Osprey Publishing

Intended to replace the proliferation of different small arms fielded by US forces during the American Civil War, the "Trapdoor Springfield" was designed in 1865-66 by Erskine S. Allin. Using metallic cartridges, it could be loaded in a single action, increasing the number of shots per minute as much as fivefold. The new weapon quickly proved its worth in two separate incidents in August 1867: small groups of US soldiers and civilians armed with the trapdoor repulsed numerically superior...

23rd Fighter Group by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPAEU31Famous for the fearsome sharksmouths that adorned their planes, the 23rd FG fought a guerrilla war against the Japanese, steadily moving pilots and aircraft from one remote air base in China to another to keep the enemy off balance. Because China could only be supplied by air from India, there were constant shortages of aircraft, fuel and ammunition with which to contend. The 23rd FG met these challenges head-on, and by the end of the...

332nd Fg Tuskegee Airmen by OspreyItem Number: OSPAEU24Aviation Elite Units 24Author: Chris BucholtzIllustrator: Jim LaurierAbout this bookThe USAAF's Tuskegee Experiment, designed to prove that African-Americans were not capable of flying combat aircraft, resulted in the creation of one of the USAAF's 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 war's end. The group were...

359th Fighter Group by OspreyItem Number: OSPAEU10Aviation Elite Units 10Author: Jack H SmithIllustrator: Tom TullisAbout this bookNicknamed 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...

475th Fighter Group by OspreyItem Number: OSPAEU23Aviation Elite Units 23Author: John StanawayIllustrator: Chris DaveyAbout this bookFormed 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...

479th Fighter Group 'Riddle's Raiders' by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPAEU32Aviation Elite Units 32Author: John StanawayIllustrator: Chris DaveyAbout this bookFormed in October 1943, the 479th FG claimed an impressive history against the Luftwaffe during the final year of the war. Originally flying P-38s, the 479th's pilots had a fierce pride of arms. They earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation in the late summer of 1944 and were also credited with the USAAF's first German jet...

In the early days of World War I, Germany unveiled a new weapon - the mobile 42cm (16.5 inch) M-Ger-t howitzer. At the time, it was the largest artillery piece of its kind in the world and a closely guarded secret. When war broke out, two of the howitzers were rushed directly from the factory to Liege where they quickly destroyed two forts and compelled the fortress to surrender. After repeat performances at Namur, Maubeuge and Antwerp, German soldiers christened the howitzers -Grosse' or...

56th Fighter Group by OspreyItem Number: OSPAEU2Aviation Elite Units 2Author: Roger FreemanIllustrator: Chris DaveyAbout this bookOne 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 war's end. Led by the inspirational 'Hub' Zemke, this group was responsible for devising many of the bomber...

57th Fighter Group - First in the Blue by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPAEU39Aviation Elite Units 39Author: Carl MolesworthIllustrator: Jim LaurierAbout this bookOrganized 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...

88mm Flak 18/36/37 And Pak 43 by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG46 New Vanguard 46Author: John NorrisIllustrator: Mike FullerAbout this bookThe German 88 mm was by far the most famous and versatile artillery weapon of World War II. It was first used as an anti-aircraft weapon by the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War and saw further service in the German invasions of Poland and France, where it was first used in its anti-tank role. This role was particularly successful and the 88...

About this Osprey Publishing BookAt the height of the Seven Years' War, Great Britain made an audacious strike at the heart of Spanish colonial power in the Caribbean. Gathering troops from bases in Britain and Canada and sailing across the Atlantic in secrecy was an incredible feat. The raid on Havana took Spanish colonial forces completely by surprise and following vicious fighting, the city defences at El Moro collapsed. Havana, the jewel in the Spanish colonial crown, now belonged to...

About this Osprey Publishing BookA Fistful of Kung Fu brings the hyper-kinetic, bullet-spraying, demon-slaying, kung-fu-fighting action of Hong Kong movies and Asian cinema to the wargames tabletop. In a modern world walking a precarious line between the advances of next-generation technology and the tradition and mysticism of ancient cultures, Kung Fu schools face off in no-holds-barred tournaments, corporations hire agents and spies to steal each other's secrets, overworked SWAT teams...

