Osprey New Releases May 2013

Osprey New Releases May 2013 We take a look at the new releases from Osprey Publishing for May 2013. Visit the Osprey Publishing website here...

Helmand: Diaries of Front-line Soldiers General Military Author: Simon Weston About This Book During their tour of Afghanistan in 2008 a few Royal Marines from 40 Commando kept personal diaries of their experiences of Afghanistan, their tour in Helmand Province, their impressions of the war and their feelings towards the civilians they protected and the Taliban they fought against. For the first time these diaries have been collected together to form a gripping account of what life is really like on the front-line in modern warfare. With entries from a range of soldiers, including the recollections and diaries of Lieutenant John Thornton, who was tragically killed a few weeks before the end of his tour, as well as a Padre, Commanding Officer and a Royal Marine Commando, Helmand is a timely glimpse at life for our armed forces in Afghanistan. As the deadline approaches for the removal of British troops from active service in Afghanistan, John Thornton’s brother Ian found himself also deployed to Helmand. His words reveal how Afghanistan has changed in the last few years – and how despite the best efforts and sacrifices made by so many young men and women, some things remain exactly the same. Paperback; May 2013; 248 pages; ISBN: 9781780969060

Curtiss P-40: Long-nosed Tomahawks Air Vanguard 8 Author: Carl Molesworth Illustrators: Richard Chasemore & Adam Tooby About This Book The initial version of the Curtiss P-40, designated by the manufacturer as the Hawk H-81, combined the established airframe of the earlier radial-powered H-75 (P-36) fighter with the Allison V-1710 liquid-cooled engine. The year was 1939, and the marriage was one of expediency. With the threat of war in Europe growing by the day, the US Army Air Corps brass wanted a modern fighter that would combine the sterling handling qualities of the P-36 with a boost in performance that would make it competitive with the new types emerging in Germany and England, and the generals wanted the new plane immediately. The P-40 delivered admirably, and though it never reached the performance levels of the Bf 109 or Spitfire, the sturdy fighter nevertheless made a place in history for itself as the Army's frontline fighter when the US entered World War II. Long-nosed P-40s initially saw combat in North Africa, flying in Royal Air Force squadrons.

They also fought in the skies over Pearl Harbor and the Philippines. But the long-nosed P-40 is best known as the shark-faced fighter flown by the American Volunteer Group – the legendary Flying Tigers – over Burma and China during 1941–42. Paperback; May 2013; 64 pages; ISBN: 9781780969091

Rolling Thunder in a Gentle Land: The Vietnam War Revisited General Military Author: Andrew Wiest About This Book Fifteen renowned authors from widely varied backgrounds examine the Vietnam War, providing a fresh insight into this controversial conflict, even for those who have 'read it all before'. First-hand accounts, maps and contemporary photographs, analysis from the soldiers involved and new perspectives from combatants on both sides provide an incisive investigation into a fascinating and terrible war.“This is a superb and compelling reexamination of the major historical, political, and ethical issues that continue to smoulder many decades after the conclusion of the Vietnam War, I highly recommend Rolling Thunder in a Gentle Land. It is among the best books of its kind that I’ve encountered over the last dozen years.” Tom O’Brien, author of The Things They Carried Paperback; May 2013; 316 pages; ISBN: 9781782001874

F-86 Sabre vs MiG-15: Korea 1950–53 Duel 50 Authors: Warren Thompson & Doug Dildy Illustrators: Jim Laurier & Wiek Luijken About This Book 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. Paperback; May 2013; 80 pages; ISBN: 9781780963198

British Frigate vs French Frigate: 1793–1814 Duel 52 Author: Mark Lardas Illustrator: Peter Dennis About This Book 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 Léon 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 Cléopâtre (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 Baïonnaise (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. Paperback; May 2013; 80 pages; ISBN: 9781780961323

Kill Hitler: Operation Valkyrie 1944 Raid 40 Author: Neil Short Illustrators: Peter Dennis & Mark Stacey About This Book Although far from a typical raid, the 20 July Plot – Operation Valkyrie – was still a daring and audacious attack undertaken by a small, very brave, group of individuals, determined to kill Hitler. Hitler was badly shaken by the blast and, despite the fact that numerous other attempts had been made on the Führer’s life since he came to power, the July 20 Plot has achieved an almost mythic status. Numerous books, both factual and fictional, have been written on the subject. There have been several TV dramatisations and reconstructions, including a MythBusters production which considered whether or not the attempt would have been successful if the bomb had been planted in Hitler’s bunker. German resistance to Hitler has also been depicted on film, most notably by James Mason in The Desert Fox and more recently by Tom Cruise in Valkyrie, an accurate and acclaimed version of the July 20 Plot. Paperback; May 2013; 80 pages; ISBN: 9781780962580

