Social sciences

The second of two volumes on the legendary P.08 Luger (Pistole Parabellum), this illustrated book presents the design, manufacturing, and development of the various types from the late Weimar Republic period through the Third Reich era of the 1930s and early 1940s, as well as postwar models. Adopted by the German army, the Luger would remain in service during World War II and see use in the postwa

The M1 carbine is a .30-caliber, semiautomatic rifle that first appeared in 1942 as a standard firearm for the US military during World War II. It was later used by US forces in the Korean and Vietnam Wars and continues to see worldwide use to this day. Produced in several variants by many manufacturers, it was and is still widely used not only by military forces, but by paramilitary and police un

The Vickers Armstrong Wellington, affectionately dubbed the “Wimpy” after the hamburger-scoffing cartoon character, lays claim to two distinctions within RAF WWII annals. The first related to its geodetic structure, with a cloth covering that proved to be superior to previous designs for surviving battle damage. Second, the aircraft was destined to remain on the front line with Bomber Command thro

Two Great Knights of Adventure was written by Jacques Mortane in 1936. Mortane was on friendly terms with both Marc Pourpe and Raoul Lufbery and wrote the book as a tribute to the two pilots, both of whom were killed in the First World War. Due to the access that Mortane had to these early aviators, this was the best work on their lives, but it was never translated into English and is long out of

Dive into the ancient Maasai tradition of beading, its history, and its purpose. African beaded jewelry is one of today's most popular trends in jewelry making, and in this book, you'll learn from skilled Maasai artisans, who teach you to make 21 beaded designs as you read their personal stories. Using widely available and accessible materials and few tools, you can make a variety of  designs, fro

A keepsake collection of maps depicting legendary and real places for the lover of literature, history, and cartography.This exploration of the "Mythical Elsewhere" explores a wide array of places, from the well known to the obscure, through the eyes of historians, explorers, conquerors, and writers across the ages. Lose yourself in the past as you travel to such destinations as Troy, the Mughal E

With a midengined configuration, sturdy tricycle landing gear, and nose-mounted 37 mm cannon, the Bell P-39 was a thoughtful and innovative design. However, the plane lacked the all-out performance of some other key fighters available to Allied fliers (e.g., Spitfire, Hellcat, Mustang), particularly at altitude. Largely rejected by British and American combat squadrons, the Airacobra was much bett

When America declared war on Germany in 1917, it unleashed a resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare off the North American coast.

Until now, German naval records have not been extensively utilized in English-language histories of this brief but intense period of naval combat in the Atlantic. By studying and comparing

The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is one of the most successful fighter designs of the 20th century. The type first flew in 1972, transitioning directly from the drawing board to production with remarkably few hiccups. By late 1974, planes were already being delivered to operational units, and it remains on active duty with several major international militaries today, including the US Air Force. A

The vintage heyday of American pinups is presented here in full view, with a modern flare and that unique Alvarado touch. Military-uniform- and gear-clad models featured with classic combat aircraft—from the WWII P-51 Mustang and Spitfire to the Vietnam-era F-4 Phantom jet to the present day—hint at the lure of Gil Elvgren and Alberto Vargas´s vintage pin-up art. Fun and sexy in-stud

The 11th SS Freiwilligen (Volunteer) Panzergrenadier Division “Nordland” was formed in 1943. Despite what the name indicated, this was not an all-volunteer or fully Nordic unit. The ranks were filled with men from across Europe, many of them conscripts. A cadre of Norwegians in the Regiment 23 “Norge” and Danes in the Regiment 24 “Danmark” formed the backbone of the new division. Nordland was dep

The M60 was the primary battle tank deployed by the US military from 1960 until it was phased out and replaced with the M1 Abrams during/after Operation Desert Storm. More than 10,000 examples were produced, and many examples remain in service with foreign militaries to the present day. This is the most comprehensive photo reference on the type, featuring 340 black-and-white and color images. The

The M42 Duster was a tracked antiaircraft vehicle developed by Cadillac for the US Army in the early 1950s. The vehicle adapted the Bofors 40 mm AA gun to a modified M41/T41 tank chassis. Although never particularly prolific in the intended air defense role, the Duster did find a niche during the Vietnam War. The M42 was relatively small and agile, and the high rate of fire and loud report from it

The M48 Patton entered production in 1952 and remains in service with several major militaries today, a great testament to the design and how it has evolved. The "Patton" is a fast tank with strong armor and a deadly 90 mm gun, and it is an all-rounder, generally accepted as America's first modern "main battle tank" or MBT. The tank was phased out of frontline service by the US military after the

Due to the specific nature of the Marine Corps' mission, the Marines has a acute need for amphibious vehicles. From the Vietnam War through today, the USMC has relied on four primary types of tracked amphibians: the T46E1/M76 Otter, M116 Husky, LVTP5, and LVTP7/AAV7A1. This new book provides a useful photographic overview of all these vehicles. More than 300 black-and-white and color photos make t

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a large, tandem-rotor cargo helicopter. The Chinook and its variants have been in military and civilian service for 60 years. The type's huge cargo and lifting capacity, speed, and rugged reliability have made it not only indispensable, but also widely recognized and appreciated by civilian and military operators all over the world. This new book explains how the Vertol

Here is the life story of the most successful fighter pilot of all time, with 352 air combat victories - who spent ten and a half years behind Soviet barbed wire, surviving prison uprisings, hunger strikes, resistance against the NKVD and forced labor. After being released he was still mentally and physically fit enough to fly F-86 jet fighters in the post - World War II German Air Force.\nThis ph

The standard reference now revised and expanded. Dr. Robinson has opened up his vast photo archives to enhance this new edition of his classic work. Much of the new photographic material is published here for the first time.

Additional nose art and unusual markings as seen on today’s B-52s, B-1Bs , FB-111s, F-16s, F-4s, and many others, including Desert Storm markings.

Pilot, scholar, daredevil, general . . . James "Jimmy" Doolittle was one of America's greatest heroes. In a life filled with adventure and achievement, Doolittle did it all.

As a stunt pilot, he thrilled the world with his aerial acrobatics. As a scientist, he pioneered the development of modern aviation technology. During World War II, he served his country