v. 9

A compendium of the world's most important and technologically advanced military surface and under-sea vessels including details on cruisers, destroyers and frigates plus information on the massive nuclear-powered aircraft carriers currently afloat around the world. Surface combatants include cruisers, destroyers and frigate - ships that are tasked with combat operations against hostile submarines, surface ships, aircraft, missiles and targets ashore. Also included is the massive nuclear-powered aircraft carriers currently in service such as the French carrier Charles de Gaulle, the British HMS Illustrious and the giant carriers of the US Nimitz class, such as the USS George Washington. Submarines include the massively powerful Ohio class ballistic submarines and the Seawolf class attack submarines.
The text entries discuss the capabilities of modern naval vessels, such as the ability of ballistic missile submarines to target and destroy every capital city in the northern hemisphere using independently targetable nuclear warheads plus the attributes of the weapons equipping today's naval vessels including the Sea Sparrow surface missile system and the Phalanx close-in weapon system. Colour photographs and specification tables for each vessel include type, crew, length, beam, draught, displacement, range, speed, operating depth, powerplant, missiles, guns and much more.

v. 7

Small Arms of the World

by Steve Crawford

Published 1 September 2005
A compendium of the most important infantry weapons of the last 100 years, including German and British guns of the World Wars and subsequent infantry weapons. Featured weapons include the most important small arms used by both sides in World War I and II, such as the German Kar 98 and British rifle No 4, MkI, both of which were developed in the 19th century but were still in widespread service in 1945. Contains post war weapons such as the famous Kalashnikov range of assault rifles and machine guns: the AK-47, AK-101, RPK and AKS-74. Also featured are submachine guns which include the world famous models of World War II - the German MP38 and 40, British Sten and Russian PPSh41 and comes right up to date with the MP5 range produced by Heckler & Koch as well as the Israeli Uzi and FN Herstal's futuristic P90. Sniper rifles in use with the world's armies such as the Barrett M82A1, Accuracy International L96A1 and SIG SSG3000 plus pistols such as the British Webley, German Walther PP and Luger and American Colt M1911. Each weapon featured in illustrated by a photograph and accompanied by text detailing its design features and service history plus comprehensive specifications tables.

v. 5

Great Battles of the Waffen-SS

by Steve Crawford

Published 1 September 2005
A compendium of the finest actions of Hitler's elite during the war, containing full colour maps and black and white photographs that allow the reader to trace the ebb and flow of individual engagements. This book describes the qualities displayed on the Eastern Front that turned the SS into an elite force: fanaticism in attack, tenacity in defence and an unwillingness to yield ground. Tells how the SS helped avert disaster for the German Army on the Eastern Front. Features bloody clashes that have since entered military folklore: Kharkov, Kursk, Cherkassy, Caen and the Ardennes. Contains full colour battle and campaign maps and black and white photographs that clarify the ebb and flow of individual engagements. Explains the co-ordination of tanks and infantry, the initiative of junior officers and NCO's, the creation of battle groups to spearhead assaults, and the general reasons the SS was so successful on the battlefield.

v. 8

This highly illustrated and informative book is a collection of the most important surface and undersea vessels that served between 1939 and 1945 and each vessel is illustrated by a black and white photograph, accompanying text and specification tables. Surface ships and submarines played a key and vital part in World War II. In the Atlantic the German Navy used its major surface ships, such as the Bismarck, Tirpitz and Graf Spee, as raiders, while under the waves the U-boats sank a total of 222 British merchant ships between September 1939 and March 1940 alone. In the Pacific, combat between groups of American and Japanese carriers decided command of the ocean and the outcome of the naval war in this theatre whilst US submarines sank almost the entire Japanese merchant fleet. The aircraft carrier overtook the battleship as the capital ship and so this book includes the most significant carriers that saw service in the conflict, including the British Ark Royal, American Yorktown and Japanese Kaga. The main battleships of the war are also present: Yamato, Vittorio Veneto, Richelieu and King George V.

v. 6

A compendium of modern fighting and support vehicles in service all around world, with colour photographs, technical analysis and specification tables. Vehicles featured include main battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled guns, mobile air defence systems and anti-tank platforms. The book also includes logistical back-up vehicles, without which modern armies cannot operate - trucks, tank transporters, engineer vehicles, cranes and lifters and ambulances. On the battlefield main battle tanks are the spearhead of modern armies as well protected, powerfully armed vehicles that work with precision in the worst of circumstances. Each vehicle is illustrated by a colour photograph, with explanatory text and a specifications table. Tanks featured include the American Abrams, German Leopard, British Challenger, French Leclerc, Russian T-90 and Israeli Merkava. As well as the photographs and text entries, each vehicle also has its own specifications table which lists type, weight, powerplant, length, width, height, crew, armament (where applicable) speed and range.

v. 10

This colourful and informative book features the most important military fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft currently in service around the world plus transporters who provide essential logistical support for both ground and air units. Featured are the most important military fixed-wing aircraft currently in service include the warplanes currently in US service such as the B1 and B2 bombers, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15 Eagle and F-14 Tomcat. Also featured are the warplanes and helicopters that are a crucial part of NATO's air defence network such as the Tornado, Harrier, Eurofighter Typhoon and PAH-2 Tiger. In addition the book contains the most important airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft in service such as the Sentry, E-767 and Mainstay. Each aircraft is illustrated by a full-colour photograph and accompanied by text that describes its design, development and deployment history plus a full specification table which includes information on crew, length, height, maximum speed, date deployed, manufacturer and system.