Crimson Books, Inc. listing of productshttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:41:58 PSTen D-Day, 6 June 1944, saw the largest amphibious landing operation in history. From ports and harbours on the southern coast of England, an armada of troopships and landing craft launched the Allied return to mainland Europe. Stephen Badsey provides a concise account of the Normandy campaign, from the fiercely contested landings, to the struggle to capture Caen, the Cobra offensive and the dramatic pursuit of the Germans to the River Seine. This was the crucial campaign of the Western theatre: after the Battle of Normandy the only question was how soon the war would end, not who would win it. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/normandy-1944-ospcam001-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1993651/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The German victory of 1940 stunned the world. France, major European power and owner of the worlds largest armies had fallen in less than seven weeks to the might of the German Wehrmacht. The secret of the Wehrmachts success lay in its carefully thought out organization and the tactics of blitzkrieg. Fast moving tank divisions supported by armoured, mobile infantry swept over opposition, helped by both conventional bombers and deadly Stuka dive-bombers. Alan Shepperds highly detailed text examines the tactics, organization and equipment of the Allied and German forces, and provides a daily account of the most crucial period of the battle. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/france-1940-ospcam003-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1993655/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The 1968 Tet Offensive was the decisive battle for Vietnam. Masterminded by the brilliant North Vietnamese General, Vo Nguyen Giap, it was intended to trigger a general uprising in South Vietnam. However, the bloody fighting for Saigon, Hue and other cities actually resulted in a catastrophic defeat for the North. In this excellent assessment of the key battle of the Vietnam conflict, James Arnold details the plans and forces involved and explains how, despite the outcome of the battle, the American people and their leaders came to perceive the war for Vietnam as lost.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ospcam004-tet-offensive-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1993963/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive in the West. Three armies attacked through the Ardennes, the weakest point in the American lines - and almost broke through. This title describes the planning of the attack and the course of events, including the defence of Bastogne and the heroic delaying actions fought by GIs supposed to be in a quiet sector of the front. In spite of serious American disadvantages Hitlers offensive was stopped. James Arnold explains exactly how this was achieved, and how Germanys last hopes of victory were finally put to rest. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ospcam005-ardennes-1944-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1993964/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The port of Balaclava was crucial in maintaining the supply lines for the Allied siege of Sevastapol. The Russian attack in October 1854 therefore posed a major threat to the survival of the Allied cause. This book examines in detail the crucial battle of Balaclava, including: the attack on the redoubts; the action of the thin red line in which an assortment of about 700 British troops, some invalids, were abandoned by their Turkish allies; the subsequent charge of the Heavy Brigade; and the most famous part of the battle: the infamous charge of the Light Brigade. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/balaclava-1854-ospcam006-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994059/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 13 Mar 2008 17:20:00 PST Alexander of Macedonia was undoubtedly one of the greatest generals of all time. This book, by John Warry, an expert on the warfare of the Classical world, examines the principle battles of Alexanders campaigns in detail. The battles of the Granicus, Issus, Gaugamela, Hydaspes and the difficult siege of Tyre are all discussed at length. These careful studies shed light on Macedonian tactics: in particular the combination of armoured infantry phalanx with fast-moving cavalry. The men and equipment of both Alexander and his Persian enemies are also examined, providing a comprehensive insight into Alexanders life and military actions. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/alexander-the-great-334-323b-ospcam007-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994060/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 13 Mar 2008 17:21:00 PST The Gallipoli expedition of 1915, the brainchild of Winston Churchill, was designed to knock the Turkish Empire out of the First World War and open a supply route to Russia. The campaign is characterised by the military incompetence of the higher commands, particularly the Allies. However, in spite of this, Gallipoli deserves to be, and is, also remembered for the heroism and resourcefulness of both the British army and the men of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. This book details the battles, hardships and eventual evacuation that these men had to go through, in this comprehensive guide to the Gallipoli landings.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/gallipoli-1915-ospcam008-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994061/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 13 Mar 2008 17:23:00 PST Agincourt is one of the most evocative names in English military history. Henry Vs forces were tired, hungry, and faced a French army three to six times more numerous. However, they possessed several advantages, and English success resulted from the combination of heavily armoured men-at-arms with troops armed with the infamous longbow - the havoc this weapon wreaked was crucial. Using original fifteenth century evidence, including the surviving French battle plan and the accounts of men present in both armies, this title discusses the lead-up to the battle, the tactical dispositions of the two forces and the reasons for the ultimate English success. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/agincourt-1415-ospcam009-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994062/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 13 Mar 2008 17:27:00 PST At Bull Run, two inexperienced, ill-trained and poorly led armies clashed in the opening engagement of the American Civil War. Culminating in a stalwart defensive fight by Thomas Stonewall Jacksons Virginia Brigade, this is the story of the Confederacys first victory. The author investigates the personalities of the principal commanders and examines the opposing armies, showing how the widely varying uniforms of different units caused mistakes of identity which affected the battle at crucial points. Weapons, intelligence and the almost universal inexperience of troops on both sides are all discussed, helping to explain the events of the battle itself. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/first-bull-run-1861-ospcam010-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994063/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 13 Mar 2008 17:28:00 PST The entry of the USA into World War I spelt disaster for Imperial Germany. The massive superiority in men and materials which the Americans could provide meant that if Germany had any chance of winning the war she must do so quickly. Randal Gray describes how, using special Stormtrooper units and high-mobility tactics, the Germans came within a hairs breadth of winning the war, providing a blow by blow account of the daily events of the battle. Although at first glance the Kaiserschlacht was Germanys greatest success of the First World War, in fact its ultimate failure consigned Germany to inevitable defeat.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/kaiserschlacht-1918-ospcam011-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994064/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Culloden marked the end of the last and greatest of the Jacobite adventures - the 45 Rebellion - in which the Highland clans challenged the power of the Hanoverian King of England. It was at Culloden that Charles Edward Stuarts army was finally defeated. His tired Highlanders had little chance against the steady infantry and heavy artillery fire of the English. Peter Harrington examines all aspects of the battle, including its background, the earlier Highlander victories, the men and commanders of both sides, and the massacre that took place in its aftermath. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/irish-scottish-celtic/culloden-1746-ospcam012-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994065/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Very few battles of the medieval period can be regarded as decisive but Hastings was certainly one of them. Fought on 14th October 1066 between Duke William of Normandy and Harold Godwinson, king of England, the outcome irrevocably changed the course of English history. Williams victory was largely due to the tactical superiority of his forces: not only did he possess infantry and cavalry, but also a significant number of archers or crossbowmen, to whose withering fire the English could make little reply. The eventual death of King Harold prompted an English collapse - the successful outcome ensuring Williams accession to the English throne. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/hastings-1066-rev-ed-ospcam013-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994066/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In the late 1870s the British Imperial administration in the Cape colony in southern Africa began to view the Zulu kingdom as a challenge to its authority.To contain this perceived threat, the British engineered a war. The early campaigns went terribly wrong, with the decisive Zulu victory at Isandlwana. Ultimately however, the British won the war. The Zulus, primarily reliant on their skill with the stabbing spear, had no real defence or retaliation against the massed firepower of professional British soldiers. Ian Castle examines the British-Zulu war and its two key battles, Isandlwana and Khambula, with excellent black and white photographs accompanying the clear and detailed text.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/zulu-war-1879-ospcam014-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994067/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Waterloo holds a special place among the great battles of history. The climax of more than twenty years of war, it was indeed a close-run affair, matching two of the worlds greatest generals - Napoleon and Wellington. This volume covers the entire campaign including the battles of Quatre Bras, Ligny and Wavre, with five full-colour maps and three highly detailed birds eye views showing decisive moments in the action. An excellent sense of the closeness of the battle is communicated - Wellington himself claimed it was the nearest thing you ever saw in your life - and this gripping account shows the full justice of that statement.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/waterloo-1815-ospcam015-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994068/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In the summer of 1943 the German army stood poised for a major offensive. The attack was aimed at the Kursk salient, which the Germans intended to isolate, trapping large numbers of Russian troops and paving the way for the decisive campaign to knock the Soviet Union out of the war. By the time of the attack, the Russians had turned the salient into a mass of defensive positions. In the following decisive clash, the Soviets bled Germanys vital Panzer forces white and finally took the initiative. The counter-offensive which followed began an advance that would end in the ruins of Berlin.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/kursk-1943-ospcam016-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994069/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On what was a virtually unheard of Pacific island, the United States shattered the myth of Japanese invincibility. In the first American amphibious assault of the Second World War, the US Marines and Army halted the apparently irresistible Japanese advance in its tracks. Over 30,000 American and Japanese casualties were suffered in five months of bitter fighting. From the ranks of the units that contested this campaign a seasoned fighting force of US veterans was created that would, island by island, sweep the Japanese back across the Pacific.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/guadalcanal-1942-ospcam018-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994070/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In 1187, Christian Europe was shaken by events in the Middle East. This volume tells the story of those momentous months - the campaign leading to the Muslim capture of Jerusalem after the disastrous Crusader defeat at Hattin where, in a two day running battle on the waterless plateau between Saffuriya and Tiberias, beneath a burning sun, Saladins troops destroyed the Christian army. The disaster at Hattin resulted in the collapse of the kingdom of Jerusalem and sparked off the Third Crusade under Richard I Coeur de Lion. This book examines Hattin in detail and looks at the consequences of the battle. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/hattin-1187-ospcam019-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994071/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Forewarned of Prussias intention to declare war on France, Napoleon decided to strike first with a bold advance from Wurzburg into Saxony. On 14 October the double battle was fought: Napoleon with 96,000 men and 120 guns engaged and heavily defeated Prince Hohenlohe and General Ruchel. The decisive engagement was fought further north where Marshal Davout with 27,000 men and 40 guns routed the main Prussian army under Frederick William IV and the Duke of Brunswick. This title examines these two battles, Jena and Auerstadt in detail, showing clearly the swiftness with which Napoleon dealt Prussias military machine a severe blow. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/jena-1806-ospcam020-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994072/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Gravelotte-St-Privat was probably the hardest fought of all the battles of the Franco-Prussian War. Attacked by superior Prussian forces from both the First and Second armies, Marshal Bazaines French Army of the Rhine inflicted heavy casualties on the advancing Prussians before finally being forced to retreat into the fortress city of Metz. Unable to break out and with no hope of relief Bazaines army grimly held on to the end of the war. French failure at Gravelotte-St-Privat led directly to their final defeat at Sedan, the collapse of Napoleon IIIs regime and the proclamation of the German Empire.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/gravelot-st-privat-1870-ospcam021-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994073/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The earliest battle in history which can be reconstructed in detail, Qadesh pitted the two great warriors of the age against each other, Muwatallish of Hatti and the great warrior-Pharaoh Rameses II. With the Hittites gaining the initial advantage, all seemed lost until Rameses himself led his personal followers into the fray. However, in spite of the appearance of Egyptian reinforcements, the bravery of the pharaoh and the tactically superior showing of the Egyptian chariotry, the dislocation of his army frustrated the Pharaohs wider strategic aspirations. Mark Healy recounts the course of this key battle, which could so easily have gone either way.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/egyptology/qadesh-1300bc-ospcam022-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994074/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Early in 1881 unrest in the Sudan began to crystallise around Mohammed Ibn Ahmed el-Sayyid Abdullah. Proclaiming himself the long-expected Madhi, the Guided One of the Prophet, he preached that the Sudan was to be purged of its Egyptian oppressors. Drawn in by the Egyptian failure to deal with the situation, the British sent General Gordon to organise an evacuation. On reaching Khartoum however, General Gordon believed, incorrectly, that the Madhi could be reasoned with. Instead of negotiating, the Madhi besieged the town for 317 days. This title looks in particular, although not exclusively, at the battles fought by the British columns sent to relieve Khartoum.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/khartoum-1885-ospcam023-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994075/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Market Garden was one of the most audacious, and ultimately controversial, operations of the Second World War - a joint penetration, by an armoured column and a large-scale airborne drop, to punch a decisive hole in the German defences. If it had succeeeded, the war could have ended in 1944. Yet the two-pronged attack failed in its objectives. This book details how, instead of being relieved after 48 hours as expected, British paratroopers were cut off for nine days. Facing two unexpected SS Panzer divisions the Allies were eventually evacuated across the Rhine after putting up an incredible fight: of the 10,000 men involved less than 2,000 survived.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/arnhem-1944-ospcam024-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994076/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The battle of Leipzig was, in terms of the number of combatants involved, the largest engagement of the entire Napoleonic Wars. It was the only battle of the wars in which all Allied armies (including even the Swedes) fielded troops against Napoleon. Peter Hofschroer looks at the run-up to this crucial encounter as well as the battle itself. A wealth of background information is chronicled, including the strategies of both sides and detailed information on each of the combatant forces. The numerous battles leading up to Leipzig are also discussed, providing a fascinating and illuminating overview of the whole campaign.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/leipzig-1813-ospcam025-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994077/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The 1863 Vicksburg campaign was to prove decisive to the outcome of the American Civil War. Known as the Gibraltar of the West, Vicksburg was the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. In a masterly campaign Grant used riverboats and steamers to land his army south of the city. He then defeated the armies of Generals Joe Johnston and John C. Pemberton. Pemberton allowed his force to become bottled up in Vicksburg and after an epic 47-day siege he was forced to surrender the remnants of his force to Grant on 4 July 1863, one day after Lees defeat at Gettysburg.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/vicksburg-1863-ospcam026-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994078/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In 1881, the Egyptian army mutinied against the Khedive of Egypt and forced him to appoint Said Ahmed Arabi as Minister of War. In March 1882, Arabi was made a Pasha and from this time on acted as a dictator. Arabi demanded that the foreigners be driven out of Egypt and called for the massacre of Christians. This prompted an armed British response, first in the form of a naval bombardment of Alexandria, and then as an expeditionary force under Lieutenant-General Wolseley. This book explores the entire campaign, including Sir Wolseleys textbook operation that was planned and executed with masterly competence. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/tel-el-kebir-1882-ospcam027-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994079/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The conflict that broke out in 1812 seemed born of an almost subconscious desire for a war to complete the separation of America from England begun by the War of Independence. The war when it came was bloody and hard fought. In one last attempt to break the deadlock the British sent Major-General Sir Edward Pakenham to capture New Orleans. The troops he commanded were elite, veteran regiments. Andrew Jackson, leading the defenders, commanded a mixed force including militia, free Negro battalions, Indians and a group of local pirates. This title describes how this mixed force decisively defeated the British veterans in a battle that has become part of American legend. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/new-orleans-ospcam028-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994080/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST One of the most important naval battles in history, Midway was fought barely six months after the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The badly damaged USS Yorktown was repaired in just 48 hours and with Enterprise and Hornet set out to meet the Japanese. In a battle marked by great heroism on both sides the United States dealt a devastating blow to the Imperial Japanese Fleet sinking four of her most powerful carriers. In this superbly illustrated volume Mark Healy tells the whole story; espionage, daring, luck and extreme heroism. A fascinating read supplemented by genuine photographs of the battle in progress.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/midway-1942-ospcam030-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994081/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In 636 AD, after protracted skirmishing and minor engagements the Arab and Byzantine armies faced each other on the banks of the Yarmuk river. The Byzantines were initially successful, driving back the Arab right wing. Finally, though, the Arab counter-attacks broke the Byzantine lines and the subsequent pursuit became a rout. The awful fate of the fleeing Byzantine soldiers was remembered for several generations until it was recorded in early Islamic histories. David Nicolle not only looks at the battle itself but also the whole decisive Arab campaign - from the Muslim invasion of 633/4 to the fall of Byzantine Syria. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/yarmuk-636ad-ospcam031-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994082/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Antietam was one of the critical battles of the American Civil War. The fortunes of the South were riding high after the resounding victory at Second Manassas. While Bragg and Kirby Smith invaded Kentucky, Lees invasion of Maryland was intended to maintain the Southern offensive momentum and to win the recognition of the European powers. But his bold plan was compromised - and at the Antietam River the Army of Northern Virginia was fighting for its very life. This title examines the build-up to Hookers attack, and details the famous clashes at Bloody Lane and Burnside Bridge. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/antietam-1862-ospcam032-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994083/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The 1809 campaign on the Danube was to break the spell of Napoleons invincibility. Indeed Wagram - the largest battle in history at the time - was Napoleons revenge for his first personal defeat on the battlefield - at Aspern - Essling. In gaining this revenge the French commander was not wholly successful. Although the French won the battle as the Austrians eventually quit the field, the victory was an extremely hollow one. Both these epic battles are expertly described by Ian Castle, chronicling the many changes of fortune as each side captured, lost, then recaptured key positions.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/aspern-wagram-1809-ospcam033-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994084/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Poltava marked the demise of Sweden as a European great power and the rise of Russia. In 1707, the seemingly invincible Charles XII led his army deep into Russia. It was to prove his undoing - the long march eroded the fighting strength of the invaders; a vital supply convoy was lost; and the winter of 1708/9 was the worst in living memory. Drawing upon primary source material previously unseen in the west, Angus Konstam recounts the events, looking in particular at how this battle led to the destruction of the Swedish Army. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/poltava-1709-ospcam034-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994085/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST After relatively lowly beginnings as a writer in the East India Company, Robert Clive rose to be perhaps the most important single figure in the history of British involvement in India. At Plassey on 23 June 1757 Clives 3,500 native and East India Company troops faced an army of 50,000 under the French supported nawab Siraj-ud-daula. Having succeeded in keeping his powder dry in a torrential rainstorm, Clives guns were able to open a murderous fire on the enemy. Siraj-ud-daulas attack was beaten off and the counter-attack which Clive launched swept the field; with only the French gunners fighting to the last.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/plassey-1757-ospcam035-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994086/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Cannae is rightly regarded as one of the greatest battles of military history. Hannibals stratagem has become a model of the perfectly fought battle and is studied in detail at military academies around the world. At Cannae the Romans confronted Hannibal with an army of 80,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry. Hannibal faced them with 40,000 foot and 10,000 horse. The engagement that followed was a masterpiece of battlefield control. By the end of the conflict the Romans had lost 47,500 infantry and 2,700 cavalry killed and a further 19,300 captured. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/cannae-216bc-ospcam036-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994087/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The British assault on Breeds Hill and the burning of Charlestown were the first major battles of the American Revolution; after the events at Boston there was no turning back. This detailed text by Brendan Morrissey explores the opposing commanders and forces involved, whilst describing how the sparks at Lexington and Concord ignited the smouldering resentment of the Colonists into the flame of a rebellion. Colonist militia were pitted against British Redcoats in a series of struggles which led the British to evacuate Boston and to George Washington taking command of the fledgling American army. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/boston-1775-ospcam037-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994088/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In 1899 Great Britain was at the height of its Imperial power. The Queen Empress had been on the throne for more than 50 glittering years, and her domain touched upon every continent. Yet, even at this pinnacle of Imperial pomp and majesty, the British army, guardian of the Empire in countless wars across the globe, was destined to be humiliated by poorly-organised citizen militia consisting of men whom the British professionals despised as back-wood farmers. In one week in December 1899 the farmers of the South African Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal inflicted three serious reverses on British troops. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/colenso-1899-ospcam038-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994089/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The death of George Armstrong Custer, and over half of his 7th Cavalry Regiment in the valley of the Little Big Horn on 25 July 1876, has become the most celebrated battle of the Indian wars. It was the greatest, and the last, victory of the Native Americans over the United States military. Disobeying orders, Custer followed a trail to a large encampment of Indians and, without determining the numbers he faced split his command into three groups and attacked. In the resulting chaos Custer and more than half the troops under his command were killed.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/little-big-horn-1876-ospcam039-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994090/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Sekigahara was the most decisive battle in Japanese history. Fought against the ritualised and colourful backdrop of Samurai life, it was the culmination of a long-standing power struggle between Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hashiba Hideyoshi, two of the most powerful men in Japan. Armies of the two sides met on the plain of Sekigahara on 21 October 1600, in thick fog and deep mud. By the end of the day 40,000 heads had been taken and Ieyasu was master of Japan. Within three years the Emperor would grant him the title he sought - Shogun. This title describes the campaign leading up to this great battle and examines Sekigahara, including the forces and personalities of the two major sides and that of the turncoat Kobayakawa Hideaki.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/sekigahara-1600-ospcam040-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994091/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Rorkes Drift sums up some of the best traditions of the British self-image: steadfastness against the odds, victory in adversity and the thin red line. The British stand deserves to go down in history as one of the most heroic actions of all time. The story of a mere 150 British and Imperial soldiers defending an isolated outpost against over 3,000 Zulu warriors summed up the experience of the colonial adventure for the Victorians and remains part of our heritage even today. Ian Knight recounts the course of this famous conflict in which no less than 11 Victoria crosses were won.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/victorian/rorke-s-drift-1879-ospcam041-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994092/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On 22 June 1944, three years to the day after Germanys 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, the Red Army launched a massive offensive in Byelorussia. Codenamed Operation Bagration, this campaign climaxed five weeks later with the Red Army at the gates of Warsaw. The Wehrmachts Army Group Centre was routed, a total of 17 Wehrmacht divisions were utterly destroyed, and over 50 other German divisions were shattered. It was the most calamitous defeat of the German armed forces in World War II.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/operation-bagration-1944-ospcam042-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994093/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In the year 1495, Charles VIII was the youthful King of France, the most powerful state in medieval Europe. A dreamer who saw himself as the saviour of Christian Europe, he believed he could roll back the ever-spreading tide of Ottoman Turkish conquest. As a base for his crusade he was determined to seize southern Italy. In a lightning campaign he used Frances modern army to sweep through Italy, his mobile field artillery train smashing into dust the tall towers of Italys medieval castles. The Italian states rallied and at Fornovo their alliance, the League of Venice, fought Charles army to a standstill. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/fornovo-1495-ospcam043-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994094/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The battle of Pavia has been hailed as the first modern battle, marking the rise of hand held weapons as a tool of warfare. In this titanic clash - the most decisive of the Italian Wars, caused by French territorial ambitions in first the Kingdom of Naples and then the Duchy of Milan - the French troops were smashed by the Spanish Imperial Army. King Francis I was captured, and the cream of his nobility slaughtered. Frances greatest defeat since Agincourt, the battle dramatically swung the balance of power in Western Europe. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/pavia-1525-ospcam044-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994095/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In 1881 the tension between Britain and the Boer farmers of southern Africa that had existed for 75 years boiled over into open conflict. The British entered the war full of confidence, yet in a few short weeks they had suffered three separate reverses before suffering their final humiliating defeat on the isolated summit of Majuba. George Colleys force were swept off their unassailable position and into headlong retreat. It was a defeat that sent shock waves reverberating around the Empire. Ian Castle examines not only the battle at Majuba, but also the previous engagements at Laings Nek, Schuinshoogte and Bronkhorstspruit. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/majuba-1881-ospcam045-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994096/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The battle of Lake Peipus took place in 1242 between the Teutonic Knights and the Russian city-state of Novgorod, led by its inspirational leader Alexandre Nevskii. The Teutonic Knights were a powerful military order, backed with the crusading zeal of Europe, the blessing of the Pope and the support of the Holy Roman Emperor. This battle, although little-known in the west, was important in the history of the medieval eastern crusades, the Teutonic defeat having a serious effect on future events. David Nicolles excellent text examines the Crusade against Novgorod and the fierce fighting around the frozen shores of Lake Peipus.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/lake-peipus-1242-ospcam046-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994097/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST By 1781 Britains struggle to contain the rebels in her American colonies had reached an inglorious stalemate. Six years on from the British defeat by the New England militia at Boston, George Washingtons rebuilt Continental Army - with support from the French - now systematically began to seek out and destroy British forces even if protected by seemingly impregnable defences. Yorktown would be a salutary lesson to the British Crown about the odds she now faced in holding on to her colonies.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/yorktown-1781-ospcam047-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994098/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Salamanca was the most decisive battle of the entire Peninsular War. Wellington smashed Marmonts French Army and his pursuit of its shattered remnants led to the famous cavalry charge of the Kings German Legion at Garcia Hernandez. There would be two more years of sieges and hard fighting before the Iron Duke crossed the Pyrenees into France but from Salamanca the British and their Portuguese and Spanish allies always had the upper hand. Ian Fletcher examines this important battle in detail and also discusses the campaign which led up to it. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/salamanca-1812-ospcam048-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994099/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST When the First World War broke out in August 1914 the Imperial German Army mistakenly assumed that the BEF - that contemptible little army - would be easily defeated. They were stopped in their tracks by the numerically inferior British force, whose excellent marksmanship cost the closed packed German ranks dear. Eventually forced to fall back by overwhelming German numbers, the British carried out a masterful fighting retreat across Belgium and northern France. At Mons, nine and a half British battalions held four German divisions at bay for an entire day. This book examines not just the battle of Mons itself but also the ensuing British retreat including the actions at Le Cateau and Villers-Cotterêts. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/mons-1914-ospcam049-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994100/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The epic siege of the island fortress of the Knights Hospitaller by the huge Turkish Army of the Emperor Suliman is one of the most compelling stories in the history of the western world. The Turks amassed an army of 30,000 men, which doubled as the siege dragged on. The knights facing them totalled 500, along with 4,000 Maltese levies and 4,500 other troops. Tim Pickles describes how despite constant pounding by the massive Turkish guns and heavy casualties, the Knights managed to hold out. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/malta-1565-ospcam050-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994101/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On 5 November 1854 the Russians marched out of the besieged city of Sevastopol to throw off the allied British and French forces by mounting a joint attack with their troops from outside the city. Despite outnumbering their enemies five to one the Russians failed to achieve victory in what looked to be almost a foregone conclusion. The third major action of the Crimean War (following Alma and Balaclava), the battle fought in heavy fog at Inkerman proved to be a testament to the skill and initiative of the individual men and officers of the British Army of the day. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/inkerman-1854-ospcam051-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994102/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The Confederate invasion of the Northern states was General Lees last great gamble. By taking the war to the Union he hoped to force Lincoln into peace negotiations, or win support from the European powers who were watching events closely from across the Atlantic. Equally, Meades Army of the Potomac needed to regain its fighting credibility after the setbacks of Fredericksburg and saw this as an opportunity to redeem its honour. The clash of 150,000 soldiers from both sides would ultimately decide the fate of a nation. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/gettysburg-1863-ospcam052-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994103/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST By 1481 Granada was the last Islamic enclave in Catholic Spain. Granadas last ruler, Muhammad XII Boadbil, faced the might of the Spanish royal army revitalised and lavishly equipped with modern artillery. Despite this mismatch of strength it took 11 years of hard campaigning before the Spanish troops could bring their guns to bear on the walls of Granada. After this the outcome could not be long delayed. Andalusia, the physical embodiment of the flowering Islamic culture in Spain, was snuffed out. The commanders, forces, plans and campaign itself are all examined closely in this superbly illustrated account of Los Reyes Catolicos greatest victory.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/granada-1492-92-ospcam053-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994104/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The first major battle in the Western theatre of the American Civil War, Shiloh came as a horrifying shock to both the American public and those in arms. For the first time they had some idea of the terrible price that would be paid for the preservation of the Union. On 6 April 1862 General Albert Sidney Johnston caught Grant and Sherman by surprise and very nearly drove them into the River Tennessee, but was mortally wounded in the process. Somehow Grant and Sherman hung on and the next day managed to drive back the hordes of grey-clad rebels. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/shiloh-1862-ospcam054-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994105/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Following the debacle of the battle of Fredricksburg in December 1862, Burnside was replaced as commander of the Army of the Potomac by General Joseph Hooker. Having reorganised the army and improved morale, he planned an attack that would take his army to Richmond and end the war. Although faced by an army twice his size, the Confederate commander Robert E. Lee split his forces: Jubal Early was left to hold off Sedgwicks Fredericksburg attack, and Stonewall Jackson was sent with 26,000 men in a wide envelopment around Hookers right flank. This title details how at dusk on May 2, Jacksons men crashed into the Federal right flank, and how stiffening Federal resistance slowed the Confederate advance the next day. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/chancellorsville-1863-ospcam055-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994106/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In the Spring of 1809, the Austrian army, buoyant and full of new-found patriotic fervour, rolled across the frontier with Bavaria. The time had come to exact revenge for the humiliating defeat suffered at Austerlitz. But ten days later, harassed by ceaseless rain, they were streaming back from the Abens river with Napoleon in hot pursuit. Napoleon had not been in the front line when Austria had launched its campaign - and the French and their German allies had blundered backwards and forwards across the Bavarian countryside. But, with the appearance of Napoleon, Archduke Charles lost the initiative. Based for the first time upon the Austrian primary sources, this title takes the reader through the various clashes of this significant campaign.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/eggmuhl-1809-ospcam056-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994107/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Labelled a splendid little war by Senator John Hay, the Spanish American War was a peculiar event in Americas history, provoked as much by the press as by political pressures. Here, aided by superbly detailed maps and artwork, the author deals with the clashes at Las Guasimas and El Caney, the capture of San Juan Hill, and the naval battle and siege of Santiago. The war was to mark the end of Spanish sovereignty in her New World, and the establishment of the United States of America as a world power.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/san-juan-hill-ospcam057-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994108/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In the autumn of 1914 the original British Expeditionary Force faced a heavily reinforced German drive. Field Marshal Sir John French, the British Commander-in-Chief, had sent his men north in an attempt to take the fight into Flanders, so they could fight across open ground. History tells us that this was not to be the case. David Lomas chronicles the first of the trench-warfare battles, where lines that would remain almost static for the rest of the war were established. Although the Germans failed to reach the channel ports, the death knell had rung for the BEF, which was virtually wiped out in this brave defence.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/first-ypres-1914-ospcam058-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994109/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Despite Wellingtons success against Marmonts army at Salamanca in July, the year of 1812 ended in bitter disappointment for the British. However, a year later Wellingtons series of brilliant manoeuvres threw the French onto the defensive on all fronts, culminating in the final victory at Vittoria: 90,000 men and 90 guns attacking in four mutually supporting columns. The French centre gave way and both flanks were turned, their army finally breaking in flight towards Pamplona. Any French hopes of maintaining their position in the Peninsular were crushed forever. On 7 October the British set foot on the sacred soil of Napoleons France.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/vittoria-1813-ospcam059-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994110/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The last major Republican offensive of the Spanish Civil war, the Battle of the Ebro was a vitally important episode in the Spanish conflict and, although ultimately a Republican defeat it proved a severe setback for the Nationalist forces under General Francesco Franco Bahamonde. According to many historians it extended the war for an extra year. Ultimately however it was probably the death knell of the Republic; their armies lost vast amounts of men and materials and they were left incapable of defending their remaining territory effectively. The consequences for Europe were immense.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/the-ebro-1938-ospcam060-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994111/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST December 7, 1941 was one of the single most decisive days of World War II - the day that brought the USA into the fight. Six Japanese aircraft carriers disgorged their full complements in two waves on the superior US Pacific Fleet as it lay slumbering in Pearl Harbor. Depending on opposing viewpoints, the attack was either a brilliant maneuver of audacious strategy, or a piece of unparalleled villainy and deception by a supposedly friendly power. This revised edition, containing the latest research on the events of December 7, 1941, reveals several previously unknown aspects of the attack and dispels key myths that have been built up around the fateful day - a day, Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared, that would live in infamy. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/pearl-harbor-1941-ospcam062-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994112/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In December 1862, things were still confused for the Union. Antietam had been a failure for both sides, and although the battle showed that the Union army could bring the Confederates to bay, it couldnt pin them in one place long enough to destroy them. In December 1862, General Burnside, newly appointed to command the Army of the Potomac, planned to seize and secure the town of Fredericksburg, and then take the Confederate capital of Richmond. Carl Smiths book details the epic struggle that engulfed the Union side as it crossed the Rappahannock on December 11, encountering stiff opposition from Lees men.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/fredericksburg-1862-ospcam063-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994113/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The storming of Badajoz was an epic action which involved Wellingtons infantry in some of the most savage hand-to hand fighting of the whole Peninsular War. At appalling cost in a nightmare assault during the night of the 6 April 1812, Wellingtons soldiers hacked their way over the bodies of their dead and wounded and through the huge medieval walls of the town. These were held with great tenacity, skill and courage by a resolute French and German garrison. Having stormed the town the battle-crazed army went berserk and the horrors of the sacking which followed, as much as the sublime courage of the attackers, have passed into legend.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/badajoz-1812-ospcam065-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994114/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The battle of Bosworth effectively put an end to the dynastic struggle known as the Wars of the Roses. Guiding the reader from the campaigns origins to its aftermath, and covering the commanders and forces of King Richard III and Henry Tudor, this is a complete treatment of one of the most important events in English history. Shakespeare was to immortalize the battle and Richards death in Richard III, and the life and reign of the last Plantagenet have sparked centuries of debate. Christopher Gravett cuts through myth and propaganda as he clearly details the course of this pivotal campaign.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/bosworth-1485-ospcam066-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994115/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The Saratoga campaign was a watershed, and is widely believed to have been the turning point of the American War of Independence. For the first time British regulars were beaten in open battle by equal numbers of Americans. The Continentals bore the brunt of the fighting, supported by hordes of militia who proved adept at attacking detachments or lines of communication.The after-shock in America (on both sides) and Europe transformed a civil war into a global struggle against the two colonial superpowers of the day, France and Spain, and eventually lost George III his American colonies.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/saratoga-1777-ospcam067-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994116/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The Thirty Years War, a religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants, raged across Europe between 1618 and 1648, devastating huge areas of Germany. By 1632 the Protestant powers were in a desperate situation until King Gustavus Adolphus II of Sweden, the Lion of the North, came to their rescue. This book describes how, having smashed one of the two main Catholic armies, he faced the other at Lützen near Leipzig in November 1632. In a nightmare battle fought in thick fog, his Swedish troops locked horns with the Imperial army. It was a bloody clash, in which Gustavus himself demonstrated true courage at the head of his cavalry - and one for which he would pay the ultimate price.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/lutzen-1632-clash-of-empires-ospcam068-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994117/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST When Portuguese traders took advantage of the constant violence in Japan to sell the Japanese their first firearms, one of the quickest to take advantage of this new technology was the powerful daimyo Oda Nobunaga. In 1575 the impetuous Takeda Katsuyori laid siege to Nagashino castle, a possession of Nobunagas ally, Tokugawa Ieyasu. An army was despatched to relieve the siege, and the two sides faced each other across the Shidarahara. The Takeda samurai were brave, loyal and renowned for their cavalry charges, but Nobunaga, counting on Katsuyoris impetuosity, had 3,000 musketeers waiting behind prepared defences for their assault. The outcome of this clash of tactics and technologies was to change the face of Japanese warfare forever.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/nagashino-1575-ospcam069-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994118/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Having returned from Egypt and seized power as First Consul, Napoleon led the Army of the Reserve against the Austrian Army besieging Genoa. After a period of skirmishing and manoeuvring, Melas, the Austrian commander, launched a surprise attack on the morning of 14 June. The attack initially drove the French back to Marengo village and, despite committing the Consular Guard, by 3pm the French were retreating. Believing he had won, the wounded Melas left the field to his Chief-of-Staff, Zach. The timely arrival of Desaixs Division led by Kellermans cavalry and the 9e Légère threw the Austrians into confusion, turned the battle in Napoleons favour, thus securing his position as First Consul. It could have been very different.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/marengo-1800-ospcam070-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994119/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The Battle of Crecy was the first major land battle of the Hundred Years War. It pitted the French army, then considered the best in Europe, and their miscellaneous allies against the English under King Edward III and the `Black Prince, who as yet had no great military reputation; this was the battle where he `won his spurs. The Genoese crossbowmen were outshot by the English longbows and the pattern was set for the rest of the day: the French cavalry were committed piecemeal in fruitless charges against strong English positions, losing perhaps 10,000 men in the course of the fighting. After almost a millennium in which cavalry had dominated the field of battle, the infantryman, and particularly the longbowman, now ruled supreme.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/crecy-1346-ospcam071-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994120/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The only major fleet engagement of World War I, the Battle of Jutland has been surrounded by controversy ever since. The British public felt Admiral Jellicoe had failed - a reaction rooted in a hundred years of the Nelson cult, a conviction that anything short of a Trafalgar-style annihilation was letting the side down. True, the German Fleet had sunk more ships and suffered fewer casualties, but the British had forced them to disengage and run for port and were still cruising off Denmark spoiling for a fight. This title recounts in detail how on an early summers evening in 1916, the two fleets clashed head to head: the events that followed would spark a polemic that still rages today. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/jutland-1916-ospcam072-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994121/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Known as the last great stand-up fight of the Second World War the battle for the Rhineland was brutal in the extreme. Eisenhowers broad front policy called for the whole of the Rhineland to be taken before pushing his troops across the Rhine and into Germany itself. The Germans opened the Roer dams in a vain bid to temper this massive Allied offensive and this called for a drastic change in tactics. The ensuing battle was characterised by amphibious assaults on the fortified villages of the flooded Rhine lowlands, frontal assaults on the much vaunted Siegfried Line and the grim fighting for the Reichswald Forest. It was to be the last great killing ground in the west.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/the-rhineland-1945-ospcam074-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994122/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In the wake of the defeat in Normandy in the summer of 1944, Hitler planned to stymie the Allied advance by cutting off Pattons Third Army in the Lorraine with a great Panzer offensive. But Pattons aggressive tactics continued to thwart German plans and led to a series of violent armored battles. The battle-hardened Wehrmacht confronted the better-equipped and better-trained US Army. The Germans managed to re-establish a fragile defensive line but could not stop the US Army from establishing bridgeheads over the Moselle along Germanys western frontier. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/lorraine-1944-ospcam075-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994123/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On 5 July 1758 General Abercrombys expedition against Fort Carillon set off from its camp. Within hours, tragedy struck. Some rangers ran into a French scouting party and in the fierce skirmish that followed Lord Howe, the darling of the army, was shot through the heart. The army was shattered at the loss, but Abercromby went to pieces. He decided to attack Montcalms completed breastworks head-on. Battalion after battalion was sacrificed, the most famous of these hopeless assaults being that of the Black Watch. With the failure of his plan and the exhaustion of his army Abercromby retreated to the foot of Lake George - Montcalm had saved Canada, with Abercrombys help.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ticonderoga-1758-ospcam076-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994124/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll was defended by the elite troops of the Special Naval Landing Force, whose commander, Admiral Shibasaki, boasted that the Americans could not take Tarawa with a million men in a hundred years. In a pioneering amphibious invasion, the Marines of the 2nd Division set out to prove him wrong, overcoming serious planning errors to fight a 76-hour battle of unprecedented savagery. The cost would be more than 3000 Marine casualties at the hands of a garrison of some 3700. The lessons learned would dispel forever any illusions that Americans had about the fighting quality of the Japanese.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/tarawa-1943-ospcam077-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994125/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST This title details the epic four-month siege of the city of Constantinople, last vestige of the once mighty Roman and Byzantine Empires. Mehmet The Conqueror led an army of 80,000 men with a massive siege train against the city. Defending were a mere 10,000 men under the Emperor Constantine XI. The Turkish artillery battered the ancient city walls mercilessly, levelling a large section. A gallant defence held off the massive Turkish assault for several hours. Refusing appeals to flee, Constantine returned to the breaches and fought until overwhelmed and killed. Thus died the last Emperor of the Byzantines, and with him his once glorious empire.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/constantinople-1453-ospcam078-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994126/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Louisbourg represented a major threat to Anglo-American plans to invade Canada. Bypassing it would leave an immensely powerful enemy base astride the Anglo-American lines of communication - Louisbourg had to be taken. Faced with strong beach defences and rough weather, it took six days to land the troops, and it was only due to a stroke of daring on the part of a young brigadier named James Wolfe, who managed to turn the French beach position, that this was achieved. The story is largely based on firsthand accounts from the journals of several participants, including French Governor Drucours, whose excellent account has never been published.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/louisbourg-1758-ospcam079-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994127/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In March 1941, with Wavells British troops having routed the Italians from Cyrenaica, General Erwin Rommel arrived in Tripoli to command the Deutsches Afrikakorps. Over the next two years the Afrikakorps and its commander would become legendary. In his first offensive, Rommel swept across the desert, driving the British back to the Egyptian frontier and capturing much of the 2nd Armoured Division in the process. One thorn remained in his side - the vital port of Tobruk continued to resist. If it could hold out Rommels offensive might be halted. Wavell instructed General Morshead and his garrison of 30,000 determined Australians to hold at all cost. The scene was set for one of the epic struggles of the desert war.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/tobruk-1941-ospcam080-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994128/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST One of the decisive battles of the Second World War in the Pacific, Iwo Jima was described by Lieutenant-General Holland Smith, Commander Fleet Marine Forces Pacific, as The most savage and most costly battle in the history of the Marine Corps - a titanic struggle that eclipsed all that had gone before. Situated halfway along the B-29 Superfortress route to the Japanese mainland, the island was of major strategic importance to the US Air Force, but also to the Japanese, 20,000 of whom were deeply entrenched in the island. This book provides a definitive account of the battle, from its origins to its hard-fought conclusion. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/iwo-jima-1945-ospcam081-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994129/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST This, the first ever Osprey campaign title to deal with the English Civil War, looks at the battle of Edgehill, the first major clash of the Wars. In 1642 both Royalists and Parliamentarians expected that one great contest of arms would see the crushing of their enemies. When their field armies blundered into contact on the evening of 22 October 1642, Prince Rupert urged King Charles to array his army on the great ridge of Edgehill and give battle. The next day, amidst abject cowardice and absolute courage, the tide of battle swept Ruperts cavalry to triumph, but saw victory snatched away as the Royalist infantry was hurled back by the defiant Parliamentarians. The chance for decisive victory was lost and the bloody civil war raged on.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/edgehill-1642-ospcam082-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994130/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The retreat to Corunna is one of the epic campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars. Late in 1808 Sir John Moore found himself virtually alone with his small British army deep inside Spain. The armies of his Spanish allies had been overwhelmed and he faced a victorious French force under the Emperor Napoleon. He had little option but to order a retreat to the port of Corunna. This became the most arduous of trials with armies traversing mountainous terrain over appalling roads in the depths of winter. Somehow Moore held his outnumbered, exhausted men together as they struggled to reach safety. Finally at Corunna Moores army turned to face its tormentors. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/corunna-1809-ospcam083-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994131/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Never, except in the battle of Cannae, had there been so destructive a slaughter recorded in our annals. Thus the Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus recorded the battle of Adrianople, which spelled the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire. Such a crushing Roman defeat by Gothic cavalry proved to the Empire, as well as to the Goths themselves, that the migratory barbarians were a force to be reckoned with. This book tells the story of the misguided Roman plans and the surprise attack of Gothic cavalry, and puts forward the most recent theories as to the true location of the battlefield.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/adrianople-378-ospcam084-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994132/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In 1900 a violent rebellion swept northern China - the Boxer Rebellion. The Boxers were a secret society who sought to rid their country of the pernicious influence of the foreign powers who had gradually acquired a stranglehold on China. With the connivance of the Imperial Court they laid siege to the legation quarter of Peking. Trapped inside were an assortment of diplomats, civilians and a small number of troops. They were all Sir Claude Macdonald, the British Minister in Peking, had to defend against thousands of hostile Boxers and Imperial troops. It would now be a race against time. Could the rag-tag defenders hold out long enough for the gathering relief force to reach them? This book describes the desperate series of events as the multinational force rushed to their rescue.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/peking-1900-ospcam085-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994133/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The thwarted invasion of England by the Spanish Armada is studied here in fascinating detail. How, in a few short days, Philip IIs fleet was stopped from invading England and forced into full retreat is looked at in a new and unique way. With the help of battle plans and birds eye views of the action, leading historian Angus Konstam considers many of the intriguing questions surrounding the campaign, concluding with details of how the Armadas disastrous return voyage around Scotland and Ireland became one of the most tragic episodes in maritime history. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/the-armada-campaign-1588-ospcam086-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994134/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Following the disastrous Russian campaign of 1812, Napoleon found himself facing a new coalition of his old enemies. With incredible speed he raised an army of 200,000 men and marched to join the remnants of the old Grande Armee in Germany. However, he no longer faced the brittle enemies of 1805 and 1806 and at Lützen on 2 May the inexperience of his new army began to show. Faulty reconnaissance by raw cavalry allowed Neys Corps to be surprised by Wittgensteins Russians. This book describes the last realistic chance Napoleon had to regain his empire by defeating the allies in Germany before Austria stirred and the tide turned even more against him.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/lutzen-bautzen-1813-ospcam087-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994135/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST One of the most decisive months of World War II was the 30 days between 25 July and 25 August 1944. After the success of the D-Day landings, the Allied forces found themselves bogged down in a bloody stalemate in Normandy. On 25 July General Bradley launched Operation Cobra to break the deadlock. US forces punched a hole in the German frontline and began a spectacular advance. As Pattons Third Army poured into Brittany and raced south to the Loire, the German army was threatened with encirclement. By the end of August German forces in Normandy were utterly destroyed, and the remaining German units in central and southern France were in headlong retreat to the German frontier. In this title Steve Zaloga explains how the breakout from Normandy came about.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/operation-cobra-1944-ospcam088-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994136/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On the morning of 6 March 1836 around 1,100 Mexican soldiers under Generalissimo Santa Anna stormed a small mission outside San Antonio, Texas, and slaughtered the garrison of around 200 Texans. It was not a large battle but its significance vastly outweighed its size for the name of the mission was the Alamo. Less than two months later Santa Annas force was smashed at San Jacinto by a volunteer army whose battle cry was Remember the Alamo. Stephen L Hardin details the climactic 1836 campaign which won Texas her independence.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/the-alamo-1836-ospcam089-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994137/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On 2 August 1808 a British army of 14,000 men began landing north of Lisbon under the command of Sir Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington. They were coming to assist the Portuguese, Britains oldest ally, to liberate their country from its French occupiers. Within a month Wellesley was to win two victories over the French at the battles of Roliça and Vimeiro. General Andoche Junot, the French commander, was forced to surrender and evacuate Portugal. René Chartrand examines the first of Wellesleys string of victories in the Peninsular War.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/vimeiro-1808-ospcam090-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994138/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In May of 1757 Frederick the Great invaded Bohemia, smashed an Austrian army outside Prague and bottled it up in the city. The Empress Maria Theresa despatched Marshal Daun with 60,000 men to save the Empires second city. Frederick had won a string of victories over the Austrians and was convinced his men would always triumph. Although outnumbered he attacked, but the Austrians were waiting. His army was defeated and forced to withdraw. As his veterans commented, they were not the same old Austrians at all. Simon Millar shows how Fredericks overconfidence proved his undoing at Kolin.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/kolin-1757-ospcam091-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994139/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The raid on the port of St Nazaire in March 1942 by a sea-borne task force from British Combined Operations remains one of the most daring actions of World War II. The port lies at the mouth of the River Loire and in 1942, as well as a U-Boat base, contained the massive Normandie dock, the only facility on the Atlantic coast large enough to accommodate the German pocket battleship Tirpitz. This book tells the story of the raid on St Nazaire that denied the use of the dock to the Tirpitz, the sister ship of the Bismarck, and constituted a crucial victory in the Battle of the Atlantic.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/st-nazaire-1942-ospcam092-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994140/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On 21 February 1916 German General Erich von Falkenhayn unleashed his hammer-blow offensive against the French fortress city of Verdun. His aim was nothing short of the destruction of the French army. Falkenhayn was sure that the symbolic value of Verdun was such that the French would be `compelled to throw in every man they have. He was equally sure that `if they do so the forces of France will bleed to death. The massed batteries of German guns would smash the French troops in their trenches and bunkers. But the French hung on with immense courage and determination and the battle became a bloody war of attrition. This title describes the destructive events of this pivotal First World War battle. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/verdun-1916-ospcam093-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994141/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In 1415 King Henry V of England invaded France and won an overwhelming victory at the Battle of Agincourt. Following his victory, the English conquered a large part of northern France, and by 1429 were besieging the city of Orléans. In this darkest hour, Frances fortunes were transformed by the inspirational leadership of a young woman, Jeanne dArc (Joan of Arc). Within four months the French had broken the siege and won a great victory at the battle of Patay over the previously invincible English. This book examines the crucial campaign which marked the turning point of the Hundred Years War.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/orleans-1429-ospcam094-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994142/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST There never was such a campaign, not even by Napoleon wrote Confederate General Pender of the Second Manassas campaign in which the gray-bearded Virginian, Robert E Lee, came as close as he ever would to exterminating his Northern enemies. In so doing, Lee established himself as the Souths pre-eminent military commander and the Army of Northern Virginia as its most powerful weapon. The fighting in northern Virginia left Union General John Popes career in tatters and proved the South was a power to be reckoned with. This books powerful account demonstrates that during that fateful summer of 1862 Lees soldiers were fighting for anything but a lost cause.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/second-manassas-1862-ospcam095-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994143/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST By the spring of 1945 the Allies were sweeping all before them in the Pacific War against Japan, and a series of victories had reclaimed many of the islands and territories seized by the Imperial Japanese forces in the early months of the war. The dark days of humiliating defeat were far behind the unstoppable Allied juggernaut - victory was now assured. The question was where the last battle would be fought. That place was the island of Okinawa. This book details the struggle for the island as US Marines and Army units battled determined Japanese defenders in the last battle of World War II.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/okinawa-1945-ospcam096-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994144/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST By 1810, Napoleon reigned supreme over most of continental Europe. But the Iberian Peninsula remained unsubdued, particularly Portugal, which continued to resist. Napoleon ordered Marshal Masséna to crush this resistance with the Army of Portugal. Greatly strengthened, Massénas army would drive the Portuguese and British into the sea. Facing the French were 60,000 British and Portuguese troops. No-one knew how the Portuguese would perform in battle, but on 27 September 1810, they received their baptism of fire. This title details the gruelling Bussaco campaign as French attempts to subdue Portugal reached their climax.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/bussaco-1810-ospcam097-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994145/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In 1221, Genghiz, Great Khan of the Mongols, ordered an armed reconnaissance expedition into Russia commanded by Sübodei Bahadur and Jebei Noyon The Arrow. The consequences for the history of Europe were incalculable. The decisive Mongol victory at Kalka River, opened up vast regions of Russia and Eastern Europe to Mongol conquest. Genghiz ordered his victorious army to return eastwards, delaying the final cataclysm by a few years. Genghiz died in 1227, but within 10 years his son Ogedei ordered a return to Russia to complete the conquest. This title details the events of the dramatic Kalka River campaign.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/kalka-river-1223-ospcam098-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994146/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In October 1810 the Allied position in Portugal appeared precarious. Despite defeating Marshal Massénas French army at Bussaco, Wellington had been forced to retreat to within a few miles of Lisbon. Here the French encountered a massive line of fortifications stretching from the River Tagus to the sea. Built amid great secrecy and on Wellingtons specific orders, these Lines of Torres Vedras were the French high-water mark. In February, with his army on the point of starvation, Masséna was forced to retreat and the scene was set for the climactic action of Fuentes de Oñoro. This book examines this crucial campaign culminating in the hard-fought battle that finally drove the French from Portugal.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/fuentes-de-onoro-1811-ospcam099-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994147/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The D-Day landings of 6 June 1944 were the largest amphibious military operation ever mounted. The greatest armada the world had ever seen was assembled to transport the Allied invasion force across the Channel and open the long-awaited second front against Hitlers Third Reich. Of the landings on the five assault beaches, Omaha Beach was the only one ever in doubt. Within moments of the first wave landing a third of the assault troops were casualties. Yet by the end of D-Day the Atlantic Wall had been breached and the US Armys V Corps was firmly entrenched on French soil. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/d-day-1944-1-omaha-beach-ospcam100-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994148/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST This all-new volume chronicles the events that climaxed on the field of Austerlitz in one of the most famous battles of history. Not only was it the first campaign Napoleon waged as Emperor of France, but also the first great test for his Grande Armée. The Emperor himself regarded it as his greatest victory and it undoubtedly won him a mastery of Europe that would remain unbroken for almost a decade. Most accounts of the campaign have until now been based almost exclusively on French sources, but following extensive research in the Austrian archives Ian Castle is now able to provide a far more balanced account of Austerlitz. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/austerlitz-1805-ospcam101-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994149/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Bannockburn was the climax of the career of King Robert the Bruce. In 1307 King Edward I of England, The Hammer of the Scots and nemesis of William Wallace, died and his son, Edward II, was not from the same mould. Idle and apathetic, he allowed the Scots the chance to recover from the grievous punishment inflicted upon them. By 1314 Bruce had captured every major English-held castle bar Stirling and Edward II took an army north to subdue the Scots. Pete Armstrongs account of this pivotal campaign culminates at the decisive battle of Bannockburn that finally won Scotland her independence. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/bannockburn-1314-ospcam102-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994150/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On 9 March 1862 the worlds first battle between two ironclad warships took place in the confined waters of Hampton Roads, Virginia. The previous day the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia, impervious to her enemys guns, had sunk two Union warships. When she re-emerged from Norfolk to complete the destruction of the Union blockading squadron the USS Monitor steamed out to meet her. The four-hour duel that ensued was a stalemate, but crucially the Virginia had failed to break the Northern blockade of the Southern ports. Nevertheless, in a single battle these two vessels rendered wooden warships obsolete and transformed the face of naval warfare forever.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/hampton-roads-1862-ospcam103-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994151/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On their western flank, the Allied landings on D-Day combined a parachute drop by the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions with an amphibious assault on Utah Beach by the US 4th Infantry Division. The landings came ashore in the wrong place but met weaker German resistance as a result. The heaviest fighting took place inland where the badly scattered paratroopers gradually gathered in small groups and made for their objectives. This book traces the story of D-Day on Utah beach, revealing how the infantry pushed inland and linked up with the Airborne troops in a beachhead five miles deep. Now the battle to break out and seize the key port of Cherbourg could begin.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/d-day-1944-2-utah-beach-the-us-airbourne-landings-ospcam104-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994152/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST At 0016hrs on 6 June 1944 a Horsa glider ground to a halt a mere 60 yards from the Orne Canal bridge at Bénouville in Normandy. A small group of British paratroopers burst from it and stormed the bridge within minutes. The Allied liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe had begun. Within a few hours landing craft would swarm towards Ouistreham as British 3rd Division stormed ashore at Sword Beach. The battle would then begin to break through to relieve the paratroopers. In the third of the D-Day volumes Ken Ford details the assault by British 6th Airborne Division and the British landings on Sword Beach that secured the vital left flank of the invasion. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/d-day-1944-3-sword-beach-b-ospcam105-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994153/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The final demise of Jacobitism amid the slaughter of the Highland clans on a cold and damp Culloden Moor in April 1746 is undoubtedly one of the most famous battles in British military history. It has also been, until recently, one of the least understood from both a military and political perspective. In this modern and highly detailed account, this book combines a thorough understanding of 18th century tactics, an intimate knowledge of the battlefield itself and a scandalously underused archive of contemporary material from both sides to provide a detailed, accurate and dramatic account of this controversial battle.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/irish-scottish-celtic/culloden-moor-1746-ospcam106-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994154/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 began World War II in Europe, pitting the newly modernized army of Europes great industrial power against the much smaller Polish army and introducing the world to a new style of warfare - Blitzkrieg. Panzer divisions spearheaded the German assault with Stuka dive-bombers prowling ahead spreading terror and mayhem. This book demonstrates how the Polish army was not as backward as it is often portrayed and fielded a tank force larger than that of the contemporary US Army. Its stubborn defence did give the Germans some surprises and German casualties were relatively heavy for such a short campaign. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/poland-1939-the-birth-of-the-ospcam107-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994155/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The story of the Marathon campaign is an epic of the Ancient World. When the Ionian Greeks revolted against their Persian overlords in 499BC, the cities of Athens and Eretria came to their aid. The Persian King Darius swore vengeance and in 490BC a fleet of 600 ships packed with troops was sent to take revenge on the Athenians. At Marathon the Greeks met the Persians in battle and drove them in rout back to their ships. The moral effect of this victory was enormous - for the first time a Greek army had defeated the Persians and demonstrated the superiority of hoplite tactics.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/marathon-490-bc-ospcam108-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994156/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST By the Spring of 1781, the American Revolutionary War had dragged on for almost six years and the outcome still hung in the balance. When the British commander Lord Cornwallis launched his invasion of North Carolina in early 1781, his objective was to destroy General Nathaniel Greenes American army. At Guilford Courthouse on 15 March 1781 the two armies met. In a desperately hard-fought battle the small but professional British army succeeded in fighting its way through three separate lines of American troops - but at a dreadful cost. Cornwallis lost over a quarter of his command. When news of the `victory reached Britain, a politician remarked; `Another such victory would ruin the British army. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/guilford-courthouse-1781-ospcam109-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994157/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Equalling Tarawa, Iwo Jima and Okinawa in scale and ferocity, the battle for Peleliu has long been regarded as the Pacific Wars forgotten battle, and perhaps one that should never have been fought. A massive carrier-based attack some weeks before the invasion destroyed all aircraft and shipping in the area and virtually isolated the Japanese garrison. 1st Marine Division commander, General Rupertus, made extravagant claims that the capture of Peleliu would only take three days - maybe two. But the Japanese fought a bloody battle of attrition from prepared positions an in a struggle of unprecedented savagery a whole Marine Division was bled white.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/peleliu-1944-ospcam110-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994158/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The battle of Isandlwana fought on 22 January 1879 was the greatest defeat suffered by the British Army during the Victorian era. A Zulu army of 24,000 warriors had moved undetected to within striking distance of the British camp in the shadow of Isandlwana Mountain. From the start the 1,700 defenders underestimated the danger descending upon them. They were swept aside with horrifying speed and the final stage of the battle consisted of desperate hand-to-hand fighting amid the British camp. Over 1,300 men were killed; scarcely 60 Europeans survived. Ian Knight employs new archaeological and historical research to provide a completely new interpretation of the course of the battle. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/victorian/isandlwana-1879-ospcam111-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994159/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy, was the greatest sea-borne military operation in history. At the heart of the invasion and key to its success were the landings of British 50th Division on Gold Beach and Canadian 3rd Division on Juno Beach. Not only did they provide the vital link between the landings of British 3rd Division on Sword Beach and the Americans to the west on Omaha, they would be crucial to the securing of the beachhead and the drive inland to Bayeux and Caen. In the fourth D-Day volume Ken Ford details the assault that began the liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/d-day-1944-4-gold-juno-bea-ospcam112-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994160/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST By the autumn of 1757 Frederick the Great was beset by enemies on all sides. The French had invaded the territory of his Anglo-Hanoverian allies, a Franco-Imperial army was threatening Saxony, an Austrian army 110,000-strong had marched into Silesia and even the ponderous Russians had moved against him. Then within a month Frederick transformed his fortunes. At Rossbach on 5 November he smashed the Franco-Imperial army in barely 11/2 hours. Force-marching to Silesia he won perhaps his greatest victory exactly a month later, crushing the Austrian Army at Leuthen. The Emperor Napoleon considered Fredericks lightning campaign `a masterpiece of manoeuvre and resolution.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/rossbach-and-leuthen-1757-ospcam113-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994161/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST For much of the 16th century the Mediterranean was a battleground between Christians and Muslims. A decisive battle between two large galley fleets was expected to decide the fate of the entire Mediterranean basin. In August 1571, an Ottoman fleet of some 235 galleys encountered the slightly smaller Christian fleet of the Holy League. In a five hour melee the Christians inflicted a decisive defeat on the Turks. Lepanto was the last great galley fight of all time and one of the most decisive naval battles in history. This book details the course of one of the most crucial military campaigns of the Renaissance. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/lepanto-1571-ospcam114-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994162/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The Battle of the Bulge was the largest and most costly battle fought by the US Army in World War II. The Ardennes fighting was Hitlers last gamble on the Western Front, crippling the Wehrmacht for the remainder of the war. In the first of two volumes on the Ardennes campaign Steven Zaloga details the fighting in the northern sector around St Vith and the Elsenborn Ridge. Sixth Panzer Army, containing the bulk of German Panzer strength, was expected to achieve the breakthrough here. It was the failure around St Vith that forced the Germans to look south towards Bastogne.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/battle-fo-the-bulge-1944-1-st-vith-and-the-northern-shoulder-ospcam115-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994163/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/newbury-1643-ospcam116-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994164/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The death of the last of the Scottish royal house of Canmore in 1290 triggered a succession crisis. Attempts to undermine Scottish independence by King Edward I of England sparked open rebellion culminating in an English defeat at the hands of William Wallace at Stirling Bridge in 1297. Edward gathered an army, marched north and at Falkirk on 22 July 1298 he brought Wallaces army to battle. Amid accusations of treachery, Wallaces spearmen were slaughtered by Edwards longbowmen, then charged by the English cavalry and almost annihilated. In 1305 Wallace was captured and executed, but the flame of rebellion he had ignited could not be extinguished.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/stirling-bridge-and-falkirk-1297-98-ospcam117-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994165/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST At 1345hrs on 6 October 1973, Israeli spotters in the observation post atop Mount Hermon saw Syrian gunners below them removing the camouflage nets from their guns. Ten minutes later shells began to rain down on Israeli positions all along the Golan Heights - The Yom Kippur War had begun. The shock Syrian attack caught the Israelis by surprise and by the afternoon of 7 October a Syrian brigade was less than 10km from the Sea of Galilee. Simon Dunstan describes in detail how amid desperate and bitter fighting the Israeli forces managed to turn the tide on the Golan Heights.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/the-yom-kippur-war-1973-1-ospcam118-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994166/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The entry of the Scots into the English Civil War on 19 January 1644 on the side of Parliament radically changed the balance of power in the North of England. The Royalists in the North were forced onto the defensive and besieged in York. In a bold march Prince Rupert outmanoeuvred his enemies and relieved York without a shot being fired. However, when Rupert met the allied army in battle on Marston Moor on 2 July his cavalry was defeated by Cromwells Ironsides who then turned on the Royalist infantry. The result was a hard-fought but catastrophic defeat; the Royalist army was crushed and their forces driven from the north of England.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/marston-moor-1644-ospcam119-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994167/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On a bitterly cold Palm Sunday, 29 March 1461, the army of King Edward IV met that of his Lancastrian enemies on a snow-covered battlefield south of the village of Towton in Yorkshire. The struggle lasted all day in the longest and bloodiest battle of the Wars of the Roses. With the arrival of Yorkist reinforcements under the Duke of Norfolk, the Lancastrian line eventually broke and their troops fled, many being caught and slaughtered in the death trap known as `Bloody Meadow. Christopher Gravett examines the campaign that marked the resurgence of the Yorkist cause and established Edward IV as king. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/towton-1461-ospcam120-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994168/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST `What a scene! wrote Horace Walpole. `An army in the night dragging itself up a precipice by stumps of trees to assault a town and attack an enemy strongly entrenched and double in numbers! In one short sharp exchange of fire Major-General James Wolfes men tumbled the Marquis de Montcalms French army into bloody ruin. Sir John Fortescue famously described it as the `most perfect volley ever fired on a battlefield. In this book Stuart Reid details how one of the British Armys consummate professionals literally beat the Kings enemies before breakfast and in so doing decided the fate of a continent.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/quebec-1759-ospcam121-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994169/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST By 1400 the long running conflict between the Order of Teutonic Knights and Poland and Lithuania was coming to a head, partly as a result of the Orders meddling in the internal politics of its neighbours. In June 1410 King Wladislaw Jagiello of Poland invaded the Orders territory with a powerful allied army including all the enemies of the Teutonic Knights - Poles, Lithuanians, Russians, Bohemians, Hungarians, Tartars and Cossacks. This book recounts how, when the armies clashed on the wooded, rolling hills near the small village of Tannenberg, the Teutonic Knights suffered a disastrous defeat from which their Order never recovered. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/tannenberg-1410-ospcam122-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994170/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In August 1644, at the height of the First English Civil War, John Graham, the Marquis of Montrose, raised the standard of Royalist rebellion in Scotland. In a single year he won a string of remarkable victories with his army of Irish mercenaries and Highland clansmen. His victory at Auldearn, the centrepiece of his campaign, was won only after a day-long struggle and heavy casualties on both sides. This book details the remarkable sequence of victories at Tippermuir, Aberdeen, Inverlochy, Auldearn and Kilsyth that left Montrose briefly in the ascendant in Scotland. However, his decisive defeat and surrender at Philiphaugh finally crushed the Royalist cause in Scotland. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/irish-scottish-celtic/auldearn-1645-ospcam123-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994171/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Following its humiliating defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run, General George B. McClellan took command of the Union Army of the Potomac. In the spring of 1862, having rebuilt his forces, the Little Napoleon devised a plan to end the war in a single campaign. Transporting his army by sea to the Virginia Peninsula, he would outflank Confederate forces and march unopposed on Richmond, the Southern capital. Excessive caution squandered the opportunity, however, and on 31 May the Confederates struck at McClellans divided forces at Fair Oaks. This book details McClellans controversial Peninsula campaign and the southern attempt to halt the Union juggernaut.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/fair-oaks-1862-ospcam124-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994172/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In January 1758 Count Wilhelm Fermor marched into East Prussia at the head of 45,000 Russians. Frederick the Great was dismissive of the Russian army and failed to take the threat seriously. With the Russians laying siege to the fortress of Cüstrin, Frederick crossed the River Oder and cut their supply lines. On 25 August the two armies met at Zorndorf. This book details the bitter day-long battle in which the Russian infantry refused to buckle. Casualties were horrific, the Russians losing almost half their army. Frederick had managed to stave off the Russian threat but his opinion of their army had changed dramatically. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/zorndorf-1758-ospcam125-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994173/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Israels victory in the 1967 `Six Day War sowed the seeds of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. At 1400hrs on 6 October 1973 the Egyptian army launched an assault crossing of the Suez Canal. The carefully co-ordinated attack achieved complete tactical surprise. The sand embankments of the Israeli Bar-Lev Line were breached and an Israeli counterattack thrown back with heavy losses. In the second of his two-volume analysis of the Yom Kippur War, Simon Dunstan details the fighting in the Sinai, culminating in Operation Gazelle, the Israeli counterattack across the Suez Canal. Although defeated militarily Egypt did ultimately succeed in forcing the Israelis back to the negotiating table.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/the-yom-kippur-war-1973-2-t-ospcam126-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994174/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The Dieppe raid of August 1942 is one of the most controversial actions of World War II. Operation `Jubilee was a frontal assault on a fortified port landing the latest equipment and armour directly on to the beach. The main force would destroy the port facilities while other smaller landings dealt with anti-aircraft and coastal batteries. The raid itself turned into a fiasco. The assault force was pinned down on the beach and three quarters of the 5,000 troops landed were lost. This book analyses the disastrous raid and examines contrasting conclusions drawn by the Allies and the Germans.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/dieppe-1942-ospcam127-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994175/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The American attack on Quebec in 1775 was a key episode in the War of Independence. Capture of the city would give the Americans control of Canada - a disaster for the British. The subsequent campaign involved a 350-mile trek across uninhabited wilderness, a desperate American attack on the city of Quebec that left one American general dead and another wounded, and a British counterattack that culminated in a brutal naval battle off Valcour Island on Lake Champlain. In this book Brendan Morrissey details the events of this ferocious struggle whose results would have such momentous consequences at Saratoga in 1777.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/quebec-1775-ospcam128-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994176/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Operation Barbarossa, Germanys surprise assault on the Soviet Union in June 1941, aimed at nothing less than the complete destruction of Communist Russia. This book focuses on Field Marshal von Rundstedt and Army Group South, tasked with the capture of the Ukraine and Crimea. Von Rundstedts 46 divisions and single Panzer Group faced fierce resistance from the best equipped, trained and commanded units in the Red Army, but ultimately succeeded in destroying the Soviet 6th and 12th Armies at Uman before inflicting a further 600,000 casualties at Kiev. Here, von Rundstedts five-month advance to Rostov is examined in detail.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/operation-barbarossa-1941-1-army-group-south-ospcam129-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994177/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Kawanakajima is unique in history. In the space of 12 years, between 1553 and 1564, this valley deep in the mountains of central Japan witnessed no fewer than five battles between two of Japans greatest warlords. Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin were both descended from great families and were highly skilled tacticians. Both had taken the tonsure and risen to high rank in their respective Buddhist sects. When Shingen attempted to seize control of Shinano province they were set on a collision course. Stephen Turnbull chronicles the see-saw struggle between two men who epitomize the warrior daimyo from Japans `Warring States period. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/kawanakajima-1553-64-ospcam130-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994178/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In this book Christopher Gravett details the climactic events of 1471 and the battle that virtually extinguished the Lancastrian cause. After the crushing Yorkist victory at Towton in 1461, King Edward IV appeared to have triumphed in Englands bloody Wars of the Roses. The Lancastrian King Henry VI was even a prisoner in the Tower of London. By 1470, however, Edwards erstwhile ally the Earl of Warwick - The `Kingmaker - had joined the Lancastrians and a final reckoning was inevitable. Warwick perished at Barnet in April 1471, and on 4 May Edward confronted his enemies, including Edward, Prince and last hope of the House of Lancaster, at Tewkesbury. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/tewkesbury-1471-ospcam131-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994179/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In 1095 the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I appealed to the Christian states of western Europe for help against the Turks who had swept across the Empire after the disastrous Byzantine defeat at Manzikert in 1071. This book is about the First Crusade that followed, and saw several armies of `armed pilgrims march across Europe to the Holy Land. They were unleashed on a divided and fragmented Islamic world and won a series of apparently miraculous victories, capturing the Holy City of Jerusalem itself. The success of the First Crusade was never to be repeated, however, and triggered two centuries of bitter warfare, the repercussions of which are still felt today.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/the-first-crusade-1096-99-ospcam132-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994180/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST When General Robert E. Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia, the Confederacy was in crisis. Lee changed all that in a brilliant, week-long campaign. On 26 June the Confederates struck, fighting two hard-fought battles in two days at Mechanicsville and Gaines Mill. The ferocity of the Confederate assaults convinced McClellan that he was outnumbered. Unable to keep the Confederates at bay, the Union army was recalled to Washington. Despite losing a quarter of his men, Lee had saved Richmond, and inflicted a humiliating defeat on the Army of the Potomac. This book traces the course of this short yet crucial campaign.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/seven-days-battles-ospcam133-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994181/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The battle for Cassino was probably the most bitter struggle of the entire Italian campaign. The dominating peak of Montecassino crowned by its magnificent but doomed medieval monastery was the key to the entire Gustav Line, a formidable system of defences that stretched right across the Italian peninsula. This position completely dominated the Liri valley and Route 6, the strategically vital road to Rome. Between January and May 1944 the Allies struggled amid inhospitable terrain and dreadful weather to dislodge the German paratroops that tenaciously defended the vital mountaintop. Ken Fords book details the dramatic events of the battle to break the Gustav Line.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/cassino-1944-ospcam134-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994182/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The battle of Monmouth Courthouse was not only the last major action in the Northern theater, it was also the longest and hardest-fought engagement of the entire Revolutionary War. When the British abandoned Philadelphia to return to New York City, American troops harassed their retreat. On the morning of 28 June 1778, General Lee, George Washingtons lieutenant, attacked the British rearguard but his attack went badly wrong. The British rearguard, now reinforced, threw Lees troops into a headlong retreat. Lee was relieved of his command and Washingtons Continentals then stood toe-to-toe with the British, bloodily repulsing a series of powerful attacks by crack troops. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/monmouth-courthouse-1778-ospcam135-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994183/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In the spring of 1944, Japanese 15th Army was shattered at Imphal and Kohima, allowing General William Slim, commander of 14th Army, to liberate Burma overland from India - a task considered impossible by the British chiefs of staff. Overcoming immense logistical problems, Slim coordinated a precisely timed attack along a 200-mile front, the longest opposed river crossing of the entire war, and an armored dash behind enemy lines that seized Meiktila, cutting Japanese supply lines. Mandalay fell and at the end of March 1945, with the battle lost, the Japanese withdrew south. Slim gave them no chance; Allied troops raced south and captured Rangoon. The Japanese army in Burma was finished.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/meiktila-1945-ospcam136-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994184/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The 1944 invasion of Saipan was the first two-division amphibious assault conducted by US forces in World War II. Saipan and Tinian had been under Japanese control since 1914 and, heavily colonized, they were considered virtually part of the Empire. The struggle for Saipan and Tinian was characterized by the same bitter fighting that typified the entire Central Pacific campaign. Fighting side-by-side, Army and Marine units witnessed the largest tank battle of the Pacific War, massed Japanese banzai charges, and the horror of hundreds of Japanese civilians committing suicide to avoid capture. In this book Gordon Rottman details the capture of these vital islands that led to the collapse of Prime Minister Tojos government.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/saipan-tinian-1944-ospcam137-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994185/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST When Edward the Black Prince marched out of Gascony in August 1356, his plan was to carry out a large-scale destructive raid into the territory of the French King, John II. On 18 September, however, he was cornered south of Poitiers by a larger French army, and was left with little option but to fight. The ensuing battle proved an unmitigated disaster for the French. Their army was butchered and the King himself captured. In this volume, Dr David Nicolle details a campaign that enhanced the reputation of the Black Prince and led King John to catastrophe.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/poitiers-1356-ospcam138-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994186/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The island of Guam was the first Allied territory lost to the Japanese onslaught in 1941. On 10 December 5,000 Japanese troops landed on Guam, defended by less than 500 US and Guamanian troops, the outcome was beyond doubt. On 21 July 1944 America returned. In a risky operation, the two US landing forces came ashore seven miles apart and it was a week before the beachheads linked up. Only the battles for Iwo Jima and Okinawa would cost the Americans more men than the landings on Guam and Saipan, which immediately preceded the Guam operation. In this book Gordon Rottman details the bitter 26-day struggle for this key Pacific island.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/guam-1941-1944-ospcam139-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994187/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On 9 July 1755 amid the wilderness of North America, Britain suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in her history. General Braddocks army, a mixture of British regulars and American militia, was shattered, losing over 900 men from a force of 1,300. Braddock was killed and the remnants of his army rescued by his aide, Colonel George Washington. The origins of this defeat can be traced back to the death of a junior French officer little more than a year before in a relatively minor skirmish with a party of Virginian militia commanded by the same George Washington. René Chartrand examines the subsequent chain of events that ultimately sparked a world war.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/monongahela-1754-55-ospcam140-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994188/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Combining one of historys most audacious strategic manoeuvres with perhaps the greatest military victory ever won by a British commander, the Blenheim campaign is rightly considered the pinnacle of the career of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. On 13 August 1704, Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy faced a Franco-Bavarian army threatening to knock Austria out of the War of the Spanish Succession. In a hard-fought battle Marlborough won a resounding victory, capturing Marshal Tallard and over 14,000 men. In this book John Tincey describes how Marlboroughs victory crushed his enemies, shattered the myth of French invincibility and laid the foundations for two centuries of British world dominance.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/blenheim-1704-ospcam141-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994189/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Having already allied with his father, the Scots acceptance of Charles II as king in 1649 caused deep suspicion in England. In July 1650, Oliver Cromwell led a powerful force across the Scottish border to remove the problem. For six weeks Cromwell waged a frustrating campaign against a Scots enemy that refused to meet him in battle. By the beginning of September Cromwells army, poorly supplied, exhausted and ravaged by sickness, was apparently trapped at Dunbar by a powerful Scots army. On 3 September he won his greatest military victory just outside the town, but in this book Stuart Reid suggests that his triumph may in fact have begun as a breakout attempt.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/dunbar-1650-ospcam142-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994190/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST One of the key objectives of British forces on D-Day was the capture of the strategically vital city of Caen. General Montgomery saw Caen as the key to Normandy and the springboard for the Allied breakout, but so did the Germans and the city did not fall. It took three major offensives and more than 30 bloody days of struggle to finally take Caen. In the process the city was controversially devastated and its civilian population decimated. The Allies paid a high price for Caen but the horrific German casualties bled their forces in Normandy white and helped open the way for the American breakout in Operation Cobra. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/caen-1944-ospcam143-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994191/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The Ardennes offensive in December 1944, known to history as the Battle of the Bulge, was the decisive campaign of the war in North-West Europe. When the attack in the north by 6th Panzer Army failed, Hitler switched the focus of the offensive to General Manteuffels 5th Panzer Army farther south. Overwhelming the green US 106th Division, German Panzers flooded towards the River Meuse. Barring their way was the crossroads town of Bastogne, reinforced at the last minute by the paratroopers of the 101st Airborne, the `Screaming Eagles. The stage was set for one of the epic struggles of the war - the battle for Bastogne.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/battle-of-the-bulge-1944-2-bastogne-ospcam145-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994192/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Following the capture of Tarawa in November 1943, American eyes turned to the Marshall Islands. These were the next vital stepping-stone across the Pacific towards Japan, and would bring the islands of Guam and Saipan within the reach of US forces. In their first amphibious attack, the new 4th Marine Division landed on Roi and Namur islands on 1 February 1944, while US 7th Division landed on Kwajalein. At the time this was the longest shore-to-shore amphibious assault in history. The lessons of the bloody fighting on Tarawa had been well learned and the successful attack on the Marshalls set the pattern for future amphibious operations in the Pacific War.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/the-marshall-islands-1944-ospcam146-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994193/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Operation Mercury, the German airborne assault on the island of Crete in May 1941, was the first strategic use of airborne forces in history. The assault began on 20 May, with landings near the islands key airports, and reinforcements the next day allowed the German forces to capture one end of the runway at Maleme. By 24 May, the Germans were being reinforced by air on a huge scale and on 1 June Crete surrendered. This book describes how desperately close the battle had been and explains how German losses so shocked the Führer that he never again authorised a major airborne operation. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/crete-1941-ospcam147-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994194/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Of the German Army Groups that attacked Soviet Russia, Von Leebs Army Group North, tasked with seizing the Baltic States and Leningrad, was the smallest and weakest. General Kuznetzovs Northwestern Front, however, was in an even weaker state. Despite brave counterattacks and defense by the Soviet forces, the Germans smashed through the Dvina Line, then the Stalin Line, flooded into Latvia and pressed on to encircle Leningrad. This book examines the German offensive and also the courageous Soviet attempts to halt the German spearhead, defending every possible line against overwhelming odds.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/operation-barbarossa-1941-2-ospcam148-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994195/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The battle around Falaise in Normandy during August 1944 saw the destruction of the German Seventh army. This book details the chain of events which led to the German retreat and the ensuing liberation of France. The British and American breakout battles had released motorised units to wage a more mobile war against the German static defensive tactics. At Falaise, the armoured units of US Third Army encircled the German Seventh Army, squeezed them into an ever-smaller cauldron of chaos and crushed them against the advancing British Second Army. The results were devastating: those troops able to escape the disaster fled, those who remained were killed or captured and vast quantities of armour and equipment were lost.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/falaise-1944-ospcam149-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994196/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Khe Sanh was a small village in northwest South Vietnam that sat astride key North Vietnamese infiltration routes. In September 1966 a Marine battalion deployed into the area. Action gradually increased as the NVA attempted to destroy Free World Forces bases, and the siege of Khe Sanh proper began in October 1967. The bitter fight lasted into July 1968 when, with the changing strategic and tactical situation, the base was finally closed. This book details the siege and explains how, although the NVA successfully overran a Special Forces camp nearby, it was unable to drive US forces from Khe Sanh. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/khe-sanh-1967-68-ospcam150-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994197/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Vimy Ridge was one of the most important geographic features on the entire Western Front in World War I. In early 1917 it was considered practically impregnable, but on 9 April the Canadian Army Corps, under the command of the British Lieutenant General Sir Julian Byng, assaulted it as part of the Arras offensive. In one of the most spectacular operational attacks of the war, they seized almost the entire ridge in a single day. This book describes how the innovative efforts that went into every aspect of the preparation for this attack ensured that the Canadian and British troops achieved unprecedented success.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/vimy-ridge-1917-ospcam151-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994198/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The North African campaign of November 1942-May 1943 was a baptism of fire for the US Army. After relatively straightforward landings, the US II Corps advanced into Tunisia to support operations by the British 8th Army. Rommel, worried by the prospect of an attack, decided to exploit the inexperience of the US Army and strike a blow against their overextended positions around the Kasserine Pass. However, the Germans were unable to exploit their initial success, and later attacks were bloodily repulsed. The fighting in Tunisia taught the green US Army vital combat lessons, and brought to the fore senior commanders such as Eisenhower, Patton, and Bradley. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/kasserine-pass-1943-ospcam152-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994199/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In August 1793 Republican France teetered on the brink of collapse. On every front her enemies armies swept forwards across her borders - the very survival of the Revolution itself was at stake. In Toulon, the strategically vital home port of Frances Mediterranean fleet, a coup had overthrown the Republican government and handed over the city to the blockading British navy. In this, perhaps her darkest hour, Frances saviour was at hand in the shape of a Captain of Artillery whose name all Europe would soon know - Napoleon Bonaparte. This title describes the Republican victory at Toulon that not only saved the Revolution but also saw the young Napoleon Bonaparte begin his meteoric rise to power.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/toulon-1793-ospcam153-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994200/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In April 1291, a Mamluk army laid siege to Acre, the last great Crusader fortress in the Holy Land. For six weeks, the siege dragged on until the Mamluks took the outer wall, which had been breached in several places. The Military Orders drove back the Mamluks temporarily, but three days later the inner wall was breached. King Henry escaped, but the bulk of the defenders and most of the citizens perished in the fighting or were sold into slavery. The surviving knights fell back to their fortress, resisting for ten days, until the Mamluks broke through. This book depicts the dramatic collapse of this great fortress, whose demise marked the end of the Crusades in the Holy Land.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/acre-1291-ospcam154-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994201/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In January 1944, the Allies decided to land at Anzio in order to overcome the stalemate at Cassino.This amphibious landing has become one of the most controversial campaigns of World War II. Questionable decisions by the Allied leadership led to three months of World War I-style trench warfare, and the entire beachhead suffered from continuous German observation and bombardment. Vividly describing each thrust and counter-thrust, this book takes us through the agonizing struggle as each side sought to retain or regain mastery. It shows how Anzio proved to be a stepping stone not only to Rome but also to the liberation of Italy.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/anzio-1944-ospcam155-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994202/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In early 1942, the strategic situation was bleak for the United States. She had been in continual retreat since Pearl Harbor, surrendering major areas such as the Philippines, and was preparing for the worst in Hawaii and on the West Coast. The Japanese, on the other hand, had secured a well-defended perimeter, and was set for further expansion. Something needed to happen quickly and be of considerable impact-and the combined-arms, April 1942 Doolittle Raid on Japan was a way to achieve this. This book examines the planning, execution, and aftermath of this innovative, daring and risky attack, which would show that the Japanese navy and air forces were anything but invincible. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/the-doolittle-raid-1942-ospcam156-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994203/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Vice-Admiral Lord Nelsons decisive victory over the combined fleets of France and Spain on 21 October 1805 remains one of the greatest naval triumphs in history. Off Cape Trafalgar, 27 British and 33 Franco-Spanish ships pounded each other in an epic four-hour struggle on whose outcome rested nothing less than Britains security against Napoleonic invasion. Nelsons brilliant tactics, inspiring leadership and the superior training and morale of his crews left his opponents shattered in a savage encounter that not only marked the last great battle fought in the age of sail, but ushered in a century of British naval mastery.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/trafalgar-1805-ospcam157-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994204/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The battle of El Alamein marked the turning point in Britains fortunes in the Second World War. There were three separate battles between July and November 1942, all of which were fought to halt the advance of Rommels army towards the Suez Canal. This final battle at El Alamein, fought in October and November, saw the continuous bombardment of the German line that Rommel was instructed to hold at all costs by Hitler himself. The Allies shattered the German defences, and Rommel led a westward retreat in order to salvage what was left of the Afrika Korps. This book provides an in-depth analysis of the battle that turned the tide in favour of the Allies in Africa.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/el-alamein-1942-ospcam158-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994205/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Hitlers Third Reich was on the brink of total ruin in mid-April 1945, and the Red Army was poised less than 60 miles to the east and ready to seize the German capital. Peter Antill describes the events in this engaging history, examining the Soviets march towards Berlin and the Germans final resistance. This book, supplemented with a host of maps and illustrations, provides a vivid portrayal of the death throes of the Third Reich and the end of the war in Europe, exploring the strategy of both sides and the tactics of impromptu urban warfare.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/berlin-1945-ospcam159-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994206/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In April 1685, James II ascended the English throne. An overt Catholic, James proved unpopular with his Protestant subjects, and a group of nobles invited the Dutch prince William of Orange to take the throne in the Glorious Revolution of 1688; James II fled to France. James returned in 1689, a French fleet landing him at Kinsale in Ireland. On 14 June 1690, William led an army to Ireland and came face-to-face with the Jacobites along the banks of the Boyne near Drogheda. This book describes the events that led to the momentous battle on 1 July that would decide the fate of the crown of England.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/irish-scottish-celtic/battle-of-the-boyne-1690-ospcam160-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994207/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The clash between King Richard I `The Lionheart of England and Saladin has become legendary. Throughout the ages, military enthusiasts have been fascinated by the strategy of the resolute, heavily armed Anglo-Saxon army versus their more lightly armed opponents. Richards inability to recapture Jerusalem was disappointing, but it proved to the crusaders that Saladin was not invincible. This book describes the struggle that has evolved into a mythic campaign for the Holy City of Jerusalem, providing an in-depth look at the battle, the personalities involved and the tactics employed by each army.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/the-third-crusade-1191-ospcam161-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994208/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Inchon was probably the most significant campaign in the Korean theater, as well as being the last major amphibious assault of division-size conducted in the history of warfare. The odds were stacked against the US troops, with virtually no time for training and many of the divisions unprepared for the conflict. The success of the Inchon campaign is a testament to the sheer initiative of the officers and NCOs conducted it. This book details the strategy and tactics that led to the operations success, as well as narrating the experience of the battle in fascinating detail.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/inch-on-1950-ospcam162-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994209/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Leyte Gulf was a key victory for the United States: its scale dwarfed previous sea conflicts and its result created an opportunity for the US forces to invade the Philippines. Four different battles - Leyte, Samar, Cape Engaño and the Surigao Strait - occurred almost simultaneously as part of a Japanese plan to claim a Trafalgar-style victory over US forces. Yet they were defeated in the battles on the surface, under the sea and in the air. This highly-accessible book describes the conflicts interweaving battles and the personalities of the commanders involved in what has been called `the greatest sea battle of all.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/leyte-gulf-1944-ospcam163-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994210/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In his Chronicles, Froissart describes Otterburn as `the best fought and the most severe battle of his time. Fought at Redesdale in Northumberland in August 1388, the battle originated from the ongoing war between the Scots and the English following Robert Bruces victory over the English at Bannockburn in 1314. Using all the contemporary sources, this book details the events that led up to the clash on the borders, examines the opposing armies, their weaponry and their commanders - including the Douglases on the Scots side and the Percys on the English - and gives a full account of the battle and its aftermath.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/otterburn-1388-ospcam164-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994211/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The events in Iraq in 1941 had crucial strategic consequences. The countrys oil reserves were a highly coveted prize for the Axis powers, and its location provided a corridor in the defence of Palestine and the Suez Canal. Had Iraq fallen to the Axis powers, Britain could have lost its foothold in the Middle East and the Mediterranean and risked losing World War II. This book examines the strategy and tactics of the Iraq campaign, the role of the Indian Army and the Arab Legion, the nature of expeditionary warfare and the complementary roles of air and land power.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/iraq-1941-ospcam165-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994212/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Wellington said that of all his battles Assaye, fought during the Second Maratha War (1803-05) in central India, was the bloodiest for the numbers that I ever saw. A small British force, under Major-General the Honourable Arthur Wellesley (as Wellington was then known), crossed into Maratha territory in March 1803 to restore the Peshwa to his throne. On September 23, Wellesley encountered what turned out to be the entire Maratha army in a strong position on the banks of the Kailna River. The battle witnessed costly infantry and cavalry assaults, but was won by the steadiness of Wellesleys troops and his inspiring leadership.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/assaye-1803-ospcam166-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994213/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Suffering a staggering loss of over 2 million troops by September 1941, Soviet forces were faced with the prospect of Hitler victoriously re-directing his powerful German armies toward the heart of Soviet Russia - Moscow. However, the season was late and the Germans found themselves in a race to launch a final decisive attack before the arrival of the dreaded Russian winter. Stalin desperately sought to play for time by mustering all available military resources to save his capital. This book is the story of Operation Typhoon, the largest German operational attack of the war and Hitlers desperate attempt to seize Moscow. With expert knowledge of the subject, author Robert A. Forczyk successfully manages to bring to life the battle which saw the most horrific losses for the Soviet defending forces and marked the first defeat of the Wehrmacht.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/moscow-1941-ospcam167-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994214/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On 9 September 1513 Flodden field was the site for one of Scotlands most famous battles, often termed their greatest defeat. The Scottish Army led by their courageous king, James IV, was strong in artillery and trained in new tactics from the Swiss doctrine, whereas the English Army they faced still favoured traditional tactics. Despite the strength of the Scots the English men-at-arms fought ferociously and by nightfall the field was strewn with the bodies of the Scottish nobility, and the tragic figure of the dead James IV. This book examines the strategies of the opposing armies and the significant effect of the weapons, including longbow and artillery, which they deployed.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/flodden-1513-ospcam168-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994215/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The first day of the battle of the Somme has always been perceived as a day of tragedy for the British Army, with the slaughter of 60,000 men on the battlefield. What seemed to be poor planning on the part of the British command meant that soldiers were sent into no mans land to face the horrors of uncut barbed wire and waves of German machine gun fire. However, there were triumphs amongst the tragedy. This book discusses the successes and failures of the British and the German forces along the frontline. It also offers a detailed account of the battle itself, following the actions of individual units throughout the day.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/somme-1-july-1916-ospcam169-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994216/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In 1614-15 Osaka Castle was Japans greatest fortification, measuring approximately 2 miles in length with walls 100 feet high. It was guarded by 100,000 samurai, determined to defend the last of the once-powerful Toyotomi clan. The castle was seemingly impenetrable; however, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the ruling dynasty, was determined to destroy this remaining threat to the Tokuwaga ruling dynasty. This book explores the bitter struggle of the Summer and Winter campaigns, which eventually saw the last great clash of the samurai and defined the balance of power in Japan for years to come. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/osaka-1615-ospcam170-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994217/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST After Spain declared war on Britain on 21 June 1779, Gibraltar was besieged by land and sea for four years. The centrepiece of the siege was the dramatic assault by supposedly invincible battering ships and the author reveals how these floating phenomena were countered by British engineering ingenuity and sheer resolve. In this detailed account of the siege, Rene Chartrand examines the Franco-Spanish and British forces as well as the personalities and plans that would contribute to a vital British victory at a time when British fortunes elsewhere in the world were on the wane.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/gibraltar-1779-1783-ospcam172-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994218/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In 48 BC, the stage was set for the final clash of the two titans of the Roman world and the odds were heavily in Pompeys favour, with 45,000 men against Caesars 22,000. Having the dice loaded against him, however, seems to have stimulated Caesars genius for battle. In a brilliant display of generalship he routed his rivals larger army. Pompeys army retreated, with Caesars army in parallel pursuit, until, their general having escaped, Pompeys men finally surrendered. Simon Sheppard expertly charts the events surrounding the Pharsalus campaign, and the seismic implications of the decisive clash between the two greatest generals of their age.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/pharsalus-48-bc-ospcam174-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994219/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In the aftermath of the Battle of the Bulge in February 1945, the Allies embarked upon the final assault of Germany. The long-delayed US thrust over the Roer River eventually took place in February, leaving the Rhine as the last major geographical barrier to the Allied advance into Germany. This book describes how the US Army, in the face of furious last-ditch German resistance, captured the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen - securing the last surviving major crossing over the Rhine and setting the stage for the defeat of the German Army in the West.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/remagen-1945-ospcam175-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994220/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST A turning point in the War of Independence, the campaign for Philadelphia set in motion a series of events leading to the defeat of the British and eventual independence for the emerging American nation. From the landing of General William Howes army at the head of the Elk River, to his eventual capture of Philadelphia, the campaign included some fascinating battles. The initial engagement at Brandywine, the Paoli Massacre and the missed opportunity at Germantown are all examined in detail by Justin Clement, with supporting maps, original artwork and photographs. Recently discovered information about the battle of Brandywine and analysis of the major personalities involved completes this comprehensive account.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/philadelphia-1777-ospcam176-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994221/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In May and June 1918 the newly arrived American Expeditionary Force fought two actions that helped defeat the last German offensive of World War I. At Château Thierry a combined French and American force stopped the Germans from crossing the Marne River. Building on this success the US 2nd Division stopped the German advance on Paris and were given the task of recapturing Belleau Wood. First-hand accounts, photographs, and detailed maps dramatically bring to life these key battles, Americas baptism of fire in World War I.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/chateu-thierry-belleau-wood-ospcam177-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994222/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The last great heave of war, according to Churchill, took place with the crossing of the Rhine in 1945. No invading army had crossed this great river since Napoleons in 1805 and the task fell to Field Marshal Montgomerys 21st Army Group. Opposing them were the forces of a failing fascist regime, including battalions of old men and boys, strengthened by several formations of crack troops including paratroopers and Panzer Grenadiers. With an elaborate description of the combined Allied attack, second in magnitude only to the Normandy invasion, this book charts the history of the last great set-piece battle of the war that ultimately brought the defeat of Hitlers Nazi regime one step closer.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/rhine-crossings-1945-ospcam178-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994223/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Riding on the wave of his victory at Atlanta, Union General W. T. Sherman abandoned his supply lines in an attempt to push his forces into Confederate territory and take Savannah. During their 285-mile March to the Sea the army lived off the land and destroyed all war-making capabilities of the enemy en route. Despite the controversy surrounding it, the march was a success. Supported by photographs, detailed maps, and artwork, this title explores the key personalities and engagements of the march and provides a detailed analysis of the campaign that marked the beginning of the end of the Civil War.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/sherman-s-march-sea-1864-ospcam179-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994224/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST When the outbreak of World War I delayed home rule for Ireland, a faction of Irish nationalists decided to take direct action. On Easter Monday 1916, a rebellion was launched from the steps of the Dublin General Post Office and the existence of an Irish Republic proclaimed. The British response was a military one and they drove the rebels back in violent street fighting until they surrendered on 29 April. The leaders of the rising were tried by court martial: 15 of them were summarily executed and a further 3,500 sympathizers imprisoned. This book covers this important milestone in Anglo-Irish history in detail, thoroughly examining the politics behind the Easter Rising and the tactics employed to counter it. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/irish-scottish-celtic/easter-rising-1916-ospcam180-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994225/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The campaign on the German frontier in late 1944 was one of the most frustrating and costly efforts by the US Army in the ETO. The Allies first encountered the Siegfried Line (Westwall) fortifications in September 1944, having pursued the retreating Wehrmacht through Belgium and the Netherlands. The border area around Aachen had been fortified with a double line of bunkers, and both the terrain and the weather made things difficult for the Allies. This book focuses on the involvement of the US First and Ninth armies in the six-month fighting, including the hellish fighting for the Hürtgen forest.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/siegfried-line-1944-45-ospcam181-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994226/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Granicus River was Alexanders first great victory over the Persians, where he demonstrated the heroic style of active and decisive leadership that was the hallmark of his career. In the initial engagement, Alexanders 5,000 cavalry, supported by archers and javelin men, routed a force of 20,000 Persian cavalry This convincing victory was the springboard for the subjugation of the coastal cities, the neutralisation of the Persian navy and ultimately the conquest of the Persian Empire. Exploring the courageous leadership of one of the worlds most inspirational yet ruthless leaders, this book provides a detailed analysis of the battle, strategy and tactics of the forces engaged.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/granicus-334bc-ospcam182-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994227/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On 9 April 1940, German forces invaded Denmark, and then Norway, in an attempt to guarantee security of Scandinavias vital mineral resources for their war industry. This assault, Operation Weserübung, represented the first joint air-land-and-sea campaign in the history of warfare, and was the only such campaign planned by the Wehrmacht high command, including all three services of the Wehrmacht. This book describes the events of this tumultuous campaign that not only led to Winston Churchills appointment as British Prime Minister, but also saw the crippling of the German Kriegsmarine as a fighting force.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/denmark-norway-1940-ospcam183-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994228/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST One of the most monumental and widely discussed battles in the history of World War II, Stalingrad was Hitlers first major defeat on the Eastern Front, and acted as a catalyst for his eventual downfall. Providing a detailed breakdown of the armies on both sides and discussing the merits of the commanders and the ways in which these influenced the battle, Peter Antill questions why the Germans allowed themselves to be diverted from their main objective and concentrate such large resources on a secondary target. The birds-eye view illustrations and maps that feature in this book help to unravel the detail of unit directions, priorities and deployments, and the tactical failures that led to the day-by-day war of attrition that lasted for nearly five months.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/stalingrad-1942-ospcam184-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994229/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST On the pivotal day of 14 June 1645 Charles Is Royalist Army and Parliaments New Model Army made battle at Naseby. Using first-hand accounts, Martin Marix Evans introduces the origins of the campaign, explores the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing armies, and vividly describes the engagement. The traditional condemnation of Prince Ruperts military strategy is undermined, and the significance of Okeys Dragoons in precipitating the action explained. He imparts his intimate knowledge of the terrain so crucial to the New Model Armys frontage, and uses archaeological and documentary evidence to piece together a remarkable blow-by-blow account of this devastating battle. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/naseby-1645-ospcam185-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994230/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST The final volume in the Barbarossa trilogy, this title complete the account of the strategic intricacies of the German campaign against Russia. Robert Kirchubel examines the causes behind the German failure, including the inability to resupply troops or provide reserves, as well as the lack of decent German winter uniforms and transport with dramatic contemporary photographs detailing the unforgiving battlefield conditions. Full-colour artwork, maps and birds-eye-views illustrate the campaign in detail, revealing how, despite lapses and flaws in Soviet defences, the Red Army was able to capitalize on every German weakness.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/operation-barbarossa-1941-3-army-group-center-ospcam186-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994231/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST This crucial new study on one of the seminal events in military history dispells many of the myths surrounding Cambrai 1917. Common perception classifies it as the worlds first tank battle but Alexander Turner shows us that the true importance of Cambrai was that it saw the first use of armour as an operational shock tactic. With this, the conduct of war was irrevocably changed. The battle also heralded the combined use of aircraft, armour and artillery, marking the birth of modern combined-arms techniques. Written by a military historian and serving soldier, this is a fascinating analysis of a battle which ended a stalemate, yet spawned a host of war-winning tactics.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/cambrai-1917-ospcam187-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994232/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST An authoritative re-telling of one of the greatest tales of heroism of all time and a decisive moment for the history of the world, Leonidas and the 300 Spartans fight to the death against overwhelming Persian forces preserved the future of Greece and the golden age of classical civilization. Nic Fields vividly describes the battle for the pass of Thermopylae as the combined Greek forces held off the army of Xerxes, buying time for a retreat which would save Greece. Lavishly illustrated and with full-colour artwork, detailed maps and dramatic battle scenes, this is an in-depth analysis of one of the most famous acts of resolute defence in the face of overwhelming odds.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/thermopylae-480-bc-ospcam188-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994233/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST In late July 1941, Hitler ordered Army Group South to seize the Crimea as part of its operations to secure the Ukraine and the Donets Basin, in order to protect the vital Romanian oil refineries at Ploesti from Soviet air attack. After weeks of heavy fighting, the Germans breached the Soviet defences and overran most of the Crimea. By November 1941 the only remaining Soviet foothold in the area was the heavily fortified naval base at Sevastopol. Operation Sturgeon Haul, the final assault on Sevastopol, was one of the very few joint service German operations of World War II, with two German corps and a Romanian corps supported by a huge artillery siege train, the Luftwaffes crack VIII Flieger Korps and a flotilla of S-Boats provided by the Kriegsmarine. This volume closely examines the impact of logistics, weather and joint operational planning upon the last major German victory of World War II.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/sevastopol-1942-ospcam189-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994234/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST By the Autumn of 1863 the Confederacy was in dire straits. In a colossal gamble, Confederate President Jefferson Davis stripped forces from all the major Confederate armies to reinforce the Army of Tennessee in a last ditch attempt to crush the Union. On 19th September the Confederates attacked the Union army along Chickamauga creek south of Chattanooga. On the second day of bloody fighting the entire Union right collapsed and the army retreated headlong for Chattanooga, all except General George H. Thomas Corps who fought on doggedly until nightfall delaying the confederate advance, saving the Union and earning his fame as the Rock of Chickamauga. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ospcam017-chickamauga-1863-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994239/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:00 PST Unquestionably the best American fighter of World War 2, the North American P-51 Mustang served in large numbers with the USAAFs Eighth Air Force from late 1943 until VE Day, and was the mount of most aces in-theatre. Charged with the responsibility of escorting huge formations of B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bombers on daylight raids deep into Germany, the P-51 pilots of the various fighter groups within the Mighty Eighth went head to head with the cream of the Luftwaffes fighter squadrons for control of the skies over the Third Reich. Aircraft of the Aces 1, 19 and 24 are also available in a single volume as `Aces of the Mighty Eighth.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace001-mustang-aces-of-eighth-air-force-ospace001-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994246/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Totally outnumbered throughout their short two-year sojourn in the Western Desert, the crack fighter pilots of the handful of Jagdgeschwader in-theatre fought an effective campaign in support of Rommels Afrika Korps against the British and American forces. Relying almost exclusively on the Luftwaffes staple fighter of World War 2, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the battle-hardened aces used the aircrafts superior performance to achieve incredible scores against the Allies. Similarly, once pushed out of North Africa, these units continued to take the fight to the RAF and USAAF from makeshift bases in northern Italy.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace002-bf-109-aces-of-n-africa-and-the-med-ospace002-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994247/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Arguably the most important piston-engined single-seat fighter design ever to see service with the US Navy and Marine Corps, the aesthetically inelegant F4F Wildcat achieved much acclaim during its bloody frontline career. Thrown into combat at Coral Sea, Midway and Guadalcanal, the handful of Wildcat units of the Navy and Marine Corps took on large numbers of fighters and bombers and came out victorious. On the European front, the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm also put the fighter to effective use from escort carriers, protecting Atlantic convoys from Luftwaffe attacks.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace003-wildcat-aces-of-ww2-ospace003-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994248/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The first virtually all-jet war, the conflict in Korea saw F-86 Sabres of the USAF take on MiG-15s of the North Korean and Chinese air forces. Although the Allied pilots were initially taken aback by the ability of the communist fighter in combat, sound training and skilful leadership soon enabled Sabre pilots to dominate the dogfights over the Yalu River. In all 39 F-86 pilots achieved ace status, and a number of these are profiled in this volume, as are notable pilots from the US Navy, Marine Corps and Royal Navy and, for the first time, the handful of MiG-15 aces.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace004-korean-war-aces-ospace004-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994249/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Although the Spitfire is undoubtedly best known for its exploits against the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain, its later war service with Fighter Command on all fronts against the Axis alliance was equally as important. This volume features the exploits of pilots who turned the tide against the Luftwaffe on the Western European and Mediterranean fronts, as well as the Japanese in the Far East, flying Spitfire Mk VIs, VIIs, VIIIs, IXs XIIs and XIVs. Names like Johnnie Johnson, Neville Duke and Donald Kingaby, plus a myriad of lesser known British, Polish, Canadian, American, Australian, Czech, Free French, New Zealand and Norwegian pilots, and their aircraft, are all covered in this book.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace005-late-mark-spitfire-aces-1942-45-ospace005-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994250/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Of all the fronts fought on by the Jagdflieger during World War 2, the Russian, or Eastern, was easily the most lucrative in terms of targets for the experten. Marry an abundance of targets with the Luftwaffes best piston-engined fighter of the war - Focke-Wulfs Fw 190 `Butcher Bird - and it quickly becomes apparent why so many Jagdflieger achieved kills that passed the 100 victories mark. Flying in variable weather on a battlefront that was constantly changing, the Fw 190 pilots fought virtually to extinction in both the pure fighter and the crucial Schlacht ground attack roles. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace006-focke-wulf-fw-190-aces-of-the-russian-front-ospace006-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994251/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Although best remembered for its exploits with Eighth Air Force units, the Mustang, in its various marks, actually made its combat debut firstly with the RAF in the Army co-operation role, and then with the USAAFs tactically-optimised Ninth and Fifteenth Air Forces. Seeing action in Western Europe and the Mediterranean, pilots like Glenn T Eagleston, John J Voll and Samuel J Brown notched up impressive scores flying P-51Bs and Ds with the 354th, 31st and 52nd Fighter Groups. Rarely given the exposure enjoyed by their high-scoring brethren in the Mighty Eighth, this volume at last sets the record straight on Europes remaining Mustang aces.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace007-mustang-aces-of-the-9th-15th-af-the-raf-ospace007-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994252/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The speed with which the Corsair was rushed into service as a land-based fighter obliged the pilots to learn on the job. The aircraft soon proved to be superior to the Japanese Zero and played a major part in the destruction of Japans elite air forces in the South Pacific. Later, in an effort to counter the Kamikaze threat, the Corsair was once again hurriedly pressed into service; this time in its originally intended role as a shipboard fighter. This versatile aircraft saw service with the US Navy and Marines, the British Fleet Air Arm and the RNZAF. Most of the 4FU pilots who recount their experiences within these pages considered it to be the best all-round fighter in the Pacific theatre.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace008-corsair-aces-of-wwii-ospace008-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994253/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The Fw 190 was the scourge of Fighter Command from the moment it appeared on the Western Front at Abbeville in August 1941 with II./JG 26. A nimble, speedy and well-armed adversary, the `Butcher Bird quickly proved superior to all Allied fighters of the time, particularly at medium to low altitude. Led by Experten of the calibre of Pips Priller, Heinz Bar and Walter Oesau, the handful of Fw 190-equipped Jagdgeschwader flew against overwhelming odds, firstly on the Channel coast, and then in direct defence of the Reich when the Jagdflieger took on the might of the USAAFs Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. This is their story.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace009-focke-wulf-fw-190-aces-of-the-western-front-ospace009-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994254/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Grummans successor to the pugnacious Wildcat, the Hellcat embodied many of the lessons learnt by F4F pilots in the opening months of the Pacific war. Introduced to the fleet in January 1943, and blooded in combat against the Japanese by VF-5 seven months later, the F6F served as the principal US Navy fighter on board carrier decks until VJ-Day. Despite its lethality in the air when ranged against the best Japanese fighters, it still retained docile handling qualities around the carrier deck. Pilots flying the Hellcat claimed nearly 5000 kills in the Pacific, and over 350 pilots achieved ace status on the type.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace010-hellcat-aces-of-wwii-ospace010-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994255/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The period covered in this volume was considered to be the glory years for the Jagdwaffe - fresh from the experience gained in the Spanish Civil War - and for the Bf 109 in particular. Many famous pilots scored their first kills in the classic dogfights staged over Poland, Western Europe, the Channel and finally southern England. Some 40 Knights Crosses were awarded in 1940 alone. However, after sweeping all before them in support of the Blitzkrieg across continental Europe, the Bf 109E pilots were to suffer badly during the Battle of Britain, the result of poor tactics inflicted upon them by the Luftwaffe High Command, and their mounts less then generous range.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace011-bf109d-e-aces-1939-41-ospace011-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994256/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Spitfire Mk Is and IIs served only briefly in the frontline with the RAF, but their pilots were responsible for achieving impressive scores against the Luftwaffe during 1940/41. This volume details the RAFs first aces of World War 2 who helped stem the German tide during Britains struggle for survival in the bitter years between 1939 and 1941. Early-mark Spitfires were notorious for their light armament, overheating engines and short range, but during the dogfights over Dunkirk and south-east England, then the first tentative sweeps across France, many pilots achieved scores of note. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace012-spitfire-mk-i-ii-aces-1939-41-ospace012-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994257/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Little has been published in English on the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF), let alone its most successful fighter pilots - no less than 150 of them achieved ace status during eight years of near-constant war, and they are all listed in this volume. From the arid plains of the Mongolian border region to the lush jungles of New Guinea, the JAAF was more than a match for the many opponents it fought against for control of the skies. Indeed, even when the mighty Allied war machine proved almost overwhelming from early 1944 onwards, the elite fighter pilots of the various sentais within the JAAF fought on with near-fanatical loyalty in defence of the Home Islands. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace013-japanese-army-airforce-aces-1937-45-ospace013-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994258/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The P-38 was used on virtually every front to which the USAAF were committed, but enjoyed its greatest successes in the Pacific and China-Burma-India (CBI) theatres. The speed, range and firepower of the P-38 made it the favourite of nearly all aircrew fighting in the Solomons, New Guinea and the Philippines, and over 1800 Japanese aircraft fell to its guns. From the first encounters at the end of 1942 until the Lightning scored the final Fifth Air force victories in August 1945, these pilots made the Pacific skies very much their own battleground.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace014-p-38-lightning-aces-of-pacific-cbi-ospace014-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994259/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST No single volume in English has ever appeared in the West dealing with this intriguing subject area, but now that restrictions have relaxed in the former Soviet Union, records of the deeds of the elite pilots of the various Soviet Air Forces are coming to light. Although initially equipped with very poor aircraft, and robbed of effective leadership thanks as much to Stalins purges in the late 1930s as to the efforts of the Luftwaffe, Soviet fighter pilots soon turned the tables through the use of both lend-lease aircraft like the Hurricane, Spitfire, P-39 and P-40, and home-grown machines like the MiG-3, LaGG-3/5, Lavochkin La-5/7/9 and the Yak-1/3. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace015-soviet-aces-of-wwii-ospace015-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994260/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST As the first Spitfire variant to see extensive service outside of Britain, the Mk V fought the Axis alliance over the deserts of North Africa, the waters of the Mediterranean and the vast expanses of the Indian Ocean off the northern coast of Australia. Initially produced in haste to combat the arrival of new German fighters (the Bf 109F and the Fw 190) on the Channel front, the Mk V had been created simply by pairing a Mk I or II fuselage with the new Merlin 45 engine - so successfully that some 6479 airframes were eventually built. Although often outclassed (particularly on the Channel front by the Fw 190) by later generation fighters, the Mk V nevertheless proved to be a worthy opponent when flown by pilots of the calibre of Malan, Tuck, Johnson, Beurling, Caldwell and Duke, who all enjoyed success with it thanks to its agility and increased armament.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace016-spitfire-mk-v-aces-1941-45-ospace016-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994261/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The Third Reichs last ditch efforts to sweep the massed Allied bomber formations from the skies of Germany centred around the new crop of jet wonder weapons that were issued to the Jagdwaffe from mid-1944 onwards. Far in advance of anything the Allies had even in the experimental phase, types like the Me 262, He 162, Me 163 and the Ar 234 could perform their combat sorties with relative impunity. However, paucity in numbers and unreliable jet engines eventually cancelled out any technological edge that these aircraft offered.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace017-german-jet-aces-of-wwii-ospace017-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994262/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The Hawker Hurricane was the Rafs first monoplane fighter, and it dragged the air force into a position where it could defend Britain in its hour of need. Prior to the Battle of Britain, a number of squadrons equipped with the fighter had seen action firstly in the Phoney War, and then during the disastrous campaign in France. Pilots like Cobber Kain had achieved impressive scores in the face of overwhelming LUftwaffe forces, and although the RAF lost no less than 386 Hurricanes during the Blitzkried, it gave many pilots valuable experience. Hawker fighters outnumbered Spitfires during the Battle of Britain by three to one, and downed far mor aircraft. Overseas, a handful of pilots put up stiff resistance against Germanys Italian ally in Libya and Egypt, and also over Malta.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace018-hurricane-aces-1939-40-ospace018-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994263/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The P-38 made its combat debut in Europe in mid-1942, the first American fighters being flown to the UK before heading further east to Twelfth Air Force units in North Africa. Its service in this theatre, and later over the heartland of Germany itself, earned the P-38 the nickname der gabelschwanzer Teufel (the fork-tailed devil). This volume traces the careers of many previously unknown aces within the USAAF in Europe, and helps redress the balance which has in the past seen all the glory for the fighter victories in this theatre shared between the pilots of the P-47 and P-51. Some 17 pilots scored 7 or more kills on the P-38 in the ETO/MTO. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace019-p-38-lightning-aces-of-the-eto-mto-ospace019-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994264/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST When the Luftwaffe entered World War 2, its nightfighter force was virtually nonexistent thanks to its leader, Reichmarschall Hermann Göring, who boasted that bombs would never fall on Germany. By mid-1940 his folly was evident; the first night fighter wing was hastily formed with Bf 110s. Initially capable of detecting targets by visual acquisition only, the force greatly improved its effectiveness with the creation of the Giant Würzburg radar chain. By the end of 1942, the night fighter force controlled some 389 fighters and had destroyed 1,291 RAF bombers in that year alone. Complete with first-hand accounts and detailed colour illustrations, this book profiles the many variations of night fighters, and the men who made ace flying them.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace020-german-night-fighter-aces-of-ww2-ospace020-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994265/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Pilots of the Polish Air Force saw action from the first day of World War 2 until the final victory in Europe. Flying hopelessly outmoded P.11 fighters in defence of their country in September 1939, a handful of aviators inflicted serious losses on the Luftwaffe before being overwhelmed. The survivors escaped to then neutral Hungary and Romania, before being ordered to France by the new C-in-C of exiled Polish Armed Forces, General Sikorski. With the invasion of Western Europe in May 1940, the surviving pilots were once more thrust into desperate action in newly-formed Polish units.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace021-polish-aces-of-wwii-ospace021-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994266/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The outcome of the Pacific War was heavily influenced by the results of naval battles between the Imperial Japanese fleet and the US Navy. One of the key elements was Japans large fighter component, which had gained experience over Manchuria, China and Mongolia in the late 1930s. Flying A5Ms, at least 21 pilots achieved acedom securing air superiority for the invaders. Manufacturer Mitsubishi derived much from these campaigns, producing one of the best fighters of the War, the A6M Zero-Sen. Navy pilots proved to be highly skilled when engaged by the Allied forces, Pacific. Pilots like Nishizawa, Sagita and Sakai scoring more than 60 kills apiece. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace022-imperial-japanese-navy-aces-1937-45-ospace022-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994267/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Always outnumbered by their Soviet counterparts, the small band of Finnish fighter pilots who defended their Scandinavian homeland from the communist hordes in three separate wars between 1939 and 1945 amassed scores only bettered by the Luftwaffes Jagdflieger. Initially equipped with a motley collection of biplane and monoplane fighters garnered from sources across the globe, the Finnish Air Force was thrust into combat in November 1939. Given little chance against the massive Soviet force, the Finnish fighter pilots confounded the sceptics and decimated the attacking fighter and bomber formations, prompting the Russians to call a halt in March 1940. This scenario was repeated in 1941, and by 1943 the Finns had become uneasy allies with the Germans. Complete with first-hand accounts and detailed colour illustrations, this book profiles aces like Juutilainen and Wind, who proved unbeatable in the final months of conflict. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace023-finnish-aces-of-wwii-ospace023-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994268/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The US aviation industry produced three great fighter designs to equip its burgeoning army air force during World War 2, and of this trio, Republics P-47 Thunderbolt was easily the heaviest. Powered, crucially, by a turbocharged Pratt and Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine that produced 2000 hp, the first production fighters reached the 56th FG in June 1942, and six months later the group joined the Eight Air Force in Britain. The arrival of the first P-47Cs in mid-1943 addressed the problem of the aircrafts short combat radius, as this model could be fitted with an external tank. Slowly, as combat tactics evolved in units like the 56th and 78th FGs, pilots learnt how best to fly the Thunderbolt in order to effectively counter the more nimble Luftwaffe fighters.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace024-p-47-thunderbolt-aces-of-the-8th-af-ospace024-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994269/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST This volume is the first of its type to be devoted exclusively to the Zerstörer day fighter aces, spanning the war years from Poland to the defence of the Reich. Although Messerschmitts single-engined Bf 109 has received most of the plaudits for achieving virtual air superiority over Europe in 1939-40, the exploits of the manufacturers twin-engined Bf 110, the Ju 88 and the Me 410 Zerstörer in the first year of the war also make for very impressive reading. Indeed, on the eve of World War 2 a posting to a Bf 110 unit was considered to be the best career move available in the Luftwaffe. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace025-messerschmitt-bf-110-zerstorer-aces-of-wwii-ospace025-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994270/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Although far better known for their exploits over the war torn skies of Germany and Italy, the USAAFs premier fighters, the P-47 and P-51, also made significant contributions to the victory against Japan from 1943 onwards. This book relates the appearance of the Allison-engined A-36As and P-51As over Rangoon from India in November 1943, the 1st Air Commando Group in China, P-47s over the jungles of New Guinea in 1943, escorting B-29s on long-range bombing sorties against the Home Islands in 1944-45 and elsewhere. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace026-mustang-and-thunderbolt-aces-of-the-pac-and-cbi-ospace026-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994271/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Hawker Typhoon and Tempest - two aircraft types with widely differing reputations. The former was a technical nightmare redeemed as a ground attack machine, whilst the latter proved to be the most superlative low and medium level fighter to see service with the RAF, and arguably any air force, during the latter stages of World War 2. With 246 enemy aircraft destroyed by the Typhoon and 239 by the Tempest, over 40 aces flew one or both types in combat, and men like Foob Fairbanks and Johnny Baldwin attained double-figure scores with the Hawker fighters.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace027-typhoon-and-tempest-aces-of-wwii-ospace027-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994272/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST French pilots endured fighting both with and against the Allies during World War 2. Possessing obsolescent aircraft at the outbreak of the war, the Armée de lAir was decimated in the wake of the Blitzkrieg; however, a number of fighter units still achieved creditable scores flying Curtiss Hawks, Morane MS.406s and Dewoitine D.520s. Following the capitulation of France at the end of June 1940, many aces continued to fly with the now Vichy French Squadrons that were stationed in North Africa, and a number of these pilots subsequently saw action against their former Allies there. Numerous French pilots also escaped to Britain, and a handful achieved notable sucess with the RAF flying Hurricanes, Spitfires and Tempests. In Russia, the formation of the French-manned `Normandie-Niemen regiment in 1943 also saw near on 40 pilots achieve ace status flying Yak fighters on the Eastern Front.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace028-french-aces-of-wwii-ospace028-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994273/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The follow--on volume to Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 11 - Bf 109D/E Aces 1939-41, this book charts the story of the myriad aces who flew the later marks of Messerschmitt fighter through to VE-Day. As good as the Emil had been during the opening 18 months of the war, the aircraft was being progressively bettered in virtually all aspects of aerial combat by the Spitfire come 1941, so Messerschmitt updated and improved the breed, firstly with the introduction of the Friedrich and then the multi-variant Gustav. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace029-bf-109-f-g-k-aces-of-the-western-front-ospace029-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994274/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST This book charts the story of the lesser known aces who flew the mighty Republic aircraft as a tactical fighter-bomber with the Ninth Air Force, rather than as a long-range escort. It also details the exploits of the Mediterranean-based 325th FG, which was the only P-47 group within the strategic Fifteenth Air Force. Thunderbolt aces within the Ninth Air Force, particularly, were rare, despite some 15 groups flying the fighter. Supporting troops on the ground rather than searching out aerial foes, was the name of the game for the men of the Ninth. However, with the Luftwaffe often opposing such sorties through to April 1945, more than 20 pilots had the opportunity to score five or more kills and make ace.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace030-p-47-thunderbolt-aces-of-the-9th-and-15th-af-ospace030-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994275/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST This volume focuses on the little known official Army Air Force report commissioned by the Eighth Air Forces VIII Fighter Command (FC) in May 1944. The detailed document chronicled the experiences of 24 pilots who had seen extensive service in the frontline escorting B-17s and B-24s on daylight raids deep into Germany. Briefed to provide a candid report on combat flying that could be used as a teaching manual for potential fighter pilots, the VIII FC veterans openly discuss their secrets to success, and survival in the deadly skies over occupied Europe. Exactly half of those pilots who contributed to The Long Reach subsequently achieved ace status. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace031-viii-fighter-command-at-war-ospace031-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994276/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The Albatros family of fighters were amongst the most effective aircraft employed by the Idlfieg (Imperial German Air Service) for much of World War 1, with the D.III and D.Va being flown by most of the 363 pilots who qualified as aces at some point in their often brief careers. The Albatros was the scourge of the RFC on the Western Front in 1916-17, with pilots of the calibre of von Richthofen, Boelke and Schleich cutting swathes through their opponents. Well over 4000 Albatros scouts were built between 1916 and 1918, and they were also extensively used by the Austro-Hungarians against Russian, Italian and British aircraft until wars end.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace032-albatross-aces-of-wwi-ospace032-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994277/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The French Nieuport company provided the Allied air forces with the first true fighter scout of World War 1 in the shape of the diminutive XI of 1915. Based on the Bebe racer, built for the abandoned Gordon-Bennett Trophy of the previous year, the aircraft utilised a sesquiplane (lower wing much smaller than the upper wing) arrangement which gave the XI extreme manoeuvrability. It was the only scout respected by the all-conquering German Fokker E-series of 1915-16, and was flown by French, British, Russian, Belgian and Italian aces. The XI was replaced from May 1916 onwards by the bigger and more powerful XVII. which proved to be one of the best fighters of World War 1. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace033-nieuport-aces-of-wwi-ospace033-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994278/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Flying aircraft such as the Macchi 200-202, Fiat G.50 and biplane Fiat CR.42, the Italian fighter pilots were recognised by their Allied counterparts as brave opponents blessed with sound flying abilities, but employing under-gunned and underpowered equipment. Following the Italian surrender in September 1943, a number of aces continued to take the fight to the Allies as part of the Luftwaffe-run ANR, which was equipped with far more potent equipment such as the Bf 109G, Macchi 205V and Fiat G.55. Flying these types, the handful of ANR squadrons continued to oppose Allied bombing raids on northern Italy until VE-Day.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace034-italian-aces-of-wwii-ospace034-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994279/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST This book details the colourful experiences of the elite pilots of the AAFs Tenth and Fourteenth Air Forces in the forgotten China-Burma-India theatre during WW2. Inheriting the legacy of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), units such as the 23rd FG held the line against overwhelming Japanese forces until the arrival of the first P-38s and P-51s in 1944. The Warhawk became synonymous with the efforts of the AAF in the CBI, being used by some 40 aces to claim five or more kills between 1942-45. This volume is the first of four covering the exploits with the P-40 during World War 2.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace035-p-40-warhawk-aces-of-the-cbi-ospace035-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994280/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The first American fighter fitted with a tricyle undercarriage and mid-mounted engine, the P-39 proved less than successful in the hands of its launch customer, the US Army Air Force (AAF). Hampered by unreliabilty and poor engine performance at high altitude, the P-39 nevertheless served alongside the P-40 and P-38 in the bitter struggle to capture Guadalcanal in 1942/43, as well as seeing much action over the jungles of New Guinea. Around a dozen AAF aces scored five kills with the P-39, although this total was far outstripped by the Soviet Red Air Force, whose pilots rated the Airacobra as one of the best lend-lease fighters of the war. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace036-p-39-airacobra-aces-of-wwii-ospace036-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994281/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The highest scoring aces of any aerial conflict were the Luftwaffe pilots involved in the bloody combats on the Russian Front. The most common fighter used by these pilots was the Bf 109, which was involved in the action from Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, through to the doomed Defence of the Reich in 1945. Units like JGs 5, 52 and 54 all flew the Messerschmitt fighter, progressing from Emil to Gustav variants. This volume includes all the high-scoring aces, and explains just how difficult a job the Jagdwaffe faced on the Russian Front, and how its experts achieved such overwhelming scores.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace037-bf-109-aces-of-the-russian-front-ospace037-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994282/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Deemed unsuitable for the Channel Front, lend-lease Tomahawks and Kittyhawks instead became the staple fighters of the Desert Air Force in 1941-42, flying with RAF, South African and Australian squadrons in North Africa and the Middle East. Although usually outclassed by the Bf 109, a number of pilots enjoyed some success during the desert campaign - men like Caldwell, Gibbes, Edwards and Drake, all of whom accrued double figure scores. In the Far East, Australian and New Zealand pilots also saw much action against the Japanese in 1942/43, flying over the jungles of New Guinea in defence of the Australian mainland. This book charts the careers of the men who `made ace in these often underestimated fighters.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace038-tomahawk-and-kittyhawk-aces-ospace038-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994283/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Built by the Société Anonyme Pour lAviation et ses Dérivés, (SPAD), the SPAD VII was the first successful fighting scout design to emerge from the company that had traded as Duperdussin pre-war. Flown `from the off by aces Paul Sauvage and Georges Guynemer, the scouts made an immediate impression. Indeed, the latter pilot was so impressed that he dubbed the Type VII the `flying machine gun. The first of two volumes on SPAD aces, this book tells the whole story from the ace perspective. By the time production of the SPAD VII ended in the final months of 1918, around 6000 examples had been built, and Allied aces on every front had enjoyed success with the type.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace039-spad-vii-aces-of-wwi-ospace039-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994284/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Undoubtedly the most famous fighter type to see service on either side during World War 1, the Fokker Dr I was a revelation when it entered service on the western front in 1917. Manfred von Richthofens JG 1 `circus was the first Jasta to completely re-equip with the new fighter, and in the skilled hands of its numerous aces the Dr I proved a formidable opponent. The Dr I remained in service on the Western Front until replaced by the superior Fokker D VII in May 1918. Just weeks prior to that, however, Germanys leading ace, the great `Red Baron, had been killed at the controls of a Dr I. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace040-fokker-dr-i-aces-of-wwi-ospace040-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994285/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The American Volunteer Group, or Flying Tigers, have remained the most famous outfit to see action in World War II. Manned by volunteers flying American aircraft acquired from the British, the AVG fought bravely in the face of overwhelming odds in China and Burma prior to the US entry into World War II. Pilots such as Pappy Boyington, R T Smith and John Petach became household names due to their exploits against the Japanese Army Air Force. The AVG legend was created flying the Curtis P-40 Tomahawk and Kittyhawk. This volume dispels the myths surrounding the colours and markings worn by these famous fighters. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace041-american-volunteer-group-colours-markings-ospace041-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994286/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST American fliers arriving in Europe from September 1917 brought with them no aircraft. Instead, US units had to obtain machines mainly from the British and French. From early 1918 American pilots were issued with SPAD fighters and they never looked back. As this volume details, the first American trained pilot to become an ace was Lt Douglas Campbell, who shot down five German aircraft by the end of May 1918. He was a member of the celebrated 94th Hat in the Ring Aero Squadron, which created the bulk of American aces in World War I.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace042-americn-aces-of-wwi-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994287/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Thrown into action following the Torch landings of late 1942, the `green American pilots flying the obsolescent P-40F suffered cruelly at the hands of seasoned German fighter pilots flying superior machines. Those that survived learnt quickly, and a handful of Warhawk pilots succeeded in making ace by the time the Axis forces surrendered in North Africa. The action then shifted to Sicily and Italy, and the P-40 remained in service until mid-1944. This book charts the careers of the 23 men who succeeded in making ace during that time, despite the advent of much better P-47 and P-51 fighters. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace043-p-40-warhawk-aces-of-the-mto-ospace043-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994288/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Never before has a single volume been devoted exclusively to the intrepid and disparate band of pilots who could claim to be Gladiator aces. Flying the ultimate British biplane fighter, pilots in China, Finland, East Africa, North Africa, Western Europe, the Mediterranean, Norway and the Middle East all scored the prerequisite five kills to become aces. The first individuals to do so were fighting marauding Japanese fighters and bombers attacking targets in China in 1938. The likes of Sheen, Tuck and Carey will also be featured in this volume, as they were among the many early war acers who cut their teeth in Fighter Command on the Gladiator. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace044-gloster-gladiator-aces-ospace044-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994289/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST At the outset of World War I the British had some 110 assorted aircraft, used mostly for the visual reconnaissance role. With the advent of faster and more agile single-seaters, the Allies and their adversaries raced to outdo each other in the creation of genuinely effective fighters with fixed forward-firing machine gun armament. It was not until 1917 that the British developed a truly effective interrupter gear, which paved the way for excellent single seaters such as the Sopwith Triplane Camel and the RAF S.E.5., later joined by the Bristol F.2B - the wars best two-seat fighter. This volume traces the rapid development of the fighter in World War I and the amazing exploits of the British and Empire aces who flew them. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace045-british-and-empire-aces-wwi-ospace045-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994290/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Starting the war with only 35 aircraft, Austro-Hungarian industry went on to produce only moderate numbers of poor quality aircraft. The fliers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire operating on the Serbian and Russian fronts were fortunate at first, finding themselves faced by small numbers of aircraft yet more obsolescent than their own. Serbia fell in 1915, but when Italy declared war the Austro-Hungarians were still faced with a two-front war - a static front against Italy, and a far more fluid one against Russia. Austro-Hungarian fighter pilots performed bravely and often very effectively under extremely difficult geographic, climatic and operational conditions. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace046-austro-hungarian-aces-of-wwi-ospace046-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994291/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST This book details the exploits of the pilots who flew the hugely successful SPAD XIII and the trickier SPAD XII. Built in response to the combat inadequacies of the SPAD VII, the XIII first entered service with the French Aviation Militaire in late 1917. Despite suffering engine unreliability, the XIII enjoyed great success on the Western Front, where it was flown by numerous French, American, Italian and Belgian aces, including Eddie Rickenbacker, leading US ace of World War I. The SPAD XII, meanwhile, was the product of numerous improvements to the SPAD VII model. Entering service in July 1917, the aircraft boasted a single-shot 37 mm Puteaux cannon, which had to be hand-reloaded in flight! Tricky to fly, the XII was only issued to experienced pilots, and was flown briefly by a number of aces.