Издательство: Osprey
Год издания: 2007
Количество страниц: 100
Язык: english
Формат: PDF
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 Luftwaffe's 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.
Автор: David Nicolle
Издательство: Osprey
Год издания: 1986
isbn: 0850456827
Количество страниц: 51
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
Salah al Din Yusif ibn Ayyub, known to his Muslim contemporaries as al Nasi, 'The Victorious', and to an admiring Europe as Saladin, is the most famous single figure in the history of the Crusades, being even better known outside the English-speaking world than his Christian foe Richard the Lionheart. Traditionally portrayed as a quiet, deeply religious and even humble man, Saladin was a typical product of his day and his culture. This title shows how the societies and military systems that he and his successors led from defeat to eventual triumph were far more sophisticated than is generally realised, and brings vividly to life the history, organisation, arms and armour of Saladin and the Saracens.
Автор: Jason Hook, Richard Hook
Издательство: Osprey
Год издания: 1993
isbn: 0-85045-608-8
Количество страниц: 49
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
The central plains of North America to the east of the Rocky Mountains were home to the Plains Indians; here the hunting grounds of the twelve "typical" tribes coincided with the grazing range of the largest of the buffalo herds. The adoption of a horse culture heralded the golden age of the Plains Indians – an age abruptly ended by the intervention of the white man, who forced them into reservations in the second half of the 19th century. Jason Hook's fascinating text explores the culture of American Plains Indians, from camp life to conquest, in a volume complemented by photographs and stunning artwork. Men-at-Arms 163 and 186 and Warrior 4 are also available in a single volume special edition as ‘To Live and Die in the West’.
Автор: Terence Wise, Richard Hook
Издательство: Osprey
Год издания: 1997
isbn: 0-85045-348-8
Количество страниц: 48
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
Coats of arms were at first used only by kings and princes, then by their great nobles, but by the mid-13th century arms were being used extensively by the lesser nobility, knights and those who later came to be styled gentlemen. In some countries the use of arms spread even to merchants, townspeople and the peasantry. From the mundane to the fantastic, from simple geometric patterns to elaborate mythological beasts, this fascinating work by Terence Wise explores the origins and appearance of medieval heraldic devices in an engagingly readable style accompanied by numerous illustrations including eight full page colour plates by Richard Hook.
Автор: V.Shpakovsky, D.Nicolle, Angus McBride
Издательство: Osprey
Год издания: 2002
isbn: 1-84176-234-2
Количество страниц: 47
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
After disastrous defeats at the hands of the Mongols in the 13th century, the Russian principalities became vassals of the Khans of the Golden Horde for more then 200 years; and at the same time the western princes faced the German crusaders of the Teutonic Order. Remarkably, Russia responded with a new surge of military vigour. Eventually, freedom from the 'Mongol yoke' coincided with a degree of unity around a powerful new state - Muscovy. This exciting chapter of history is illustrated with rare early paintings, photos, diagrams, and eight plates reconstructing the mixed influences of East and West in the appearance of Russian warriors.
Автор: S.Turnbull, R.Hook
Издательство: Osprey
Год издания: 1992
isbn: 0-85045-302-X
Количество страниц: 49
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
In 1543 three Portuguese merchants entered a turbulent Japan, bringing with them the first firearms the Japanese had ever seen: simple matchlock muskets called arquebuses. They proved a decisive addition to the Japanese armoury, as for centuries the samurai had fought only with bow, sword and spear. In 1575, one of the greatest original thinkers in the history of samurai, Oda Nobunaga, arranged his arquebusiers in ranks three deep behind a palisade and proceeded, quite literally, to blow his opponent’s cavalry to pieces, marking the beginning of a new era in Japanese military history.
Автор: T.Wise, R.Hook
Издательство: Osprey
Год издания: 1980
isbn: 0-85045-336-4
Количество страниц: 49
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
In the first half of the 18th century the French had been the European leaders in artillery, possessing the only standardised range of pieces. These pieces, were sturdy but extremely heavy. This books shows how at the beginning of the Seven Years' War, Austria seized the lead by introducing new light field pieces - the 3pdr., 6pdr., and 12pdr. guns - and some excellent light howitzers. Other powers adopted this new system, however no complete overarching methodology existed until the implementation of the Gribeauval system, which was to revolutionise the artillery of Europe and make possible the highly efficient field artillery of the Napoleonic Wars.