Osprey New Vanguard Series

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...

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...

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...

Allied Tank Destroyers by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPVAN10This book offers a complete guide to the design, development and deployment of Allied tank destroyers during World War 2, including the M10, the M36 and M3. The concept behind the tank destroyer is explored, and its combat experience in North Africa, the Mediterranean and North-West Europe is detailed.

Acw Artillery 1861-65 by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG38Perhaps the most influential arm of either army in the prosecution of the American Civil War, the artillery of both sides grew to be highly professional organizations, centralizing their artillery, organizing artillery battalions from individual batteries and giving their commanders higher ranks than field artillerymen had previously held. In battle, the introduction of the 12-pdr. Napoleon , followed closely by rifled cannon,...

American Heavy Frigates 1794- by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG79By 1805 the 44-gun frigate was probably viewed as a failed experiment whilst the 38-gun frigate was viewed as the vessel of the future. Ten years later every navy was building 44-gun frigates and today it is viewed as the symbol of the Napoleonic-era cruiser. This remarkable transformation resulted from the performance of three ships - the Constitution, United States, and President - 44-gun frigates built for the United...

American Light & Med Frigates by OspreyItem Number: OSPNVG147New Vanguard 147Author: Mark LardasIllustrators: Tony Bryan Giuseppe RavaAbout this bookThe '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...

American Privateers of the Revoltionary by Osprey Publishing Item Number: OSPNVG279During the American War of Independence (1775-83), Congress issued almost 800 letters of marque, as a way of combating Britain's overwhelming naval and mercantile superiority. At first, it was only fishermen and the skippers of small merchant ships who turned to privateering, with mixed results. Eventually though, American shipyards began to turn out specially-converted ships, while later still, the first...

Formidable and sophisticated, triremes were the deadliest battleships of the ancient world and at the height of their success the Athenians were the dominant exponents of their devastating power. Primarily galleys designed to fight under oar power, their main weapon was a bronze-plated ram situated at the prow. This book offers a complete analysis of the most potent battleship of its time; the weapon by which Athens achieved, maintained and ultimately lost its power and prosperity.

Armored Trains by OspreyItem Number: OSPNVG140New Vanguard 140Author: Steven J ZalogaIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookFirst seen during the American Civil War and later appearing in the Franco-Prussian War and the Anglo-Boer Wars, the armored train came to prominence on the Eastern Front during World War I. It was also deployed during the Russian Civil War and the technology traveled east into the Chinese Civil War, and the subsequent war with Japan. It saw service on the Russian Front in...

Armour Of The Pacific War by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPVAN35This book investigates the design, deployment and development of the armoured vehicles that saw service in the Pacific theatre of World War 2. The course of the war is traced, and the vehicles- performance summarised. Vehicles are shown in full colour artwork.

Armoured Units Russian Cw by OspreyItem Number: OSPNVG83New Vanguard 83Authors: David Bullock Alexander DeryabinIllustrator: Andrei AksenovAbout this bookOne of the most important conflicts of the 20th century, the Russian Civil War was the struggle that led to the formation of the Soviet Union. Following the overthrow of the Russian Provisional Government on 7 November 1917, the All-Russian Congress of Soviets met and handed over power to the Soviet Council of People's Commissars. Immediately...

Austrian Napoleonic Artillery by OspreyItem Number: OSPNVG72New Vanguard 72Author: David HollinsIllustrator: Brian DelfAbout this bookThe Austrian artillery of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars was a creation of the renowned Lichtenstein system of the early 1750s. This weight system produced a series of weapons of 3-, 6- and 12-pdr. calibre along with 7- and 10-pdr. howitzers. In the 1780s they were joined by Cavalry artillery guns with their Wurst seats. In 1811 Austria also began the...

Author: Ryan NoppenIllustrator: Paul WrightAbout this bookAustria-Hungary did not have an overseas empire; its empire lay within its own boundaries and the primary purpose of its navy until the beginning of the twentieth century was the defense of its coastline. As its merchant marine dramatically grew, admirals believed that the navy should take a more proactive policy of defense. The 1890s saw the beginning of a series of naval building programs that would create a well-balanced modern...

