Osprey Duel SC (2007) comic books 2009

Volume 15 - 1st printing. "Russian Battleship vs Japanese Battleship!" Written by Robert Forczyk. Art by Tony Bryan, Howard Gerrard, and Ian Palmer. The first major clash between a European and Asian state in the modern era signalled the beginning of Japan's rise as a major power on the world stage. Watched by the rest of the world's superpowers, this incredibly violent war was disastrous for the Russians who, despite their superior numbers, were defeated by the Japanese underdogs in a spectacular fashion.The key technical elements of firepower, protection, maneuverability and communications for each side are covered in detail and accompanied by first-hand accounts and specially commissioned artwork to explain and illustrate this historically significant duel. Softcover, 80 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 16 - 1st printing. "Seafire vs A6M Zero!" Written by Donald Nijboer. Art by Jim Laurier. Products of vastly different design philosophies, the Seafire F III and the A6M Zero were never intended to meet in combat, and never should have. The Zero, extremely nimble at low speeds was purpose-built as a shipboard fighter. In contrast, the Spitfire was intended to operate from established airfields, and needed to be adapted as a carrier fighter. The book examines these two iconic fighters and their two very different histories, using fantastic artwork and first hand accounts to illustrate the last aerial duel of World War II, as the British Seafire overcame its critics to emerge victorious over the Japanese Zero. Softcover, 80 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 17 - 1st printing. "SPAD XIII vs Fokker D VII!" Written by Jon Guttman. Art by Jim Laurier, Harry Dempsey, and Mark Postlethwaite. This is the gripping story of two of the best fighters produced in World War I as they duelled in the skies above the trenches in the closing months of the war. The Fokker D VII earned a reputation as the most formidable fighter of the war, yet the SPAD XIII's greater speed, especially in a dive, and its outstanding durability proved a fearsome rival. Never before published artwork, including fascinating cockpit illustrations, reveal several dramatic clashes from the two foes, whilst diary entries and first hand accounts from the pilots bring this classic World War I duel to life with intimate detail. Softcover, 80 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 18 - 1st printing. "SM1 Abrams vs T-72 Ural!" Written by Steven J Zaloga. Art by Jim Laurier. The Gulf War bore witness to a number of deadly encounters between these two great adversaries. Heavily armoured, highly mobile and capable of killing at over 2500m the M1 Abrams is, to this day, a veritable fighting machine. Superior to both Iraq's Soviet era T-55 and T-62 tanks, nearly all sources claim that no Abrams tank has ever been destroyed by enemy fire. Despite entering service in 1980, the M1 Abrams remained untested in combat until the Gulf War in 1991, where it was to be confronted by its archenemy the Iraqi-assembled Soviet-designed T-72. Entering production in 1971, the T-72 arguably outstripped its contemporaries in a balance of mobility, protection and firepower. By the time of Operation Desert Storm, however, the tables had turned and the tank suffered due to low quality ammunition and poorly trained crews. In this fascinating study, Steven Zaloga pits these two great fighting machines against one another, plotting the development of the Cold War until both tanks met in combat in the deserts of Iraq and Kuwait. Softcover, 80 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 19 - 1st printing. "Constitution vs Guerriere!" Written by Mark Lardas. Art by Peter Bull, and Giuseppe Rava. Famed as a classic naval duel, a one-on-one clash between two sailing frigates offered the victor immeasurable fame and glory. During the War of 1812, the Royal Navy and United States Navy squared off in four such duels, the most famous that between the USS Constitution and HMS Guerrière. Ships and tactics between the two nations varied enormously, with the American navy favouring a revolutionary design of frigate, with twenty-four pounder guns and heavy structural timbers, while the British, used to fighting the French and Spanish navies, relied on smaller, eighteen-pounder frigates. Through first-hand accounts of these four single-ship actions and fascinating comparisons of artillery, crew ability and tactical achievements, this book offers an unparalleled insight into the ruthless reality of frigate battles in the War of 1812. Softcover, 80 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 20 - 1st printing. "SE 5a vs Albatros D V!" Written by Jon Guttman. Art by Jim Laurier, and Harry Dempsey. Amid the ongoing quest for aerial superiority during World War I, the