NEW MILITARY TITLES

         

       

Bush Wars : Africa 1960-2010 (Osprey Force on Force No.6)
With its many tribal, political, religious, and cultural divisions, Africa has long been a continent at war – both with itself and with others. For much of the 20th century, there has been a near-constant state of military unrest, from Cold War proxy wars with Soviet and Western powers supporting their African allies in live-fire incarnations of this ideological struggle.

Joshua L. Chamberlain : The Life in Letters of a Great Leader of the American Civil War
His life is a remarkable story of perseverance, tragedy and triumph. From an insecure young man with a considerable stutter who grew up in a small town in eastern Maine, Joshua Chamberlain rose to become a major general, recipient of the Medal of Honor, Governor of Maine and President of Bowdoin College.

OSP ACE 104 : Naval Aces of World War 1 part 2
This second Naval Aces of World War 1 book looks at the many flying naval heroes who served alongside or against those of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).

OSP CAM 244 : The Falklands 1982, Ground operations in the South Atlantic
On 3 April 1982 British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced that Argentine armed forces had landed on British sovereign territory; had captured the men of Royal Marine detachment NP8901; had run up the Argentine flag; and had declared the islands and their population to be Argentine. An immediate response was required and a task force was rapidly assembled to retake the islands.

OSP CMD 25 : Omar Bradley
General Omar Bradley was the premier US Army tactical commander in the European Theatre of Operations in 1944–45. A West Point classmate of Dwight Eisenhower, Bradley was the quintessential US field commander of World War II, elevated to high command with little combat experience but a solid track record as a skilled planner and organiser.

OSP DUEL 42 : DH 2 vs Albatros D I/D II, Western Front 1916
Flown by Victoria Cross recipient Lanoe Hawker and the members of No 24 Sqn, the ungainly yet nimble DH 2 helped the Allies attain air superiority over the Somme in early 1916 and hold it through the summer. With its rotary engine ‘pusher’ configuration affording excellent visibility and eliminating the need for a synchronized machine gun, the DH 2 was more than a match for anything the Germans could put in the air.

OSP DUEL 43 : M4 Sherman vs Type 97 Chi-Ha, The Pacific 1945
Although US and Japanese tank forces first clashed in 1941, it was on in 1944 that tank-vs-tank action became more common as both sides poured larger numbers of tanks into the combat zone.

OSP NVG 190 : British Heavy Cruisers 1939-45
The pre-World War I concept of armoured cruisers had been abandoned, but in their stead the Admiralty saw a place for powerful cruisers, able to patrol the sea lanes of the British Empire, and which were well-armed enough that they could destroy enemy commerce cruisers.

OSP RAID 31 : Gothic Serpent – Black Hawk Down Mogadishu 1993
This book tells the story of Task Force Ranger – a unit of US Rangers and Special Forces – and their attempt to capture the lieutenants of the Somali warlord Muhamed Farrah Aideed, during the 1993 United Nations’ humanitarian relief mission.

OSP WPN 16 : The M1 Garand
The M1 Garand gave the US infantryman a marked edge during World War II. It shot faster and further than enemy infantry rifles and hit harder. No less an authority on killing the enemy than General George S. Patton called the Garand, “The greatest battle implement ever devised.”

Roman Army : The Greatest War Machine of the Ancient World
The image of the Roman legionary is as familiar today as it was to the citizens – and enemies – of the vast Roman Empire two thousand years ago. This book goes beyond the stereotypes found in popular culture to examine the Roman Army from the first armed citizens of the early Republic through the glorious heights of the Imperial legions to the shameful defeats inflicted upon the late Roman Army by the Goths and Huns. Tracing the development of tactics, equipment and training, this work provides a detailed insight into the military force that enable Rome to become the greatest empire the world has ever seen.

 

NEW OSPREY MILITARY TITLES

        

OSP CAM 243 : The Fall of the Philippines 1941-42
OSP DUEL 41 : B-24 Liberator vs Ki-43 Oscar
OSP MAA 480 : Napoleon’s Dragoons of the Imperial Guard
OSP WAR 162 : Roman Republican Legionary 298-105 BC
OSP WPN 15 : The Browning Automatic Rifle

NEW OSPREY TITLES

     

OSP ACE 102 : MiG-3 Aces of World War 2 – Osprey Aircraft of the Aces Series
Dmitriy Khazanov, Andrey Yurgenson – Paperback, 96 pages
The MiG-1/3 family of fighters was built to satisfy a Soviet Air Force requirement for an advanced, fast, high-altitude fighter. Entering service in the spring of 1941, the problematic MiG-1 had its handling issues rectified with the hasty production of the MiG-3.