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace047-spad-xii-xiii-aces-of-wwi-ospace047-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994292/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST This book focuses on the combat careers of the last of the famous Sopwith fighters to enter service during World War 1, the Dolphin and the Snipe, both of which were built on the strong scouting heritage of the Pup and Camel. The Dolphin featured the unique negative-staggered biplane wing arrangement, which provided the pilot with the best possible tactical view forward for seeking out his enemy. Used extensively on the Western Front, the Dolphin proved very effective in combat, with a substantial number of British aces scoring kills with the fighter. The Snipe was built as the successor of the highly successful Camel, and entered service with the fledgling Royal Air Force in the summer of 1918. Although seeing just a few months of action before the Armistice, the Snipe nevertheless proved its superiority over virtually all other fighters. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace048-dolphin-snipe-aces-of-wwi-ospace048-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994293/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Initially flying Italian-supplied Fiat G.50s, the Croat forces suffered heavy losses during 1942 whilst flying alongside JG 52 in the southern sector of the Russian front. Despite this, a significant number of kills fell to future aces such as Cvitan Galic and Mato Dubovak during this time, and when the units re-equipped with Bf 109G-10s in 1943, battle-seasoned Croat pilots started to rack up impressive scores. This book reveals how, by 1944, Croat air groups were defending Yugoslavia from British and American air raids, and in the final months of the war a handful of surviving pilots fought on until final defeat in May 1945. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace049-croatian-aces-of-wwii-ospace049-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994294/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Like Germany, Hungary was forbidden from having an air force following the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War 1. However, again like Germany, the new state of Hungary created an air arm in secret during the 1930s. Hungarian fighter pilots first saw action against their Slovakian neighbours in early 1939, following the annexation of Czechoslovakia by Germany. In June 1941, Hungarian armed forces joined the Germany in the invasion of Russia, and pilots from the I/I Fighter Group saw continuous action into 1942. Flying CR.42s, Re.2000s and Bf 109Es, pilots scored a modest number of kills. However, when the Bf 109G-equipped Hungarian 101 ŒPuma1 Fighter Regiment was committed to action over Kharkov in April 1943, numerous aces started to rapidly build there scores. One year later the unit returned home in order to defend Hungarian cities from American heavy bombers, and pilots such as Dezsö Szentgyörgyi and György Debrödy scored the bulk of their kills in desperate battles against American fighters and bombers. Unlike most of Germanys Eastern European allies, Hungary did not capitulate during the Russian advances of 1944, and its fighter pilots fought on until May 1945. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace050-hungarian-aces-of-wwii-ospace050-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994295/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Like The Long Reach, Down to Earth is a message from the battle at its height, told in their own words by the men who fight - this is how Brig-Gen Francis Griswold, VIII Fighter Command, ends his introduction to this book. His official endorsement reveals just how important a document Down to Earth was to the teaching of tyro fighter pilots heading for action in the ETO. More leading aces were lost to flak whilst ground strafing than to German fighters. In this book William Hess has included biographies of all the pilots that originally contributed to this work back in 1943-44.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace051-down-to-earth-strafing-aces-of-the-eight-af-ospace051-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994296/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Responsible for destroying 1294 enemy aircraft between June 1917 and November 1918, the Camel was the most successful fighting scout employed by either side in terms of the sheer number of victories that it scored. The Camel was renowned for its sensitivity and need for skill and experience, and casualties amongst pilots undergoing training on the type were very high. More than 5490 examples were constructed, and this book covers its combat use on the Western Front, in Palestine, on the Italian front, in the Home Defence role in the UK and in Russia.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace052-sopwith-camel-aces-of-wwi-ospace052-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994297/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Designed in a great rush at the end of 1917 just in time to take part in the German standard fighter competition held in January/February 1918, the D VII easily walked away with first prize. As Germanys premier fighter unit, von Richthofens JG I (led by Hermann Göring in the wake of the Red Barons recent death) received the first examples of the D VII to reach the frontline in late April. Built to oppose the new generation of French SPAD XIIIs and British SE 5as and Camel fighters, the D VII was arguably the best all-round fighting scout of the Great War. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace053-fokker-d-vii-aces-of-wwi-part-1-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994298/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST First seeing action in the wake of the German invasion of the USSR in June 1941, the Royal Rumanian Air Force had been allied to the Luftwaffe since the Romanian government signed a Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy in November 1940. This book reveals how, despite suffering heavy losses to the numerically superior Russian forces, the Rumanians inflicted even greater casualties on the communists. Locked in bitter conflict with the Soviets until September 1944, when the Red Army poured across the Rumanian frontier and forced an armistice, the modest fighter force claimed 1500+ kills using primarily Bf 109s, Es. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace054-rumanian-aces-of-wwii-ospace054-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994299/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The first USAAF fighters to engage the Japanese in World War 2, a handful of P-40s rose to defend Pearl Harbor from attack on the morning of 7 December 1941. Warhawk units were also heavily involved in the ill-fated fight to stem invading Japanese forces in the Philippines and Java between December 1941 and April 1942 and again in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands between January 1943 and March 1944. This book examines The Warhawks wartime exploits and all of its aces including aces-in-a-day Mel Wheadon and Joe Lesika. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace055-p-40-warhawk-aces-of-the-pacific-ospace055-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994300/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST This book examines the LaGG family of fighters, that were amongst the first modern piston-engined interceptors made available to the Red Air Forces in early 1941and proved far better fighters than their radial-engined predecessors. Despite technical maladies and political interference from Moscow, the LaGG-3 matured into an effective fighter when flown to its strengths at low level. Many early Soviet aces were weaned on the LaGG-3, and if they survived the early massacres of 1941-42, they went on to fly the Lavochkin family of fighters. Indeed, the Lavochkin La-3, -5 and -7 were the fighters of choice for Heroes of the Soviet Union such as Ivan Kozhedub, who claimed 62 kills. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace056-lagg-lavochkin-aces-of-wwii-ospace056-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994301/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The Hurricane saw widespread action with Allied forces, as the RAFs first monoplane fighter. This book describes its many feats throughout 1945. It served as a fighter-bomber on the Channel Front, where the American Eagles and Polish units were amongst the Fighter Command squadrons flying the Hurricane, and where some of its highest-scoring aces operated. The Sea Hurricane was the principal fighter deployed by the Fleet Air Arm in the Mediterranean, and Hurricane units continued to operate from bases in India and Ceylon until 1945, following their failure to defend Singapore and Malaya from the Japanese. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace057-hurricane-aces-1941-45-ospace057-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994302/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST In 1939, Slovakia signed a protection agreement with the German Reich and joined the attack on Poland, where its Avia B-534-equipped fighter squadrons claimed their first kills. In October 1942, having made do with obsolete aircraft, the Slovaks were equipped with Bf 109Es and eventually acquired 43 Messerschmitt fighters. The Slovaks would claim over 215 kills. Although it supported German efforts in Yugoslavia and Greece, Bulgaria did not declare war on Russia. First seeing action in August 1943, Bulgarian fighter pilots used their Bf 109Gs to good effect. From late 1943 through to mid-1944, the Bulgarian pilots attempted to defend the country from American bombers, and Stoyanov and Bochev made ace during this period.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace058-slovakian-and-bulgarian-aces-of-wwii-ospace058-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994303/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Israeli delta fighters pilots have been credited with almost 300 kills between 1966 and 1974, and dozens of them became aces. The Israeli aerial kill exchange rate and overall air-to-air performance was phenomenal. Although the Israeli pilots were flying Mach 2 fighters, they lacked any modern radar equipment and their MiG-21 flying opponents should have had a performance edge over them. This book details their most signifcant engagements, many of which were essentially World War 2 style dogfights fought with jet aircraft. Because neither side had the combat edge to disengage at will most engagements were a life and death struggle and the introduction of air-to-air missiles and the Israeli Nesher was to prove decisive in this theatre. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace059-israeli-mirage-iii-and-nesher-aces-ospace059-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994304/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The American manufactured F-4 Phantom II was used by the Israelis in air-to-ground missions, as an attack aircraft, and air-to-air missions as a fighter. Despite performing both roles with equal success the Israeli reliance on the Mirage III and Nesher delta fighters meant that the F-4 was used most regularly in its air-to-ground role. The kill total of the Israeli F-4 community was, consequently, a modest 116.5; significantly lower than that of other Israeli aircraft types in service between 1969 and 1982. A handful of aces were, nevertheless, created and, using first hand accounts, this unique book tells their stories. Many F-4 pilots had previously flown the Mirage III but most of the navigators were either inexperienced flying school graduates or had been transferred from transport aircraft. The decision to create such teams may have appeared an odd one and it certainly led to a number of interesting experiences but proved, ultimately, to be so successful that by 2010 the Israeli air force will have more two-seat combat aircraft than single-seat fighters. The F-4 experience was, therefore, crucial to moulding the future of the Israeli air force. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace060-israeli-f-4-phantom-ii-aces-ospace060-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994305/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST This volume details the experiences of 107 elite American aces in combat against the Japanese. The highest scoring US pilots of World War 2 fought against the Japanese Army Air Force and Imperial Japanese Navy over the jungles of New Guinea and the Philippines. Flying P-38s and P-47s, men such as Dick Bong and Thomas McGuire won the Medal of Honor for their successes in combat in 1943-45. `Twelve to One is a rare document that details the `tricks of the trade employed by these men. This volume also includes biographies of the men whose tips for aerial combat make up the text, and the V Fighter Command Manual.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace061-twelve-to-one-v-fighter-command-aces-of-the-pacific-ospace061-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994306/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The inspiration behind the iconic Fokker Dr I, Sopwiths Triplane was built as a replacement for the companys hugely successful, and much loved, Pup. Thanks to its massive wing area, the revolutionary Triplane boasted an unmatched rate of climb and greatly improved manoeuvrability. Indeed, when the type made its combat debut in late 1916, the Triplane could easily out-fight any other aircraft operated by either side. Used exclusively by the Royal Naval Air Service and the French Navy, theTriplane had a far greater impact on the aerial war over the Western Front than its meagre production numbers really deserved. Pilots such as Ray Collishaw, Bob Little and Roderic Dallas all enjoyed success in the bloody struggle for aerial supremacy over the Western Front in 1917. The first volume in print devoted exclusively to Triplane aces, this book includes numerous first-hand accounts, detailed appendices, more than 90 rare photographs and over 40 all-new colour profiles and planforms.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace062-sopwith-triplane-aces-of-wwi-ospace062-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994307/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Volume 53 in this series covered Fokker D VII aces from the four elite Jagdgeschwadern of the German army, and this follow-on volume charts the story of the many aces who flew the famed fighter in other units committed to combat in the final months of World War 1. D VII operations covered the entire Western Front, from the North Sea to the Swiss border. In the latter half of 1918 the Fokker was not only the mainstay of the army Jagdstaffeln, but also the most potent fighter flown by home defence Kests and the pilots of the German navy in Flanders. The D VII easily proved the equal of the many British, French, Belgian and American aircraft it met in combat, and served in such roles as day bomber interceptor, balloon buster and nightfighter. Though handicapped by a lack of fuel and other supplies as the German war machine fell apart, aces such as Sachsenberg, Degelow and Rumey utilised the D VII to rack up impressive scores against consistently superior odds.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace063-fokker-d-vii-aces-of-wwi-part-2-ospace063-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994308/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The Yak-1 entered Soviet service in 1941, one of three modern types of aircraft accepted for production just prior to the German invasion of the USSR. Despite initial shortcomings, it soon proved to be the thoroughbred of the Soviet Airforce. Indeed, it remained in production until the end of the war, modernized but fundamentally recognizable. By VE-day about 33,100 Yakovlev fighters had been built. Virtually all Soviet fighter regiments flew at least one variety of Yak for a time, including those which gained their fame identified with other aircraft, and consequently many pilots known as Airacobra or Lavochkin aces also scored victories with the Yak. Many other famous aces were exclusively `Yak patriots, including the French Normandie pilots. This book focuses on the Soviet aces who scored all, or most of their victories in the Yak, drawing informaion from official unit histories and memoirs of the Soviet pilots themselves.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace064-yakovlev-aces-of-wwii-ospace064-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994309/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Entering service at the end of the Battle of Britain, the pugnacious Bristol Beaufighter was deployed in numbers by Fighter Command just in time for the start of the Luftwaffes night `Blitz on Britain. Flown by specialised nightfighter squadrons - several of them elite pre-war Auxiliary Air Force units - it was the first nightfighter to be equipped with an airborne radar as standard. Thus equipped, it combined the ability to `see the enemy at night with the devastating hitting power of four cannon and six machine guns. This book covers the exploits of the men who made ace in the Beaufighter and includes stunning original artwork together with first hand accounts of the action.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace065-beaufighter-aces-of-wwii-ospace065-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994310/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Tethered balloons reached their zenith as a means of providing a stationary observation platform above the battlefield during World War I. It took a special breed of daredevil to take on such odds deep in enemy lines in order to destroy a balloon, with Balloon specialists such as Willy Coppens, Pierre Bourjade and Michel Coiffard rising to the challenge. This book covers the story of these balloon busters from both sides in World War 1 through a mix of first-hand accounts and expert analysis, which compares tactics, theatres of operation, aircraft types and the overall odds for success.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace066-balloon-busting-aces-of-wwi-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994311/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The Sopwith Pup was the forerunner of the hugely successful Sopwith Camel, which duly became the most successful fighter of World War 1. The first proper British fighting scout, the first Pups - the Royal Naval Air Service - arrived on the Western Front in 1916. Although regarded as a `nice aeroplane to fly, pilots who used it in combat gained much success during the first half of 1917. The Royal Flying Corps also used the Pup from January 1917 onwards, with the final combats with the machine occurring in December of that year. This book describes the combat careers of the successful Pup aces, how they flew and how they fought.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace067-sopwith-pup-aces-of-wwi-ospace067-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994312/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST This volume tells the story of the daylight air battles over Germany through the eyes of the Bf 109 aces involved. It traces the development of the aerial defence of the Reich from its small beginnings to arguably the most savage and costliest campaign in the history of aerial warfare. The Luftwaffe pilots explain their tactics and relate their experiences - in the early days, waiting for short-ranged Allied fighters to turn back before attacking the bombers, the see-saw battle for aerial supremacy that followed, the advent of the P-51 and its devastating effect, the growing might of the heavy bomber streams and the final desperate measures against overwhelming odds. The story is predominantly that of the Bf 109s struggle to defeat the US Eighth Air Force, although latterly both the `mediums of the US Ninth Air Force and the `heavies of RAF Bomber Command were also active by day over Germany. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace068-bf-109-defence-of-the-reich-aces-ospace068-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994313/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The Mosquito developed into one of the most versatile aircraft of World War 2, entering service with Fighter Command in early 1942. The Mossie was soon defending raids on Britains Cathedral cities and became an integral part of the countrys night defences. Its airborne radar gave it the ability to see the enemy at night, and its speed and devastating fire power made it the finest nightfighter deployed by any side during World War 2. This book examines the infamous Mosquito, the nightfighter that was used by many leading RAF, Commonwealth and American aces. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace069-mosquito-aces-of-wwii-ospace069-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994314/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The 51st Fighter Wing initially flew the F-80C in the Korean War, but in 1951, the 51st brought in high-scoring World War 2 ace Colonel Francis Gabreski to assume command when it converted from the F-80 over to the newly arrived F-86E. His recruits included his elite 4th Wing pilots, and by the end of the war, the 51st had two pilots who achieved the status of Double Ace as well as the highest scoring ace of the war, Joe McConnell. This book describes the 51st Wings tenure with the Sabre that led to their high scoring sprees of 1953. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace070-f-86-sabre-aces-of-the-51st-fighter-wing-ospace070-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994315/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The Pfalz Flugzeug Werke, located at Speyer am Rhein in Bavaria, was the third in the great triumvirate (along with Fokker and Albatros) of German fighter manufacturers in the Great War. When World War I broke out in 1914, Pfalz initially produced copies of the Morane-Saulnier parasol monoplanes for the German air service. With the advent of the famed Fokker Eindeckers with their synchronized machine guns, Pfalz entered the fighter market with the Pfalz E.I and its successors, all monoplanes which were similarly armed. Though never as as numerous as the Albatros or Fokker designs, the D III/IIIa was flown in combat by many well-known aces: Werner Voss, Carl Degelow, Erich Löwenhardt, and the balloon buster Fritz von Röth, among others. This book examines the little-known aircraft flown by these incredible men.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace071-pfalz-scout-aces-of-wwi-ospace071-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994316/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The entry of the United States premier jet interceptor into the Korean War was triggered by the ever-increasing presence of the Soviet-built MiG-15 south of the Yalu River. The possibility of the USAF losing air supremacy over the Korean Peninsula was unacceptable. The 4th Fighter Wing got the call for combat in Korea. They were made up of a combination of new pilots right out of jet training and the older combat veterans of World War II vintage. This combination of pilot types wrote and re-wrote the text books on jet warfare. Of the 40 jet aces that the war produced, the 4th Wing boasted 24 of them. This book details these incredible pilots and the planes they flew.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace072-f-86-sabre-aces-of-the-4th-fighter-wing-ospace072-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994317/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The Fokker Eindecker (monoplane) started the true age of fighter aviation. With the development of its revolutionary synchronised machine gun system, the Eindecker caused consternation in the ranks of Allied airmen as its pilots began to reap a grim harvest of victims in 1915. The exploits of aces like Max Immelmann and Oswald Boelke became legendary on both sides of the front, and they received the adulation of the German public, along with such honours as the first awards of the Orden Pour le Mérite (the Blue Max) to airmen. These men created the tactics and principles of German fighter aviation as they did so. By the final months of 1916, the monoplanes had been replaced by the next generation of biplane fighters from Fokker and Halberstadt flying together in new fighter formations - the Jagdstaffeln. This book charts the successes of the lone hunters of 1915 until their eventual replacement.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace073-early-german-aces-of-wwi-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994318/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST By the end of 1941 the Soviet Union was near collapse and its air force almost annihilated, leaving large numbers of surviving pilots with no aircraft to fly. To help prevent this collapse the UK eventually supplied a total of 4300 Hurricanes and Spitfires to the USSR. After the United States entered the war, the Americans extended Lend-lease to include direct supply to the Soviets as well as the British, and among the aircraft sent were almost 10,000 fighters. Although the aircraft were outdated and often unsuitable to Russian conditions, they served when they were needed, and a number of Russian pilots became Heroes of the Soviet Union flying Lend-lease aircraft. The Soviet government tried to conceal or minimize the importance of Lend-lease fighters well into the 1980s, and the pilots who flew them were discriminated against as `foreigners. Only in recent years have these pilots felt free to admit what they flew, and now the fascinating story of these men can emerge.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace074-soviet-lend-lease-fighter-aces-of-wwii-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994319/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy served with distinction in every theatre of war throughout World War II. From its poorly equipped beginnings - it started the war with few suitable, modern, carrier-born fighters - to the final campaigns over the Japanese home islands, the FAA proved an effective fighting force wherever it went. FAA Pilots had the distinction of being responsible for both the first, and last, enemy aircraft to be shot down during the war. Featuring first hand accounts, combat reports, photographs from private collections and an array of colour plates depicting the range of profiles and symbolic markings that were used, this book will detail the history and combat experiences of these forgotten pilots who served with such distinction for the Allied cause.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace075-royal-navy-aces-of-wwii-ospace075-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994320/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The four-year long Eastern Front campaign fought between Germany and the Soviet Union produced not only the greatest number of aces, but also the highest individual and unit scores ever recorded in the history of aerial warfare. An ideal complement to its bestselling predecessor, this fully illustrated volume covers the Luftwaffe fighter pilots credited with scores of between 50 and 100; every single one of them amassing a greater number of victories than the highest and most celebrated of any British or American World War II ace. Despite these huge personal totals, the names of these pilots who fought against the Red Air Force remain almost unknown to many English speaking readers. More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front rectifies that omission, providing first-hand accounts from the combat veterans themselves, as well as never-before published photographs, vividly conveying the terrible experiences of the protagonists in this difficult theatre of war.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace076-more-bf-109-aces-of-the-russian-front-ospace076-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994321/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST From September 1916 until late 1918, biplanes from the Albatros firm formed the primary equipment of Germanys fighter forces. Starting with the D I of 1916, these aircraft underwent a continuous programme of development and production to the D Va of late 1917. Albatros fighters reached their zenith of deadly efficiency in the spring of 1917, when the Albatros D III took a heavy toll of Allied aircraft. Nearly every one of the 81 Jagdstaffeln, or fighter squadrons, operated one or more types of highly decorated Albatros aircraft at some point in their history. This book is a follow-up to Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 32 World War 1 - Albatros Aces, and provides a look at the design and production of the Albatros series. It also details the careers of some of the wars best known and lesser-known aces. The exploits of such luminaries as Ernst Udet, Max Müller, Karl-Emil Schäfer and Julius Buckler are recounted through their own first-hand accounts, rare archival photography and superb colour artwork. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace077-albatros-aces-of-ww-i-part-2-ospace077-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994322/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The Royal Aircraft Factory SE 5/5a was, along with the Sopwith Camel, the major British fighting scout of the last 18 months of the war in France. It equipped several major squadrons, the first being No 56 Sqn in April 1917. This unit became famous for the number of aces it had among its pilots, including Albert Ball, James McCudden, Geoffrey Bowman, Richard Maybery, Leonard Barlow, Hank Burden and Cyril Crowe. In all, 26 aces flew the aircraft with No 56 Sqn alone. Other well-known units were Nos 1, 24, 29, 32, 40, 41, 60, 64, 2 AFC, 74, 84, 85 and 92 Sqns. A number of Victoria Cross winners also flew SE 5/5as, namely Ball, Mannock, McCudden, Beauchamp Proctor and Bishop. Among the aces, no fewer than 20 scored more than 20 victories. In all, there were almost 100 SE 5/5a aces, and a large number of them are profiled in this volume. Supporting the text are more than 110 photographs, 37 brand new colour artworks and detailed appendices listing every pilot who made ace on the SE 5/5a. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace078-se-5-5a-aces-of-ww-i-ospace078-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994323/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST This is the history of the best Allied fighter-destroyer of World War I and the pilots who flew it. Numerous ace teams earned the Biff grudging respect from its German opponents, as the crews operated the plane not as a standard two-seater, but as a single-seat with a sting in the tail in the form of a rear gunner with a Lewis machine gun. This book charts the development of the plane from its inauspicious beginnings to the revised model operating with a new kind of tactics. Numerous first-hand accounts and combat reports give a fascinating insight into the combat experiences of the pilots themselves. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace079-bristol-f2-fighter-aces-of-wwi-ospace079-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994324/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The first few American volunteers in World War 2 flew Spitfires with the RAF during the Battle of Britain. Many more joined their ranks, often posing as Canadians, eventually forming three Eagle squadrons who earned a fierce fighting reputation. When the United States entered the war its fighter sections were issued with Spitfires and eventually the Eagle Squadrons were transferred to the Eighth Air Force. Discover the experiences of a variety of American aces in their own words through first-hand accounts, interviews and combat reports, in a thrilling read that transports the reader from the Battle of Britain to the deserts of North Africa and Fortress Europe itself. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace080-american-spitfire-aces-of-wwii-ospace080-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994325/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Modified for low-level operations to counter Luftwaffe attacks on the south coast, the Griffon-powered Spitfire XIV became the best low-level fighter of World War II. Squadrons moved to south-eastern England to counter the V1 flying bomb offensive, where daring pilots pioneered the technique of tipping the V1 over with the aircrafts wingtip to disorientate the bomb. Andrew Thomas also investigates the role played by the modified Spitfire squadrons after the V1 offensive, both in the attack on Germany and after the war in Malaya and Palestine. First-hand stories, photographs and colour profiles complete this account of the aces who flew the most powerful Spitfire variant ever built.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace081-griffon-spitfire-aces-ospace081-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994326/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST The Soviet Union began assisting the Peoples Republic of China in its establishment of a modern air force in 1950, when Soviet Air Force regiments were sent to train local pilots. Chinas involvement in the Korean War in late October 1950 inevitably drew Soviet pilots into the war, with a total of 52 Soviet pilots scoring five or more victories there. The history of these covert actions has been a long-buried secret and this book is the first English publication to detail the only instance when the Cold War became hot. This book uncovers Soviet combat experiences during the Korean War from detailed unit histories and rare first-hand account. With access to extensive Russian archives, the authors offer an enthralling insight into an air war that has been largely covered up and neglected. Illustrated with previously unpublished photographs and detailed full colour profiles, this book is a unique opportunity to read about an often-forgotten aspect of the Cold War.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace082-soviet-mig-15-aces-of-the-korean-war-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1994327/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:52:00 PST Tracing its roots to Manfred, Freiherr von Richthofens Flying Circus of WWI, the Jagdgeschwader Richthofen is arguably the most famous fighter unit of all time. Designated JG 1 during the Great War, then disbanded following defeat, the Jagdgeschwader reformed as JG 132. By September 1939 the unit had become JG 2, seeing much action during the Blitzkrieg and Battle of Britain. This first in a new series focusing on elite fighter and bomber units, charts the career of JG 2 from its first aerial kills in 1939 to the destruction of its own Fw 190s in the face of the Allied advance in 1945.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu001-jagdgeschwader-2-richthofen-ospaeu001-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998740/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST One of the first Thunderbolt groups to see action in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) with the US Army Air Forces, the 56th Fighter Group (FG) was also the only fighter unit within the Eighth Air Force to remain equipped with the mighty P-47 until wars end. Led by the inspirational `Hub Zemke, this group was responsible for devising many of the bomber escort tactics employed by VIII Fighter Command between 1943 and 1945. By VE-Day the 56th FG had shot down 100 more enemy aircraft than any other group in the Eighth Air Force, its pilots being credited with 677 kills during 447 missions. The exploits of this elite fighter unit are detailed in this volume together with photographs, their aircraft profiles and insignia. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu002-56th-fighter-group-ospaeu002-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998741/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST From its humble beginnings as a reconnaissance flight, using second-hand aircraft at the very end of the Battle of Britain, No 91 Nigeria Squadron went on to become one of the most famous units in RAF Fighter Command. It achieved outstanding results using new low-level interception tactics along the south coast of England, employing the very latest marks of Spitfire. Indeed, it was one of the few fighter units to be Spitfire-equipped throughout World War 2. Manned by a multifarious band of pilots from across the globe, No 91 Nigeria Sqn also produced its fair share of aces.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu003-no-91-nigeria-sqn-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998742/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST Finlands premier fighter squadron during World War 2, Lentolaivue 24 (Flying Squadron 24) first saw action during the bloody Winter War of 1939-40, when the Soviet Red Army launched a surprise attack on the small Scandinavian country - the squadron enjoyed great success against numerically superior opposition. LLv 24 was once again in the thick of the action following the outbreak of the Continuation War in June 1941. Easily the air forces most successful fighter unit, LLv 24 claimed 877 kills, and its pilots won five direct and two indirect Mannerheim Crosses (Finland?s highest military award) out of a total of 19 presented to all Finnish soldiers. Most top aces also scored the bulk of their kills flying with this unit.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu004-lentolaivue-24-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998743/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST B-29! No other term struck such terror in the hearts of the Japanese public during World War 2 than this single, most-hated name. It was then only natural that the pilots who attempted to shoot these high-flying Boeing bombers out of the skies over Tokyo, Nagasaki, Hiroshima and Kobe should become known as the elite of the Japanese Army Air Force. This book details the exploits of the `Dragon Slayers who, flying the very latest single- and twin-engined fighters, exacted a heavy toll on the AAF Boeing bombers using a range of tactics including ramming.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu005-b-29-hunters-of-the-jaaf-ospaeu005-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998744/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST One of the most successful of the high-scoring Luftwaffe Jagdgeschwader during World War 2, JG 54 `Grünherz (Green Hearts) was formed from three disparate fighter Gruppen immediately prior to the Battle of Britain. Having enjoyed immediate success over the Channel and South-east England during the summer of 1940, the unit was transferred to the Eastern Front in the spring of 1941 in preparation for Operation Barbarossa - the German invasion of the Soviet Union. JG 54 would remain a Jagdwaffe stalwart in the east, flying firstly Bf 109Fs and then the Fw 190. By wars end, the Geschwaders pilots had claimed over 9500 kills, and produced over 100 aces. Men like Hans Philipp, Walter Nowotny and Otto Kittel are profiled in this volume, which reveals the struggle in the face of overwhelming odds that was the lot of the Jagdflieger on the Eastern Front.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu006-jagdgeschwader-54-grunherz-ospaeu006-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998745/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST `I think the success of the 354th as the leading group in the European theatre for aerial victories is due to several things. First was the initial training of the squadrons before deployment to England. Colonel Ken Martin nurtured the group from its infancy, and all the excellence that later showed through could be placed at his doorstep. Despite his youth, he knew how to foster teamwork and demand perfection in flying. There was nothing more important than getting the group off on the right foot. Second, our pilots were taught to fly mutual support, and practised it faithfully. There were no hot pilots in the 354th, only excellent pilots. Third, men like Glenn Eagleston gave advice and warnings about combat tactics and guarding ones tail. This prepared our pilots for lurking dangers, something the other groups may not have done. Brigadier General James Howard, Commanding Officer of the 354th Fighter Grouphttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu007-354th-fighter-group-ospaeu007-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998746/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST Nicknamed the `Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney due to the garish all-blue noses of their P-51s, the 352nd FG was one of the most successful fighter groups in the Eighth Air Force. Credited with destroying almost 800 enemy aircraft between 1943 and 1945, the 352nd finished fourth in the ranking of all groups within VIII Fighter Command. Initially equipped with P-47s, the group transitioned to P-51s in the spring of 1944, and it was with the Mustang that its pilots enjoyed their greatest success. Numerous first-hand accounts, 55 newly commissioned artworks and 140+ photos complete this concise history of the `Bluenosers. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu008-352nd-fighter-group-ospaeu008-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998747/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST Known as the Fighting Cocks, No 43 Sqn has been a part of the RAF since 1916, and is still in service today. This volume deals exclusively with the units exploits during WW2, covering its service during the evacuation of Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain, as well as the years spent supporting the Allied cause in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Flying Hurricanes from November 1939, and re-equipped with Spitfires in early 1943, Fighting Cocks pilots scored 159 kills during the war and over a dozen of them made ace. This book presents a full picture of the squadron, its men and its aircraft. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu009-no-43-fighting-cocks-squadron-ospaeu009-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998748/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST Nicknamed the Unicorns, the 359th FG was one of the last groups to arrive in the UK for service in the ETO with the Eighth Air Force. First seeing action on 13 December 1943, the group initially flew bomber escort sweeps in P-47s, before converting to the ubiquitous P-51 in March/April 1944. Throughout its time in the ETO, the 359th was credited with the destruction of 351 enemy aircraft destroyed between December 1943 and May 1945. The exploits of all 12 aces created by the group are detailed, along with the most significant missions flown. This book also discusses the various markings worn by the groups three squadrons, the 368th, 369th and 370th FSs.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu010-359th-fighter-group-ospaeu010-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998749/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST The first title in the Elite Units series to deal with an American bombardment group, this title focuses on the 303rd BG, dubbed the Hells Angels. One of the very first B-17 units assigned to the newly created Eighth Air Force in England in September 1942, the 303rd was in the vanguard of the daylight bombing campaign through to VE-Day. Awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation in January 1944, the 303rd also had two of its aircrewmen presented with the Medal of Honor, Americas ultimate military decoration. Brian O Neill brings the groups colourful combat history to life with a mix of first-hand accounts, raw statistics and concise mission narrative.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu011-303rd-bombardment-group-ospaeu011-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998750/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST Synonymous with the Afrika Korps and the campaign in North Africa, JG 27 provided Rommels army with fighter protection for virtually the whole roller coaster ride that was the war in the Western Desert from 1941-43. Formed in Germany on 1 October 1939 (with Adolf Galland as CO of I.Gruppe), JG 27 saw considerable action both during the Battles of France and Britain, downing 146 aircraft in the latter campaign alone. Sent to North Africa in April 1941, the geschwader had an immediate impact on the campaign, which had up until then been dominated by the Allies. The third volume in the Aviation Elite series on a German fighter geschwader, this book will once again prove popular with Luftwaffe enthusiasts and hobbyists alike.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu012-jagdgeschwader-27-afrika-ospaeu012-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998751/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST One of the most important, and yet least publicised, components of the front-line Luftwaffe was the Schlacht, or ground attack, arm. This book details the Schlacht units who were in the thick of the fighting from the first day of the war until the last. They played a vital part in the heady successes of the early Blitzkrieg campaigns and went on to perform an equally essential role in the dark hours of last ditch defence and ultimate defeat. In between, they fought in all defensive battles: on the eastern front at Stalingrad, Kursk and Berlin; in the west, by night, over Normandy, the Ardennes and the Rhine. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu013-luftwaffe-schlachtgruppen-ospaeu013-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998752/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST The 49th FG was sent to Australia in early 1942 to help stem the tide of Japanese conquest in Java. Too late to save the island, the group went into action in the defence of Darwin, Australia, where the Forty-Niners handful of P-40E Warhawks were thrown into combat alongside survivors from the defeated forces that had fled from the Philippines and Java. This book assesses the outstanding performance of the 49th FG, pitted against superior Japanese forces. By VJ-Day the group had scored 668 aerial victories and won three Distinguished Unit Citations and ten campaign stars for its outstanding efforts.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu014-49th-fighter-group-aces-of-the-pacific-ospaeu014-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998753/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) was the most successful and highest-scoring fighter unit, not just in Germanys World War 2 Luftwaffe, but in the entire annals of aviation history. No other fighter group has ever come close to matching its staggering total of around 9000 enemy aircraft shot down in combat. And yet, because much of that combat took place over the tractless wastes of the Russian front, very little has been written in English about the exploits of this charismatic unit. This book provides a full combat history of JG 52 and its members, including the three top-scoring aces of all time, who claimed a total of 900 victories between them. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu015-jagdgeschwader-52-the-experten-ospaeu015-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998754/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST Undoubtedly the most famous of any nations aviation units in World War 1 was the legendary Jagdgeschwader Nr 1, or `The Flying Circus as its respectful foes labelled it. Germanys first true fighter wing, it would always be associated with its first commander, the charismatic and revered Manfred von Richthofen. JG 1 was formed in July 1917, and for sixteen months the units young pilots in their colourful aircraft battled for aerial dominance of the Western Front. From its ranks emerged many of Germanys most successful airmen, including the Red Barons brother Lothar; Ernst Udet; Werner Voss; Erich Löwenhardt and Hermann Göring. This book charts the World War I experiences of JG 1. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu016-richthofen-s-circus-jagdgeschwader-nr-1-ospaeu016-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998755/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST This book tells the story of one of World War Is most famous squadrons, Spa. 124 - the only French squadron made up entirely of American volunteers (save for the commander and executive officer.) Organised in April 1916, the group was successively dubbed the Escadrille Americaine, Escadrille des Volontaires and finally the Escadrille Lafayette. Its achievements were modest, but it included several colourful characters who captured the public imagination and played a major role in gaining American sympathy for the Allied cause. When the United States finally entered the war, many Lafayette veterans helped prepare US Army Air Service and Navy pilots for combat, although a few chose to stay on with the French. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu017-spa-124-lafayette-escadrille-american-volunteer-airmen-in-world-war-i-ospaeu017-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998756/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST This book traces the combat history of the most famous and highest-scoring fighter group in Frances World War I Aviation Militaire. Groupe de Combat 12 boasted the highest-scoring Allied fighter pilot, Rene Fonck, and Frances most celebrated hero of the air, Georges Guynemer. Its ranks included numerous other famous aces, such as Renes Dorme, Alfred Heurteaux, Albert Deullin, and American volunteers Edwin Parsons and Frank L. Baylies. Additionally, Guynemer was instrumental in developing Frances premier series of fighter planes, the SPAD VII, XII, XIII and XVII.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu018-groupe-de-combat-12-les-cigognes-france-s-ace-fighter-group-in-world-war-i-ospaeu018-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998757/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:42:00 PST After struggling with inadequate supplies of aircraft and materiel, the veteran pilots of the Geschwader would go on to enjoy incredible successes against French and American opponents in September 1918. Aces who flew the famous blue-fuselaged Fokkers of JG II included such stalwarts as Josef Veltjens (35 kills), Georg von Hantelmann (25 kills), Franz Büchner (40 kills) and Ulrich Neckel (30 kills). This volume contains many first-hand accounts by these and other notable aces, which reveal the esprit de corps and camaraderie these airmen displayed in their struggles against superior numbers up to the wars final grim days.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu019-jagdgeschwader-nr-ii-geschwader-berthold-ospaeu019-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998758/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:42:00 PST The storm troopers of the Luftwaffe, the elite Strumgruppen units comprised the most heavily armed and armoured fighter interceptors ever produced by the Germans. Their role was to smash like a mighty fist through the massed ranks of USAAF daylight bombers. Only volunteers could serve with these elite units, and each pilot was trained to close with the enemy and engage him in extremely short-range combat, attacking from the front and the rear in tight arrowhead formations. In exceptional circumstances pilots would even ram their enemy. This book chronicles the brief, but violent, career of the Sturmgruppen during the dark days of 1944-45, employing first-hand accounts and rare archival photography.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu020-luftwaffe-sturmgruppen-ospaeu020-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998759/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:42:00 PST These pilots called themselves the `Tokyo Club. It was a simple task to become a member. All you had to do was strap yourself into a heavily loaded P-51 Mustang, take off from Iwo Jima, fly 650 miles north over the sea - often through monsoon storms - in your single-engined aircraft to Japan, attack a heavily defended target and then turn around and fly home despite a shrinking fuel supply and perhaps battle damage as well. Do it once and you earned membership in the club. Do it 15 times and you earned a trip home. But make one mistake or have one touch of bad luck, and you had a very good chance of ending up dead. This book tells the little-known story of these brave men and their efforts to defeat the aerial forces defending Japan. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu021-very-long-range-p-51-mustang-units-of-the-pacific-war-ospaeu021-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998760/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:42:00 PST JG 51 were one of the Luftwaffes top wartime fighter units, yet their story has never been told in English. The units history encapsulates the fortunes of the Luftwaffes fighter arm as a whole - the heady successes of the early months, the steady attrition and the growing strength of the opposition during the mid-war years, and the final chaos and collapse of the last days. But it is perhaps the details of the pilots who served with the unit that sets JG 51 apart. During the course of the war it numbered more Knights Cross winners among its ranks than any other. And it is their stories - their successes, exploits and eventual fates - which brings this history to life.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu022-jadgeschwader-51-molders-ospaeu022-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998761/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 18:53:00 PST Formed with the best available fighter pilots in the Southwest Pacific, the 475th Fighter Group was the pet project of Fifth Air Force chief, General George C Kenney. From the time the group entered combat in August 1943 until the end of the war it was the fastest scoring group in the Pacific and remained one of the crack fighter units in the entire US Army Air Forces with a final total of some 550 credited aerial victories. Amongst its pilots were the leading American aces of all time, Dick Bong and Tom McGuire, with high-scoring pilots Danny Roberts and John Loisel also serving with the 475th. This book details these pilots, the planes they flew and the campaigns and battles they fought in including such famous names as Dobodura, the Huon Gulf, Oro Bay, Rabaul, Hollandia, the Philippines and Luzon.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu023-475th-fighter-group-ospaeu023-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998762/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:44:00 PST The USAAFs Tuskegee Experiment, designed to prove that African-Americans were not capable of flying combat aircraft, resulted in the creation of one of the USAAFs elite units. Commanded by Col Bejamin O Davis, the 332nd were able to boast 111 aerial kills, 150 strafing victories and even the sinking of a German destroyer by the wars end. The group were both feared and respected by the Germans, who called them the Schwartze Voglemenschen (Black Birdmen), and this book reveals the true story of the unit who rose above discrimination to achieve elite status. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu024-332nd-tuskegee-airmen-ospaeu024-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998763/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:44:00 PST Arguably the archetypal Luftwaffe fighter unit of World War 2, JG 53 aircraft were encountered on almost every fighting front from the first day of hostilities until the last. During almost six years of near-constant campaigning, JG 53 took a steady toll of Allied aircraft in every theatre it fought over. The variety of camouflage finishes worn by its machines -winter white, desert dapple and Reichs defence black - and the progression of variants are reflected in an eye-opening colour section. John Weal has spent several years researching in German archives and this, together with his personal contact with several veterans, results in an authoritative and human account of JG 53s long and eventful war. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu025-jagdschweder-53-pik-as-ospaeu025-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998764/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:44:00 PST By August 1916, the German Air Service was fighting a losing struggle in the skies over the Battle of the Somme. In response, an entirely new type of fighting formation came into being -the Jagdstaffel, a unit designed solely as a fighting squadron. One of the most famous was Jasta 2, formed and led by Germanys premiere fighter ace Oswald Boelcke. Renamed Jasta Boelcke, the unit would carry its first commanders legacy to spectacular success in late 1918. This title examines the tactics, personalities and achievements of this ace squadron which finished the war with an immense 336 victories, second only to Richthofens own unit in confirmed kills. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu026-jagdstaffel-2-b-lcke-richt-ospaeu026-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998765/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:46:00 PST The outbreak of World War II set in motion a massive expansion of the United States Marine Corps, leading to a 24-fold increase in size by August 1945. This book is the first of several volumes to examine the Corpss meteoric wartime expansion and the evolution of its units. It covers the immediate pre-war period, the rush to deploy defense forces in the wars early months, and the Marines first combat operations on Guadalcanal, New Georgia, and Bougainville. It focuses on the 1st, 2d, and 3d Marine Divisions (MarDivs) and the provisional 1st, 2d, and 3d Marine Brigades (MarBdes). http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto001-us-marine-corps-pacific-theater-of-operations-1941-43-ospbto001-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998769/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST This highly detailed study provides a clear account of how the British Army was organised, who commanded it, and how it functioned in the field during the Peninsular War. Focusing principally on infantry, cavalry and artillery, including foreign units in British pay, it provides a detailed and comprehensive order of battle. Doctrine, training, tactics and equipment are discussed in depth, and medical services and engineers are also covered. Concise biographical details of key commanders, over 60 unit tree diagrams, organisational tables, plus numerous illustrations make this an essential reference work for students of this period.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto002-wellington-s-army-in-the-peninsula-1809-14-ospbto002-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998770/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST The armored divisions were the shock force of the US Armys combat formations during the fighting in Northwest Europe in the final year of the war. Of the 16 such divisions formed during the war, all but one served in the European Theater of Operations. This book examines the organizational structure, operational doctrine and combat mission of these divisions from D-Day onwards, describing how doctrines and tactics were changed as the divisions were forced to adapt to the battlefield realities of combat against an experienced foe. The lessons drawn by the armored divisions from the bitter fighting in Northwest Europe from 1944 to 1945 strongly shaped postwar US Army doctrine. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto003-us-armored-divisions-the-europeon-theater-of-operations-1944-45-ospbto003-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998771/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST The German Army of World War II was the first to fully realise the benefits of using airborne troops alongside armoured formations. German Airborne Divisions became an integral part of the blitzkrieg operations that overran much of Western Europe during 1940 and 1941, from the historic raid on the Belgian fortress of Eben-Emael to the pyrrhic victory over British and Commonwealth forces on the island of Crete. This title looks at the creation, evolution, and early operational deployment of the German airborne forces (`Fallschirmtruppe), through highly detailed orders of battle, TOEs and examinations of crucial aspects such as doctrine, training, command and control, and the concept of vertical envelopment.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto004-german-airborne-divisions-blitzkrieg-1940-41-ospbto004-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998772/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST The Plains Indian War was one of the most controversial conflicts in American military history, as the US Army faced a tough opponent that challenged it for decades following the end of the Civil War. The Army leadership endured a severe lack of resources, political constraints, an indifferent public, tough environmental conditions, and other problems of the frontier. Army officers and men had to adapt to these constraints, and this period also proved to be a trial of the ability and endurance of the common soldier. This title details the organization, development, training, tactics and command structures of the US Army during its subjugation of the Plains Indian tribes. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto005-us-army-in-the-plains-indian-wars-1865-1891-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998773/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST Upon the entry of the United States into World War I, the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) were created by the War Department on short notice from existing units, filled up with men from the training camps and deployed with only their personal weapons and equipment. The US Army was not prepared for combat in France, and the remarkable achievement of the AEFs commanding officer, John J Pershing, was the creation of an American field army, built and nurtured from the bottom up. This book details the organizational structure, training and doctrine of the AEF and illustrates how it came to make a significant contribution to Allied victory in World War I.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto006-the-american-expeditionary-forces-in-world-war-i-ospbto006-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998774/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST By January 1944 the US Marine Corps had grown to a total of 405,169 personnel, comprising 28,193 officers, 10,723 officer candidates, and 366,353 enlisted men. The Fleet Marine Force now had two amphibious corps, four divisions, a separate infantry regiment, 19 defense battalions, and numerous support and service units. Following on from Battle Orders 1: USMC in the Pacific Theater of Operations 1941-43, this book examines the continuing development of the Corpss organization, its training, tactics, weaponry, and command structure, as well as the battles fought in the Southwest Pacific on New Britain, and in the Central Pacific on Tarawa, Roi-Namur, Eniwetok, Saipan, and Tinian. The organization of the 4th Marine Division (MarDiv) and III and V Amphibious Corps (IIIAC, VAC) is also discussed along with smaller, new units. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto007-us-marine-corps-pacific-theater-of-operations-1943-44-ospbto007-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998775/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST In late1944 the US Marine Corps prepared for the toughest battles of the war. It had grown to 35,598 officers, 5,384 officer candidates, and 366,353 enlisted Marines, totaling 431,573 personnel, and now comprised of two amphibious corps, six divisions, 26 non-divisional artillery battalions, and numerous support and service units. Following on from Battle Orders 1 and 7, this book examines the continuing development of the Corps organization, its training, tactics, weaponry, and command structure. It details the formation of the 5th and 6th Marine Divisions and the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, and examines the Corps performance in the brutal battles on Guam, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, and its deployment as an occupation force. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto008-us-marine-corps-pacific-theater-of-operations-1944-45-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998776/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST The Japanese conquest of the Pacific comprised of a complex series of widely scattered operations; their intent was to neutralize American, Commonwealth, and Dutch forces, seize regions rich in economic resources, and secure an outer defense line for their empire. Although their conquest was successful, the forces deployed from Japan and China were not always ideally trained, equipped and armed. The South Seas and tropics proved challenging to these soldiers who were used to milder climates, and they were a less lethal enemy on the Chinese mainland. This book examines the overall structure of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), the forces in existence at the beginning of World War II and the organization of the forces committed to the conquest of the Pacific. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto009-japanese-army-in-world-war-ii-conquest-of-the-pacific-1941-42-ospbto009-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998777/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST Overshadowed by the United States Armys armored divisions, the separate tank and tank destroyer battalions had the difficult mission of providing armored support for US infantry divisions in the 1944-45 campaigns. This book details the organizational structures and deployment of these units: the standard tank battalions, tank battalions (light), tank battalions (mine exploder) and tank battalions (special), self-propelled and towed tank destroyer battalions. It also covers the tactics used by these units in their attempts to assist the infantry, as well as providing a listing of all the battalions that took part in the Northwest Europe campaign.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto010-us-tank-and-tank-destroyer-battalions-in-the-eto-1944-45-ospbto010-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998778/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST When North Korea attacked the South on June 25, 1950, United States forces in East Asia were under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, whose largest ground force was Eighth US Army. This army fought a tenacious defense of South Korea, counterattacked north to the Yalu River with the separate X Corps, before falling back in the face of massive Chinese intervention, conducted a war of movement, and settled into a bloody two-year long period of static warfare. This title examines the combat mission, organization, and evolution of the Eighth US Army in Korea and its 300,000 US ground forces through highly detailed orders of battle, tables of organization and equipment, and examinations of crucial aspects such as doctrine, training, and tactics.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto011-us-army-forces-in-the-korean-war-ospbto011-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998779/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST The bitter fighting in the Pacific Theater required new forms of warfare, and the gathering of detailed intelligence information on the remote and varied islands and their determined defenders. As a result, new scout, raider and reconnaissance units were formed‹the pioneers of todays special forces. Some units were small, while others comprised thousands of men. All contributed significantly to the war effort. This book examines a wide range of PTO special-warfare units, including the Alaskan and Alamo scouts, 5217th/1st Recon Battalion, Marine Amphibious Recon and Raider units, Amphibious Scouts, and 6th Ranger Battalion. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto012-us-special-warfare-units-in-the-pacific-theater-1941-45-scouts-raiders-rangers-and-recomma-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998780/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST Between December 1941 and May 1942, the British Empire suffered a series of humiliating defeats in the Far East. Three years later the Japanese were defeated by British and Commonwealth forces at Kohima and Imphal and in the battles for Burma. This transformation in the fortunes was in large part due to the development of jungle warfare doctrine and the resulting improvements in training, tactics and equipment. This book examines British Army conventional forces that fought in the Far East, showing how the dissemination of doctrine improved training, and helped 14th Armys infantry divisions secure victory. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto013-the-british-army-in-the-far-easy-1941-45-ospbto013-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998781/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST The 1941 Japanese Pacific onslaught saw the defeat of Allied forces on all fronts, with the Philippines, Netherlands East Indies, and Commonwealth possessions falling under their control. During 1942-43, the Japanese consolidated their gains and redeployed forces in an attempt to break the Southern Lifeline between America and Australia. These plans were affected by the defeat at Midway, which forced the Japanese onto the defensive. This book examines Japanese forces employed in the follow-on conquests of 1942-43, and describes how unit organization, weaponry, and equipment were found lacking in the harsh environment of the Solomon Islands and on New Guinea. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto014-japanese-army-in-world-war-ii-the-south-pacific-and-new-guinea-1942-43-ospbto014-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998782/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST Following the battle for Crete in May 1941, Hitler refused to undertake any further large-scale airborne operations due to the high casualty rate. The Fallschirmjäger subsequently took up a new role as elite line infantry, and they served in the Mediterranean from 1942 to 1945, taking part in the conflict in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Their performance in such hard-fought battles as El Alamein and Monte Cassino reinforced their reputation as some of the toughest troops of World War II. This book explores their changing role in organisation, training and doctrine as the paratroopers developed into Germanys finest frontline soldiers.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto015-german-airborne-divisions-mediterranean-theatre-1942-45-ospbto015-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998783/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST Over 200 divisions fought on the Western Front during the first year of World War I and those best suited to the challenges of trench warfare were the six infantry divisions of the original British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Their superiority was partially due to the high quality of the divisions personnel and the first-class equipment provided to them. This book describes the organization and equipment of the BEF at the outbreak of the war in 1914, and relates how its structure changed both to accommodate the waves of Territorial and New Army units that were raised and to adapt to the rigours of conditions on the Western Front.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto016-british-expeditionary-forces-1914-15-ospbto016-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998784/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST The US Army infantry division was an intricate system of men and equipment welded together by doctrine and organization into an entity that could fight, maneuver, communicate within itself as well as with outside entities, and regenerate itself through a supply and replacement system. This book examines the organizational development, mobilization, deployment and combat actions of World War II US Army infantry divisions up until the end of 1943. Among the units covered are the separate infantry regiments and battalions of the standard type, showing how the Armys new triangular infantry division (based on three infantry regiments) evolved from the earlier square division (based on four).http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto017-us-army-infantry-divisions-1942-43-ospbto017-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998785/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST From their establishment in June 1940, the Commando units conducted a succession of daring hit-and-run raids from the sea into North-West Europe, Scandinavia, Italy and the Middle East. Among the highly publicised Commando operations were the raids on Vaagso, Dieppe, and St Nazaire. The Commandos also spawned a range of other Special Forces, including the Special Air Service, Special Boat Service and the Parachute Regiment. This Battle Orders title provides a detailed examination of the Army (and later Royal Marine) Commandos raised in the United Kingdom, from their inception in 1940 through to 1946, when the Army Commandos were disbanded and the role was assigned exclusively to the Royal Marines.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto018-british-commandos-1940-46-ospbto018-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998786/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST III Marine Amphibious Force was conceived as a division command for a small Marine Corps commitment to Vietnam. Within four years it had grown to a reinforced corps of two divisions, an air wing, and the division-sized Force Logistics Command. This organization was unique in Marine Corps history in that it merged combat and major logistical functions under a single field command. This book examines the origins and constantly changing organizational structure of III MAF, and demonstrates how it conducted its savage struggle against Viet Cong guerrillas and North Vietnamese Army regular forces in the northern provinces of Vietnam.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto019-the-us-marine-corps-in-the-vietnam-war-iii-marine-amphibious-force-1965-75-ospbto019-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998787/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST In 1940 a British offensive in the Western Desert provoked a major Italian military disaster. By early February 1941 the whole of Cyrenaica had been lost, and German help became necessary to avoid the loss of all of Libya. On 14 February 1941 the first echelons of German troops hurriedly arrived at the port of Tripoli, starting the 27-month German engagement in Northern Africa. This book covers the complex and oft-changing organisation and structure of German forces in North Africa from their first deployment through to the conclusion of the battle of El Alamein, an engagement that irrevocably changed the strategic situation in the Western Desert.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto020-rommel-s-afrika-korps-tobruk-to-el-alamein-ospbto020-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998788/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST The Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) saw the first operational deployment of US armoured divisions in World War II, and the experience proved chastening for the 1st Armored Division when it suffered defeat at the hands of Rommels Afrika Korps at the battle of Kasserine Pass. This title covers the organization of these early US armored divisions, as well as the independent tank and tank destroyer battalions that accompanied them. It details the evolution of US armoured warfare tactics and doctrine, learned from the difficult experiences of North Africa, and illustrates how they were used elsewhere in the Mediterranean, particularly in the Italian Peninsula.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto021-us-armorned-units-in-the-northafrican-and-italian-campaigns-1942-45-ospbto021-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998789/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST This book is the first of three to examine the genesis, organization and operational deployment of the US airborne divisions in World War II. It discusses early airborne units, detailing how and why they were formed. Task organization for combat, details of attached units, tactics, and weapons and equipment are examined, together with command relationships. The units discussed in this book include the 82d Airborne Division, 1st Special Service Force, 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team and 1st Airborne Task Force, and the operations in North Africa, Sicily, the Italian mainland, and in southern France are covered. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto022-us-airborne-units-in-the-mediterranean-theater-1942-44-ospbto022-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998790/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST Although harsh and inhospitable, the North African theatre of World War II proved to be a perfect environment for irregular warfare and the deployment of Special Forces. Following Italys entry into the war in June 1940, the Western Desert became the background for a long conflict dominated by motorized units. The major combatants - Great Britain, Free France, Italy and Germany - all developed irregular units to exploit the unique conditions of the region with varying degrees of success. This book details the genesis, organization and tactics of these forces, including such famous units as the Long Range Desert Group and the Special Air Service.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto023-desert-raiders-axis-allied-special-forces-1940-43-ospbto023-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998791/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST A complete overview of the evolving organization, tactics, doctrine, weapons and equipment of the US Infantry in the Pacific, Mediterranean and European theatres, from 1944 to the wars end. This follow-up to Battle Orders 17: US Army Infantry Divisions 1942-43, covers the critical period 1944-45 when changes instituted by Lieutenant General Leslie J McNair, the head of the Army Ground Forces and an organizational genius, were imposed on an army reluctant to change. The book includes a table outlining all 66 US Infantry Army divisions that served during World War II, and analyzes the organization of manpower and resources that turned these divisions into a war-winning army. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto024-us-army-infantry-1944-45-ospbto024-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998792/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST The delivery of entire divisions to battlefields behind enemy lines by parachute and glider was a unique feature of World War II, and by the end of the war the US Army deployed the largest airborne force in the world, created in only three years, and boasting such impressive units as the 82nd All American and 101st Screaming Eagles. This book details the organization and operation history of these units throughout the war in Northwest Europe from 1944 to 1945, covering the desperate night drops over Normandy in support of the D-Day invasions, through the capture of Nijmegen during Operation Market-Garden to Operation Varsity, the last great airborne operation of the war to secure the crossing of the Rhine. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto025-us-airborne-units-in-the-eto-1944-45-ospbto025-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998793/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST This book examines the wide variety of airborne units that served in the Pacific Theater. Among the units covered are the 12,000-strong 11th Airborne Division; the elite 1st Special Service Force; the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (Separate); and the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment. The nature of the enemy and the terrain in the PTO, and long distances that had to be covered, provided significant and diverse challenges to both Army and Marine Corps parachute units. Internal organization, weapons and equipment, command and control, training, combat missions, and combat operations including the 11th Divisions fighting in the Philippines, and the 503rd PIRs legendary jump onto Corregidor and recapture of the island are all covered.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto026-us-airborne-units-in-the-pacific-theater-1942-45-ospbto026-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998794/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST As Romes power and influence extended across the Mediterranean, she was destined for a collision with the Carthaginian Empire, a clash ultimately resulting in the decisive Second Punic War. At first the Roman Army was no match for the superior tactics and leadership of Hannibal and his troops. However, talented generals like Scipio Africanus transformed the legions into a formidable fighting force. Covering Romes catastrophic defeats at Lake Trasimene and Cannae to her final victory at Zama, this book examines the development of Roman tactics and organization through Romes transition from a city-based state to a Mediterranean powerhouse.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto027-theroman-army-of-the-punic-wars-264-146-bc-ospbto027-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998795/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST Formed in September 1941 from the Western Desert Force, British 8th Army (comprising British, Commonwealth, Free French and Polish troops) went on to wage a lengthy, hard-fought campaign against Axis forces across the deserts of North Africa. The Desert War was unlike any other fought by the British Army, involving highly mobile operations covering vast distances. The hot, unforgiving climate in which the troops lived and fought was almost as troublesome as the enemy. During its two-year period of service in North Africa, 8th Army underwent major changes in organization, equipment and training to accustom it to desert warfare.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto028-desert-rats-british-8th-army-in-north-africa-1941-43-ospbto028-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998796/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST Bruce Gudmundsson guides us expertly through the history of the British Expeditionary Force in 1916 as it struggled to become a modern army and turn the tide of the First World War. Examining the tactical innovatio0ns that accompanied this change and the conflicting strategies and tactics that it was expected to pursue, Gudmundsson explores the difficulties facing the British Army, including the bewildering number of new technologies in use, from novelties such as combat aircraft, tanks and armoured cars to trench mortars and more than a thousand pieces of siege artillery. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto029-british-army-on-the-western-front-1916-ospbto029-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998797/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST US Special Forces in Vietnam created the Civilian Irregular Defence Group (CIDG), a large paramilitary organization designed to protect the local population from Viet Cong incursions, whilst conducting border surveillance, raids and combat patrols in the local area. Their camps were often overrun and having no spare manpower the US Special Forces created dedicated reaction units which could act in a responsive and flexible manner - Mobile Strike (MIKE) Forces. This book examines the MIKE Force units, which were formed from the CIDG, the parachute and airmobile training they were given, and the operations that they undertook, from relieving friendly camps to independent offensive operations, providing the first organizational history of the MIKE forces in combat. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto030-mobile-strike-forces-in-vietnam-1966-70-ospbto030-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998798/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST By the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 Britain was the undisputed master of the seas, owing to the power and strength of the Royal Navy. Its fleets, comprising ships of the line, frigates, and gunboats, had doubled in size since the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793, totalling almost a thousand capital vessels. This book examines the commanders, men, and ships of the Royal Navy during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, and discusses the Navys command structure (from the Admiralty down to ship level) and its organization at sea. The tactics employed in action by a fleet, squadron, and individual ship, respectively are also discussed, as are the medical services providing a fascinating insight into the navy that ruled the waves.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto031-the-royal-navy-1793-1815-ospbto031-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998799/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST At the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Germanys armoured forces - the Panzerwaffe - were still in their infancy. The restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles meant that German tank production lagged behind its enemies. Initial armour campaigns in Poland were not overly successful and changes were needed before the invasion of France. This book examines the organizational changes, developments in doctrine and tactics and improved command and control that provided the basis for the spectacular success of the Panzer divisions in 1940. Achieving tactical and operational surprise, the Panzer divisions broke through enemy defences, enveloping a large number of hostile forces at Dunkirk. The legend of the Blitzkrieg was born. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto032-panzer-divisions-the-blitzkrieg-years-1939-40-ospbto032-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998800/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:00 PST The Ju 87 Stuka was the most feared weapon in the German arsenal in the first year of World War 2, the Luftwaffe using it to deadly effect during the Blitzkrieg between September 1939 and June 1940. Although vulnerable to the enemy fighters due to its moderate speed in level flight and general lack of manoeuvrability, the Ju 87 nevertheless soon came to symbolise the might of Nazi Germany as the mere handful of Stukageschwader supporting the Wehrmacht rampaging out of the Fatherland took a heavy toll of the Allied forces. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom001-junkers-ju-87-stukageschwader-1937-41-ospcom001-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998913/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The medium bomber workhorse of the Ninth Air Force, Martins much-maligned B-26 Marauder recovered from its poor start with the Eighth Air Force to go on and equip no less than eight bomber groups in the ETO. Although initially dubbed the widow maker, a change of tactics from low- to medium-level bombing for the Marauder soon improved the crews chances of survival - indeed, by wars end it boasted a lower loss-per-sortie ratio than any other twin-engined bomber in the USAAF. This volume covers all aspects of Marauder operations in Western Europe, featuring first hand accounts from surviving B-26 crews, plus an analysis of the tactics employed. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom002-b26-marauder-units-ospcom002-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998914/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The most numerous Allied dive-bomber of World War 2, the Curtiss Helldiver endured a prolonged gestation period to mature into one of the most effective aircraft of its type to see service in the Pacific theatre of war. Some 7200 aircraft were built between 1942 and 1945, the type making its service debut over Rabaul on 11 November 1943 in the hands of VB-17, this unit flying SB2C-1Cs from the deck of USS Bunker Hill. Although hated by the myriad crews sent into combat strapped to a Helldiver, the bomber was responsible for the destruction of more Japanese targets than any other dive-bomber.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom003-helldiver-units-of-wwii-ospcom003-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998915/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Truly an example of engineering ingenuity born out of the desperation of war, the legendary all-wooden Mosquito was perhaps the best twin-engined fighter-bomber of its size to see action in World War 2. The first bomber variant to enter service was the B Mk IV, initial examples of which were issued to No 2 Groups No 105 Sqn at Swanton Morley, in Norfolk, in November 1941. Considerably faster than the units previous Blenheim Mk IVs, powered by inline rather than radial engines, and made of wood instead of metal alloy, the Mosquito initially proved a challenging mount for both air- and groundcrew alike. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom004-mosquito-bombers-fighter-bomber-units-1942-45-ospcom004-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998916/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Built in large numbers in the years leading up to World War 2, Bristols Blenheim saw use as both a fighter and bomber thanks to its high speed in relation to the biplane types it was then replacing. Aside from its work as the staple medium RAF bomber from 1939 through to 1942, Belnheims also served as pioneer radar-equipped nightfighters in 1940/41 and long-range patrol aircraft with Coastal Command. Obsolete in Europe by the end of 1940, the Belnheim continued to serve as a frontline bomber in North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Far East well into 1943.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom005-blenheim-squandrons-of-wwii-ospcom005-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998917/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The terror weapon of the invasion of Poland, the assault on Scandinavia and the Blitzkrieg through western Europe, the Ju 87 Stuka had had its reputation severely dented during the Battle of Britain, where its vulnerability to fighter aircraft in hostile skies was savagely exposed. Licking their wounds, the Stukageschwader were sent south-east from their bases in France to the warmer climes of the Balkans in early 1941. In mid-1941, again frustrated at the inability of the Italians to defeat numerically inferior Allied forces, the Germans arrived in North Africa. Included in the force were Ju 87s. However, like operations on the African continent, their efforts were doomed to failure, and from mid-1942 onwards the Stuka proved to be little more than cannon fodder for Allied fighters.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom006-junkers-ju-87-stukageschwader-of-north-africa-and-the-med-ospcom006-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998918/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Known to its pilots as the last of the gunfighters due to its quartet of Colt-Browning Mk 12 20 mm cannon, the F-8 Crusader was numerically the most populous fighter in the US Navy at the start of Americas involvement in the Vietnam conflict in 1964 - some 482 F-8C/D/Es equipped 17 frontline units. It enjoyed great success against North Vietnamese Mig-17s and Mig-21s during the Rolling Thunder campaign of 1965-68, officially downing 18 jets, which represented 53 per cent of all Mig claims lodged by Navy squadrons during this period. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom007-f8-crusader-units-of-the-vietnam-war-ospcom007-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998919/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The first aircraft to be purposely designed as a radar-equipped nightfigher, Northrops P-61 Black Widow was heavily influenced by early RAF combat experience with radar-equipped aircraft in 1940/41. Built essentially around the bulky Radiation Laboratory SCR-720 radar, which was mounted in the aircrafts nose, the P-61 proved to be the largest fighter ever produced for frontline service by the USAAF. Twin-engined and twin-boomed, the Black Widow was armed with a dorsal barbette of four 0.50-in Browning machine guns and two ventrally-mounted 20 mm cannon. This volume features all the frontline users of the mighty P-61, and includes many first-hand accounts from pilots and gunners who saw action in the Pacific, Mediterranean and Western Europe.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom008-p-61-black-widow-units-of-wwii-ospcom008-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998920/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The second volume in the trilogy of Combat Aircraft titles devoted to de Havillands wooden wonder, this book focuses on the Mosquito fighter/fighter-bomber variants, and their users. From its earliest development phase, the aircraft was considered as much a fighter as a bomber, and this was duly reflected when the original 1940 Air Ministry order for 50 Mosquito bombers was modified to 20 bombers and 30 fighters. This volume is the first of its kind exclusively dedicated to the fighter/fighter-bomber variants of de Havillands classic wartime aircraft.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom009-mosquito-fighter-fighter-bomber-units-of-wwii-ospcom009-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998921/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Unquestionably the most successful dive-bomber ever to see frontline service with any air arm, the Douglas SBD Dauntless was the scourge of the Japanese Imperial Fleet in the crucial years of the Pacific War. The revolutionary all-metal stressed-skin design of the SBD exhibited airframe strength that made it an ideal dive-bomber, its broad wing, with horizontal centre section and sharply tapered outer panels with dihedral, boasting perforated split flaps that doubled as dive brakes during the steep bombing attacks.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom010-sbd-dauntless-units-oof-wwii-ospcom010-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998922/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Ever present in the Pacific from Pearl Harbor to VJ-Day, the B-24 Liberator proved to be the staple heavy bomber of the campaign. From its ignominious beginnings in the Allied rout in the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies, the bomber weathered the Japanese storm with a handful of bomb groups, which played a crucial role in checking the enemys progress firstly in New Guinea, and then actively participating in the island hopping campaign through the south-west Pacific. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom011-b24-liberator-units-of-the-pacific-war-ospcom011-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998923/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Although the Crusader was built first and foremost as a Navy interceptor, as has often been the tradition with US fighters, a photo-reconnaissance variant was also produced by Vought. The photo-birds first operational test came in the autumn of 1962 when its overflights of Cuba alerted the world to the likely presence of medium-range ballistic missiles on the Caribbean island. The recce Crusaders next action came during the long years of the Vietnam War. This volume is the second of two in the Combat Aircraft series devoted to the Crusader, the first title (again by Peter Mersky) having covered the F-8 fighter variants, and their MiG-killing exploits, during the Vietnam War.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom012-rf-8-crusaders-units-over-cuba-and-vietnam-ospcom012-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998924/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The third volume in the trilogy of Combat Aircraft titles devoted to de Havillands wooden wonder, this book focuses on the Mosquito photo-recce variants, and their users. The designs superb performance, and ability to escape interception by enemy fighters made the Mosquito the ideal choice for the RAFs then embryonic photographic reconnaissance force. The production standard PR1 subsequently became the first Mosquito variant of any kind to see operational service with the RAF, flying its first sortie [over France] on 20 September 1941. These aircraft flew all manner of bomber support missions ranging from simple post-raid photo-recce to weather checking and experimental H2X radar photo-mapping. All are detailed in this volume.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom013-mosquito-photo-reconnaissance-units-of-ww2-ospcom013-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998925/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The second of Britains four-engined bombers to enter frontline service, Handley Pages Halifax has forever lived in the shadow of Avros superb Lancaster. However, it was a Halifax which became the first RAF heavy to drop bombs on Germany when No 35 Sqn raided Hamburg on the night of 12/13 March 1941. Between 1941-45, the Halifax completed some 75,532 sorties [compared with the Lancasters 156,000] with Bomber Command alone, not to mention its sterling work as both a glider tug and paratroop carrier with the Airborne Forces, maritime patrol mount with Coastal Command and covert intruder with the SOE.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom014-halifax-squadrons-of-wwii-ospcom014-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998926/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The B-24 Liberator was built in greater numbers than any other US warplane, yet its combat crews live, even today, in the shadow of the less plentiful, but better-known, B-17. Accounts of the Mighty Eighth in Europe, and indeed many of the books and films that emerged from the greatest air campaign in history, often overlook the B-24, even though it was in action for as long as the Flying Fortress, and participated in just as many perilous daylight bombing missions. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom015-b-24-liberator-units-of-the-eighth-air-force-ospcom015-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998927/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST As its name suggests, the Avenger meted out severe retribution on the Japanese in the Pacific, participating in every major engagement through to VJ-Day. As a key weapon of war, the Avenger was so highly valued by the US Navy that its demand for the aircraft soon outstripped Grummans production capacity, so General Motors [GM] was contracted to build the near identical TBM from September 1942 onwards. Over 1000 Avengers also saw action with the Fleet Air Arm in both the Atlantic and the Pacific through to VJ-Day, and two squadrons of RNZAF TBDs fought alongside American Avengers on Bougainville in 1944.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom016-tbf-tbm-avenger-units-of-ww2-ospcom016-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998928/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Undoubtedly the most versatile German aircraft of World War 2, the Junkers Ju 88 served as a fighter, bomber and patrol aircraft on every front on which the Luftwaffe fought. Blooded in action during the Blitzkrieg, the Ju 88 soon proved to be a formidable opponent for the beleaguered Allied air forces. This book is the first of three volumes which will cover the Ju 88s extensive wartime service in the bomber role, and it details the aircrafts early campaigns, through to its extensive use in the night Blitz of 1940-41.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom017-ju-88-kampfgeschwader-on-the-western-front-ospcom017-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998929/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The Boeing B-17 has come to epitomise the American war effort in Europe, the huge four-engined heavy day bomber taking the fight to Germany from the late summer of 1942 through to VE-Day. The primary operator of the Flying Fortress in Western Europe was the Mighty Eighth. This volume, which is the first of two dealing exclusively with the Mighty Eighth, covers the 15 Bomb Groups of the First Air Division, each of which controlled four squadrons. The evolution of the force is traced through first-hand accounts of those individuals that took part in the action.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom018-b-17-flying-fortress-units-of-the-eighth-air-force-part1-ospcom018-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998930/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The elegant Sunderland was the RAFs staple maritime patrol aircraft throughout WW2. Crucial in the Battle of the Atlantic, the Sunderland was instrumental in defeating the U-Boat menace which threatened to starve the UK into submission. Nicknamed the Flying Porcupine due to its heavy armoury of 14 guns, the Sunderland proved an immediate success in battle. Aside from its worldwide use with the RAF, it saw action with the RAAF, RNZAF and RCAF. This is the first book devoted to the Sunderlands WW2 service to be published in over a decade. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom019-sunderland-squadrons-of-wwii-ospcom019-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998931/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The first monoplane aircraft ordered by the US Navy for carrier operations, the Douglas TBD Devastator was designed to fulfil a requirement for a new torpedo bomber. Just 129 were built, and when it entered service it was the most modern aircraft of its type anywhere in the world. Its only real taste of action came on 4 June 1942 in the pivotal Battle of Midway, when 35 were shot down in a clash with Japanese A6M Zero fighters. The aircraft was replaced by the Grumman Avenger weeks later.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom020-tbd-devastator-units-of-the-us-navy-ospcom020-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998932/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The B-24 was heavily utilised in the North African and Mediterranean theatres by the USAAFs Fifteenth Air Force, with operations over the Ploesti oilfields in Rumania being some of the most famous missions undertaken by the big American heavy in World War 2. The stirling work of the Fifteenth Air Force is often overshadowed by the glamorous Mighty Eighth, yet the men flying the B-24 fought ceaselessly right through to VE Day. This is the third of five titles planned to chart the operational history of the Consolidated heavy bomber, and is the first single volume to exclusively cover the Fifteenth Air Forces B-24 units.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom021-b-24-liberator-units-of-the-fifteenth-air-force-ospcom021-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998933/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The most produced Japanese bomber of the war the G4M saw action on every front from the first day of the Pacific conflict through to VJ-Day. The Bettys very long range made it a key weapon during the opening year of the war. However, to achieve this, the aircraft was built with very little protective armour for its crew or fuel tanks, and Allied pilots soon exposed its extreme vulnerability. In the first in a series of volumes examining the key Japanese aircraft of WW2, Dr Osamu Tagaya details the G4Ms extensive combat history, and lists all the units which operated the bomber.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom022-mitsubishi-type-1rikko-betty-units-of-wwii-ospcom022-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998934/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST When the UN called for the end of the British mandate and the partition of Palestine into two independent states, the RAF found itself under attack from both sides. Tracing the development of hostilities in the Middle East, this book covers the period from the establishment of the first proper Israeli Air Force in 1948 to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. Israels War of Independence against its Arab neighbours, the inevitable round two, the Suez Crisis of 1956, the Six Day War of 1967, the Yom Kippur wars of 1973 and the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 are all detailed in this fascinating chronicle of war in the Middle East. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom023-arab-israeli-wars-1947-82-ospcom023-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998935/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Exposing the true scale and significance of the deployment of air power in the Balkans, this book details the activities of NATO and UN aircraft as well as local pilots in the former Yugoslavia. From bombing by B-2 stealth bombers to air-to-air combat; from moving ground troops by helicopter to food-bombing for refugees, air power has played a vital role in Europes Vietnam, and there is little sign that the fires of conflict are being extinguished. Debate amongst air power practitioners has yielded little agreement as to the degree of damage inflicted on the Yugoslav 3rd Army in Kosovo, the Balkans continue to be a region of conflict and ethnic hatred.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom024-conflict-in-the-balkans-1991-2000-ospcom024-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998936/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The erstwhile enemy of the USAF and US Navy during the nine years of American involvement in the Vietnam War, the Vietnamese Peoples Air Force (VPAF) quickly grew from an ill-organised rabble of poorly trained pilots flying antiquated communist aircraft into a highly effective fighting force that more than held its own over the skies of North Vietnam. Flying Soviet fighters like the MiG-17, and -19, the VPAF produced over a dozen aces, whilst the Americans managed just two pilots and three navigators in the same period.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom025-mig-17-and-mig-19-units-of-the-vietnam-war-ospcom025-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998937/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST For every American fighter pilot involved in the Vietnam War, the ultimate goal was to kill a MiG. In eight years of conflict 43 Vietnamese Peoples Air Force aircraft were claimed by US Navy and US Marine Corps Phantom II crews, and one single ace crew produced. Navy Phantom IIs scored the first kills of the Vietnam War, in April 1965, as well as scoring the last in January 1973. This volume charts the successes of the navy fighter crews as they encountered MiGs, Missiles and AAA over the jungles of North Vietnam.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom026-us-navy-f-4-phantom-ii-mig-killers-1965-70-ospcom026-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998938/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST In August 1990 Saddam Husseins Iraqi forces invaded and occupied the small Arab state of Kuwait. This book analyses the ensuing Gulf War (16 January - 28 February 1991) - a war fought to expel Iraq and restore Kuwaiti independence if not, as one British MP tartly observed, to defend democracy. The allies under General Schwarzkopf launched five weeks of air attacks, deploying 1,800 technologically highly advanced aircraft from the US, British, French and Saudi air forces. Many of these machines, including the British Tornadoes and US F-117A Stealth fighters, had never before engaged in combat, and their combined assault, watched by millions on TV, combined impressive accuracy with firepower to which the Iraqi forces had no answer.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom027-air-war-in-the-gulf-1991-ospcom027-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998939/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The war fought between the United Kingdom and Argentina in 1982, for the possession of the Falkland Islands was probably the last colonial war that will ever be undertaken by the British. This book shows how the key to British success was the speed with which the British gained and then maintained air superiority over the islands and the waters around then with their small force of Sea Harrier STOVL warplanes, which operated from two aircraft carriers. Though subsonic, the Sea Harrier and its Sidewinder AAM were a combination altogether superior to Argentinas mix of supersonic and subsonic warplanes with older weapons, and this advantage was emphasised by the significantly greater tactical acuity of the British pilots. The Argentine pilots fought with considerable piloting skill and enormous courage, and scored a number of stunning successes against British warships, but ultimately they could not prevent the British landing and the following land campaign that resulted in complete Argentine defeat.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom028-air-war-in-the-falklands-1982-ospcom028-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998940/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Having honed their piloting skills on the subsonic MiG-17 and transonic MiG-19, the Vietnamese Peoples Air Force (VPAF) received their first examples of the legendary MiG-21 supersonic fighter in 1966. Soon thrown into combat over North Vietnam, the guided-missile equipped MiG-21 proved a deadly opponent for the USAF, Navy and Marine Corps crews striking at targets deep into communist territory. Most of the VPAFs 12+ aces scored their bulk of their kills in the MiG-21, which was then the best fighter produced by Russias premier fast jet manufacturer, Mikoyan Gurevich. Well over 200 MiG-21s were supplied to the VPAF, and the numerous models and the schemes they wore are chronicled in great detail in this unique volume.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom029-mig-21-units-of-the-vietnam-war-ospcom029-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998941/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The second of two books on the Navys Phantom II MiG killers of the Vietnam War, this book covers the numerous actions fought out over North Vietnam during the Linebacker I and II operations of 1972-73. No fewer than 17 MiGs were downed during this period, five of them by the Navys sole aces of the conflict, Lts Randy Cunningham and Willie Driscoll of VF-96. Drawing on primary sources such as surviving Phantom II aircrew and official navy documentation, the author has assembled the most precise appraisal of fighter operations involving US Navy Phantom II units and those elusive MiGs ever seen in print.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom030-us-navy-f-4-phantom-ii-mig-killers-1972-73-ospcom030-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998942/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The RAFs most successful heavy bomber of World War 2, the Avro Lancaster formed the backbone of Bomber Command during the large-scale night bombing campaign against occupied Europe. In this, the first of two volumes on the British bomber icon of World War 2, noted English aviation historian Jon Lake recounts the early daylight raids, the first `thousand bomber raids on Germany and the epic `Dambusters mission of 16/17 May 1943 by No 617 Sqn, as well as myriad other sorties to numerous German targets in 1942-43. This volume contains more than 100 photographs, 30 all-new colour profiles by leading aviation artist Chris Davey and specially commissioned scale drawings of the Lancaster B I/II by Mark Styling. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom031-lancaster-squadrons-1942-43-ospcom031-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998943/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST From November 1942 through to May 1945, the backbone of the USAAFs medium bomber force was provided by the clutch of bomb groups equipped with the B-25 Mitchell. First seeing action in North Africa in the wake of Operation Torch, and in the Battle of El Alamein, the `bombing twin proved to be one of the most successful allied combat types in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (MTO). The first of four volumes planned for the Combat Aircraft series on the Mitchell, this title includes first-hand accounts, 30 colour profiles and more than 100 colour and black and white photographs of the B-25 in the MTO.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom032-b-25-mitchell-units-of-the-mto-ospcom032-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998944/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The ultimate piston-engined heavy bomber of World War 2, the first production B-29s were delivered to the 58th Very Heavy Bomb Wing in the autumn of 1943. By the spring of 1944 the Superfortress was bombing targets in the Pacific, and by wars end the aircraft had played as great a part as any weapon in ending the conflict with the Japanese. Indeed, the final dropping of two atomic bombs from the B-29 convinced the Japanese to sue for peace. This book traces the wartime career of the B-29, as the aircraft went from strength to strength in the Pacific Theatre. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom033-b-29-superfortress-units-of-wwii-ospcom033-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998945/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST A development of the successful Lockheed `medium twins of the late 1930s, the PV Ventura/Harpoon family of patrol bombers saw widespread service with both the US Navy/Marine Corps and the TAF and Commonwealth from October 1942 onwards. The USAAF also used surplus Venturas originally ordered by the RAF, designated B-34 Lexingtons, in the bomber training and coastal patrol roles. The final variant in this family was the larger PV-2 Harpoon, which was built to a US Navy requirement from March 1944 onwards. Used primarily in the Pacific, 470 Harpoons saw frontline service on anti-shipping and submarine patrols through to VJ-Day. This book covers each of these variants in complete illustrated detail.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom034-pv-ventura-harpoon-units-of-wwii-ospcom034-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998946/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The RAFs most successful heavy bomber of World War 2, the Avro Lancaster formed the backbone of Bomber Command during the large-scale night bombing campaign against occupied Europe. Produced in massive numbers (over 7300 up to VE-Day), the first examples entered squadron service on Christmas Eve 1941, and tasted combat the following March. The second of two volumes on the British bomber icon of World War 2, this book details Bomber Commands massive nocturnal bombing campaign, its support for the D-Day landings, Tallboy raids against the U-boat pens in France and the battleship Tirpitz in Norway, and the final daylight missions of 1945.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom035-lancaster-squadrons-1944-45-ospcom035-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998947/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The Boeing B-17, which has come to epitomise the American war effort in Europe, took the fight to Germans from the late summer of 1942 through to VE-Day. Its primary operator in Western Europe was the Mighty Eighth, who controlled 27 bomb groups for much of the war. This second of two volumes covers the 14 Bomb Groups of the Third Air Division. First hand accounts, period photography, profile artworks and nose art scrap views bring to life aircraft from each of the groups within the Third Air Division.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom036-b-17-flying-fortress-units-of-the-eighth-air-force-part2-ospcom036-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998948/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Different versions of the jet have provided the backbone of the frontline strength of the Iranian air force since the 1970s, and whole generations of Iranian pilots and ground personnel have been trained to fly and maintain them. Indeed, the type bore the brunt of active combat operations during the long war with Iraq. Iranian F-4 Phantom IIs were also some of best equipped examples ever exported by the USA. Some Iranian Phantom II pilots gathered immense experience on the type, flying it in combat for more than ten years. This book removes the veil of secrecy surrounding Iranian Phantom II operations since the war with Iraq. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom037-iranian-f-4-phantom-ii-units-in-combat-ospcom037-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998949/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Although the Fifteenth Air Force was dismissed as minor leaguers by the Eighth Air Force, strategic bombers from this outfit had done a major league job on Axis targets in southern Europe following its formation in Italy in November 1943. And the heavy bombers employed by the Fifteenth were of course the venerable B-17 and B-24. At its peak strength, the Fifteenths B-17 force comprised six groups of four squadrons each, all controlled by the 5th Bomb Wing. Having been a part of the Fifteenth Air Force in 1944, author Bill Hess has long been waiting to write a definitive account on his air force.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom038-b-17-flying-fortress-units-of-the-mto-ospcom038-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998950/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The B-17 saw combat in the Pacific from the moment a formation of these bombers arrived at Pearl Harbor during the midst of the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack. By the end of the war, SB-17 rescue craft were saving combat crews in the waters off Japan. This book reveals why, to the public, the Flying Fortress was better known than the Spitfire, the Boeing 747, or Lindberghs Spirit of St Louis. The name recognition enjoyed by the B-17 was that companys reason for creating B-17 Steak Sauce and Ospreys reason to round out the saga of this great wartime aircraft. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom039-b-17-flying-fortress-units-of-the-pacific-war-ospcom039-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998951/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Flown exclusively by the US Marines, the PBJ was one of those rare examples of an air force type being procured by the navy due to its ability to do exactly the job that was required of it. Bought as a land-based patrol bomber for operations in the Atlantic and Pacific, the PBJ (Patrol, Bomber, North American) was kitted out to hunt down submarines as well as surface vessels. Identical to its air force counterpart, except for its ability to lay mines, deploy depth charges and launch torpedoes, some 706 PBJs were delivered to the Marine Corps from 1943-45. This book outlines the aircrafts history and technology, and takes a closer look at the men who flew it.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom040-pbj-mitchell-units-of-the-pacific-war-ospcom040-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998952/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Bells AH-1 Cobra was the first dedicated helicopter gunship to reach frontline service anywhere in the world. Developed as a private venture by the manufacturer, and based on the mechanics of the ubiquitous UH-1 Huey, the Cobra proved a huge success once introduced into combat with the US Army in 1966. Built as a key weapon in the Advanced Aerial Fire Support System concept of 1965, the AH-1 was one of the few aircraft to reach the combat zone after actual combat experience went into its design. The AH-1 helped reduce the losses being suffered by vulnerable troop transport helicopters by providing effective fire suppression during airmobile operations. This book explores its history, technology and crew.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom041-us-army-ah-1-huey-cobra-units-in-vietnam-ospcom041-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998953/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST This book is the story of a majestic bomber of the propeller era flying perilous combat missions against a sleek, nimble warplane of the jet age, the Soviet MiG-15. A very heavy bomber and a sky giant during World War 2, at that time the B-29 was the most advanced combat aircraft in the world. By the time North Korea attacked its southern neighbour in 1950, the B-29 had been reclassified a medium bomber. Many of its crew members had fought their war and settled down to raise families and begin careers only to be recalled to fight another war on a distant Asian peninsula.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom042-b-29-superfortress-units-of-the-korean-war-ospcom042-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998954/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Designed to form the backbone of Strategic Air Commands nuclear deterrent, the B-52 force was brought to higher states of readiness whenever crisis threatened the USA, most notably when Kennedy and Khruschev went eyeball-to-eyeball over Cuba. Soon afterwards, B-52s formed the backbone of the USAFs bombing campaign in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. This book follows the story of the B-52 from its genesis to its first combat missions in June 1965 and through to the briefly sustained but bloodily fought Linebacker II offensive in late 1972. Even after the withdrawal of US forces in 1973, B-52s remained in-theatre, flying training missions mainly from Guam. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom043-b-52-stratofortress-units-in-combat-1955-73-ospcom043-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998955/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The MiG-21 provided the backbone of frontline Arab air combat strength for many years and remained the Arabs only real hope of challenging Israeli air supremacy. This book provides a detailed history of the MiG-21 in Egyptian, Syrian and Iraqi service. It includes numerous photographs, most of which have not been seen outside the Arab world and a large proportion of which have never previously been published anywhere. The material is drawn from official sources and from the private collections and recollections of men who flew, or met, these aircraft in combat. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom044-arab-mig-19-mig-21-units-in-combat-ospcom044-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998956/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The USAF introduced the F-4C Phantom II into the Vietnam war in April 1965 from Ubon RTAB, Thailand. The F-4C/D soon became the Air Forces principal fighter over the North, destroying 85 MiGs by the close of 1968. This book describes how the USAF turned a gunless naval interceptor into an opponent to the more nimble VPAF MiGs. It explains how the Air Force gradually followed US Navy initiatives in the use of the F-4s missile armament but employed very different tactics and aircrew training. The roles of key personalities such as Col. Robin Oldany are discussed, together with armament and markings, crews and engagements. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom045-usaf-f-4-phantom-ii-mig-killers-1965-68-ospcom045-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998957/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The F/A-18 Hornet in its various guises was the universal soldier of OIF, with around 250 seeing combat. Flown by various squadrons and groups, the Hornet attacked a range of targets including tanks of the various Iraqi Republican Guard units and government buildings housing elements of the Baath party regime. Apart from its ability to drop precision munitions such as laser-guided bombs, the Hornet was also capable of launching anti-radar missiles and acting as an aerial tanker and reconnaissance platform for other strike types. This book explores the Hornets versatility which has enhanced its reputation as one of the worlds leading strike-fighter aircraft.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom046-us-navy-hornet-units-of-operation-iragi-freedom-part-1-ospcom046-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998958/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The F-15C/E has formed the backbone of US and Coalition operations in the Middle East for over a decade, patrolling the skies over northern and southern Iraq as part of Operations Northern Watch and Southern Watch. F-15Cs policed the skies for Iraqi aircraft operating in contravention of no-fly zone agreements, whilst the F-15E was constantly dropping weapons onto the Iraqi SAM and AAA emplacements that engaged Coalition aircraft undertaking this mission. The USAFs use of the F-15 in the region culminated with Operation Iraqi Freedom, which was launched in mid March 2003 in order to liberate the people of Iraq and ensure the destruction of Saddam Husseins alleged weapons of mass destruction. In doing so, the F-15C was used to protect friendly troops and aircraft from any last-ditch attempt to use the Iraqi Air Force. In the event, the F-15Es of the 4th Fighter Wing saw most prolific use, engaging Iraqi armour before Coalition ground troops moved forward, and providing close air support to soldiers and Special Forces as they came into contact with the enemy. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom047-f-15c-e-eagle-units-in-operation-iraqi-freedom-ospcom047-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998959/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Arriving on station with the USS Ranger (CVA-61) in early December 1967, the first Corsair II squadron became operational immediatedly and sustained its first combat loss three weeks later. This book tells how the A-7 soon proved its worth supporting ground operations in South Vietnam. As it continued to serve in the ground support role, the navy swiftly introduced the A-7E which soon ran into difficulties with supply lines - perhaps on account of what many perceived to have been a rushed introduction to service. Once these teething problems were resolved, the A-7E became the primary air-to-ground aircraft of the fleet.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom048-us-navy-a-7-corsair-ii-units-of-the-vietnam-war-ospcom048-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998960/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST So formidable an opponent did the Iraqi airforce consider the F-14 that during the Iran-Iraq war, they ordered their pilots not to engage F-14s and the presence of one in an area was usually enough to empty it of Iraqi aircraft. Officially losses where tiny; only one F-14 was lost in aerial combat (to a MiG-21), one to a control problem and one downed by a ground-to-air missile. This book looks at the F-14s Iranian combat history and includes first hand accounts from the pilots themselves. It will consider key engagements and the central figures involved, illustrating the realities, successes and failures of the Iranian air campaign. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom049-iranian-f-14-tomcat-units-in-combat-ospcom049-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998961/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST With the ending of the Cold War, the B-52s traditional combat role became redundant, and the USAF looked for new ways to use the machine. The invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in August 1990 gave the B-52 the chance to prove its worth in the new world order, and Stratofortress crews flying the B-52G seized the opportunity with both hands. This book explains how, flying from bases in the Indian Ocean, Britain, Spain and Saudi Arabia, the B-52G was at the forefront of the campaign to free Kuwait of Saddams forces and dropped the first bombs of Operation Desert Storm.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom050-b-52-stratofortress-units-in-operation-desert-storm-ospcom050-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998962/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Developed from the A-5 nuclear bomber and used in a reconnaissance role, the RA-5C Vigilante was the largest and fastest aeroplane ever to operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier. During the Vietnam War it sustained the highest loss ratio of any American aircraft in that conflict. This volume includes compelling accounts of combat missions over key communist targets, where crews dodged Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) and anti-aircraft fire to secure all-important mission photographs. Written by a Vigilante combat veteran this book is crammed full of action-packed first-hand accounts.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom051-ra-5c-vigilante-units-in-combat-ospcom051-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998963/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Since the limited Desert Fox campaign against Iraq in December 1998, the Tomcat has been integral to virtually all combat operations involving the US Navy in the Arabian Gulf. Indeed, on every carrier deployment to the Persian Gulf since Desert Fox, the F-14 unit(s) on station has ventured into `The Sand Box over southern Iraq and prosecuted targets operating in contravention to United Nations security council resolutions. This book covers the F-14 Operation Iraqi Freedom actions against battlefield targets and integrated air defence sites, command and control centres, regime leadership targets and military installations in Baghdad, Tikrit, Mosul and Kirkuk.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom052-us-navy-f-14-tomcat-units-of-operation-iraqi-freedom-ospcom052-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998964/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The F-15A/C is irrefutably the most successful jet fighter of the last 30 years. Serving in the Air Forces of Israel, the United States and Saudi Arabia, it has racked up a kill ratio exceeding 105:0. Despite its age, it remains the leading operational air superiority and intercept platform in service today. The hi-tech wizardry of modern air combat detailed in this book makes for fascinating reading, even to those not immediately familiar with modern airpower, and a huge pool of previously unpublished information on both aircrafts combat records is uncovered. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom053-f-15c-eagle-units-in-combat-ospcom053-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998965/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The C-47 units of the USAAF were an integral part of some of the most dramatic episodes of the European war: the airborne assaults in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, southern France, Operation Market Garden and the crossing of the Rhine. The mass fratricide off Sicily, the night drop for D-Day and the Bastogne supply missions are also covered, along with more typical accounts of training, formation flying, airdrops and casualty evacuation missions. This book details an aircraft that remains a popular favourite and an acknowledged design classic, carrying out missions every bit as strategically important and as dramatic for the aircrew as those of the fighters and bombers.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom054-c-47-r4d-units-of-the-eto-and-mto-ospcom054-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998966/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The F-4 Phantom II was the USAF workhorse fighter-bomber for the Linebacker campaign, which eventually saw US forces withdraw from Vietnam with honour in 1973. This book covers the F-4 attacks on numerous targets in North Vietnamese cities such as Hanoi and Haiphong, as well as its engagements with Vietnamese MiG-19s and MiG-21s hell-bent on defending the north from Yankee air pirates. The USAFs only ace crew, which scored their five kills during 1972, is also covered in a book containing many detailed photographs, a large proportion of which havent been published before.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom055-usaf-f-4-phantom-ii-mig-killers-1972-73-ospcom055-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998967/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Some 84 of the 250 Hornets committed by Central Command to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) proudly bore MARINE titling on their rear fuselages. A further 14 were marked with the distinctive kangaroo roundel of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The exploits achieved by the units that flew these jets into combat is detailed in this volume, the third of three titles published in the Combat Aircraft series on what has been dubbed by many TACAIR insiders the `Hornets War. Although the bulk of this book deals with the major hostilities phase of OIF I, which ran from 20 March to 20 April 2003, the decade of pre-war OSW missions and ongoing post-war OIF II operations are also covered in significant detail from the Marine Corps perspective. Profusely illustrated with rare frontline photography and more than 30 specially commissioned colour artworks, this book also features the combat experiences of 24 pilots and Weapons Systems Officers. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom056-us-marine-corps-and-raaf-hornet-units-of-operation-iraqi-freedom-ospcom056-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998968/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST After the attacks on 11 September 2001, Apache units made significant contributions to the Coalition campaign against Taliban and al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan. Functioning as the killer part of US Army Hunter-killer teams, Apaches sought out and brought overwhelming firepower to bear on Taliban and al-Qaeda forces, as well as providing direct support to Coalition troops on the ground. Apaches spearheaded the advance of the 3rd Infantry and the 101st airborne divisions into Iraq, engaging in some of the heaviest fighting along the western axis of advance. Weather and enemy fire took a heavy toll on Apaches operating in Western Iraq, but the resilience and flexibility of the Apache was central to the success of this campaign.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom057-ah-64-apache-units-of-operations-enduring-freedom-iraqi-freedom-ospcom057-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998969/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST This book explores the role of the US Navy Hornet units in the northern Iraqi campaign. These units were the first Navy Reserve unit to be mobilized since the Korean War, and their attacks were launched from carriers off the coast of Turkey. The conflict for these squadrons was very different from the campaign fought in southern Iraq: they worked almost exclusively with clandestine Special Forces teams from the US Army, Marine Corps, Navy SEALs, British and Australian SAS and Kurdish guerrillas. First-hand accounts accompany the indispensable role these units had in the battle to liberate Iraq. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom058-us-navy-hornet-units-of-operation-iragi-freedom-part-2-ospcom058-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998970/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The F-15E Strike Eagle has been at the center of every single conflict in which the US has been involved since 1990. This remarkable aircraft has repeatedly struck targets where no other Coalition, NATO or US fighter has been able to go, breaking records for combat endurance and effectiveness. In the last decade, the Strike Eagle has been consistently upgraded to accommodate the latest weapons and electronic equipment. This book provides a thorough study of this versatile strike aircraft, as well as exploring its role in Operation Desert Storm and, more recently, the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom059-f-15e-strike-eagle-units-in-combat-1990-2005-ospcom059-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998971/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The development of the B-1B Lancer bomber was difficult to say the least. Originally conceived to fulfill a USAF requirement for an Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft, the original B-1A concept aircraft was accused of being a white elephant, capable of performing nothing which could not be achieved at less financial and human expense than an intercontinental ballistic missile. Cancelled by the Carter administration and finally commissioned by President Reagan as the modified B-1B, the Lancer began its duties as a nuclear-armed bomber in the mid-1980s. The end of the Cold War intervened and the jet was removed from its nuclear missions as a result of arms control legislation. However, the 1990s saw the metamorphosis of the Lancer into a potent conventional weapons carrier which has seen action in Iraq, the Balkans and Afghanistan. The Lancer has proved its critics wrong in demonstrating its use as a highly flexible and hard-working bomber, able to undertake diverse missions ranging from CAS to the targeting of weapons-of-mass-destruction installations. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom060-b1-b-lancer-units-in-combat-ospcom060-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998972/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The F-16, called the Viper by its pilots, has been the most prolific fighter in US and Coalition operations in the Middle East for over a decade. Since the 1991 Gulf War, it has been the workhorse of the UN-sanctioned operations in the region, working in `Wild Weasel, ground attack and air superiority roles. Operations Southern Watch and Northern Watch required daily and continuous combat patrols over Iraqi territory for over a decade - a task that was made simpler by the bountiful supply of F-16s in USAF service, and the fact that the jet has always been able to assume multiple roles and uses. When US President George W Bush ordered his forces into Iraq in March 2003, the F-16CJ was the second aircraft to enter enemy airspace-proper, sweeping the skies for electrons in a bid to find, identify and kill Iraqs comprehensive air defence system. With the mission fulfilled, hordes of other Coalition fighters followed, including F-16CGs, which were used with great success to strike numerous targets.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom061-f-16-fighting-falcon-units-of-operation-iraqi-freedom-ospcom061-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998973/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Deadly in its primary role as a submarine hunter, the PBY Catalina was the scourge of the Imperial Japanese Navys submarine force. Its amphibious traits also made the aircraft well suited to air-sea rescue, and thousands of Allied airmen were saved from a watery grave by PBY crews. Using personal interviews, war diaries and combat reports combined with original Japanese records and books, Louis B Dorny provides a view on the role of the Catalina from both side of the war. Illustrated with over 80 photographs and colour profiles detailing aircraft markings, this is the definitive history of an insight into the PBYs use by the US Navy and Allied forces in the Pacific during World War 2.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom062-us-navy-pby-catalina-units-of-the-pacific-war-ospcom062-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998974/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The B-2A `Spirit was an aircraft conceived to fight the Cold War but which has proved invaluable to both the `New World Order and more recently the `War on Terrorism. The combination of low-observability, precision strike, range and payload flexibility has made the `Spirit the weapon of choice when America hits its enemies at the start of a campaign. Spirits have fired the first shots of Operation `Allied Force over Kosovo and Serbia, as well as operations `Enduring Freedom and `Iraqi Freedom. Despite the tremendous cost of the aircraft - each unit is literally worth its weight in gold - the B-2 has had an impact on modern warfare which has vastly exceeded this small force of 21 bombers. Developed in utmost secrecy, the B-2s gestation saw the use of new computer design and manufacturing techniques and ultra-modern synthetic materials making it the most revolutionary aircraft in terms of design and performance. This book examines these incredible aircraft.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom064-b-2a-spirit-units-in-combat-ospcom064-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998975/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Several books have been written about US naval patrol aviation in World War 2, but none do full justice to the role played by patrol squadrons of the US Navy in the longest, most bitterly fought campaign of the war - the Battle of the Atlantic. From the Arctic to the Equator, anti-submarine aircraft of the US Navy patrolled both sides of the stormy Atlantic alongside their allied counterparts, escorting merchant shipping through submarine-infested waters - the crucial lifeline from the United States to Great Britain and the Mediterranean, and staging troops and supplies for the ultimate liberation of North Africa and Europe. This book details the PBY Catalina, without contest the most successful flying boat ever designed, and a key element in the success of the Atlantic War. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom065-us-navy-pby-catalina-units-of-the-atlantic-war-ospcom065-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998976/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST From Pearl Harbor to VJ-Day, the humble Douglas C-47/R4D carried out missions every bit as strategically important, and as dramatic for the aircrew involved, as those of the fighters and bombers in the vast Pacific/CBI theatres. The C-47s wartime operations paved the way for post-war military and civil air transport, proving that aircraft could safely conduct routine flights from the USA, Australia and India throughout the Pacific and South-east Asia. The flights also demonstrated how the USAAF was able to invest in, and carry out, a mission that it had barely prepared for in terms of doctrine pre-war. In addition to linking theatres, the C-47 found itself in the vanguard of combat operations on virtually a daily basis in New Guinea, Burma, the Philippines, the SWPA and China. The importance of these missions, and the dangers faced by crews tasked with carrying them out, is chronicled in numerous first-hand accounts from the aircrew involved in this unique volume on the Allies favourite transport aircraft of World War 2.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom066-c-47-r4d-skytrain-units-of-the-pacific-cbi-ospcom066-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998977/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Post-Yom Kippur War, Israel purchased the F-15 Eagle, the then worlds best air-to-air fighter, in an effort to prevent another surprise attack from the air. For the first time in its history the IDF/AF operated a fighter that was a full generation ahead of opposing interceptors in the region. The first `kill F-15 Baz (Buzzard) arrived in Israel in 1976 and soon proved its worth in combat. Israeli Baz pilots were credited with 12.5 kills between 1979 and 1981, with 33 victories following during the June 1982 Lebanon War. Despite substantial combat, no Israeli F-15 has ever been lost to enemy action. In the 1990s the US government supplied the IDF/AF with the F-15I Raam (Thunder) to fulfill the long-range surface-to-surface missile mission post-Desert Storm. From A to I, the extremely capable, and combat-tested, Israeli F-15 force will continue to deter potential enemies well into the foreseeable future. This book examines the history and development of these units.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom067-israeil-f-15-eagle-units-in-combat-ospcom067-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998978/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST During the final years of the 20th century, the most significant break-through in military weaponry was the concept of Stealth technology, and the first mass-produced weapon to utilize this to perfection was the F-117 Nighthawk. Originally delivered in 1982, its existence was officially denied until the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, when it entered the public spotlight over the skies of Baghdad. Illustrated with stunning color photographs of the F-117 above Iraq, and complemented by numerous personal accounts from the pilots themselves, this book explores the history and combat experience of one of the most secretive planes ever built.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom068-f-117-stealth-fighter-units-of-operation-desert-storm-ospcom068-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998979/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The Skyhawk was involved in Vietnam from the very beginning, including the first offensive operations in 1963 into Laos, and the Pierce Arrow operations immediately following the Tonkin Gulf Incident of August 1964. Navy and Marine Corps A-4s quickly established a presence in south-east Asia participating in thousands of sorties against the entrenched communist forces in the South and the heavily defended targets in North Vietnam. A-4 pilots also struck targets along the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail, working with ground-based and airborne forward air controllers to interdict the flood of supplies to communist forces in the south. This book will include many first-hand accounts from the pilots who flew one of the greatest attack aircraft ever built and will provide an insightful account of some of the most thrilling aerial combats that took place during Vietnam.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom069-us-navy-and-marine-corps-a-4-skyhawk-units-in-the-vietnam-war-1963-73-ospcom069-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998980/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST The legendary F-14 Tomcat was the weapon of choice to strike against the enemies of the United States in the wake of the September 11 attacks, with F-14s flying thousands of bombing missions on al-Qaeda and Taliban positions. Written by aviation expert Tony Holmes, this book explores the F-14 pilots and aircraft involved in Operation Enduring Freedom, with insights into the tactical approach and strategic aims provided by officers. Exclusive access to mission reports, combat diaries, fullcolour artwork and photographs from the authors collection reveal the battle experiences of the most famous modern fast jet.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom070-f-14-combat-unis-of-operation-enduring-freedom-ospcom070-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1998981/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 13:38:00 PST Discover the history of a classic duel as the finest American and German pilots are pitted against each other in the war-torn skies over Europe, in two of the most advanced fighter planes of the age, the P-51 Mustang and the Fw 190. This first book in a new series describes the design and development of these rivals and analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of each fighter through an examination of the key elements of airframe, engine, armament and flying characteristics. Also explored is the training the combatants received, providing an insight into the lives of the pilots. Cockpit digital artwork allows the reader to relive the thrill and terror of a dogfight as these two evenly matched opponents battled for supremacy in the skies above Europe. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue001-p-51-mustang-vs-fw-190-europe-1943-45-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999087/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The German Tiger heavy tank was a monster of a machine that dominated the battlefields of Europe. One of the most feared weapons of World War II, the Tiger gained an aura of invincibility that was only shattered by the introduction of the Sherman Firefly during the summer of 1944. Designed by the British to combat the Tiger, the Sherman Firefly was based on the American M4A4 Sherman, but was fitted with a powerful 17-pounder gun which made it a deadly opponent. This book describes the design and development of these two opponents, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, assessing their tactics, weaponry and training. Gunsight artwork puts the reader inside the tanks during famous battle scenarios, in a victory of superior Allied numbers, tactics and engineering. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue002-sherman-firefly-vs-tiger-normandy-1944-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999088/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Winston Churchill claimed the U-boat peril was the only thing that frightened him during World War II. The U-boat was developed from a small coastal vessel into a state-of-the-art killer, stalking the high seas picking off merchant convoys, until the introduction of the destroyer escort, and the development of dedicated anti-submarine tactics provided a means of defence and attack against the U-boats. Gordon Williamson describes the design and development of these two deadly opponents, their tactics, strengths and weaknesses, weaponry and training. He provides an insight into the lives of the Royal Navy and Wolf Pack crews as they played their deadly games of cat and mouse on the high seas, gambling with their lives and the fate of the nations. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue003-u-boats-vs-destroyer-escorts-the-battle-of-the-atlantic-ospdue003-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999089/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Robert A Forczyk provides a riveting and intense description of the design and development of these two deadly opponents, the Panther and the T-34, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses and describing their tactics, weaponry and training. Moreover he gives an insight into the lives of the tank crews themselves, who were caught up in the largest land conflict of World War II, in some of the most important engagements in the history of warfare. Innovative digital artwork and first-person perspectives place the reader in the midst of a duel between the titans of the Soviet and German armed forced in a ruthless and relentless death match that would determine the war on the Eastern Front and, indeed, the fate of Nazi Germany.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue004-panther-vs-t-34-ukraine-1943-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999090/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Churchills words, never was so much owed by so many to so few, came to encapsulate how, in a few critical months, the entire fate of the British Empire, if not the war, hung in the balance, to be determined by a handful of pilots fighting tirelessly in the skies over Britain. Tony Holmes describes the Battle of Britain, the clash between the Spitfire I/II and the Bf 109E - detailing not only the key elements of both aircraft types - the airframe, engine, armament and flying characteristics, but also the pilots training and tactics accompanied by diagrams of actual flight formations. The growing influence of radar and the efforts of British air defences are also examined, as are real-life engagements - from both German and British perspectives. With a wealth of first-hand accounts from the veterans who strapped themselves into these legendary machines as well as illustrations and cockpit-view artwork, this book puts the reader in the midst of a dogfight, providing a unique insight into one of the greatest duels of history in the worlds first major aerial battle.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue005-spitfire-vs-bf-109-battle-of-britain-ospdue005-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999091/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The IJN was a pioneer in naval aviation, having commissioned the worlds first carrier, which was used against the US fleet at Pearl Harbor. The Americans followed suit, initiating a huge aircraft carrier development program. As the War in the Pacific escalated into the largest naval conflict in history, the role of the carrier became the linchpin of American and Japanese naval strategy as these rival vessels found themselves locked in a struggle for dominance of this critical theater. This book provides an analysis of the variety of weaponry available to the rival carriers, in particular the embarked aircraft as well as the powerful ship-borne guns. Study the design and development of these revolutionary ships and live the experiences of the rival airmen and gun crews as they battled for victory in a duel of skill, tenacity and guts.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue006-usn-carriers-vs-ijn-carriers-the-pacific-1942-ospdue006-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999092/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST On the night of 7 February 1941 the first British parachute unit was sent into action. Their target was the Tragino Aqueduct in Italy, and although the mission itself did not go to plan, the effect on Italian morale of this landing in the heart of their country was considerable. It was also a valuable achievement for the parachutists to have proved themselves in action, even on so small a scale, at a time when Britain was reeling from defeat to defeat. Since then, British Airborne Forces have proved themselves in action time and time again, in a variety of different theatres from Europe to the Falklands. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli001-the-paras-1940-84-ospeli001-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999093/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Lee E Russell utilises his expert knowledge to guide us through the post-WWII history of the Marines, chronicling their involvement in Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon and Grenada. The account includes such remarkable exploits as the gruelling Chosin Reservoir campaign, which proved a supreme test of courage and discipline with the Marines isolated and overwhelmingly outnumbered in an unhospitable terrain where temperatures reached as low as -35F at night - they nevertheless emerged unbeaten - and the siege of Khe Sanh during the Vietnam conflict, providing a comprehensive overview of the history, organisation, appearance and equipment of these famous troopshttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli002-the-us-marine-corps-since-1945-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999094/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In this worthy addition to the Elite series, Ian Heath transports us to the time of the Vikings examining their epic journeys and the ships they made them in, their methods of warfare - the organisation of their armies and tactics employed, their appearance and equipment and the general history of these fascinating warrior-explorers. His authoritative text is backed by many fine illustrations and photographs including 12 stunning full colour plates by Angus McBride, one of the worlds most respected military artists. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli003-the-vikings-odpeli003-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999095/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST From its very inception the United States Army Special Forces has been enmeshed in controversy, its mission misunderstood to varying degrees, and its very existence opposed by some of the Army hierarchy. Nevertheless it continues to serve in a highly specialised role in all manner of differing conditions. There can be few better qualified to chronicle the history of this unique organisation than former Special Forces Group weapons specialist Gordon Rottman, whose expert knowledge is clearly evident in this authoritative text. This volume also contains 12 full page colour plates by one of the worlds most respected military artists, Ron Volstad.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli004-us-army-special-forces-ospeli004-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999096/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The elite forces of the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies in the mid-1980s were undoubtedly the largest in the world, and among the least known. The Soviet elite formations alone had a total strength comparable to that of the entire British armed forces. Besides the conventional military elite formations such as airborne and marine forces, most Warsaw Pact armies also possessed special, political elite, which were used for internal security. Backed by numerous photographs and illustrations, this book uncovers the history, organization and equipment of both the conventional Soviet elite formations and the often ignored security units. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli005-soviet-bloc-elite-forces-ospeli005-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999097/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The decision, in Spring 1948, to form two battalions of Foreign Legion paratroopers was prompted by the requirement for enlarged airborne forces in Indochina, and the healthy recruitment then employed by the Legion. There were some initial doubts. The Legion were known to be magnificent heavy infantry, but were felt by some to lack the flexibility and agility demanded by independent airborne operations. In the Legion itself there were some misgivings over the possible clash between the self-consciously exclusive para mentality, and the Legions own very marked ésprit de corps. Over time, however, all these doubts evaporated with experience. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli006-french-foreign-legion-paratroops-ospeli006-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999098/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The cradle of western civilisation, the ancient Greek world, consisted of a series of independent city states some of which, such as Athens and Sparta, became major world powers. This authoritative volume by Nicholas Sekunda covers Greek warfare in the Classical Period, which stretches from the Greek victories over the Persian Empire to the death of Alexander the Great at the end of the 4th century. The book includes such famous battles such as Marathon, Thermopylae and Salamis and offers a detailed account of Greek military dress during this period, supported by 12 full colour plates by Angus McBride. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli007-the-ancient-greeks-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999099/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Following the devastation of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) underwent significant structural and tactical changes in their battle doctrine. In only a few years the IDF evolved into a truly modern fighting force, much better prepared to confront the Palestinian terrorist attacks that were to follow. Written by an ex-soldier of the IDF, this richly illustrated book chronicles the history of the IDF from the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War to the late 1980s, and covers the various units of the IDF including the Paratroop and Infantry Branch, the Engineering Corps and the Armoured Corps. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli008-israeli-defence-forces-since-1973-ospeli008-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999100/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Despite the small geographic extent of Normandy its people played a crucial role in the history of the medieval world. Ferocity, boundless energy, cunning and a capacity for leadership were their heritage, to which modern scholars would add supreme adaptability and a simple piety. Their amazing military successes resulted from careful planning, speed of movement, decisiveness, daring and sheer ruthlessness. Added to this was a strong business sense and an appreciation of the value of money. Veteran Osprey author David Nicolle describes the history, arms and armour of the remarkable Normans in this fascinating volume.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli009-the-normans-ospeli009-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999101/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST While much has been published on the armed forces of the USSR during the 1980s, surprisingly little is available on the forces supplied by the other member nations of the Warsaw Pact. Rivalling the size of the United States Army, the combined ground forces of the six non-Soviet Warsaw Pact countries totalled over 775,000 active troops, with almost two million ground forces reserves. This book examines the history, organization and uniforms of the often overlooked DDR, Czechoslovak, Polish, Bulgarian, Hungarian and Romanian forces at the end of the Cold War. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli010-warsaw-pact-ground-forces-ospeli010-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999102/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST From the earliest planning stages of the German counter-offensive in the Ardennes, Hitler was convinced of the importance of taking the Meuse bridges. He resolved that, when his forces broke through the US lines, one special unit should be dressed in American uniforms and issued with American weapons and vehicles. In this guise they could take advantage of the surprise and shock of the breakthrough, and move forward to the Meuse bridges as if they were retreating Americans. Jean-Paul Pallud details their organisation and the fateful sequence of events that followed.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli011-ardennes-1944-peiper-skorzeny-ospeli011-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999103/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST For a young Soviet man in the 1980s, the chances were high that he would be obliged to serve for at least two years in the Soviet Armed Forces. At this time Soviet society was far more militarized than most other European countries; by the time they turned 18, most Soviet boys were far more familiar with military life than their Western European and American counterparts. Focusing on the daily experiences of a young recruit in the Soviet Army of the late 1980s, this book examines the history, organization, appearance and equipment of the Soviet forces, from pre-service indoctrination to uniforms and leadership.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli012-inside-the-soviet-army-ospeli012-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999104/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Ranger - the very word conjures up visions of small, highly trained units executing lightning-fast raids on an unexpecting enemy. It is also synonymous with high esprit de corps and excellence at arms. The US Army Rangers provide units of well-disciplined soldiers who possess the knowledge and courage to operate on their own, deep behind enemy lines. Gordon L. Rottman explores the history of these unique troops, starting with the original Rogers Rangers company of 1756, whose daring operations and deep penetrations of enemy-held country laid down the pattern for all subsequent Ranger units to follow. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli013-us-army-rangers-lrrp-units-ospeli013-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999105/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The British Army currently enjoys, both at home and abroad, the reputation of being one of the best in the world. Composed entirely of volunteers, its morale sustained by its curious and little-understood attitudes towards tradition, the British Army attracts respect and admiration from the military expert and the layman alike. Written and illustrated by a former British Army infantryman with 22 years experience, this book details the Armys history, organization, uniforms and distinctions. The text is backed by numerous illustrations and photographs.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli014-the-british-army-in-the-1980-s-ospeli014-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999106/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In the latter part of the 16th century, Spain was the major international power and her leader, King Phillip II, pledged to conquer the Protestant heretics in England. He envisioned a two pronged attack. He would send his `Invincible Armada of 125 ships into the English Channel where it would link up with the Duke of Parma. The Armada would ferry the Dukes soldiers across the straight of Dover and these troops would march on London, seize the Queen, and proceed to conquer the entire country. Over 400 years have passed since this momentous expedition sailed and failed, but its fascination and significance remain undiminished.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli015-armada-campaign-1588-ospeli015-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999107/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The defeat of Hitler on 8 May 1945 left Western Europe militarily vulnerable and economically exhausted. The Soviet Union, however, had since 1940 annexed 180,000 square miles of Eastern Europe, occupied a further 390,000 square miles, and now seemed poised to advance still further westwards with its six-million strong forces. The increasing Soviet threat brought forth demands for a permanent Western Military alliance, and on 4 April 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty was signed in Washington DC. This book explores the history, organization and uniforms of NATO armies - excluding the United States and Great Britain - as they were in the late 1980s. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli016-nato-armies-today-1949-87-ospeli016-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999108/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Like all warrior classes throughout history medieval knights engaged in military games, partly in preparation for war and partly for pure sport. From their often brutal origins in the 10th century to the gaudy pageantry and eventual decline of the 15th and 16th centuries, tournaments were the centre of the knightly life. The image of the armoured and surcoated knight on his caparisoned charger remains the epitome of the chivalric ideal. Christopher Gravett explores the history of the tournament from its chaotic beginnings to its more formal, civilised incarnation, describing the various events and equipment which came into use. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli017-knights-at-tournament-ospeli017-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999109/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In 1947, when the UN partitioned Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, the true war for Israels existence began. Throughout the War of Independence the PALMACH (Hebrew abbreviation for Strike Companies) spearheaded Israels forces. Disbanded in 1949, the PALMACH was replaced by other specialist units, including paratroop forces, the GOLANI Infantry Brigade, the Naval Commandos, and territorial and other reconnaissance commando formations. An acknowledged expert on the Israeli Defence Forces, Samuel Katz presents an overview of these IDF elite units, including the mysterious SAYERET MATKAL, a highly classified elite unit whose exploits involve the 1972 raid on a hijacked Belgian Sabena Boeing 707. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli018-israeli-elite-units-since-1948-ospeli018-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999110/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Born of a mixture of religious fervour, military ardour and political will, the Crusades remain a fascinating and misunderstood aspect of medieval history. Born amid immense suffering and bloodshed the Kingdom of Jerusalem remained a battlefield for almost 200 years. The Crusades raised to campaign for it gave rise to the Military Orders of the Templars and Hopitallers as well as numerous smaller orders, and were a backdrop to the careers of some of historys most famous leaders including Richard The Lionheart and Saladin. David Nicolle recounts the background and events of these fundamental campaigns that scarred the Late Medieval period.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli019-the-crusades-ospeli019-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999111/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST When conscription was eliminated in the early 1970s, the US Army found itself with a very different kind of soldier. While the personality of the Army remained the same, the organization of its higher levels of command and combat formations, and the internal structure of its units underwent major changes under the Army of Excellence program of the 1980s. This book explores the US Army of the late 80s, including the training methods, weapon systems, Reserve Components, organization and uniforms of one of the worlds most potent fighting forces. The text is illustrated with numerous photographs and eight colour plates.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli020-inside-the-us-army-ospeli020-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999112/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST A very remarkable people, the Zulu, the British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, said on hearing of a fresh disaster in the war of 1879, They defeat our generals; they convert our bishops; they have settled the fate of a great European dynasty. Remarkable indeed, to have taken on the full might of the British Empire at its height, and won, if not the war, at least some of the battles. This book explains who the Zulus were, and how they achieved the fame as warriors which they enjoy to this day.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli021-zulus-ospeli021-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999113/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST There exists among the worlds armies a proliferation of special forces groups. Todays smaller armies, especially those of developing nations, demand maximum efficiency in force structure and employment. Mountain, jungle, arctic and desert areas require special purpose units trained, conditioned, and equipped to master these environments. This volume by ex-weapons specialist in the US 7th Special Forces Group, Gordon L. Rottman, details the insignia of a myriad of special forces groups from all parts of the globe, from Portugals Commando Regiment to the North Yemen Al Mithalaat Brigade, with a wealth of illustrations and photographs, including 12 full page colour plates by Simon McCouaig. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli022-world-special-forces-insignia-ospeli022-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999114/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Perhaps the greatest warriors in history, the Samurai were a product of a social system totally geared to war. The Samurai became expert in fighting both on horseback and on the ground. Their way of life was dictated by the code of Bushido or way of the warrior and clad in their magnificent, multi-coloured armour they were perfectly suited to the violent clan and dynastic warfare that dominated medieval Japan as the most powerful families vied for supremacy. In this title Anthony J Bryant presents a fascinating overview of these truly élite warriors.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli023-the-samurai-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999115/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST On 19 August 1914 Kaiser Wilhelm II ordered General von Kluck, commanding the German First Army, to exterminate the treacherous English and walk over General Frenchs contemptible little Army. The Old Contemptibles adopted the aspersion like a treasured regimental title, their subsequent successes earning them a more accurate evaluation as the best trained, best organised and best equipped British Army that ever went forth to war. This book examines the history, organization and uniforms of the British Expeditionary Force of the early 20th century. The text is accompanied by numerous illustrations, including maps, photographs, and colour plates. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli024-the-old-contemptibles-ospeli024-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999116/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST When civil war erupted in England in 1642, it quickly involved every level of society throughout the British Isles. On one side the King and his supporters fought for traditional government in Church and State. On the other, the supporters of Parliament sought radical changes in religion and economic policy, and a greater share of power at the national level. This is the first of two volumes in the Elite series exploring the recruitment, organisation, and tactics of the soldiers of the English Civil War. This book opens with an account of the origins of the military theory used by both sides, before discussing the weapons, logistics and management of the infantry throughout the Civil War campaign.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli025-soldiers-of-the-english-civil-war-1-infantry-ospeli025-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999117/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In the late 1980s, with the Intermediate Nuclear Force Treaty in effect, public attention turned to discussions of conventional weapons in Europe, particularly tanks. Though the importance of tanks had dimished since their heyday in the Second World War, on the modern battlefield they remained the dominant weapon.This text, enhanced by colour plates and photographs, examines the NATO and Warsaw Pact tank forces of that era, focusing on tank firepower and crew training, and speculates as to the possible outcome had a conventional land war been fought between them. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli026-tank-war-central-front-nato-vs-warsaw-pact-ospeli026-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999118/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In March 1642 King Charles I, believing that Parliament had gone too far when it issued the Grand Remonstrace, moved to arrest John Pym and four other leaders. That summer Parliament, fearing military action, tried to seize control of the army by issuing orders for soldiers to report to Parliamentary, rather than royal, representatives. The King countered by ordering the bill ignored and raised his own army. Some turned out for the King, some for Parliament, and so the war started. This book examines how the cavalry soldiers of 1642 expected to fight the Civil Wars, and how experience changed their ideas. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli027-soldiers-of-the-english-civil-war-2-cavalry-ospeli027-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999119/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST During the Middle Ages siege warfare played a vital role in military strategy. Sieges were far more numerous than pitched battles, ranging from small-scale affairs against palisaded earthworks to full-scale assaults on vast strongholds. Needless to say, the art of siege warfare assumed a unique importance to both invader and defender alike. In this title Christopher Gravett explores the different aspects of medieval siege warfare, from chivalrous formalities to surprise and treachery, in a text backed by numerous illustrations including 12 full page colour plates by Richard and Christa Hook.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli028-medieval-siege-warfare-ospeli028-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999120/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Airborne units that fought against the Viet Cong in Vietnam were a select brotherhood. Their ability to respond and move rapidly by air transport or helicopter, combined with their flexibility in ever-changing tactical situations, saved the day in many brutal fights in the jungles, swamps, plains and mountains of Vietnam. This book looks at the history, organization and uniforms of the airborne units in Vietnam. The troops covered include paratroopers, reconnaissance troops and special forces soldiers from the US, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and the Republic of Vietnam. Contemporary photographs and full page colour artwork support the text.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli029-vietnam-airborne-ospeli029-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999121/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Of all the conquerors who swept out of Central Asia, two names stand out in European memory - Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan the Mongol. Both are remembered for massacres and devastation; yet whereas Genghis is also famous for the laws he imposed on half of Asia and for the trade which flourished under Mongol rule, Attilas notoriety seems unrelieved by positive achievements. But what was Attilas short-lived empire really like? What happened to the Huns afterwards, and what role did the nomads of Central Asia play in the centuries between Attila and Genghis Khan? http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli030-attila-and-the-nomad-hordes-ospeli030-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999122/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Elite units have long been prominent in the armies of South-East Asia and, given the turmoil in the region since the 1960s, these forces have had ample opportunity to be tested in combat. Acknowledged expert on South-East Asia Ken Conboy outlines the history, organization and insignia of Vietnamese, Cambodian, Indonesian, Malaysian and various other South-East Asian special forces from their origins up until the late 80s, covering such groups as the Vietnamese Luc Luong Dac Biet (Special Forces) and Lien Doi Ngoui Nhia underwater demolition team and the Cambodian Airborne Brigade Group.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli033-south-east-asian-special-forces-ospeli033-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999123/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The campaign in North Africa between September 1940 and May 1943 holds not only an enduring fascination for postwar generations; but also a perhaps unique degree of nostalgia for some surviving participants. The campaign was no less costly in terms of human lives and material than many others; but regret at the cost is accompanied by positive memories in the minds of many veterans. This is not to suggest that the dead have been forgotten; but an almost mystical bond nevertheless exists, even between former enemies, amongst veterans of the desert campaign. Gordon Williamson examines the history, organisation and uniforms of Rommels Afrikakorps.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli034-afrikakorps-1941-43-ospeli034-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999124/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST War played a central part in the history of Japan. Warring clans controlled much of the country. The wars were usually about land, the struggle for control of which eventually gave rise to perhaps the most formidable warriors of all time: the Samurai. Ancient Yayoi warriors developed weapons, armour and a code during the ensuing centuries that became the centrepiece for the Japanese Samurai. Anthony Bryant chronicles the history, arms and armour of these truly élite warriors, from the rise of the Yayoi through the Genpei War between the Minamoto and Taira clans to the Mongol invasions of the 13th century. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli035-early-samurai-ad-200-1500-ospeli035-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999125/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Texas Ranger is one of the most cherished symbols of the Lone Star State. While the Alamo is the undisputed symbol of Texas, the Ranger stands as an enduring symbol of the people of Texas. The Rangers were first formed to protect their neighbours from Indian attack, later they fought and died in a war for freedom, and staved off foreign invasion. Some Rangers died with glory at the Alamo, while many more were wounded, or died, in anonymity at dozens of obscure places. This volume by Dr Stephen L Hardin charts the history of this remarkable force from the 1820s through to the present day. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli036-the-texas-rangers-ospeli036-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999126/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In 1940 Japan placed Vietnam under military occupation, restricting the local French administration to a figurehead authority. Seizing the opportunity, the Communists organised a Vietnamese independence league, the Viet Minh, whose armed forces became known as the PAVN (more commonly known to the West as the Vietcong, or NVA) and prepared to launch an uprising against the French at the wars end. This text details the history, organisation and uniforms of the Peoples Army of Vietnam from its origins in the fight against colonialism, through two separate wars against the US and Khmer Rouge, to its role in the modern era.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli038-the-nva-and-viet-cong-ospeli038-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999127/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST For the greater part of the period from the end of the 10th century to the 7th century BC, the Ancient Near East was dominated by the dynamic military power of Assyria. At the zenith of its rule Assyria could lay claim to an empire that stretched from Egypt in the west to the borders of Iran in the east and encompassed for the first time in history, within the realm of a single imperial domain, the whole of the Fertile Crescent. Mark Healy, covers the history of the Assyrians from their ancient beginnings to the eventual fall of the city of Nineveh. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli039-the-ancient-assyrians-ospeli039-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999128/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Builders of the Pyramids and most ancient of all the powers of the biblical world, the Egyptians remain one of historys most fascinating and enigmatic peoples. During the New Kingdom era, Egypt reached the peak of its power, wealth, and territory. Through the intensive military campaigns of Pharaoh Thutmose III (1490-1436BC), Palestine, Syria, and the northern Euphrates area in Mesopotamia were all brought within the New Kingdom. Mark Healy outlines the history, organisation and dress of the New Kingdom Egyptians in this volume packed with accompanying illustrations and photographs, including 12 full page colour plates by the ever popular Angus McBride.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/egyptology/ospeli040-new-kingdom-egypt-ospeli040-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999129/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Influenced by the German use of paratroopers early in World War Two, General Sir Robert Cassels, the Commander-in-Chief India, ordered the formation of an airborne cadre in October 1940. Thus marked the origins of Indias first élite units. Pakistan can trace the origins of its own army airborne to the common parentage of British-raised forces. Following the partition from India in August 1947, it raised its own Special Service Group, with individually specialised companies including desert, mountain, ranger and underwater warfare units. This remarkable volume by Kenneth Conboy details the history, organisation, uniforms and insignia of the élite forces of India and Pakistan. Also covered are the elite forces of Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli041-elite-forces-of-india-and-pakistan-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999130/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Persian Empire grew in the vacuum left by Assyrias destruction of the Kingdom of Elam. Prince Teispes captured Anshan, once a stonghold of the Elamites. His father, Achaemenes is the person who is apparently responsible for training and organising the early Persian army and it is his name that is the beginning of the royal line of Achaemenian Kings. It is a dynasty which includes Darius the Great - the finest ruler of the Achaemenid era. The army he commanded included the infamous Immortals, who formed the elite of the Persian army, their numbers always kept to exactly 10,000 men. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli042-the-persian-army-560-330-bc-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999131/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The period following World War 2 saw a number of associated Marine Corps, three of whom fought together during the war in Vietnam from 1965 to 1973. These Corps were similar formations, but each had its own history and traditions: they were the United States Marines, the Vietnamese Marines, and the Korean Marines. Common to them was a reputation for toughness on themselves and any foreign or domestic enemies; strong unit pride and loyalty; and a privileged place within the political structure of their respective countries. This title by US Marine historian Charles Melson describes the history, weapons, equipment, uniforms and insignia of the US, Vietnamese and Korean Marines who fought in Vietnam.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli043-vietnam-marines-1965-73-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999132/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The conflict in Northern Ireland remains unlike any other campaign conducted by the British Army this century. There have been no set-piece battles, no decisive victories or crushing defeats; just a grinding, relentless series of small scale operations in response to riots, bombings, sectarian murders and terrorist ambushes. Tim Ripley, a specialist in modern military affairs and research associate at Lancaster Universitys Centre for Defence and International Security Studies, profiles the operations, tactics, uniforms and equipment of the British and Irish Security Forces and the main terrorist groups involved in the Troubles from 1969-92.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/irish-scottish-celtic/ospeli044-security-forces-in-northern-ireland-1969-92-ospeli044-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999133/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Besides continuing a long history of world-wide peacekeeping, the commitment of US troops to the Gulf reunified the country and restored a national pride lost in the aftermath of Vietnam. It also proved that the US armed forces were again the most capable military force in the world. This volume by veteran Osprey author Gordon L. Rottman focuses on the structure, equipment, effectiveness, and employment of the 680,000 coalition troops which fought in the Gulf War, covering not only the US forces, but also those of Britain, France, the Arab League and Iraq.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli045-armies-of-the-gulf-war-ospeli045-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999134/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In June 1941 the US Armys air organisations were consolidated under a single command, the Army Air Forces or AAF. Its expansion was rapid and massive, and its contribution to the war effort was substantial. Books abound describing the AAFs impressive combat record, but little has been published to record what the men inside the machines wore to stay alive and effective in the air and on the ground, or, as often as not, in the water. Gordon L. Rottmans detailed treatment discusses the flying clothes, accessories and equipment worn and used by individual airmen fighting their often desperate battles in the sky. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli046-us-army-air-force-1-ospeli046-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999135/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This book provides a highly detailed account of the history, organisation, uniforms and insignia of South African Special Forces from their origins up to the early 90s - units such as the 44 Parachute Brigade, the Hunter Group and the infamous SWA Police COIN Unit Koevoet. These elite units of the South African Defence Force and the special anti-terrorist units of the South African Police Forces comprised the largest, best trained and best equipped of any country in southern Africa. Robert Pitta and Jeff Fannell provide the text in a volume packed with photographs and illustrations.