Osprey New Releases: September 2012

Osprey New Releases September 2012 We take a look at the new releases from Osprey Publishing for September 2012. Visit the Osprey Publishing website here...

Incomparable: Napoleon’s 9th Light Infantry Regiment General Military Author: Terry Crowdy About This Book An elite battalion under Louis XVI, the 9th Light Infantry regiment were with Napoleon from almost the beginning, turning the field at Marengo and breaking the Austrians. They then spent over a decade fighting their way across the continent, following Napoleon to the bitter end. Bringing their Eagle out of hiding when Napoleon returned from exile in 1815 they almost saved the day again, at Waterloo, spearheading a charge to rejoin Napoleon. But unlike at Marengo, they failed. Napoleon dubbed them ‘Incomparable’, and their story is extraordinary even by the standards of the dramatic and turbulent years in which they lived. Hardback; September 2012; 416 pages; ISBN: 9781849083324

Love, Tommy: Letters Home, from the Great War to the Present Day General Military Authors: The Imperial War Museum Andrew Roberts About This Book A legacy of an empire and a nation at war, Love Tommy, is a collection of letters housed at the Imperial War Museum sent by British and Commonwealth troops from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa from the front line of war to their loved ones at home. Poignant expressions of love, hope and fear sit alongside amusing anecdotes, grumbles about rations and thoughtful reflections, eloquently revealing how, despite the passage of time, many experiences of the fighting man are shared in countless wars and battles. From the muddy trenches of the Somme to frozen ground of the Falklands to the heat and dust of Iraq, these letters are the ordinary soldier’s testament to life on the front line. Hardback; September 2012; 272 pages; ISBN: 9781849087919

The World of Might and Magic: The Ashan Compendium Dark Osprey Author: Ubisoft About This Book The Heroes of Might and Magic compendium is a lavishly illustrated, hardback guide to the world of Ashan, the setting for many years of Might and Magic games. Featuring exclusive artwork, stories, and fun facts, much of the content from the book is drawn directly from the Developer’s Bible, the internal documents used by the game designers to keep track of timelines and plot developments. The book is divided into sections, examining the nine key factions, their history, abilities, rulers and major strengths and weaknesses. Also included is a history of the world of Ashan, presented as a timeline that covers all of the major events in the world’s history. This book is a complete guide to the world of Ashan, its gods, its people, and its history. Hardback; September 2012; 172 pages; ISBN: 9781780968643

Oldest Allies: Alcantara 1809 Raid 34 Author: René Chartrand Illustrators: Alan Gilliland Johnny Shumate Mark Stacey About This Book Although somewhat overshadowed by Wellington’s main campaign in the north, the Alcantara raid was an outstanding success. The primary objective of alarming and distracting the French forces in Spain was achieved. Furthermore, the raiders also succeeded in preventing a French incursion into Portugal and tied down one of Napoleon’s best marshals. There were further raids to come, but the 1809 Alcantara raid delivered a strong, permanent message: that the Anglo–Portuguese were willing and able to strike back against the French, and that they would support their Spanish allies as much as they were able. Paperback; September 2012; 80 pages; ISBN: 9781849085885

Bolt Action: World War II Wargames Rules Bolt Action Author: Warlord Games About This Book Written by veteran game designers Alessio Cavatore and Rick Priestley, Bolt Action provides all the rules needed to bring the great battles of World War II to your tabletop. Using miniature soldiers, tanks and terrain, you can fight battles in the shattered towns of occupied France, the barren deserts of North Africa, and even the sweltering jungles of the Pacific. Players get to decide which of the major or minor World War II powers they would like to represent, and then construct their armies from the lists provided. Army options are almost limitless, allowing you to build the kind of army that most appeals to your style of play, from heavily armored tank forces to lightly armed, but highly skilled. The choice is yours. Created as a joint project between Warlord Games, the premiere historical miniatures company, and Osprey Publishing, the leading independent military history publisher, Bolt Action is sure to be the most popular new wargame on the market. Hardback; September 2012; 216 pages; ISBN: 9781780960869