Author: Paul EaglestoneIllustrator: Mark StaceyAbout this bookOften called the _Pulp Era_, the years between the two World Wars have seen a tremendous surge in interest among wargamers. A World Aflame captures the adventurous nature of the time period to present a fun, fast-paced set of tabletop miniatures rules that can handle the many diverse conflicts of the period, from the Chinese Civil Wars and the _Great Game_ in Central Asia, to the Irish War of Independence and the bitter ideological...

The A-10 was never a favourite amongst the USAF's senior staff, and prior to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 they had attempted to transfer the aircraft to the US Army and Marine Corps. Reprieved from premature retirement, the A-10 would see combat in the Balkans during the mid-1990s and over Iraq in Operations Northern Watch and Southern Watch until Operation Iraqi Freedom began in 2003. Following the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States, the Bush administration responded with the...

A-10 Thunderbolt II Units of Operation Enduring Freedom 2008-14 from Osprey Publishing Item Number:OSPCOM111 Combat Aircraft Series: Each Combat Aircraft book concentrates on one of the greatest aircraft in aviation history, the technology behind it and the men who flew it. Examining the design, development and deployment of the aircraft throughout history, from World War II and Korea through to current actions in the Gulf and Afghanistan, each book features up to 30 aircraft profiles, pages...

Designed to combine the bombing capability of the B-26 Marauder with the versatility of the ground-attack A-20 Havoc, the A-26 Invader would become the USAAF's attack bomber par excellence. Capable of flying low-level strafing or conventional bombing missions by simply changing the nose configuration of the aircraft, the Invader first saw action in 1943 in the Pacific Theatre attacking Japanese-held islands. Arriving in Europe several months later, the A-26 served with distinction for the...

About this Osprey Publishing BookThe Douglas A-3 Skywarrior, though something of a cult favourite, remains a largely unremarked classic of Naval Aviation. Built for nuclear weapon delivery, the A-3 made its name in Vietnam as a conventional bomber, tanker and Electronic Warfare platform. It was the largest aircraft ever regularly operated from the decks of aircraft carriers, earning it the fleet-wide nickname -Whale'. It excelled in every mission area assigned to it and operated in the US Navy...

At the time of its operational debut the fighter's design features offered the revolutionary combination of an all-round vision canopy, cannon armament and a jettisonable drop tank giving it phenomenal range. Together with the flying and tactical proficiency of superbly trained pilots, this made the Zero-sen a true strategic fighter, spearheading Japan's offensive in the Pacific. It was also the mount of a plethora of successful and flamboyant naval aces engaged in both sea and land campaigns.

About this Osprey Publishing BookThe 325th FG was activated under General Order number 50 on 30 July 1942 and set up training operations at Theodore F Greene Field in Providence, Rhode Island. By mid-December 1942 the group was considered ready for combat and the alert for overseas duty arrived on 2 January 1943. The pilots and their P-40s departed on the carrier USS Ranger on 8 January and flew their aircraft off the vessel into Cazes airfield, near Casablanca, on 19 January 1943. After the...

About this Osprey Publishing BookJagdgeschwader 3 may not have the same immediate resonance as some of the more famous Luftwaffe fighter units, such Jagdgeschwader 2 -Richthofen', but it is arguably the archetypal German fighter formation of World War 2. Not only did it participate in every campaign fought by the Luftwaffe (with the exceptions of Poland and Norway), it flew every major variant of the two legendary German wartime fighters, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 -...

Aces of Jagdgeschwader Nr III from Osprey Publishing Item Number:OSPACE128 Author: Greg VanWyngarden Illustrator: Harry Dempsey, Mark Postlethwaite Short code: ACE 128 Publication Date: 20 Jan 2016 Number of Pages: 96 About this Osprey Publishing Book Royal Prussian Jagdgeschwader Nr III was the third of Germany's vaunted fighter wings to be formed during World War 1. Commanded by the Pour le M-rite winner and well-respected ace Hauptmann Bruno Loerzer for its entire existence, it was composed...

