Updated as of ..3/14`/2024

Specials


Skirmish Action Rules and Miniatures


On Military Matters Rules-Reviews, Notes and Feedback



Your Shopping Cart





Military Novels
Military Art
Toy Soldiers
Military Models
Wargaming
Wargaming Rules
Unit Histories
Militaria
Arms & Armor
Uniforms
General Military History
Ancients
Dark Ages
Middle Ages
Renaissance
16th Century
17th Century
Thirty Year's War
English Civil War
Late 17th Century
18th Century
Marlburian
War of the Austrian Succession
Seven Year's War
American War of Independence
French Revolution
19th Century
Napoleonics
War of 1812
US Indian Wars
Mexican American War
Crimean War
Indian Mutiny
Garabaldi Wars
American Civil War
American West
German Wars of Unification
Austro-Prussian Wars
Franco-Prussian Wars
Colonial Wars
Anglo-Boer Wars
Spanish-American War
20th Century
Aviation
Armored Fighting Vehicles/Artillery
Naval:1880-2000
Russo-Japanese War
Mexican Revolution
Balkan Wars
World War One
Russian Revolution
Spanish Civil War
Italian-Ethiopian War
Russo-Finnish War
World War Two
Post WWII
Korean War
French-Algerian War
Arab-Israeli Wars
Vietnam War
Modern War
Boardgames
Weapons
Command
Raids
Duel
Battle Orders
Modelling
Fortress
Essential History
Combat Aircraft
Aircraft of the Aces
Old Vanguard
New Vanguard
Campaign
Elite
Warrior
Men-at-Arms
French & Indian War
Videos
Magazines and Periodicals

Top

Your Shopping Cart



We accept the following, plus checks or cash

Books at On Military Matters


Updated as of 3/14`/2024

ABBREVIATIONS: dj-dust jacket, biblio-bibliography, b/w-black and white, illust-illustrations, b/c-book club addition.
rct - recent arrival or pending publication, spc - OMM Special Price
Duel

1-978001 001 P-51 MUSTANG vs Fw 190 1 vol, 72 pgs 2007 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978002 002 SHERMAN FIREFLY vs TIGER 1 vol, 72 pgs 2007 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978003 003 U-BOATS vs DESTROYER ESCORTS 1 vol, 72 pgs 2007 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978004 004 PANTHER vs T-34 1 vol, 72 pgs 2007 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978005 005 SPITFIRE vs Bf 109 1 vol, 72 pgs 2007 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978006 006 USN CARRIERS vs IJN CARRIERS 1 vol, 72 pgs 2007 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978007 007 SOPWITH CAMEL vs FOKKER 1 vol, 72 pgs 2008 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978008 008 P-40 WARHAWK vs KI-43 OSCAR 1 vol, 72 pgs 2008 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978009 009 VICTORY vs REDOUTABLE:Trafalgar 1805 1 vol, 72 pgs 2008 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978010 010 M3 MEDIUM TANK vs PANZER III 1 vol, 72 pgs 2008 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978011 011 P-47 THUNDERBOLT vs Bf 109G/K 1 vol, 72 pgs 2008 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978012 012 F-4 PHANTOM VS MIG-21 1 vol, 72 pgs 2008 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978013 013 PANTHER VS SHERMAN 1 vol, 72 pgs 2008 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978014 014 CONFEDERATE IRONCLADS vs UNION IRONCLADS 1 vol, 72 pgs 2008 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978015 015 RUSSIAN BATTLESHIP vs JAPANESE BATTLESHIP 1904 1 vol, 72 pgs 2009 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978016 016 SEAFIRE vs A6M ZERO Products of vastly different design philosophies, the Seafire F III and the A6M Zero were never intended to meet in combat, and never should have. The Zero, extremely nimble at low speeds was purpose-built as a shipboard fighter. In contrast, the Spitfire was intended to operate from established airfields, and needed to be adapted as a carrier fighter.

The book examines these two iconic fighters and their two very different histories, using fantastic artwork and first-hand accounts to illustrate the last aerial duel of World War II, as the British Seafire overcame its critics to emerge victorious over the Japanese Zero.

Contents: Introduction; Chronology; Design and Development; The Strategic Situation; Technical Specifications; The Combatants; Combat; and Statistics and Analysis. 1 vol, 72 pgs 2009 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 50% spc

Add to Cart

1-978018 018 M1 ABRAMS vs T-72 URAL 1 vol, 72 pgs 2009 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978020 020 SE 5a vs Albatros D V 1 vol, 72 pgs 2010 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978021 021 Centurian vs T-55 1 vol, 72 pgs 2009 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978022 022 USN Cruiser vs IJN Cruiser 1 vol, 72 pgs 2009 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978023 023 USN F-4 Phantom II vs VPAF MiG-17 1 vol, 72 pgs 2009 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978024 024 Fw 190 Sturmbock vs B-17 Flying Fortress 1 vol, 72 pgs 2009 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978025 025 Fw 200 Condor vs Atlanic Convoy By the summer of 1941, the Condor attacks had succeeded so well that Churchill called them 'the scourge of the Atlantic'. 1 vol, 72 pgs 2010 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978026 026 P-38 Lighting vs Ki-61 Tony-New Guinea 1943-44 1 vol, 72 pgs 2010 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978027 027 German Commerce Raider vs British Cruiser - The Atlantic & The Pacific During World War II, the Kriegsmarine armed a number of merchant vessels with concealed guns and torpedo tubes for surprise attacks against Allied shipping. To counter this deadly threat, the Royal Navy employed cruisers and their intelligence-gathering apparatus to find and destroy the disguised German commerce raiders. This Duel title covers the deadly game of cat and mouse, fought by these surface vessels during World War II.

1 vol, 72 pgs 2010 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978028 028 Mirage III vs MiG-21: Six Day War 1967 Although the opposing forces of the Six Day War were both flying comparable third-generation Mach 2 jet fighters, the pilots were trained to different standards, and were expected to utilize different tactics. Using the latest research, first-hand accounts, and specially commissioned artwork, Shlomo Aloni tells the dramatic story of the dogfights in the skies over the Middle East.
1 vol, 80 pgs 2010 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978114 Bernstein, Jonathan 114 P-47 THUNDERBOLT vs GERMAN FLAK DEFENSES: Western Europe 1943-45 This volume analyses the tactics and techniques used by both P-47 fighter-bomber pilots and German flak gunners, featuring full-color illustrations to examine the Allied tactical air power in Europe from 1943 and how German defenses were overpowered by the air threat. The USAAF four numbered air forces that saw action over the European continent suffered significant fighter-bomber losses to flak. The principle fighter-bomber from the summer of 1944 through to VE Day was the P-47D, with both dedicated ground attack units and squadrons that had completed their bomber escort tasking seeking out targets of opportunity across occupied Western Europe.

The fighter-bombers (principally of the Ninth Air Force) wreaked considerable havoc on German ground forces. Indeed, Thunderbolt units undertaking such missions effectively complemented the strategic bombing campaign, ensuring the defeat of Nazi Germany. P-47 pilots paid a high price to achieve this victory, however, as the German flak arm was well equipped (nearly a quarter of all war-related production was devoted to anti-aircraft weaponry) with weapons of various calibres to counter tactical air power's low to medium altitude threat.

While heavy-calibre anti-aircraft fire was intended to both shoot down enemy aircraft and force bombers to drop their ordnance sooner or from higher altitudes, thus reducing bombing accuracy, low-altitude flak batteries put up a virtual 'wall of steel' for enemy fighter-bombers to fly through. Damaging a low-flying fighter-bomber made it easier for other flak gunners to track, engage, and destroy it. Innovations like lead-computing gunsights gave gunners a higher probability of intercepting low-altitude fighters. Conversely, the appearance of air-to-ground rockets beneath the wings of P-47s gave pilots better standoff range and a harder-hitting punch when dealing with low and medium altitude flak units. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2021 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available late October 2021 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978109 Campbell, David 109 GERMAN 88mm Gun vs Allied Armour: North Africa 1941-43 Few weapons developed a more deadly reputation than the German '88' in the role of anti-tank gun, its long reach and lethal hitting power making it a significant problem for every type of British and later American armour. Despite its individual potency, it was almost always utilized as part of a comprehensive system of defences that relied on a mix of weapons carefully deployed in anticipation of the enemy's likely avenue and method of attack. Used in this way, the 88 became a particularly deadly part of the Afrika Korps' attempts to shatter British armoured power in the Western Desert.

Initially extremely successful over the course of 1941 and 1942 in Operations Battleaxe and Crusader, the Allies' tactics and vehicles (such as the American-made M3 and the Crusader III) eventually evolved to deal with the 88's awesome power. This detailed new book tells the story of that evolution and provides an in-depth treatment of this key weapon of World War II. 1 vol, 80 pgs 20201UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid February 2021 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978108 Cansirre, Romain 108 USMC M4A2 SHERMAN vs JAPANESE TYPE 95 Ha-Go; The Central Pacific 1943-44 The different national tank doctrines of the United States and Imperial Japan resulted in a terrible mismatch of the predominant tank types in the crucial Central Pacific campaign. A flawed Japanese doctrine emphasized light infantry support tanks, often used in small numbers. Tactically, tanks were often frittered away in armored versions of the familiar banzai attacks. Meanwhile, the Americans saw the tank as an infantry support weapon, but developed a more systematic tactical doctrine. They settled upon a larger medium tank - in the case of most Marine Corps tank battalions, the diesel-powered M4A2 (unwanted by the US Army).

This superbly detailed title reveals how both the two sides' tactical and technical differences in the approach to armored warfare soon became apparent over a series of deadly engagements, from the first tank fight at the battle of Tarawa in November 1943, through to engagements on Parry Island, Saipan, and Guam, before ending with Peleliu in September 1944. 1 vol, 80 pgs 20201UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid February 2021 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978119 Claringbold, Michael 119 F4U CORSIAR vs A6M ZERO-SEN: Rabaul and the Solomons Examines these two different fighters in the Solomons/Rabaul theatre, and the unique geographic conditions which shaped their deployment and effectiveness. It contains rare photographs and digital artwork that accurately showcases and aligns combats of both types in-theatre with unprecedented accuracy. Both sides vastly over-claimed. With full access to IJNAF and US Navy/US Marine Corps records, these numbers will be presented accurately.

The aerial clashes between the iconic Corsair and Zero-sen translated into a contest of speed and altitude for the former, versus the latter's outstanding agility and range.

Whilst the F4U Corsair eventually proved to be a superior fighter in Pacific operations, its introduction into combat in this theatre initially demonstrated its weaknesses. Indeed, the 'Saint Valentine's Day Massacre' debacle showcased exemplary Zero-sen fighter tactics, and American losses were of sufficient magnitude that further daylight missions toward Bougainville were discontinued until Allied fighter tactics could be improved.

As a result, for the next two months the Corsair's combat results were much subdued. Indeed, the F4U only became a superb fighter when both its pilots and their commanders worked out how to deploy the gull-wing design effectively. Optimum circumstances for effective engagement did not always occur, and the Zero-sen remained effective against the Corsair until February 1944 in the South Pacific, after which all IJNAF fighter units vacated Rabaul.
1 vol, 80 pgs 2022 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid March 2022 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978103 Claringbould, Michael 103 P-47D Thunderbolt vs Ki-43-II Oscar New Guinea 1943-44 Although New Guinea's Thunderbolt pilots faced several different types of enemy aircraft in capricious tropical conditions, by far their most common adversary was the Nakajima Ki-43-II Hayabusa, codenamed 'Oscar' by the Allies. These two opposing fighters were the products of two radically different design philosophies. The Thunderbolt was heavy, fast and packed a massive punch thanks to its battery of eight 0.50-cal machine guns, while the 'Oscar' was the complete opposite in respect to fighter design philosophy - lightweight, nimble, manoeuvrable and lightly armed. It was, nonetheless, deadly in the hands of an experienced pilot. The Thunderbolt commenced operations in New Guinea with a series of bomber escort missions in mid-1943, and its firepower and superior speed soon saw Fifth Air Force fighter command deploying elite groups of P-47s to Wewak, on the northern coast. Flying from there, they would pick off unwary enemy aircraft during dedicated fighter patrols. The Thunderbolt pilots in New Guinea slowly wore down their Japanese counterparts by continual combat and deadly strafing attacks, but nevertheless, the Ki-43-II remained a worthy opponent deterrent up until Hollandia was abandoned by the IJAAF in April 1944.