Santa Cruz 1942: Carrier duel in the South Pacific Campaign 247 Author: Mark Stille Illustrator: Howard Gerrard About This Book Despite myth, the Japanese carrier force was not destroyed at Midway but survived to still prove a threat in the Pacific Theater. Nowhere was this clearer than in the battle of Santa Cruz of October 1942. The stalemate on the ground in the Guadalcanal campaign led to the major naval forces of both belligerents becoming inexorably more and more involved in the fighting, each seeking to win the major victory that would open the way for a breakthrough on land as well. The Japanese were able to gain a tactical victory at Santa Cruz and came very close to scoring a strategic victory, but they paid a very high price in aircraft and aircrew that prevented them from following up their victory. In terms of their invaluable aircrew, the battle was much more costly than even Midway and had a serious impact on the ability of the Japanese to carry out carrier warfare in a meaningful manner. Paperback; September 2012; 96 pages; ISBN: 9781849086059

US Marine Infantry Combat Uniforms and Equipment 2000–10 Elite 190 Illustrator: J. Kenneth Eward About This Book The US Marine Corps has been a key part of the US presence in a host of combat zones. While sharing some weapons systems with the other US Forces, the Marine Corps has developed its own distinctive approach to matters of dress, personal equipment and armament. The most important trends are a new generation of camouflage clothing, body armor, and night-vision equipment, which have transformed the appearance and capability of the individual rifleman. The men and women of the USMC have been at the forefront of these developments, utilizing innovative items of dress and equipment during their extensive service in a range of challenging environments across the world. Featuring specially commissioned full-color artwork and detailed photographs, this book explores the USMC’s key contribution to the development of the combat infantry soldier’s clothing and personal equipment in the 21st century. Paperback; September 2012; 64 pages; ISBN: 9781849087995

Emperors and Eagles: Field of Glory Napoleonic 3 Authors: Terry Shaw Slitherine Illustrator: Peter Dennis About This Book In 1789, the French Revolution acted as the spark that ignited the volatile powder keg of Europe, pitching the continent into a conflagration of war and bloodshed that would last for decades. Amidst this chaos rose Napoleon Bonaparte, under whose influence France would become a dominant power, controlling, directly or indirectly, the majority of Europe. This companion for Field of Glory Napoleonic gives players all the information they need to recreate the French Revolutionary wars and the rise of Napoleon through to the campaigns of the Grande Armée and the early Empire. Emperors and Eagles also includes full army lists for the Peninsular Wars, where Britain and its Portuguese and Spanish allies slowly, but surely, turned the tide of the war and pushed Napoleon’s forces back to their own borders. Hardback; September 2012; 176 pages; ISBN: 9781849089302

Austro-Hungarian Battleships 1914–18 New Vanguard 193 Author: Ryan Noppen Illustrator: Paul Wright About This Book Austria-Hungary did not have an overseas empire; its empire lay within its own boundaries and the primary purpose of its navy until the beginning of the twentieth century was the defense of its coastline. As its merchant marine dramatically grew, admirals believed that the navy should take a more proactive policy of defense. The 1890s saw the beginning of a series of naval building programs that would create a well-balanced modern fleet. Cruisers were constructed for the protection of overseas trade and for “showing the flag” but the decisive projection of Austria-Hungary’s commitment to control the Adriatic was the construction of a force of modern battleships. Despite the naval arms race throughout Europe at the time, the navy had difficulty obtaining funds for new ships.

The difficulties experienced in battleship funding and construction mirrored the political difficulties and ethnic rivalries within the empire. Nevertheless by August of 1914, the Austro-Hungarian had a fleet of battleships. This book details the five classes of Austro-Hungarian battleships in service during World War I. Paperback; September 2012; 48 pages; ISBN: 9781849086882

The Sten Gun Weapon 22 Author: Leroy Thompson Illustrators: Alan Gilliland Mark Stacey About This Book The Sten submachine gun – officially the ‘Carbine, Machine, Sten’ – was developed to fulfill the pressing British need for large quantities of cheaply produced weapons after Dunkirk, when German invasion was a very real possibility. Over four million were built during World War II, and the Sten was widely used by airborne troops, tankers, and others who needed a compact weapon with substantial firepower. It proved especially popular with Resistance fighters as it was easy to conceal, deadly at close range, and could fire captured German ammunition – with a design so simple that Resistance fighters were able to produce them in bicycle shops. Featuring vivid first-hand accounts, specially commissioned full-colour artwork and close-up photographs, this is the fascinating story of the mass-produced submachine gun that provided Allied soldiers and Resistance fighters with devastating close-range firepower. Paperback; September 2012; 80 pages; ISBN: 9781849087599