Bolt Action: Armies of the Soviet Union Bolt Action 4 Authors: Warlord Games & Andy Chambers Illustrator: Peter Dennis About This Book This book provides Bolt Action players with all of the information they need to field the military forces of the Soviet Union. From the bitter urban warfare of Stalingrad, through the Winter War against Finland and the final drive to Berlin, the detailed army lists provided in this supplement allow players to construct Soviet armies for any theatre and any year of the war. Paperback; May 2013; 88 pages; ISBN: 9781780960906

The Naval Battles for Guadalcanal 1942: Clash for Supremacy in the Pacific Campaign 255 Author: Mark Stille Illustrator: Howard Gerrard About This Book The battle for Guadalcanal that lasted from August 1942 to February 1943 was the first major American counteroffensive against the Japanese in the Pacific. The battle of Savo Island on the night of 9 August 1942, saw the Japanese inflict a sever defeat on the Allied force, driving them away from Guadalcanal and leaving the just-landed marines in a perilously exposed position. This was the start of a series of night battles that culminated in the First and Second battles of Guadalcanal, fought on the nights of 13 and 15 November. One further major naval action followed, the battle of Tassafaronga on 30 November 1942, when the US Navy once again suffered a severe defeat, but this time it was too late to alter the course of the battle as the Japanese evacuated Guadalcanal in early February 1943.

This title will detail the contrasting fortunes experienced by both sides over the intense course of naval battles around the island throughout the second half of 1942 that did so much to turn the tide in the Pacific. Paperback; May 2013; 96 pages; ISBN: 9781780961545

Between Giants: The Battle for the Baltics in World War II General Military Author: Prit Buttar About This Book During World War II, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia found themselves trapped between the giants of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Over the course of the war these states were repeatedly occupied by different forces, and local government organizations and individuals were forced to choose between supporting the occupying forces or forming partisan units to resist their occupation. Devastated during the German invasion, these states then became the site of some of the most vicious fighting during the Soviet counter-attack and push towards Berlin. Many would be caught up in the bitter fighting in the region and, in particular, in the huge battles for the Courland Bridgehead during Operation Bagration, when hundreds of thousands of soldiers would fight and die in the last year of the war.

By the end of the war, death and deportation had cost the Baltic States over 20 per cent of their total population and Soviet occupation was to see the iron curtain descend on the region for four decades. Using numerous first-hand accounts and detailed archival research, Prit Buttar weaves a magisterial account of the bitter fighting on the Eastern Front and the three small states whose fates were determined by the fortunes and misfortunes of war. Hardback; May 2013; 416 pages; ISBN: 9781780961637

The War of Horus and Set Myths and Legends 3 Author: David McIntee Illustrator: Mark Stacey About This Book Long ago the brother gods Osiris and Set ruled peacefully over the lands of Upper and Lower Egypt, each in his own kingdom. But over time Set came to covet his brother’s lands and crown, and eventually the temptation overwhelmed him. Usurping Osiris’s throne, Set began a blood feud that spread war, death and mutilation through both the heavens and the earth. Gods and men chose sides and took up arms on behalf of both Set and Horus, the heir of Osiris. This book retells the mythic struggle between Horus and Set, exploring the variations and background to the feud, and examining the earthly realities that inspired, or reflected, the actions and allegiances of the Gods, such as the political rivalries between the two kingdoms, and the invasion of Egypt by Cambyses II. Ancient Egyptian weapons and strategies are also examined, showing how their gods and men did battle. Paperback; May 2013; 80 pages; ISBN: 9781780969022

British Battleships 1914–18 (1): The Early Dreadnoughts New Vanguard 200 Author: Angus Konstam Illustrator: Paul Wright About This Book The launch of HMS Dreadnought in 1906 changed the face of naval warfare. The first half-dozen dreadnoughts were all improvements of the basic Dreadnought design, all carrying ten 12-inch guns. It was only in 1911, with the launch of HMS Neptune that the layout of this powerful armament was altered as a result of practical experience. Two more versions of the Neptune entered service later that same year. These nine improved dreadnoughts formed the core of the British High Seas Fleet. They would soon, however, be outclassed by a new breed of “super dreadnoughts”, the subject of the second volume in this two-part story. While these new battleships carried larger 13.5-inch guns, they proved less successful as all-round battleships than their more lightly-armed predecessors.