Fully illustrated throughout with artwork and rare photographs, this fascinating book examines these two vastly different fighters in the New Guinea theatre, and assesses the unique geographic conditions that shaped their deployment and effectiveness.
1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid July 2020 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978035 Davies, Peter F-105 WILD WEASEL vs SA-2 'GUIDELINE' SAM: Vietnam 1965-73 The Vietnam war was the first conflict that saw extensive use of surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles, and thus became a training ground for the tactics of this new type of battle. This Duel presents this story in the context of two of the main opponents: America's top fighter-bomber and the NVA's best anti-aircraft missile. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2011 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978089 Davies, Peter 089 B-52 STRATOFORTRESS vs SA-2 GUIDELINE SAM: Vietnam 1972-73 Ever since its introduction in the late 1950s, the B-52 Stratofortress has been the United States' primary heavy bomber and a powerful symbol of its immense military might. Its powerful electronic countermeasures equipment (ECM) was thought to make the B-52 immune to ground-to-air missile attack, but in Vietnam, and later conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm in 1991, it came up against the Soviet-designed SA-2 SAM which used heavy salvoes of missiles to bring down the bombers.

The losses of several of its most feared, powerful, and supposedly invincible bombers per night to a torrent of Soviet missiles during the closing stages of the Vietnam War was sobering to Americans, but the B-52s' crushing attacks virtually eliminated North Vietnam's defenses and forced a peace settlement. This fascinating book analyses the roles of the SA-2 operators and the B-52 Electronic Warfare Officers (EWOs) using specially commissioned artwork as well as first-hand accounts, and traces the cat-and-mouse tactics that each side employed. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2018 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid October 2018 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978095 Davies, Peter 095 USAF F-105 THUNDERCHIEF vs VPAF MiG-17 VIETNAM: 1965-68 The F-105D Thunderchief was originally designed as a low-altitude nuclear strike aircraft, but the outbreak of the Vietnam War led to it being used instead as the USAF's primary conventional striker against the exceptionally well-defended targets in North Vietnam and Laos. F-105 crews conducted long-distance missions from bases in Thailand, refueling in flight several times and carrying heavy external bombloads.

The MiG-17 was the lightweight, highly maneuverable defending fighter it encountered most often in 1965-68 during Operation Rolling Thunder. A development of the MiG-15, which shocked UN forces during the Korean War, its emphasis was on simplicity and ease of maintenance in potentially primitive conditions.

Fully illustrated with stunning artwork, this book shows how these two aircraft, totally different in design and purpose, fought in a series of duels that cost both sides dearly. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid July 2019 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978104 Davies, Peter 104 A-4 Skyhawk vs North Vietnamese AAA: North Vietnam 1964-72 While the F-105 Thunderchief was the USAF's principal strike weapon during the Rolling Thunder campaign, the US Navy relied on the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk for the majority of its strikes on North Vietnam. The Skyhawk entered service in 1956 and remained in continuous production for 26 years. Throughout Operation Rolling Thunder it was the US Navy's principal day-time light strike bomber, remaining in use after its replacement, the more sophisticated A-7 Corsair II, began to appear in December 1967.

During the 1965-68 Rolling Thunder period, up to five attack carriers regularly launched A-4 strike formations against North Vietnam. These formations faced an ever-expanding and increasingly coordinated Soviet-style network of anti-aircraft artillery missiles and fighters. Skyhawk pilots were often given the hazardous task of attacking anti-aircraft defences and to improve accuracy, they initially dropped ordnance below 3000 ft in a 30-degree dive in order to bomb visually below the persistent low cloud over North Vietnam, putting the aircraft within range of small-arms fire. The defenders had the advantage of covering a relatively small target area, and the sheer weight of light, medium and heavy gunfire directed at an attacking force brought inevitable casualties, and a single rifle bullet could have the same effect as a larger shell. This illustrated title examines both the A-4 Skyhawk and the Vietnamese AAA defences in context, exploring their history and analysing their tactics and effectiveness during the conflict. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid September 2020 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978112 Davies, Peter 112 UH-1 HUEY GUNSHIPS VS NVA/VC FORCES: Vietnam 1962-75 Covers innovations in tactics and combat introduced by gunship helicopters and analyzes their adaptability and usefulness in a variety of operations, while exploring the insurgent forces' responses to the advent of vertical aviation.

The UH-1 Iroquois ('Huey') was the general-purpose vehicle that provided mobility in a hostile jungle environment. Hueys airlifted troops, evacuated casualties, rescued downed pilots, transported cargo externally, and enabled rapid transit of commanders in the field.

Although vertical aviation had only become a practical reality during the Korean War, helicopters evolved rapidly in the decade before Vietnam and by 1965 the US Army and US Marines relied on them as primary combat tools. This was principally because North Vietnam's armed forces had long experience of jungle operations, camouflage, and evasion. Generally avoiding set-piece pitched battles they relied on rapid, frequent strikes, and withdrew using routes that were generally inaccessible to US vehicles. They commonly relied on darkness and bad weather to make their moves, often rendering them immune to conventional air attack.

Gunship helicopters, sometimes equipped with Firefly searchlights and early night vision light intensifiers, were more able to track and attack the enemy. Innovative tactics were required for this unfamiliar combat scenario and for a US Army that was more prepared for conventional operations in a European-type setting. One of the most valuable new initiatives was the UH-1C 'Huey Hog' or 'Frog' gunship, conceived in 1960 and offering more power and agility than the UH-1B that pioneered gunship use in combat. Heavily armed with guns and rockets and easily transportable by air these helicopters became available in large numbers and they became a major problem for the insurgent forces throughout the war. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2021 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid August 2021 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978072 Dildy, Doug 072 F-15C EAGLE vs MIG-23/25 Designed following the relatively poor performance of America's multi-role fighters during the Vietnam War, the F-15 Eagle was conceived as a dedicated air superiority fighter. After 15 years, the Eagle didn't fight in Europe, they battled the MiGs of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi air force.

This book analyses the combat between the American and Soviet 'Cold War fighters' in a balanced manner, examining how the technical abilities of the aircraft combined with the different levels of training available to opposing pilots and ground crews allowed the F-15s to destroy the Iraqi offensive abilities within weeks of the First Gulf War starting. Packed with artwork, illustrations, and photographs, this book places the reader in the cockpit during one of the last major dogfighting air wars in modern history. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2016 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978081 Dildy, Doug 081 SEA HARRIER FRS 1 vs MIRAGE III/DAGGER: South Atlantic 1982 Following Argentina's military operation to take possession of the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's government launched a major naval operation to return them to British rule. Defending the Royal Navy task force were two small squadrons totaling 20 Sea Harriers (SHARs).

Initial clashes between SHARs and Argentine Mirages and Daggers on 1 May 1982 failed to eliminate the Sea Harrier defenders. FAA fighter-bomber pilots relied on daring and courageous ultra-low level attacks, frequently escaping the Sea Harrier's limited capabilities, against Royal Navy warships and auxiliaries, causing considerable damage during Operation Corporate, the large-scale amphibious operation to repossess the islands. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2017 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid September 2017 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978082 Dildy, Doug 082 B-29 SUPERFORTRESS vs KI-44 TOJO: Pacific Theater 1944-45 By the time the Americans began their aerial bombardment of Japan in 1944, both the JAAF and IJNAF were spent forces. What the Japanese did have though was the Ki-44 Tojo. Armed with two 40 mm cannon, it was the most heavily armed and feared single-seat fighter to see action against the new American bomber, the B-29 Superfortress. For the bomber crews, they had what they believed was their 'ace in hole': a fully armed B-29 carried four remotely operated gun turrets and a tail gunner's position, making it the world's most advanced self-defending bomber.

In every respect the Ki-44 pilots were fighting a desperate battle. Many who made their mark did so using suicidal ramming attacks or 'taiatari.' Illustrated with full-color artwork, this volume examines why the Ki-44 was unable to break up bomber formations conventionally during the Pacific War, and how its ramming tactics, while terrifying, graphically revealed Japan's inability to stop the B-29. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2017 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-dj, available mid October 2017 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978046 Forczyk, Robert 046 PANZERJAGER vs KV-1 - EASTERN FRONT 1941-43 On the Soviet side, based upon lessons from the Spanish Civil War, the Red Army decided to develop a heavy breakthrough tank to smash enemy infantry defenses. This resulted in the KV-1 and KV-2 tanks, introduced in 1939.

At the start of Operation Barbarossa, both these tanks were virtually invulnerable to the weapons of the Panzerjager and demonstrated their ability to overrun German infantry on several occasions. This advantage gave the Red Army a window of opportunity between the fall of 1941 and the spring of 1942 to use their heavy tanks to repel the German invasion in a series of desperate counteroffensives. Yet the window of Soviet advantage was a narrow one and the duel between the Soviet KV heavy tanks and German Panzerjager had a major impact upon the struggle for the strategic initiative in 1941-42. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2012 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978051 Forczyk, Robert 051 BF110 vs LANCASTER The RAF introduced the Avro Lancaster in 1942 and used it to spearhead this aerial offensive. In response, the Luftwaffe created an elite nightfighter force based primarily upon the Bf 110. The Luftwaffe was quick to equip it with airborne radar that allowed it to intercept and destroy Lancasters over Germany. In turn, the RAF adopted countermeasures such as the Monica rearward-looking radar to alert Lancaster crews to the approach of nightfighters.

In May 1943, the Luftwaffe suddenly developed a novel technical and tactical approach to attacking RAF bombers. The new tactic proved amazingly successful, and British bombers could be attacked from below with no warning. For its part, the RAF failed to detect the new German tactic for six crucial months, during which time its Lancaster bombers were almost defenseless against this new threat.

In time, however, the German advantage of surprise was lost and the RAF developed countermeasures to deal with the new threat. The duel between upgraded Bf 110s and Lancasters in the night skies over Germany became increasingly dominated by cutting-edge technology, which would determine the efficacy of strategic bombing. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2013 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978097 Forsyth, Robert 097 TEMPEST V vs FW 190D-9: 1944-45 Arguably two of the finest piston-engined fighters ever built, the Tempest V and Fw 190D-9 raised the bar in terms of aircraft design and operational capability during World War II. The long-nosed 'Dora 9,' designed by Kurt Tank, first appeared in the skies over the Western and Eastern Fronts in the late summer of 1944. Fast, and with an exceptional rate of climb, it quickly bettered almost every fighter that the RAF, USAAF, and Soviet Red Air Force could field.

The Hawker Tempest V entered service in early 1944, initially proving itself a stalwart performer when it was deployed to intercept V1 flying bombs over southern England. From the autumn of 1944, the Tempest V also equipped squadrons of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, operating in support of the Allied armies advancing across north-west Europe. It became a potent ground-attack aircraft, armed with underwing rockets, but also a first-class interceptor when pitted against the Luftwaffe's advanced FW 190D-9 and Me 262.

Featuring full color artwork, this book describes in fascinating detail combats between the Tempest Vs of No 274 Sqn and the FW 190D-9s of I. and III./JG 26 between February and April 1945. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid September 2019 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978100 Forsyth, Robert 100 ME-262 vs P-51 MUSTANG: Europe 1944-45 Examines the two fighters in detail, exploring their history and development and containing accurate descriptions of the combats between the P-51 Mustang and the Me 262 in what were some of the most bitter and large-scale aerial actions fought over Europe in 1944-45.

Arguably two of the finest fighters built during the course of World War II, the Me 262 and P-51 Mustang heralded new dawns in aircraft performance. Making its operational debut in the summer of 1944, and powered by the Jumo 004 jet engine, the Me 262 outclassed Allied planes in terms of speed and firepower ratio, offering a formidable punch with four 30 mm MK 108 nose-mounted cannons.