OSP CAM 239 : Plataea 479 BC – The most glorious victory ever seen – Osprey Campaign Series
William Shepherd, Peter Dennis – Paperback, 96 pages
Plataea was one of the biggest and most important land battles of pre-20th century history. Close to 100,000 hoplite and light-armed Greeks took on an even larger barbarian army that included elite Asian cavalry and infantry, and troops from as far away as India, with thousands of Greek hoplites and cavalry also fighting on the Persian side.

OSP ELI 119 : Apache Tactics 1830–86 – Osprey Elite Series
Robert Watt, Adam Hook – Paperback, 64 pages
The Apache culture of the latter half of the 19th century blended together the lifestyles of the Great Plains, Great Basin and the South-West, but it was their warfare that captured the imagination. This book reveals the skilful tactics of the Apache people as they raided and eluded the much larger and better-equipped US government forces.

OSP NVG 186 : US Marine Corps Tanks of World War II – Osprey New Vanguard Series
Steven J Zaloga, Richard Chasemore – Paperback, 48 pages
During World War II, the US Marine Corps formed six tank battalions that battled through the harsh conditions of the Pacific Theatre. Using the same basic tanks as the US Army, notably the M3 and M5A1 light tanks and the M4 Sherman medium tank, the marines made both technical and tactical innovations to make them more effective in the fight against the Japanese.

OSP RAID 27 : Tomahawk and Musket – French and Indian Raids in the Ohio Valley 1758 – Osprey Raid Series
Rene Chartrand – Paperback, 80 pages
In 1758, at the height of the French and Indian War, British Brigadier General John Forbes led his army on a methodical advance against Fort Duquesene, French headquarters in the Ohio valley.

OSP WPN 17 : The Lee-Enfield Rifle – Osprey Weapon Series
Martin Pilger, Peter Dennis – Paperback, 80 pages
The Lee-Enfield is one of the 20th century’s most recognisable and longest-serving military rifles. It was adopted by the British Army in 1895 and only replaced by the L1A1 SLR in 1957.

Spad VII vs Albatros D III

OSP DUEL 36: Spad VII vs Albatros D III 1917-18
Jon Guttman
Paperback, 80 pages, 248 x 184 mm

When originally conceived, the French SPAD VII and German Albatros D II represented steps away from an emphasis on manoeuvre in aerial combat in favour of speed and durability. At the end of 1916, however, Albatros tried to have the best of both worlds. The result combined the better downward view and manoeuvrability of the Nieuport with the power and twin machine guns of the Albatros D II.

Fortifications of Verdun

OSP FORT 103: The Fortifications of Verdun 1874-1917
Clayton Donnell/Brian Delf
Paperback, 64 pages, Illustrations (some col.), 184 x 248 mm

The ring of fortifications protecting the city of Verdun on the Meuse River would become critical in the infamous battle of World War I. This book examines these fortifications, including the famous forts of Douaumont and Vaux that saw some of the fiercest fighting during the battle.

Pick of the Week

OSP RAID 18: The Zeppelin Base Raids, Germany 1914
Ian Castle
Paperback, 80 pages, Illustrations (some col.), 248 x 184 mm

In the summer of 1914, as Europe teetered on the brink of war, the spectre of immediate Zeppelin raids on London and other major British towns and cities loomed large. When Winston Churchill accepted responsibility for the defence of London, he realised that Zeppelins were most vulnerable when on the ground. Despite limited resources, he believed that attack was the best form of defence. In the final four months of 1914, the RNAS launched four separate air attacks on Zeppelin bases in Germany: Düsseldorf/Cologne twice, Friedrichshafen and Cuxhaven. Author Ian Castle presents the full story of Britain’s first strategic bombing campaign and the results it achieved.

Contents

• Introduction
• Origins and Initial Strategy
• Planning the Düsseldork and Cologne Raids
• The Düsseldork and Cologne Raids
• Planning the Friedrichshafen Raid
• The Friedrichshafen Raid
• Planning the Cuxhaven Raid
• The Cuxhaven Raid
• Analysis
• Conclusion

US Submarines

OSP NVG 175: US Submarines 1900-35
Jim Christley/Peter Bull
Paperback, 48 pages, Illustrations (some col.), 248 x 184 mm

This book introduces the reader to the early years of US submarine development and operation during the first third of the 20th century. It was in this period of growth and change that the submarine moved from a small vessel of limited range and tactical strength to a far ranging force. It also covers the little-told story of the United State’s submarine force during World War I, and the lessons they learned that would be passed on to future generations of submariners.