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli047-south-african-special-forces-ospeli047-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999136/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Despite the many celebrated victories of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars, the role of the Royal Navy should never be overlooked. The wooden walls formed the countrys first and most important line of defence, and ranged throughout the world to protect Britains trade-routes and in support of the land forces and overseas possessions. This book covers the huge variations in uniforms not just in the Navy but the Royal Marines and Infantry regiments which served alongside naval crews. It also looks at the organisation, training and recruitment of the force and corrects a number of misconceptions regarding impressment and training.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli048-nelson-s-navy-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999137/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST 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 emperors instrument to discourage plotting and rebellion and to crush unrest. The emperors 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 Guards effective destruction at the battle of Milvian Bridge in AD 312. Numerous illustrations vividly depict the uniforms and weaponry of this elite fighting unit.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli050-the-praetorian-guard-ospeli050-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999138/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST While the most conspicuous components of the US Army Air Forces in World War II were the air units, there were also hundreds of ground units and organisations. Besides assigned military personnel the AAF also employed thousands of civilians. Many unique outfits were designed to meet the AAFs special needs. Uniformed civilians also possessed a variety of unique uniforms and insignia. These general issue and specific uniforms are the subject of this volume by one of Ospreys most experienced authors, Gordon L. Rottman, whose detailed text is backed by plenty of contemporary photographs and 12 full page colour plates by Francis Chin.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli051-us-army-air-force-2-ospeli051-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999139/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Guards fought in every major British campaign on the continent during the Napoleonic Wars. They carved their place in history under commanders such as Sir John Moore and Wellington from Corunna and Talavera during the Peninsula War to their legendary defence of the Chateau of Hougoumont throughout the battle of Waterloo. Ian Fletcher examines the uniforms and insignia of the Guards as worn both on campaign and on ceremonial duties in this worthy addition to the Elite series, which features a wealth of accompanying illustrations including 12 full page colour plates by Bill Younghusband.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli052-wellington-s-foot-guards-ospeli052-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999140/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This volume details the various UN peace keeping operations around the globe from 1948-94, which have seen UN forces deployed in almost every corner of the world - Africa (Namibia and Somalia), South America (El Salvador), the Middle East (Cyprus, Sinai, Golan Heights, Lebanon and Kuwait), the Far East (Cambodia and Korea) and Europe (Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia). In addition two major wars have been fought under the banner of the United Nations - The Korean War and the Gulf War. A huge number of nations have contributed troops to these various efforts, with the result that the UN forces are extremely varied and colourful. The vast variety uniforms and insignia are illustrated in twelve full page colour plates.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli054-un-forces-1948-94-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999141/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In 1976 Maj. James Capers Jr. welcomed new men and their families into a force reconnaissance company. Only the most capable Marines are selected for this duty due to rigid mental and physical demands. A very thorough screening of each applicant is conducted ... to test alertness and endurance. The result is a small elite unit with highly qualified Marines who are considered the best in the world. Ex-Marine Charles D Melson examines the history, equipment and insignia of the Marines amphibious and ground long-range patrol reconnaissance specialists in this volume which contains a wealth of photographs and 12 full page colour plates by Paul Hannon.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli055-marine-recon-1940-90-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999142/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Over the centuries of their existence the Scottish regiments of the British Army have gained a reputation in war that is the envy of all and which can be matched, or surpassed, by very few. The very description Scottish soldier conjures up images ranging from the thin red streak tipped with a line of steel of the 93rd Highlanders at Balaclava, and the charge of the Scots greys at Waterloo, to the more recent deeds of Scottish regiments in the Falkland Islands and the Persian Gulf. Mike Chappell chronicles the remarkable history of the Scottish units which fought in the two world wars.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/irish-scottish-celtic/ospeli056-scottish-divisions-in-the-world-wars-ospeli056-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999143/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The origin of the Royal Marines dates back to the formation of the Admirals Regiment in the 17th century. Since then Marines have participated in more battles on land and sea than any other branch of the British Armed Forces. Their elite status rests in the commandos - the one formation that is trained to be delivered to battle by helicopter or landing craft from ships. This book examines the units, organization and operations of the Royal Marines, focusing on their activity in World War IIs various theatres and their post-war operations in Northern Ireland, the Falklands and the Gulf. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli057-royal-marines-1939-93-ospeli057-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999144/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Janissaries comprised an élite corps in the service of the Ottoman Empire. It was composed of war captives and Christian youths pressed into service; all of whom were converted to Islam and trained under the strictest discipline. In many ways, Jannisaries reflected Ottoman society, which was itself dominated by a military elite and where there was much greater social mobility than in Europe. On top of this, the Turks looked upon Europe much as the early Americans viewed the Western Frontier - as a land of adventure, mission and opportunity. David Nicolle examines the history, organisation, weapons and uniforms of these élite Turkish troops.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli058-the-janissaries-ospeli058-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999145/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST While the US Marine Corps was one of the smallest of American armed services in World War II, its contribution to the final victory cannot be overstated. The US Marine Corps may have only comprised 5 percent of Americas armed forces, but it suffered 10 percent of all World War II combat casualties. Above all, he amphibious nature of the war in the Pacific imposed on the Marine Corps greater tasks than any it had ever before been called upon to perform. This title details the organization, weapons and equipment of the US Marines of World War II.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli059-us-marine-corps-1941-45-ospeli059-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999146/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The best example, and perhaps the only body of elite troops who have maintained their role as guardians of a royal household for over three centuries while building a reputation in war that is the envy of all, is Britains household troops, the Guards. Over the years they have maintained the highest standards in peace and war, and have served as an example to the rest of the British Army, a benchmark in all matters military from drill and turnout to leadership in battle. Veteran Osprey author Mike Chappell describes the history and uniform of the Guards Divisions from 1914-45.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli061-the-guards-divisions-1914-45-ospeli061-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999147/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Fighting in every theatre from the burning sands of North Africa to the icy wastes above the arctic circle the German Armys Gebirgstruppen troops were some of the most effective in the whole of the Wehrmacht. Their esprit de corps and morale were extremely high and their commanders, men such as Eduard Dietl, the Hero of Narvik, and Julius Papa Ringel, were idolised by their men. Dietl himself was the first soldier of the Wehrmacht to be awarded the coveted Oakleaves to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. In this book Gordon Williamson details the uniforms, organisation and combat histories of these elite troops.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli063-german-mountain-ski-troops-1941-45-ospeli063-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999148/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The story of Britains provost forces necessarily focuses attention on some of the less glorious episodes of British Army history. Had every British soldier over the centuries been an obedient and dutiful soul, there would have been no need for provost of military police. Sadly, armies - particularly in time of war - have always been home for the criminal, and the British Army has had its share of thieves and cut-throats, as well as its drunken and licentious element. How these were contained, or dealt with, is the main subject of this book. The men who tamed the lawless are its subject.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli065-redcaps-britain-s-military-police-ospeli065-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999149/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Although Spartas early history is not clear, by the end of the 8th century most of the other cities of Lakedaimon had been reduced to subject status. The Lakedaimonians were the only full time army in ancient Greece and were thus truly an elite force. The institutions of the state and the system of education were organised with a view to creating superbly trained soldiers. Nick Sekunda examines this unique military machine in this book describing the organisational systems of the Spartan army through the Hellenistic period, how they were trained, the battles they fought, and the society that produced them.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli066-the-spartan-army-ospeli066-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999150/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This book gives an accurate picture of the pirates who sailed in the waters of the Caribbean and off the American coastline during the golden age of piracy between 1660 and 1730. It traces the origins of piratical activity in the 16th century and examines the Boucaneer (Buccaneer) culture in Jamaica and Hispaniola. It details what drove individuals to a life of piracy, how they dressed, their weaponry, the ships they used and the codes by which they operated. Whether viewed as villains or victims the Pirates were a major threat to shipping and commerce in the western Atlantic for more than 70 years.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli067-pirates-1660-1730-ospeli067-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999151/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST It was only in World War I that the combination of high quality service rifles and new telescopic sights brought the true sniper to the battlefield as a distinct specialist. By 1918 the scout-snipers value as an observer and gatherer of intelligence was as important as his lethal skills, but these were disregarded in the interwar years. From 1939-45 most armies had to train and equip snipers from scratch, but they were to play a major role in all theatres of war. Famously, on the Russian Front it was a role in which women excelled. This title recounts the development of weapons, sights, tactics and clothing in all the major armies, from Flanders to the Gulf.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli068-the-military-sniper-since-1914-ospeli068-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999152/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Before the era of great pirates in the early 18th century, there was an even more bloodthirsty phase of attacks in the Caribbean known as the Buccaneering Era. For over 50 years, English, French and Dutch buccaneers launched a series of devastating attacks on Spanish towns, ports and shipping. Well-known buccaneers such as Captain Henry Morgan carried out their raids under the protection of the English crown, and in 1692, the French even used buccaneers to help its army capture the great Spanish city of Cartagena! http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli069-buccaneers-1620-1700-ospeli069-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999153/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Michael Barthorps entertaining and authoritative study includes key commanders such as (India 1837-56) Charles Napier, Hugh Gough, Harry Smith; (Crimean War) Lord Raglan, James Scarlett, George Cathcart, John Pennefather; (Indian Mutiny) John Nicholson, Henry Havelock, Hope Grant, Colin Campbell; (India 1860-98) Frederick Roberts; (Africa) Robert Napier, Garnet Wolseley, Herbert Stewart, Evelyn Wood, Redvers Buller, Hector Macdonald and Herbert Kitchener - among others.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/victorian/ospeli071-queen-victoria-s-commanders-ospeli071-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999154/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Victory or defeat on the Napoleonic battlefield was dependant on the skills, reactions and personalities of individual commanders. Even under a military genius such as Bonaparte, the dispersal of his armies on campaign and the lack of fast communications left command and control of the different corps and divisions in the hands of his marshals and generals. Illustrating the appearance of more than two dozen of Napoleons leading colleagues and subordinate commanders, this first in a pair of Elite titles describes in concise but colourful detail their careers and personalities in the Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic campaigns up to 1809.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli072-napoleon-s-commanders-1-ospeli072-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999155/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST When the War Between the States broke out in 1861, the US Army had only four line generals - and only one of them was not a septuagenarian veteran of the War of 1812. With about one-third of all professional officers choosing to offer their swords to the South, the governments urgent need to find commanders for the vastly expanded Federal army put generals stars on the shoulders of men of very varied backgrounds and talents. In time the shock of war would separate the born leaders from the over-promoted and the political opportunists. This first of four volumes examines the careers and often colorful personalities of nearly 30 Union generals whose service was mainly in the Eastern theater of war. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli073-american-civil-war-commanders-1-union-leaders-in-the-east-ospeli073-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999156/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Following the pirate scourge of the early 18th century, many sea captains took to privateering as a means of making money. A form of nationally sponsored piracy, it reached its peak during the American Revolution, when the fledgling American navy had to rely on privateers to disrupt British shipping between England and the rebellious colonies. Following peace in 1815, many former privateers turned to piracy, spawning the last great piratical wave, which would last for a decade. The world of these privateers and latter-day pirates comes vividly to life in this detailed exploration of their ships, crews, ports and battle tactics. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli074-privateers-pirates-1730-1830-ospeli074-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999157/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST At the height of its strength and confidence the army of British India was a unique organisation, whose officers and other ranks - all volunteers - were bound together by extraordinary ésprit de corps. Already the largest volunteer army in the world in 1914, by 1918 it had quadrupled in strength to nearly 600,000 men. Indian divisions served with distinction on the Western Front and, particularly, in the Middle East. After interwar campaigns on the North-West Frontier, in the Second World War Indian divisions made a major contribution to the British effort in North Africa, Italy and Burma. With independence and partition the old army was divided between the new states of India and Pakistan, retaining its discipline and professional pride in the most difficult circumstances.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli075-the-indian-army-1914-1947-ospeli075-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999158/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The troops returning home to Germany after the 1918 Armistice found their country riven by internal unrest, and its eastern borders threatened. Though reluctant to support the new Republic, the many Free Corps formed by ex-Imperial soldiers fought furiously against Communist revolutionaries at home and Polish and Bolshevik Russian pressure on the frontiers. Later providing much of the manpower for the new Reichswehr, the Free Corps would have strong links with the nascent Nazi Party. This concise account of a little-known but central episode in the history of 20th century Germany is illustrated with rare photographs, and ten colour plates showing unprecedented details of uniforms and insignia.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli076-the-german-freikorps-1918-23-ospeli076-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999159/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In this first of a two-part sequence a respected vexillologist describes, explains and illustrates a wide variety of the standards and guidons carried during the 18th and 19th centuries by British Household, Regular, Yeomanry and Volunteer cavalry units. The successive regulations between 1747 and 1868 are supported by tables of ancient badges and battle honours; by many examples of non-regulation practice (in the cavalier tradition of the British cavalry); and by ten dazzling plates by Richard Hook, detailing some 35 flags in full colour.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli077-british-colors-standards-1747-1881-1-cavalry-ospeli077-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999160/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The regular armies which marched off to war in 1914 were composed of massed riflemen, screened by cavalry and supported by artillery; their leaders expected a quick and decisive outcome, achieved by sweeping manoeuvre, bold leadership and skill at arms. Eighteen months later the whole nature of field armies and their tactics had changed utterly. In sophisticated trench systems forming a battlefield a few miles wide and 400 miles long, conscript armies sheltered from massive long-range bombardment, wielding new weapons according to new tactical doctrines. This first of two richly illustrated studies explains in detail the specifics of that extraordinary transformation, complete with ten full colour plates of uniforms and equipment.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli078-wwi-trench-warfare-1-1914-16-ospeli078-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999161/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The outbreak of war found the Royal Navy with world-wide responsibilities but, despite its legendary professionalism, out-of-date strategic doctrines. Despite some early clashes between capital ships, advances in submarine warfare and naval aviation would soon come to dominate the war at sea. By mid-1943, however, the Royal Navy dominated the Mediterranean, was winning the campaign against the Atlantic U-boats, and was convoying vast quantities of war material across the Atlantic and to Russia. The senior service made a huge contribution to the D-Day landings, and sent strong units to support the USN in the final campaigns against Japan.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli079-the-royal-navy-1939-45-ospeli079-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999162/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In 1941 the US Navy had 17 battleships - of which eight would be knocked out on the first day of the war - four aircraft carriers, and about 340,000 men including reservists. Pearl Harbor so weakened it that it was unable to prevent the Japanese capture of the Philippines and a vast sweep of Pacific islands. By 1945 it was the strongest navy the world had ever seen, with nearly 100 carriers, 41,000 aircraft and 3.3 million men; the unrivalled master of air-sea and amphibious operations, it was poised to invade Japans home islands after reducing her fleet to scrap and her Pacific empire to impotence and starvation. This extraordinary story is illustrated here with dramatic photos, and nine meticulous colour plates showing a wide range of USN uniforms.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli080-the-us-navy-in-wwii-ospeli080-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999163/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In this second of a two-part sequence a respected vexillologist describes, explains and illustrates a wide variety of the Kings and Regimental colours carried during the 18th and 19th centuries by British Household, Regular, Militia and Volunteer infantry regiments. The successive regulations between 1747 and 1881 - when the carrying of colours in the field ceased - are supported by comprehensive tables of ancient badges and battle honours; many careful drawings; and by ten dazzling plates by Richard Hook, detailing some 35 flags in full colour, as well as a number of famous colour-bearers.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli081-british-colors-standards-1747-1881-2-infantry-ospeli081-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999164/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The dazzling spectacle presented by the armies of medieval Japan owed much to the highly developed family and personal heraldry of samurai society. From simple personal banners, this evolved over centuries of warfare into a complex system of flags worn or carried into battle, together with the striking great standards of leading warlords. While not regulated in the Western sense, Japanese heraldry developed as a series of widely followed practices, while remaining flexible enough to embrace constant innovation. Scores of examples, in monochrome and full colour, illustrate this fascinating explanation of the subject by a respected expert on all aspects of samurai culture.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli082-samurai-heraldry-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999165/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST On the Napoleonic battlefield victory or defeat could still depend on the skills, reactions and personalities of individual commanders. Even under a genius such as Napoleon the dispersal of his armies on campaign, and the lack of fast communications, left command and control of the different corps and divisions in the hands of his marshals and generals. This second in a pair of Elite titles describes in concise but colourful detail the careers and personalities of more than two dozen of Napoleons leading subordinate commanders in the armies of the later Empire, from c1809 to the Hundred Days campaign of 1815. Their individual appearance, and the typical uniforms of a variety of staff officers, are reconstructed in 12 dazzling colour plates.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli083-napoleon-s-commanders-2-ospeli083-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999166/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Allied attempt to break the stalemate of trench warfare by the big pushes of 1916 led to massively costly battles of attrition. The Germans responded by developing schemes of defence in depth anchored on concrete bunkers; the Allies, by sophisticated artillery tactics in support of infantry assaults, and by the introduction of the tank - at first an accident-prone novelty, but later a front-breaking weapon. On both sides the small, self-reliant, opportunistic infantry unit, with its own specialist weapons, became the basic tool of attack. This second of a fascinating two-part study of the birth of 20th century tactics is illustrated in colour and includes rare photographs.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli084-world-war-i-trench-warfare-2-1916-18-ospeli084-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999167/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST To be a successful commander requires experience, character, tenacity and boldness: the ability to establish a good rapport with both your staff and your men is also vital. The real test comes in combat though, where a large proportion of luck is involved - the luck to be in the right place at the right time - and lasting reputations can be formed in a very brief and frenetic period. The key US commanders of World War II were subject to (and often gratuitously fostered) the projection of their characters, exploiting the growing power of the media. This title examines the careers, personalities and fortunes of the key US Army and Air Force commanders of World War II. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli085-us-commanders-of-wwii-1-army-and-usaaf-ospeli085-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999168/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This long awaited title provides a fantastic reference resource on the uniforms, dress, flight gear and personal weaponry of the Imperial Japanese Navy airmen of World War II. It includes detailed descriptions of flight gear, including manufacture information, and interviews with IJN pilots such as Sakai, Komachi, Tanimizu, Kawato and Saito regarding the use of a variety of equipment are integrated into the text. Packed with great contemporary illustrations, photographs of original items, and colour pictures, this title provides a meticulously detailed examination of the dress and equipment of the Imperial Japanese Navys aviators in World War II.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli086-japanese-naval-aviation-uniforms-and-equipment-1937-45-ospeli086-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999169/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This title, the second of two looking at US commanders of World War II, examines the combat careers, personalities, uniforms, dress and appearance of the key US naval and Marine commanders. These men played a crucial role in the defeat of the Axis powers, particularly in the Pacific theater during such battles as Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Iwo Jima. Among those covered are Holland Smith, Lemuel Shepherd, Roy S. Geiger; John D. Bulkeley, Bull Halsey, Thomas Hart, Husband Kimmel, Charles Lockwood, Marc A. Mitscher, Chester Nimitz, Norman Scott, Raymond Spruance, Wade McCluskey, and Theodore Wilkinson. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli087-us-commanders-of-wwii-2-navy-and-usmc-ospeli087-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999170/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The generals who led the brigades, divisions, corps and armies of the Confederacy were very largely products of the same professional backgrounds as their opponents in Union blue - indeed, many of them were former West Point classmates and brother officers in the pre-war US Army, who had served together on the frontier or in the Mexican War. In terms of field experience they were also similar to the vast majority of Union commanders - none of them had ever commanded so much as a brigade before 1861, and they had to learn by trial and error. Some whose pre-war record had promised much were to fail the test of war; some more obscure officers were to rise to the challenge remarkably. This first of two volumes devoted to the Confederate generals details the careers, personalities and appearance of 25 commanders who made their names mainly with the Army of Northern Virginia in the Eastern theater of war. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli088-american-civil-war-commanders-2-confederate-leaders-in-the-east-ospeli088-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999171/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST When the War Between the States broke out in 1861, the US Army had only four line generals - and three of those were over 70 years of age and veterans of the Napoleonic period. About one in three of Americas professional officers chose to serve the Confederacy, and the governments urgent need to find commanders for its vastly expanded army put stars on the shoulders of men of very varied backgrounds and talents. The trials of war would soon separate the born leaders from the over-promoted and the political opportunists. This second volume devoted to Union generals examines the careers and personalities of 25 commanders whose service was mainly, or at first, in the Western theater of war.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli089-american-civil-war-commanders-3-union-leaders-in-the-west-ospeli089-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999172/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST When the Great Patriotic War began many women volunteered for the armed forces, but most of them were rejected. They were steered towards nursing or other supportive roles. Many determined women managed to enter combat by first volunteering as field medics and nurses, then simply picking up a gun during the battle, and charging boldly into the line of fire. In the area of aviation, women also contributed greatly to the war effort. In rickety biplanes, they flew bombing missions at night, without parachutes; their only protection was the darkness. This book tells the stories of the brave women that were awarded the Soviet Unions most prestigious title - Hero of the Soviet Union - for their bravery in protecting their homeland. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli090-heroines-of-the-soviet-union-1941-45-ospeli090-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999173/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The role of the Frontier scout in the US Army during the period of westward expansion, was often far more important than that of the commanding officer. They possessed a priceless knowledge of the geography, people and characteristics of the great, unknown American hinterland and from the earliest days of exploration, the US Army depended on its scouts to guide troops across the plains and through the mountains as they guarded the nations frontier settlements. This book tells the colourful story of these frontier men, covering many famous scouts such as Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli091-us-army-frontier-scouts-1840-1921-ospeli091-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999174/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Medal of Honor is the highest military award that can be bestowed on personnel in the United States Armed Forces. This book is the first of two titles looking at the recipients of the Medal of Honor during World War II. It covers Navy and Marine Corps awardees in all theaters of war, from the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 to the brutal fighting on Iwo Jima in 1945. Among the inspiring stories told are those of Signalman 1st Class Douglas Munro, the only Coast Guardsman to ever receive the Medal of Honor, and Commander Antrim, who faced almost certain death to save fellow prisoners in a Japanese prisoner of war camp.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli092-wwii-medal-of-honor-recipients-1-navy-usmc-ospeli092-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999175/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The commanders who led the opposing armies of the American War of Independence came from remarkably different backgrounds. They included not only men from Britain and America, but from Germany, France and Spain as well. Some were from the great families of the Old World, while others were frontiersmen or farmers in the New World. Despite their differing origins, all were leaders in the events that led to the establishment of the United States of America. This book details the appearance, careers and personalities of the commanders on both sides. It covers such famous figures as George Washington and Lord Cornwallis along with less well-known men such as Admiral Suffren and Bernando de Galvez.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli093-american-war-of-independence-commanders-ospeli093-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999176/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In the Western theater of war the Confederacy had the misfortune to face, with inferior resources, some of the outstanding Union leaders early in their careers. The Southern commanders who faced Grant, Sherman and Sheridan in these campaigns were of varied backgrounds and talents: some had been sent West in disfavour, others were foolishly quarrelsome, and after A.S.Johnstons death at Shiloh there was no single figure with the authority to dominate them. Some were nevertheless of the highest class: men like Joseph E.Johnston, the cavalry leader Nathan Bedford Forrest, and the little known Patrick Cleburne and Alexander Stewart earned ungrudging respect. This book details the careers, personalities and appearance of 24 generals of the Army of Tennessee and the other Confederate commands in the West.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli094-american-civil-war-commanders-4-confederate-leaders-in-the-west-ospeli094-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999177/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be awarded to personnel in the United States Armed Forces. From the early fighting in the Philippines through the D-Day landings in Northwest Europe to the final assaults in the Pacific, this book looks at the brave US soldiers and airmen who were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in the face of danger. It tells the exciting combat stories of such famous figures as the film star Audie Murphy, one of the most decorated US soldier of WWII, alongside less well-known awardees. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli095-wwii-medal-of-honor-recipients-2-army-air-corps-ospeli095-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999178/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In the 1840s, gold had officially been discovered in California, and many men made their way out West in search of riches. The early mining camps were dangerous places full of violence and crime. Law and order was needed, and the Vigilante Committee became the first organized deliverer of justice in these turbulent new towns. As more and more people headed out West, and many new towns sprang up, a more official system of law was needed. From the days of the California Gold Rush to the killing of Bill Tilghman, the last of the traditional frontier lawmen, this book discusses the men that shaped law and order in the Wild, Wild West. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli096-american-frontier-lawmen-1850-1930-ospeli096-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999179/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The turn of the 20th century saw Imperial Germany as essentially a militarist state, whose growing industrial resources and wealth were harnessed to the task of increasing German military power, at a time of aggressive expansionist diplomacy in competition with Britain and France. After her victories over Austria in the 1860s and France in 1870, Germanys General Staff enjoyed tremendous professional prestige throughout Europe, and was the model for all aspects of command and control. The German army was essentially that of Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony with smaller contingents from the lesser states. Its generals were the men who planned, initiated, and to a large extent controlled the course of World War I.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli097-the-kaiser-s-warlords-german-commanders-of-wwi-ospeli097-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999180/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This book examines the key British commanders of World War II across the three branches of service. As well being provided with biographical details for each of the 24 commanders selected, we are given fascinating insights into their personalities and their style of command. Assessments of their combat records and performances under pressure are also supplied. Contemporary images and magnificent colour artworks provide details of their uniforms, dress and appearance during wartime service. The commanders brought to life by this book include Auchinleck, Alan Brooke, Cunnigham, Freyberg, Harris, Montgomery, Ramsay, Slessor, Slim, Tedder and Urquhart. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli098-british-commanders-of-world-war-ii-ospeli098-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999181/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Throughout the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, Frances most consistent enemy on land was the Austrian Empire. Austrias huge armies played a central part in the several coalitions against France, from the 1790s, to the Austerlitz campaign of 1805, the closely-balanced battles of 1809, and the final upsurge of 1813-14. Contrary to the myth of rigid aristocratic conformity, the generals who led those armies were as diverse in origin and character as their regiments - some were princes of the blood, and some ex-rankers promoted for talent and courage. This text gives concise but fact-packed accounts of the careers of more than 30 of these men, illustrated with portraits and meticulous colour plates.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli101-austrian-commanders-of-the-napoleonic-wars-1792-1815-ospeli101-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999182/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Detailed information on the Mexican Army which fought the Texans in the 1830s, and the US Army in its first important foreign war ten years later, is notoriously elusive. In this ground-breaking book an internationally respected military historian presents a mass of new information from Mexican archives and a variety of other contemporary sources. For the first time the armies of the notorious General Santa Anna are explained coherently for the English-speaking reader, and their frequently changing and unevenly issued uniforms are illustrated with early prints, portraits, photos of rare surviving items, and meticulous colour reconstructions.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli102-santa-anna-s-mexican-army-1821-48-ospeli102-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999183/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The part played by Australian and New Zealand troops in the Vietnam War is sometimes overlooked; but it is generally accepted that the Diggers and Kiwis were among the most effective and professional troops involved. Drawing upon the ANZACs long experience in the jungles of South East Asia, the men of the Task Force used their expertise in patrol tactics to great effect to frustrate Viet Cong operations. Meanwhile the ANZACs small and isolated adviser teams spent ten years passing on their skills all over South Vietnam, and in the process four were awarded the supreme decoration for valour - the Victoria Cross. This book pays tribute to their military prowess, and describes and illustrates their uniforms and equipment in unprecedented detail. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli103-vietnam-anzacs-australian-new-zealand-troops-in-vietnam-1962-72-ospeli103-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999184/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST German daylight raids on Britain began in the summer of 1940. They were expected and the country had been preparing for quite some time. Searchlights were in place, Fighter Command had been expanded, and anti-aircraft guns were being manufactured. It was from these first preparations that Britain developed tactics to counter the many air raids over the following years. This book shows how Britain prepared for air raids in the run up to the war and details all the tactics that were developed during the war to counter the many aerial attacks. Among the defence systems covered are anti-aircraft guns, barrage balloons and the RADAR system.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli104-britain-s-air-defences-1939-45-ospeli104-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999185/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Despite all technological advances, final mastery of any battlefield depends upon the tight-knit group of footsoldiers trained to manoeuvre, shoot and dig in. This first of a two-part study examines the methods by which the Western infantry of World War II - the German, British and US armies - actually brought their firepower to bear. Drawing upon period training manuals for the evolving theory, and on personal memoirs for the individual practice, this first book covers the organization and tactics of the squad of ten or a dozen men, and the platoon of three or four squads. The text is illustrated with contemporary photographs and diagrams, and with colour plates bringing to life the movement of soldiers on the battlefield. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli105-world-war-ii-infantry-tactics-squad-and-platoon-ospeli105-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999186/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The German Stahlhelm is perhaps the most recognizable image of World War II. Manufactured in its millions, it was used or copied by many countries. It is still one of the most collected relics of the war; but despite its relative availability, prices have reached levels that challenge collectors to protect themselves by acquiring in-depth knowledge. This book, by a collector of 30 years standing, offers a detailed masterclass in the patterns, component parts and finishes of the combat helmets used by the German Army, Navy and Air Force. It is illustrated with a superb selection of rare period photos, colour photos of collected examples, and striking colour paintings.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli106-wehrmacht-combat-helmets-1933-45-ospeli106-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999187/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST African-American soldiers played a decisive role in the US Army on the western frontier during the Plains Wars. First authorised by Congress in July 1866, they were organised into two cavalry and four infantry regiments, which were commanded by white officers. All were quickly nicknamed the Buffalo Soldiers by their Cheyenne and Comanche enemies. These brave soldiers fought many native tribes over the years, including the warriors of Sitting Bull and Geronimo. This book tells the story of these buffalo soldiers who, until the early 1890s, constituted 20 per cent of all active forces on duty in the American West. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli107-buffalo-soldiers-1866-91-ospeli107-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999188/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Constant Spanish guerrilla activity so drained the resources and diverted the attention of the French military that Wellington was able to advance against and overcome a numerically superior enemy. So many French soldiers were being used to counter the guerrillas and the threat that they posed that less than a third of the French army could be tasked with confronting Wellington. This book brings to life, for the first time, the formation, tactics and experiences of the Spanish guerrilla forces that fought Napoleons army. Using much previously unpublished material, it offers a vivid description of the guerrilla and his lifestyle. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli108-spanish-guerrillas-in-the-peninsular-war-1808-14-ospeli108-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999189/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The population of Britain was mobilized to support the war effort on a scale unseen in any other Western democracy - or in Nazi Germany. They endured long working shifts, shortages of food and all other goods, and complete government control of their daily lives. Most men and women were conscripted or volunteered for additional tasks outside their formal working hours. Under the air raids that destroyed the centres of many towns and made about 2 million homeless, more than 60,000 civilians were killed and 86,000 seriously injured. This fascinating illustrated summary of wartime life, and the organizations that served on the Home front, is a striking record of endurance and sacrifice.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli109-the-british-home-front-1939-45-ospeli109-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999190/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Sassanians ruled the last great imperial Empire of Persia before the Arab conquests of the 7th century. Romes only equal in the classical world, the Sassanian Empire had an enormous impact on the development of architecture, mythology, arts, music, military tactics and technology. Within the Sassanian military, the cavalry was the most influential element, and Sassanian cavalry tactics were adopted by the Romans, Arabs, and Turks. Their cavalry systems of weaponry, battle tactics, Tamgas, Medallions, court customs, and costumes influenced Romano-Byzantine and medieval European culture, and this book allows the reader to see how a little-studied eastern power affected the development of cavalry traditions in the western world. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli110-sassanian-elite-cavalry-ad-224-642-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999191/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Great Patriotic War began on 22 June 1941, when the Germans invaded the Soviet Union. Over 10 million Soviet soldiers took part in the war and of those about 12,600 earned the Soviet Unions highest military award - the Hero of the Soviet Union - for deeds of great daring and self sacrifice. This book covers the male recipients of the Hero of the Soviet Union award during the Great Patriotic War. Snipers, fighter pilots, partisans and spies are all included, together with the famous aces Pokryshkin and Kozhedub, who both gained the award an amazing three times.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli111-her-s-of-the-soviet-union-1941-45-ospeli111-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999192/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The part played in the Civil War by the small Marine Corps of the United and Confederate States is overshadowed by the confrontations of the great armies. Nevertheless, the coastal and riverine campaigns were of real importance, given the strategic significance of the Federal blockade of southern ports, and of the struggle for the Mississippi River. Marines wearing blue and grey fought in many dramatic actions afloat and ashore - ship-to-ship engagements, cutting-out expeditions, and coastal landings. This book offers a comprehensive summary of all such battles, illustrated with rare early photographs, and meticulously researched color plates detailing the often obscure minutiae of Marine uniforms and equipment. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli112-american-civil-war-marines-1861-65-ospeli112-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999193/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST After the United States failures in special operations missions during the late 1970s and 1980, a decision was made to revamp its unconventional military capabilities. The subsequent reorganization and redesignation in 1983 created the SEALs as they are known today, and later the all-encompassing command for US special operations forces under which they operate. Since then, these Navy Special Warfare (NSW) forces have operated in Grenada, the Persian Gulf, Panama, Somalia, Bosnia, Haiti, and Liberia. NSW units have also participated in the ongoing missions of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. This book looks at the history, organization, training, uniforms, equipment and missions of the US Navy SEALs since their redesignation until the recent conflict in the Gulf.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli113-us-navy-seals-1983-2003-ospeli113-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999194/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In 1939 a new grade in the Iron Cross series was introduced, the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). It was awarded for a variety of reasons, from skilled leadership to a single act of extreme gallantry, and was bestowed across all ranks, grades, and branches of service. As the war progresed, further distinctions were created for bestowal on existing winners, namely Oak-Leaves (Eichenlaub); Oak-Leaves with Swords (Eichenlaub und Schwertern); and Oak-Leaves with Swords and Diamonds (Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten). This book, the first in a sequence of four, covers winners of the Knights Cross and the Oak-Leaves distinction in the period 1939-40. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli114-knight-s-cross-and-oak-leaves-recipients-1939-40-ospeli114-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999195/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The military machine by which Napoleon and his indispensable chief of staff Marshal Berthier commanded and controlled his huge armies on campaign numbered some 1,500 officers and men, organized in the different bureaux of his military and civilian households and the army general headquarters. This essential tool of the Emperors power was designed to provide him, even in a front-line camp, with all the information, technical support and comfort that he enjoyed in his palaces. This fascinating study details the entourage which enabled Napoleon to move hundreds of thousands of troops right across Europe. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli115-napoleon-s-imperial-headquarters-1-organization-and-personnel-ospeli115-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999196/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Following Elite 115 - which described the composition of Napoleons military and civil households, and Marshal Berthiers army general headquarters - this title offers an intimate glimpse of the Emperors entourage in the field. Centred on the Waterloo campaign in 1815, it draws comparisons with his earlier triumphs. From the testimony of his trusted servants, the text draws a vivid picture of his daily routines on the march. Of particular interest are new details of Napoleons tented camp HQ from 1812; and a further selection of the striking uniforms worn by his closest attendants. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli116-napoleon-s-imperial-headquarters-2-on-campaign-ospeli116-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999197/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The US armed forces were responsible for many tactical innovations during the years 1941-45, but in no field was US mastery more complete than amphibious warfare. In the vast, almost empty battlefield of the Pacific the US Navy and Marine Corps were obliged to develop every aspect of the amphibious assault landing in painstaking detail, from the design of many new types of vessel, down to the tactics of the rifle platoon hitting the beach, and the logistic system without which they could not have fought their way inland. This fascinating study offers a clear, succinct explanation of every phase of these operations as they evolved during the war years, illustrated with detailed color plates and photographs.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli117-us-world-war-ii-amphibious-tactics-army-marine-corps-pacific-theater-ospeli117-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999198/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This first of two studies examines the careers and illustrates the appearance and uniforms of 19 of the German Armys leading field commanders in World War II. Their service covers the whole arc of that armys wartime experience, from stunning success in 1939-41, through the hugely costly middle years on the Russian Front to the stubborn defensive fighting in both East and West in 1943-45. Also included are five more junior unit commanders chosen because their service typifies the achievements of combat leaders in regimental and battalion commands. The colour portraits are in the uniquely meticulous style of the respected World War II illustrator Malcolm McGregor.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli118-german-commanders-of-world-war-ii-1-army-ospeli118-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999199/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST For more than 2,000 years hordes of mounted nomadic archers from the vastness of the steppe and from Central Asia spewed out into China, the Middle East, and Europe. Feared and reviled, they were a formidable threat to the lands they invaded. Their influence on military history is incalculable: the whole foundation of late Classical and Medieval Western and Middle Eastern military thought was based on the reality of a highly mobile, tough and unconventional foe, one which could strike almost anywhere at will and with highly effective long-range weapons. This book details the history, weapons, equipment and tactics of these fascinating warriors.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli120-mounted-archers-of-the-steppe-600-bc-ad-1300-ospeli120-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999200/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Sieges played a central role in many conflicts of the ancient world and generals, including Darius, Alexander the Great, Hannibal and Scipio Africanus successfully used siegecraft to gain their objectives. As siege tactics became integral to success in war, generals employed the minds of engineers and scientists to develop tactics which ranged from penetrating the defences or blockading the city through to tricks and deception. This fascinating study tracks developments in siege warfare from Ancient Persia in the 6th century BC through to the Roman sieges of the second century BC, describing the range of equipment and techniques which evolved during this period. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli121-ancient-siege-warfare-persians-greeks-carthaginians-ad-romans-546-146-bc-ospeli121-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999201/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST World War II is often seen as a confrontation of technology - tanks and aircraft, artillery and engineering. But at the heart of the battlefield was the struggle between infantrymen, and the technology was there to enable them to capture ground or hold it. This second of two books on the organization and tactics of the German, US and British infantry in Europe focuses on national differences in the development of company and battalion tactics - including those of motorized units - and the confrontation and co-operation between infantry and tanks. Contemporary photos and diagrams and vivid colour plates illustrate what tactical theories actually meant on the ground at human scale.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli122-world-war-ii-infantry-tactics-company-and-battalion-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999202/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The remarkable early successes of the armed forces of the Third Reich prompted the decision that the supreme decoration for personal valour or outstanding leadership - the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross - was insufficient. To mark further acts of gallantry a new distinction was created in June 1940: the Oak-Leaves clasp. Further decorations in the form of the Swords and, finally, the Diamonds were added. This second title in our series describes and illustrates a selection of recipients of the Knights Cross and Oak-Leaves between 1941 and early 1944, when the Wehrmacht was engaged on all fronts, as well as at sea and in the air.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli123-knight-s-cross-and-oak-leaves-recipients-1941-45-ospeli123-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999203/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The battlefield interaction between infantry and tanks was central to combat on most fronts in World War II. The first `Blitzkrieg campaigns saw the tank achieve a new dominance. New infantry tactics and weapons - some of them desperately dangerous - had to be adopted, while the armies raced to develop more powerful anti-tank guns and new light weapons. By 1945, a new generation of revolutionary shoulder-fired AT weapons was in widespread use. This book explains in detail the shifting patterns of anti-tank combat, illustrated with photographs, diagrams and colour plates showing how weapons were actually employed on the battlefield.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli124-world-war-ii-infantry-anti-tank-tactics-ospeli124-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999204/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The samurai were the military elite of medieval and early modern Japan, and the men who led them were hailed as the very greatest, most heroic and most honourable of all samurai warriors. This first of two books examines the lives, equipment, battles and wider roles of the samurai commanders between 940 and 1576, the period from the emergence of the samurai to the triumph of Oda Nobunaga, who set Japan on the road to reunification. The styles of armour and weaponry of the samurai changed considerably during this time and this book visually recreates some of the most famous samurai commanders.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli125-samurai-commanders-1-940-1576-ospeli125-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999205/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Sieges were often pivotal in Romes wars, including its conflicts with the Macedonians and Carthaginians in the 2nd century BC; the civil wars of the Republic; and the late Roman wars against the Sassanid Persians, who, alone amongst Romes adversaries, were equally skilled in siegecraft. This book discusses the siege techniques employed by Roman armies and their opponents throughout the Republic and Empire. It shows that although the 1st century AD has long been considered the golden age of siegecraft, followed by a decline, new and effective siege techniques were in fact used in the following centuries.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli126-siege-warfare-in-the-roman-world-146-bc-ad-378-ospeli126-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999206/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST For the first time in English, this book offers a concise but fact-packed account of the organization, equipment, and all operations of Japans small but elite wartime parachute forces. Correcting and amplifying previous accounts based on wartime intelligence, it traces the Imperial Armys Raiding Regiments and the Imperial Navys parachute-trained Yokosuka 1st and 3rd Special Naval Landing Forces from the first trials units, through their successful assaults in early 1942, to the last desperate battles and raids of 1944-45. Thetext is illustrated with rare photographs, and meticulouslyreconstructed color artworkof the men and their gear. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli127-japanese-paratroop-forces-world-war-ii-ospeli127-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999207/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This second volume about Japans samurai commanders covers the generals of the later years of the Age of the Warring States, a period when only the most able leaders survived. This was a time when the prowess of a commander was measured as much by his strategic and organizational abilities as by his individual fighting skills and he was expected to give as great a show of strength in the council chamber as on the battlefield. This book discusses the lives, battles and wider roles of talented commanders such as Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi - great men who stood out prominently due to their elaborate suits of armour and helmets, their stunning personal heraldry and their great armies. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli128-samurai-commanders-2-1577-1638-ospeli128-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999208/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The timeless appeal of Homers epic poem of the ancient TrojanWar, The Iliad, has meant an eduring interest in the Mycenaen age. Modern scholarship and new archaeological evidence now allows us to recontruct with reasonable confidence the appearance of this great warrior civilization, which dominated much of the eastern Mediterranean between the 16th and 12th centuries BC. We can also make deductions, from the few surviving pictorial sources, about the tactics of these armies. This absorbing text is illustrated with examples of the archaeological and pictorial evidence, and with striking colour reconstructions of light and heavy infantry and chariot warriors of the Mycenaean age. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli130-the-mycenaeans-c-1650-1100-bc-ospeli130-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999209/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Condor Legion was the expeditionary force of soldiers and airmen sent by Hitler to aid Francos Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War. The Germans used the war as an opportunity to develop equipment and tactics, and their force included not only instructors, but also combat units of artillery, tanks and aircraft. These units tested guns, tanks and planes and perfected techniques which were used in the 1940 Blitzkrieg. Many of officers prominent in the early campaigns of World War II won their first successes in Spain. This book details the Legion and its unique uniform and insignia. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli131-the-condor-legion-german-troops-in-the-spanish-civil-war-ospeli131-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999210/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This second of two selections of Germanys World War II field commanders summarizes the careers, and illustrates the appearance, of 26 men who rose to prominence in the Waffen-SS, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe. The subjects range from the commanders-in-chief and generals to younger officers whose fame and promotions were earned in combat on land, at sea and in the air. Some were dedicated supporters of the Nazi regime; others were motivated simply by patriotism and their military training. Every commander has an individual colour portrait expertly drawn by the respected World War II illustrator Malcolm McGregor. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli132-german-commanders-of-world-war-2-waffen-ss-luftwaffe-navy-ospeli132-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999211/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST On 21 June 1941, as the Wehrmachtstormed forward across the frontiers of the Soviet Union, Hitler instituted a new higher grade of the Knights Cross decoration for gallantry and leadership: the silver clasp of the Oak-Leaves with Swords. It would be awarded to only 159 men of the approximately 15 million who served in the German armed forces during World War II. This third in a sequence of four titles describes and illustrates a selection of the recipients: from much-wounded front line infantry officers, to Hitlers `brother-in-law; from a sergeant pilot fighter ace, to the commanding general of the greatest tank force ever gathered on the Russian Front. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli133-knight-s-cross-oak-leaves-and-swords-recipients-1941-45-ospeli133-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999212/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Buffalo Soldier played an important part in the US Armys operations during the age of American Imperialism, between 1898 and 1916. These men campaigned against the Spanish in Cuba, Filipino insurrectionists on Mindanao and Mexican border raiders. They went on to distinguish themselves in the trenches of World War I, and the sum of two divisions of these Doughboys fought with the French Army and the American Expeditionary Force. This book offers a succinct history of these units and the campaigns in which they fought, and it highlights the African-American US soldier, his uniforms and his gear throughout this era in rare photographs and carefully reconstructed color illustrations.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli134-buffalo-soldiers-1892-1918-ospeli134-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999213/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Imperial German Army Air Service of World War I grew from just 500 men in 1914 to 80,000 in 1918, inventing in the process a wholly new form of warfare. The exploits of the first fighter `aces have been widely celebrated, and have tended to overshadow the other, equally important branches of the fighting air forces - the reconnaissance and ground attack units, the airships and strategic bombers. This concise but fact- packed guide to both the Army and Naval Air Services - their command, organization, strength, training, support services and operations - offers a morebalanced picture, while giving the heroes of the Jagdstaffeln their full due. Uniforms and flying clothing are described in detail, and illustrated with rare photographs and meticulous colour plates. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli135-german-air-forces-1914-18-ospeli135-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999214/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The delivery of entire divisions to battlefields behind enemy lines by parachute and glider played a significant part in the European campaigns of World War II. Despite notable successes, the costs and difficulties of this wholly new form of warfare have prevented airborne operations on a comparable scale since 1945. This book - by an airborne veteran of a later generation - explains in detail their advantages and drawbacks, developing techniques and equipment, with reference to specific German, US, British, Soviet and Japanese operations. The text is illustrated with period photographs, colour artwork and operation maps.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli136-world-war-ii-airborne-warfare-tactics-ospeli136-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999215/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Some of the most famous Western movies have been set against the background of the Mexican Revolution of the early 20th century. Now, for the first time in English, Osprey offer a concise but fact-packed account of the events, armies, uniforms and weapons of those ten chaotic and bloody years, putting in context such famous but half-understood names as Diaz, Pancho Villa, Zapata, Madero and Huerta. The text is illustrated with many rare and fascinating period photographs, and with eight detailed color plates of orfiristas and Rurales, Maderisitas, Federales, Villistas, Zapatistas,and US volunteers and intervention troops.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli137-the-mexican-revolution-1910-20-ospeli137-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999216/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Following the death of the Yugoslavian strongman President Tito in 1980, the several semi-autonomous republics and provinces that he had welded into a nation in 1945 moved inexorably towards separation. After a deceptively clean break for independence by Slovenia in 1991, the world watched a series of wars rip through this modern European state. In this first of two volumes, experts on the Balkan region give an unprecedentedly clear, concise explanation of the Slovene, Croatian and Krajina-Serb armies of these campaigns, illustrated with rare photos and colour uniform plates.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli138-the-yugoslav-wars-1-slovenia-croatia-1991-95-ospeli138-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999217/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST On 28 September 1941, Hitler instituted a new, supreme class of the Knights Cross decoration for gallantry and leadership: the Oak-Leaves with Swords and Diamonds. This award would be presented to only 28 soldiers, sailors and airmen, out of the approximately 15 million who served in the German armed forces. This title describes and illustrates all 28 of those men - from fighter aces and U-boat commanders, to the youngest generals in the Wehrmacht, and field marshals in command of army groups - and including one officer for whom Hitler had to invent a literally unique award that set him apart even among the `Diamond-bearers.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli139-knight-s-cross-with-diamonds-recipients-1941-45-ospeli139-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999218/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST One of the most tragic theaters of Civil War conflict was the Indian Territory (modern Oklahoma), and the borderlands of Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Texas. Both the Union and the Confederacy raised Native American units to contest this ground, and tribes were divided against one another and amongst themselves. Federal and Confederate cavalry also struck into the Territory from Kansas and Texas; and the irregular marauders who raided the area such as Kansas Red Legs and Quantrills Raiders earned notoriety. This fascinating account of the groups which fought in the Territory is richly illustrated with rare early photos, and detailed color reconstructions. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli140-the-american-civil-war-in-the-indian-territory-ospeli140-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999219/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In the face of Soviet invasion in 1939-40, and once again in1941-44, the armies raised by Finland - a tiny nation of only 4 million people - astonished the world by their effective resistance. At the end of both these campaigns - the Winter War, and the Continuation War - the fiercely patriotic defiance of vastly stronger Soviet forces by Marshal Mannerheims soldiers won their country a unique prize: although forced to accept harsh terms, Finland was never occupied by the Red Army, and retained its independence. This book explains and illustrates, for the first time in English, the organization, uniforms, equipment and tactics of Finlands defenders.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli141-finland-at-war-1939-45-ospeli141-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999220/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The largest, but least-known of all Britains elite wartime Commando raiding units, No.10 (Inter-Allied) was recruited from volunteers from many nations who had fled to Britain after their own countries fell to the Nazis. Alongside Poles, Frenchmen, Dutchmen, Belgians and Norwegians, the unit included a small number of remarkably brave German and Austrian refugees. These commandos took part in daring raids, intelligence missions and conventional infantry battles, earning many decorations for gallantry and leadership. Detailing the wartime exploits of these courageous fighters, some of whom went on to form the nucleus of their liberated nations new special forces, this book gives an insight into a fascinating unit that is often overlooked.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli142-no-10-inter-allied-commando-1942-45-britain-s-secret-commando-ospeli142-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999221/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Canadas 1st Parachute Battalion earned a fearsome reputation on D-Day and in the two months of grim fighting that followed. It jumped again in the Rhine crossings, and fought its way deep into Germany by VE-Day - only to be disbanded soon afterwards. In the post-war era soldiers struggled to keep airborne skills alive until an ambitious new Airborne Regiment was raised in 1968. Since its controversial disbandment in 1995, the airborne torch has been carried onwards by the Parachute Companies of three Canadian infantry regiments who have recently served in Afghanistan. This book details the fascinating history of the Canadian Airborne forces. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli143-canadian-airborne-forces-since-1942-ospeli143-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999222/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The US armed forces pioneered amphibious warfare in the Pacific and by the time of the D-day landings they had perfected the special equipment and tactics necessary for this extraordinarily difficult and risky form of warfare. This fact-packed study details the doctrine, equipment and tactics that evolved between the North African landings of November 1942 and those in the South of France in August 1944, and illustrates many aspects of the physical realities of assault landings through the use of photos, diagrams and color plates. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli144-us-world-war-ii-amphibious-tactics-mediterranean-european-theaters-ospeli144-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999223/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This is a concise history of the unique integrated commando-style brigade of US and Canadian volunteers formed in 1942. Hand picked, and trained in airborne, amphibious, mountain and winter warfare, demolitions and close-quarter tactics, they left a combat legacy still recognized amongst todays Special Forces. This book explores the remarkable results the FSSF achieved in Italy - in the harsh mountain fighting on the Winter Line, in the trenches of Anzio, and in the breakthrough to Rome. Accompanied by unique combat photography and illustrations of their distinctive uniforms, this is an insight into a famous, but little explored unit. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli145-first-special-service-force-1942-44-ospeli145-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999224/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Following the death of the Yugoslavian President Tito in 1980, the semi-autonomous republics and provinces that he had welded into a multi-cultural nation in 1945 slid gradually towards separation. For ten years following 1991, the world watched in horror as a series of bloody wars ripped a modern European state apart, and the intolerable spectacle eventually forced international intervention. Illustrated with rare photos and colour uniform plates, this second of two volumes by experts on the Balkan region offers a concise breakdown of the indigenous forces involved in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli146-the-yugoslav-wars-2-bosnia-kosovo-and-macedonia-1992-2001-ospeli146-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999225/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST For nearly 250 years, Irish soldiers made up a significant minority of the British Army. In 1914-18, despite the rising movement for Irish independence, more than 200,000 Irishmen volunteered, and won an imperishable reputation. Although independent Eire remained neutral in World War II, more than 40,000 volunteers from the South joined forces from Ulster to serve in the British forces. This book places the records of such heroic names as the Inniskillings, the Munsters, the Dublin Fusiliers and the Royal Irish Rifles in the context of the World Wars, and illustrates a selection of their uniforms and insignia. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/irish-scottish-celtic/ospeli147-irish-regiments-in-the-world-wars-ospeli147-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999226/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Stalins death in 1953 led to unrest in several states of the Soviet empire, as their hungry, tyrannized peoples sensed a slackening in the grip of their hard-line regimes. This is an account of the October 1956 student demonstrators in Budapest who attracted growing support from workers - and, when the secret police opened fire, from many Hungarian troops. For five days they successfully fought off Soviet tanks, and it even seemed that Moscow might negotiate a withdrawal; but then the tanks rolled in again, in crushing numbers. This stirring story is illustrated with fascinating contemporary photos and meticulously researched colour plates. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli148-the-hungarian-revolution-1956-ospeli148-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999227/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST One of the most celebrated moments in Scottish history, the Jacobite Rising of 1745 is often romanticized. Drawing on the work of historians and a wide range of contemporary sources, Culloden expert Stuart Reid strips away the myths surrounding the events of the campaign, revealing some of the lesser known and fascinating truths about the Rising. Illustrated with contemporary sketches and meticulous full-colour reconstructions of dress and equipment, the raising of Prince Charles Edward Stuarts army is examined in detail - from its organization in regiments and their command system, to its weapons, tactical strengths and weaknesses.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/irish-scottish-celtic/ospeli149-the-scottish-jacobite-army-1745-46-ospeli149-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999228/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This remarkable book explains the practical details of a type of warfare waged for only three years, but which became one of the dominant aspects of World War I: the mass use of poison gases. It tells the story of German and Allied gas warfare from the first German attack at Ypres in April 1915 through to the 1918 Armistice: the gases, the means and tactics of delivery, the effects and influence on the battles, and the race to produce better protection for the troops on both sides. It is illustrated with very rare wartime photographs and diagrams of equipment, and with a series of colour plates showing gas equipment in use. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli150-world-war-i-gas-warfare-tactics-and-equipment-ospeli150-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999229/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This book describes and illustrates, in fascinating detail, the slow and painful learning curve followed by the Allies in the mid-war years as they attempted to end the Japanese stranglehold on Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Based on the actual wartime training documents and front-line memoirs, it shows how the British, Australian and US armies transformed their tactics, attitudes and equipment to master the art of jungle warfare. In 1944-45 the Allies finally conquered the jungle environment, exploiting their new strengths and their enemys weaknesses, to win crushing victories in Burma and on the Pacific islands.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli151-world-war-ii-jungle-warfare-tactics-ospeli151-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999230/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This book recounts the combat service, and explains the organization, of the Recce Corps, whose units provided the mobile spearhead of the British infantry divisions from the Far East to Europe. Trained to probe ahead and locate the enemy, and to screen the flanks and rearguard when under attack, the Recce troopers fought both from their light armoured vehicles and on foot. The text is illustrated with rare photos from private collections and colour illustrations of uniforms, insignia and the armoured cars of a corps whose contribution to victory was largely forgotten after disbandment at the close of World War II. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli152-the-british-reconnaissance-corps-in-world-war-ii-ospeli152-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999231/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This book recounts the organization and deployment of one of the most important fighting armies of World War II. Australian divisions made a large and distinctive contribution to victory both in the deserts of the Middle East and the jungles of the South-West Pacific,earning for the second time a unique reputation for aggressiveness, endurance and independence of spirit. The text is illustrated with original wartime photos from all fronts; and with full colour plates showing a wide range of uniforms and gear, together with the complex and colourful Australian system of unit insignia.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli153-the-australian-army-in-world-war-ii-ospeli153-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999232/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST In this book the author - an Army veteran of Vietnam - explains the composition, capabilities, equipment and missions of the US Army and Marine Corps helicopter and airmobile units in the Vietnam war - and exactly how they carried out their missions. It centers on the classic airmobile assault mission: how it was planned and prepared; how the troop-carrying slicks and their gunship escorts and support teams actually operated; and the opposition and hazards that they faced on the LZ. The text is illustrated with wartime photos, organization charts, and color plates showing both the machines and the tactics that where employed. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli154-vietnam-airmobile-warfare-tactics-ospeli154-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999233/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST How, exactly, did Rome become master of the ancient world? This book examines and illustrates the tactics employed by the legions of late Republican and early Imperial Rome, from the evidence o f ancient writers. The greatest military machine in the Western world for at least four centuries, the Roman Army was the foundation of the Western military tradition, and its doctrines were central to the later revival of trained, drilled professional armies. Here the evidence is discussed in clear detail, and brought to life with battle plans and full colour interpretations of tactical scenarios.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli155-roman-battle-tactics-109-bc-ad-313-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999234/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This book explains and illustrates the tactics, techniques, equipment and unit organization of reconnaissance troops of the main wartime powers. It covers not only the dedicated reconnaissance units in the divisional order of battle, with their vehicles and heavy firepower, but also the small infantry patrols that were sent out constantly, by commanders at every level, to scout the terrain, detect the enemy, and infiltrate or raid his lines. These are illustrated with wartime photos, and brought to life in detailed colour plates of tactical scenarios.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli156-world-war-ii-combat-reconnaissance-tactics-ospeli156-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999235/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST This book outlines and illustrates the living conditions of German civilians in World War II, and the Nazi states basic structure. German families suffered the same hardships as British - labour conscription, extra civic duties, severe shortages of food and necessities, disrupted transport, homelessness and evacuation, separation from loved ones and, for many, bereavement. However, there were important differences. The dictator for whom many had voted was leading them to ruin; unequalled death and devastation ensued from Allied air raids; and every aspect of life was caged around with repressive decrees that began to replace the true rule of law well before September 1939.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli157-the-german-home-front-1939-45-ospeli157-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999236/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST About half a million African Americans served overseas during World War II, almost all in segregated second-line units. This artificially limited their potential contribution, but their work - especially along the logistic lifelines of the fighting divisions - was vital. This book summarizes the service of these men and women; and it also focuses on the small proportion who, remarkably, overcame prejudicial barriers to reach the battlefields in combat units of the US forces and Coast Guard. Their story is illustrated with wartime photographs, and color plates - including portraits of the most outstanding African Americans, the true heirs of the old Buffalo Soldiers.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli158-african-american-troops-in-world-war-ii-ospeli158-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999237/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST Bonapartes Grande Armée, one of the most renowned battle-winning machines in history, evolved from a merging of the professional army of the Ancien Régime and the volunteers and conscripts of the Revolutionary levée en masse - although the contribution of the former is often underestimated. A leading authority on the history of tactics draws here on original drill manuals and later writings to explain how the French infantry of 1792-1815 were organized for fire and movement on the battlefield. Illustrated with clear diagrams and relevant paintings and prints, and specially prepared colour plates, this text brings the tactical aspects of eight battles vividly to lifehttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli159-french-napoleonic-infantry-tactics-1792-1815-ospeli159-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999238/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The outbreak of World War II in Europe in 1939 led to cautious attempts to raise volunteer organisations among American men and women, to back the armed forces in the event of the USA becoming directly involved in the conflict. The attack on Pearl Harbor caused a huge surge of patriotic response, and voluntary enlistment in a wide range of armed forces auxiliary and civilian support services swelled vastly. Looking firstly at the background and general character of wartime life in the States, this book covers a number of these services, providing an interesting comparison with the conditions on the British Home Front and the experiences of other countries caught up in the war, examining organisations from the Red Cross to the Coast Guard and for the first time, containing full-colour reconstructions of over a dozen uniformed services. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli161-the-us-home-front-1941-45-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999239/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 1 Mar 2008 14:57:00 PST The Coldstream Guards is the oldest serving regular regiment in the British Army. First called Moncks Regiment of Foot the regiment was formed by Oliver Cromwell in 1650, and was later re-named the Coldstream Guards after the Scottish village where Monck assembled his troops before marching into London. In the years following the English Civil War, the troops saw action in the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimea, Egypt, Sudan and South Africa, and World Wars I and II. This book outlines the history of the Coldstream Guards from its inception to the end of World War II, detailing the uniforms and equipment of this prestigious unit. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/men-at-arms/ospmaa049-the-coldstream-guards-ospmaa049-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/1999801/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 2 Mar 2008 10:29:00 PST Born amid immense suffering and bloodshed, the Kingdom of Jerusalem remained a battlefield for almost 200 years. The Crusades gave rise to the Military Orders of the Templars and Hospitallers, and were a backdrop to the careers of some of historys most famous leaders including Richard The Lionheart and Saladin. On occasion the savagery of the Crusaders left their opponents reeling, creating frictions that survived for more than 700 years. At the same time, as this book lavishly illustrates, art, architecture and learning all benefited from new knowledge the Crusaders brought back from the East.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess001-the-crusades-ospess001-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2000992/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST This bitter war between Russia and Turkey, aided by Britain and France, was the setting for the stuff of legends. This book details the gallant yet suicidal Charge of the Light Brigade, now immortalised in film: in the words of Tennyson, Into the Valley of Death rode the Six Hundred. It relates the reports made by the first real war correspondant, William Russell of the London Times - reports which served only to highlight the armys problems - and memorialises the heroic deeds of Florence Nightingale, who struggled to save young men from the most formidable enemy in the Crimean War: not the Russians, but cholera. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess002-the-crimean-war-1854-56-ospess002-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2000993/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The closest thing to total war before World War One, the Seven Years War was fought in North America, Europe, the Caribbean and India with major consequences for all parties involved. This fascinating book is the first to truly review the grand strategies of the combatants and examine the differing styles of warfare used in the many campaigns. These ranged from the large-scale battles and sieges of the European front to the ambush and skirmish tactics used in the forests of North America. Daniel Marstons engaging narrative is supported by official war papers, personal diaries and memoirs, and official reports.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess006-the-seven-years-war-ospess006-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2000994/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST Europes great powers formed two powerful coalitions against France, yet force of numbers, superior leadership and the patriotic fervour of Frances citizen-soldiers not only defeated each in turn, but closed the era of small, professional armies fighting for limited political objectives. This period produced commanders whose names remain a by-word for excellence in leadership to this day, Napoleon and Nelson. From Italy to Egypt Napoleon demonstrated his strategic genius and mastery of tactics in battles including Rivoli, the Pyramids and Marengo. Nelsons spectacular sea victories at the Nile and Copenhagen were foretastes of a century of British naval supremacy.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess007-the-french-revolutionary-wars-ospess007-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2000995/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Korean War was a significant turning point in the Cold War. This book explains how the conflict in a small peninsula in East Asia had a tremendous impact on the entire international system and the balance of power between the two superpowers, America and Russia. Through the conflict, the West demonstrated its resolve to thwart Communist aggression and the armed forces of China, the Soviet Union and the United States came into direct combat for the only time during the Cold War.