About this Osprey Publishing BookAt the outbreak of World War I Austria-Hungary had four modern light cruisers and twenty modern destroyers at their disposal, constructed in the early 20th century to defend their growing overseas interests. It was these fast light vessels, not the fleet's prized battleships, which saw most action during the war; from the bombardment of enemy batteries during the Montenegrin Campaign to their victory over the Allied fleet at the Battle of the Strait of Otranto...

About this Osprey Publishing BookDuring World War II, Germany, Japan, and Italy built approximately 2,000 small, inherently stealthy, naval craft to perform special operations and conventional naval missions. Much more numerous and more technically advanced than their Allied counterparts, they saw service worldwide, operating in the Pacific, Mediterranean, Black Sea, Indian Ocean, North Sea, and the English channel. Manned by courageous crews, these vessels made daring attacks on Allied ships...

Bell Uh-1 Huey Slicks 1962-75 by OspreyItem Number: OSPNVG87New Vanguard 87Author: Chris BishopIllustrator: Mike BadrockeAbout this bookThe US Army requirement for a light utility helicopter was formulated after the Korean War. Bell's Model 204 design won a competition in 1955, and was given the military designation H-40, later renamed the HU-1 Iroquois. The original design called for a helicopter that could be used for transport, airborne battlefield command and control, medical evacuation,...

Bmp Infantry Fighting Vehicle by OspreyItem Number: OSPNVG12New Vanguard 12Author: Steven J ZalogaIllustrator: Peter SarsonAbout this bookThe Russian BMP infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) was one of the most significant innovations in infantry tactics in the latter half of the 20th century. Built in response to the threat of nuclear warfare, it was the world's first IFV, providing the infantry squad with unprecedented firepower, mobility and protection. With over 55,000 manufactured since 1966,...

About this Osprey Publishing BookThe Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle is the newest land warfare system in the United States Army and Marine Corps inventory. Designed to meet the challenges of operating in a counterinsurgency environment, the MRAP has taken survivability to a new level. MRAPs are currently manufactured by three companies: BAE Systems, Navistar International Military Group, and Force Protection Inc. Each company manufactures an MRAP according to one of three...

In 1906, the Germans began building their own dreadnought fleet armed with larger guns, word of which soon reached the British Admiralty. This raised the spectre that the British dreadnought fleet would be outgunned, and prompted the Admiralty to order the building of their own "super dreadnoughts-. The first of these new dreadnoughts were laid down in 1909, and entered service three years later. The British public supported this programme, and the slogan "we want eight and cannot wait- became...

British Aircraft Carriers 1939-45 by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG168New Vanguard 168Author: Angus KonstamIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookWith war against Germany looming, Britain pushed forward its carrier program in the late 1930s. In 1938, the Royal Navy launched the HMS Ark Royal, its first-ever purpose-built aircraft carrier. This was quickly followed by others, including the highly-successful Illustrious class. Smaller and tougher than their American cousins, the British...

British Airships 1905'30 by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG155New Vanguard 155Author: Ian CastleIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookThis book reveals the fascinating story of the cat and mouse duel between the airship and another pioneering form of technology ' the submarine during World War 1. Detailed cut-away drawings reveal the design and development of the airship, during and after the war, whilst full-colour illustrations depict the airship in dramatic action shots. A tragic...

Amphibious assault ships have been at the centre of nearly all of Britain's expeditionary campaigns since World War II, from the Suez crisis of 1956 to operations as far afield as Borneo (1963-66), the Falklands (1982), Sierra Leone (2000) and Iraq (2003). In major operations such as Suez and the Falklands, the use of amphibious assault ships was essential to the military success of the campaigns. The Suez Crisis saw two of the Royal Navy's former light fleet carriers converted into 'commando...

British Anti-Tank Artillery by OspreyItem Number: OSPNVG98New Vanguard 98Author: Chris HenryIllustrator: Brian DelfAbout this bookThe rapid development of the tank as an offensive weapon following its introduction in World War I gave artillery theorists cause for concern during the 1920s and 1930s. By the beginning of World War II anti-tank guns had been developed, initially at around 37mm and 2 pounds in weight of shot. By the end of the war, monster anti-tank weapons were being developed,...

World War I is often deemed to have been ? a war of artillery', and British heavy artillery played a vital part in destroying the German trenches and providing invaluable cover for advancing troops on the Western Front. This book details the huge guns of the Royal Garrison Artillery, including the 6-in. siege gun and howitzer, the 8-in. howitzer, the 12-in. railway and siege howitzer and the infamous 9.2-in breech-loading siege howitzer. Camouflage and enemy battery locations and transport are...

