A History of the World in 100 Weapons tells the stories of the hundred definitive weapons whose effects have been the most revolutionary, changing the way war is waged and the very world we live in. From the gladius of ancient Rome to the AK-47, all one hundred are revealed in an array of sumptuous colour photographs and contemporary images. Compiled with the assistance of some of the leading military historians, this volume reveals not only the weapon itself but who wielded it and where, clearly explaining the blow-by-blow advance of military technology and expertise across the ages.

The Roman Army (Co-Ed)

by Chris McNab

Published 15 October 2013

Tools of Violence

by Chris McNab

Published 2 April 2008

The tools of lethal force have always attracted controversy and fascination. In the modern media age, however, they are also surrounded by confusion and misunderstanding. McNab and Keeter cut through mythology and misinformation and comprehensively lay out the facts, often revealing startling gaps in our everyday knowledge.

Tools of Violence unravels the myths of modern weaponry. Not only explaining how a weapon system works, the authors explore how it is applied by soldiers, police or civilians under pressure, what happens when innocents get in the way, its effect on the human body or physical structures, its political controversies, and its place in international law. Judgments are backed up by interviews with those directly engaged with weapons technology, including frontline soldiers, police officers, academics, weapons specialists and defense analysts.

Accessible and absorbing, Tools of Violence is essential reading for those wanting to understand the weapons technology of today and how and why it is used.

CONTENTS
Introduction; Hand-Held War - Small Arms; Perfect Destruction - Explosives; Mechanized Muscle - Battlefield Armor; Death from a Distance - Artillery: Power from Above - Military Aviation; Firepower at Sea - Naval Weapon Systems; Shadow Threat - Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Weapons / WMD


The Napoleonic Wars saw almost two decades of brutal fighting, from the frozen wastelands of Russia to the wilderness of the Peninsular, and from Egypt to the bloody battlefield of Waterloo. Fighting took place on an unprecedented scale across Europe, and for almost two decades Napoleon led his Grand Armee and his allies against a varying coalition of nations. This book provides a comprehensive and beautiful guide to all the major armies of the Napoleonic Wars France, Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain and Portugal as well as many of the minor powers. The changes in the armies, the organization, the infantry, cavalry, and artillery of each nation are detailed, along with stunning artwork of the often-glorious uniforms worn into battle.

Hitler's Eagles

by Chris McNab

Published 20 November 2012
At the beginning of World War II, the Luftwaffe was the world's most advanced air force. With superior tactics, aircraft and training, it cut through opposition air forces. Despite this auspicious beginning, by 1945 the Luftwaffe was a dying force. The Allies were destroying German aircraft at unequal rates, and Luftwaffe aviators were dying in their thousands in an unbalanced battle to save Germany from destruction. Hitler's Eagles charts the turbulent history of the Luftwaffe from its earliest days to its downfall. Once Hitler was in power, the Luftwaffe came out of the shadows and expanded under a massive rearmament programme, then embarked upon the war that would define its existence. As well as providing a detailed history of the Luftwaffe's combat experience, the book expands on its human and material aspects. Aces and commanders are profiled and aircraft are described both technologically and tactically. The book conveys all the drama of the Luftwaffe's existence with Osprey's famous aviation artwork bringing the story incomparably to life.

Deadly Force

by Chris McNab

Published 10 September 2009
From the gunslinger duels of the dusty Old West to the fire-fights on the Los Angeles freeway, the story of the lawman and the outlaw has been written in blood across the pages of American history. In this book, expert author Chris McNab draws together these violent and chaotic tales to form a coherent history of the ongoing struggle between law-enforcement and Americas heavily armed criminal underworld. Using eye-witness accounts and backed with numerous photographs, he delves into the country's folk-history, examining famous events such as the Gunfight at the O.K. Coral and the disaster at Waco, Texas, and explaining how desperate outlaws like Jesse James, Billy the Kid, and Bonnie and Clyde became household names. With each bloody clash and bullet-riddled corpse, he adds another piece to the puzzle to explain how the violence of the past has created the America of today.