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess008-the-korean-war-ospess008-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2000996/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST This book provides a full introduction to the Norman Conquest, an event which resulted in dramatic changes to the nations aristocracy, church and administration. It brought a new language and cultural influences and revolutionised military architecture with the introduction of the castle. This profound impact was not brought about as the result of a single battle and it took a five-year war for William to establish control over his new kingdom. The campaigns are studied in detail, with maps showing how Williams energy and strategic intelligence enabled him to defeat his formidable opponents and create a new order.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess012-campaigns-of-the-norman-conquest-ospess012-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2000997/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Argentine invasion of the Falklands in 1982 sparked national outrage and Britain felt she had to avenge the humiliation and protect her own. This volume explores both the military and political dimensions of this important conflict, including detailed accounts of the air / sea battle, the Battle for San Carlos Water, Goose Green, Mt Harriet, Tumbledown and many others. It explains how success in the Falklands set the stage for the years of Thatchers dominance, and restored British prestige. Including first hand accounts from both soldiers and civilians, this is an interesting and thoroughly up to date appraisal.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess015-the-falklands-war-1982-ospess015-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2000998/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The three Punic Wars lasted over 100 years, between 264 BC and 146 BC. They represented a struggle for supremacy in the Mediterranean between the bludgeoning land power of Rome, bent on imperial conquest, and the great maritime power of Carthage with its colonies and trading posts spread around the Mediterranean. This book reveals how the dramas and tragedies of the Punic Wars exemplify many political and military lessons which are as relevant today as when Hannibal and Scipio Africanus fought to determine the course of history in the Mediterranean. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess016-the-punic-wars-264-146-bc-ospess016-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2000999/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST There can be no doubt that military conflict between France and England dominated European history in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. This war is of considerable interest both because of its duration and the number of theatres in which it was fought. In this book, Hundred Years War expert Dr Anne Curry reveals how the war can reveal much about the changing nature of warfare: the rise of infantry and the demise of the knight; the impact of increased use of gunpowder and the effect of the wars on generations of people around it.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess019-the-hundred-years-war-1337-1453-ospess019-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001000/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Iran-Iraq War, which ended in August 1988, one month short of its eighth anniversary, was one of the longest, bloodiest and costliest Third World armed conflicts in the twentieth century. Professor Karsh addresses the causes of the Iran-Iraq War, unpacking the objectives of the two belligerents and examining how far objectives were matched by strategy. He assesses the wars military lessons regarding such key areas as strategy, tactics and escalation and in particular the use of non-conventional weapons, Finally, he examines the utility of armed force as an instrument of foreign policy.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess020-the-iran-iraq-war-1980-88-ospess020-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001001/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST In the early third century AD the Roman Empire was a force to be reckoned with, controlling vast territories and wielding enormous political power from Scotland to the Sahara. 400 years later this mighty Empire was falling apart in the face of successive problems that the rulers failed to deal with. In this challenging new volume Michael Whitby tackles the fundamental issues (such as the rise of Christianity) that led to the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, and offers a startling reassessment of the performance of the late Roman army. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess021-rome-at-war-ad-293-696-ospess021-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001002/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The war with Mexico was the one of the most decisive conflicts in American history. After smashing Mexicos armies the young republic bestrode the North American continent like a colossus with one leg anchored on the Atlantic seaboard and the other on the Pacific. It was a bitter, hard fought war that raged across Mexico through the northern deserts, the fever-ridden Gulf cities and the balmy haciendas of California. This book covers the full course of the war, ending with General Winfield Scotts march from the captured port of Vera Cruz to Mexico City, fighting all the way.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess025-the-mexican-war-1846-48-ospess025-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001003/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The age of Alexander and his conquest of the Persian or `Achaemenid Empire, which had existed for over two centuries, represents a watershed in the history of the world. This book offers a fascinating insight into the achievements of one of the greatest generals ever known. Alexanders conquests are of profound significance. By perfecting the new weapons and tactics developed by his father, Philip II, and combining them with the use of specialist units and advancements in siege warfare, Alexander enabled the Macedonian kingdom to move beyond the restrictions of city-state armies and on to the stage of world conquest.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess026-the-wars-of-alexander-the-great-336-313-bc-ospess026-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001004/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST It is a testament to the fascination of the subject that even today the events of the Peloponnesian War are studied for what they can teach about diplomacy, strategy and tactics. This book reveals the darker side of Classical Greek civilization. From the horrific effects of overcrowding and the plague on the population of Athens, to the vicious civil strife that often erupted in cities allied with Athens or Sparta, this volume offers vivid and at times disturbing insights into the impact of warfare on the people who are celebrated as the founders of Western civilization. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess027-the-peloponnesian-war-421-404-bc-ospess027-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001005/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Palestine War has been by far the most important military encounter in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This book examines the origins of the war and its progression through two distinct stages: the guerrilla warfare between the Arab and Jewish communities of Mandatory Palestine, and the conventional inter-state war between the State of Israel and the invading Arab armies. In doing so it assesses the participants, their war aims, strategies and combat performance. Finally, it examines the reasons for Israels success in the face of seemingly impossible odds and for the failure of the Arab nations to turn their military and numerical superiority into victory on the ground. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess028-the-arab-israeli-conflict-the-palestine-war-1948-ospess028-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001006/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST More than three and a half centuries have passed since the Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years War (1618-48); but this most devastating of wars in the early modern period continues to capture the imagination of readers: this book reveals why. It was one of the first wars where contemporaries stressed the importance of atrocities, the horrors of the fighting and also the sufferings of the civilian population. The Thirty Years War remains a conflict of key importance in the history of the development of warfare and the military revolution. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess029-the-thirty-years-war-1618-1648-ospess029-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001007/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Russo-Japanese war saw the first defeat of a major European imperialist power by an Asian country. When Japanese and Russian expansionist interests collided over Manchuria and Korea, the Tsar assumed Japan would never dare to fight. However, after years of planning, Japan launched a surprise attack on the Russian Port Arthur, on the Liaoyang Peninsula in 1904 and the war that followed saw Japan win major battles against Russia. This book explains the background and outbreak of the war, then follows the course of the fighting at Yalu River, Sha-ho, and finally Mukden, the largest battle anywhere in the world before the First World War.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess031-the-russo-japanese-war-1904-05-ospess031-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001008/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST Byzantium survived for 800 years, yet its dominions and power fluctuated dramatically during that time. John Haldon tells the story from the days when the Empire was barely clinging on to survival, to the age when its fabulous wealth attracted Viking mercenaries and Asian nomad warriors to its armies, their very appearance on the field enough to bring enemies to terms. In 1453 the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine XII, died fighting on the ramparts, bringing to a romantic end the glorious history of this legendary empire. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess033-byzantium-at-war-600-1453-ospess033-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001009/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST Campaigns fought by Louis XIV, the Sun King, shaped the borders of European states, the destinies of royal dynasties, and even the patterns of absolutist government. This book presents the most authoritative yet accessible and succinct account of these all-important struggles available today, covering every aspect of the wars from decisions made by the king at his palace at Versailles to the life of the troops encamped in the field. Focusing on the French army, the greatest military force of the age, this tale of violence, victory, and victims balances siege and battle in a way that tells us much that is new about the Sun King and his adversaries.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess034-the-french-wars-1667-1714-the-sun-king-at-war-ospess034-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001010/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST This book covers one of the defining periods of European history. The series of wars between the Classical Greeks and the Persian Empire produced the famous battles of Marathon, Thermopylae and Salamis, as well as an ill-fated attempt to overthrow the Persian king in 400 BC, which helped to inspire the conquests of Alexander the Great.To tell the story of these momentous events, of the lives of great men and women, of the societies and cultures that produced them, and to explain how and why they came into conflict was the aim of Herodotus, the Father of History, whose account of the wars is our principal source and the first book to be called a history.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess036-the-greek-and-persian-wars-499-386-bc-ospess036-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001011/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Spanish Civil War of 1936-39 was of enormous international as well as national significance. In this gripping volume, Frances Lannon explains how this internal conflict between democracy and its enemies escalated to involve Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and the Soviet Union. We go behind the scenes to find out the true story of the bitter fighting within the sides, not just between them. The experiences of the men and women caught up in the fighting are highlighted. For them, and for a world on the brink of the Second World War, the stakes were agonisingly high.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess037-the-spanish-civil-war-1936-1939-ospess037-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001012/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Vietnam War was arguably the most important event, or series of events, of the American Century. America entered the brutal conflict certain of its Cold War doctrines and certain of its moral mission to save the world from the advance of communism. As this book explains, however, the war was not at all what the United States expected. Outnumbered and outgunned the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces resorted to a guerrilla war based on the theories of Mao Zedong of China. This was war reduced to its most basic level - find the enemy and kill him.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess038-the-vietnam-war-1956-1975-ospess038-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001013/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The War of 1812-1815 was a bloody confrontation that tore through the American frontier, the British colonies of Upper and Lower Canada, and parts of the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico. The conflict saw British, American, and First Nations forces clash, and in the process, shape the future of North American history. This exciting new volume explains what led to Americas decision to take up arms against Great Britain and assesses the three terrible years of fighting that followed on land and sea, where battles such as Lake Erie and Lake Champlain launched American naval traditions.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess041-the-war-of-1812-ospess041-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001014/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great were two of the greatest generals Rome had ever produced. Together they had brought vast stretches of territory under Roman dominion. In 49 BC they turned against each other and plunged Rome into civil war. Legion was pitched against legion in a vicious battle for political domination of the vast Roman world. Based on original sources, Adrian Goldsworthy provides a gripping account of this desperate power struggle. The armies were evenly matched but in the end Caesars genius as a commander and his great good luck brought him victory in 45 BC. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess042-caesar-s-civil-war-49-44-bc-ospess042-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001015/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST Julius Caesar was one of the most ambitious and successful politicians of the late Roman Republic and his short but bloody conquest of the Celtic tribes led to the establishment of the Roman province of Gaul (modern France). Caesars commentaries on his Gallic Wars provide us with the most detailed surviving eye-witness account of a campaign from antiquity. Kate Gilliver makes use of this account and other surviving evidence to consider the importance of the Gallic Wars in the context of the collapse of the Roman Republic and its slide toward civil war.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess043-caesar-s-gallic-wars-58-50-bc-ospess043-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001016/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The French-Indian War was fought in the forests, open plains, and forts of the North American frontier. The French army, supported by North American tribes, was initially more successful than the British Army, who suffered from lack of experience at woodland fighting. This title explains the background to the wars and charts the military development of the British Army and the reforms that led to its eventual superiority. In both skirmishes in the forests of the frontier and great battles such as Louisbourg and Quebec, the British proved they had learnt well from their Native American allies.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess044-the-french-indian-war-1754-1760-ospess044-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001017/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The American Revolution has been characterized politically as a united political uprising of the American colonies and militarily as a guerrilla campaign of colonists against the inflexible British military establishment. Daniel Marston argues that this belief, though widespread, is a misconception. He contends that the American Revolution, in reality, created deep political divisions in the population of the Thirteen Colonies, while militarily pitting veterans of the Seven Years War against one another, in a conflict that combined guerrilla tactics and classic eighteenth century campaign techniques on both sides. The peace treaty of 1783 that brought an end to the war marked the formal beginning of the United States of America as an independent political entity. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess045-the-american-war-of-independence-1774-1783-ospess045-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001018/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST In 1467 the Onin War ushered in a period of unrivalled conflict and rivalry in Japan that came to be called the Age of Warring States or Sengoku Jidai. In this book Stephen Turnbull offers a masterly exposition of the Sengoku Jidai, detailing the factors that led to Japans disintegration into warring states after more than a century of peace; the years of fighting that followed; and the period of gradual fusion when the daimyo (great names) strove to reunite Japan under a new Shogun. Peace returned to Japan with the end of the Osaka War in 1615, but only at the end of the most violent, turbulent and cruel period in Japanese history.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess046-war-in-japan-1467-1615-ospess046-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001019/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The eight French Wars of Religion began in 1562 and lasted for 36 years. Although the wars were fought between Catholics and Protestants, this books draws out in full the equally important struggle for power between the king and the leading nobles, and the rivalry between the nobles themselves as they vied for control of the king. In a time when human life counted for little, the destruction reached its height in the St Bartholomews Day Massacre when up to 10,000 Protestants lost their lives.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess047-the-french-religious-wars-1562-1598-ospess047-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001020/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST In July 1956 Egyptian President Gamal Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, causing immediate concern to Britain and France. They already opposed Nasser and were worried at the threat to maritime traffic in the Canal. This book traces the course of subsequent events. Together with Israel, Britain and France hatched a plot to occupy the Canal Zone and overthrow Nasser. Israel attacked Sinai, and Britain and France launched offensives throughout Egypt, but strategic failures overshasdowed tactical success. Finally, Britain, France and Israel bowed to international pressure and withdrew, leaving the Suez Canal, and Egypt, firmly in the hands of President Nasser. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess049-the-suez-crisis-1956-ospess049-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001021/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Texas Revolution is remembered chiefly for the 13-day siege of the Alamo and its immortal heroes. This book describes the war and the preceding years that were marked by resentments and minor confrontations as the ambitions of Mexicos leaders clashed with the territorial determination of Texan settlers. When the war broke in October 1835, the invading Mexicans, under the leadership of the flamboyant President-General Santa Ana, fully expected to crush a ragged army of frontiersmen. Led by Sam Houston, the Texans rallied in defense of the new Lone Star state, defeated the Mexicans in a mere 18 minutes at the battle of San Jacinto and won their independence.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess050-the-texan-war-of-independence-1835-36-ospess050-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001022/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870 when Bismarck engineered a war with the French Second Empire under Napoleon III. This was part of his wider political strategy of uniting Prussia with the southern German states, excluding Austria. The war was an overwhelming Prussian victory, and King Wilhelm I was proclaimed Emperor of the new united Germany. The Second Empire collapsed and Napoleon III became an exile in Britain. In the peace settlement with the French Third Republic in 1871 Germany gained the eastern French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, areas that were to provide a bone of contention for years to come. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess051-the-franco-prussian-war-1870-1871-ospess051-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001023/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST Victorious in its previous campaigns in Africa against native armies, Britain now confronted an altogether different foe. The Boers proved to be formidable opponents, masterfully compensating for inferior numbers with grim determination, resourcefulness and strong religious faith. Their mobility, expert use of cover, and knowledge of the terrain, in which they employed powerful long-range magazine rifles, gave them initial advantages. By contrast the British suffered from inadequate transport, insufficient mounted troops and poor intelligence. Despite marshalling the immense resources of their empire, the British were to be severely tested in a war which one general described as `the graveyard of many a soldiers reputation.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess052-the-b-r-war-1899-1902-ospess052-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001024/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Wars of the Roses raged from 1455 to 1485 - the longest period of civil war in English history. They barely affected the daily routine of the civilian population, yet for the leaders of the opposing houses of York and Lancaster, the wars were devastating. First hand accounts reveal how the lives of their women and children were blighted during three decades of war, as many of their male relatives met with violent deaths. This book examines in detail the causes, course and results of each of the main wars and concludes with a fascinating insight into why the wars ended so abruptly.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess054-the-wars-of-the-roses-1455-1485-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001025/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Gulf War of 1991 heralded a new type of warfare that was characterised by astonishing speed and high technology with remarkably low numbers of casualties amongst the coalition forces. Just under a million coalition personnel were deployed to the Gulf region to face a variety of threats from extreme temperatures to weapons of mass destruction (biological, chemical and suspected nuclear) and a formidable Iraqi occupation force. This book assesses the defensive Operation Desert Shield (the build up of coalition forces) and the offensive Operation Desert Storm (the liberation of Kuwait) as well as the key personalities on both sides. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess055-the-gulf-war-1991-ospess055-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001026/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Zulu War of 1879 remains one of the best known British colonial wars and included two battles whose names reverberate through history. At Isandlwana the Zulus inflicted a crushing defeat on the British; the gallant British defence at Rorkes Drift followed and re-established British prestige. Yet as this book shows, there was more to the war than this. Six months of brutal fighting followed, until the Zulu kingdom was broken up, its king imprisoned and the whole structure of the Zulu state destroyed. Years of internecine strife followed, until the British finally annexed Zululand as a colonial possession.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess056-the-zulu-war-1879-ospess056-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001027/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The history of the Mongol conquests is a catalogue of superlatives. No army in the world has ever conquered so much territory, and few armies have provoked such terror as the Mongol hordes. So vast was the extent of the Mongol Empire that the samurai of Japan and the Teutonic Knights of Prussia had each fought the same enemy while being unaware of each others existence. This book provides a concise yet thorough account of the Mongol conquests, including the rise of Genghis Khan and the unification of the tribes with up to date information on campaign logistics, tactics and horse breeding. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess057-genghis-khan-the-mongol-conquests-1190-1400-ospess057-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001028/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The period 1642-1651, one of the most turbulent in the history of mainland Britian, saw the country torn by civil wars. Focusing on the English and Welsh wars this book examines the causes, course and consequences of the conflicts. While offering a concise military account that assesses the wars in their national, regional and local contexts, Dr Gaunt provides a full appraisal of the severity of the wars and the true extent of the impact on civilian life, highlighting areas of continued historical debate. The personal experiences and biographies of key players are also included in this comprehensive and fascinating account.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess058-the-english-civil-wars-1642-1651-ospess058-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001029/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Great Plains cover the central two-thirds of the United States, and during the nineteenth century were home to some of the largest and most powerful Indian tribes on the continent. The conflict between those tribes and the newcomers from the Old World lasted about one hundred and fifty years, and required the resources of five nations - Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America and the United States - before fighting ended in the mid 1890s. This masterly exposition explains the background, causes and long term effects of these bitter wars, whose legacy can still be felt today.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess059-the-plains-wars-1757-1900-ospess059-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001030/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Spanish conquest of Mexico was the most remarkable military expedition in history, and in achieving it, Hernan Cortes proved himself as one of the greatest generals of all time. This book explains the background of the Aztec Empire and of the Spanish presence in Mexico. It describes the lives of the Aztecs in their glittering capital and of the Europeans who learned to adapt and survive in an alien and often dangerous world. The invasion was a war between civilizations, pitting the fatalism and obsessive ritual of the Aztecs against soldiers fighting for riches, their lives, and eventually their souls.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess060-the-spanish-invasion-of-mexico-1519-1521-ospess060-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001031/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Ottoman Empire and its conflicts provide one of the longest continuous narratives in military history. Its rulers were never overthrown by a foreign power and no usurper succeeded in taking the throne. At its height under the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the Empire became the most powerful state in the world - a multi-national, multilingual empire that stretched from Vienna to the upper Arab peninsula. With Suleimans death began the gradual decline to the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699 in which the Ottoman Empire lost much of its European territory. This volume covers the main campaigns and the part played by such elite troops as the Janissaries and the Sipahis, as well as exploring the social and economic impact of the conquests.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess062-the-ottoman-empire-1326-1699-ospess062-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001032/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST In 1991, an ethnically diverse region that had enjoyed decades of peaceful coexistence descended into bitter hatred and chaos, almost overnight. Communities fractured along lines of ethnic and religious affiliation and the ensuing fighting was deeply personal, resulting in brutality, rape and torture, and ultimately the deaths of thousands of people. This book examines the internal upheavals of the former Yugoslavia and their international implications, including the failure of the Vance-Owen plan; the first use of NATO in a combat role and in peace enforcement; and the war in Kosovo, unsanctioned by the UN but prosecuted by NATO forces to prevent the ethnic cleansing of the region.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess063-the-collapse-of-yugoslavia-1991-1999-ospess063-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001033/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The Anglo-Irish War has often been referred to as the war the English have struggled to forget and the Irish cannot help but remember. Before 1919, the issue of Irish Home Rule lurked beneath the surface of Anglo-Irish relations for many years, but after the Great War, tensions rose up and boiled over. Irish Nationalists in the shape of Sinn Féin and the IRA took political power in 1919 with a manifesto to claim Ireland back from an English foreign government by whatever means necessary. This book explores the conflict and the years that preceded it, examining such historic events as the Easter Rising and the infamous Bloody Sunday.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/irish-scottish-celtic/ospess065-the-anglo-irish-war-the-troubles-of-1913-1922-ospess065-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001034/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The wars against the Barbary pirates not only signaled the determination of the United States to throw off its tributary status, liberate its citizens from slavery in North Africa, and reassert its right to trade freely upon the seas: they enabled America to regain its sense of national dignity. The wars also served as a catalyst for the development of a navy with which America could project its newly acquired power thousands of miles away. By the time the fighting was over the young republic bore the unmistakable marks of a nation destined to play a major role in international affairs.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess066-wars-of-the-barbary-pirates-to-the-shores-of-tripoli-ospess066-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001035/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST Complex and unstable, in 922 BC the kingdom of Ancient Israel was divided into Judah, in the South, and Israel, in the North. For the next 200 years, there was almost constant warring between these kingdoms and their neighbors. These bitter feuds eventually led to the collapse of Israel, leaving Judah as a surviving nation until the emergence of the Babylonian Empire, the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, and the exile of the Judean people. Using ancient Jewish, Biblical, and other contemporary sources, this title examines the politics, fighting, and consequences of Israels battles during this period. Focusing on the turbulent relationship between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, this book explains Israels complex, often bloody, foreign policy, and provides a definitive history of these ancient conflicts.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess067-ancient-israel-at-war-853-586-bc-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001036/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST In the mid-19th century India was the focus of Britains international prestige and commercial power - the most important colony in an empire which extended to every continent on the globe and protected by the seemingly dependable native armies of the East India Company. When, however, in 1857 discontent exploded into open rebellion, Britain was obliged to field its largest army in forty years to defend its jewel in the crown. This book, drawing on the latest sources as well as numerous first-hand accounts, explains why the sepoy armies rose up against the worlds leading imperial power, details the major phases of the fighting, including the massacres at Cawnpore and the epic sieges of Delhi and Lucknow, and examines many other aspects of this compelling, at times horrifying, subject.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess068-the-indian-mutiny-1857-58-ospess068-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001037/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 14:31:00 PST The prolonged and bloody fighting for control of the Japanese occupied Pacific islands in World War II is a key point in 20th-century warfare. No two islands were alike in the systems and nature of their defensive emplacements, and local improvization and command preferences affected both materials used and defensive models. This title details the establishment, construction and effectiveness of Japanese temporary and semi-permanent crew-served weapons positions and individual and small-unit fighting positions. Integrated obstacles and minefields, camouflage and the changing defensive principles are also covered.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor001-japanese-pacific-island-defenses-1941-45-ospfor001-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001039/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Hadrians Wall is the most important monument built by the Romans in Britain. It is the best known frontier in the entire Roman Empire and stands as a reminder of the past glories of one of the worlds greatest civilisations. Its origins lie in a visit by the Emperor Hadrian to Britain in AD 122 when he ordered the wall to be built to mark the northern boundary of his Empire and to separate the Romans from the Barbarians. This title details the design, development and construction of the wall and covers the everyday lives of those who manned it as well as the assaults it withstood.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor002-hadrian-s-wall-ad-122-410-ospfor002-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001040/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Few of the massive military structures built by Germany during World War II are as impressive as the U-Boat bases and bunkers in Germany, Norway and France. This title takes a close look at the formidable edifices on the French coast (Brest, Lorient, St Nazaire, La Pallice, Bordeaux) in Norway (Bergen, Trondheim) and Germany (Keil, Hamburg, Helgoland) and also focuses on the huge Valentin factory complex at Bremen, which manufactured the new type XXI electro-boats. Bunker protective systems, such as camouflage, light and heavy flak installations and nearby air cover, are also examined as well as resident flotillas and the fate of the bases at wars end. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor003-u-boat-bases-and-bunkers-1941-45-ospfor003-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001041/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The Philippines were declared an American Territory on January 4, 1899, and fortification construction soon began on the islands in the mouth of Manila Bay. Among the sites built were Fort Mills (Corregidor), Fort Frank, and the formidable concrete battleship of Fort Drum. The defenses suffered constant Japanese bombardment during World War II, leading to the surrender of American forces. In 1945 the forts were manned by Japanese soldiers determined to hold out to the bitter end. This title details the fortifications of this key strategic location, and considers both their effectiveness and historical importance. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor004-american-defenses-of-corregidor-and-manila-bay-1898-1945-ospfor004-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001042/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The landscape of 16th- and 17th-century Japan was dominated by the graceful and imposing castles constructed by the powerful `daimyo of the period. In this the most turbulent era in Japanese history, these militarily sophisticated structures provided strongholds for the consolidation and control of territory, and inevitably they became the focus for many of the great sieges of Japanese history: Nagashino (1575), Kitanosho (1583), Odawara (1590), Fushimi (1600), Osaka (1615) and Hara (1638), the last of the battles that brought an end to a period of intense civil war. This title traces their development from the earliest timber stockades to the immense structures that dominated the great centres of Osaka and Edo.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor005-japanese-castles-1540-1640-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001043/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The 50 years before the American Civil War saw a boom in the construction of coastal forts in the United States of America. These stone and brick forts stretched from New England to the Florida Keys, and as far as the Mississippi River. At the start of the war some were located in the secessionist states, and many fell into Confederate hands. Although a handful of key sites remained in Union hands throughout the war, the remainder had to be won back through bombardment or assault. This book examines the design, construction and operational history of those fortifications, such as Fort Sumter, Fort Morgan and Fort Pulaski, which played a crucial part in the course of the Civil War. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor006-american-civil-war-fortifications-1-coastal-brick-and-stone-forts-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001044/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Following the battle of Bussaco on 27 September 1810 Wellingtons heavily outnumbered troops began to withdraw towards Lisbon. By the evening of 9 October the British and Portuguese began to withdraw behind a line of defensive works that had been built to the north of Lisbon. These were not the rudimentary field works that the French anticipated, but an enormous network of forts, batteries and redoubts whose construction had been started the previous November - the Lines of Torres Vedras. This 30-mile-wide line utilised the areas natural defences, damming rivers, scarping hillsides, blocking roads and establishing forts upon almost all of the hills. This title describes its design, creation and effectiveness in the face of French attacks.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor007-lines-of-torres-vedras-1809-11-ospfor007-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001045/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST At the beginning of the 20th century, the military importance of the Hawaiian Islands became clear. Oahu in particular was a key bastion in projecting Americas military power in the Pacific. The island was turned into a military fortress - and yet it also became the site of one of Americas greatest defensive failures, the Japanese attack of December 7, 1941. By the end of World War II, the harbor itself was the most heavily defended in the world, and the island had earned the sobriquet Fortress Oahu. This title documents the development of the coastal, air and land defense systems that served to protect Pearl Harbor and Honolulu from 1907 to 1950, and seeks to understand why these failed at a critical point.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor008-defenses-of-pearl-harbor-and-oahu-1907-50-ospfor008-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001046/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The techniques of European warfare were transformed during the 15th and 16th centuries by the use of gunpowder and by substantial progress in the effectiveness and destructive power of artillery. The series of conflicts in the 1640s, known collectively as the English Civil War, was the first in the British Isles that reflected this new reality. Sieges that aimed at isolating and reducing fortified places became the dominant instrument for prosecuting the war and protective fortifications were vital, for both the besieged as well as the besieger. This title describes how both the Parliamentarians and the Royalists made use of new fortification techniques throughout the course of this conflict.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor009-english-civil-war-fortifications-1642-51-ospfor009-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001047/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The Maginot Line, the massive series of fortifications built by France in the 1930s to defend its borders with Germany and Italy, is perhaps the most maligned collection of fortifications ever built. Despite being a technological marvel, and the most sophisticated and complex set of fortifications built up to that time, it failed to save France from crushing defeat in 1940. Yet there are those who argue that it accomplished exactly what it was designed to do. This book provides a concise and informative treatment of the Maginot Line, from North-East France to the Mediterranean. Packed with plans, contemporary and modern images, plus digital artwork, it presents a detailed visual exploration of this famous fortification system.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor010-the-maginot-line-1928-45-ospfor010-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001048/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Throughout their stormy history the Teutonic Knights of Germany have always been the most controversial brotherhood ever to call themselves Knights of Christ.They were the most warlike of the religious orders, and this is reflected in the architecture they left behind. In contrast to the Templars who are remembered for their churches, the Teutonic memorials are the magnificent brick-built castles they built as a result of their conquest of Prussia between 1230 and 1380. Many of these dramatic fortresses still exist today in what is now Poland and provide a unique example of an architectural style that closely reflects the nature of the Order.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor011-crusader-castles-of-the-teutonic-knights-1-the-red-brick-castles-of-prussia-1230-1466-ospf-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001049/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST In the course of the Peninsular War, Wellingtons army fought several hard battles and smaller actions, but it was the bloody sieges that troubled him more than anything else. Indeed, the performance of his army during the sieges was probably the most disappointing aspect of what was otherwise an extremely successful campaign. Taking 1808 as its starting point, this title deals with the fortress sieges that involved Wellingtons Anglo?Portuguese army, and concentrates on four key sites in particular (Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Burgos and San Sebastián). All of these played a vital role in the war due to their strategically important positions. It documents both the sieges and the storming of the fortresses, as well as the general role of the fortresses in Spain and the impact they had on the thinking of the commanders and strategies of the armies involved. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor012-fortresses-of-the-peninsular-war-1808-14-ospfor012-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001050/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Descended from the Viking raiders who settled in Northern France under the leadership of Rollo in around 911, the Normans were amongst the most feared warriors of their time. Their territorial ambitions culminated in Duke William 1s conquest of England in 1066, but although victory at Hastings left the English crown in Williams hands, Norman sovereignty remained far from established on the island. In order to consolidate his position, the new king built a series of fortifications across the country - this book covers all these developments from the early days of William I through to the fortifications of Henry II, Richard I and John.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor013-norman-stone-castles-1-the-british-isles-1066-1216-ospfor013-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001051/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The defence of the 9th-century kingdom of Wessex under King Alfred against the Great Viking Army is one of the major military achievements of Early Medieval history. While the guerrilla warfare in the Somerset marshes and the battle of Edington are characteristic of Alfreds military abilities, his definitive physical achievement was a series of some 30 well-structured fortifications (known as burhs) across the kingdom. Many of these fortifications survive to this day and some were even reinforced to stand up to German tanks in the expected invasion of 1940. This title describes their beginnings in the turbulent early years of Alfreds reign as well as their subsequent development and use.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor014-fortifications-in-wessex-c-800-1066-ospfor014-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001052/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The West Wall (or the Siegfried Line as the Allies called it) played a crucial role in the bitter fighting of 1944 and 1945 in North-West Europe. Constructed in the period immediately after the remilitarisation of the Rhineland in 1936, the Wall stretched for 300 miles from Cleve in the north to the Swiss Border and consisted of some 14,000 pillboxes. The Wall initially blunted the US attack, and Hitler used it as a foundation from which to launch the Ardennes Offensive. This title takes a detailed look at the development and form of this key fortification, examining the principles of its defence in visual depth, and discussing its fate in the wake of the Allied onslaught. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor015-germany-s-west-wall-the-seigfried-line-ospfor015-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001053/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The Island of Malta occupies a pivotal position in the Mediterranean, forming an outpost between North Africa and the soft underbelly of Europe. Such has been its strategic importance throughout the years that it has become one of the most fortified places in the world. Following the successful defence of the island during the Great Siege of 1565, the Knights Hospitaller built new walls and fortifications. These defences failed when Napoleon occupied Malta in 1798, and the island was retaken by the British in 1800. From this point onwards, Maltas defences were modernised throughout the 19th century and the islands final test came during World War II. This book examines all these different styles of fortification from the 16th to the 20th century.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor016-fortifications-of-malta-1530-1945-ospfor016-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001054/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Hisarlik is a small place, a sandy stone strewn hillock cut up into gullies and hummocks. Yet its historical significance is immense, for this is the site of Troy - the legendary city whose story sprawls across cultures, time and geography. The tale of the siege of Troy is the greatest secular story ever told, and has captured the imagination of the Western World for some 3,000 years. Although there are many difficulties in using Greek myths, oral traditions and the Homeric epics to reconstruct the Trojan War, this title uses the latest archaeological evidence to reconstruct in detail the fortifications of Troy as well as making more general observations about the possible historical events behind the epics of Homer.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor071-troy-c-1700-1250-bc-ospfor017-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001055/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Following the creation of the Duchy of Normandy, the Normans were soon introduced to the castle and they built them in large numbers. In the mid-11th century, other Norman adventurers began carving out dominions for themselves in Southern Italy: some crossed to Sicily in 1061 and by 1091 had conquered the whole island. As in Normandy, they were keen to assimilate new ideas, including architectural styles, resulting in some striking buildings. This title, a companion to Fortress 13: Norman Stone Castles (1) The British Isles 1066-1216, provides a detailed guide to the castles built in Normandy, Southern Italy and Sicily, covering defensive principles, daily life, the events of siege warfare, and the fate of the castles. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor018-norman-stone-castles-2-europe-950-1204-ospfor018-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001056/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The original forced conversion of pagan Livonia, what is now the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia, was carried out by a military order known as the Brethren of the Sword. In 1236 this order was incorporated into the Teutonic Knights following a catastrophic military defeat. The knights had always consolidated their conquests through networks of castles and fortified places, and the Livonian Chapter of the Teutonic Order built castles of stone. This title covers the developmental and operational history of these fortresses over the length of the Middle Ages. It details how the Baltic fortifications of the Teutonic Knights evolved to reflect the changing nature of siege warfare and the increasing dominance of gunpowder in warfare.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor019-crusader-castles-of-the-teutonic-knights-2-the-stone-castles-of-latvia-and-estonia-1158-15-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001057/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST In the summer of 1940, Britain asked itself not will Hitler invade? but when? SEALION, the German invasion plan, provoked the construction of pillboxes, coastal defences, heavy-gun emplacements and anti-aircraft batteries, as well as the formation of the Home Guard and covert groups. Later, new dangers replaced SEALION: radar detection systems were expanded during the Blitz years, as were intelligence-gathering systems and listening posts. From 1944, Britain was again faced with a deadly threat, Hitlers Vengeance weapons. This title provides a concise assessment of Britains defensive systems, and presents a vivid picture of war on the home front.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor020-british-home-defences-1940-45-ospfor020-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001058/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The Crusaders that landed in the Middle East in the late-11th century brought with them their own traditions of military architecture, but it was not long before their defensive construction began to reflect a broad array of local influences. Most early Crusader structures were relatively small, and tended to increase the existing natural and defensive features of a site. The basic forms comprised freestanding towers, castra, and hilltop and spur-castles, but urban centres, religious sites and rural dwellings were also fortified. From the 1160s, bigger, stronger and more expensive castles began to appear, in response to developments in Islamic siege weaponry. This title examines the early fortifications erected by the Crusaders in modern-day Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and south-eastern Turkey. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor021-crusader-castles-in-the-holy-land-1097-1192-ospfor021-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001059/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Mycenaean society was constantly geared for battle and invasion. Their `cities were heavy fortresses with unimaginably thick perimeter walls. Legendary sites such as Mycenae, Tiryns, Argos, Krisa, the Athenian Acropolis and Gla are all representative of their fortified citadels that dominated the Greek countryside for some 300 years until their sudden decline and abandonment around 1100 BC. This title describes the golden age of these fortifications; it details how these formidable structures were constructed and extended, as well as revealing the elaborate palace complexes built by the great Mycenaean warlords immortalised in the verses of Homers Iliad.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor022-mycenaean-citadels-c-1350-1200-bc-ospfor022-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001060/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The German Army of World War II considered itself an offensive, mobile force. The experiences in the trenches in World War I had done much to shape its concept of field fortification, and its mobile warfare ethos was intended to prevent the previous wars stalemate. This book addresses frontline defensive field fortifications, built by infantrymen using local materials, and includes rifle platoon positions, trenches, crew-served weapon positions, bunkers, dugouts, shelters and more. It also covers anti-tank and anti-personnel obstacles, as well as field camouflage methods and construction methods. The integration of these positions into permanent systems and theatre-specific defences are also discussed. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor023-german-field-fortifications-1939-45-ospfor023-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001061/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Following the early battles of 1914 along the Marne and in the Ypres salient, World War I rapidly changed from a war of movement into one of attrition, with the opposing sides entrenching themselves in a line of fortified positions from the Flanders coastline to the Swiss border. This volume details the different styles of fortification used on the Western Front throughout the course of the war, from the early ditches of 1914 to the complicated systems of 1918. It explains the development of the defence in depth German system and the British reaction to it, as well as illustrating the importance of the pre-war forts, particularly around Verdun.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor024-fortifications-of-the-western-front-1914-18-ospfor024-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001062/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The walls of Constantinople are the greatest surviving example of European medieval military architecture in the world. They withstood numerous sieges until being finally overcome by the artillery of Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453, and exist today as a time capsule of Byzantine and Medieval history. This book examines the main defensive system protecting the landward side of the city, which consisted of three parallel walls about 5 miles long. The walls defended the city against intruders, including Attila the Hun, before finally being breached by European knights during the Fourth Crusade in 1204 and, ultimately, destroyed by Turkish artillery in 1453.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor025-the-walls-of-constaninople-ad-324-1453-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001063/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Following the Soviet invasion in 1979, the Mujahideen defenders of Afghanistan developed and reinforced many natural cave systems to use as supply bases and defensive positions. The Taliban and Al Qaeda further strengthened these positions in the 1990s. Following the events of September 11, 2001, these cave systems have once more come to prominence and sites such as Tora Bora and Zhawar Kili have featured in news headlines around the world. This title provides an analysis of these caves and underground systems, and discusses the U.S.-led Coalitions tactical approach to dislodging the enemy from these fortified positions.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor026-afghanistan-cave-complexes-1979-2004-mountain-strongholds-of-the-mujahideen-taliban-al-qae-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001064/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Following the discovery of America by Columbus in 1492, European colonists brought their system of fortification to the New World in an attempt to ensure their safety and consolidate their conquests. French and British explorers came later to North America, and thus the establishment of their sizeable settlements only got under way during the 17th century. The inhabitants of New France built elaborate fortifications to protect their towns and cities. This book provides a detailed examination of the defenses of four of them: Québec, Montréal and Louisbourg in Canada, and New Orleans in Louisiana.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor027-french-fortresses-in-north-america-1535-1763-quebec-montreal-louisbourg-and-new-orleans-os-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001065/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST A major period of westward expansion took place in the United States during the first half of the 19th century. Fur trading, the coast-to-coast railroad, the California gold rush and the removal of Native American tribes both facilitated and encouraged Americas manifest destiny to become a transcontinental nation. The task of protecting the settlers from the tribes that inhabited the Great Plains fell to the US Army, and to do this an extensive network of permanent forts was created via construction and acquisition. This title examines why the forts were built, as well as their design, defensive features and the role they played in the settlement of the American West. The daily lives of the garrison soldiers and fort inhabitants are also covered, together with the fighting witnessed at key sites. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor028-forts-of-the-american-frontier-1820-91-central-and-northern-plains-ospfor028-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001066/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The US Army and Marine Corps in World War II considered themselves highly mobile, offensive forces. Their mobile-warfare doctrine envisioned field fortifications and obstacles as temporary in nature. As a result, their design was simple and made use of local materials, and they could be constructed comparatively quickly, whilst still providing adequate protection. By the time of the Korean War, only minor changes had been made to field fortification construction and layout, and to small-unit organization, weapons, and tactics. This title addresses field fortifications built by US infantrymen during World War II and in Korea, and covers rifle-platoon positions, trenches, crew-served weapon positions, bunkers, dugouts, shelters, observation posts and anti-tank obstacles.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor029-us-world-war-ii-and-korean-war-field-fortifications-1941-53-ospfor029-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001067/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST At the outbreak of World War II, Fort Eben Emael in Belgium was the strongest fortress in the world, and it lay exactly across the German invasion route of Belgium and France. The forts elimination was essential for the success of Hitlers invasion of the West. Deemed impregnable to conventional attack, Hitler himself suggested the means for its capture with the first glider-borne assault in military history. On 10 May 1940, ten gliders carrying just 77 paratroopers landed on top of the fort. Using top-secret hollow-charge weapons for the first time in warfare, the assault pioneers of Sturmgruppe Granit subdued Fort Eben Emael within just 30 minutes, and the fortress surrendered within 30 hours. It remains one of the greatest raids in the annals of Special Forces.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor030-fort-eben-emael-the-key-to-hitler-s-victory-in-the-west-ospfor030-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001068/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST When the Romans first fought against Caledonii during the reign of Agricola (AD 77-84), Agricola established a frontier along the Gask Ridge. He also consolidated the Forth-Clyde isthmus, the location at which the Romans would later build the Antonine Wall from AD 138 to 143. The following 100 years saw a cycle of advance into and retreat from Scotland, until the Romans abandoned the Antonine Wall completely. This book examines the Flavian, Antonine and Severan conquests of Scotland and the fortifications along Romes northern frontier, and it explores the archaeological remains and places them in historical context. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor031-rome-s-northern-frontier-ad-70-235-beyond-hadrian-s-wall-ospfor031-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001069/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The debacle of the Second Crusade in 1148 caused the Crusader States to realise the necessity of developing a more cautious strategy. The original expansionist spirit largely disappeared, and the Crusader States made priorities of strengthening their existing fortifications and towns and building new castles. These structures encompassed core aspects of Western European military architecture with the integration of rapidly developing Arab and Islamic traditions. Following Fortress 21: Crusader Castles in the Holy Land 1097-1192, this book examines the design, development and defensive principles of some of the best-known Crusader fortifications and castles, including Crac des Chevaliers, Castel Blanc, Arsuf, Margat, Atlit, Montfort and Acre. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor032-crusader-castles-in-the-holy-land-1192-1302-ospfor032-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001070/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST In 1961 US Special Forces units began entering remote areas of Vietnam dominated by the Viet Cong. Their task was to organize local defense and strike forces aimed at stopping the enemy from gaining further control of such areas. The Green Berets set up fortified camps from which indigenous troops defended local villages and attacked and harassed the enemy. How these camps were constructed, developed, and defended is documented here for the first time. This book also covers the weapons, barriers, and obstacles used in these camps, providing specific examples of camp design, and details how they withstood the test of battle against a determined and resourceful enemy. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor033-special-forces-camps-in-vietnam-1961-70-ospfor033-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001071/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST From the 10th century onwards the great Japanese monastic foundations of Nara and Mount Hiei maintained large armies of warlike monks. The tempestuous political rivalries that developed between the different orders of monks and religiously inspired laymen ensured that their temples and monasteries had to be securely sited and robustly defended. This books recreates these enormous fortified monasteries and temples, tracing their development from the 10th century through to the Sengoku Jidai period and the rise of the power of the shogunate under Tokugawa Ieyasu.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor034-japanese-fortified-temples-and-monasteries-ad-710-1062-ospfor034-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001072/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST On 11 January 1879 the British Empire went to war with the independent kingdom of Zululand. The British anticipated a swift and decisive victory, placing great faith in modern firepower; no plans were made for suppressing the Zulu over a protracted period, or for providing defensive positions from which to occupy Zulu territory. However, the losses suffered at Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift quickly altered the British approach; throughout the rest of the war, the British fortified almost every position they occupied in Zululand, from permanent column depots to temporary halts. This title explores British defensive techniques employed during the war, and how these related to contemporary engineering theory. Among the sites covered are Eshowe Mission Station, forts Pearson and Tenedos, and Rorkes Drift. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor035-british-fortifications-in-zululand-1879-ospfor035-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001073/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST For 40 years following the end of World War II, the Western democratic governments and the Eastern Bloc Communist powers were locked in the ideological, political, and economic struggle of the Cold War. The United States and the Soviet Union developed missile systems capable of delivering conventional and nuclear explosives against enemy massed bomber formations in the air, and of delivering retaliatory nuclear payloads against ground targets located on distant continents. The missile systems played both a defensive role, and a potential offensive role, which was parlayed to the public as deterrence against attack by the rival bloc. This title provides a detailed overview of the fixed-launch-site strategic missile systems of the United Stateshttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor036-u-s-strategic-and-defensive-missile-systems-1950-2004-ospfor036-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001074/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST German defenses along the Normandy beaches were part of the larger Atlantic Wall fortifications designed to defend Fortress Europe. When Field Marshal Erwin Rommel took command of the invasion front in late 1943, he began a program to enhance fortifications along the Normandy coast as he believed that any Allied assault had to be stopped on the invasion beaches themselves. His most important contribution to the defenses was an extensive program of improvised beach obstructions to complicate any landing attempt. This book analyses these fortifications and describes how the Allied forces overcame them on the morning of June 6, 1944.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor037-d-day-fortifications-in-normandy-ospfor037-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001075/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The American Civil War saw a massive development in the use of field fortifications, the result of the practical application of antebellum West-Point teaching, and the deadly impact of rifled infantry weapons and artillery. Both the Federal and Confederate armies began to develop far more sophisticated systems of field fortification, and the larger field works and fortifications surrounding Washington, DC and Richmond, VA were redesigned and rebuilt several times. This volume explores the role of land and field fortifications in the eastern and overland campaigns of the Civil War between 1861 and 1865. Particular attention is devoted to the nine-month siege of Petersburg, where daily life within the redoubts, lunettes, redans, bomb-proofs, trenches and rifle pits is vividly described.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor038-american-civil-war-fortifications-2-land-and-field-fortifications-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001076/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST In 1462 the throne of the Principality of Moscow passed to Ivan III (1462-1505), who succeeded in throwing off the Tatar yoke. For the next 200 years this new state struggled to maintain her borders against a series of attacks from the Lithuanians, Swedes and Poles to the west, as well as the Tatars to the south. They achieved this through the development of a network of fortified sites and a series of linear defensive systems. This book examine how these fortifications were developed to respond to ever changing situations under the command of such charismatic rulers as Ivan the Terrible, right through to the military reforms of Peter the Great.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor039-russian-fortresses-1480-1682-ospfor039-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001077/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The development of the city-state in the Classical period of Greek history ensured a shift in the nature of fortifications in the region. No longer were fortresses designed to defend a ruler and his entourage, rather the whole of the citizen body had to be protected against any outside threats. The enceintes of these Greek city-states did not have to be very high or strong as city-state conflict was still decided by spear and shield, though some thought was still given to the science of fortification. This book details the construction and ongoing development of the defences that protected some of the most illustrious sites in Greece during the most famous period of her history.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor040-ancient-greek-fortifications-500-300-bc-ospfor040-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001078/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Following the fall of France and the surrender of Paris on 14 June 1940, the British Government announced that the Channel Islands had no strategic importance and would not be defended. The Germans occupied the islands from the end of June onwards and remained in control until the end of the war. On 10 October 1941 Hitler announced his intention to convert them into an impregnable fortress, and the islands formed the most heavily fortified and defended section of the entire Atlantic Wall. This book describes the design, construction and manning of these defensive positions, as well as considering more widely the occupation of the Channel Islands by the Germans.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor041-the-channel-islands-1941-45-hitler-s-impregnable-fortress-ospfor041-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001079/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Vauban was the foremost military engineer of France, not only during his lifetime, but also throughout the 18th century when his legacy and methods remained in place almost unchanged. Indeed, his expertise and experience in the construction, defence, and attack of fortresses is unrivalled by any of his contemporaries, of any nationality. In all three of those fields he was a significant innovator and prolific exponent, having planned approximately 160 major defensive projects and directed over 50 sieges. This book provides not only a modern listing of his varied interventions and their fates, but also a wide-ranging discussion of just how and why they pushed forward the international boundaries of the arts of fortification.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor042-the-vauban-fortifications-of-france-ospfor042-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001080/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST From the reign of Augustus (27 BC-AD 14) onwards the Roman Army became a standing force with permanent fortresses distributed throughout the empire. These fortresses developed from the temporary fortifications of the legions on campaign into temporary wooden structures, before finally becoming more elaborate stone fortifications designed to stand the test of time. This book describes the development, design and construction of these fortresses throughout the length and breadth of the Empire. It also deals extensively with the experience of life within a typical fortress and covers the operational history of these fortifications throughout the whole of the imperial period.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor043-roman-legionary-fortresses-27-bc-ad-378-ospfor043-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001081/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST In the late-19th century, with the advances in technology and the increase in Americas economic stature, a new round of fortification building began in the United States and its overseas territories. Locations such as Portland, Boston, New York, Baltimore, Charlestown, Savannah, Key West, Los Angeles and San Francisco were all extensively fortified. This book provides a concise introduction to the design, development and purpose of American coastal defenses in the modern era (1885-1950), a period defined by the use of concrete, steel, and powerful breech-loading rifles. It covers the emplacements, weaponry, equipment, and people that defended their country in times of great change and uncertainty.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor044-american-coastal-defences-1885-1950-ospfor044-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001082/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST In 1943, Hitler ordered his forces to occupy the Italian mainland to protect the Third Reichs soft underbelly. After the successful Allied landings in Salerno, the Germans fought a series of hard, rearguard actions as the Allies slowly pushed north up the peninsula towards the Alps. These actions were based around the construction of a series of defensive lines, including: the Gustav Line, anchored on Monte Cassino, the Hitler Line, the Caesar Line, and the Gothic Line. This book explores the development and form of these defensive systems, examining the key fortifications in visual depth and discussing their fate in the wake of the Allied onslaught.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor045-german-defences-in-italy-in-world-war-ii-ospfor045-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001083/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST With the exception of the key royal sites, such as Stirling and Edinburgh, few Scottish castles were located at strategic points, or were intended to house garrisons required to defend or subjugate towns. Instead they were primarily fortified dwelling houses, erected in an environment of weak Royal authority and endemic feuding between rival clans and groups, in both Highland and Lowland areas. Although some enceinte castles were developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, most defensive construction focused on the tower house, a distinctive vernacular style of Scottish fortification. This book examines the design, development, and purpose of these quintessentially Scottish buildings, and also covers larger sites such as Urquhart and Blackness. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/ospfor046-castles-and-tower-houses-of-the-scottish-clans-1450-1650-ospfor046-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001084/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The greatest period of Inca expansion occured during the reigns of Pachacuti (1438-71), Tupa Inca (1471-93), and Huayna Capac (1493-1527). From the mountain stronghold of Cuzco, they subjugated the surrounding kingdoms and territories, absorbing their civilizations and their peoples. By 1525, they dominated much of the west of the continent, relying on fortified strongholds, an extensive system of roads and bridges, and obligatory military service to control local populations. This title takes a detailed look at the development of Incan fortification techniques, and examines how they came to be overrun by the Spanish conquistadors. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor047-fortifications-of-the-incas-1200-1531-ospfor047-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001085/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST During the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong (VC) main forces and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) were forced to hide weapons and supplies underground and to dig protective shelters to counter massive US firepower. Their field works defended villages, hidden base camps, and fortified complexes, and took the form of trench systems, individual fighting positions, crew-served weapon positions, bunkers, caches, and extensive tunnel complexes. Camouflage and deceptive measures, and the employment of obstacles and booby traps, went hand-in-hand with such works. This title takes a detailed look at the VC/NVA tunnel systems, field fortifications, base camps. and camouflage and concealment measures employed during the Vietnam conflict. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor048-viet-cong-and-nva-tunnels-and-fortifications-of-the-vietnam-war-ospfor048-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001086/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Following Columbuss arrival in the Bahamas in 1492, the lands of the new world were divided between Spain and Portugal. The riches gained by the Spaniards soon aroused the interest of the French and the English, eager to exploit the area they called the Spanish Main (an area broadly encompassing the West Indies and the Central American and Mexican coast). In response, the Spanish fortified their new territories. The earliest examples were very much based on medieval styles of fortification, but over the following three centuries the fortifications were updated, modernized and improved according the latest European principles. This book describes the evolution of the fortifications and their fate. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor049-the-spanish-main-1492-1800-ospfor049-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001087/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Half a millennium before the Romans first arrived in Britain, an even more ferocious people, the Celts, arrived in what is now south-eastern England. The Celts remained in Britain long after the Romans departed, and although driven into the remoter corners of the island by English invaders the people who remained clung onto their Celtic heritage, and defended their remaining lands against all-comers. In order to defend their lands from other tribes or outside invaders these people established powerful fortified sites that served as places of refuge in wartime and as administrative and trading centres in times of peace. This book examines these fascinating forts, which varied considerably from the mysterious brochs and duns found in northern Britain, to the hill-top forts ranging in size, to the promontory forts that formed powerful coastal strongholds all around the islands shores. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor050-the-forts-of-celtic-britain-ospfor050-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001088/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST From the beginning of the 2nd millennium AD northern India began to fall under the sway of a number of Muslim-Turkic rulers who, at the start of the 13th century, founded the series of dynasties known to history as the Delhi Sultanate. For three centuries these sultans expanded their territory, which led to a dramatic rise in the number of fortifications throughout the subcontinent. This period is the defining age of the Indian castle and the combined influence of the Islamic and Hindu architectural tradition lends these fortifications a unique style. This book covers all the major sites of the period - including the fabled seven medieval cities on the site of the present-day city of Delhi.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor051-indian-castles-1206-1526-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-delhi-sultanate-ospfor051-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001089/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Gibraltar, located at the meeting points of Europe and Africa, preserves within its fortifications a rich testament to human conflict spanning 600 years. In 1068 the ruling Spanish Muslims built a large fort there. Between 1309 and 1374 Gibraltar underwent a period of intensive building and fortification, and following the Spanish reconquest of 1462 the inhabitants carried out further works. In 1704 the latest, uninterrupted period of British rule began. The 18th century saw three sieges including the most severe, known as the Great Siege, which lasted from 1779 to 1783. During World War II the Rock served as a vital stop for supply convoys and naval staging base, complete with a veritable warren of secret tunnels. This book documents Gibraltars rich history, and charts the development of these fascinating fortifications.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor052-fortifications-of-gibraltar-1068-1945-ospfor052-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001090/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The United States has been developing space for many years, and satellites provide the US Military with an unparaleled advantage over its adversaries. Constellations of both military and civilian satellites provide protection and support for military operations; deliver ballistic missile early warning; supply reliable, secure and jam-proof communications; gather audio-visual intelligence; predict weather patterns; guide navigation; and deliver guided-weapons targeting, as well as a host of other missions. This book explores the design, development and usage of US military space systems, as well past and future threats to the systems. The current relevance of this topic to the international community as a whole is key, as space becomes the next, if only virtual, theater of warfare.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor053-defending-space-us-anti-satellite-warfare-and-space-weaponry-ospfor053-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001091/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST During the 1840s, the rarely visited Great American Desert of the Southern Plains and Southwest became part of the inexorable westward expansion, as European traders and settlers headed overland from the eastern seaboard. The traditional lands of the Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole Indians were quickly absorbed, and the rapid advance of the frontier soon brought the white man into conflict with the Kiowa, Comanche, Apache and Navajo tribes. Numerous posts and forts were built to protect trading posts and settlers, and to police the Indian reservations. This title explores the design and development of these sites, the life of the garrisons that manned them, and the clashes with Native American warriors such as Geronimo, Manuelito and Quanah Parker. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor054-forts-of-the-american-frontier-1820-91-the-southern-plains-and-southwest-ospfor054-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001092/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST During the early 13th century the north of what is now France went to war with the south in a bloody crusade aimed at destroying the heretical sect known as the Cathars. The conflict was characterized by vicious guerrilla actions and the besieging of the innumerable fortified sites that dotted the landscape of the south. Illustrated with full colour artwork and stunning photographs, this book describes the castles and fortifications of the Cathar period, examining their design, construction and the role that they played during the Albigensian Crusade.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor055-cathar-castles-fortresses-os-the-albigensian-crusade-1209-1300-ospfor055-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001093/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Constructed to protect the coastline of southern and eastern Britain, the forts of the Saxon Shore are among the most impressive surviving monuments of the Roman occupation of the British Isles, although much about them remains a mystery. In an impressive outlay of money, manpower and materials the frontier system stretched from the Wash to the Solent and included the heavy fortification of the major harbours and estuaries of the east and south-east coast. This book explores the history of this frontier system the ruins of which define the British landscape to this day.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor056-rome-s-saxon-shore-costal-defenses-os-roman-britain-ad-250-500-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001094/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The most famous example of fortification in the world, the Great Wall of China stretches for more than 6,000km across inhospitable terrain. Charting its development from its earliest origins in the 7th century BC through to the present day, this account reveals the true history of the wall, and explores the myths that surround it. Included are details of what it was like to live within the wall, how it was garrisoned and patrolled, and a discussion of how effective it was against attack. Through extensive examination of both ancient and modern sources, colour maps, artwork and photographs, this book illustrates why the wall is one of the great wonders of the world.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor057-great-wall-of-china-221-bc-ad-16-ospfor057-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001095/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Artillery fire support bases of the Freeworld forces played a critical role in the conduct of operations during the Vietnam War. They served to lay down high-volume fire on enemy firing sites, supported friendly infantry operations, and executed harassing fire missions where exact targets were not known. But the firebases themselves - which housed a range of other facilities such as troop shelters, surveillance radars and command centers - had to be defended against ground attack, and as a result became significant fortifications in their own right. This book describes the design, development and operational history of the fire support bases throughout the conflict.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor058-vietnam-firebases-1965-73-american-and-australian-forces-ospfor058-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001096/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The castles built by the Crusaders, Hospitallers, Venetians and Genoese in Cyprus, Greece, the Aegean, and on the Black Sea served to defend against a complex array of constantly changing threats: Mamluks, Catalan mercenaries, Ottoman Turks, Byzantines, independent Islamic states, Timur-i-Lenk, and widespread piracy, to name but few. The resulting fortifications - some inherited from conquered the territories of the former Byzantine empire, some built from scratch - were very different to those found in the Middle East. This superbly illustrated book explores their design, development and fate in detail, documenting the rich architectural heritage of this region and its complex history. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor059-crusader-castles-in-cyprus-greece-and-the-aegean-1191-1571-ospfor059-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001097/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST On 29 October 1891, the new forts built around the cities of Liège and Namur, known as the forts of the Meuse, were turned over to the Belgian Army. This huge project produced 21 modern forts to defend the strategic rail, river and road arteries in the Oise and Condroz gaps. In August 1914, the German Army attempted a quick crossing of this area in order to reach France, but it took them 12 crucial days to destroy the fortresses. Containing maps, diagrams and photographs taken from private collections, this book explores the design, development and influence of the forts of the Meuse, highlighting the importance of their role during the opening battle of World War I.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor060-forts-of-the-meuse-in-world-war-i-ospfor060-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001098/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST According to Russian legend, in the year AD 862 the Slav tribes of what is now European Russia invited a number of Scandinavian princes to rule over them. However, on the death of these princes, Prince Oleg seized Kiev and united the Northern and Southern Russian territories, building extensive fortifications to protect its borders. The rise of feudalism in the 11th century lead to the development of individual fortified sites and the extended border defenses fell into disrepair. Consequently, Mongol hordes poured over the border introducing the siege warfare techniques of the East, heavily influencing the fortification styles thereafter. Using a wealth of archeological evidence and first-hand sources, Konstantin Nossov charts the history of the medieval Russian fortress from its early beginnings until the 14th century, paying special attention to the development of one of the most iconic fortifications in the world: the Kremlin.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor061-medieval-russian-fortresses-ad-862-1480-ospfor061-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001099/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST From June 1941, the Soviets were forced to undertake large-scale defensive operations in the face of the overwhelming German blitzkrieg assault, operations which ran counter to their preference for highly mobile, offensive warfare. Lessons were quickly learned across a wide variety of terrain and climates, including the open steppes, dense forests, wooded swamps, cities, and in snow and ice, where the availability of construction materials differed greatly. The first to cover this topic in the English language and containing detailed information about the trenches, bunkers, observation posts and weapon positions, this book examines field fortifications built from local materials by infantrymen, as well as their use of mines, field camouflage techniques, and construction tools. It provides a first fascinating insight into Russian defensive attempts against the overwhelming might of the German Army.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor062-soviet-field-fortifcations-1941-45-ospfor062-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001100/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST Germanys Atlantic Wall was the most ambitious military fortification program of World War II. With Germanys gradual loss of the strategic initiative to the Allies, in 1942 Hitler was forced to construct an impenetrable wall of fortifications along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coast. This book deals solely with the structures on the French coast, starting with the Pas-de-Calais and extending down to Spain. It features detailed illustrations and diagrams of the various sections of the Atlantic Wall and the role that they played, giving a thoughtful analysis of some of the most accessible fortifications of World War II.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor063-the-atlantic-wall-1-france-ospfor063-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001101/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST In 1277 Edward I gathered a huge army and marched into Wales to subdue the rebel Welsh princes. A key part of his strategy was to erect a castle wherever his army rested. This title takes a detailed look at the design, development and principles of defence of these Welsh castles, documenting daily life within their walls and the historical events that took place around them. Focusing on key sites, it highlights the varied castle designs ranging from fortifications based on French models to the defences inspired by Constantinople, and is illustrated with eight pages of full-colour illustrations and cutaway artwork. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor064-castles-of-edward-i-in-wales-1277-1307-ospfor064-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001102/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST In the last years of his reign Henry VIII needed a radically modern system of defence to protect England and its new Church. Anticipating a foreign onslaught from Catholic Europe after his split from Rome, Henry energetically began construction of more than 20 stone forts to protect Englands major ports and estuaries. Aided by excellent illustrations, Peter Harrington explores the departure from artillery-vulnerable medieval castle designs, to the low, sturdy stone fortresses inspired by European ideas. He explains the scientific care taken to select sites for these castles, and the transition from medieval to modern in this last surge of English castle construction.