British Artillery 1914-19: Field Army Artillery by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG94n 1914 the artillery of Britain's 'Field Army' encompassed those weapons judged to have sufficient mobility to keep up with troops in the field. This book describes all major variants, from the 60-pdr guns of the heavy field batteries, perched somewhat uncomfortably on the cusp between field artillery and siege artillery, to the 2.75in. guns of the mountain batteries, almost toy-like in comparison. Between...

British Battlecruisers 1914-18 by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG126Early British battlecruisers were not a "failed design" as is so often claimed, but a very successful and revolutionary one that was critical to, and instrumental in, Britain winning the naval war of 1914-18. This book contains new information on these innovative ships, using previously untapped evidence from the wrecks of the sunken battlecruisers and detailed analysis of admiralty records to show why Admiral Fisher's...

British Battlecruisers 1939-45 by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG88 New Vanguard 88Author: Angus KonstamIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookWhen war broke out in 1939, only three true battlecruisers remained in the Royal Navy including HMS -Hood-, the world's largest and fastest capital ship for much of her life, which would be destroyed in action against the German battleship -Bismarck-. Out of the remaining two battlecruisers (-Repulse- and -Renown-) one was sunk by Japanese aircraft...

The launch of HMS Dreadnought in 1906 changed the face of naval warfare. The first half-dozen dreadnoughts were all improvements of the basic Dreadnought design, all carrying ten 12-inch guns. It was only in 1911, with the launch of HMS Neptune that the layout of this powerful armament was altered as a result of practical experience. Two more versions of the Neptune entered service later that same year. These nine improved dreadnoughts formed the core of the British High Seas Fleet. They would...

British Battleships 1939-45 by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG154Author: Angus KonstamIllustrators: Tony Bryan Paul WrightAbout this bookWith the outbreak of World War II, Britain-s Royal Navy and her fleet of battleships would be at the forefront of her defence. Yet ten of the 12 battleships were already over 20 years old, having served in World War I, and required extensive modifications to allow them to perform a vital service throughout the six long years of conflict. This title...

British Battleships 1939-45 "Nelson and King George V Classes" by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG160New Vanguard 160Author: Angus KonstamIllustrators: Tony Bryan Paul WrightAbout this bookWith the outbreak of World War II, Britain-s Royal Navy and her fleet of battleships would be at the forefront of her defence. Yet ten of the twelve battleships were already over twenty years old, having served in World War I, and required extensive modifications to allow them to perform a vital service...

The Royal Navy entered World War II with a large but eclectic fleet of destroyers. Some of these were veterans of World War I, fit only for escort duties. Most though, had been built during the inter-war period, and were regarded as both reliable and versatile. Danger though lurked across the seas as new destroyers being built in Germany, Italy and Japan were larger and better armoured. So, until the new, larger ? Tribal-class destroyers could enter service, these vessels would have to hold...

This book recounts the history of the first destroyers of the Royal Navy, which revolutionized the way war was fought at sea with new armaments and a great improvement on earlier designs. Moreover, between 1892, when the first destroyers were laid down, and 1918, destroyers evolved radically from 27-knot, 250-ton ships into 35-knot, 1,530-ton ships. All these ships were involved in some form during World War I; the smaller, original destroyers in an auxiliary support role and the newer, larger...

As the possibility of war loomed in the 1930s, the British Admiralty looked to update their fleet of destroyers to compete with the new ships being built by Germany and Japan, resulting in the commissioning of the powerful Tribal-class. These were followed by the designing of the first of several slightly smaller ships, which carried fewer guns than the Tribals, but were armed with a greatly enlarged suite of torpedoes. The first of these, the 'J/K/M class' was followed by a number of wartime...

About this Osprey Publishing BookIn 1941, as the Battle of the Atlantic raged and ship losses mounted, the British Admiralty desperately tried to find ways to defeat the U-Boat threat to Britain's maritime lifeline. Facing a shortage of traditional aircraft carriers and shore-based aircraft, the Royal Navy, as a stopgap measure, converted merchant ships into small �escort carriers'. These were later joined by a growing number of American-built escort carriers, sent as part of the Lend-Lease...