However, in the P-51, fitted with the Rolls-Royce (Packard) Merlin engine and drop tanks, the USAAF finally had a fighter that had the 'legs' to escort its heavy bombers deep into Reich airspace and back. If flown to its strengths, the P-51 was more than capable of taking on the feared Me 262 on an equal footing, despite the differences in power and top speed. Indeed, the Mustang proved to be the Luftwaffe fighter arm's nemesis. When the P-51D sortied over Germany from the summer of 1944 onwards, it shredded through the ill-trained and depleted Gruppen of the Luftwaffe's defense wings. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available late December 2019 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978111 Forsyth, Robert 111 Ju 87 STUKA vs ROYAL NAVY CARRIERS Ju 87 dive-bombers, originally developed for pin-pointing bombing missions against land targets and Allied naval vessels were deployed by both the Luftwaffe and the Regia Aeronautica against the Allied forces. Included in such a target were perhaps the greatest prize of all for a Stuka pilot: a British aircraft carrier.

Examines the duel between the Ju 87 Stuka and the aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy. Despite AA and fighters, these immense vessels proved irresistible targets to determined and experienced Stuka aces as they endeavored to stop British naval intervention in the campaigns in Norway, Malta, and Crete.

For the Luftwaffe, it was an aircraft in which they still had great confidence despite its mauling in the Battle of Britain during the summer of 1940. This book examines the key attributes and shortcomings of both aircraft and carrier by analyzing various attacks on Ark Royal by Stukageschwader (St.G) 1 off Norway in April 1940, the strikes by the Luftwaffe's St.G 1, St.G 2 and the Regia Aeronautica's 237 Squadriglia against Illustrious in Malta harbor. This volume also include numerous personal accounts from Stuka crews, the pilots of carrier-borne fighters opposing them and the sailors embarked in the various carriers that came under attack. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2021 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid July 2021 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978129 Forsyth, Robert JU 87D/G STUKA vs T-34: Eastern Front 1942-45 Examines the nuts and bolts of 37mm cannon-armed JU 87D-5 Stukas and T-34 tanks as the Luftwaffe performed ground-attack missions against the ever-increasing Soviet tank force. Includes personal accounts and biographies of the anti-tank aces. Profusely illustrated per usual Osprey standards. 1 vol, 48 pgs 2023 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid September 2023 ......$23.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978118 Grant, Neil 118 TIGER VS CHURCHILL: North-West Europe 1944-45 Explores the design and development of these famous tanks, their head-to-head encounters, the effectiveness of the support services each tank relied upon, and the skills and experiences of the crews that fought in them. The specific battlefield conditions of Normandy in June and July 1944 are also examined.

The Tiger and the Churchill are two of the most recognizable heavily armored tanks of World War II. Both were designed hastily in the early years of the war, and both witnessed inauspicious debuts in battle in August 1942 (the Churchill in the disaster at Dieppe, the Tiger near Leningrad). Despite their heavy weight, both tanks, which were intended to serve in breakthrough operations, had surprisingly good tactical mobility. Yet there were key differences between them too, chiefly in the effectiveness of their main armament. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2021 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid January 2022 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978057 Greentree, David 057 Q SHIP vs U-BOAT 1914-18 Q ships came in all shapes and sizes -- coastal steamer, trawler, barque, yacht, and schooner -- but all had to look harmless in order to lure their opponents to the surface and encourage them to attack. Armaments differed according to ship size; steamers commonly had 4in guns mounted amidships and in the bow, trawlers 3-pdrs and sailing ships 12-pdrs.

Those who served on Q ships had to accept that their U-boat opponents would be able to strike first. Q ship captains kept ready a 'panic crew', which was trained to act out an elaborate evacuation to convince the U-boat commander that the ship was being abandoned by its crew. The Q ship captain would remain behind with a handful of other crewmen manning the guns, which remained hidden until the most opportune time to unmask and engage the U-boat.

The Q ship concept had emerged early in the war when no other method seemed likely to counter the U-boat threat, and flourished until new technologies and tactics were developed, tested and implemented. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2014 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978074 Greentree, David 074 BRITISH SUBMARINE vs ITALIAN TORPEDO BOAT: Mediterranean 1940-43 As the war in North Africa escalated, Axis war efforts became increasingly dependent on supply lines across the Mediterranean. The British deployed submarines from the besieged island of Malta while Italy deployed torpedo boats to protect and escort Axis convoys. Includes specially commissioned full-color artwork and carefully chosen archive photographs. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2016 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978120 Greentree, David 120 SU-152/ISU-152 vs TIGER: Eastern Front 1943-45 Describes the mighty duels fought between these opposing AFVs. The color illustrations explore key details of both the SU-152/ISU-152 and Eastern Front Tigers, including armament, ammunition and crew positions, and the period photographs show rarely seen views of these iconic AFVs in action. How each attempted to best the other using its strengths and advantages is documented across a wide range of dramatic Eastern Front armored battles.

On the Eastern Front in 1943, the Tiger-equipped heavy Panzer battalions gave German armored divisions an unmatched capability that cost the Red Army dearly. The Tiger's 88mm gun had the potential to carve through Soviet defences in the attack and cause havoc amongst advancing Soviet armored formations when used in defense. Neither of the Red Army's heavy tanks (the KV-1 and KV-2) could match the Tiger's gun, and, more importantly, penetrate its armor at anything approaching standard combat range. The Soviet response was a stopgap Tiger-killing vehicle that mounted a 152mm artillery piece onto the KV tank's chassis: the SU-152. The latter would evolve into the ISU-152 in late 1943 (mounting the same powerful gun on an IS chassis). 1 vol, 48 pgs 2022 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-dj, available late April 2022 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978088 Greentree, David 088 BRITISH DESTROYER versus GERMAN DESTROYER: Narvik 1940 The opening months of World War II saw Britain's Royal Navy facing a resurgent German navy, the Kriegsmarine. Following the German invasion of Denmark and Norway in early April 1940, British and German destroyers would clash in a series of battles for control of the Norwegian coast. The operational environment was especially challenging, with destroyer crews having to contend with variable weather, narrow coastal tracts, and possibility of fog and ship breakdowns.

In two engagements at Narvik, the Royal Navy entered the harbor and attacked the loitering German destroyers who had dropped off mountain troops to support the German invasion. The raids were devastating, halving at a stroke the number of ships at Hitler's disposal.

Employing specially commissioned artwork and drawing upon a range of sources, this absorbing study traces the evolving technology and tactics employed by the British and German destroyer forces, and assesses the impact of the Narvik clashes on both sides' subsequent development and deployment of destroyers in a range of roles across the world's oceans. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2018 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid October 2018 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978075 Guardia, Mike 075 BRADLEY vs BMP: Desert Storm 1991 In the mid-1960s, the Soviet Union unveiled the BMP, the first true infantry fighting vehicle. A revolutionary design, the BMP marked a significant departure from the traditional armored personnel carrier, with a lower silhouette and heavier armament than rival APCs.

One of the most fearsome light-armored vehicles of its day, it caused great consternation on the other side of the Iron Curtain as the Americans scrambled to design a machine to rival the BMP. The result was the M2/M3 Bradley. These Cold War icons first clashed -- not on the plains of Europe, but in southern Iraq during the Gulf War of 1991.

Featuring specially commissioned full-color artwork, this is the absorbing story of the origins, development and combat performance of the BMP and Bradley, culminating in the bloody battles of the Gulf War. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2016 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$23.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978047 Gustavsson, Hakan 047 Gladiator vs CR.42 Falco 1940-41 Both the Gloster Gladiator and the Fiat CR.42 Falco represented the peak in the development of the biplane fighter, which could trace its lineage back to World War I. However, by the time both aircraft entered service in the late 1930s, they were already obsolete. Nevertheless, they gave sterling service on all fronts in the Mediterranean and Africa in 1940-41. Indeed, the CR.42 was the Regia Aeronautica's staple fighter in both North and East Africa, Greece, and over Malta in 1940-41, during which time its pilots routinely fought British and Commonwealth squadrons equipped in the main with Gladiator biplanes.

Some bitter dogfights were fought between these two types as the Allies attempted to gain control of the skies over North Africa, Greece and East Africa. Both types were flown in the main by highly experienced pre-war pilots, and this in turn made for some closely fought engagements. The first known combat between the CR.42 and the Gladiator took place on 14 June 1940 over North Africa and the last engagement between the two types occurred on 24 October 1941 over the East African front. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2012 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978036 Guttman, Jon 036 SPAD VII vs Albatros D III 1917-18 When originally conceived, the French SPAD VII and German Albatros D II represented steps away from an emphasis on manoeuvre in aerial combat in favour of speed and durability. At the end of 1916, however, Albatros tried to have the best of both worlds. The result combined the better downward view and manoeuvrability of the Nieuport with the power and twin machine guns of the Albatros D II. At the same time, the French worked to improve the SPAD VII with more power and a more reliable cooling system before moving on to the twin-gunned SPAD XIII. While all that was going on, the Albatros D III became a mainstay of the German and Austro-Hungarian air services in frequent encounters with SPAD VIIs flown by French, Belgian, British, Italian and American airmen. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2011 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978059 Guttman, Jon 059 NIEUPORT 11/16 BEBE vs FOKKER EINDECKER: Western Front 1916 The appearance in July 1915 of the Fokker E I heralded a reign of terror over the Western Front that the Allies called the 'Fokker Scourge'. The French Nieuport 11 was one type desperately thrown into action to counter the Fokkers. The swirling dogfights between this fighter - and its more powerful but more unwieldy stablemate, the Nieuport 16 - and a succession of improved Fokkers, the E II, E III, and E IV, came to symbolize air combat in World War I.

This book gives a detailed look at the developmental history of the fighters, contrasting the interrupter gear-equipped Fokker with the more improvised solution incorporated in the Nieuport - a machine gun fitted to the upper wing to avoid the propeller entirely. The Germans went on to abandon the monoplane in favor of a new and deadly generation of biplane fighters, based on the lessons learned from these vicious engagements and influenced by the success of the French Nieuport. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2014 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978085 Guttman, Jon 085 ZEPPELIN vs BRITISH HOME DEFENCE: 1915-18 When Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin's rigid airship LZ 1 flew over Lake Constance in 1900, it was the most advanced and impressive flying machine in the world: a colossal, lighter-than-air craft capable of controlled flight. In World War I, Zeppelins were first used in a reconnaissance role, but on 19 January 1915 Kaiser Wilhelm II authorized their use in bombing strategic targets in England.

From then on, 'Zeppelin' became synonymous with terror to the British, and indeed the airship's effectiveness was more psychological than material. Still, their raids compelled the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service to embark on a program of modernizing their aerial defenses, accelerating a process that would ultimately make the aeroplane, rather than the airship, the paramount flying machine of the war. Using specially commissioned artwork, contemporary photographs and first-hand accounts, this book tells the fascinating story of Britain's first Blitz, from the airships who terrorized the public to the men who sought to defend the skies. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2018 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available late March 2018 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978049 Higgins, David 049 MARK IV vs A7V The German A7V and the British Mark IV were similar in weight, size, and speed, but differed significantly in armor, armament, and maneuverability. The A7V had thicker armor, and had nearly double the horsepower per ton. The Mark IV's pair of side-mounted 6pdr cannons forced the vehicle to present its side arc to an enemy in order to fire one of its main guns. Possessing twice as many machine guns as the Mark IV, the A7V had a frontally mounted 57mm gun that proved capable of defeating the Mark IV's armour. The Mark IV's rhomboid design proved superior in crossing trenches, climbing obstacles and moving over rough terrain.

As the first tank-versus-tank engagement in history, the fighting around Villers-Bretonneux showcased the British Mark IV and German A7V designs. Although not purpose-built to combat enemy armor, both vehicles proved the viability of such operations, which during the postwar period led to key advances in suspension, armor, gunsights, ammunition, and command and control. While the British continued to develop their armored forces, German armor development never materialized, and only in the postwar period did they address the issue 1 vol, 80 pgs 2013 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978058 Higgins, David 058 JAGDPANTHER vs SU-100: Eastern Front 1945 As World War II in Europe reached its end, armour development and doctrine had experienced several years of massively accelerated change, especially within the crucible of the Eastern Front. The German Jagdpanther and Soviet SU-100, both turretless tank-destroyer designs based on a 'traditional' turret-tank chassis, were the culminating examples of how the progression of experience, resources, and time constraints produced vehicles that were well suited for roles of defence and offence, respectively.