Allison-Engined P-51 Mustang Air Vanguard 1 Author: Martyn Chorlton Illustrators: Ian Palmer Richard Chasemore Adam Tooby About This Book While the introduction of the Merlin engine did improve the Mustang’s performance and produce the bubble-canopied fighters with which we associate the name, credit must be given to the Allison-engined variants that preceded it. From its inception in early 1940, the Mustang’s development was extraordinarily rapid – such was the need for a fighter at the time, and the confidence in its design. By early January 1942, the Mustang was in service with the RAF, flying low-level armed reconnaissance operations over Northern France. Despite later Merlin variants arriving in-theatre, this remained a hunting ground for the Allison Mustangs through to D-Day and beyond – a remarkable service length. In American hands the Allison-engined Mustangs performed as dive-bombers and fighters, serving with distinction in North Africa and the Far East. Paperback; September 2012; 64 pages; ISBN: 9781780961514

Republic F-105 Thunderchief Air Vanguard 2 Author: Peter Davies Illustrators: Henry Morshead Adam Tooby About This Book The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was the fastest and most successful strike fighter of the Cold War. Designed to deliver nuclear weapons at low altitude and then fight its way back to base, by the early 1960s it was the primary weapon in the USAF’s tactical strike arsenal. Thunderchief pilots in Europe, the Far East and the USA stood on short-notice alert, ready to take on the formidable defenses of their Communist Bloc targets. The F-105 was, however, to become a legend in a very different conflict. As direct American involvement in Vietnam increased, F-105s were deployed – initially as a deterrent, but ever more as conventional attack fighters against insurgency in Laos and Vietnam. With the start of the bombing campaign against North Vietnam, the Thunderchief became a vital element in attacks against some of the most heavily defended territory in modern history. Paperback; September 2012; 64 pages; ISBN: 9781780961736

Borodino 1812: Napoleon’s Great Gamble Campaign 246 Author: Philip Haythornthwaite Illustrator: Peter Dennis About This Book The battle of Borodino was one of the greatest encounters in European history, and one of the largest and most sanguinary in the Napoleonic Wars. Following the breakdown of relations between Russia and France, Napoleon assembled a vast Grande Armée drawn from the many states within the French sphere of influence. They crossed the river Neimen and entered Russian territory in June 1812 with the aim of inflicting a sharp defeat on the Tsar’s forces and bringing the Russians back into line. In a bloody battle of head-on attacks and desperate counter-attacks in the village of Borodino on 7 September 1812, both sides lost about a third of their men, with the Russians forced to withdraw and abandon Moscow to the French.

However, the Grande Armée was harassed by Russian troops all the way back and was destroyed by the retreat. The greatest army Napoleon had ever commanded was reduced to a shadow of frozen, starving fugitives. This title will cover the events of Napoleon’s disastrous Russian campaign of 1812 in its entirety, with the set-piece battle of Borodino proving the focal point of the book. Paperback; September 2012; 96 pages; ISBN: 9781849086967

The Boys of ’67: Charlie Company’s War in Vietnam General Military Author: Andrew Wiest About This Book In the spring of 1966, while the war in Vietnam was still popular, the US military decided to reactivate the 9th Infantry Division as part of the military build-up. Across the nation, farm boys from the Midwest, surfers from California and city-slickers from Cleveland opened their mail to find greetings from Uncle Sam. Most American soldiers of the Vietnam era trickled into the war zone as individual replacements for men who had become casualties or had rotated home. Charlie Company was different as part of the only division raised, drafted and trained for service. From draft to the battlefields of South Vietnam, this is the unvarnished truth from the fear of death to the chaos of battle, told almost entirely through the recollections of the men themselves. This is their story, the story of young draftees who had done everything that their nation had asked of them and had received so little in return – lost faces of a distant war. Hardback; September 2012; 376 pages; ISBN: 9781780962023

RAF Fighter Command Pilot: The Western Front 1939–42 Warrior 164 Author: Mark Barber Illustrator: Graham Turner About This Book The recent 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, combined with the threat of significant cuts to the current RAF, have highlighted the importance of Fighter Command in the early days of World War II once more. The role of the “few”, as described by Churchill, during the Battle of Britain has been the subject of much mythologizing both at the time and in the years since. This title will put Fighter Command in context; describing the lack of funding and attention which it received during the interwar period, until it was almost too late. The myth of the fighter pilot will be humanized, with first-hand accounts quoted which put nervous but brave human beings from all walks of life in the cockpit. Although the Battle of Britain may not have in itself been the decisive encounter that it has historically been portrayed as, the moral victory won by the RAF, the victory that proved that Germany could be defeated, was just as important as a military-strategic victory. Paperback; September 2012; 64 pages; ISBN: 9781849087797