The Fairey Rotodyne was a large British compound helicopter designed and built by the Fairey Aviation Company and intended for commercial and military applications. It was considered to be one of the iconic aviation projects of the 1950s/60s and a bright future was planned for the aircraft. Widely accepted to be a revolutionary design, it was economically viable, fast and capable of vertical take-off and landing from city centre heliports. However, despite the proven feasibility of this bold con
Probably the most famous fighter aircraft of all time, the Supermarine Spitfire reigned supreme and unsurpassed from the biplane era to the dawn of the jet age, a period that included the Second World War. Here is the incredible story of this legendary aircraft, from its genesis in the 1930s to its continued presence at airshows and museums today.
Can air power alone win a war? That has been the question since the Second World War. Air attacks failed miserably in Vietnam: Operation Linebacker had little effect, while bombing Hanoi just increased hatred for America – yet air strikes in both Iraq and Libya helped bring about regime changes. No-fly zones may have worked in the Balkans, but they might as well not have been there for Saddam Hussein's Iraq. From the Luftwaffe's massed attack on Britain to NATO's interventions in Libya,
While it is true to say that the Venom carried out more operational ground attack sorties than any other RAF aircraft since the Second World War, its history has hitherto been sadly neglected or misreported. With the co-operation and assistance of many former Service and civilian pilots, the record can finally be set straight in what is the definitive history of this ground-attack, all weather and naval strike fighter.
David Watkins discusses the problems of the trials and development programme
Many thousands of different types of vehicles were used by the armies during the Second World War for various roles, including the fighting vehicles such as armoured cars and tanks. Today these are very popular with enthusiasts who restore these historic vehicles to their pristine state and attend specialist gatherings around the UK, Europe and the USA.
This book explores original and reconstructed military vehicles from British, US, Russian, Italian and German forces using stunning colour photo
In April 1951, the disappearance of HM submarine Affray knocked news of the Korean War and Festival of Britain from the front pages. Affray had put to sea on a routine peacetime simulated war patrol in the English Channel. She radioed her last position at 2115hrs on 16 April, 30 miles south of the Isle of Wight - preparing to dive. This was the last signal ever received from the submarine. After months of searching, divers eventually discovered Affray resting upright on the sea bottom with no ob
Les Wilson is a writer and award-winning documentary maker. Among his film credits is the 30-part series Scotland's War, an oral history of the Second World War, and the 13-part series The Real Tartan Army, a TV history of the Scottish regiments. He is the co-editor of Islay Voices (Birlinn, 2016) and the author of The Drowned and the Saved: When War Came to the Hebrides (Birlinn, 2018), which won the Saltire Society History Book of the Year award, 2018.
At the outbreak of war in 1939 British tank crews were ill-equipped, under trained and badly led. As a consequence the lives of hundreds of crewmen were wasted unnecessarily. This was due not only to the poor design and construction of British tanks, but also to the lack of thought and planning on the part of successive pre-war governments and the War Office. Death by Design explores how and why Britain went from leading the world in tank design at the end of the First World War to lagging far b
It has been 100 years since the first airfield was established in the country town of Yeovil. Since 1915, aircraft have been designed, manufactured and tested at Westland, including the Lysander, used to transport British agents to Europe during the Second World War. In 1948 the company focused solely on helicopters and its aircraft have been sent all over the world since then, used in lifesaving with Air Ambulance and Search and Rescue and deployed in warfare such as Balkans, Iraq and Afghanist
Despite being the inventor of the tank and responsible for campaign-winning tactics, by the start of the Second World War the United Kingdom had fallen well behind other nations in the design and build of armoured vehicles. Here, William Suttie uncovers the history of tank design from a government perspective and the decisions and failures that led to that state of affairs, and details the formation of the Fighting Vehicles Research and Development Establishment at Chertsey. Known as the Tank Fa
