others. Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

Organised chronologically by type, Russian Tanks of World War II offers a highly-illustrated guide to the main armoured fighting vehicles used by the Red Army during World War II. The book offers a comprehensive survey of Soviet AFVs, from the pre-war T-18 light tank and BT fast tank series to the heavy Joseph Stalin tanks and self- propelled guns of the final months of the war. All the major and many minor tanks are featured, including every significant variation of the T-26 light tank, KV series and T-34 to see action on the Eastern Front. There are also chapters on the many types of self-propelled guns developed by Soviet industry, as well as Allied Lend-Lease AFVs, such as the British Churchill and Valentine tanks and American Sherman and Stuart tanks. Each featured profile includes authentic markings and colour schemes, while every separate model is accompanied by exhaustive specifications. Packed with 120 newly-commissioned, full-colour artworks with exhaustive specifications, Russian Tanks of World War II is a key reference guide for military modellers and World War II enthusiasts.

While there are many books on logistics which understand the concept of service and supply, none understand the important role of transportation in synchronizing logistics. Delivering Victory: The History of U.S. Military Transportation covers the evolution of military transportation in the U.S. Armed Forces from the Spanish American War until the recent humanitarian missions to Haiti and West Africa to show how military transportation both synchronizes and creates logistics operations and therefore shapes the conduct of contingency and combat operations. Based on a rich selection of both primary and secondary sources, this book explores how the role of military transportation in the U.S has evolved, from disparate organizations to a synchronized logistics approach which connects dots from end to end, from fort and factory, and to the foxhole. Chronicling the birth of a separate branch of the Army during the Second World War and the creation of a strategic logistics technique headed by a single organization, the author demonstrates how transportation created logistics operations due to its inherent moving nature which allowed military operations to change in scale and magnitude. To this end, this book demonstrates how the ability to deploy and sustain mass around the globe became the hallmark of American military transportation capability, and an essential part of delivering victory.

As lead ship of America's first "fast battleship" class, and the US Navy's newest battleship when America entered WWII, the construction of the USS North Carolina was not only a source of encouragement for a depression-wrought nation, but was also a source of pride among a fleet of aging battleships. Earning fifteen Battle Stars, the North Carolina is America's most-decorated battleship, having participated in most of the major campaigns in the Pacific during WWII. This volume documents not only the construction and wartime exploits of this historic vessel, but thoroughly explores the restored vessel, providing a great resource for the armchair historian, a keepsake for those who visit the museum ship, and a superb resource for the detailed model builder. Carefully researched photos, many of which have never before been published, are reproduced in remarkable clarity and put the reader on and beneath the decks of this historic warship. Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

This is a personal account written by a man reflecting on his time as a young pilot with the Royal Flying Corps in France during the First World War, who eventually became an ace. It is a story of survival against the odds at a time when the conduct of air operations depended so much on individual skills, innovation, courage - and luck. Hugh White flew F.E.2D Scout aircraft with 20 Squadron as a reconnaissance patrol pilot aged just eighteen. By his nineteenth birthday he was a flight commander and the most experienced pilot on the squadron. He then became a flight commander on 29 Squadron flying the S.E.5a which was Britain's best fighter aircraft at the time. During the two years of flying, he experienced and survived a series of escapades including a dramatic mid-air collision with the enemy. Told by Hugh in his own words, he gives a unique insight into war in the air. With the break-up of his squadron and being reduced to a substantive rank - simply because of his young age - Hugh's writing ends in 1919. From this point, the story is continued by his younger son Chris. He describes Hugh's life and RAF career from flying Bristol Fighters in India during the 1920s, undertaking engineer training at Henlow, to commanding 501 Squadron in the mid-1930s and becoming a full-time technical officer until his retirement as an air vice-marshal in 1955. This book includes a foreword by Air Marshal Sir Frederick Sowrey (Hugh's nephew) which puts Hugh White's early wartime service into context. It is a timely reminder, following the centenary of the end of the First World War, of the difficulties that young pilots faced at the time. A must-read for those interested in wartime exploits.

The legendary SR-71 Blackbird spy plane was, and still is, the world's only operational Mach 3 aircraft, and was designed, built, and tested by Lockheed's famed "Skunk Works." This new book covers all fifty Blackbirds built, from the first flight in 1962, to the last in 1999. As a replacement for the venerable U-2 spyplane, Lockheed went from contract signing to first flight in only thirty-two months starting in April 1958-from the beginning of design studies to the signing of a contract from the CIA to build the initial batch of A-12s in February 1960, to first flight in 1962. From the A-1 design through the completion of the very first Radar Cross Section models of the A-12, to the testing of every major system and subsystem, this book describes and illustrates the SR-71 as never before, using images from a variety of sources, as well as the author's own superb, new photography.

This valuable addition to the G.I. series is an illustrated guide to America's armoured forces from the use of prototypes tanks sputtering their way forward in 1918, to the complex technology of Operation Desert Storm. With detailed commentary by John P. Longellier, this book demonstrates just why these lethal troops were known as 'Hell on Wheels'.

Aircraft of World War II details the design and specifications of 75 of the most important warplanes used during the conflict, from the venerable Fairey Swordfish biplane, through legendary aircraft such as the Supermarine Spitfire and Douglas C-47 Dakota, to the Messerschmitt Me-262, the first operational jet fighter. Presenting the information in an innovative format, the book features three-view colour artworks of each aircraft along with informed text giving a detailed account of the aircraft’s development. Examining each featured aircraft over two spreads, full technical information is provided for each type, including maximum speed, range and powerplant. Arranged by country, expertly written and attractively presented, Aircraft of World War II is an accessible guide for any aviation enthusiast.

Invented during World War I to break the grim deadlock of the Western Front trenches, tanks went on to revolutionize warfare. From the lightning Blitzkrieg assaults of World War II, to the great battles in the Middle Eastern desert, tanks have become one of the key components of the 'combined arms' philosophy of the modern battlefield. This pocket guide makes accessible to 'rivetheads' everywhere essential information to identify 40 of history's most fearsome tanks, including Germany's Tiger, Russia's T-34, America's Sherman and Panther, and France's FT-17. Each tank is presented with a detailed drawing to aid recognition.

When aircraft retire from active service, they are sent to "boneyards," usually in dry desert locations to limit damage from the elements. There the planes are stored, ready to be revamped for future use or eventually turned into scrap. These boneyards are storehouses of American aviation history, consisting of aircraft of all varieties, from fighters and bombers to transports and tankers. These aircraft represent a cross-section of American wars, including World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War, and the Global War on Terror. Many are in excellent condition, with their art and other markings preserved. Nick Veronico has visited boneyards in the American Southwest and photographed these remarkable planes, focusing on the cartoons, caricatures, lettering, and other art that give them their unique identities and personalities. Planes covered include B-17, B-24, P-38, P-47, P-51, B-29, B-52, B-1, B-2, F-4, F-111, F-14, F-15, F-16, F-4, A-4, A-6, A-10, F-105, F-106, KC-130, KC-135, C-5, C-130, KC-135, AC-130, and C-9, among others. This collection is a unique look at American military aircraft throughout the modern era and a must-have for all aviation fans. About the Author Nick Veronico's previous books include The Blue Angels. He lives near San Francisco.