AK-47 Kalashnikov

OSP WPN 8: The AK-47 Kalashnikov-series assault rifles
Gordon L Rottman
Paperback, 80 pages, 248 x 184 mm

The Kalashnikov AK-47 is the most ubiquitous assault rifle in the world, with more AK-47s and its variants in use than any other individual small arm. Created by Senior Sergeant Mikhail Kalashnikov, and first adopted by the USSR soon after World War II, its production continues to this day, with an estimated 75 million produced worldwide. This book takes a look at the complete history of the weapon, discussing its design, development, and usage, taking its story from the great armies of the Soviet Union to the insurgents and criminal gangs that often employ the weapon today.

North American Indian Tribes

OSP MAA 467: North American Indian Tribes of the Great Lakes
Michael Johnson/Jonathan Smith
Paperback, 48 pages, 248 x 184 mm

This book details the growth of the European Fur trade in North America and how it drew the Native Americans who lived in the Great Lakes region, notably the Huron, Dakota, Sauk and Fox, Miami and Shawnee tribes into the colonial European Wars. During the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812, these tribes took sides and became important allies of the warring nations. However, slowly the Indians were pushed westward by the encroachment of more settlers.

Armies of the Balkan Wars 1912-13

OSP MAA 466: Armies of the Balkan Wars 1912-13, The Priming Charge for the Great War
Philip Jowett/Stephen Walsh
Paperback, 48 pages, Illustrations (some col.), 248 x 184 mm

In 1912, the Balkan states formed an alliance in an effort to break free from the crumbling Ottoman Empire. Forming an army of some 645,000 troops from Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenego, they took on a force of 400,000 Turkish soldiers. Both sides were equipped with the latest weapons technology.

This book looks at the diverse and sometimes colourful uniforms worn by both sides, paying special attention to insignia, weapons and equipment. It also gives an overview of the campaigns that became a ‘priming pan’ of World War I.

Storming Flight 181

OSP RAID 19: Storming Flight 181, GSG 9 and the Mogadishu Hijack 1977
Chris McNab
Paperback, 80 pages, Illustrations (chiefly col.), 248 x 184 mm

In 1977, Lufthansa Flight 181 was hijacked by terrorists and flown to Mogadishu, Somalia. There, members of the German special missions group, GSG-9, stormed the plane, killing three of the terrorists and wounding the fourth, while avoiding any major harm to the hostages. This book details the backgrounds of both GSG-9 and the hijackers and offers a detailed analysis of the planning and execution of the mission, codenamed Operation Feuerzauber (Fire Magic) one of the most audacious special forces operations of modern times.

Heinz Guderian

OSP CMD 13: Heinz Guderian
Pier Paolo Battistelli
Paperback, 64 pages, Illustrations (some col.), 248 x 184 mm

Some consider Guderian to be the founding father of blitzkrieg warfare, and he certainly brought the whole concept to public attention and prominence, chiefly through the publication of his book "Achtung Panzer" in 1937. He commanded the XIX (Motorized) Army Corps in the 1939 Polish campaign, and Panzergruppe Guderian during Operation Barbarossa. In March 1943 he became chief inspector of the Panzer forces, but even the great tank commander could achieve little more than to delay the inevitable defeat of Germany.

Mark V Tank

OSP NVG 178: Mark V Tank
David Fletcher/Henry Morshead
Paperback, 48 pages, Illustrations (some col.), 248 x 186 mm

Although, to the casual eye, all British tanks of World War I look much the same, the Mark V is quite outstanding and has a strong claim to be the tank that won the Great War. In this title, renowned tank expert David Fletcher examines the technological developments that made this tank excel where others had failed, and the reasons why it gave the British the upper hand over the Germans on the battlefield and why it was adopted by the US Tank Corps. Accompanied by detailed artwork showing the design changes that allowed the Mark V to breach the widest German trenches, this title is an excellent resource for the study of the armour of World War I.

Saladin

OSP CMD 12: Saladin
David Nicolle
Paperback, 64 pages, Illustrations (chiefly col.), 248 x 184 mm

This Osprey Command book looks closely at the early life, military experiences and key battlefield exploits of Al-Malik al-Nasir Yusuf Ibn Najm al-Din Ayyub Ibn Shahdi Abu’l-Muzaffar Salah al-Din – or Saladin as he is more commonly known outside the Islamic world – who is broadly regarded as the greatest hero of the Crusades, even in Europe. Most chroniclers present him as a man of outstanding virtue, courage and political skill. More recently, however, efforts have been made to portray Saladin as an ambitious, ruthless and even devious politician, and as a less brilliant commander than is normally thought.

