Автор: Terry Crowdy, Steve Noon
Издательство: Osprey Publishing
Год издания: 2008
isbn: 1846032768, 9781846032769
Количество страниц: 64
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
Osprey's study of Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents during World War II (1939-1945). On average an SOE agent would be dead within three months of being dropped in the field. 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 unorthodox training methods, particularly the unarmed combat training provided by the notorious Fairburn and Sykes partnership. As well as detailing these controversial techniques, the training chapter also covers the tough physical training course and parachute training that all recruits had to endure before being sent into occupied Europe. Crowdy also examines the SOE's unique system of codes, which included each agent composing their own poem as well as using quotations from famous pieces of literature to convey secret messages, and explores the strengths and weaknesses of this system. Full-color artwork and photographs show the innovative equipment, including the S-Phones and Eureka sets, which allowed the agent to communicate directly with pilots and other agents. Lastly, the book recounts the incredible combat missions of the SOE agents, including 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 Churchill's directive to set Occupied Europe ablaze.
Автор: Paddy Griffith, Adam Hook
Издательство: Osprey Publishing
Год издания: 2008
isbn: 1846032903, 9781846032905
Количество страниц: 64
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
Osprey's study of desert tactics employed in North Africa during World War II (1939-1945). In 1940-43 North Africa saw the first major desert campaign by modern mechanized 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 a terrain empty of resources and offering little chance of concealment. Paddy Griffith traces the fast-learning development of armor, artillery and infantry tactics in this exceptional situation and illustrates it using references to the major engagements in the North African theater, which involved some of the greatest tacticians of World War II in one of the pivotal arenas.
Автор: Chris Bucholtz, Jim Laurier
Издательство: Osprey Publishing
Год издания: 2007
isbn: 1846030447, 9781846030444
Количество страниц: 130
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
The USAAC's Tuskegee Experiment, designed to prove that African-Americans were not capable of flying combat aircraft, ironically resulted in the creation of one of the USAAF's elite units. Crewed by highly-educated and exceptionally motivated men, the 99th Fighter Squadron, led by Col Benjamin O. Davis (later joined by the 100th, 301st, and 302nd FS to form the 332nd Fighter Group), first flew ground attack missions in P-40s in North Africa and participated in the destruction and surrender of Pantelleria, off Sicily. Later, after the unit was equipped with P-51 Mustangs, the 'Redtails' began flying escort missions deep into Germany. The unit scoreboard boasted 111 aerial kills (including several Me 262 jets), 150 strafing victories, 950 vehicles and railway rolling stock destroyed, and the sinking of a German destroyer by war's end. The group were both feared and respected by the Germans, who called them the "Schwartze Voglemenschen" (Black Birdmen), and revered by others as the "Black Red-tail Angels", partly because of their distinct red-tailed aircraft, and partly because they never lost a bomber under escort to enemy attack (a feat which was unmatched by any other USAAF fighter group in World War II). The pilots of the 332nd FG attribute their success to the discipline instilled by Col Davis, who is reputed to have told them, 'If you lose a bomber, don't bother to come back.' This book will reveal the true story of the unit who rose above discrimination to achieve elite status.
Автор: Boris Ciglic, Dragan Savic
Издательство: Osprey Publishing
Год издания: 2002
isbn: 1841764353
Количество страниц: 98
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
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.
Автор: John Tincey, Graham Turner
Издательство: Osprey Publishing
Год издания: 2003
isbn: 1841763349
Количество страниц: 97
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
The entry of the Scots into the English Civil War (1642–1651) 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 Cromwell’s 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.
Автор: Gordon Williamson, Ian Palmer
Издательство: Osprey Publishing
Год издания: 2003
isbn: 1841765562
Количество страниц: 67
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
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 war's end.
Автор: Christopher Foss, Peter Sarson
Издательство: Osprey Publishing
Год издания: 1997
isbn: 1855323796
Количество страниц: 48
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
The Warrior has been an important component of the British Army since the first production example was handed over in May 1987. It has seen action in many parts of the globe and the British Army alone uses eight different specialised versions of the vehicle, while Desert and Arctic Warriors are also produced for countries with extreme climates. In this authoritative text Christopher Foss examines the development and operational life of the Warrior, the British army’s most modern armoured personnel carrier, and its many variants, focussing on its role in 'Desert Storm' and other campaigns.
Автор: Steven Zaloga, Peter Sarson
Издательство: Osprey Publishing
Год издания: 1993
isbn: 185532296X
Количество страниц: 49
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
The M4 Sherman tank was the mainstay of the Western allies between 1942 and 1945. Fast and modern it was better than most of the tanks Britain had to offer. The American Chief of Staff claimed in November 1943 that it had been hailed widely as ‘the best tank on the battlefield today’. However, by the time of the Normandy invasion of June 1944 this was not the case. The new heavy tanks being produced by the Germans were able to outclass the Sherman in both armour and armament. This title describes the development and operational use of the Sherman medium tank throughout World War II and beyond.
Автор: Philip Katcher, Richard Hook
Издательство: Osprey Publishing
Год издания: 2002
isbn: 1841763187
Количество страниц: 68
Язык: english
Формат: PDF (scan)
Osrpey's examination of the commanders of the American Civil War (1861-1865). 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.
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