The Jagdpanther represented a well-balanced solution and an excellent use of limited resources, while the SU-100 was a natural progression of the SU-85, where numbers produced compensated for rudimentary construction, poor crew comfort, and limited optics. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2014 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978071 Higgins, David 071 M48 PATTON vs CENTURION: Indo-Pakistani War 1965 The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 witnessed the largest tank battles seen since World War II, notably between India's British-made Centurion Mk 7s and the American-made M48 Pattons fielded by Pakistan. Following nearly two decades of tensions and sporadic conflict between India and Pakistan, in August 1965 several thousand Pakistani soldiers entered the disputed territory of Kashmir disguised as local civilians, to which India responded with a successful ground assault. The ensuing battles would demonstrate that the Centurion, with its powerful gun and heavier armour, generally proved superior to the faster, lighter, but overly complex Patton.

Featuring full-color artwork, expert analysis and absorbing combat accounts, this is the full story of the clash between two leading tanks of the Cold War era that were never designed to fight each other, but rather to line up on battlefields as allies. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2015 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978086 Higgins, David 086 CROMWELL vs JAGDPANZER IV: Normandy 1944 By 1944, the evolution of armored doctrine had produced very different outcomes in Britain and Germany. Offering a good balance of speed, protection and firepower, the British Cromwell tank was much faster than its German opponent, but the Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer had a high-velocity main gun and a lower profile that made it formidable on the defensive, especially in ambush situations.

The two types would fight in a series of bloody encounters, from the initial days of the struggle for Normandy through to its climax as the Allies sought to trap their opponents in the Falaise Pocket.

Using archive photographs, specially commissioned artwork and battle reports, this fascinating study expertly assesses the realities of tactical armored combat during the desperate battles after D-Day. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2018 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid May 2018 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978087 Higgins, David 087 P-39/P-400 AIRACOBRA vs A6M2/3 ZERO-SEN: New Guinea 1942 After the huge advances made in the early months of the Pacific war, it was in remote New Guinea where the advance of Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force (IJNAF) A6M Zero-sen fighters was first halted due to a series of offensive and defensive aerial battles ranging from treetop height up to 30,000 ft.

Initially, the IJNAF fought Australian Kittyhawks, but by May 1942 they tangled with USAAF P-39 and P-400 Airacobras. The battles unfolded over mountainous terrain with treacherous tropical weather. Neither IJNAF or USAAF pilots had been trained for such extreme conditions, incurring many additional losses aside from those that fell in combat. Using specially commissioned artwork and contemporary photographs and testimony, this explains how, despite their initial deficit in experience and equipment, the Airacobras managed to square the ledger and defend New Guinea. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2018 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available late July 2018 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978066 Higgins, David H 066 PANZER II vs 7TP -- Poland 1939 Hitler's lightning invasion of Poland in 1939 marked the beginning of World War II in Europe. This was the period when armored warfare inscribed itself into global consciousness as the Poles desperately sought to stave off the Blitzkrieg.

At the heart of the fighting on the ground, large numbers of Nazi Germany's PzKpfw II battled against Poland's better-armed but much less numerous 7TP tank. The two types both possessed unique strengths and weaknesses - unlike the 7TP the PzKpfw II was always equipped with radio, which proved critical for command and control purposes in the heat of combat. But the German tank was blighted by thin armour, which could not withstand Polish gunfire at combat ranges.

This fully illustrated, detailed work evaluates the qualities and idiosyncrasies of each tank, giving a stark and arresting crewman's-eye-view of the brutal armored combat at the height of the invasion of Poland. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2015 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978037 Higgins, David R KING TIGER vs IS-2: Operation Solstice 1945 This book examines the technology and strategy that defined the outcome of the battles between the King Tiger and the IS-2. The Soviets had been quick to develop tanks that could fight the Tiger on an equal footing, but these were developed as part of a completely different strategy than that employed by the Germans. The King Tiger was a modern marvel, and remained unmatched in one-on-one combat. Technologically superior, with greater firepower and better armor than the Soviet IS-2, the King Tiger was a formidable opponent. However, the IS-2 was lighter, more maneuverable and most importantly, far more numerous. With overwhelming numerical superiority, the Soviets were able to simply overwhelm their opponents, negating the technical superiority of the King Tiger. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2011 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978029 Holmes, Tony 029 HURRICANE vs Bf 110 The Hurricane was the RAF's first monoplane fighter and saw significant combat during the fight over France and the Battle of Britain. One of its principal opponents in 1940 was the Bf 110 twin-engined, two-seat heavy fighter.

Following the invasion of France, these fighters clashed regularly as the RAF's Hurricanes attacked German bomber formations defended by Bf 110. Although the Hurricane had the upper hand when it came to maneuverability, the Bf 110 outclassed it in terms of fire power, with its mix of machine guns and cannon. This is the story of the dramatic battles in the skies over France and the Channel as Britain desperately tried to hold back the German onslaught from her shores.
1 vol, 80 pgs 2010 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978067 Holmes, Tony 067 SPITFIRE II/V vs Bf 109F: Channel Front 1940-42 With stunning artwork and detailed analysis, this volume provides a pilot's view of the dramatic clashes between these two legendary fighters, as some of the most gifted and 'big name' aces of World War II went head to head in the skies of NorthWest Europe.

As the Battle of Britain approached its conclusion, two new versions of the famous Spitfire and Messerschmitt Bf 109 arrived on the scene. The RAF could see that the Luftwaffe were stepping down their incursions into British airspace, and went on to the offensive. The Spitfire Mark II, and increasingly the Mark V, would fly over the picturesque English channel in fighter sweeps, or to escort vulnerable Blenheim bombers - waiting for them was the Bf 109F 'Friedrich'. Yet despite the reversal of offensive and defensive dispositions, and despite the Luftwaffe deploying the bulk of their fighter. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2017 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978091 Holmes, Tony 091 HELLCAT vs SHIDEN/SHIDEN-KAI: Pacific Theater 1944-45 By the early months of 1944 in the Pacific, the US Navy's burgeoning force of carrier-based F6F-3/5 Hellcats had pretty much wiped the skies clear of Japanese fighters during a series of one-sided aerial engagements. However, starting in October they faced the superb Kawanishi N1K1/2 Shiden/Shiden-Kai, a formidable fighter with improved armament, a powerful engine, and excellent maneuverability that in contrast to earlier Japanese fighters had the ability to withstand a greater degree of battle damage.

Japanese pilots using this aircraft would claim more than 170 aerial victories over Kyushu and whilst escorting Kamikazes attacking Allied ships off Okinawa. US Navy Hellcat pilots in turn were credited with many of the scores of Shiden-Kais that were downed attempting to defend Japan. This fully-illustrated book compares these two fascinating aircraft, using specially commissioned artwork, first-hand accounts, and a thorough technical analysis. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid January 2019 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978093 Ingman, Peter 093 SPITFIRE VC vs A6M2/3 ZERO-SEN: Darwin 1943 Just weeks after Pearl Harbor, Darwin was mauled by a massive Japanese attack. Without a single fighter to defend Australian soil, the Australian government made a special appeal to Britain for Spitfires.

A year later the Spitfire VC-equipped No 1 Fighter Wing, RAAF, faced the battle-hardened 202nd Kokutai of the IJNAF, equipped with A6M2 Zero-sens, over Darwin. This was a grueling campaign between evenly matched foes, fought in isolation from the main South Pacific battlegrounds. Pilots on either side had significant combat experience, including a number of Battle of Britain veterans. The Spitfire had superior flight characteristics but was hampered by short range and material defects in the tropical conditions, while the Japanese employed better tactics and combat doctrine inflicting serious losses on the overconfident Commonwealth forces.

Fully illustrated with detailed full-color artwork, this is the gripping story of two iconic aircraft facing off against each other above Australia. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid May 2019 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978102 Ingman, Peter 102 P-40E Warhawk vs A6M2 Zero-sen East Indies and Darwin 1942 The P-40E Warhawk is often viewed as one of the less successful American fighter designs of World War II, but in 1942 the aircraft was all that was available to the USAAC in-theatre. Units equipped with the aircraft were duly forced into combat against the deadly A6M2 Zero-sen, which had already earned itself a near-mythical reputation following its exploits over China and Pearl Harbor. During an eight-month period in 1942, an extended air campaign was fought out between the two fighters for air superiority over the Javanese and then northern Australian skies. During this time, the P-40Es and the Zero-sens regularly clashed without interference from other fighter types. In respect to losses, the Japanese 'won' these engagements, for many more P-40Es were shot down than Zero-sens. However, the American Warhawks provided a potent deterrent that forced the IJNAF to attack from high altitudes, where crews' bombing efficiency was much poorer.

Fully illustrated throughout, and supported by rare and previously unpublished photographs, this book draws on both American and Japanese sources to tell the full story of the clashes between these iconic two fighters in Darwin and the East Indies.
1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available late June 2020 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978030 Isby, David 030 M60 vs T-62 Designed for the battlefields of Europe at the height of the Cold War, the M60 and T-62 were the premier combat tanks of their day. However, it was in the deserts of the Middle East that they finally met in battle. This new Duel title examines the design and development of these main battle tanks, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, and describing and analyzing their performance on the battlefield during the Yom Kippur War, the Iran-Iraq War, and the first Gulf War. 1 vol, 72 pgs 2010 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978039 Khazanov, Dmitriy 039 LA-5/7 vs FW 190 Eastern Front 1942-45 Soviet fighter aviation suffered terribly at the hands of the Jagdwaffe in the first year of the war in the east and, with the arrival of JG 51 and its Fw 190s on the Stalingrad Front in September 1942, things only got worse. However, help was on its way in the form of the La-5. Tougher, faster, and with a greater rate of climb than its predecessors, most were flow by a new generation of better-trained pilots led by combat veterans. These new fighters soon found themselves pitted into action on the Central Sector against the equally new Fw 190As of JG 51. From then on, these two fighters would battle it out in the skies over the Eastern Front. This book tells the complete story of the battles between these two important fighters. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2011 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978065 Khazanov, Dmitriy 065 Bf 109E/F vs Yak-1/7: Eastern Front 1941-42 Step into the cockpits of the Luftwaffe's Bf 109 and the Red Air Force's Yaks 1-7, two fighters which were involved in some of the largest, fiercest aerial battles in history. The Iconic Messerschmitt fighter and its combat hardened pilots inflicted a fearful beating on the Yaks in the beginning of the war. Some of the highest scoring aces in history benefitted from the Bf 109's technical superiority over the overweight and underpowered Yak 1, racking up incredible successes against their poorly trained and equipped adversaries.

And yet, as the Soviets accumulated combat experience, their tactics improved, as did their mounts in the upgraded Yak 1B and gradually, the Red Force eroded the Luftwaffe's dominance of the skies in the eastern front, though with the 109G they would never lose qualitative superiority.

Featuring first-hand accounts from veteran pilots, rare archival photographs and expert analysis, this volume brings to life the vicious dogfights that took place between the Bf 109 and the Yak as they vied for mastery of the frozen skies of the Eastern Front. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2015 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978064 Konstam, Angus 064 BYZANTINE WARSHIP vs ARAB WARSHIP: 7th-11th Centuries For 400 years the Byzantine Empire's naval forces vied with the warships of the Islamic world for mastery of the Mediterranean. At the heart of this confrontation were the fighting vessels of the two powers, the Byzantine dromon and the Arabic shalandi, both oared warships. In those four centuries of warfare between two major maritime powers, both the Byzantines and the Arabs left us records of their doctrine and tactics, as well as of how their ships were built.

Featuring full-color artwork and rigorous analysis from an authority on naval warfare, this enthralling book offers a glimpse of the long-lost world of war at sea in the age of Byzantium.

Contents: Introduction, Chronology, The Strategic Situation, Design and Development, Technical Specifications, The Combatants, Combat, Analysis, Aftermath, Further Reading, and Index.
1 vol, 80 pgs 2015 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978107 Konstam, Angus 107 BRITISH BATTLESHIP vs GERMAN BATTLESHIP: 1941-43 Compares and contrasts the design and development of opposing capital ships and describes the epic clashes on the high seas that ended with the destruction of the Kriegsmarine's major naval assets.

German side: The four key capital ships -- Bismarck, Tirpitz, Scharnhorst, and Gneisenau.

British side: King George V-class battleships -- King George V, Prince of Wales, Duke of York, Howe (late 1942), and Anson (late 1942).