One last 12-inch gun dreadnought entered service in 1914, when a seven turret battleship being built for the Turks was commandeered by the Royal Navy, and re-named HMS Agincourt. This New Vanguard title, the first of two covering these famous warships will uncover the full story of the British battleships of World War I. The book will look at their revolutionary design, the 12-inch guns that provided them with their firepower, and the way these guns were fired in anger. Paperback; May 2013; 48 pages; ISBN: 9781780961675

In Her Majesty’s Name: Steampunk Skirmish Wargaming Rules Osprey Wargames 3 Authors: Craig Cartmell & Charles Murton Illustrators: Fabien Esnard-Lascombe & Jesse McGibney About This Book It is 1895 and the world is in turmoil. The Great Powers compete for resources and the latest technology, and an undeclared and secret war rages between them all. This is battleground of the Adventuring Companies. These clandestine agents of the Great Powers operate in the shadows, matching skills and wits in pursuit of the newest scientific formulae or powerful occult artifacts. In Her Majesty’s Name sets these adventuring companies against each other in one-off encounters and in longer narrative campaigns. Companies are usually comprised of just 4–15 figures and two players could easily play three games in an evening, making an on-going campaign a highly viable option. In Her Majesty’s Name has been designed to allow maximum versatility for the player – if you can imagine it, the system will help you build it.

There is, however, a wealth of material provided in the book, covering weird science, mystical powers, and a range of pre-generated adventuring companies, including the British Explorers’ Club, the Prussian Society of Thule, the US Marine Corps, the Légion Étrangère, the revolutionaries of the Brick Lane Commune, ancient Egyptian cults, and the mysterious Black Dragon Tong. Paperback; May 2013; 64 pages; ISBN: 9781780962894

The Vickers-Maxim Machine Gun Weapon 25 Author: Martin Pegler Illustrator: Peter Dennis About This Book The world’s first self-powered machine gun, the Maxim gun became a potent symbol of Victorian colonialism in the closing years of the 19th century. It was the brainchild of Sir Hiram Maxim, the American-born firearms inventor who founded the company bearing his name with financing from Albert Vickers, who became the company’s chairman; Maxim’s company was absorbed by Vickers, Sons and Company in 1897. Subsequent variants in British, German and Russian service – the .303in Vickers (1912), 7.92mm MG 08 (1908) and 7.62mm PM M1910, respectively – dominated both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War I and soldiered on into World War II, while the Vickers remained in front-line British service essentially unchanged until 1968.

Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork and written by a noted authority, this is the engaging story of the Maxim and its descendants, the innovative rapid-fire weapons that saw combat with British, German, Russian and other forces in the late Victorian era and throughout the world wars. Paperback; May 2013; 80 pages; ISBN: 9781780963822

The Martini-Henry Rifle Weapon 26 Author: Stephen Manning Illustrator: Peter Dennis About This Book The breech-loading, single-shot .458in Martini-Henry rifle has become a symbol of both the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and the numerous battles in Egypt and the Sudan in 1884–85, but continued to be used by both British and colonial troops well into the 20th century. Its invention and introduction into British service were in direct response to the success of the Prussian Dreyse needle gun, which demonstrated that the breech-loading rifle offered faster loading, improved accuracy and superior range; significantly, the weapon could be loaded and fired from a prone position, thus offering the rifleman greater security on the battlefield. Due to the longevity of service, many Martini-Henry rifles survive today, both in museums and in private collections, and the weapon is highly prized by shooting enthusiasts.

Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork and an array of arresting first-hand accounts and written by an authority on warfare in the Victorian era, this engaging study tells the story of the powerful Martini-Henry and its impact on the battlefield, from the Anglo-Zulu War to the opening months of World War I. Paperback; May 2013; 80 pages; ISBN: 9781780965062