Boudicca’s Rebellion

OSP CAM 233: Boudicca’s Rebellion AD 60-61
Nic Fields/Peter Dennis
Paperback, 96 pages, Illustrations (chiefly col.), 248 x 184 mm

When the Romans occupied the southern half of Britain in AD 43, the Iceni tribe quickly allied themselves with the invaders. Having paid tribute to Rome, they continued to be ruled by their own kings. But 17 years later when Prasutagus, the king of the Iceni, died the Romans decided to incorporate his kingdom into the new province.

Spitfire Aces

OSP ACE 98: Spitfire Aces of North Africa and Italy
Andrew Thomas
Paperback, 6 pages, Illustrations (some col.), 248 x 184 mm

Although most famous for their role in the Battle of Britain, many Spitfire squadrons also served in the Mediterranean theatre, aiding the Allied victories in North Africa and later in the invasion of Italy. Numerous pilots, both Royal Air Force and South African Spitfire squadrons, made ace during these engagements. This book tells their story.

Jacobite Rebellion

OSP ESST 72: The Jacobite Rebellion 1745-46
Gregory Fremont-Barnes
Paperback, 96 pages, Illustrations (some col.), maps, 248 x 184 mm

The Jacobite Rebellion was the final attempt of the House of Stuart to re-establish itself on the British throne and it saw the death throes of the independent martial prowess of the Highland clans. No event in British history has been more heavily romanticized, but Gregory Fremont-Barnes succeeds in stripping away the myths to reveal the key events of this crucial period. From questions of dynastic succession to religious dominance, the events leading to the Rebellion are carefully explained and analyzed, drawing upon a host of primary research. From the landing of Bonnie Prince Charlie to the battle of Culloden, this book offers a complete overview of the Rebellion, complete with detailed maps and beautiful period illustrations.

Wargaming

OSP FOGR 4 : Colonies and Conquest, Asia 1494 – 1698
Gaukroger/Scott
Paperback, 100 pages, col. Illustrations, 242 x 190 mm

Following in the footsteps of Marco Polo, "Colonies and Conquest", the fourth "Field of Glory: Renaissance Companion", presents the armies and allies of the great civilizations of Asia. You can take on the role of a Portuguese conquistador or Dutch colonist, pushing ever-eastwards, seeking to bring trade and religion to the continent, or command the colourful and unique armies of India, China or Japan, and defend and expand your own empires. With artwork, maps and historical overviews, "Colonies and Conquest" presents everything you need to wargame the battles and conflicts of Renaissance-era Asia.

Fairburn-Sykes Commando Knife

OSP WPN 7 : Fairburn-Sykes Commando Knife
Leroy Thompson
Paperback, 80 pages, Illustrations (chiefly col.), 248 x 184 mm

The Fairbairn-Sykes Commando dagger has become iconic as the most widely recognized fighting knife in the world. The origins of the dagger can be traced to Shanghai in the 1930s where W. E. Fairbairn and US Marine officers including Sam Yeaton carried out experiments to develop what they considered the perfect knife for close combat. When Fairbairn and Sykes became instructors for the Commandos, they refined the design which would evolve into the classic Fairbairn-Sykes dagger. The dagger was first used during early Commando raids into occupied Europe but saw action in every theatre of World War II. US Rangers and Marines who had trained with the Commandos took their Fairbairn-Sykes daggers home, and this also influenced the development of American Special Forces daggers. The Fairbairn-Sykes remained in use with many units after the war. It has become a symbol of Commando and special forces units throughout the world.

57th Fighter Group

OSP AEU 39: 57th Fighter Group ‘First in the Blue’
Carl Molesworth
Paperback, 128 pages, B/W & Colour Illustrations

Organized in January 1941, just as the United States was building up military forces for its inevitable entry into World War II, the 57th Fighter Group was the first USAAF fighter unit to go into action in North Africa. It went on to establish a number of other ‘firsts’ during its illustrious combat history in this theatre. Flying P-40 Warhawks, the pilots of the 57th entered combat in August 1942 and fought throughout the final Allied advance from El Alamein through the Axis surrender in Tunisia, the capture of Sicily and the invasion of Italy. Converting to the P-47D Thunderbolt in late 1943, the 57th continued pounding the retreating Axis forces in Italy until the end of the war in Europe. The 57th Fighter Group produced a number of aces during the war, and was also recognized for its pioneering achievements in the fighter-bomber role.