Also: Nelson-class -- Nelson and Rodney

Battles include Battle of the Denmark Strait and pursuit of the Bismarck May 24-27 1941, and the Battle of the North Cape on December 26 1943.
1 vol, 80 pgs 2020 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available late December 2020 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978092 Lai, Benjamin 092 CHINESE BATTLESHIP vs JAPANESE CRUISER: Yalu River 1894 The 1894-95 war between China and Japan, known in the West as the First Sino-Japanese War, lasted only nine months, but its impact resonates today.

The Chinese Beiyang (Northern) Fleet was led by her flagship, Dingyuan, and her sister ship, Zhenyuan, which were the biggest in Asia; German-built armored turret ships, they were armed with four 12-inch guns and two 6-inch guns, plus six smaller guns and three torpedo tubes. For their part the Japanese fleet, including the Matsushima and her sister ships Itsukushima and Hashidate, were each armed with a single 12.6-inch Canet gun and 11 or 12 4.7-inch guns, plus smaller guns and four torpedo tubes. The scene was set for a bloody confrontation that would stun the world and transform the relationship between China and Japan.

Fully illustrated with stunning artwork, this is the engrossing story of the Yalu River campaign, where Chinese and Japanese ironclads fought for control of Korea. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid February 2019 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978040 Lardas, Mark 040 CSS Alabama vs USS Kearsarge: Cherbourg 1864 The most successful commerce raider of the Civil War, the CSS Alabama captured 60 merchant ships and fought two duels with ships of the US Navy. This book gives the complete story of the development of the Confederacy's commerce raiding force and the ships the Union set against them. Compiled from numerous first-hand accounts as well as archeological evidence, it covers the three famous battles of the commerce raiders, CSS Florida vs. USS Wachusett, CSS Alabama vs. USS Hatteras, and CSS Alabama vs. USS Kearsarge, analyzing the strengths and weakness of each of the combatants. While the American Civil War is usually considered a land war, there was plenty of blood in the water. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2011 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978044 Lardas, Mark 044 BONHOMME RICHARD vs SERAPIS: Flamborough Head 1779 The clash between the American Bonhomme Richard and the British HMS Serapis during the American Revolutionary War is perhaps the most famous single-ship duel in history. This epic battle between two very similar ships - and crews - off the coast of Britain in September 1779 created two naval heroes: in victory, John Paul Jones became a figure that all future American naval officers would aspire to emulate, while Richard Pearson, in defeat, became a hero to the British for a tenacious defense that allowed the merchant vessels under his protection to escape.

Featuring specially commissioned full-color artwork, this is the story of an epic maritime clash at the height of the Revolutionary War that provided a founding legend for generations of US naval officers and demonstrated the intrepidity and fighting prowess of the fledgling US Navy. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2012 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978079 Lardas, Mark 079 USS LAWRENCE vs HMS DETROIT: The War of 1812 on the Great Lakes The most critical naval fighting during the War of 1812 took place, not on the high seas, but on the inland lakes of North America: the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. Carrying between 12 and 22 cannon, the British and American sloops-of-war were ship-rigged, brig-rigged or schooner-rigged vessels. Lakes actions often involved two ships facing each other broadside to broadside, the best example of which was the battle of Lake Erie in 1813 where HMS Detroit led a Royal Navy squadron against the USS Lawrence-led US Navy.

Featuring full-color artwork, this lively study investigates the prolonged struggle between British and US sloops-of-war, highlighting the differences between the war on the lakes and the war on the oceans during the Age of Fighting Sail. It reveals the circumstances under which these ships were built, how they were armed, and the human story behind their construction and use in battle. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2017 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid May 2017 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978106 Lardas, Mark 106 SPANISH GALLEON vs English GALLEON: 1550-1605 Between 1550-1600, much of the naval combat was between individual ships belonging to the competing powers of England and Spain as they sought to control and exploit the rich mineral, material, agricultural, and human resources of the New World. Explores how the galleons used by Spain and England were built and armed, and examines the effectiveness of the cannon they used. It also compares how they were sailed and manoeuvred, showing the strengths and weaknesses of each design, and explaining how these played out in several of their most prominent battles, including the Battle of San Juan de Ulua, the fight between the Golden Hind and the Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion, an action from the Spanish Armada, and the last fight of the Revenge. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2020 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available late November 2020 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978113 Lardas, Mark 113 GERMAN HEAVY CRUISERS VS ROYAL NAVY HEAVY CRUISERS 1939-42 The opposing heavy cruisers of the German Kriegsmarine and the Royal Navy engaged in a global game of cat and mouse during the opening years of World War II. This was a period in which the heavy cruiser still reigned supreme in open waters, with the opposing sides reluctant to risk their battleships, and aircraft yet to dominate the seas. These swift vessels fought each other in the South Atlantic, North Atlantic, the frigid waters of the Denmark Strait and the Arctic approaches to Russia, capturing the public imagination in the process.

This book examines the design, development, and technical performance of these opposing warships, and explores the clashes between them at the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939, the Christmas Day Battle 1940 and the Battle of the Denmark Strait in May 1941. The ships examined include the Deutschland-class Panzerschiffe and Admiral Hipper-class cruisers, and the Royal Navy County- and York-class heavy cruisers. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2021 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid August 2021 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978116 Lardas, Mark 116 B-25 MITCHELL vs JAPANESE DESTROYER: Battle of the Bismarck Sea 1943 Examines the mechanics of skip-bombing combined with a strafing B-25, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the combatants (B-25 versus destroyer), and revealing the results of the attacks and the reasons why these USAAF tactics were so successful. Over the first two months of 1943, squadrons perfected these tactics. Then, in early March, Japan tried to reinforce their garrison in Lae, New Guinea, with a 16-ship convoy - eight transports guarded by eight destroyers. The Fifth Air Force pounced on the convoy in the Bismarck Sea. By March 5 all eight transports and four destroyers had been sunk. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2021 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-dj, available early December 2021 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978127 Lardas, Mark 127 US DESTROYERS vs GERMAN U-BOATS: The Atlantic 1941-45 The individual clashes between Germany's U-boats and the Allied warships escorting the vital convoys during the Battle of the Atlantic often comprised one-on-one actions. Examines the technical details of the U-boats, destroyers, and destroyer escorts involved, including ship and submarine profiles, weaponry artworks, and key clashes -- USS Kearny vs. U-568, USS Roper (DD-147) vs U-85, USS Eugene E. Elmore (DE-686) vs U-549, and USS Atherton (DE-169) vs U-853. 1 vol, 48 pgs 2023 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid April 2023 ......$23.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978130 Lardas, Mark 130 SUNDERLAND vs U-BOAT: Bay of Biscay 1943-44 Duel series. Examines the respective advantages and drawbacks of Sunderland and U-boat and first-hand accounts provide a vivid analysis of their historic engagement during the Bay of Biscay campaign in 1943-44. Includes maps, tactical diagrams, photographs, and specially commissioned artwork. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2023 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid October 2023 ......$23.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978052 Lardas., Mark 052 BRITISH FRIGATE vs FRENCH FRIGATE 1793-1814 In the Age of Fighting Sail (1650-1820), ambitious officers of the navies of many nations sought command of a frigate. Speedy, nimble, and formidably armed, frigates often operated independently, unlike the larger ships of the line. Legendary sailors such as Edward Pellew and Charles-Alexandre Leon Durand, Comte de Linoise, found that commanding such a ship offered numerous opportunities for wealth.

In this book, four representative frigate duels are examined: first, a battle fought between two closely matched ships (HMS Nymphe (36) vs La Cleopatre (32); second, a victory won by an inferior British frigate over a superior French frigate (HMS Pallas (32) vs Minerve (40); third, a victory - the only one - by an inferior French frigate over a superior British frigate (HMS Ambuscade (32) vs Baionnaise (24), and fourth, victory of a superior British frigate over an inferior French frigate (HMS Indefatigable (44) of Hornblower fame vs La Virginie (40).

Featuring specially commissioned artwork and offering expert analysis, this study provides a vivid account of the bloody combats fought by the most romantic warship of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic era - the frigate. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2013 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978055 Laurie, Jim 055 FE 2b/d vs Albatros Scouts: Western Front 1916-17 In the spring of 1916 the deployment of the RFC's FE 2 - with its rotary engine 'pusher' configuration affording excellent visibility for its pilot and observer, and removing the need for synchronized machine guns - helped wrest aerial dominance from Imperial Germany's Fokker Eindecker monoplanes, and then contributed to retaining it throughout the Somme battles of that fateful summer.

However, by autumn German reorganization saw the birth of the Jagdstaffeln (specialized fighter squadrons) and the arrival of the new Albatros D scout, a sleek inline-engined machine built for speed and twin-gun firepower. Thus, for the remainder of 1916 and well into the next year an epic struggle for aerial superiority raged above the horrors of the Somme and Passchendaele battlefields, pitting the FE 2 against the better-armed and faster Albatros scouts that were focused on attacking and destroying their two-seater opponents.

In the end the Germans would regain air superiority, and hold it into the following summer with the employment of their new Jagdgeschwader (larger fighter groupings), but the FE 2 remained a tenacious foe that inflicted many casualties - some of whom were Germany's best aces (including The Red Baron). 1 vol, 80 pgs 2013 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978042 Laurier, Jim 042 DH 2 vs ALBATROS D I/D II: Western Front 1916 Flown by Victoria Cross recipient Lanoe Hawker and the members of No 24 Sqn, the ungainly yet nimble DH 2 helped the Allies attain air superiority over the Somme in early 1916 and hold it through the summer. With its rotary engine 'pusher' configuration affording excellent visibility and eliminating the need for a synchronized machine gun, the DH 2 was more than a match for anything the Germans could put in the air. That is, until the arrival of the Albatros D II, a sleek inline-engined machine built for speed and with twin-gun firepower.

Thus, the later part of 1916 saw an epic struggle in the skies above the Somme pitting the maneuverable yet under-gunned DH 2s against the less nimble yet better armed and faster Albatros D IIs. In the end the Germans would regain air superiority, three squadron commanders - two of whom were considered pinnacles of their respective air forces - would lose their lives, and an up-and-coming pilot (Manfred von Richthofen) would triumph in a legendary dogfight and attain unimagined heights fighting with tactics learned from a fallen mentor. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2012 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978043 Laurier, Jim 043 M4 SHERMAN vs TYPE 97 CHI-HA: The Pacific 1945 Although US and Japanese tank forces first clashed in 1941, it was on in 1944 that tank-vs-tank action became more common as both sides poured larger numbers of tanks into the combat zone. These battles were a means of demonstrating each side's latest tank technology. For the US, the pinnacle of their tank machinery came in the form of the M4 Sherman and for the Japanese, their most notable feat of engineering was the smaller, yet still effective Type 97 Chi-Ha.

The last two campaigns of the war -- Iwo Jima and Okinawa -- saw tanks used by both sides, the Japanese finally concluding that 'the fight against the US Army is a fight against his M4 tanks.' The illustrations follow the usual Duel pattern with profile illustrations of the Type 97-kai Shinhoto Chi-ha and the M4A3, views showing the ammunition of both types, interior illustrations showing the turret layout in both types, and a battlescene showing the Type 97-kai in combat against US armor. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2012 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978084 McNab, Chris 084 SAGGER ANTI-TANK MISSILE vs M60 MAIN BATTLE TANK: Yom Kippur War 1973 The 1973 Yom Kippur War rewrote the textbook on the tactics of modern armored warfare. Unlike the previous major Arab-Israeli war of 1967, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) faced an enemy that had invested heavily in modern Soviet weapon systems and tactics.

Using detailed color artwork and insightful analysis, this book explains how the effective use of the Soviet-supplied AT-3 Sagger (9M14 Malyutka) anti-tank missile allowed small Arab tank-killing teams to destroy Israeli armor at an astonishing rate. It also analyzes the tank that opposed it, the US-built M60A1, which had to fight for survival against the Arab Saggers, and shows how in both the Sinai and the Golan Heights, the IDF quickly learned that firepower and infantry/artillery cooperation were the keys to their survival. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2018 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available late January 2018 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978094 McNab, Chris 094 WALKER BULLDOG vs T-54: Laos and Vietnam 1971-75 During the Vietnam War, both the United States and the Soviet Union supplied all manner of weapon systems to the opposing sides, including tanks and armored vehicles. Two tanks in particular took momentary prominence in the later years of the conflict. On the South Vietnamese side, it was the US M41 Walker Bulldog; for the communist North Vietnamese, the Soviet-supplied T-54 main battle tank became the core of their armored power.