About this Osprey Publishing BookInitially formed to assist in the defence of the city of Metz against French bombing raids, Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 17 would go on to become one of the most distinguish German fighter units of World War 1. Its first victory was scored by the pilot whose story is inextricably interwoven with that of his unit - the -Blue Max' recipient Julius Buckler. He was largely responsible for inspiring the unit's unique Esprit de Corps, expressed in its famous and unique...

The ace pilots of the Republic of China Air Force have long been shrouded in mystery and obscurity, as their retreat to Taiwan in 1949 and blanket martial law made records of the RoCAF all but impossible to access. Now, for the first time, the colourful story of these aces can finally be told. Using the latest research based on released archival information and full-colour illustrations, this book charts the history of the top scoring pilots of the RoCAF from the beginning of the gruelling,...

About this Osprey Publishing BookDubbed the -Eagles of Duxford', the 78th Fighter Group (FG) was unique in being the only fighter unit in the -Mighty Eighth' to fly the P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang operationally. Arriving in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) in November 1942, and eventually committed to combat five months later, the 78th, along with the 4th and 56th FGs, -wrote the book' on long-range fighter escort by VIII Fighter Command in the ETO. This volume...

Aces of the Legion Condor by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPACE99For Germany, the Spanish Civil War proved a perfect testing ground for new technologies and tactics. During the war, some 19,000 German 'volunteers' formed an aviation group called the Legion Condor in support of the fascists. Originally flying He-51s, they were soon upgraded to 109s. These fighters proved dominant in the Spanish skies, and many members of the legion scored five or more kills during the fighting.Contents *...

Acient Greeks by OspreyItem Number: OSPELI7Elite 7Author: Nicholas SekundaIllustrator: Angus McBrideAbout this bookThe 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...

Acre 1291 by OspreyItem Number: OSPCAM154Campaign 154Author: David NicolleIllustrator: Graham TurnerAbout this bookIn 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...

Across A Deadly Field - Regimental Rules for Civil War Battles from Osprey Publishing Item Number:OSPACW1 American Civil War Series Across A Deadly Field – The War in the East : Written by: John Hill Illustrated by: Mark Stacey The American Civil War was a turning point in the history of warfare, as Napoleonic tactics met deadly new technology. Cannons and rifles had become more accurate at longer ranges, rapid-fire pistols gave cavalry a new weapon, and the telegraph and railroad...

Across A Deadly Field - The War in the East (Hardcover) from Osprey Publishing Item Number:OSPACW2 American Civil War Series Across A Deadly Field – The War in the East : Written by: John Hill Illustrated by: Mark Stacey The War in the East, a supplement for John Hill's Across a Deadly Field, gives players the resources to recreate the battles, great and small, of the Eastern Theater of the Civil War. Step into the shoes of Robert E. Lee and drive towards Washington with the Army of...

About this Osprey Publishing BookThe War in the West, the new supplement for Across A Deadly Field brings to the tabletop the bitter struggles of the Western Theatre of the American Civil War. The special rules and scenarios included in this volume give players everything they need to recreate the battles, both great and small, of this theatre of the war. Battles such as Shiloh, Stone River, Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Atlanta are presented in great detail, offering players of...

Actium 31 BC Downfall of Antony and Cleopatra by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPCAM211Campaign 211Author: Si SheppardIllustrator: Christa HookAbout this bookIn 32 BC, the Roman Republic descended into civil war between the forces of the Octavian in the west and the famous lovers Cleopatra and Marc Antony in the East. Acting quickly, Octavian managed to trap his foes in the Gulf of Actium. In the ensuing battle, Anthony and Cleopatra manage to escape, but their military forces and their hopes...

Acw Artillery 2 Siege Artiller by OspreyItem Number: OSPNVG40New Vanguard 40Author: Philip KatcherIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookBecause of the length of the coastline of the United States, from the beginning American ordnance and engineers placed an emphasis on heavy artillery mounted in coastal defences. The Union army organised its 'Heavy Artillery' into separate regiments, uniformed and equipped differently. While the Field Artillery was assigned across the fighting fronts Heavy...

Acw Commanders Union East by OspreyItem Number: OSPELI73Elite 73Author: Philip KatcherIllustrator: Richard HookAbout this bookWhen 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 government's urgent need to find commanders for the vastly expanded Federal army put generals' stars on...