Detailing the Lancaster's history from 1942–45, this study brings everything together to tell a concise history of the world's most famous aircraft of all time and undoubtedly the finest bomber of the Second World War. A superlative and unique colour section of over fifty contemporary photographs of the Lancaster is featured, while the text is complemented by over 150 rare and seldom seen black and white images. Well researched and expertly written, this account is a must read to those intereste
'This is a marvellous book. The research is very thorough and it will answer all my questions.' – RICHARD WILLIS, Normandy veteran, first lieutenant on LCT 898 on D-Day 'Brings to life … the planning and execution of the largest amphibious landing which the world has ever seen … My grandfather… would have been most impressed by this detailed research.' – CAPTAIN WILL RAMSAY, grandson of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, Allied Naval Commander, Expeditionary Force D-Day, one of the most decisiv
Pioniere in der 8. Motorisierten Schützendivision der NVA Pioniertruppenteile und -einheiten (Pi-TT/E) Entstehung und erste Entwicklung der Pioniereinheiten Die Garnison Prora Prora in den 50-er Jahren Die Kreisstadt Bergen Prora und Rügen Prora heute, am Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts Pioniere im Stab der 8. Motorisierten Schützendivision Schwerin Die Unterabteilung Pionierwesen der 8. MSD Die Pioniere im Gefechtsstand (GS) der Division Die Unterabte
The narrative description and condensed history of the Spitfire's construction, combat career and post-war service, bought together to tell the complete, concise history of the world's most famous aircraft of all time and undoubtedly the finest fighter of World War II. When Spitfire at War first appeared in 1974, it enjoyed critical acclaim, for the aircraft had never been described in such terms and detail before. It was followed by a second volume in 1985 and a third volume in 1990. All three
Built of plywood and measuring 115 feet long, powered by four supercharged petrol engines and armed to the teeth with heavy weapons, the 'D' Class Motor Gun Boats (MGBs) and Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs) were better known as Dog Boats and played havoc with enemy shipping in home and foreign waters. During three years of war they engaged the enemy on more than 350 occasions, sinking and damaging many ships. Dog Boats at War is the authoritative account of operations by the Royal Na
An exploration of the history and development of the dirigible airship from its humble beginnings in the late eighteenth century through to its current role as military command posts among other uses.
Starting out as an unreliable experimental aircraft whilst aeronauts first began to learn the secrets of aerial navigation, the airship was remodelled in 1900 by Count Zeppelin to become a potent weapon of war. It was then transformed again into a short-lived solution to long-distance passenger air
Was hat Leonardo da Vinci mit dem Thema Panzer zu tun? Was ist unter eine Panzerglocke zu verstehen? Woher kommt das Wort tank? Diese und viele andere Fragen beantwortet der militärhistorische Fachmann Thomas Anderson in diesem kleinen Kompendium zum Thema Panzerfahrzeuge. Neben allen wichtigen Informationen zur Geschichte und Gegenwart dieser Waffe kommen Kuriositäten und Rekorde nicht zu kurz. – 101 Aha-Momente für historisch Interessierte.
The Mary Rose was one of King Henry VIII's favourite warships until she sank during an engagement with the French fleet on 19 July 1545. Her rediscovery and raising were seminal events in the history of nautical archaeology. Apart from the Captain and the Vice Admiral, nothing is known about the crew of the Mary Rose - the only evidence about her complement of 415 men rests with their skeletal remains. In The Men of the Mary Rose A.J. Stirland uses archaeological and skeletal evidence to gi
Das Buch 'Elektrische Strassenbahn Blasewitz-Laubegast' präsentiert eine umfassende Untersuchung über die Entwicklung und den Betrieb einer der frühen elektrischen Straßenbahnen in Deutschland. Die Autoren haben sorgfältig historische Aufzeichnungen und archivierte Dokumente zusammengetragen, um die Bedeutung dieses Verkehrsmittels für die lokale Gemeinschaft und die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung der Region zu beleuchten. Der Schreibstil ist präzise und detailreich, wodurch der Leser in die Zeit d
Dies sind die Panzer, die im Buch "Neue Panzer für die Ostfront - Klaus Witte" vorkommen.
Und das alles verpackt in größere Bilder mit besserer Qualität.
Ein großes Sammelsurium vieler deutscher, schwedischer, russischer, amerikanischer und britischer Panzer des Romans.