In their first major engagement, during Operation Lam Son 719 (February-March 1971), it was the Walker Bulldog in the ascendant, but in later battles the T-54s inflicted heavy losses on their lighter opponents, taking the advantage through their superior maneuverability and gunnery.

Illustrated with full-color artwork as well as rare and revealing photographs from both sides, this book studies these two iconic tanks in Vietnamese service, examining how their differing designs and fighting doctrines affected their performance in this unique theater of combat. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978110 McNab, Chris 110 ARAB ARMOUR VS ISRAELI ARMOUR: Six-Day War 1967 Drawing on first-hand accounts from both unit commanders and individual crews, this Duel title explains the tactical and mechanical dynamics of one of history's greatest post-war armoured engagements: the Six-Day War in 1967.

Israel's armoured brigades, despite being heavily outnumbered on paper by Arab AFVs, managed to dominate the Arab forces tactically and technologically, through excellent gunnery and decentralized battlefield leadership.

The fighting took place on three different fronts: the Sinai Front, the Jordanian Front and the Golan Heights. Each presented its own unique set of tactical and terrain challenges, from the long-range battles between massed Egyptian and Israeli armour in the scorching flatlands of the Sinai Desert, to relatively close-quarters engagements across steep and narrow terrain in the Golan Heights.

Not only did the Six-Day War see the direct clash of opposing Cold War tactical approaches, but also the direct confrontation of Western and Soviet MBTs. On the Israeli side, the IDF had the British Centurion, the American M48 Patton, the M51 Super Sherman, and the French AMX-13, although they focused their armoured spearheads on the Centurions and Pattons. The Arabs' armoured power was expressed through T-34/85s, T-54/55s, PT-76s and JS-3s (IS-3s). Each vehicle brought its own set of advantages and disadvantages, although ultimately it was the long-range tank-killing gunnery of the Centurion that often took the day.
1 vol, 80 pgs 20201UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid April 2021 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978133 McNab, Chris 133 COALITION ARMOR vs IRAQI FORCES: Iraq 2003-06 Contents: Introduction, Chronology, Design and Development, Technical Specifications, The Combatants, The Strategic Situation, Combat, Statistics and Analysis, Aftermath, Bibliography, and Index covers the 2003 Coalition invasion of Iraq. Examines the opening clashes between opposing AVFs and the tactics developed by Iraqi insurgents seeking to neutralize Coalition superiority. Featuring full color photos, battle scenes, weaponry, and tactical illustrations, it draws upon firsthand accounts and official post-battle analyses to examine how Coalition forces responded to the change in the nature of the threats. Among the topics addressed are the coordination between Coalition infantry and air power; how dealing with roadside bombs in Iraq resulted in changes to equipment, tactics, and force structure; and the lessons learned for future warfare. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2024 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid January 2024 ......$23.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978061 Mersky, Peter 061 F-8 CRUSADER vs MIG-17: Vietnam 1965-72 Revered by Naval Aviators as the 'last of the gunfighters' due to its quartet of Colt-Browning Mk 12 20 mm cannon, the F-8 Crusader enjoyed great success against VPAF MiG-17s during the Rolling Thunder campaign of 1966-68. But, the MiG-17's unequalled low-speed manoeuvrability, small size and powerful cannon armament meant that the American forces didn't have it all their own way. This fully illustrated book, featuring photographs, maps, and battlescene artwork, reveals the tactics that were developed by pilots on both sides to give themselves the edge in air-to-air dogfights, allowing the reader to understand how the differing design and development doctrines played a part in combat.

Contents: Introduction; Chronology; Design and Development; Technical Specifications; The Strategic Situation; The Combatants; Combat; Statistics and Analysis; Aftermath; Further Reading; and Index.
1 vol, 80 pgs 2014 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978063 Mersky, Peter 063 PANZER III vs SOMUA S 35: Belgium 1940 The armor clashes in May 1940 were the biggest the world had yet seen, as the sweeping German advances of that period came to epitomize Blitzkrieg. The Wehrmacht's Panzer III was well matched by the French Somua S35 tanks, the two representing very different design philosophies and yet both ranking among the best in the world at the time. Fully illustrated with specially commissioned color artwork, this work draws upon the latest research to provide a definitive analysis of the clash between these two high-quality, cutting-edge tank designs. It describes one of the key duels at the heart of a new type of warfare, in the epic battles at the outset of Hitler's conquest of France and the Low Countries.

Contents: Introduction; Chronology; Design and Development; Technical Specifications; The Combatants; The Strategic Situation; Combat; Statistics and Analysis; Conclusion; Further Reading; and Index.
1 vol, 80 pgs 2014 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978038 Molesworth, Carl P-40 WARHAWK vs BF 109: MTO 1942-44 Although the P-40 and the Bf 109 joined the air war over North Africa at nearly the same time in 1941, the German fighter had already racked up a considerable combat career, dating back to 1937 in Spain. In contrast, the P-40 was a bit of an unknown quantity and was making its combat debut in the hands of the RAF's Desert Air Force. Discover how the huge differences between the veteran Bf 109 and the new P-40 determined the tactics they adopted and the ultimate outcome of their epic confrontation. The author covers all aspects of the aerial battle, from the small, agile Bf 109's ability to operate more effectively at high altitudes through to the P-40's advantage in maneuverability, which outweighed its poor high altitude performance.
1 vol, 80 pgs 2011 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978132 Newsome, Bruce 132 VALENTINE INFANTRY TANK vs PANZER III: North Africa 1941-43 Compares the technical details, design evolution, crew histories, and respective strengths and weaknesses of these iconic tanks, which frequently went head-to-head in brutal battles across Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia. It documents the upgrades made to each AFV type over three years, as up-gunned and up-armored variants - ever more lethal, ever more survivable - arrived in North Africa. Also explores the two tanks' encounters, from the first Valentine vs Panzer III clashes in 1941, to the Axis drive into Egypt, and on to the Tunisian fighting of 1942-1943. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2023 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid November 2023 ......$23.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978045 Nijboer, Donald 045 METEOR I vs V1 FLYING BOMB 1944 A total of 10,500 missiles were launched as part of the V1 attack, of which 3,957 were destroyed by the defenses. Indeed, it could have been much worse, for by the end of the war the Germans had manufactured close to 32,000 flying bombs.

Rushed into action in July 1944 to help counter the V1 threat, Britain's Gloster Meteor I was the first jet fighter to enter RAF service. On 4 August the Meteor scored its first V1 victory. Having just closed in on a flying bomb, its officer squeezed the trigger but his guns jammed. Using the Meteor's superior speed, he was able to overtake the missile and, using his wing tip, he tipped the craft over and sent it crashing into the ground. The interceptions between the V1 and Britain's Gloster Meteor were historic, and ushered in a new era of aerial combat. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2012 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978060 Nijboer, Donald 060 SPITFIRE V vs C.202 FOLGORE: Malta 1942 The inability of the Italians and Germans to invade Malta proved decisive for Allied victory in the Mediterranean during World War II, as the islands provided the Allies with a base from which to project air power. Early Italian efforts to pound the islands into submission were supplemented by major German forces from January 1942 and in a few weeks the situation for the defenders reached a critical stage.

In response, in March 1942 the first Spitfires were delivered to Malta. Throughout the summer C.202s fought over Malta, escorting tiny formations of Cant Z.1007s, SM.79s, and Ju 88s. The fighting subsided in August and September, but grew in strength with the arrival of more C.202s.

In October the Regia Aeronautica could muster three Gruppi with a total of 74 C.202s. For ten days the Italians pressed a relentless attack before attrition brought the offensive to a halt. Throughout the bombing campaign the British were able to supply Malta with ever increasing numbers of Spitfires. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2014 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978098 Nijboer, Donald 098 GERMAN FLAK DEFENSES vs ALLIED HEAVY BOMBERS The air battle that raged over Germany in WWII has often been described as a battle between Allied and German fighters but what has been frequently missed by historians on all sides is the impact of German anti-aircraft defenses (flak). Though often dismissed as ineffective and a waste of valuable material and personnel, the German flak arm made a major contribution to the defence of the Third Reich -- at least half of the American aircraft shot down over Germany fell to flak, and according to the RAF Official History, it was estimated that flak accounted for 1229 of 3302 aircraft lost by Bomber Command between 1942 and April 1945.

Additionally, the strategic role of flak extended beyond simply shooting down aircraft -- its other, more important task was to force bombers to drop their ordnance sooner or from a higher altitude, thus reducing bombing accuracy. Both these roles are explored in depth in this detailed study of the German flak defences and of their adversaries, the Allied heavy bombers. Includes full-color illustrations including cockpit scenes and armament views. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid October 2019 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978115 Nijboer, Donald 115 SBD DAUNTLESS vs A6M ZERO-SEN: Pacific Theater 1941-44 This book examines these aircraft in detail, exploring their history and development and contains accurate descriptions of the combats between the SBD Dauntless and Zero-sen throughout the first four carrier battles of 1942 and the Solomons Campaign.

The SBD Dauntless dive-bomber was a key cog in the US Navy's aerial arsenal throughout the Pacific War. Although a product of aviation design in the mid to late 1930s, the type soldiered on even as more advanced aircraft were appearing from American factories as the war progressed. Despite its classification as a dive-bomber and rather dated appearance, the SBD Dauntless could more than handle its own against the feared A6M Zero-sen - a regular opponent, especially during the first 18 months of the campaign in the Pacific. The SBD was credited with 138 victories in aerial combat (principally in 1942), 107 of which were fighters and the rest bombers.

Seven SBD units claimed five or more aerial victories, with future ace Lt (jg) John Leppla of VS-2 being credited with four victories while flying from the carrier USS Lexington during the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. The Zero-sen came to symbolize Japan's military prowess during the early stages of the war in the Pacific, and it quickly became the world's premier carrier-based fighter - a title it would hold well into 1943.

The psychological impact of the Zero-sen was so great that all Allied fighters were judged by the standards set by it. The aviators flying the A6M in 1941-42 were amongst the most experienced fighter pilots in the world, and they claimed a significant number of the SBDs destroyed while trying to defend their carriers from attack during the Battles of Coral Sea, Midway and Santa Cruz in 1942. While one was a dive-bomber and the other a nimble fighter, both met in combat many times, with the Dauntless proving an elusive and deadly target thanks to the tenacity and skill of the pilots and gunners manning the Douglas aircraft. While the Zero-sen was credited with shooting down many SBDs, the rugged dive-bomber gave as good as it got and emerged, not surprisingly, victorious on many occasions. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2021 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available late October 2021 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978134 Nordeen, Lon 134 HARPOON MISSILE vs SURFACE SHIPS: US Navy, Libya and Iran 1986-88 Contents: Introduction; Chronology; Design and Development; Doctrine, Tactics, Leadership, Deployment of Forces; The Strategic Situation; The Combatants; Combat; Statistics and Analysis; Aftermath; Further Reading; and Index details the role played by the Harpoon tactical anti-ship missile in two Cold War flare-ups in the 1980s. Explores the engagements of the Harpoon by the US Navy against its Libyan and Iranian adversaries, using original photographs and specially commissioned artwork to examine the naval systems and weapons employed by both counterparts. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2024 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid January 2024 ......$23.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978068 Saunders, Andy 068 RAF FIGHTERS vs LUFTWAFFE BOMBERSBattle of Britain RAF Spitfires, Hurricanes, Havocs and Defiants began to take their toll on the overextended, under-protected Kampfgruppen of Heinkel He 111s, Junkers Ju 87s and 88s, and Dornier Do 17s during the Battle of Britain. Both sides learned and adapted as the campaign went on. As the advantage began to shift from the Luftwaffe to the RAF, the Germans were forced to switch from round-the-clock bombing to only launching night-raids. This illustrated study dissects the tactics and technology of the Battle of Britain. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2020 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available late November 2020 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978125 Short, Neil 125 BRITISH COASTAL WEAPONS vs GERMAN COASTAL WEAPONS: The Dover Strait 1940-44 One of the longest-running battles of World War II took place across the English Channel, in which huge artillery guns attempted to destroy each other, created psychological terror among the local inhabitants living near the coast, and harassed shipping over a four-year period.