The Douglas AD Skyraider is considered the most effective naval aircraft of the Korean War despite the emergence of new jet fighters that captured public imagination. Built to replace the World War 2 workhorses like the Dauntless, Helldiver and Avenger diveand torpedo-bombers, the Skyraider operated numerous combat missions from carrier decks and from US Marine Corps land bases throughout the conflict. Drawing from personal interviews with AD pilots, the authors paint a harrowing picture of...

Adrianople 378 by OspreyItem Number: OSPCAM84Campaign 84vAuthor: Simon MacDowallIllustrator: Howard GerrardAbout this book'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...

Advanced Aviation Modelling by OspreyItem Number: OSPMAN2Modelling Manuals 2Author: Jerry ScuttsAbout this bookThis is the second in the new Modelling Manual series which sets out to help the more experienced modeller to improve techniques and expand their modelling horizons. Working with models like the MIG27 Fulcrum, the A-10, and the WW1 Roland Walfisch the reader is shown how with patience and care these and other models can be superdetailed to a very high standard. Very detailed colour...

Advanced Military Vehicle Mod by OspreyItem Number: OSPMAN4Modelling Manuals 4Author: Jerry ScuttsAbout this bookFor the more experienced vehicle modeller this book takes the reader to a level of proficiency that some people only dream of. Step by step colour photographs and clear, precise language show scratchbuilding and superdetailing techniques which make gold award winners. Vehicles covered include 1/35 Hummel, SDKFZ Self propelled gun, Panther engine, Grant medium tank, DUKW Amphibious...

Afgan Cave Complexes 1979-2004 by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPFOR26Following 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...

African American Soldier In Cw by OspreyItem Number: OSPWAR114Warrior 114Author: Mark LardasIllustrator: Peter DennisAbout this bookApproximately 200,000 African Americans fought for the Union during the Civil War. Initially, many white soldiers doubted their bravery and skill; they were soon proved wrong. The United States Colored Troops performed countless acts of courage, most famously at the battle of Fort Wagner where the 54th Massachusetts marched forth and scaled the parapets, only to...

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....

Afrikakorps 1941-43 by OspreyItem Number: OSPELI34Elite 34Author: Gordon WilliamsonIllustrator: Ronald VolstadAbout this bookThe 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...

Agincourt 1415 by OspreyItem Number: OSPCAM9Campaign 9Author: Matthew BennettAbout this bookAgincourt is one of the most evocative names in English military history. Henry V's 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...

Author: Osamu TagayaIllustrator: Jim LaurierAbout this bookThe Aichi Type 99 Carrier Bomber (D3A) _ code named _Val_ by Allied intelligence _ was the mainstay of the Imperial Japanese Navy_s carrier dive-bomber force from 1941 to 1943. It sank more Allied warship tonnage than any other Axis aircraft during World War 2. While the Val_s participation in the major carrier battles has been widely covered in other English language sources, details of its operations have received scant attention in...

Air War In The Gulf 1991 by OspreyItem Number: OSPCOM27Combat Aircraft 27Author: Chris ChantIllustrator: Mark RolfeAbout this bookIn August 1990 Saddam Hussein's 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,...

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...

Airbrush Painting Techniques by OspreyItem Number: OSPMAN6Modelling Manuals 6About this bookThis book is designed to impart the techniques of using this effective tool quickly and easily. All three types of airbrush are examined and explained in simple terms. The title also boasts an excellent section on actually using the airbrush, and studies in depth the painting of four different miniatures. Clear photographs are taken of the painting process on each different model, showing all sorts of...

Alamo Texan War Independence 1835-36 by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPMAA173In 1823 Texas was opened to American settlement; over the next 12 years thousands took advantage of the opportunity. During this time the corrupt Santa Anna rose to power. A dishonest and ruthless politician, thief, compulsive gambler, opium addict and liar, he nevetheless gained a measure of popular support and set about destroying federalism. Conflict with the American settlers ('Texians') became inevitable, a...

Albatros Aces Of Ww-I Pt1 by OspreyItem Number: OSPACE32Author: Norman FranksIllustrator: Harry DempseyAbout this bookThe 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...