late spring of 1917 saw two competing attempts to refine proven designs. The Royal Aircraft Factory SE 5a incorporated improvements to the original SE 5 airframe along with 50 more horsepower to produce a fast, reliable ace-maker. The Albatros D V, a development of the deadly D III of 'Bloody April', proved to be more disappointing. Nevertheless, Albatrosen remained the Germans' most common fighters available when the Germans launched their final offensive on 21 March 1918. Despite its shortcomings, German tactics and skill made the Albatros D V a dangerous foe that SE 5a pilots dismissed at their peril. This title tells the story of the design and development of these two fighters and concludes with their dramatic fights in the last year of World War I. Softcover, 80 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 21 - 1st printing. "Centurion vs T-55!" Written by Simon Dunstan. Art by Howard Gerrard, Ian Palmer, and Griff Wason. Conceived at the height of World War II, the British Centurion and the Soviet T-55 were initially expected to counter the formidable Panther and Tiger tanks of Germany. But as the Cold War unfolded, these machines prepared instead for the coming struggle between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Though they never fought in Europe, these two tanks became the mainstay of the Cold War's proxy forces around the world. From Korea to the Middle East and on to Angola, these two armored combatants clashed repeatedly, reaching their crescendo on the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War where 177 Centurions of the IDF took on a vastly superior Arab force. This book compares the design, development and deployment of these classic tanks, and analyses their battlefield performance. Presented with highly detailed digital artwork, this is a tightly focused study of two of the Cold War's first main battle tanks. Softcover, 80 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 22 - 1st printing. "USN Cruiser vs IJN Cruiser!" Written by Mark Stille. Art by Howard Gerrard, and Paul Wright. Although the war in the Pacific is usually considered a carrier war, it was the cruisers that dominated the early fighting. This thrilling duel presents the cruiser clashes during the battles for Guadacanal , highlighting the Battle of Savo Island and the Battle of Cape Esperance. The first was a Japanese victory that resulted in the loss of four Allied cruisers. However, in the latter, the Americans managed to turn the tables despite the battle being fought throughout the night. This book presents a view of the design and development of the opposing weapons systems, illustrated with newly commissioned digital artwork. It uses firsthand accounts to bring the battles to life and explain why the Americans suffered early on, but eventually had their revenge. Softcover, 80 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 23 - 1st printing. "USN F-4 Phantom II vs VPAF MiG-17/19!" Written by Peter Davies. Art by Jim Laurier, and Gareth Hector. The Vietnam War placed unexpected demands upon American military forces and equipment.The principal US naval fighter, the McDonnell F-4 Phantom, had originally been designed to defend the Fleet from air attack at long range. However, its tremendous power and bomb-carrying capacity made it an obvious candidate for the attack mission in Vietnam from 1965 onwards. Its opponent was the MiG-17, a direct descendant of the MiG-15, which had given USAF Sabre jets a hard fight in the Korean War. This book brings to life their dangerous duels and includes detailed cockpit views and other specially commissioned artwork to highlight the benefits and shortcomings of each plane type. It was in the skies over Vietnam that many of the techniques of air combat evolved as pilots learned how to use and to defeat supersonic fighters for the first time. Softcover, 80 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.

Volume 24 - 1st printing. "Fw 190 Sturmböcke vs B-17 Flying Fortress!" Written by Robert Forsyth. Art by Jim Laurier, and Gareth Hector. The Fw 190 was one of the best air superiority aircraft of World War II, and when it first appeared over the Channel in 1941 it sent shockwaves through the Allied air commands. By 1944, these fighters had been up-gunned to serve as the front line of defence against the Allied bombing campaign. Although the Fw 190s were responsible for shooting down hundreds of Allied bombers, they met their match against the USAAF B-17 'Flying Fortress'. Capable of carrying 4,000 lbs of bombs and bristling with .50cal machine guns, the B-17 could sow death in every direction. Using brand-new artwork and first-hand accounts, this book recreates the deadly drama in the skies above Germany in the closing stages of the war. Softcover, 80 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $17.95.