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor066-the-castles-of-henry-viii-ospfor066-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001103/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The Japanese invasion and occupation of Korea, which lasted from 1592 to 1598, was the only occasion in Japanese history when samurai aggression was turned against a foreign country. During the occupation of Korea the Japanese built 25 wajo or castles. Unlike the castles built in Japan, these fortifications were never developed or modernized after the Japanese departure. The details of late 16th-century castle construction are therefore better preserved than at many other sites. Written by Stephen Turnbull, an expert in the subject, this book examines the castles built by the Japanese in Korea, as well as the use made of existing Korean fortifications, particularly city walls. This resulted in curious hybrid fortifications that dominated the landscape until the Japanese were pushed out of the peninsula by a furious onslaught from huge Chinese armies. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor067-japanese-castles-in-korea-1592-1598-ospfor067-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001104/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The Mississippi River played a decisive role in the American Civil War. The Confederate fortifications that controlled the lower Mississippi valley were put to the test in the lengthy Federal campaign of 1862-63. Vicksburg was a fortress city, known as the Gibraltar of the Confederacy, whose capture was seen as the key to victory in the war. This book explores the fortifications of the river valley, focusing on Vicksburg and its defences which boasted a network of forts, rifle pits and cannon embrasures surrounding the city, a well as examining the strengths and weaknesses of the fortifications when under siege. Also examined are numerous other fortified strongholds, including New Orleans, Port Hudson, New Madrid, and forts Henry and Donelson, all lavishly illustrated with full-colour artwork and cutaways.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor068-american-civil-war-fortifications-3-the-mississippi-amd-river-forts-ospfor068-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001105/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST The border between East and West Germany was closed on 26 May 1953. On 13 August 1961 crude fences and walls were erected around West Berlin: the Berlin Wall had been created. The Wall encircled West Berlin for a distance of 155km, and its barriers and surveillance systems evolved over the years into an advanced obstacle network. The Intra-German Border ran from the Baltic Sea to the Czechoslovak border for 1,381km, and was where NATO forces faced the Warsaw Pact for the 45 years of the Cold War. This book examines the international situation that led to the establishment of the Berlin Wall and the IGB, and discusses how these barrier systems were operated, and finally fell. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor069-the-berlin-wall-the-inner-german-border-1961-89-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001106/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:14:00 PST A guide for playing Ancient and Medieval wargames with miniatures, the striking Field of Glory rulebook includes colour coding for easy navigation, clear photographs of miniatures and diagrams (showing rules examples, troop placements, scale considerations and more), detailed Osprey artwork, a guide to figure painting, an overview of the history of this world of warfare, organisation tables and a background to the men who fought on the ground. Containing four ready-to-use army lists, this rulebook can either stand alone and be used for immediate gaming, or can be combined with the army list companions listed above to recreate a diverse range of conflicts in each period of the eras covered.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/field-of-glory/ospfog000-field-of-glory-ancient-and-medieval-warfare-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001155/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:58:00 PST Field of Glory presents the historical tabletop wargamer with a new, accessible rules set. Rise of Rome provides an accessible, detailed army listing for the Roman Republic and its enemies, from the war against Pyrrhos, to the victory of Augustus. This companion contains a complete historical overview of this period, covering conflicts such as the Punic Wars and Romes bloody wars with Hannibal and the Carthiginians. It includes well-designed, visually stunning and comprehensive army listings, with detailed historical overviews of each army, supporting maps and Osprey artwork. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/field-of-glory/ospfog001-rise-of-rome-field-of-glory-companion-republican-rome-at-war-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001156/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:58:00 PST Field of Glory presents the historical tabletop wargamer with a new, accessible rules set. Storm of Arrows provides an accessible, detailed companion for the Later Medieval period, 1300-1500. This army list contains a complete historical overview of this period, covering conflicts such as the Hundred Years War, and Wars of the Roses. It includes well-designed, visually stunning and comprehensive army listings, with detailed historical overviews of each army, supporting maps and Osprey artwork. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/field-of-glory/ospfog002-storm-of-arrows-field-of-glory-companion-late-medieval-europe-at-war-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2001157/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 3 Mar 2008 15:58:00 PST Gordon Rottman brings us 20 scenarios during the Blitzkrieg years, 1939 to 1941 with a background history and description of uniform and equipment in each scenario. Among the battles covered are Warsaw, Narvik, Somme, Crete, Sidi Rezegh, Sollum, Smolensk and Leningrad. Ron Volstad brings us 20 authentic and action filled plates of German soldiers during the Blitzkrieg era. This book is a definite MUST HAVE for WWII enthusiasts. Of particular interest are two plates illustrating individual and unit equipment of the German soldiers during the years 1939-1941. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/concord-publications/fighting-men-series/cpc6001-the-german-army-blitzkrieg-1939-41-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2002250/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 5 Mar 2008 18:30:00 PST In early February 1941, the Italian Army was on the brink of a disastrous defeat in North Africa. This situation prompted Hitler to send in the Afrikakorps, under the command of Erwin Rommel, who later earned fame as the Desert Fox. The DAK made its first contact with the British forces on 24 February and subsequently pushed the British back to the Halfaya Pass. The British formed the Eighth Army and stopped the Germans advance further into Egypt. With a long supply line, the DAK was forced to retreat due to increasing British attacks. 1941 and 1942 saw both sides fighting a seesawing battle in the Western Desert. Montgomery came to the scene in July 1942 and turned the tide for the British. With the undersupplied Germans pushed back to Tunisia, the Americans landed in Northwest Africa and eventually the Allies liberated North Africa. The DAK operated many interesting vehicles in North Africa, from self-propelled guns to reconnaissance vehicles to tanks. The book features many unpublished photos of rare German vehicles, and destroyed vehicles from private sources. The 16 color profiles include camouflage and markings of some of these rare vehicles that served in the DAK.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/concord-publications/armor-at-war-series/cpc7021-armor-of-the-deutsche-afrika-korps-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2002293/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 5 Mar 2008 18:30:00 PST As soon as the Axis Forces in North Africa were defeated, the Allies launched Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. The landings took place on 10 July 1943 and by 17 August, the Sicilian campaign was finished. On 9 September, the US landed at Salerno on the Italian mainland and faced German stiff resistance. Eventually the beachhead at Salerno was secured and the Allies pushed north towards Naples. Kesselring set up a defensive line between Naples and Rome called the Gustav Line and the Germans were determined to stop the Allies. On 22 January 1944 the Allies landed at Anzio, behind the German defenses. While the Germans were launching counter-attacks, the US tried to breach the Gustav Line. Monte Cassino was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting in the Italian campaign. With the capture of the monastery at Cassino in May, the Allies breakout from the Anzio beachhead and drove towards Rome, liberated it on 4 June 1944. Then came the Gothic Line which was eventually broken in September. Late 1944 and early 1945 saw little action and by April 1945, the Allies encircled the retreating Germans near Bologna, and the disintegrating German armies were surrendering in the tens of thousands. This book contains many unpublished photos from private archives, featuring Tiger, Panther, Elefant, Nashorn, Hummel, Wespe, StuG, Brummbar etc. Tom Cockle, an expert in German armor and a modeler, well researched the text and captions in the book, the contents are very informative. Doug Jameson, also a modeler, is an artist by profession. All the color plates are well researched, from camouflage and markings down to the weathering and zimmerit patterns. From modelers to modelers, a must for any modelers library. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/concord-publications/armor-at-war-series/cpc7023-german-armor-of-the-italian-front-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2002295/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 5 Mar 2008 18:30:00 PST Robert Michulec brings us the first volume of the photographic journal of the German 4th Panzer Division in combat, from 1941 to 1943. All photos are from a private collection and never before published. This volume follows the 4th Panzer Division from Operation Barbarossa until end of 1943. The division was mainly equipped with Pz.Kpfw. III and IV during this period, with supporting panzergrenadier battalions (mainly Sd.Kfz. 250 and 251 half-tracks), anti-tank battalions (mainly Marder II and III), and reconnaissance battalions (mainly Luchs). Photographs featured AFVs of these battalions, with many rare shots of Marder III and Luchs in action.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/concord-publications/armor-at-war-series/cpc7025-4-panzer-division-on-the-eastern-front-1-41-43-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2002297/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 5 Mar 2008 18:30:00 PST -- Synopsis -- On July 15th and 16th, 2006, under a blistering sun, nearly 500 re-enactors took the field at the Williamsburg Winery for a re-enactment of the last great land battle in Virginia, before the siege at nearby Yorktown ended combat in the American Revolution. This epic DVD film documents the first re-creation of the Battle of Green Spring, and the national effort to save the original battlefield on the banks of the James River http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/lionheart-films/the-battle-of-green-spring-dvd-lhfw001-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2677884/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 1 May 2008 14:39:00 PST -- Synopsis -- Our story unfolds over a single, horrifying and sleepless night -- six soldiers lost in the wicked, burning woods of the 1864 Battle of the Wilderness. The men happen upon each other and after a tense exchange, decide to share a meager campfire for the trading of food and the comfort and safety of what they all think are friends. The men wear raged, dirty uniforms, so in the nights moonlight, they do not realize they are enemies until the next morning when the sun rises and exposes their dangerous mistake. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/lionheart-films/wicked-spring-dvd-lhfw002-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2677886/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 1 May 2008 14:42:00 PST -- Synopsis -- This DVD celebrates the 225th anniversary re-enactment of Americas momentous 1781 Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown, Virginia. The four-day commemorative event was held October 19-22, 2006, with many of the events staged on the original field. For the first time in 225 years, and within days of the actual anniversary of the formal British surrender, nearly 2,000 re-enactors met on the original, hollowed Surrender Field to commemorate the British defeat to the allied American and French forces led by General George Washington. Never since 1781 had this event been re-staged so authentically. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/lionheart-films/yorktown-battle-for-victory-dvd-lhfw003-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2677917/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 1 May 2008 15:01:00 PST -- Synopsis -- Part 1 of a planned 35 episode DVD series on the history of the American Soldier http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/lionheart-films/von-steuban-s-continentals-dvd-lhfw004-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2677918/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 1 May 2008 15:04:00 PST -- Synopsis -- The true story of the Confederacys last great invasion of the north, in July 1864, and the subsequent attack on Washington, D.C. that almost brought the northern war effort to its knees. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/lionheart-films/no-retreat-from-destiny-dvd-lhfw200-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2677919/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 1 May 2008 15:07:00 PST One-of-a-kind DVD compilation -- includes the complete short films: The Nest... Fury... Mystic Motel... The Scarlet Letters as well as trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, photo gallery, comentary tracks, bonus footage and previews of LionHeart FilmWorks titles. 3 hours of content!! http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/lionheart-films/lionheart-filmworks-dvd-compilation-lhfw1002-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2677920/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 1 May 2008 15:08:00 PST In the early decades of the 8th century AD, Islamic forces were flooding into Europe through the Iberian peninsula, threatening Frankish and Burgundian territory and raiding it with ever-increasing ferocity. At the battle of Poitiers, also known as Tours, Christian forces under the Frankish leader Charles Martel The Hammer (grandfather of Charlemagne) confronted a massive invading Islamic army. The Franks were victorious, effectively halting the northward advance of Islam and preserving Christianity as the dominant faith in Europe. Expert medievalist David Nicolle draws on contemporary sources to reconstruct this turning-point battle, placing it in its historical context and reviewing its background and the subsequent historical consequences.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ospcam190-poitiers-ad-732-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757496/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 6 Jun 2008 12:51:00 PST The capture of the Hapsburg city of Vienna was a major strategic aspiration for the Islamic Ottoman Empire, desperate for the control that the city exercized over the Danube and the overland trade routes between southern and northern Europe. In July 1683 Sultan Mehmet IV proclaimed a jihad and the Turkish grand vizier, Kara Mustafa Pasha, laid siege to the city with an army of 150,000 men. In September a relieving force arrived under Polish command and joined up with the defenders to drive the Turks away. The main focus of this book is the final 15-hour battle for Vienna, which peaked with a massive charge by three divisions of Polish winged hussars. This hard-won victory marked the beginning of the decline of the Islamic Ottoman Empire, which was never to threaten central Europe again. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ospcam191-vienna-1683-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757498/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 6 Jun 2008 12:54:00 PST General Sir William Howes New York campaign gave the British their best chance of destroying the Continental Army and George Washingtons resistance to colonial power. Howe succeeded in dividing the Continentals, defeated them on Long Island and forced Washington to retreat to Brooklyn Heights. Under siege there, Washington successfully crossed the East River to Manhattan but soon had to fall back on Harlem Heights. After a few weeks Howe forced the Continentals north to White Plains and defeated them again. However, he allowed Washington to withdraw and preserve his army when a more aggressive pursuit could have ended the war. Instead, with the British army rapidly weakening and facing huge manpower shortages, Washington emerged from a succession of defeats to produce what was ultimately a war-winning strategy. The author provides fascinating insights into a unique campaign in which a string of British victories ultimately led to failure and defeat.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ospcam192-new-york-1776-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757499/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 6 Jun 2008 12:56:00 PST The first Zeppelin attack on London came in May 1915 - and with it came the birth of a new arena of warfare, the `home front. German airships attempted to raid London on 26 separate occasions between May 1915 and October 1917. This book tells the story of Germanys strategic Zeppelin offensive against Britain, and how it came to be neutralized.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ospcam193-london-1914-17-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757500/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 6 Jun 2008 12:57:00 PST In July 1944, Operation Cobra broke the stalemate in Normandy and sent the Allies racing across France. The Allied commanders had ignored Paris in their planning for this campaign, considering that the risk of intense street fighting and heavy casualties outweighed the citys strategic importance. However, Charles de Gaulle persuaded the Allied commanders to take direct action to liberate his nations capital. Steven J Zaloga first describes the operations of Pattons Third Army as it advanced towards Paris before focussing on the actions of the Resistance forces inside the city and of the Free French armoured division that fought its way in and joined up with them to liberate it on the 24th August. On the back of this morale-boosting victory, De Gaulle could finally proclaim Paris to be liberated, as one of the worlds loveliest cities survived Hitlers strident command that it should be held at all costs or razed to the ground.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ospcam194-liberation-of-paris-1944-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757502/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 6 Jun 2008 12:58:00 PST In the midsummer of 415 BC Athens launched a pre-emptive attack on Syracuse, urged on by the brilliant but reckless Athenian general Alcibiades, who claimed the Syracusans were providing the hostile Peloponnesian League with supplies. Moreover, if Athens could establish itself in Sicily then it would be in a commanding position for future aggression against Carthage. Possession of Syracuse would also allow the Athenians to dominate the Mediterranean. Nic Fields examines the foolhardy campaign in which Athens ignored the strategic implications of attacking a nation that was over 1,100 km away as two enormous armadas and 60,000 Athenians and their allies fought for two years against the only other democracy in the Greek world. Rare illustrations and breath-taking full-colour artwork complete the account of a disastrous campaign from which very few Athenians returned.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ospcam195-syracuse-415-13-bc-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757503/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 6 Jun 2008 13:01:00 PST Following a lull in the desert war which saw the Germans and British reinforce their armies, Rommel suddenly attacked British fortifications with an assault on the northern sector of the British line near Gazala. Pinning down the British in the north and outflanking the 1st Free French Brigade, Rommel succeeded in encircling the main British positions, trapping them in what became known as The Cauldron. With thousands of British soldiers killed or taken prisoner, this was a devastating defeat for the Allies. Accompanied by contemporary photographs and maps depicting the movement of both armies, Ken Ford provides a masterful study of Rommel, the Desert Fox, at the height of his powers as he swept the British army back to the site of their final stand at El Alamein. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ospcam196-gazala-1942-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757504/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 6 Jun 2008 13:02:00 PST The battle of Amiens was the turning point of World War I, confirming to all that the strategic initiative had decisively returned to the Allies. The battle heralded the arrival of new strategic, tactical and operational methods of attack for the Allies. Most importantly, by the time the battle ended on 11 August the desire of the German leadership to continue the war had been shattered. In this book Alistair McCluskey describes the course of the battle and the commanders involved. He details troop movements that illustrate the rapid advance of Allied forces, all of which are analysed using both traditional and birds-eye-view maps. Released to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the battle, this book is illustrated with some amazingly poignant rare photographs and full-colour artwork, providing a detailed analysis of the battle that heralded the beginning of the end of World War I.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ospcam197-amiens-1918-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757506/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 6 Jun 2008 13:04:00 PST Stephen Turnbull, a renowned expert on the history of Japan, examines the samurai invasion of Korea, the first step in an ambitious Japanese plan to conquer China. Examining the various stages of the war, from the pitched battles of the early war years, to the great naval encounters, the dramatic sieges and the bitter trench warfare that characterized the end of the war, Turnbull provides a concise analysis of the conflict. Highly illustrated with contemporary photographs, full colour battlescene artwork, detailed maps and birds-eye views, this is a concise history of a unique and exciting campaign, which not only involved huge numbers of men, differing terrain and tactics but was also the only time that the legendary samurai were pitched against a foreign nation.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ospcam198-the-samurai-invasion-of-korea-1592-98-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757508/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 6 Jun 2008 13:05:00 PST Immortalised by Shakespeares play Julius Caesar, the battle of Philippi was the final meeting between the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian against the armies of Caesars assassins Brutus and Longinus. In this book Si Sheppard takes a detailed look at the campaign that was waged around the Macedonian city of Philippi. In the bloody and close combat, legionary fought legionary amid great slaughter, until Brutus forces were defeated. Brutus fled and committed suicide the following day. The Republican cause crushed, Rome now rested in the hands of the Second Triumvirate. Packed with photographs, breathtaking battlescene artwork and detailed maps illustrating the course of the battles on land and on sea, this is the history of the campaign which sounded the final death knell for the Republican movement.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/campaign/ospcam199-philippi-42-bc-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757509/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 6 Jun 2008 13:06:00 PST The Americans lagged behind their European contemporaries in military aviation in the late 1930s, and it took the Battle of Britain to awaken America to the necessity of having aircraft that could defend targets against night-time attack by bomber aircraft. This book examines the numerous aircraft types that were used by the US in this role, beginning with the early stop-gap conversions like the TBM Avenger, Lockheed Ventura and the A-20 Havoc (P-70). It goes on to detail the combat history of the newer, radar-equipped Hellcats, Corsairs and Black Widows that were designed to seek out enemy aircraft and which registered most of the kills made by the Navy, Marine Corps and USAAF in 1944-45. With full-colour profiles and rare photographs, this is an absorbing account of an underestimated flying force: the American Nightfighters.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace084-american-nightfighter-aces-of-ww-ii-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757570/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 6 Jun 2008 14:35:00 PST There was no Luftwaffe fighter unit like Jagdverband 44. Formed in February 1945, the unit grew out of Hitlers bizarre decision that the Me 262 jet fighter should be used as a bomber, despite its potential in the daylight defensive battles over the Reich. Seen as a grave mistake by Göring, a small fighter unit was formed in southern Germany to prove the Me 262s ability as an interceptor. Formed with some of Germanys most experienced fighter pilots, Jagdverband 44 numbered a disproportionately high number of leading aces in its ranks, to the extent that it was said that the Knights Cross was the unofficial badge of the unit. With numerous first-hand accounts from pilots and detailed colour profiles, this book is a fascinating account of the dramatic birth of the jet fighter and the impact it had during the bitter struggles of 1944-45.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu027-jagdverband-44-squadron-of-experten-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757571/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:46:00 PST Starting operations in the relatively quiet Toul sector in March 1918, the 1st Pursuit Group initially flew Nieuport 28s, given to the Americans because the French did not want them. Expanded by the arrival of additional squadrons, the 1st Pursuit Group went to war in earnest over Château Thierry in July, initially suffering heavy losses. Re-equipped with Spad XIIIs, the battle-seasoned group went on to fame over St. Mihiel and the Argonne, claiming the most enemy kills by any group in the USAS - partly thanks to the American ace of aces, Eddie Rickenbacker, and balloon-busting ace, Frank Luke, both of whom were also awarded the Medal of Honour. Discover the history of Americas first fighter aces in this book as first-hand accounts, rare photographs and a wide variety of accurate, full-colour profiles reveal their thrilling combat experiences.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu028-usas-1st-pursuit-group-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757572/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:46:00 PST This book provides detailed information about how US Army units were organised and operated in Americas longest war. Vietnam Special Forces veteran Gordon L Rottman examines the different types of infantry battalions and the units that supported them, their training and organisation down to platoon level. Aspects of the US Armys conventional and unconventional warfare doctrine are also addressed, along with a discussion of how replacements were trained and integrated into units. Among other areas of the US Armys involvement covered are individual and crew-served weapons, artillery, armoured fighting vehicles, transport, logistics, the complex chain of command, and combat operations.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto033-the-us-army-in-the-vietnam-war-1965-73-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2757576/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 6 Jun 2008 15:48:00 PST Over 43,000 Il-2/10s were built between 1941 and 1955, more than any other combat aircraft in history, making this one of the most important Soviet aircraft deployed in World War II. Built originally as a two-seater, the Il-2 had lost the rear gunners position by the time it started to reach frontline units. Armed with ground-attack rockets, the aircraft proved deadly against Wehrmacht panzers as pairs of Il-2s roamed the frontline at low level. However, the Shturmoviks (armoured attackers) were vulnerable to attack from the rear by enemy fighters, so Ilyushin reverted to the two-seat layout in September 1942. Oleg Rastrenin provides a fascinating account of the complex development history of a plane that was crucial to Russias defence. From Stalingrad to Kursk to Berlin, this book charts the aeroplanes vital contribution to the most famous battles of the Eastern front.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/il-2-shturmovik-guards-units-of-world-war-ii-ospcom071-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2758549/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 9 Jun 2008 15:13:00 PST This final volume of the Osprey trilogy on the Luftwaffe dive-bomber charts its fortunes in the toughest theatre of all: the Eastern Front. Written by John Weal, a leading authority on the Luftwaffe, this book examines how, following its comprehensive defeat over the English Channel in the summer of 1940, the Stuka was able to restore its fearsome reputation over the Eastern Front.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/combat-aircraft/ospcom074-junkers-ju-87-stukageschwader-of-the-russian-front-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2758551/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 9 Jun 2008 15:14:00 PST Amid the continuous struggle for aerial superiority during World War I, two aircraft types were at the forefront. Both rotary engined fighters, the Sopwith Camel and the Fokker Dr I triplane were relatively slow for their time, but were regarded as the most manoeuvrable machines produced during the conflict, and the classic pair for a tight, evenly matched dogfight at close quarters. In this book Jon Guttman examines the fascinating story of the design and development of these deadly foes. First-hand accounts and innovative cockpit-view artwork give a thrilling insight into the pilots experiences during the worlds first aerial duels and helps explain their successes and failures.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue007-sopwith-camel-vs-fokker-dr-i-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2758555/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 9 Jun 2008 15:21:00 PST Known for the distinctive sharkmouth decoration on their noses, P-40 fighters first saw combat in China during World War II. Their most common adversary was the Japanese Nakajima Ki-43, nicknamed Oscar. Carl Molesworth describes and explains the design and development of these two foes, the products of two vastly different philosophies of fighter design. The P-40 was heavily armed and sturdy with armour protection and self-sealing fuel tanks, but paid for this with the loss of speed and a sluggish performance at altitude. The Ki-43 was a rapier to the battleaxe P-40 and the Ki-43 was immensely nimble, though with less firepower and durability. This book examines these two different fighters, and the pilots who flew them over China, with an action-packed text, rare photographs and digital artwork.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue008-p-40-warhawk-vs-ki-43-oscar-china-1944-45-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2758557/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 9 Jun 2008 15:27:00 PST Late in the morning on 21 October 1805, warships from the British and combined French and Spanish fleets clashed off Cape Trafalgar on the Spanish coast. After a six month game of cat and mouse across the Atlantic, 27 British ships of the line engaged the Allied force of 33 ships of the line. This was a duel of skill, tenacity and bravery as captains and crews battled for mastery of the seas. This book is an opportunity to relive the action at Trafalgar - read the accounts of sailors who were there, and who experienced the sound of scraping cutlasses and bombarding cannons at one of the most important naval engagements of history. Understand how the guns were operated, learn about the training of crews and study the design and development of the incredible ships which dominated naval warfare of the period, as Gregory Fremont-Barnes reveals the revolutionary tactics used by Nelson to secure a victory that saved Britain from the threat of invasion and ensured British naval dominance for over a century.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue009-victory-vs-redoutable-ships-of-the-line-at-trafalgar-1805-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2758558/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 9 Jun 2008 15:29:00 PST This was a duel between the stalwart of the Wehrmacht armored divisions - the Panzerkampfwagen III - and the Americans as yet untested M3 Grant. In reality both would prove unequal to the task as they floundered amidst the rugged hills and ravines of the Tunisian landscape. This book charts the design and development of these two disparate rivals - their vastly different armament and armor as well as their tactical concepts. Analysing the strengths and weaknesses of these two opponents, this book explores the successes and failures of the Grant and Panzer III as they clashed at the critical battles of North Africa. Moreover it is an insight into the lives of the tank crews themselves as they struggled with the twin horrors of tank warfare and the fight for survival amidst some of the most inhospitable terrain on earth.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue010-m3-medium-tank-vs-panzer-iii-kasserine-pass-1943-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2758561/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 9 Jun 2008 15:32:00 PST The largest single engined fighter when the USA entered the war, the P-47 was a monster of a machine. In contrast the Bf 109G was a much smaller aircraft. With all-round better performance than the P-47 at low altitudes the Bf 109G was the staple Defence of the Reich fighter. This book examines the mighty clash between these two legends of the sky. It examines the numerous aspects of the pilots training, the tactics they used once in combat and the leading edge technology employed by these second generation World War 2 aircraft as well as the continual development of both fighter types. Finally, the key elements of both fighters - the airframe, engine, armament and flying characteristics - are also explored through first hand accounts from the aces that went head-to-head in the war-torn skies of Europe. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue011-p-47-thunderbolt-vs-bf-109g-k-europe-1943-45-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2758562/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 9 Jun 2008 15:33:00 PST This book draws us into the dangerous world braved by American and North Vietnamese airmen in the skies over Vietnam. Influential leaders and tacticians are profiled to provide a comparative evaluation of their contrasting skills. This book also reveals the technical specifications of each jet with an analysis of the weaponry, avionics and survival devices of the F-4 Phantom II as flown by the USAF and the MiG-21. The fighters strengths and weaknesses are also compared, including turn radius, performance at altitude, range and structural integrity. First-person extracts reflect on the dangers of these aerial duels, as USAF pilots and their counterparts struggled to overcome each planes shortcomings. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue012-f-4-phantom-ii-vs-mig-21-usaf-vpaf-in-the-vietnam-war-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2758563/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 9 Jun 2008 15:35:00 PST In this book Steven J Zaloga offers a fascinating comparison between the two most important tanks involved in the crucial fighting of 1944, the American Sherman and the German Panther. Placing the reader in the heart of this battle between quality and quantity Zaloga uses a compelling account of the ferocious fighting during the Battle of the Bulge to explain the successes and failures of each tank, highlighting the fact that a tank can only be as good as its crew, weighing up the impact of low morale, high cost and mediocre crew training on the Panthers superiority. With full-colour battlescenes, technical drawings, photographs, digital gunsight views, extracts from crew training manuals and real combat reports, this book brings the titanic battles between the Panther and Sherman to life.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue013-panther-vs-sherman-battle-of-the-bulge-1944-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2758566/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 9 Jun 2008 15:37:00 PST Providing accessible and informative coverage of the Greek, Persian and Macedonian armies, Immortal Fire details conflicts such as the Spartan stand at Thermopylae, Alexanders victory at Gaugamela, and his fight for the Granicus River. Well-designed, visually stunning and with detailed historical overviews of each army, these comprehensive army listings, with supporting maps and artwork, allow gamers to recreate some of the most legendary battles in history. Take on the role of the worlds greatest tacticians and soldiers and change history.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/field-of-glory/ospfor003-immortal-fire-field-of-glory-companion-greek-persian-and-macedonian-army-list-ospfog003-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2758573/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 9 Jun 2008 15:53:00 PST Relive the epic conflict between the Christian west and Islamic east in this new Field of Glory Companion, Swords and Scimitars, which provides accessible, detailed army listings for the Crusades, covering conflicts such as Saladins devastating victory at Hattin, the siege of Jerusalem and Richard the Lionhearts Third Crusade. With coverage of both the Christian and Muslim forces, this companion volume allows gamers to recreate and rewrite history using the newest rules set on the market, Field of Glory.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/field-of-glory/ospfog004-swords-and-scimitars-fields-of-glory-companion-the-crusades-army-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2758589/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 9 Jun 2008 16:26:00 PST Legions Triumphant lets you relive the glory years of Rome, when the Roman army became a seemingly unstoppable juggernaut, spreading the Empire across the known world. Lavishly illustrated, factually accurate and complete with comprehensive army lists this is an essential companion to the Field of Glory experience. Choose to play as the Roman Legions and conquer the world, or try to change history by taking up the reins of one of Romes enemies and defeating the greatest empire the world had ever seen.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/field-of-glory/ospfog005-legions-triumphant-field-of-glory-companion-imperial-rome-at-war-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2758590/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 9 Jun 2008 16:30:00 PST Take command of the mighty forces of the Ottomans, their enemies and neighbours - from the steppe cavalry of the Tatars and Timurids, to the Polish and Teutonic knights, and the implacable armies of the Jan Zizkas Hussites or Vlad Tepes Wallachians. With Eternal Empire, the new Field of Glory companion, you too can take the Ottoman nation from a humble Anatolian state to an Empire commanding the Middle East and much of Eastern Europe. Complete with organisation charts for hundreds of accurately researched troop types, detailed historical overviews and supporting maps and artwork, this addition to the core rulebook will dramatically enhance your gameplay.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/field-of-glory/ospfog006-eternal-empire-field-of-glory-companion-the-ottomans-at-war-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2758591/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresMon, 9 Jun 2008 16:32:00 PST The first 50 years of the US Army airborne arm is a story of continuing battles with the nations enemies, of battles within the Armys hierarchy, of change, and of adaptation. If there is any single attribute the airborne soldier can claim as his most sterling, it is his uncanny ability to adapt - his flexibility. The very nature of a paratrooper demands this ability to adapt. The motivation and ésprit de corps it develops within these units is something not to be taken lightly. The first class pairing of Gordon L. Rottman and Ron Volstad bring to life the history of these remarkable troops.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli031-us-army-airborne-1940-90-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763624/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 19:57:00 PST On 4 March, 1878 at King Williams Town, British Kaffraria, Gen. Sir Arthur Cunnynghame handed over supreme command of the British forces in southern Africa to his successor, Lt. Gen. Sir Frederic Thesiger. The High Commissioner, Sir Henry Bartle Frere, was convinced that one solution to the complex problems which beset the region was to overthrow the last powerful independent black kingdom bordering British possessions - the Zulu kingdom of King Cetshwayo KaMapande. However Cetshwayo had remained on the political defensive. This book descirbes the uniforms and equipment of the forces that Thesiger led across the border to wage war in Zululand.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli032-british-forces-in-zululand-1879-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763625/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 19:58:00 PST In December 1989 US Army forces, supported by the US Air Force and US Navy, participated in Operation Just Cause--the invasion of Panama. A combination of airborne, helicopter and ground assaults quickly secured key objectives and eliminated organized resistance. Beginning with a brief history of US-Panama relations and the development of the Panamanian Defense Forces, this book focuses principally on the military aspects of Operation Just Cause, and ends with a summary of the conflicts aftermath. Numerous photographs, and detailed color plates depict the actions of the armed forces units that executed this difficult, and controversial, operation.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli037-panama-1989-90-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763626/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 19:59:00 PST The origins of the Gurkhas date back to 1815, when one of the most skilled and determined opponents that the British soldier had to overcome in battle was the Nepalese warrior. The British were so impressed with the military skills of these fighters that they began recruiting units exclusively from Nepal. From this beginning grew the now famous Gurkha units. This volume examines the development of the Gurkhas through the various wars and confrontations of the 19th century, through the First World War, Second World War and the various postwar conflicts including Malaya, Borneo and the Falklands.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli049-the-gurkhas-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763627/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 20:00:00 PST The Civil war fought in Spain between 1936 and 1939 was one of the most bloody and bitterly fought military campaigns of the 20th century. Both the loyalist Republican troops and the Nationalists under General Franco used foreign volunteers to supplement their own forces. In the case of the Republicans the Comintern organised the International Brigades, eventually recruiting over 40,000 people. The International Brigades were the Republican forces elite and as such were stationed at the toughest sectors and often led the most desperate attacks. Ken Bradley details the history, recruitment, composition, organisation, uniforms and equipment these brigades.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli053-international-brigades-in-spain-1936-39-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763628/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 20:01:00 PST If one single weapon in Germanys arsenal can be said to have come closest to winning the war for the Third Reich, it was without doubt the U-Boat. German U-Boat technology, training, tactics and combat successes far exceeded those of any of the other combatant nations, and even as the Third Reich was crumbling, technically advanced vessels such as the Type XXI, many years ahead of its time, were being put into volume production. Gordon Williamson provides a fascinating overview of the achievements of the U-Boat Waffe in both wars, together with a study of the uniforms and insignia worn by U-Boat crews.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli060-u-boat-crews-1914-45-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763629/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 20:03:00 PST Among the mass of units formed in the early months of the American Civil War were several of the colourful Zouave units. Inspired by the French colonial units raised in North Africa with their distinctive uniforms and reputation as hard fighters, units with names as colourful as their uniforms began to appear. In this volume Robin Smith details the uniforms and battles of these flamboyant units. Bill Younghusband is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most popular illustrators of 18th and 19th century military subjects, and has already contributed to a number of Osprey titles.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli062-american-civil-war-zouaves-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763631/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 20:04:00 PST The period from early 1940 to the end of 1942 was a time of gloom and uncertainty for the British, who stood alone against the assembled might of the Axis powers. They badly needed a champion, and were to find this in a small force of soldiers who inspired them with a series of daring raids against the coasts of occupied Europe, becoming the heroes of the British public and of the British Prime Minister who had created them. This title explores the wartime history of the British Army Commandos whose bravery did so much to raise the morale of the British public.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli064-army-commandos-1940-45-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763634/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 20:05:00 PST The swashbuckling English sea captains of the Elizabethan era were a particular breed of adventurer, combining maritime and military skill with a seemingly insatiable appetite for Spanish treasure. Angus Konstam describes these characters, including such well-known sea dogs as Francis Drake, Walter Raleigh, John Hawkins and Martin Frobisher. For about 40 years they fought a private war with the Spanish, and while their success in defeating the Spanish Armada is well known, this book also covers their exploits in the New World.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli070-elizabethan-sea-dogs-1560-1605-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763636/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 20:06:00 PST Just about every war movie - famously, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers - includes dramatic scenes of soldiers trying to attack an enemy pillbox or trench. Gordon L Rottman (who became expert in these tactics whilst serving in the Vietnam War) explains and illustrates the kit and techniques used in assaulting fortifications. He covers the differences in British, American, German, Soviet and Japanese approaches and experiences, concentrating on small units of foot soldiers with hand-carried equipment. Their tactical deployment is analysed and explained in detail, with the support of colour artwork, maps, diagrams and photographs.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli160-world-war-ii-infantry-assault-tactics-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763638/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 20:07:00 PST From 1940 to 1943 North Africa saw the first major desert campaign by modern mechanised armies. The British, Italians, German Afrika Korps and US Army all addressed and learned from the special problems - human, logistical, mechanical and tactical - of the desert environment, most significantly fighting in a terrain empty of resources and offering little chance of concealment. Paddy Griffith traces the fast-learned development in armour, artillery and infantry tactics in this exceptional arena and illustrates them with references to the major engagements in the North African theatre, which involved some of the greatest tacticians of World War II in one of the pivotal theatres.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli162-world-war-ii-desert-tactics-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763639/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 20:09:00 PST Intelligence specialist Leigh Neville identifies, describes and illustrates the Special Operations Forces (SOF) of the British, American and other Coalition forces committed to the War on Terror in Afghanistan since 2001, providing a fascinating insight into specific operations detailing weapons, equipment and experiences in combat. With a surprising amount of recently declassified material from government departments that are yet to be published in the mass media, this is a ground-breaking analysis of the largest mobilization of Special Forces in recent history. With extensive first-hand accounts providing an eyewitness perspective of the fighting on the ground and including information on the British SAS, the US Delta Force, Australian and Canadian special forces as well as MI6 and CIA operational units, this book provides a crucial study of their skills and successes amidst the Afghan mountains.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli163-special-operations-forces-in-afghanistan-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763641/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 20:10:00 PST The British Army that faced Napoleon in the Peninsula was small by continental standards, but it consistently out-fought larger French armies, never losing a major open-field action. Its cavalry and artillery were standard; but its infantry achieved unique results, as their tactics were brought to a peak of professional perfection by Wellington. Using contemporary instruction manuals, first-hand accounts and in-depth analysis of individual actions, this book examines exactly how Wellington was able to convert a rabble of volunteers and criminals into a well-oiled, highly disciplined and professional war-winning machine. With a detailed look at the effective use of terrain, line rather than column manoeuvres and fortification assaults, Philip Haythornthwaite reveals the crucial tactics of Wellingtons army, illustrated with comprehensive maps, images and full-colour artwork.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli164-british-napoleonic-infantry-tactics-1792-1815-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763642/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 20:11:00 PST This is a concise history of the Royal Navys air arm during World War II, from their Arctic convoys, to the battle of Malta, and the last raids on Japan. Amazingly, the Admiralty only had 406 operational pilots and eight carriers when war broke out, but a mere six years later there were over 3,000 operational pilots and 53 aircraft carriers patrolling the seas in every theatre of the war. This book charts the rapid evolution of the Fleet Air Arm during the war as air power took over at the cutting edge of naval warfare. Mark Barbers account is highly illustrated with photographs and specially commissioned full-colour artwork and offers an overview of the British Fleet Air Arm, from recruitment and training through to combat accounts. Discover some of the most dramatic actions of the war as Royal Navy aces battled against the Axis forces - scoring both the first and last kills of the war.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli165-the-british-fleet-air-arm-in-world-war-ii-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763643/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 20:13:00 PST In a continuation of the tactics mini-series, this book analyzes the physical tactics of the close-quarter fighting that took place in ruined cities during World War II. Street-to-street fighting in cities was not a new development, but the bombed-out shells of cities and advances in weaponry meant that World War II took such strategies to a new level of savagery and violence. Packed with eye-witness accounts, tutorials from original training manuals, maps, and full-colour artwork, this is an eye-opening insight into the tactics and experiences of infantry fighting their way through ruined cities in the face of heavy casualty rates and vicious resistance.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli168-world-war-ii-street-fighting-tactics-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763644/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 20:14:00 PST In this book, expert author and tactician Gordon L Rottman provides the first English-language study of Japanese Army and Navy tank units, their tactics and how they were deployed in action. The Japanese army made extensive use of its tanks in the campaigns in China in the 1930s, and it was in these early successes that the Japanese began to develop their own unique style of tank tactics. From the steam-rolling success of the Japanese as they invaded Manchuria until the eventual Japanese defeat, Rottman provides a battle history of the Japanese tank units as they faced the Chinese, the Russians, the British and the Americans.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/elite/ospeli169-world-war-ii-japanese-tank-tactics-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2763645/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresTue, 10 Jun 2008 20:15:00 PST World ranked author and award-winning modeler Richard Windrow is a pioneer in the field of terrain modeling and has invented countless new techniques in his quest to create the perfect setting for models of all types. Frequently undervalued by otherwise excellent craftsmen, the importance of terrain in model presentation cannot be over-estimated. In this programme one of the worlds finest exponents shows us how to model truly realistic landscapes from woodland groundwork, trees, grasses and vegetation of various types, rocks, ice and snow to broken buildings and brick strewn urban wreckage. Using detailed menus it is possible to navigate quickly and easily to every topic whilst the DVD pause facility allows the action to stop at any point and reveal in high detail the process or the astonishing finished result. Main program approx. 56 minutes http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/compendium-films/terrain-modeling-cas573974-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764834/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 14:48:00 PST Geoff Illsley is one of the worlds finest airbrush painters. In this program he reveals the secret of his success and in super close-up detail he shows us the essential skills necessary to achieve completely realistic results to award winning standards. In Airbrush Painting Techniques Geoff illustrates the selection, stripping and cleaning of airbrush equipment and shows how to choose, thin and mix paint for airbrush loading. He looks in detail at priming, undercoating and pre-shading and goes on to demonstrate airbrush techniques on faces and figures, buildings and aircraft, surface texturing, metals, wood, materials, leather, feathers and so much more. A highly detailed menu lists each topic for easy and immediate navigation whilst the DVD pause facility allows you to stop the action at any time to appreciate in close detail each step and the finished astonishing models. Main program approx. 56 minutes http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/compendium-films/airbrush-painting-techniques-cas573684-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764835/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 14:50:00 PST One of the most popular pursuits in military modeling is the recreation of realistic military vehicles and German WW2 armor ranks at the top of the interest list. In this Expert Modelcraft programme award-winning modeler Graham Dunbar Brown demonstrates the skill of building and detailing a Henschel production Jagdtiger tank kit from the box to the finished battle-scarred veteran X2 that surrendered at Iserlohn in April 1945. We see the research and in high quality close-up detail the process of detaching and cleaning the parts, kit assembly with additional detailing, washing, painting and spraying, texturing and weathering. Our highly detailed menus list each topic for quick and easy navigation whilst the DVD pause facility allows you to stop the action to appreciate every step in high detail and finally the superb finished model. Main program approx. 56 minutes http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/compendium-films/modeling-detailing-german-armor-cas573981-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764836/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 14:52:00 PST Rob Henden, internationally respected modeler, shows how to choose, assemble and paint military figures. In super close-up detail we learn the skills necessary to achieve the completely realistic results that led to the creation of his Gold Medal winning SS Fallschirmjager figure. This program takes us from research, kit choice and tools required through cleaning of castings, filling and finishing assembly to priming, brush and airbrush painting and eventually to appropriate base-work. He looks in detail at texturing, painting flesh-tones, facial features, clothing, weapons and equipment, wood grain, leather, dry brushing, metals and much much more. A highly detailed menu lists each topic for easy and immediate navigation whilst the DVD pause facility allows you to stop the action at any time to appreciate in close detail each step and the finished astonishing models. Main program approx. 56 minutes http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/compendium-films/painting-finishing-military-figures-cas573691-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764837/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 14:57:00 PST Thousands of modelers aspire to recreate perfect AFVs complete with those magical final details that exactly replicate the true weathered appearance of the vehicles in active condition. In Realistic Armor Finishing Techniques world famous modeler and editor of Tamiya Model Magazine International, Marcus Nicholls, shows us many of his award-winning techniques including paint chipping and bruising, German Panzer gray coloring, rust, dust, track finishing, the `hairspray technique and much more. A highly detailed menu lists each topic for quick and easy navigation whilst the DVD pause facility allows you to stop the action at any time to appreciate in close detail each step and the finished astonishing models. Main program approx. 58 minutes http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/compendium-films/realistic-armor-finishing-techniques-cas573998-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764838/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 14:59:00 PST Marcus Nicholls is one of the worlds great modelers and specializes in detailing, painting and finishing techniques. In this program he demonstrates his amazing skills in painting and finishing model buildings for dioramas. From stone farm buildings to European brick and Middle East concrete Marcus shows in detail how to finish the basic structures to show truly realistic results A highly detailed menu lists each topic for quick and easy navigation whilst the DVD pause facility allows you to stop the action at any time to appreciate in close detail each step and the finished astonishing models. Main program approx. 58 minutes http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/compendium-films/realistic-model-buildings-cas573776-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764839/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 15:01:00 PST Many aviation modelers struggle to achieve true realism in some of the finer details of aircraft modeling and they will appreciate some sound advice from a master modeler. Geoff Illsley, multi-award winning modeler and Chief Judge of the prestigious Euro-Militaire show, is famous for his airbrush painting techniques but is also a dedicated and passionate aviation modeler. In this program he takes a look at some of the most difficult aspects of modeling WWII aircraft and demonstrates in detail how to finish canopy frames, wheels, decals, natural metal effects and Luftwaffe colors. He also discusses the choice and mixing of paints and shows us the color shift scale effect and much more. With our detailed menu and index it is possible to find all of Geoffs impressive techniques at the touch of a button and the pause facility allows you to stop and savor the truly realistic results that he achieves. Main program approx. 56 minutes http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/compendium-films/realistic-wwii-aircraft-finishing-cas347222-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764840/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 15:03:00 PST For thousands of years whenever man has gone to war the horse has been there with him. From the fearsome horseback raiders of the ancient world through chariot warfare, fighting knights and cavalry to the slaughter of gun horses in World War I and the transport of ammunition and equipment in WWII the horse has played a major role in human conflict. In Warhorses Max Longhurst dispels the mystery of modeling horses and demonstrates many of the techniques that have made him a renowned award-winning modeler. He shows in detail his conversion techniques, different horse types and colors, choice of paint colors, undercoating and shading, sponge painting, dappling and final painting and detailing. A highly detailed menu lists each topic for easy and immediate navigation whilst the DVD pause facility allows you to stop the action at any time to appreciate in close detail each step and the finished astonishing models. Main program approx. 58 minutes http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/videos/compendium-films/warhorses-modeling-the-horse-in-war-cas347215-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764841/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 15:04:00 PST The Russian Civil War is the most important civil war of the 20th century, changing the lives of over half a billion people and dramatically shaping the geography of Europe, the Far East and Asia. Over a four-year period 20 countries battled in a crucible that would give birth to Communist revolutions worldwide and the Cold War. David Bullock offers a fresh perspective on this conflict, examining the forces involved, as well as the fascinating intervention by Allied forces. At the dawn of modern war, as cavalry duelled with tanks, aircraft, and armoured trains along shifting fronts, this title tells a military story enacted against a backdrop of political and social revolution and within the context of immense human loss. The reader cannot fail to be moved by the rare photographs and illustrations that make this history come alive.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/essential-history/ospess069-the-russian-civil-war-1918-22-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764859/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 16:38:00 PST In this follow-up to the acclaimed The Anglo-Irish War, Peter Cottrell explores the Irish Civil War, a devastating conflict that tore Ireland apart. This book examines the many factions that played a part in the fighting and the terror and counter-terror operations, focusing on the short bloody battles that witnessed more deaths than the preceding years during the struggle for the Free State. Cottrell particularly focuses on the contrasting styles of leadership and the conduct of combat operations by the IRA and the National Army, providing a fascinating study for all students of Irish history as well as military history. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/irish-scottish-celtic/ospess070-the-irish-civil-war-1922-23-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764861/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 16:39:00 PST This book analyzes the fortifications of Hasmonaean and Herodian Judaea from the middle of the second century BC, when the Maccabees rebelled against their Seleucids overlords and established an independent state, until the end of the Jewish-Roman War in AD 73.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor065-the-forts-of-judaea-168-bc-ad-73-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764930/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:01:00 PST In the year 1296, Edward I of England launched a series of vicious raids across the Anglo-Scottish Border in his attempt to annexe Scotland. The Scots retaliated and the two countries were plunged into 300 years of war in which the Borderland became the frontline and raiding, or reiving, encouraged by both sides, became a way of life. Keith Durham examines the Border fortresses, ranging from small, well-defended castles to imposing tower houses, or peles, and a variety of fortified farmhouses known as bastles. He also investigates the many churches that were strengthened against attack and in times of trouble served as sanctuaries for their congregations. Packed with full-colour photographs and detailed cut-away artwork, this is an ideal historical commentary for any tourist visiting the sites that are dotted across the whole of the Border region.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/ospfor070-strongholds-of-the-border-reivers-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764934/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:05:00 PST This book provides a detailed examination of the design, development and construction of the defences of ancient Rome, with a particular focus on the Aurelian Wall - arguably the best preserved of all city walls in the Roman empire. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor071-the-walls-of-rome-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764935/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:06:00 PST Designed to change the course of the war, the V weapons required ambitious plans to defend their expensive and complicated launch sites. Steven J Zaloga describes the configuration and planned deployment of heavy missile sites, as well as the unique Allied tactics developed to counter this threat, including a remote-control version of the B-17 bomber. From the V-1 ski sites to the mobile basing employed by the V-2 units and the other secret weapons bases like the V-3 high-pressure gun at Mimoyeques, this book examines the impact of these weapon systems and defences not only on the war but on modern weaponry. With many of the sites described still surviving today, this is a perfect companion for a tour of the V weapon sites built during World War II.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor072-german-v-weapon-sites-1943-45-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764954/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:07:00 PST In the second half of the third millennium BC the Indo-European tribe known as the Hittites migrated and settled in Central Anatolia, at that time a land of small city-states whose rulers lived in fortresses. These fortifications enabled the Hittites to transform themselves into a Bronze Age super-power, defeating the Egyptians at Kadesh in c.1274 BC. Konstantin Nossov examines the fortifications constructed by the Hittites in their efforts to sustain and then halt the decline of their once flourishing empire. Providing an in-depth anatomy of the fortresses, focusing on the major sites of the principal city Hattusha as well as sites at Alacahöyük and Karatepe with full-colour reconstructions, this is an intriguing glimpse into the history of an empire which at its height rivalled the Egyptians and Assyrians. It concludes with an examination of these sites as they survive today, information that will appeal both to history enthusiasts and tourists visiting the area.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor073-hittite-fortifications-c-1650-700-bc-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764956/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:08:00 PST Dr Stephen Turnbull is internationally recognised for his research into and writing on Japanese military history. Here he applies his scholarship to an account of the evolution of Japanese defensive architecture and engineering, from early earthworks through to wooden and earth castles and, finally, the emergence of the stone towers that are so characteristic of the samurai. He also plots the adaptation of Japanese castles to accommodate the introduction of firearms. With unpublished photographs from the authors private collection and full-colour artwork, including detailed cutaways, this is an essential guide to the fascinating development of Japanese castles.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor074-japanese-castles-ad-250-1540-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764957/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:09:00 PST New France consisted of the area colonized and ruled by France in North America. This title takes a look at the lengthy chain of forts built by the French to guard the frontier in the American northeast, including Sorel, Chambly, St Jean, Carillon (Ticonderoga), Duquesne (Pittsburgh, PA), and Vincennes. These forts were of two types: the major stone forts, and other forts made of wood and earth, all of which varied widely in style from Vauban-type elements to cabins surrounded by a stockade. Some forts, such as Chambly, looked more like medieval castles in their earliest incarnations. René Chartrand examines the different types of forts built by the French, describing the strategic vision that led to their construction, their impact upon the British colonies and the Indian nations of the interior, and the French military technology that went into their construction.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor075-the-forts-of-new-france-in-northeast-america-1600-1763-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764958/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:11:00 PST The Islamic world drew upon a myriad of pre-existing styles of fortification, taking Romano-Byzantine, Indian and Chinese ideas to create a highly effective and sophisticated hybrid fortification that was both new and distinctive. This book examines early Saracen fortifications, covering their historical background, socio-political circumstances, and their role in protecting industry, trade and the frontiers of the Islamic world. From the mayyad castles in the desert of Jordan and Syria to the Round City of Baghdad and the great gates of Cairo, this book provides an insight into the majesty of the Saracen forts, illustrated with specially commissioned artwork and cutaways, together with photographs of period engravings and images of the sites today.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor076-saracen-strongholds-ad-630-1050-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764961/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:12:00 PST In the years following the Civil War, plans were drawn up to build a major set of fortifications along the Russian western border. Work began in 1926, leading to a front that stretched over 2,000km from the Baltic to the Black Sea. By the time of the outbreak of World War II, the defences of the Stalin Line, as it was known, were largely complete - but were also now too far behind the new Soviet border to be of any use in potential offensives. Stalin took steps to create a new defensive line inside Poland, which came to be known by the name of the Soviet Foreign Minister, Molotov. This book details the development of these lines, and the fighting that took place around them in 1941.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor077-the-stalin-and-molotov-lines-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764962/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:13:00 PST Following the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, the German Army began to construct a fortress line from Strasbourg to Luxembourg to protect their new territory, the centrepiece of which was the great Moselstellung (Moselle Position) of Metz / Thionville. Illustrated with rare photographs and full-colour cutaway artwork, this book examines the design and development of the fortress and analyses its use in combat, focusing particularly on the part it played in holding up General Pattons Third Armys advance across France in 1944.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/fortress/ospfor078-the-german-fortress-of-metz-1870-1944-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764963/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:14:00 PST When the revolutionary Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter first appeared in the skies over northwest Europe in mid-1944, it represented one of the greatest challenges to Allied air superiority. The first group to solely fly jet fighters, Jagdgeschwader 7 was tasked with wrestling back command of the skies. Put almost immediately into action, despite fuel shortages, poor training and problems with the jet engine, victories quickly followed against both US and British aircraft. By the end of the war, the Jagdgeschwader had claimed nearly 200 enemy aircraft destroyed in daylight bomber raids during 1945. This book follows the history of the JG 7 unit, examining how their courage, determination and the most advanced aircraft in the world were simply not enough to ensure victory. In the final section of the book Robert Forsyth details how JG 7 were eventually defeated by gradual losses, restricted operating conditions, lack of fuel and overwhelming Allied fighter strength. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu029-jagdgeschwader-7-nowotny-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764965/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:46:00 PST The siege of Malta during World War II is one of the great epics of aerial warfare. Described in 1942 as both a `fighter pilots paradise and `the most bombed place on earth, Malta suffered 154 consecutive days and nights of bombing, 100 nights more that London suffered during the Blitz. The destruction of Axis convoys by Malta-based aircraft proved to be one of the decisive factors in the defeat of Rommels forces in North Africa. This vital position would have been lost if it had not been for the successful defence of the island by a handful of greatly outnumbered Royal Air Force fighter squadrons. This book details the heroic story of the Spitfire Aces based on Malta. Drawn from an international team of Australians, British, Canadians, New Zealanders, Rhodesians and South Africans these pilots fought against extreme deprivation, physical hardships and overwhelming odds in one of the most crucial and decisive air battles of World War II.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace083-malta-spitfire-aces-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2764974/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:51:00 PST Dubbed the `Oscar by the Allies, the Ki-43 Hayabusa Peregrine was the most prolific Japanese fighter of World War 2. Designed for manoeuverability and speed, the low-wing model meant that firepower and safety had to be sacrificed, with only two machine guns per plane. Despite this, more Japanese pilots achieved Ace status flying the Hayabusa than any other plane. This book expertly charts the experiences of the pilots and discusses the early stages of the war in South-East Asia, China, Burma and New Guinea. Accompanied by detailed appendices and specially commissioned artwork, this is the first volume in English to focus exclusively on the exploits of the Ki-43. Scheduled for a March 2009 release. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace085-ki-43-oscar-aces-of-world-war-2-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2996307/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 25 Dec 2008 17:00:00 PST The Curtiss P-36 was considered a revolution in performance design in comparison to other US fighters. Yet by the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the P-40 was increasingly supplanting the P-36, which the US then exported to France under the guise of the Hawk 75. Flown by the French, captured by the Germans, sold to the Finns, transferred to India and Africa, and even incorporated into the RAF, the Hawk 75 saw service in every theatre of operations and in a variety of combat environments. This book depicts the fascinating life of a plane that fought on both sides in the war, with colour artwork, photographs and first-hand accounts. Scheduled for release in February, 2009. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aircraft-of-the-aces/ospace086-p-36-hawk-aces-of-world-war-2-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2996309/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 25 Dec 2008 17:06:00 PST Formed around a nucleus of pilots already seasoned by their experience as volunteers in the RAFs Eagle Squadrons, the 4th Fighter Group was established in England in October 1942. Initially flying Spitfires, the Debden Eagles went on to fly the P-47 and P-51, becoming, in July 1943, the first Eighth Air Force fighter group to penetrate German air space. The groups record of 583 air and 469 ground victories was unmatched in the Eighth Air Force, and the group produced a cast of characters that included legendary aces Don Blakeslee, Pierce McKennon, Kid Hofer, Duane Beeson, Steve Pisanos and Howard Hively. Involved in the D-Day landings, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge and the crossing of the Rhine, the groups achievements came at a high price, with a 42 percent casualty rate. Packed with first-hand accounts, detailed aircraft profiles and full combat histories, this book is an intriguing insight into the best-known American fighter unit in World War II. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/aviation-elite-units/ospaeu030-4th-fighter-group-debden-eagles-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2996310/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 25 Dec 2008 17:09:00 PST The Roman Legions were the most highly organized troops of the ancient world, but the process of turning the Legions into the professional force that built an empire, was no small feat. Focusing on the organisational changes in the Roman Army during the Civil Wars, Nic Fields examines the role played by Caius Marius and his far-reaching reforms. With the nuts and bolts detail that readers demand from the Battle Orders series, this is an intriguing description of how the Roman army grew, modernised, rebelled and finally helped build an empire, complete with full organisational charts, photographs and detailed maps. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto034-the-roman-army-the-civil-wars-88-31-bc-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2996351/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresThu, 25 Dec 2008 20:02:00 PST On 22 June 1941 Germany attacked the Soviet Union and her Panzer divisions were to play a major role in this titanic struggle. Although overwhelmed by Soviet numbers, the superior skill and capability of the German Panzer divisions meant that in three months the Germans had advanced deep into Soviet territory. However, after these initial successes the German offensive began to falter, culminating in the disastrous defeat at Kursk. This book describes the organisational history of the Panzer divisions, from the early successes of 1941 through to the introduction of revised Blitzkrieg tactics as the war progressed.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto035-panzer-divisions-the-eastern-front-1941-43-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2996473/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 26 Dec 2008 16:34:00 PST The Sengoku The Jidai, Age of Warring States, is the age of the samurai - the military aristocracy of Japan. This period, which lasted from the outbreak of the Onin War in 1467 to the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate in the early 17th century, was a period of endemic warfare, when a lack of central control led to constant struggles between the daimyo, great names, who sought to extend the influence of their families through political and military means. This title will examine the complicated nature of family and clan that governed so much of the initial organization of the armies, how this changed over the period and how battlefield tactics developed over a series of major encounters such as Nagashino and Sekigahara. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto036-samurai-armies-1467-1649-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2996474/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 26 Dec 2008 16:36:00 PST The Imperial Army established by Augustus drew heavily on the nomenclature and traditions of the late Roman Republic, but was revolutionary in its design. He decided to meet all the military needs of the Empire from a standing, professional army. Military service became a career: enlistment was for 25 years (16 in the Praetorian Guard), and men were sometimes retained even longer. The loyalty of the new army was to the emperor and not to either the Senate or the People of Rome. Imperial legions became permanent units with their own numbers and titles and many were to remain in existence for centuries to come. Due out in March 2009. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/battle-order/ospbto037-the-roman-army-of-the-principate-27-bc-ad-117-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/2996475/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 26 Dec 2008 16:38:00 PST The other IIIrd Reich fighter is a symbol of technology as well as sturdiness. A mythical plane, the FW 190 first appeared in 1941 and, from thenon, was to be a real problem to Allied air forces. From the Eastern front to the Defense of the Reich, including the Normandy campaign, the fighter that the last German aces flew with distinction, is illustrated in all its variety of camouflage and schemes and markings. REVIEWS ...an affordable and well illustrated profile book about the famous Luftwaffe fighter of Kurt Tank.Armorama ...if youre an FW:190 fanatic, youll be inspired by the amazing models covered...photos are...well focused, properly illuminated,...sharply printed....extensive in progress photo coverage,...great book and great value.Aerodome Modeler, Spring 2007 There is a wealth of useful and interesting information contained in this small book, and for the price, you get quite a lot of material. IPMS 12/2007 http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/focke-wulf-fw-190-a-f-cas239584-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3038965/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 31 Jan 2009 19:08:00 PST The other IIIrd Reich fighter is a symbol of technology as well as sturdiness. A mythical plane, the FW 190 first appeared in 1941 and, from thenon, was to be a real problem to Allied air forces. From the Eastern front to the Defense of the Reich, including the Normandy campaign, the fighter that the last German aces flew with distinction, is illustrated in all its variety of camouflage and schemes and markings. REVIEWS ...an affordable and well illustrated profile book about the famous Luftwaffe fighter of Kurt Tank.Armorama ...if youre an FW:190 fanatic, youll be inspired by the amazing models covered...photos are...well focused, properly illuminated,...sharply printed....extensive in progress photo coverage,...great book and great value.Aerodome Modeler, Spring 2007 There is a wealth of useful and interesting information contained in this small book, and for the price, you get quite a lot of material. IPMS 12/2007 http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/modelling-series/focke-wulf-fw-190-a-f-cas239584-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3038966/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 31 Jan 2009 19:12:00 PST This book encourages readers to take a closer look at the old pieces of jewellery at the bottom of their jewellery boxes and helps them to understand the fine craftsmanship that many of these pieces represent. All types of jewellery are described and illustrated, either in colour or in black and white, and the traditional methods, decorative techniques and tools used by jewellers and goldsmiths are detailed through easily understood drawings. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/shire/antiques-collecting/antique-jewellery-srpsli555-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3038969/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 31 Jan 2009 20:11:00 PST This book charts the history of architectural ceramics, focusing on practical and decorative applications, on architects, designers and manufacturers, and on styles and techniques of production and decoration. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/shire/antiques-collecting/architectural-ceramics-srpsli395-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3038970/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 31 Jan 2009 20:11:00 PST An explosion of new ceramic design in the late 1920s and early 1930s introduced vibrant colours and dramatic angular shapes to the breakfast tables of Britain and the world. This book includes information on how to identify and date ceramics at a glance and features all the major designers including Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper and Charlotte Rhead. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/shire/antiques-collecting/art-deco-ceramics-srpsli367-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3038971/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 31 Jan 2009 20:11:00 PST Gives a summary of the various types of white needlework likely to be encountered. This book shows details of the techniques and gives an account of such diverse types as Dresden work, tambourned muslin, Ayrshire embroidery, Mountmellick and Richelieu work, broderie anglaise, quilting and stringwork. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/crafts-hobbies/ayrshire-and-other-whitework-srpsli088-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3038973/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 31 Jan 2009 20:11:00 PST In the twenty-first century, most civilised communities enjoy washing water on tap as the expected norm. This book traces the history of bathrooms over four thousand years and describes the development of ceramic fixtures for washing and bathing. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/shire/antiques-collecting/bathroom-ceramics-srpsli391-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3038974/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 31 Jan 2009 20:11:00 PST Beadwork developed as a decorative craft in Europe in the middle ages. This book describes and illustrates the many different styles and types of work and the techniques that were employed - threading, stitching, bead crochet, bead knitting, loom beading, tambour beading and commercial beading. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/crafts-hobbies/beadwork-srpsli057-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3038975/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 31 Jan 2009 20:11:00 PST This book is intended to help all who are interested in blue and white wares, whether collectors or not. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/shire/antiques-collecting/blue-and-white-transfer-printed-pottery-srpsli097-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3038976/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 31 Jan 2009 20:11:00 PST Pub mugs form an interesting aspect of Britains history. They were not just drinking vessels, but also measures, and as such the subject of much regulation, because drinkers wanted to be sure of receiving what they had paid for. The pint itself has a chequered history and is an anomaly alongside todays metric system. The question of a fair pint has never been resolved: should it include the `head or not? Drawing from a wide range of sources, the author has brought together all these strands to give the first ever overview of 350 years of beer mug history. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/shire/antiques-collecting/pub-beer-mugs-and-glasses-srpsli458-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3039018/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 31 Jan 2009 20:11:00 PST This book reviews and illustrates the Wedgwood products from the nineteenth century to the resurgence after 1904. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/shire/antiques-collecting/wedgwood-ware-srpsli321-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3039034/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 31 Jan 2009 20:11:00 PST Examines and discusses the context for the manufacture of ceramics in Wales. This book introduces the techniques and methods of production and offers illustrations that help to establish design trends and influences, along with the identification and dating problems, so that the reader can understand some of the complexities of Welsh pottery. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/shire/antiques-collecting/welsh-pottery-srpsli365-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3039035/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 31 Jan 2009 20:11:00 PST The lives of most people have probably been touched by a whistle, whether a fine antique protected by a cabinet, or an inexpensive toy. The role of the whistle falls into three categories: as an alarm, as a working instrument, and as a novelty item. This book gives a general introduction, and covers the major types of whistles. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/shire/antiques-collecting/whistles-srpsli385-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3039036/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 31 Jan 2009 20:11:00 PST World War II saw elite units take a prominent role on the battlefield for the first time. The Encyclopedia of Elite Forces in the Second World War is a wide-ranging guide to the excellent units on land, sea or in the air whose success was usually hard- won against the odds, and whose actions had an impact on the course of the fighting around them. The best units from both sides of the fighting are represented, as are the two main theatres of war. Arranged by combatant nation, the book covers such famous units as the US Rangers, British SAS and German Waffen-SS, as well as some of the less well-known units like Popskis Private Army, the Long Range Desert Group and KG200. Not all the units featured in the book were officially designated as elite forces - indeed, some of those involved were only ordinary soldiers -but they achieved elite status through their deeds. Illustrated with black-and-white and color action photographs, The Encyclopedia of Elite Forces in the Second World War is a comprehensive guide to the elite forces of both sides during the 1939-45 war. Each entry describes the units strength, date of formation and gives a brief overview of its combat record during the war. Covering all aspects of warfare and both the European and Pacific theatres in World War II, the book will appeal to anyone with an interest in either World War II or elite units at war. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/amber-books/encyclopedia-of-elite-forces-in-the-second-world-war-cas-704279-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066934/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:28:00 PST The year 1943 saw the tide of war turn decisively against the Third Reich. Germanys reverses began with the Anglo-American invasion of North Africa in November 1942, culminating in the expulsion of Axis forces from Tunisia, and continued with the annihilation of the Sixth Army at Stalingrad. In the north, the siege of Leningrad was lifted, while at sea the combination of Allied air and naval power was slowly but surely winning the battle of the Atlantic. In July 1943, the Allies struck in Sicily, an invasion that coincided with the decisive armoured battle of Kursk, on the Russian front. With Sicily quickly secured, Allied forces moved on to establish a foothold on Italy, but there were to be no quick and easy victories here. The Italian campaign soon turned into a remorseless slogging match, and remained so until the end of the war.In 1944, while the Red Army began the relentless advance that would take it all the way to Berlin, the Allies launched their long-awaited invasion of western Europe, the initial landing in Normandy being followed by a second D-Day in southern France. Despite their increasingly desperate plight, the Germans continued to fight doggedly, frustrating the Allied attempt to force a passage of the Rhine at Arnhem in September 1944 and launching a major counter-attack through the Ardennes in December. However, by March 1945 the western Allies were across the Rhine, and in the east the Russians were on the river Oder. In April, the siege of Berlin began. By the end of the month Hitler had committed suicide, and on 8 May Germany signed an unconditional surrender. The Thousand-Year Reich had lasted just 12 years.The Fall of Hitlers Third Reich takes the reader from the peak of Nazi power in Europe, following the campaigns that led to the utter destruction of the German war machine. The course of the wars final years is charted in a series of 50 stunning full colour maps supported by 60,000 words of text as well as colour and black and white illustrations. This work will be a worthy addition to the bookshelves of the serious military historian and the general reader alike.