The Praetorian Guard of Imperial Rome was the power behind the throne, with the ability to make or break an emperor. As the main body of troops in Rome, they were the emperor's instrument to discourage plotting and rebellion and to crush unrest. The emperor's most immediate line of defence, they could also be his most deadly enemies. This book details the organization, dress and history of the Praetorian Guard from the time of the late Republic to the Guard's effective destruction at the battle of Milvian Bridge in AD 312. Numerous illustrations vividly depict the uniforms and weaponry of this elite fighting unit.

As part of an elite special operations unit at the fighting edge of the Global War on Terrorism, Nicholas Moore spent over a decade with the US Army's 75th Ranger Regiment on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. In this compelling biography, now available in paperback, a detailed narrative of gruelling life on the ground combines with accounts of some of the most dramatic search and rescue operations of the period to tell the true story of life on the line in the War on Terror. Charting his rise from private to senior non-commissioned officer, this title follows Moore as he embarks on a series of dangerous deployments, engaging in brutal street combat and traversing inhospitable terrain in pursuit of Taliban fighters and Iraq's Most Wanted. Including revelatory first-hand accounts of high-profile special operations missions including the tense rescue of Private First Class Jessica Lynch and the search and rescue mission for US Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell, Moore recounts, in vivid detail, the realities of life on the front line.

Since their foundation during the Second World War, the Parachute Regiment has acquired a formidable reputation as tough, fearless soldiers. "The Red Devils" have played a key role in many of the battles of the past sixty years--the capture of Sicily, the D-Day landing, the heroic but doomed attempt to capture the bridge at Arnhem. In the so-called years of peace since the Second World War, the Paras have seen action all over the world - from Cyprus, Palestine, Egypt, Borneo and the Falklands to Bosnia. Their service in Northern Ireland has been surrounded by controversy--the events of "Bloody Sunday" in Londonderry in 1972 are still the subject of fierce debate, and a continuing government inquiry. For his authoritative book, John Parker has gathered together the testimony of numerous veterans of the Parachute Regiment. Their first-hand accounts of the major events in their history bring home the reality (and cruelty) of combat. The events of "Bloody Sunday" are seen through their eyes, and will re-ignite the controversy over what actually happened.

From the deadly shores of North Africa to the invasion of Sicily to the fierce jungle hell of the Pacific, the contribution of the World War II Ranger Battalions far outweighed their numbers. They were ordinary men on an extraordinary mission, experiencing the full measure of the fear, exhaustion, and heroism of combat in nearly every major invasion of the war. Whether spearheading a landing force or scouting deep behind enemy lines, these highly motivated, highly trained volunteers led the way for other soldiers -- they were Rangers.
With first-person interviews, in-depth research, and a complete appendix naming every Ranger known to have served, author Robert Black, a Ranger himself, has made the battles of WWII come to life through the struggles of the men who fought to win the greatest war the world has ever seen.

'Impeccably researched, unbiased, and revealing.' -Kirkus *One of the finest chronicles of the mysterious LRRP units of the Vietnam war *Explains how they were staffed and trained *Discusses their missions and tactics Vietnam was a different kind of war, calling for a different kind of soldier. When the first major combat units were deployed there in 1965 the Army found itself in a predicament. This was a war unlike any that it had trained and equipped itself for; the jungle terrain was nothing like Eastern Europe, and the enemy's preferred guerrilla tactics, as opposed to stand up and fight set-piece battles, meant that an effective means of locating him was required. The LRRPs- Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols - were that new breed of fighting man. They operated in six-man teams deep within enemy territory, and were the eyes and ears of the units they served. This is their story of perseverence under extreme hardship and uncommon bravery, and how they carried out the war's most hazardous missions. Michael Lee Lanning retired from the army as a lieutenant colonel after more than twenty years' service. During his assignment to Vietnam, he served as both an infantry platoon leader and a company commander in the 199th Infantry Brigade (Light). He is the author of fourteen books including Mercenaries, Inside Force Recon, and Inside the Crosshairs.

This book provides a definitive history of the U.S. Army Rangers that details the origins and development, combat philosophy, and key engagements of America's elite fighting force. The U.S. Army Rangers: Forging a Special Operations Force details the origins and development, combat philosophy, and key engagements of America's elite fighting force. Structured topically, the book allows for a chronological review of the history of the Ranger from the 17th century to the present day, with special attention paid to the establishment of the 1st Ranger Battalion in the post-Vietnam era-the origins of the elite fighting force that exists today. This book is replete with information garnered from dozens of interviews with the individuals who created the initial Ranger Force. By integrating the words and first-hand accounts of these founding fathers, the work offers insights unavailable elsewhere. Additionally, the author delves into the unique psyche of the soldiers who volunteer for-and are accepted into the ranks of-the "Rangers." * Explores the mindsets and the challenges facing the individuals who were involved in developing America's premier fighting force * Provides an unprecedented firsthand account of the formation of the Ranger Regiment that exists today * Describes the soldier's experience-and the Army itself-at the end of the conscript Vietnam-era Army, a pivotal time in the development of American military forces * Presents colorful vignettes taken from current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan * Provides real-world examples of what it is like to be a modern day Ranger that allow readers to understand the Ranger psyche

For the first time in French, a complete study of the selection and training of Allied secret agents in the secret schools managed by the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Hundreds of agents, men and women, trained in schools in England, Canada, but also in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, were be dropped into Nazi-occupied countries to carry out intelligence, sabotage and enemy elimination missions.