This book investigates the design, development and operation of the machines deployed by the British Guards Armoured Division during World War 2, including the Stuart Light Tank, the Sherman Medium Tank and the Crusader Cruiser Tank . The division's experiences in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany are all covered.

"In the years after World War II, new guided missile technology offered surface ships the chance to destroy airborne threats from afar, thereby preserving their role in naval warfare. This book examines the technology and combat performance of Britain's guided missile destroyers over half a century. Uniquely among modern destroyers, three of these classes have been tested in battle against the aircraft and missiles of another modern navy - in the Falklands War - as well as being deployed...

Author: Angus KonstamIllustrator: Paul WrightAbout this bookThe idea of a heavy cruiser emerged in the aftermath of World War I, and was closely linked to the limits set by the inter-war Washington Naval Treaty. 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. The result was...

Fully illustrated with detailed cutaway artwork, this book covers the British ironclad from its inception and emergence in 1860, to 1875, a watershed year, which saw the building of a new generation of recognisably modern turreted battleships.

Author: Angus KonstamIllustrator: Paul WrightAbout this bookThe light cruiser was a natural development of the sailing frigate a fast multi-purpose warship that could patrol the sea lanes, protect convoys and scout for enemy battle fleets. By the inter-war period the need for this type of ship was even more important, given the increasing need for protection from aircraft, and the need to screen the fleet from submarines or destroyers. Wartime experience had shown that the British light...

This is the definitive study of British light tanks of the Second World War. The author draws upon a vast and comprehensive body of archival information and research to explore their technical characteristics and combat performance. The title focuses largely on the very widely used Mark VI, but also covers all the variants that preceded it. The type was truly ubiquitous, equipping the British Army in France, the Western Desert regions, Norway, Sumatra, Persia and India. This book chronicles...

British Mark I Tank 1916 by OspreyItem Number: OSPNVG100New Vanguard 100Author: David FletcherIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookIn 1915 a machine christened Little Willie changed the way that wars were fought. Little Willie was a fully tracked armoured vehicle that could break a trench system. Its development was completed in December 1915, but by then it had already been superseded by an improved design, Mother. This was the first rhomboid tank, and the prototype for the Mark 1 which...

British Mk.Iv Tank by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG133Author: David FletcherIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookThe formidable Mark IV tank was pitted against the German Army from 1917 until the end of World War I. This book reveals the important role the tank played in the historic battle of Cambrai in 1917 as well as the first ever tank-versus-tank actions against German A7Vs. In awe of British technology, the Germans actively captured, salvaged and repaired Mark IVs for deployment...

British Motor Gun Boats 1939- by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG166Author: Angus KonstamIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookMotor Gun Boats were the -Spitfires of the Seas- of the Royal Navy. Bristling with small-calibre guns and machine guns, they served in a variety of roles during the War. In the early war period they battled against German E-boats in the English Channel, then went on the offensive, searching the enemy shore for targets of opportunity. At other times, they ran...

British Motor Torpedo Boat '39 by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG74During the Second World War, flotillas of the Royal Navy's Motor Torpedo Boats and other coastal forces fought a deadly war for control of the English Channel and the North Sea. These small, fast boats attacked enemy convoys, escorted freighters, landed secret agents and even raided enemy ports. Unsung heroes, these craft and their tiny crews helped stave off defeat in the dark days of 1940. The same vessels then took the...

Author: Angus KonstamIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookThe French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars encompassed a period when rival European fleets vied for naval supremacy, and naval tactics were evolving. The British Royal Navy emerged triumphant as the leading world sea power, and the epitome of Britannic naval strength was the Ship-of-the-Line. These 'wooden walls' were more than merely floating gun batteries: they contained a crew of up to 800 men, and often had to remain at sea for...

British Submarines 1939-45 by Osprey PublishingItem Number: OSPNVG129New Vanguard 129Author: Innes McCartneyIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookThe submarine was the invisible but formidable weapon of the Royal Navy during World War II. This book examines the three major classes - 'S', 'T' and 'U' - detailing their design, development and modification. The major submarine engagements of the war are recounted, including the Norwegian campaign, the battle of Malta in March 1942, Operation...

British Subs Of Ww-I by OspreyItem Number: OSPNVG145New Vanguard 145Author: Innes McCartneyIllustrator: Tony BryanAbout this bookAs 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 enemy's coastline, the Admiralty took several technological leaps forward to match Germany's own revolutionary vessels....