Examines the array of powerful weapons located across the Strait of Dover. Superb colour artworks explore both fixed gun batteries (including 'Jane' and 'Clem', and batteries Todt and Lindemann) and railway artillery (such as the German K5 and K12 guns, and the British 18-inch 'Boche Buster'). Construction and targeting technology used by each side are also covered in detail, and the locations of all the major sites around Dover and Calais are pinpointed on easy to follow maps. 1 vol, 48 pgs 2023 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid April 2023 ......$23.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978031 Stille, Mark 031 BRITISH DREADNOUGHT vs GERMAN DREADNOUGHT In 1916, in the seas near Jutland, two fleets of armoured dreadnoughts met in open battle. This book tells the story of the British and German battleships of these two great fleets - from their development as the first generation of fully- armoured warships - to their combat experiences. The differing weapon systems and crew training of the British and German fleets are examined in detail, as is the titanic struggle of Jutland, through an hour-by-hour, shot-by-shot, reconstruction. Finally, it analyzes the outcome of the struggle, explaining the successes and failures of these great battleships.
1 vol, 80 pgs 2010 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978048 Stille, Mark 048 USN DESTROYER vs IJN DESTROYER: The Pacific 1943 This book covers the fierce night naval battles fought between the US Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy during late 1943 as the Allies advanced slowly up the Solomon Islands toward the major Japanese naval base at Rabaul. During this period, several vicious actions were fought featuring the most modern destroyers of both navies.

Throughout most of 1942, the Imperial Navy had held a marked edge and a key ingredient of these successes was their destroyer force, which combined superior training and tactics with the most capable torpedo in the world. Even into 1943 mixed Allied light cruiser/destroyer forces were roughly handled by Japanese destroyers. After these battles, the Americans decided to stop chasing Japanese destroyers with cruisers so the remainder of the battles in 1943 (with one exception) were classic destroyer duels. The Americans still enjoyed the technical edge provided to them by radar, and now added new, more aggressive tactics. The final result was the defeat of the Imperial Navy's finely trained destroyer force and the demonstration that the Japanese were unable to stop the Allies' advance. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2012 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978069 Stille, Mark 069 US NAVY CARRIER AIRCRAFT vs IJN YAMATO-CLASS BATTLESHIPS: Pacific Theater 1944-45 As the Pacific War approached a crescendo, the clashes between swarming US Navy carrier aircraft, and the gigantic Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Yamato-class battleships became symbolic of the fortunes of the two nations. They also served as a metaphor for the profound changes in naval technology and doctrine that the war had brought about.

The two opposing forces were the most powerful of their kind - the Japanese Yamato and Musashi were the biggest most heavily armored and armed battleships ever built, while US carrier aviation had evolved into a well-oiled, war-winning machine. With detailed analysis of the technical features of the opposing war machines and a gripping account of the fighting itself, this vividly illustrated work presents views from the cockpits of US Navy Divebombers, and down the sights of IJN anti-aircraft guns, during two of the most dramatic naval engagements ever fought. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2015 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978076 Stille, Mark 076 US NAVY SHIPS vs KAMIKAZES 1944-45 The ineffectiveness of conventional air attacks on US Navy surface ships, particularly heavily defended targets like carrier task groups, forced the Japanese to re-evaluate their tactics in late 1944. The solution they arrived at was simple - crash their aircraft into American ships. This notion of self-sacrifice fit well within the Japanese warrior psyche and proved terrifying to the American sailors subjected to it. These tactics brought immediate results, and proved effective until the end of the war.

This book examines this terrifying new way of waging war, revealing how the US Navy was forced to adapt its tactics and deploy new weapons to counter the threat posed by kamikaze attacks, as well as assessing whether the damage caused to American naval strength by the loss of so many pilots and aircraft actually had a material impact. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2016 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978090 Stille, Mark 090 USN FLEET DESTROYER vs IJN FLEET SUBMARINE: The Pacific 1941-42 Leading up to the Pacific War, Japanese naval strategists believed that a decisive fleet engagement would be fought against the US Navy. Outnumbered by the USN, the Imperial Japanese Navy planned to use its large, ocean-going submarines to chip away at its opponent before the grand battle. In order to accomplish this, the IJN's submarine force was tasked to perform extended reconnaissance of the USN's battle fleet, even in port, and then shadow and attack it.

For their part, the USN was fully aware of the potential threat posed by Japanese submarines, and destroyer crews were trained and equipped with modern anti-submarine weapons and tactics to screen the battle fleet. Challenging the assumption that Japanese submarines were ineffective during the Pacific War, this fully illustrated study examines their encounters with the US Navy, and the successes and failures of American destroyers in protecting their capital ships. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2018 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available late November 2018 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978101 Stille, Mark 101 BRITISH BATTLESHIP vs ITALIAN BATTLESHIP: The Mediterranean 1940-41 During World War II's battle for control of the Mediterranean, both the British and Italian navies planned to bring their battle fleets into play. At the center of both of these fleets was a core of battleships which both sides expected to play a decisive role in the conflict.

On 9 July 1940, the two navies met in the central Mediterranean, as two Italian battleships faced off against three of their British counterparts. Christened the Battle of Calabria, the action allowed the ships to play to their strengths, engaging in a long-range gunnery duel, the very thing they had been designed for. Though both sides shot well, the only hit was scored by Warspite on the Italian battleship Giulio Cesare. The Italians were forced to withdraw, and the action ended up being indecisive, but it was the largest fleet action fought in the Mediterranean during the war. As well as this battle, there were other occasions during the war when both British and Italian battleships were present and influential, but during which they never engaged each other directly - the Battle of Spartivento on 27 November 1940, and the Battle of Cape Matapan on 28-29 March 1941.

Packed with full-color artwork, carefully selected archive photographs and expert analysis, this title explores in detail the role played by British and Italian battleships in these encounters, and their influence in the Mediterranean theater of World War II. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid January 2020 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978105 Stille, Mark 105 US Navy Ships vs Japanese Attack Aircraft 1941-42 The striking power of the Imperial Japanese Navy's carrier-based attack aircraft was established at Pearl Harbor, and the IJN's carrier-based torpedo dive bombers showed their prowess again at the Battle of Coral Sea when they sank the US Navy carrier USS Lexington and damaged the carrier USS Yorktown. Even at the disastrous Battle of Midway, the relatively small number of IJNAF attack- and torpedo-bombers that were launched against the US fleet proved that they remained a potent force by heavily damaging Yorktown again, which allowed an IJN submarine to sink the carrier. At Guadalcanal, IJNAF carrier-based aircraft sank the carrier USS Hornet and badly damaged USS Enterprise twice.

However, throughout 1942, US Navy ship defences brought down an increasing number of attacking IJNAF aircraft. The final major battle of the year, the Battle of Santa Cruz, exacted crippling losses on the IJN, setting the stage for the eclipse of the IJNAF's highly trained and effective aviation attack forces.

Packed with illustrations and contemporary photographs, this engrossing volume details the design, tactics, and operational records of both the US Navy ships and the IJNAF aircraft which attacked them over the year following Pearl Harbor. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid September 2020 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978117 Stille, Mark 117 USN SUBMARINE VS IJN ANTI-SUBMARINE ESCORT Covers technical and tactical developments implemented by the opposing sides, including US improvements to submarine design and weaponry and more aggressive tactics, and the Japanese development of destroyer escorts, changes to depth charge design, and improved submarine detection capacity.

In 1941 and 1942, US Navy submarine operations in the Pacific were largely ineffective, hampered by faulty torpedo design, conservative tactics, and insufficiently aggressive submarine captains. Eventually, though, a new generation of wartime submarine commanders, combined with reliable torpedoes, new generation boats, improved intelligence, and advanced radar, inflicted devastating losses on Japanese shipping.

Antisubmarine warfare was initially accorded a low priority by the Imperial Japanese Navy; the lack of ASW escorts and modern weaponry, and an inability to develop tactics, resulted in devastation to vital convoys, and hampered its ability to deter and destroy enemy submarines. This book explores all these factors, and the role that US submarines played in supporting the major fleet operations in the Pacific Theater, notching up almost 500 patrols by war's end for the loss of 52 submarines to the Japanese. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2021 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid January 2022 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978056 Stille, Marke 056 BRITISH BATTLECRUISER vs GERMAN BATTLECRUISER 1914-16 The rival battlecruisers first clashed in January 1915 at Dogger Bank in the North Sea. Although the battle was a British tactical victory with neither side losing any of its battlecruisers, the differences in the designs of the British and German ships were already apparent.

The two sides responded very differently to this first clash; while the Germans improved their ammunition-handling procedures to lessen the risk of disabling explosions, the British drew the opposite lesson and stockpiled ammunition in an effort to improve their rate of fire, rendering their battlecruisers more vulnerable. These differences were highlighted more starkly during the battle of Jutland in May 1916.

Of the nine British battlecruisers committed, three were destroyed, all by their German counterparts. Five German battlecruisers were present, and of these, only one was sunk and the remainder damaged. Fully illustrated with specially commissioned artwork, this is the gripping story of the clash between the rival battlecruisers of the Royal Navy and the Kaiserliche Marine at the height of World War I. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2013 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978083 Stille. Mark 083 USN BATTLESHIP vs IJN BATTLESHIP: The Pacific 1942-44 The United States and Japan believed their battleships would play a central role in battle, but after the Pacific War began in December 1941, the role of the battleship proved to be much more limited than either side expected. There would be only two battleship vs battleship actions in the Pacific in World War II, both of which are assessed in this engaging study. At Guadalcanal in 1942, Kirishima faced two modern US battleships, USS Washington and USS South Dakota. In the Surigao Strait in 1944, two World War I-era Japanese battleships, Yamashiro and Fuso, faced six American battleships supported by four heavy cruisers in history's last-ever clash between battleships.

Employing full-color artwork, carefully selected archive photographs, and expert analysis, this examines the two head-to-head clashes between the battleships deployed by the United States and Japan in the struggle for control of the Pacific during World War II. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2017 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid November 2017 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978050 Thompson, Warren 050 F-86 SABRE vs MiG-15 - Korea 1950-53 As the routed North Korean People's Army (NKPA) withdrew into the mountainous reaches of their country and the People's Republic of China (PRC) funneled in its massive infantry formations in preparation for a momentous counter-offensive, both lacked adequate air power to challenge US and UN. Reluctantly, Josef Stalin agreed to provide the requisite air cover, introducing the superior swept-wing MiG-15 to counter the American's straight-wing F-80 jets. This in turn prompted the USAF to deploy its very best - the F-86A Sabre - to counter this threat.

Thus began a two-and-a-half-year struggle in the skies known as 'MiG Alley.' In this period, the unrelenting campaign for aerial superiority witnessed the introduction of successive models of these two revolutionary jets into combat. This meticulously researched study not only provides technical descriptions of the two types and their improved variants, complete with a 'fighter pilot's assessment' of these aircraft, but also chronicles the entire scope of their aerial duel in 'MiG Alley' by employing the recollections of the surviving combatants - including Russian, Chinese, and North Korean pilots - who participated. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2013 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978034 Williamson, Gordon 034 E-BOAT vs MTB: The English Channel 1941-45 During WWII, German E-Boats were so active in the English Channel that the narrow stretch of water became known as 'E-Boat Alley'. To counter their threat, Britain brought its coastal forces to bear - flotillas of small Motor Torpedo Boats and Motor Gun Boats (MTBs and MGBs) and Motor Launches (MLs). As the Germans sought to maintain their supremacy in Channel waters, they continued to develop their E-Boat designs to accommodate more armor and more firepower. Rather than matching the newer E-Boats for armament, the British developed several types to fulfill the varied roles for which the Kriegsmarine were attempting to use the E-Boat. This book details this developing conflict, examining the evolution of the boats involved, and covering the their battles from fights in the Thames Estuary to the build-up for D-Day. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2011 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978041 Young, Edward M 041 B-24 LIBERATOR vs Ki-43 OSCAR: China and Burma 1943 In reviewing reports of air combat from Spain, China and the early stages of the war in Europe, the US Army Air Corps called for heavier armor and armament for its bomber fleet, including the addition of a tail turret. While Japan tried to counter with their own heavy fighters, their inability to produce them in any number meant that they were forced to face the bomber threat with the nimble, but under-armed Ki-43 Oscar.