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/amber-books/fall-of-hitler-s-third-reich-the-cas-687221-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066936/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:34:00 PST The Kriegsmarines submarines, the U-boats, proved to be the most effective and deadly arm of the German navy in World War II. Built to harass Allied shipping, the U-boat wolfpacks almost succeeded in bringing Britain to her knees in their campaign to restrict supplies from crossing the Atlantic. By 1942, their most successful year, U-boats had sunk 1,664 vessels-a massive 7.26 million tons of shipping. However, by mid-1943, with the development of improved radar and antisubmarine aircraft in both Britain and the United States, the tide had started to turn. Illustrated with detailed artworks, The Essential Submarine Identification Guide: Kriegsmarine U-Boats 1939-45 is a comprehensive guide to the submarine arm of the German navy in World War II. Uniquely divided by flotilla, this book offers a complete organizational breakdown of U-boat units, from the beginning of the war in the North Atlantic through to last days of the Reich. Each chapter includes a compact history of the featured flotilla, as well as unit markings, orders of battle, and famous boats and commanders. Every type of German submarine is featured, including Types II, VII, IX, XII, XIV, XVII, XXI, and XXIII, as well as many variants of the basic types.Packed with more than 150 artworks and photographs of every major type of German U-boat, The Essential Submarine Identification Guide: Kriegsmarine U-Boats 1939-45 is a key reference for military historians and naval warfare enthusiasts.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/amber-books/kriegsmarine-u-boats-cas-687962-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066937/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:34:00 PST Illustrated with detailed artworks of German combat aircraft and their markings, The Essential Aircraft Identification Guide: Luftwaffe Squadrons 1939-45 is a comprehensive study of the Luftwaffe in World War II. Organized chronologically by theatre of war and campaign, this book offers a complete organizational breakdown of Luftwaffe units, from the Polish campaign through to the last days of the Reich. Each campaign includes a compact history of the Luftwaffes role and impact on the course of the conflict, as well as orders of battle, lists of commanders and campaign aces. Every type of aircraft is featured, including the numerous variations and types of well-known models, such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109, Junkers Ju 87 and Focke Wulf Fw 200, through to lesser-known aircraft, such as the Arado Ar 232 transporter, Heinkel He 162 Salamander fighter and the Henschel Hs 129 tank destroyer. Each aircraft profile is accompanied by exhaustive specifications, as well as details of individual and unit markings. Packed with 400 color profiles of every major type of Luftwaffe combat aircraft, The Essential Aircraft Identification Guide: Luftwaffe Squadrons 1939-45 is a must have reference guide for modelers, military historians and aircraft enthusiasts.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/amber-books/luftwaffe-squadrons-1939-45-cas-687627-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066939/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:34:00 PST Illustrated with detailed artworks of Wehrmacht vehicles and their markings with exhaustive captions and specifications, The Essential Vehicle Identification Guide: Panzergrenadier Divisions, 1939-45 is the definitive study of the equipment and organization of Germanys motorized army divisions during World War II. Organized chronologically by division and formation date, the book describes in depth the various models of tank and other armored and soft vehicles in service with each panzergrenadier division, with listings of unit commanders, vehicle types and numbers and unit structure. 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. Every motorized division is featured, including the elite Grossdeutschland and Fallschirmjäger Herman Göring divisions.With information boxes accompanying the full-color artworks, all drawn to the same scale for easy comparison, The Essential Vehicle Identification Guide: Panzergrenadier Divisions, 1939-45 is a key reference guide for modelers and military history enthusiasts with an interest in the motorized divisions of the Wehrmacht.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/amber-books/panzergrenadier-divisions-1939-1945-cas-704293-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066943/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:34:00 PST On 1 September, 1939, German forces stormed into Poland, precipitating nearly six years of savage, unrelenting warfare that would leave large areas of the world in ruins. For the first three years of the conflict, German forces seemed invincible. The swift victory in Poland was followed by the rapid conquest of Denmark and Norway, bringing the Phoney War to an abrupt end. The seeming invincibility of German arms was further strengthened when, in May 1940, the Germans launched their Blitzkrieg in the west, overwhelming Holland and Belgium in a matter of days, driving the British Expeditionary Force back across the Channel and completing their campaign in France within a month.The victory of the Royal Air Force over the Luftwaffe in the high summer of 1940 proved that the Germans could be beaten, and the Royal Navys early victories in the Mediterranean showed the weakness of Germanys Axis partner, Italy, whose performance in the Balkans and North Africa was little short of disastrous. The Italians lack of performance was one of the factors that compelled the Germans to invade Yugoslavia and Greece, in order to secure their southern flank before launching an invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. This was to prove the biggest mistake of all, but in the short term the German forces swept from one victory to another, their armoured divisions storming across the vast Russian plains to within sight of Moscow.In December 1941 the United States entered the war, but Britain and her new ally, Soviet Russia, continued to suffer reverses. Only towards the end of 1942, with the victory in the desert at El Alamein and the isolation of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad, did the first serious problems appear for the Nazi war machine.Following the path of Nazi conquest across Europe, The Rise of Hitlers Third Reich presents the course of the wars early years in a series of 50 stunning full colour maps supported by 60,000 words of text as well as colour and black and white illustrations. This work will be a worthy addition to the bookshelves of the serious military historian and the general reader alike.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/amber-books/rise-of-hitler-s-third-reich-the-cas-687214-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066944/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:34:00 PST The divisions of the Waffen-SS were the elite of Hitlers armies in World War II, but some of the most fanatical of these were not even German. SS: Hitlers Foreign Divisions is an in-depth examination of the approximately 350,000 foreign volunteers from German-occupied countries who opted to fight for the Third Reich as members of the Waffen-SS. The book explores the background to their recruitment and describes-on a unit-by-unit basis-their history, structure, and combat record in the war. Despite their non-Germanic background, the Norwegians, Dutch, Danes, Belgians, Latvians, Estonians, Cossacks, Ukrainians, and other nationalities-often motivated by an extreme anti-Communist zeal- fought hard on the Eastern Front for the Nazi cause, even when their position was hopeless. Often treated badly by their German commanders, the foreign SS units were not all excellent combat formations, however. some, like the British and Indian volunteers, were used for propaganda purposes only, while others, like the notorious Dirlewanger Brigade, who helped brutally suppress the Warsaw Rising, were nothing more than murderous criminals in uniform. Other divisions-such as the Russian-recruited 30th Waffen- Grenadier Division der SS, formed in the final months of the war-never reached a functional strength, and were disbanded before they saw action. Illustrated with rare photographs and written by an acknowledged expert, SS: Hitlers Foreign Divisions is a definitive history of the foreign SS units who fought for Hitler and Germany in World War II. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/amber-books/ss-hitler-s-foreign-divisions-cas-687375-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066945/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:34:00 PST In early October 1942 the German Sixth Army realized that it had one last chance to break through the Soviet lines and capture Stalingrad before exhaustion and the Russian winter set in. Stalingrad: The Vital 7 Days looks in detail at this desperate last-gasp attempt by the Germans to win the battle of Stalingrad in an all-out effort, and how the Red Army managed to cling on against the odds, marking the turning point of the war on the Eastern Front. Beginning with the background to the assault on Stalingrad, the book shows how initially the Germans made good progress against the citys defenders, but failed to break them. By 14 October 1942 the German Sixth Army was ready to make its third, final assault on the Soviet 62nd Army. On that day Hitler issued an order halting all other offensive operations on the Eastern Front -Stalingrad was to be the deciding battle that determined whether the Germans could maintain their position in the East. Victory would give Germany access to the resources of the Caucasus and the Ukraine, including oil, while defeat would demoralize the Wehrmacht before winter set in. With the aid of specially commissioned maps, Stalingrad: The Vital 7 Days gives a dramatic blow-by-blow account of the desperate struggle to control the left bank of, the Volga and the key strong points in the city: the tractor works and the Red October and Barrikady factories. With firsthand accounts from both sides, vivid photographs, and specially commissioned maps of the combat zones, Stalingrad: The Vital 7 Days is a comprehensive examination of the decisive failure of the German assault that ultimately decided the course of the war in the East. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/amber-books/stalingrad-the-vital-7-days-cas-687283-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066946/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:34:00 PST Illustrated with detailed artworks of vehicles and their markings, The Essential Vehicle Identification Guide: Waffen-SS Divisions, 1939-45 is the definitive study of the equipment and organization of Germanys elite Waffen-SS divisions during World War II. Organized chronologically by division and formation date, the book describes in depth the various models of tank and other armored and soft vehicles in service with the `fighting SS, with listings of unit commanders, vehicle types and numbers, and unit structure. 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. Every SS division that saw combat is featured, from well-known units such as the elite Das Reich and Wiking divisions, to lesser-known divisions, such as the 11th Waffen-SS Panzer Division Nordland and the Albanian-recruited 21st Waffen-SS Gebirgs-Division Skanderbeg.With information boxes accompanying the full-color artworks, all drawn to the same scale for easy comparison, The Essential Vehicle Identification Guide: Waffen-SS Divisions, 1939-45 is a key reference guide for modelers and military history enthusiasts with an interest in the Waffen-SS divisions of World War II.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/amber-books/waffen-ss-divisions-1939-1945-cas-704552-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066950/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:34:00 PST Montmirail, Champaubert, Reims, Laon, Craonne, Montereau, Paris... Each of these names is synonymous of tumultuous victories and heroic fighting. Each is them is also a sign of the genius of Napoleon as a military leader, and a testimony of the sacrifice accepted by the men which followed him on the battlefields. In this new book, the Authors survey the whole campaign of France, stating facts and explaining the opponents views. And, in the now famous third part of the book, they introduce us to the main actors of the drama: marshalls and generals, but also the obscure, ordinary NCOs and privates of Napoleons army. And, as usual in this series, the intricately detailed color plates by Andre Jouineau render the richness and diversity of the uniforms of all armies involved in the Emperors most dashing campaign.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/1814-the-campaign-of-france-cas-239560-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066959/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST In 1964, Hasbro created GI Joe, the first dress up figure for boys. His 12 inch size and numerous moving joints established him as the standard by which other similar toys would be measured. In France, he went under the name of `Action Joe and was produced between 1976 and 1981. This work revisits the origins of Action Joe, analyzes the technical characteristics of the dolls, and provides an exhaustive inventory of the French collection. The full color illustrations in the book comprise many photos of the dolls, their uniforms, equipment and their vehicles. All the examples photographed come from the private collection of the author. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/action-j-cas-239218-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066965/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Both cavalry and artillery were regarded as elite units during the Civil War, and this is reflected in their uniforms and flags. 84 color plates depict 250 cavalry and artillery uniforms for both North and South, along with flags and equipment. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/american-civil-war-the-cavalry-and-artillery-cas-903005-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066967/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Seldom if ever have so many Civil War uniforms, all in breathtaking color, been gathered in one volume. 84 color plates depict over 300 infantry uniforms for both North and South, along with flags and equipment. Regulation uniforms are covered, along with musicians, special units, state militias, and the non-regulation uniforms adopted in the field. The wars major battles are also explained with the assistance of 20 new color maps. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/american-civil-war-infantry-cas-500148-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066968/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Each mini-guide allows the reader to get to know more about a regions history, linking historical events with places of interest and sites of note, as well as providing an unprecedented visual feast of contemporary photographs, uniforms, badges and equipment - all in full color. Practical information is included in each mini-guide and itineraries are suggested for those wishing to visit battlefields, monuments, memorials and museums. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/armor-in-normandy-the-british-cas-239416-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066969/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Each mini-guide allows the reader to get to know more about a regions history, linking historical events with places of interest and sites of note, as well as providing an unprecedented visual feast of contemporary photographs, uniforms, badges and equipment - all in full color. Practical information is included in each mini-guide and itineraries are suggested for those wishing to visit battlefields, monuments, memorials and museums. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/armor-in-normandy-the-germans-cas-239409-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066970/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST The fourth book in an excellent series from Histoire & Collections, Austerlitz covers the faous battle, the results of which saw Napoleon at the height of his power.A detailed text is accompanied by contemporary paintings and a vast array of graphics illustrating the uniforms and equipment of the soldiers of the time. By the same author and available from CasemateJena-Auerstaedt: The Triumph of the EagleBorodino-The Moskova: The Battle for the RedoubtsWagram: At the Heyday of the Empirehttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/austerlitz-cas-903715-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066971/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Christophe PUVILLAUD, the undisputed specialist in transport in France and of the name with the locomotive, brushes an accurate and exhaustive portrait of the whole range of public transport vehicles made by the great Lyons industrialist, in four chapters devoted to omnibuses, buses and trolley buses. From 1905 to 1979, from the first 1905 type 22 Chassis to the PER 180, the last model of trolley bus which came of the assembly lines, via the pigs snout and the key PR coaches and P.C.M.E. buses, its a whole industrial adventure and a whole piece of French transport which is offered to the reader of this indispensable encyclopedia of Berliet public transport vehicles.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/autocars-et-autobus-berliet-cas-500599-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066972/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST As we are getting ready to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the Armistice, it would be good if we got away from the usual shortcuts: the Battles of the Marne, Verdun, the failure on the Chemin des Dames, the victorious offensives of 1918... It was in 1915 however - the bloodiest year of the war - that almost 400 000 French soldiers were killed. With Artois, Champagne was almost certainly the most murderous battlefield of the front. This book evokes in a most striking manner the twelve months of fighting which the tragic names of Souain, Massige, Tahure, Perthes et Mesnil-les-Hurlus represent. From the bloody winter battle to the great offensive on 25 September to break the deadlock, a host of powerful, mainly unpublished pictures, uniforms, weapons, memorabilia, and written accounts shed new light on this page of our history. The authors have also undertaken to recount the main features with an objective, critical evocation of events. Finally they wanted to pay a tribute to the combatants of that terrible year, 1915, in Champagne.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/batailles-de-champagne-cas-500636-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066973/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Readers of F.-G. Hourtouilles acclaimed Jena-Auerstaedt will find the same extraordinary detail in this study of Napoleons 1812 campaign. Over 300 uniforms and over 120 flags are featured in the color plates as well as paintings of the battle. The evolution of the battle is described with the aid of numerous new color maps.By the same author and available from CasemateJena-Auerstaedt: The Triumph of the EagleWagram: At the Heyday of the Empirehttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/borodino-the-moscova-cas-182965-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066976/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST A detailed account of the Normandy campaign fought by the British Armoured Divisions and independant Armoured Brigades, from the D-Day landings to Operation Goodwood. The Author, an acknowledged British armor specialist, has divided his work into three parts: the units involved, the AFVs fielded in Normandy, and the doctrine of use of the High Command with its actual effect on the battlefield.Equipped in some cases with obsolescent vehicles, their personnel often under-motivated but often inventive, the British tank formations did not always answer the hopes of the Allied military planners. This book gives a fresh point of view on the whole question.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/british-tanks-in-normandy-cas-239331-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066977/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Back in 2000, Histoire & Collections released two books by Jean Bouchery on the British Soldier in World War 2. Both books have been enormously successful.This new book, in the same format, will appeal in the same way as its predecessors. There is an unprecedented amount of color artwork depicting uniforms, variants, insignia, badges and equipment used by Canadas soldiers in the Second World War.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/canadian-soldier-in-world-war-ii-cas-500285-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066978/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST The complete illustrated history of the 15th Battallion de Char de Combat [Combat Tank Batallion] in unbelievable full color detail - in the same fashion as the previous books in this series - color profiles, hundreds of graphics and b/w photos.A complete reference work for the modeler.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/chars-b-au-combat-cas-903425-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066979/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST A complete illustrated history of one of the most successful aircraft types to emerge from World War 2.The Vought F4U-Corsair, a real monster of a plane, was used throughout the war and was still in service at the time of the Korean War.Bruno Pautigny is an expert aircraft illustrator and one of the key figures behind Histoire & Collections highly successful magazine, Wingmasters.This will be a dream book for anyone with an interest in this aircraft.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/corsair-cas-903289-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066980/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST The very first ground actions linked to the D-Day in France were fought by the `Red Berets, the famous British and Canadian paratroopers of the 6th Airborne Division dropped over the Caen region, and also by the lesser-known French SAS who jumped over Brittany the same day to fight a guerilla war. This book offers every detail of these elite soldiers, uniforms, equipment, badges and emblems - all illustrated in full colorhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/d-day-paratroopers-volume-2-cas-239317-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066984/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST May 1809. After getting off to a thundering start with his campaign, Napoleon had to carry out a difficult military maneuver: crossing a river, in strength in full view of the enemy. The Austrians under Archduke Charles put up a vigorous resistance and together with the capricious River Danube contributed to the French Emperors first defeat on the Continent.Gilles Boue is a military history specialist and regularly collaborates to the history department of the French Ministry of Defense. His bipolar view of the battle helps to explain the reasons for this defeat.Vividly illustrated with battle scenes, engravings, photos and plates of uniforms.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/essling-cas-500551-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066989/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST A detailed description of the German soldiers field tunic throughout the Second World War, in all its aspects: history, symbolism, manufacturing, evolution, insignia, etc., from the pre-war dress uniform to the shabby utilitarian garment of 1945.Jean-Philippe Borg and Laurent Huart are experienced collectors and historians, who have managed to bring together a large quantity of authentic pieces for this book, all of which are illustrated in full color. Their descriptions are soundly supported by period documents sourced from the German Bundesarchiv.This book will be an essential reference work for all collectors of Third Reich uniforms as well as World War II military history enthusiasts.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/feldbluse-cas-500100-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066992/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST The other IIIrd Reich fighter is a symbol of technology as well as sturdiness. A mythical plane, the FW 190 first appeared in 1941 and, from thenon, was to be a real problem to Allied air forces. From the Eastern front to the Defense of the Reich, including the Normandy campaign, the fighter that the last German aces flew with distinction, is illustrated in all its variety of camouflage and schemes and markings. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/focke-wulf-fw-190-cas-239256-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066994/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Thanks to this second volume, every single one of Frances combat aircraft (fighters, bombers and recce aircraft) in the early years of W.W.II is now offered to the international audience, including the lesser known types. Each type is featured with an historical text, period photographs and color profiles.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/french-aircraft-vol-2-cas-239492-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3066998/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST The hussars uniforms have always been, par excellence, the most brilliant of all. In this new book, the French hussar regiments are reviewed in detail with all their colorful characteristics of the French Revolution and Consulate period.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/french-hussars-cas-239034-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067003/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST The First Empire is responsible for giving us the most lasting picture we have of the Hussars. This volume deals with the Hussars (from the 9th to the 14th Regiment) for the period 1804-1812. There is a chapter given over to the 1812 Regulations which fixed the broad outlines and the 6 regiments are analyzed, together with the uniforms worn between 1812 and 1818.Andre Jouineau, figurines maker and collector, works with Histoire & Collections for more than 16 years. His uniforms plates, which have been fully carried out using data processing, have made him a pioneer in this field. He is the illustrator of the magazine Figurines and books such as Jena-Auerstaedt or Les Chasseurs dAfrique. Jean-Marie Mongin, previous chief editor of Uniformes and Tradition Magazine, puts all his knowledge in military history writing these drawing texts and captions. Both are also authors of French Hussars (Vol. 1 and 2), American Civil War (Vol. 1 and 2), and French Imperial Guard (Vol. 1, 2, 3 and 4) stemming from the same series. Unifom lovers, history and strategy fanatics as well as figurines makers. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/french-hussars-vol-3-cas-500377-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067004/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Shows in extraordinary detail the uniforms of the Cavalry of the Imperial Guard. This is a dream book for the modeler and the historian alike and is packed full of full color imageshttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/french-imperial-guard-cas-903456-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067005/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST The third volume in this successful series detailing the elite phalanx of Emperor Napoleon, puts an end to the study of the Guard cavalry. The troops depicted in Vol. 3 are the Mamelucks in their oriental dress, the famous Polish lancers, the red lancers (Dutch) and the guards of honor. (A fourth and last volume will subsequently describe the other mounted troops of the Imperial Guard : horse artillery, supply train and gendarmerie).http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/french-imperial-guard-cas-903982-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067006/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST This volume covers the last horse troops of the French Imperial Guard: gendarmes, honor guards and horse artillery, not forgetting the Lithuanian tartars, last proof of Napoleons will to make out of his Guard a model of a Greater Europe.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/french-imperial-guard-vol-4-cas-500025-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067007/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST The fifth and final volume of this rich saga of the French Imperial Guard, Andre Jouineau presents the last troops in the Garde: the Horse Artillery, the Health Service, the crew trains, the artillery and artillery trains. A chapter about the headquarters staff closes the story of these glorious units.Andre Jouineau has been contributing to Histoire & Collections for more than 16 years. His uniforms plates, which are fully designed using data processing, have made him a pioneer in this field.In the Officers and Soldiers Series (OAS) he is also co-author of American Civil War (vols. 1 and 2), The Imperial Guard (vol. 1, 2, 3 and 4), and French Hussars (vol. 1, 2 and 3).http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/french-imperial-guard-vol-5-cas-500506-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067008/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST This 3rd volume in the Officers and Soldiers series, shows in extraordinary detail the uniforms of the foot soldiers of Napoleons Imperial Guard. This is a dream book for the modeler and historian alike and is packed full of full color images, using Histoire & Collections extremely talented team of graphic artists.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/french-imperial-guard-vol-1-cas-239782-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067009/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST The medieval knight has a distinctive silhouette, despite the numerous legends which blur historical reality. At the turning point between the 12th and 13th centuries, while the feudal order was slowly disappearing in favor of the overwhelming royal will, some men stood apart from their contemporaries by their ability to fight on horses. They held the power and were considered little by little as the ruling class; they were the lords of the land. Thibaut des Puys de Morsaing, a young and poor bachelor, is about to achieve great success and become a rich land owner. Following his fathers steps, who died during the Crusades, and his godfathers, Tristan de Maumesnil, he grasps the opportunities offered to him. The many events in the life of this imaginary character are used as a pretext to stage Frances medieval society, from king Philippe Auguste to Saint Louis. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/french-knight-of-the-xiii-century-cas-500674-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067010/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST For More than 40 years, F.-G. Hourtoulle has explored the Napoleonic epic and for the past eight years, he has been producing fabulous books for enthusiasts, packed with color graphics and contemporary paintings.Continuing on from Jena Auestaedt , Borodino, Wagram, and 1814 comes this latest volume on Friedland. From Berlin to Tilsitt, Napoleon led the French army in one of his most glorious campaigns. During these eight months, the basic rank-and-file as well as the most legendary general out all their efforts in to the task of reviving Friedland, the best army in Europe was the tool of one of the greatest military leaders of all time.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/from-eylau-to-friedland-cas-500216-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067012/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST The purpose of this new series entitled Models and Planes is to show the most beautiful kits of the most famous planes. Photoscopes, step-by-step kit building, painting guides, hints, conversions, micro-painting, sketches and profiles, all these features are included. A must in the field of advanced modeling. Volume One in the series is dedicated to one of W.W.II Germanys most famous fighters.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/fw-190-super-detailed-cas-239584-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067013/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST This is spectacular new book from Europes leading uniform and equipment publisher will follow in the footsteps as such classics from the past as From Doughboy to GI.Histoire and Collections has earned a reputation for producing the finest, incredibly detailed and sumptuously illustrated books. Their technique reaches a new level with this latest book.All the uniforms, insignia, badges, weapons and equipment of the ETO are described in detail and depicted in both photographs and full color graphics.This book is a must for any collector in the field.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/g-i-collectors-guide-cas-500803-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067014/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Too little has been written to date on Germanys Schnellboote in the Second World War. Known by the Allies as E-Boats (Enemy Boats) the S Boote played havoc on Allied naval operations in the English channel and elsewhere. Many of their captains were amongst the most decorated of any branch of the Kriegsmarine.Jean-Philippe Dallies-Labourdette is a noted expert on the Kriegsmarine in World War Two and was the author of the best selling (and now sadly out of print) U-Boote, published in 1996 by Histoire & Collections.This highly detailed book examines all aspects of the S-Boote, from design to deployment and notes all the major engagements for which they are famous. As with all Histoire & Collections books, you are guaranteed a visual feast of excellent descriptive graphics and previously unseen photographs.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/german-s-boote-at-war-cas-500193-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067015/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Histoire & Collections all time best selling book was German Soldiers of World War II. Long out of print it has been sought by collectors and enthusiasts commanding high prices in used book market.This long awaited reprint is actually far more than that. The new version includes significant additional material. Every soldier is shown on a full page, front and back with numerous detail shots of head gear, equipment etc. The chronological order of the original edition is retained, while the widest selection of types of IIIrd Reich armed forces members is featured, from the most famous uniforms to the more obscure.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/german-soldiers-of-world-war-two-cas-239355-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067016/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST After the release of Volume 1, many readers and collectors pointed out several pieces they possessed which were missing from the book. Although including each and every item issued to the American soldier is a near impossible goal, the author started making a list of what should included in a second edition.All chapters from volume 1 have been revised and updated (among others: uniforms, signal and medical equipment) and new sections have been added, including personal equipment, Stateside training, and the life of POWs in German camps. More than 1,000 new artifacts with detailed captions are featured in this completely revised new work. Volume 2 of the G.I. Collectors Guide provides a complete and unequaled source of American ground force documentation for collectors and enthusiasts alike.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/gi-collector-s-guide-volume-2-cas-500797-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067017/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST From July 18 - 20, 1944, British and Canadian forces launched Operation Goodwood in order finally to capture Caen and push the Germans back towards the south, beyond Bourguebus. Among the armored divisions engaged in the fighting, the book follows the British 11th Armoured Division in particular. In four days, the English advanced over six miles and destroyed more than 100 German tanks but at a cost of 5,500 men and 413 tanks destroyed.Didier Lodieu is a recognized specialist of the Battle of Normandy and is the author of a number of works on this period. He gives us a different perspective on Operation Goodwood by following the Guards Armoured Division.The book contains numerous plans and maps and is richly illustrated with many often previously unpublished photographs together with full color armor profiles.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/goodwood-cas-500391-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067018/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST This book proposes a complete study of the variants in the manufacturing of the M1 helmet, illustrated with more than 700 full-color photos and presents a new selection of helmets coming from the woodwork, stemming from private collections and museums. The technical evolution of the M1 and its paratrooper conversions M2 and M1 C is summarized in the form of plans and clear synthesis boards. The selection of more than 120 helmets evokes, from Normandy to Germany, the battles of the European Theatre of operation. Numerous photos reveal their peculiarity, pictograms summarize their technical characteristics and legends tell their history. These material witnesses bring to life a conflict which ravaged the western Europe.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/helmets-of-eto-cas-500629-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067021/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST This book is the first in a new series devoted to German armored formations of World War II.Packed with full color images and a large amount of previously unpublished material, it is custom designed to appeal to modelers, AFV enthusiasts, and readers interested in Second World War technical history.The book traces the battle of Kursk and the involvement of the German Panzer Units, through first hand records. Many hitherto unpublished photos, plus recently discovered memoirs from veterans combined with color profiles of AFVs, contribute to make this book a real reference bible for the enthusiast. Didier Lodieu is a dedicated specialist on the German Army of World War II. In more than thirty years of research. he has learned how to find the most interesting photos and historical sources.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/iii-pz-korps-at-kursk-1943-cas-239843-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067023/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST The First Empire was at its height during the Jena-Auerstadt campaign of 1806. The campaign was a classic of Napoleonic tactics, as Marshal Davout held one German army at bay while Napoleon concentrated his forces to defeat the main one. This excellent book combines an informative narrative with paintings oft he battles and a superb collection of images of uniforms and equipment from the period-all in color.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/jena-auerstaedt-cas-239768-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067026/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST The same detail will be found in this book as with the two Me-109 books. Stunning color images and detailed graphic representations of the markings of these German aircraft are shown in over 200 images. Also many variants are depicted in detail for the first time.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/junkers-ju-87-cas-903531-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067027/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST In the first part of this Volume 4, the French fortifications built in the Alps against the Italian threat are fully detailed: how the whole defense was designed, how the main blockhouses were built in the mountains, the specific technical means involved, the Alpine Fortress troops, the complete 1940 orbat and the plans of all main works. The June 1940 fighting, leading to the Italian failure, is also featured, as well as the smaller fortifications built in Corsica and Tunisia (Mareth Line). http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/la-ligne-maginot-cas-239461-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067031/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Tome 1 (Volume 1) of this remarkable work covered the fortifications of Northeast France and the special Fortress Infantry regiments that were raised to man them. This volume covers specialized fortifications within the Maginot system, including blockhouses, turrets, artillery, and underground railways. In addition to infantry, special Fortress units of artillery, engineers, and signals were also raised, and these units, their uniforms, insignia, colors, and bands are all covered in full color.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/la-ligne-maginot-tome-2-cas-182972-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067032/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Volume 3 of Histoire & Collections incredibly detailed study of the men and equipment of the Maginot Line. As in previous volumes in the series, there is a spectacular selection of images from the period, minutely detailed uniform studies by Francois Vauvillier and color throughout.These books, though in French, set the standard for excellence in presenting this kind of information.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/la-ligne-maginot-tome-3-cas-903883-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067033/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Bruno Alberti and Laurent Pradier have been collecting and writing about U S Marine Corps gear for more than a decade and, in that time, have contributed complete series of articles on the topic in the French Militaria Magazine. That sequence of articles is complete and the time has now come for a revised and expanded version of the results of their work as a single bound volume.The US Marine Corps has always enjoyed a special status among the American Armed Forces, as well as boasting distinctive uniforms and emblems.This new book presents the large variety of dress uniforms for both officers and enlisted men, as well as combat uniforms and specialty camouflage garments.Hundreds of items of clothing, equipment and insignia are illustrated by reenactment photos of the famous leathernecks in the form of large format color plates. Many period photos found in official American archives are also reproduced and help place the reenactment shots in the correct historical context.This new volume maintains the usual exceptional quality standards of Histoire & Collections: carefully-researched historical background, hundreds of concisely captioned color photographs of authentic artifacts and reenactment photographs taken in studio conditions to allow the reader to see the uniforms and equipment in the greatest clarity.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/marine-corps-uniforms-equipment-1941-45-cas-239997-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067055/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Each mini-guide allows the reader to get to know more about a regions history, linking historical events with places of interest and sites of note, as well as providing an unprecedented visual feast of contemporary photographs, uniforms, badges and equipment - all in full color. Practical information is included in each mini-guide and itineraries are suggested for those wishing to visit battlefields, monuments, memorials and museums. In the first few days of June 1944, the Allies prepared to launch one of the most decisive operations of the Second World War: a massive assault on the Normandy coastline. It was a risky enterprise, seeking, as it did, to deliver a mortal blow to German forces in the west whilst the Red Army eliminated those in the east. It was a crucial moment for the Anglo-Saxon allies. Defeat could spell disaster for the alliance and, just when morale was at its lowest ebb in Britain, would have had incalculable repercussions. Hitler too was well aware of the risks. For him the assault was to be decisive, his victory or his defeat in Normandy would decide the outcome of the war. It was therefore crucial for the Wehrmacht to beat the Allies within the first 24 hours.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/normandy-d-day-6-june-1944-cas-239362-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067064/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Each mini-guide allows the reader to get to know more about a regions history, linking historical events with places of interest and sites of note, as well as providing an unprecedented visual feast of contemporary photographs, uniforms, badges and equipment - all in full color. Practical information is included in each mini-guide and itineraries are suggested for those wishing to visit battlefields, monuments, memorials and museums. By the dawn of 7 June some 152,000 Anglo-American troops had set foot on the Normandy coast, testimony that the D-Day landings had been a success. But the battle was far from over; beachheads had to be reinforced and troops prepared to face the inevitable German counterattack. The weather, too, added to the uncertainty as it had the power to interrupt supplies and reinforcements. The American objective was to seal off the Cotentin peninsula, thereby forcing the surrender of the massive port of Cherbourg. For the British, Caen, capital of Lower Normandy and gateway to Paris, became the target. They prepared to launch a quick and formidable blow to seize the place but were frustrated a handful of miles from the town by German panzers. Would the Allies be able to break out and end the campaign with a decisive blow?http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/normandy-first-victories-cas-239379-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067065/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Each mini-guide allows the reader to get to know more about a regions history, linking historical events with places of interest and sites of note, as well as providing an unprecedented visual feast of contemporary photographs, uniforms, badges and equipment - all in full color. Practical information is included in each mini-guide and itineraries are suggested for those wishing to visit battlefields, monuments, memorials and museums. By July 1944, despite the launch of Operation Epsom, the British and Canadians were still pinned down before Caen on the eastern section of the front. German troops were, however, tied down here and had to abandon any hope of throwing the invaders back into the sea. German High Command was, meanwhile, overhauled with von Kluge replacing von Runstedt. To the west the Americans, having seized Cherbourg, were eager to secure the Cotentin peninsula and launch the next phase of the battle for Normandy. This would be a breakout between Saint-Lo and Coutances and would allow the Americans, heading south and then swinging westwards into Brittany, to leave the Norman hedgerows behind. But any such move would have to be quick and decisive or the Germans would succeed in keeping them bottled up. July would decide the fate of the struggle for Normandy.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/normandy-the-breakout-cas-239386-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067066/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Each mini-guide allows the reader to get to know more about a regions history, linking historical events with places of interest and sites of note, as well as providing an unprecedented visual feast of contemporary photographs, uniforms, badges and equipment - all in full color. Practical information is included in each mini-guide and itineraries are suggested for those wishing to visit battlefields, monuments, memorials and museums. In early August 1944 the left wing of the German 7th Army collapsed following the American breakthrough at Avranches. The Americans quickly modified their plans and, instead of heading for Brittany, prepared to sweep eastwards and, in conjunction with the British, sought to cut off German forces in Normandy. Von Kluge, conscious of the danger, called upon reinforcements and launched an attack from Mortain. This counterattack, operation Luttich, should have kept the Americans at bay whilst the Germans pulled back to the Seine but its failure brought about inexorable defeat.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/normandy-the-german-defeat-cas-239393-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067067/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST This new addition to the Planes and Pilots series from Histoire & Collections has 82 pages packed with full color graphic representations of this great World War II fighter. As with earlier books in the series the emphasis is on the wide range of markings and the many variants of this aircraft. An essential book for modelers and aviation enthusiasts.Also includes detail of personalized markings and nose art.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/p-51-mustang-cas-903814-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067069/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST After a first volume devoted to the Focke Wulf FW 190, the new release in the collection Planes and Model Kits is dedicated to the Curtiss P-40. Despite its limits, the Warhawk is an aircraft which played a major part in the whole war and on all the front lines, displaying the most colorful insignia and nose arts of WW2. This book has no historical claim and makes us discover the B, E, F, N versions of this mythical fighter through the most beautiful models currently available. Each of the four versions are organized around one main technical part, which presents in a clear and dynamic way some of the well-tried knacks used by the most experienced modelers. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/p-40-curtiss-cas-500650-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067071/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Each mini-guide allows the reader to get to know more about a regions history, linking historical events with places of interest and sites of note, as well as providing an unprecedented visual feast of contemporary photographs, uniforms, badges and equipment - all in full color. Practical information is included in each mini-guide and itineraries are suggested for those wishing to visit battlefields, monuments, memorials and museums. The American units that invaded Normandy were at full strength, well trained and supplied, and perfectly adept at teamwork. Although the vast majority of soldiers had no previous combat experience, they adapted quickly and effectively to the challenges confronting them in the Normandy countryside. The regular infantry doctrine of rapid progress was rendered useless by the fragmented bocage terrain however, and GIs were forced to refine the time-proven tactic of `Fire and Movement. They brought to bear heavy and violent artillery barrages in order to close in and quickly annihilate the enemy. The advanced communications technology used by the Americans gave them a decisive advantage but above all they benefited from superb logistical support, enabling rapid deployment of men and resources when needed. The U.S. Army made prodigious use of all kinds of vehicles, was not hindered at first by the fuel supply problems experienced by the enemy. American air supremacy and naval power also contributed mightily to German losses. Finally the cooperation between ground and air forces and between the artillery and the infantry as well the will to pursue the enemy relentlessly were crucial factors in the success of the American forces in Normandy.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/soldiers-in-normandy-the-americans-cas-239454-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067076/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Each mini-guide allows the reader to get to know more about a regions history, linking historical events with places of interest and sites of note, as well as providing an unprecedented visual feast of contemporary photographs, uniforms, badges and equipment - all in full color. Practical information is included in each mini-guide and itineraries are suggested for those wishing to visit battlefields, monuments, memorials and museums. Traditionally a maritime power, Great Britain had not given equal priority to the development of its land forces. The concentration on increasing air power added to this disparity in capabilities between the services. Manpower shortages in the infantry forced the high command to commit units in a rather measured fashion. On the ground, this resulted in a lack of subtlety and initiative. Those divisions which did have previous combat experience, mostly in the Mediterranean sector were somewhat confounded by the very different terrain they encountered in Normandy. Whats more, somewhat worn down by earlier campaigns in North Africa and Italy, they appeared overly cautious. The remaining divisions, despite many years of preparation, were not as well trained and prepared as their American counterparts. Only the Commandos and the Airborne forces were truly well prepared for what awaited them in France. Armored formations were regularly fielded withoutthe advantage of suitable infantry support and their AFVs were often outclassed by those of the enemy. They therefore suffered extremely high casualties. But the artillery was first class and powerful and played a largepart in paralyzing the movements of the enemy.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/soldiers-in-normandy-the-british-cas-239447-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067077/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST Each mini-guide allows the reader to get to know more about a regions history, linking historical events with places of interest and sites of note, as well as providing an unprecedented visual feast of contemporary photographs, uniforms, badges and equipment - all in full color. Practical information is included in each mini-guide and itineraries are suggested for those wishing to visit battlefields, monuments, memorials and museums. German forces stationed in Normandy at the time of the invasion were mainly Army (Heer) infantry divisions, most of which were supported by horse drawn transport. Amongst these were so-called `static units which were incapable of maneuver. The majority of these formations were of mixed ability and had little combat value. The sole exception to this was the 6thFallschirmjäger-Division, made-up of welltrained and fanatical paratroopers. As for armored forces, the German army could only boast three divisions which were truly combat-ready.By contrast, the Waffen-SS panzerdivisions were vastly better and demonstrated their superiority in combat. Often outclassed by the Allies in terms of materiel (particularly the number of tanks), logistics and suffering from a crippling shortage of fuel, the Germans were literally pushed around by the attackers, being forced to react to rather than to initiate combat, in the most part. Their situation was made even worse by the fact that they could not count on air support. Despite all of these shortcomings, the Germans used all off the opportunities afforded them by the landscape of Normandy, particularly the Bocage region, to inflict severe damage on Allied units.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/soldiers-in-normandy-the-germans-cas-239430-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067078/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:53:00 PST The Tiger tank endures today as the greatest legend of the German armored forces of World War II. Jean Restayns text is backed up by 250 photographs, most of them never published before, and 50 color plates showing markings, insignia and camouflage schemes. Also included is a complete operational history and order of battle for all Eastern Front units, both Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS, who were equipped with the Tiger.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/tiger-i-on-the-eastern-front-cas-500308-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067083/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:54:00 PST The heavily armored Tiger I became the most famous German tank of World War II. The Tigers were originally intended to counter the heavy tanks of the Russian Front, and were assigned to specially created tank battalions. In 1944 Tiger units were rushed to Normandy and fought in all the major battles of the Western Front. Although they were superior to all the tanks of the Western allies, Tigers in the West faced the added danger of attack from the greatly superior British and American air forces. Each Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS unit equipped with the Tiger I is covered in detail. Each units insignia and a representative vehicle with camouflage and markings is shown in color. The operational history of each unit, and in some cases individual vehicles, is described with the aid of 250 black and white photos, most of them never before published.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/tiger-i-on-the-western-front-cas-903135-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067084/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:54:00 PST In July and August 1944, the Allies launched a number of operations intended to break through the German front line. Operations Totalize and Tractable were intended to drive the Germans back to the south of the Normandy town of Falaise, thus creating the famous Falaise Gap.Ludovic Fortin is has become a real specialist on the British Army and of operations in Normandy in particular. His human approach to events gives a new perspective to the conflicts. He is also the author of the highly successful book, British Tanks in Normandy also published by Histoire & Collections.This book contains numerous plans and maps and is richly illustrated with unpublished photographs and color armor profiles.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/totalize-tractable-cas-500537-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067085/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:54:00 PST Much has been written about the German submarine arm during World War II, but what was really known about the men serving in these special ships? This book, written by a specialist of naval history, evokes how the men were recruited and how they went through the long arduous training (this training regime started to collapse in 1941); it also covers the main training schools, the principles, tactics, team spirit and politics together with the long test periods for the submarine itself. Many other aspects are covered, such as the drive and spirit with which Admiral Doenitz inspired the men; the very direct and informal relations between the Admiral and his U-Boat commanders, the very strong bond between the commanders and their men; the different compartments and machines, the men at action stations, daily life aboard with all the inconveniences of this claustrophobic life with its various superstitions, its hygiene problems, pollution, food etc. Jean Delize is a Doctor of History, a teacher of History and Geography and a specialist of the French, British and German Navies of the first half of the 20th Century. The book is fully illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs and modern color artworks http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/u-boote-crews-cas-500469-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067086/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:54:00 PST In the same style as the previous two books by Hourtoulle, here is a fabulous full color book on this major battle in the Napoleonic Wars.A detailed text is accompanied by contemporary paintings and a vast array of graphics illustrating the uniforms and equipment of the soldiers of the time.By the same author and available from Casemate; Jena-Auerstaedt:The Triumph of the Eagle, Borodino-The Moskova: The Battle for the Redoubts.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/wagram-cas-239744-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067089/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:54:00 PST Waterloo, the plain where Napoleons Empire was dealt its final blow after a titanic fight, is not only a name on the map. La Haye-Sainte, Hougoumont, Plancenoit, are real places where men struggled, suffered and died. In this book, the authors retrace the phases of the famous battle. But moreover, they lead the reader deep into history by showing the artifacts, weapons, uniforms and pieces of equipment that have survived after more than two centuries. From Napoleons hat to Wellingtons pad, from a simple uniform button to a rusted bayonet found on the very ground of the battlefield, these fabulous relics help us revisit the day of June 18th 1815. Packed with dozens of color images of uniforms and equipment.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/histoire~collections/waterloo-relics-cas-239690-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3067091/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSat, 14 Feb 2009 13:54:00 PST At a time of imperial expansion, British forces were almost constantly in action against major powers, in wars of conquest, or in expeditions on the fringes of Empire, such as the North West Frontier, southern Africa or Burma. This book outlines the medals issued to British soldiers and sailors for military service. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/british-campaign-medals-1815-1914-srpsli384-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070702/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST Surveys the medals awarded to British personnel for military services from the First World War to operations of British forces in the opening years of the twenty-first century. The campaign medals awarded for the military actions have become a popular field for collectors, since the majority of British awards were officially named. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/british-campaign-medals-1914-2005-srpsli393-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070703/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST Surveys the medals awarded to British personnel for military services from the First World War to operations of British forces in the opening years of the twenty-first century. The campaign medals awarded for the military actions have become a popular field for collectors, since the majority of British awards were officially named. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/british-gallantry-awards-1855-2000-srpsli394-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070705/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST A concise history of the attempts to develop and improve the British Armys most important individual weapon, and the ammunition designed for it. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/british-military-rifles-srpsli445-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070706/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST Introduces the insignia worn by members of British Orders of Knighthood and Chivalry. These Orders have existed since the early Middle Ages and were initially intended to unite important noblemen in bonds of loyalty to their monarch or to act as impressive rewards for their services.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/british-orders-and-decorations-srpsli424-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070707/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST This chronological gazetteer of the battlefields of England and Scotland shows readers how to find them and it includes 69 sites, each with a description map of the battle which took place there. Various baronial and border wars are included. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/discovering-battlefields-of-england-and-scotland-srpsdi287-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070711/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST This book examines the development of the various styles of military head-dress badge from 1751, to the introduction of cap badges in 1894. Buttons are dealt with from 1767 to 1881.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/discovering-british-military-badges-and-buttons-srpsdi148-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070713/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST This brief history of each of the former county regiments lists the battle honours on their Colours, their marches, customs, Victoria Crosses, nicknames, badges, facings, mottoes and memorials and describes their amalgamations and later lineage.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/discovering-english-county-regiments-srpsdi294-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070715/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST Britain has responded to threat of invasions or attack building strongholds (fortifications). This book reveals what fortifications were built to contain insurrection in Scotland in the eighteenth century and Ireland in the twentieth century. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/fortifications-from-the-tudors-to-the-cold-war-srpsdi296-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070721/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST Military barracks played an important part in the social as well as the military history of Britain. They have served many purposes, being homes, training establishments and recruitment depots, and were meant to impress (and, at times, overawe) the local population as well as foreign enemies. Some towns, such as Aldershot and Colchester, were almost defined by their barracks. This book looks at the buildings themselves, from early times to the twentieth century, and describes the life that was led in the barracks by the soldiers and their wives.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/military-barracks-srpsli358-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070723/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST After examining the Greek origins of torsion-powered catapults, this book describes the machines used from the time of Caesar onwards, their dominance in the warfare of the western world for over a thousand years, and their importance in the history of technology.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/roman/roman-artillery-srpsar086-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070725/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST Siege became established as a perennial mode of human conflict ever since the first urbanised populations constructed walls to protect themselves from attack. In the annals of siege warfare, few commanded more fear and respect than the miner, who with his pick, shovel and crowbar was a serious threat to the strongest foundations. This book traces the development of undermining techniques from the earliest evidence of ancient and medieval siege warfare. The advent of gunpowder revolutionised the mine in the sixteenth century and sustained mining as an integral part of siege warfare in the eighteenth century. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/siege-mines-and-underground-warfare-srpsar084-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070727/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST With relatively few exceptions, the average military staff car is nothing more than an ordinary motor car in war paint. This book focuses primarily on the two World Wars but it begins with the first years of the twentieth century, takes a careful look at the years between the wars and briefly survey the post-war scene. Developments in great Britain form the main theme, but comparisons are made with events in other countries. Some of the more unusual types that loosely qualify as staff cars are included and many of the photographs have not been published before.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/staff-cars-srpsli245-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070728/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST Tells the story of how the Romans coped with the most serious threat to their hold on Britain and explains the important contribution archaeology has made towards understanding the revolt. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/roman/the-boudican-revolt-against-rome-srpsar074-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070729/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST This book provides a glimpse into the complex, multi-layered and evolving institution and offers an introduction to the uniforms, arms and services of the Indian Army at the height of the Raj.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/the-british-indian-army-1860-1914-srpsli412-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070730/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST Describes and illustrates many of the medals, including the Victoria Cross award, and the men and women who have been awarded them together with the award citations which are always remarkable and sometimes astounding.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/the-victoria-cross-srpsli447-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070731/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST Although lacking the weapons of today, Victorian soldiers were no different from their present-day successors. This volume aims to bring these soldiers to life through their uniforms, weapons, equipment and illustrations of them at war and at peace. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/the-victorian-soldier-srpsli352-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070732/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST The story of the Womens Auxiliary Air Force is a journey of exploration. This intriguing history tells the story of the wartime WAAF at work and play. They were no decorative adjunct to the RAF, but an integral working force that eventually saved the RAF 150,000 men, whose places they filled admirably. Debarred from flying, they nevertheless could be found in posts ranging from cooks to aircraft fitters. They were radar operators, plotters in busy operations rooms, nurses in air evacuation. In secrecy they worked as codebreakers at Bletchley Park, in the Y Listening Service, as code and cypher officers in Churchills War Cabinet, as air interpreters, and as SOE agents in occupied France. Many others were posted abroad to work. This book provides a fascinating birds-eye view of their many roles.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/the-waaf-srpsli422-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070733/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST This selection of campaign photographs shows the Victorian army in a variety of climes and conditions over 50 years from Burma in 1852 to Tibet in 1904. It also records the vital yet often neglected role played by the army in the great Victorian imperial adventure.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/victoria-s-wars-srpsli540-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070734/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:49:00 PST War memorials are a feature of Britains landscape, and part of the fabric of its history as a nation. The Imperial War Museums National Inventory has sixty thousand war memorials spanning two millennia. This work presents examples that are intended as a tribute to the victims of war and as tangible reminders of significant events.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/war-memorials-in-britain-srpsli441-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070735/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:50:00 PST During World War II, German prison camps swelled with Allied Prisoners of War, captured during fierce conflicts, from the Battle of France in 1940 to the bomber offensives over Germany from 1943. This book looks in intimate detail at the life of average private soldiers, beginning with their capture, through the long days as prisoners and hard labourers, to the readjustment to home life after their release. Illustrated with original materials, postcards, and photographs, the author reveals their personal experiences in this intriguing account, including letters to and from home, which disclose some surprising attitudes towards the POWs. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/prisoner-of-war-in-germany-srpsli473-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070736/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:50:00 PST Artillery has been an important part of the armament of the British and European armies since the fourteenth century. This book describes the development of artillery from the primitive `pot-de-fer of 1326 and other early cannons to the larger firing equipment of the First World War. Covering a wide range of artillery such as field, horse, mountain, coastal and naval, plus additional advice on model making, Discovering Artillery provides a fascinating survey of a significant aspect of military history.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/discovering-artillery-srpsdi123-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070737/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:50:00 PST The familiar pictures of the First World War show soldiers in their trenches: hellish images of mud. But there is another dimension not depicted by these frightening representations of battle: the mundane everyday routine of the majority of the soldiers life that was spent away from the Front. This book explores the life of the average British `Tommy of the Great War, in battle and at rest, in training, and on his return home. Illustrated with evocative images of the war, and items of the soldiers kit, it provides an answer to the question: what was it like to be a soldier in the trenches on the front line?http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/military-history~shire-/the-british-soldier-in-the-first-world-war-srpsli471-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070739/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:50:00 PST This book provides a general summary of the history of European firearms, from the earliest designs which appeared during the Middle Ages through to the mechanised weapon production of the Industrial Revolution. Covering the dual inventions of gunpowder and the gun, the development of reliable firing mechanisms, improvements in accuracy and rate of fire and the revolutionary changes brought about by the application of scientific and industrial processes, Michael Spencer explains the technical evolution of the firearm and analyses what drove these changes. Built around an accurate dating framework, this is an invaluable resource for both military historians and firearms collectors, and includes an array of illustrations of rare firearms, difficult to find elsewhere in print. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/medieval/early-firearmes-1300-1800-srpsli464-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3070741/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresFri, 20 Feb 2009 17:50:00 PST Were it not for the Navajo Code Talkers the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima and other places (Anonymous, Marine Corps signal officer). Ed Gilbert uses personal interviews with veterans to tell their fascinating story. Beginning with the first operational use of Native American languages in World War I, he explores how in World War II the US again came to employ this subtle, but powerful weapon. Despite all efforts, the Japanese were never able to decode their messages and the Navajo code talkers contributed significantly to US victories in the Pacific. Approximately 400 Navajos served in this crucial role. Their legend of the code talker has been celebrated by Hollywood in films, such as Windtalkers, and this book reveals the real-life story of their extraordinary involvement in World War II. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/warrior/native-american-code-talker-in-world-war-ii-ospwar127-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071544/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 15:45:00 PST The helicopter changed war forever. This book examines the range of duties helicopter pilots carried out in Vietnam, from air-lift, med-evac and fire-support to landing in high volume crossfires in Hot LZs. Protected by little more than an armoured seat, operating in terrible conditions and flying long hours these brave men led hard, dangerous lives, and casualties were high. Following these pilots from initial deployment through to the deadly thrill of combat in a war zone, Vietnam veteran Gordon L Rottmans book is a crucial examination of the pilots who fought so valiantly for their country. Often unmoved by the politics of the war, conflicts at home and other social issues, the Vietnam helicopter pilots just wanted to fly. As the saying went who needs drugs, Im already high. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/warrior/ospwar128-us-helicopter-pilot-in-vietnam-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071600/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 16:20:00 PST The great military effectiveness of semitrained local militia is one of the enduring myths of American military history. In this book Ed Gilbert reveals the truth behind this myth, shedding light on who these frontier men actually were and their role in the war of 1812. He chronicles how untrained and ineffective militia forces were transformed into a formidable fighting force through hard campaigning, fierce combat, and Andrew Jacksons equally fierce discipline. Contemporary illustrations and artwork depict the rough life on campaign, the uniforms worn by the militia, and how they fought and won crucial battles against Creek forces before inflicting a stunning defeat on the British Army in 1815, opening up the frontier for the new nation. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/warrior/ospwar129-frontier-militiaman-in-the-war-of-1812-southwestern-frontier-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071601/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 16:23:00 PST The Taras were the leading power of the scattered Greek states of southern Italy and built their reputation on the unmatched horse warriors who helped the Taras claim and maintain their power. In this book, expert author Nic Fields examines the Tarentine horsemen in detail, discussing their tactics, weapons and equipment and detailing how they operated as mercenaries throughout the region. With a wealth of contemporary sources and rare artefacts, illustrated with specially commissioned colour artwork and photographs of artefacts, this is an intriguing insight into the everyday lives of these horsemen, revealing how they acquired the skills that enabled them to dominate the region. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/warrior/ospwar130-tarentine-horseman-of-magna-graecia-430-190-bc-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071602/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 16:26:00 PST The Vietnamese knew the Long-Range Patrol Scouts as the men with green faces, a reference to the camouflage paint that they used. Operating in patrols of four to six men these men were like ghosts - scouting far behind enemy lines. This book examines the Long-Range Patrol Scouts superior stealth movement techniques, camouflage and concealment, tracking, counter-tracking, observation, and other fieldcraft skills. It also examines the occasions they participated in small-scale direct actions including ambushes and raids. Written by a Special Forces Vietnam veteran, this book not only depicts the remarkable lives of these scouts when on campaign, but also details the training and conditioning that it took to become one of these shadow warriors.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/warrior/ospwar132-us-army-long-range-patrol-scout-in-vietnam-1965-71-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071604/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 16:30:00 PST On average a Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent would be dead within three months of being parachuted into action. Terry Crowdy tells the extraordinary story of these agents, some of whom were women as young as 22, following them through their experiences beginning with their recruitment and their unorthodox training methods, which included hand-to-hand combat and parachuting. Packed with photographs and full-colour artwork, this book recounts the incredible combat missions of the SOE agents from their role in the attacks on a heavy water plant in Norway, to operations in the field with Yugoslav and Greek partisans, as well as sabotage missions ranging from blowing up bridges to the raising of full-scale partisan armies as they attempted to fulfill Churchills directive to set occupied Europe ablaze. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/warrior/ospwar133-s-agent-churchill-s-secret-warriors-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071605/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 16:33:00 PST During World War One the French Army was in a state of disarray, plagued by indiscipline, mutinies and desertion. The ordinary French citizens that were called upon to defend their motherland - the Poilu - were disrespected and demoralized, and the infamous mutinies of 1917 by the Poilu were not protests against the war itself, but against how the war was conducted. Ian Sumner expertly charts the history of the Poilu, from the conscription of hundreds of thousands of men, through their training, to the horrors of the trenches and the fear of no mans land. Accompanied by new artwork and diagrams, this book provides a fascinating insight into the experiences of ordinary Frenchman called upon to defend their motherland. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/warrior/ospwar134-french-poilu-1914-18-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071606/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 16:35:00 PST Commonly mistaken for the locally raised Viet Cong, the NVA was an entirely different force, conducting large-scale operations in a conventional war. Despite limited armour, artillery and air support, the NVA were an extremely politicized and professional force with strict control measures and leadership concepts. Gordon Rottman follows the fascinating life of the highly motivated infantryman from conscription and induction through training to real combat experiences. Covering the evolution of the forces from 1958 onwards, this book takes an in-depth look at the civilian and military lives of the soldiers, whilst accompanying artwork details the uniforms, weapons and equipment used by the NVA in their clash against America and her allies. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/warrior/ospwar135-north-vietnamese-army-soldier-1958-75-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071607/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 16:37:00 PST Over the years much has been written about Luftwaffe aces, but this book seeks to examine the lives of the ordinary men who took to the skies. These men all shared the same aggressive spirit, joy of action and the passion of a hunter. Rich with fascinating first-hand accounts exploring every step of the fighter pilots career from his enlistment and intensive training to his exploits in the Battle of Britain and on the Eastern Front, this book is an invaluable insight into the life of a Luftwaffe fighter pilot. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/warrior/ospwar122-jadgflieger-luftwaffe-fighter-pilot-1939-45-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071609/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 18:09:00 PST The Ironclad was a revolutionary weapon of war, the first modern, armoured, self-propelled warships. During the American Civil War the South used ironclads to protect their ports from the Northern blockade. Impressed with their superior resistance to fire and, the North developed its own rival fleet of ironclads. Eventually the two products of this modern arms race duelled at the battle of Hampton Roads in a clash that would change the face of naval warfare. Fully illustrated with cutting-edge digital artwork, rare photographs and first-person perspective gunsight views, this book allows the reader to discover the revolutionary and radically different designs of the two rival Ironclads - the Merrimac and USS Monitor - through an analysis of each ships weaponry, ammunition and steerage.http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue014-confederat-ironclad-vs-union-ironclad-hampton-roads-1862-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071610/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 18:19:00 PST The first major clash between a European and Asian state in the modern era signalled the beginning of Japans rise as a major power on the world stage. Watched by the rest of the worlds superpowers, this incredibly violent war was disastrous for the Russians who, despite their superior numbers, were defeated by the Japanese underdogs in a spectacular fashion.The key technical elements of firepower, protection, maneuverability and communications for each side are covered in detail and accompanied by first-hand accounts and specially commissioned artwork to explain and illustrate this historically significant duel. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/duel/ospdue0115-russian-battleship-vs-japanese-battleship-yellow-sea-1904-05-ospdue015-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071611/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 18:24:00 PST In this book, maritime expert Angus Konstam explores the fledging Tudor Navy, tracing its history from its origins as a merchant fleet under Henry VII through to its emergence as a powerful force under Henry VIII. Examining the operational use of Henry VIIIs warships the author analyses the battle of the Solent in 1545, in which Henrys fleet took on a French fleet of 200 ships - much larger than the Spanish Armada decades later. Despite the well-documented loss of his flagship, the Mary Rose, Henrys smaller force succeeded in preventing a French victory. Although many people will have heard of the mighty Mary Rose, this book will tell the story of more than just the tragic sinking of Henrys flagship, describing how one of historys most dynamic kings grew the navy from the five warships that were his fathers legacy to 53 deadly gunships at the forefront of his empire-building strategy. Through contemporary illustrations and intricate artwork, the author traces the changing face of warship design during the Renaissance as Henry paved the way for English dominance of the sea. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/new-vanguard/ospnvg1420-tudor-warships-1-henry-viii-s-navy-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071645/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 18:54:00 PST By the end of the Civil War the US Navy was the most advanced in the world, but in subsequent years Americas naval might dwindled. However, in the 1880s a New Navy was born and at the forefront of its fleet were the mighty cruisers. Naval historian Lawrence Burr details how these cruisers allowed America to rebuild their navy, exploring the design and development of these ships. Placing these advances in context, through vivid accounts of how US cruisers performed in the Spanish-American War of 1898, notably at Manila Bay and Santiago, he investigates the emergence of the US Navy as a major power. Illustrated with early photographs and full-colour artwork, this is a concise history of the birth and development of a modern navy that was the precursor to the development of modern steel fleets around the world. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/new-vanguard/ospnvg143-us-cruisers-1883-1904-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071648/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 18:56:00 PST Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are the most dynamic field of aerospace technology, and have only emerged from the shadows recently, despite having been in use for decades. After some limited use in World War II, UAVs emerged as substitutes for manned reconnaissance aircraft in missions deemed too dangerous to risk an aircrew. This book examines the development of UAV technology and speculates on its future potential. Packed with rare, recently declassified photographs and detailed full-colour cutaways, this title goes on to investigate the deployment of UAVs, from early Israeli airforce use to their current role over Iraq and Afghanistan today. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/new-vanguard/ospnvg144-unmanned-aerial-vechicles-robotic-air-warfare-1917-2007-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071650/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 18:58:00 PST As the major powers engaged in an arms race in the early years of the 20th century, the Admiralty was tasked with developing that deadly stalker of the high seas - the submarine. In 1905, briefed with creating a vessel that could be employed on an enemys coastline, the Admiralty took several technological leaps forward to match Germanys own revolutionary vessels. Written by an influential expert in the field and covering all classes of submarine developed and deployed during the war, this book includes great technical detail, gripping operational accounts and is accompanied by artwork. With fascinating details of daring submarine raids in the Baltic and the Dardanelles, this book reveals the exceedingly dangerous world of early submarine warfare which claimed an extraordinary number of lives on both sides and paved the way for a new kind of naval warfare in the 20th century and beyond. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/new-vanguard/ospnvg145-british-submarines-of-world-war-i-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071652/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 18:59:00 PST The Imperial Japanese Navy of World War II surpassed the Allied and Axis fleets in innovation and technology. This title covers the 12 Japanese battleships that saw service between 1941 and 1945, including the mighty Yamato. Each class is considered in light of its design and construction, its armament and wartime modifications. The author, Mark Stille, uses primary sources and dramatic photographs to tell the story of these mighty battleships at war, including their major engagements during the raid at Pearl Harbor and the battle of Midway. The first English language book to include photographs from the prestigious Fukui Collection, this investigation will fascinate any naval enthusiast. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/new-vanguard/ospnvg146-imperial-japanese-navy-battleships-1941-45-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071653/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 19:01:00 PST The `Original Six frigates were commissioned by the new-born US Navy at a staggering cost of nearly $700,000. Designed to be light and fast, these warships enabled America to project its power across the globe. Among the ships Mark Lardas examines is USS Constellation: the first ship to be commissioned by the United States Navy. Alongside stirring accounts of engagements during the Barbary Wars, the author explores the design and development of these frigates, explaining the shortcomings that led to their replacement by larger, heavier 44-gun models by 1800. Packed with contemporary illustrations of US frigates and their British and French rivals, this book follows the escalation of the naval `arms race during the 18th century. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/new-vanguard/ospnvg147-american-light-and-medium-frigates-1794-1836-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/browse_item_details.asp/Item_Id/3071654/categ_id/78826W. Britain FiguresSun, 22 Feb 2009 19:03:00 PST Motor torpedo boat development began in the early 1900s, and the vessels first saw service during World War I. However, it was not until the late 1930s that the US Navy commenced the development of the Patrol Torpedo or PT boat. The PT boat was designed for attacking larger warships with torpedoes using its `stealth ability, high-speed and small size to launch and survive these attacks - although they were employed in a wide variety of other missions, including rescuing General MacArthur and his entourage from the Philippines. This book examines the design and development of these unique craft, very few of which survive today, and goes on to examine their role and combat deployment in World War II. http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/books/osprey-publishing/new-vanguard/ospnvg148-the-us-patrol-torpedo-boats-detail.htmhttp://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/