The late nineteenth century saw an unparalleled revolution in warship development as the Victorian navy found itself grappling with intense technical change to ensure its survival in the modern theatre. From the wooden battleships of the 1800s, naval architecture underwent great change to produce a very different form of capital ship, which would have a huge impact and change naval design forever. The pre-dreadnought was constructed of steel, wholly driven by steam power and carried its rifled o
Vulcan: God of Fire is a historical account of Britain's nuclear deterrent force, the development of atomic/thermonuclear weapons and the bombers. It includes a description of the design, development and manufacture of the Vulcan, the flight-testing programme and entry into RAF service. There is also a full account of the Vulcan's career, including its primary role as a nuclear bomber and as a key participant in the 1982 Falklands conflict. Further coverage includes the use of the Vulcan as a re
This is the story of the first Blitz and the first Battle of Britain, featuring a full account of the first Zeppelin crash site excavation and also covering airfields, gun sites, searchlights, and radio listening posts. The book features contemporary accounts and archive photographs alongside the reports and photographs from the excavations, including Hunstanton, Monkhams, Chingford and North Weald Basset, the Lea Valley, Potters Bar and Theberton. Written in collaboration between academic archa
When de Havilland proposed, in 1938, an unarmed bomber constructed almost entirely from wood, few would have thought it could become one of the most versatile aircraft of the Second World War.The Mosquito easily outran a Spitfire on its test flight and was ordered into mass production, soon proving itself a key weapon in the fight against the Luftwaffe by day and the Nachtjagd by night. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished photographs, this book tells the story of an aircraft which
In 'A Company of Tanks' by William Henry Lowe Watson, the reader is taken on a riveting journey through the brutal realities of war as seen through the eyes of a tank crew. The book is written in a straightforward and realistic style, with vivid descriptions that bring the battlefield to life. The author's portrayal of the camaraderie and hardships faced by the tank crew adds depth to the narrative, making it a compelling read for those interested in war literature. Set during World War I, the b
The First World War's fierce battles saw the need to develop military technology beyond anything previously imagined: as exposed infantry and cavalry were mowed down by relentless machine-gun attacks, so tanks were developed. Here author Craig Moore presents every First World War tank, from the prototype 'Little Willie', through the French heavy tanks to the German light tank. He gives a focused history of the development of this game-changing vehicle and the engagements it was used in – vital b
The 'Jump-jet' was the world's first vertical/short take-off and landing (VSTOL) operational jet aircraft. Developed using the revolutionary Pegasus engine, the Harrier has served the RAF and US Marine Corps well for over 30 years. Here, vividly told, is the fascinating story from tentative hovering by the Hawker P1127 in 1960 to today's frontline Harrier GR9 and AV-8B warplanes. A naval version, the Sea Harrier, entered service with the Royal Navy in 1979. Alongside the RAF
The role of the bomber has proved to be on of the most controversial aspects of twentieth-century warfare. Bombers tells the story of the bomber with a blend of narrative and personal accounts, recording the history of the principle bombing raids and the skill and courage of those who flew them. David Wragg begins with a brief overview of the origins of the concept of aerial bombardment, which astonishingly go back several thousand years. He then describes the early raids of the First World War
The Hawker Hurricane won lasting fame in the service of the RAF during the Battle of Britain. Over 11,700 examples were eventually built of this versatile and deadly combat aircraft, fulfilling an incredible number of contrasting roles. Its design, development and production are described in detail, as are the Hurricane's widely varied operational roles during the Second World War, both at home and overseas. Full details are given of production figures, production variants, and operational
Included are details on the ground-breaking navigation and attack system, its Cold War context, its requirements and the development of ATF (advanced terrain following), and in-depth analysis of automatic flight control systems, analogue and digital simulations at Weybridge and the reconnaissance pack for mapping enemy territory. It finishes with a look at the final throes of TSR2's cancellation by the Labour government in 1965. 'This fascinating personal account of the behind the scene
The tank was born to break the deadlock of World War I's Western Front, where trench-based defence in depth, barbed wire, machine guns and artillery, led to immense loss of life. Initially dogged by mechanical unreliability and early misuse, post-First World War development of technology and tactics saw the Germans open World War II with the devastating Blitzkrieg in which armoured divisions led the way. Tanks dominated the battlefields' of World War II and have continued to develop, reaching t
Pioniere in der 8. Motorisierten Schützendivision der NVA Pioniertruppenteile und -einheiten (Pi-TT/E) Entstehung und erste Entwicklung der Pioniereinheiten Die Garnison Prora Prora in den 50-er Jahren Die Kreisstadt Bergen Prora und Rügen Prora heute, am Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts Pioniere im Stab der 8. Motorisierten Schützendivision Schwerin Die Unterabteilung Pionierwesen der 8. MSD Die Pioniere im Gefechtsstand (GS) der Division Die Unterabte
History of the British Army is an exhaustive military study which gives a comprehensive coverage of the English military situation from the beginning until the late 18th century and the formation of the New Model Army. Starting from the 11th century and the Battle of Hastings the author comprises six centuries of British history endeavoring to point out occurrences and incident that were essential to a coherent sketch of the growth of the British military system. One of the goals of the work was
Aimed at military model makers and wargamers who are interested in the armoured fighting vehicles of the United States as used throughout World War II, this book follows on from Modelling British World War II Armoured Vehicles by the same author. The book places its emphasis on US Army and US Marine Corps AFVs modelled mainly in 1/72 and 1/48 scales, in a deliberate departure from the more popular 1/35 scale, to encourage and inspire model makers who are new to or less familiar with these scales