While severely outgunned, the Japanese learned to use their greater maneuverability to exploit the small weakness in bomber defenses. This book tells the story of the clash in the skies over the Pacific, as the Japanese fought desperately against the coming tide of the American bomber offensive. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2011 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978054 YOung, Edward M 054 F4F Wildcat vs A6M Zero-sen Pacific Theater 1942 The Grumman F4F Wildcat and the Mitsubishi A6M Zero-sen were contemporaries, although designed to very different requirements. The Wildcat, ruggedly built to survive the rigors of carrier operations, was the best carrier fighter the US Navy had available when the USA entered World War II, and it remained the principal fighter for the US Navy and the US Marine Corps until 1942-43.

With a speed greater than 300mph, exceptional maneuverability, long range, and an impressive armament, the slick Zero-sen could out-perform any Allied fighter in 1941-42. The battles between the Wildcat and the Zero-sen during 1942 represent a classic duel in which pilots flying a nominally inferior fighter successfully developed air-combat tactics that negated the strengths of their opponent. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2013 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978062 Young, Edward M 062 F6F Hellcat vs A6M Zero-sen - Pacific Theater 1943-44 The Grumman F6F Hellcat and Mitsubishi A6M Zero-sen were the two principal opposing fighters in the brutal aerial clashes of the Pacific War from 1943 onwards. Reminiscent of the preceding F4F Wildcat, the F6F Hellcat was designed specifically to counter the earlier A6M2 Zero-sen, the strengths and weaknesses of which became fully understood by US designers after an undamaged example was recovered in the Aleutians.

The powerful Hellcat had an impressive top speed, rate of climb and armament, and it retained its predecessor's incredible ruggedness. The A6M5 Zero-sen was also born out of an earlier type, but was intended merely as a stop-gap until more modern Japanese fighters could be produced to restore performance parity with Allied aircraft. The chaotic conditions of the Japanese Aircraft industry and war economy prevented new types from being built.

Featuring detailed artwork illustrating the technical specifications of these two types and the dramatic encounters between them, this volume focuses on how these iconic fighters came into being, and how they fared as they faced one another over the Pacific skies of World War II.

Contents: Introduction, Chronology, Design and Development, Technical Specifications, The Strategic Situation, The Combatants, Combat, Statistics and Analysis, Aftermath, Further Reading, and Index. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2014 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978073 Young, Edward M. 073 F4U CORSAIR vs KI-84 FRANK: Pacific Theater 1945 The Vought Corsair was the first American single-engined fighter to exceed 400 mph and establish dominance over the legendary Mitsubishi Type Zero-sen. The Ki-84 Hayate was introduced by the Japanese specifically to counter this growing American dominance of the skies over the Pacific.

Built in greater numbers than any other late war Japanese fighter, nearly 3000 were completed between 1944 and 1945. This volume examines the clashes between the Corsair and Ki-84 in the closing stages of the war, revealing how Corsair pilots had to adapt their techniques and combat strategies to adapt to these newer types. It also reveals how the kill rate was largely driven by the reduced quality of fighter pilots after the high casualty rates inflicted on the Japanese air force during the air battles over the Solomon Islands. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2016 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978131 Young, Edward M. 131 P-38 LIGHTNING vs Bf 109: North Africa, Sicily and Italy 1942-43 Concentrates on the bitterly fought air war in North Africa, the Mediterranean, Sicily, and Italy in 1942-43. Using original archival sources, official records, and first-hand accounts from both USAAF and Luftwaffe veterans, as well as newly commissioned artwork and 50 carefully selected photographs from official and personal archives, this book examines the head-to-head for control of the skies in a key theater of World War II. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2023 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid November 2023 ......$23.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978077 Zaloga, Steve 077 BAZOOKA vs. PANZER: Battle of the Bulge 1944 To combat the threat posed by tanks, the United States developed the M1 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher, better known as the Bazooka. First employed in 1942, the weapon required a great deal of skill and courage to use effectively. By late 1944, it was a mainstay of the US infantry's anti-tank capabilities, alongside towed weapons, anti-tank grenades, and other longer-established measures.

This study compares and assesses the strengths and limitations of the cutting-edge technology used by both sides in the 1944 Battle of the Bulge. Includes specially commissioned full-color artwork and explosive battle reports. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2016 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978078 Zaloga, Steve 078 PANZER 38(t) vs BT-7: Barbarossa 1941 The tank battles in the Soviet Union during the summer of 1941 were the largest in World War II, exceeding even the more famous Prokhorovka encounter during the Kursk campaign. Indeed, they were the largest tank battles ever fought.

This book examines two evenly matched competitors in this conflict, the German Panzer 38(t) and the Soviet BT-7. Both were of similar size, armed with guns of comparable firepower, and had foreign roots - the Panzer 38(t) was a Czechoslovak design and the BT-7 was an evolution of the American Christie tank. With full-color artwork and archive and present-day photography, this absorbing study assesses the strengths and limitations of these two types against the wider background of armored doctrine in the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2016 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

2-978078 Zaloga, Steve 078 PANZER 38(t) vs BT-7: Barbarossa 1941 Examines two evenly matched competitors in this conflict, the German Panzer 38(t) and the Soviet BT-7, which often faced each other during 1941. Both were of similar size, armed with guns of comparable firepower, and had foreign roots - the Panzer 38(t) was a Czechoslovak design and the BT-7 was an evolution of the American Christie tank. With full-color artwork and archive and present-day photography, this absorbing study assesses the strengths and limitations of these two types against the wider background of armored doctrine in the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2016 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, shopworn - Only 2 copies available (first come, first served) ......$22.00 with a discount of 60% spc

Add to Cart

1-978032 Zaloga, Steven 032 T-34-85 vs M26 Pershing - Korea 1950 A hotly-debated topic amongst tank buffs is of the relative merits of the Soviet and American tanks of World War II. Using recently revealed documents, Steven Zaloga sheds light on the crucial tank battles of the Korean War as the rival superpowers' finest tanks battled for supremacy. The Soviet-equipped North Korean Peoples Army initially dominated the battlefield with the seemingly unstoppable T34-85. As US tank battalions hastily arrived throughout the late summer and early autumn of 1950, the M26 Pershing took the fight to North Korea with increasing success. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2010 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978033 Zaloga, Steven 033 Panzer IV vs Char B1 bis - France 1940 The Battle of France in 1940 involved the first large-scale, tank-against-tank battles in history. The massive clashes at Stonne, Hannant, and Gembloux involved hundreds of tanks on both sides, yet have faded from memory due to the enormity of the French defeat. This book examines two of the premier opposing tanks of the Wehrmacht and the French Army, the German PzKpfw IV and the French Char B1 bis. With a complete history of the design, development, and deployment of these armored fighting vehicles, the story of these great battles is once again brought to life. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2011 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978053 Zaloga, Steven 053 M10 Tank Destroyer vs StuG III Assault Gun Germany 1944 The Allies' M10 Tank Destroyer and the Germans' Sturmgeschutz (StuG) lll were the unsung workhorses of the northwest European battlefields of 1944-45. While their mission was not principally fighting one another, their widespread use ensured their frequent encounters, from the Normandy bocage, to the rubble-strewn streets of Aachen.

The StuG lll was the quintessential assault gun, a low-slung, heavily armored, turret-less vehicle intended to provide direct fire support for infantry formations, whilst the M10 3-in Gun Motor Carriage was originally developed as a tank destroyer. However, by 1944 the 3-in gun proved ineffectual against the most thickly armored German tanks, and was consequently relegated to infantry support too.

Widely deployed in roles their designers had not envisaged, these two armored fighting vehicles clashed repeatedly during the 11-month campaign, which saw the Allies advance from Normandy to the heart of the Reich. Fully illustrated with specially commissioned artwork, this is the story of their confrontation at the height of World War ll. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2013 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978070 Zaloga, Steven 070 PANZER IV vs SHERMAN -- France 1944 As the Allies attempted to break out of Normandy, it quickly became apparent that there would be no easy victory over the Germans, and that every scrap of territory on the way to Berlin would have to be earned through hard fighting.

This study concentrates on, the ferocious battles between the German Panzer IV and US Sherman that were at the heart of this decisive phase of World War II. The two types were among the most-produced tanks in US and German service and were old enemies, having clashed repeatedly in the Mediterranean theater. Throughout their long service careers, both had seen a succession of technical developments and modifications, as well as an evolution in their intended roles - but both remained at the forefront of the fighting on the Western Front. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2015 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978080 Zaloga, Steven 080 PERSHING vs TIGER: Germany 1945 During the final battles on World War II's Western Front, the legendary German Tiger I heavy tank clashed with the brand-new M26 Pershing fielded by the United States. The Tiger I had earned a formidable reputation by the end of 1944, although its non-sloped armor and poor mobility meant it was being superseded by the Tiger II or 'King Tiger'. While the Tiger I had been in the front lines since 1942, the US Pershing first entered combat in late February 1945, and more than 20 Pershings would see action before war's end.

This book examines the dramatic Tiger/Pershing duel at Elsdorf in Germany, and also assesses the clashes between German armour and the sole 'Super Pershing' deployed to Europe. Featuring full-colour artwork, carefully chosen photographs and specially commissioned maps, this is the story of the first US heavy tanks in combat with the fearsome Tiger I during the last months of World War II in Europe. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2017 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid September 2017 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15%

Add to Cart

1-978096 Zaloga, Steven 096 T-34 vs StuG III: Finland 1944 In the summer of 1944, the Red Army staged a massive armored assault up the Karelian Isthmus with the intent of eliminating any remaining German and Finnish forces facing the Leningrad region.

Most of the Soviet units sent into Finland were new to the region, moving mainly from the fighting in the Leningrad area. As a result, some had the latest types of Soviet equipment including the new T-34-85 tank, fielded alongside the older T-34-76. Germany refused to sell the Finns new tanks without a reinforced military alliance, but in 1943 began selling them a few dozen StuG III assault guns. This made the StuG III battalion the most modern and powerful element of the Finnish armored division, and it saw very extensive combat in the June-July summer battles.

Featuring specially commissioned artwork and an array of archive photographs, this is the absorbing story of the parts played by Soviet and Finnish armor in the epic battles in Finland during June and July 1944. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available late August 2019 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978099 Zaloga, Steven 099 PANZERFAUST vs SHERMAN: European Theater 1944-45 In the summer of 1944, across the battlefields of Normandy, US tanks confronted with a dangerous challenge: the mobile and deadly Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck anti-tank weapons wielded by the German infantry. Having only occasionally encountered such weaponry before, the US tankers were ill-equipped to defend against this kind of attack, and the threat only increased as the summer wore on.

This Duel title follows the technological battle for dominance that ensued, as the US Army devised new ways to defend against the threat posed by the German shaped-charge projectiles. From the addition of sandbags and spare tracks to individual tanks made by anxious crews on the ground to the large-scale programmes put together by the US armies, the book explores the implementation and effectiveness of the various tactics employed by the tank crews, as well as the technology behind the anti-tank weapons wielded by their German adversaries. Drawing on first-hand accounts from the men on the ground, this illustrated title examines the evolving trial of strength between US armor and innovative German anti-tank weaponry in the climactic months of World War II in Europe. 1 vol, 80 pgs 2019 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-softcover, available mid October 2019 ......$22.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart

1-978128 Zaloga, Steven ALLIED WARSHIPS vs THE ATLANTIC WALL: Normandy 1944 Details of the design, construction and ammunition of the weapons involved and explores the evolution of Allied naval doctrine, which was based on repeated experiences during a succession of amphibious operations, and which enabled the Allies to successfully overcome the coastal gun threat. Discusses the clash between Batterie Hamburg (defending Cherbourg) and the Allied naval bombardment group led by the battleship USS Texas on 25 June 1944.

By 1944, the French coast featured more than 1,900 coastal guns over 75mm in calibre. The Royal Navy and the US Navy provided operational mobility that allowed the Allies to strike unexpectedly across the vast coastlines of the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Amphibious landings were an essential tool of Allied military strategy in World War II. 1 vol, 48 pgs 2023 UK, OSPREY PUBLISHING
NEW-pb, available mid September 2023 ......$23.00 with a discount of 15% rct

Add to Cart