Osprey Campaign Series SC (1990-2011 OSPREY) comic books

Volume 151 - 1st printing. "Vimy Ridge 1917!" Written by Alexander Turner. Art by Peter Dennis. Vimy Ridge was one of the most important geographic features on the entire Western Front in World War I. In early 1917 it was considered practically impregnable, but on 9 April the Canadian Army Corps, under the command of the British Lieutenant General Sir Julian Byng, assaulted it as part of the Arras offensive. In one of the most spectacular operational attacks of the war, they seized almost the entire ridge in a single day. This book describes how the innovative efforts that went into every aspect of the preparation for this attack ensured that the Canadian and British troops achieved unprecedented success. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 152 - 1st printing. "Kasserine Pass 1943!" Written by Steven J Zaloga. Art by Michael Welply. The North African campaign of November 1942-May 1943 was a baptism of fire for the US Army. After relatively straightforward landings, the US II Corps advanced into Tunisia to support operations by the British 8th Army. Rommel, worried by the prospect of an attack, decided to exploit the inexperience of the US Army and strike a blow against their overextended positions around the Kasserine Pass. However, the Germans were unable to exploit their initial success, and later attacks were bloodily repulsed. The fighting in Tunisia taught the green US Army vital combat lessons, and brought to the fore senior commanders such as Eisenhower, Patton, and Bradley. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 153 - 1st printing. "Toulon 1793!" Written by Robert Forczyk. Art by Adam Hook. In August 1793 Republican France teetered on the brink of collapse. On every front her enemies' armies swept forwards across her borders - the very survival of the Revolution itself was at stake. In Toulon, the strategically vital home port of France's Mediterranean fleet, a coup had overthrown the Republican government and handed over the city to the blockading British navy. In this, perhaps her darkest hour, France's saviour was at hand in the shape of a Captain of Artillery whose name all Europe would soon know - Napoleon Bonaparte. This title describes the Republican victory at Toulon that not only saved the Revolution but also saw the young Napoleon Bonaparte begin his meteoric rise to power. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 154 - 1st printing. "Acre 1291!" Written by David Nicolle. Art by Graham Turner. In April 1291, a Mamluk army laid siege to Acre, the last great Crusader fortress in the Holy Land. For six weeks, the siege dragged on until the Mamluks took the outer wall, which had been breached in several places. The Military Orders drove back the Mamluks temporarily, but three days later the inner wall was breached. King Henry escaped, but the bulk of the defenders and most of the citizens perished in the fighting or were sold into slavery. The surviving knights fell back to their fortress, resisting for ten days, until the Mamluks broke through. This book depicts the dramatic collapse of this great fortress, whose demise marked the end of the Crusades in the Holy Land. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 155 - 1st printing. "Anzio 1944!" Written by Steven J Zaloga. Art by Peter Dennis. In January 1944, the Allies decided to land at Anzio in order to overcome the stalemate at Cassino.This amphibious landing has become one of the most controversial campaigns of World War II. Questionable decisions by the Allied leadership led to three months of World War I-style trench warfare, and the entire beachhead suffered from continuous German observation and bombardment. Vividly describing each thrust and counter-thrust, this book takes us through the agonizing struggle as each side sought to retain or regain mastery. It shows how Anzio proved to be a stepping stone not only to Rome but also to the liberation of Italy. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

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Volume 156 - 1st printing. "The Doolittle Raid 1942!" Written by Clayton Chun. Art by Howard Gerrard. In early 1942, the strategic situation was bleak for the United States. She had been in continual retreat since Pearl Harbor, surrendering major areas such as the Philippines, and was preparing for the worst in Hawaii and on the West Coast. The Japanese, on the other hand, had secured a well-defended perimeter, and was set for further expansion. Something needed to happen quickly and be of considerable impact-and the combined-arms, April 1942 Doolittle Raid on Japan was a way to achieve this. This book examines the planning, execution, and aftermath of this innovative, daring and risky attack, which would show that the Japanese navy and air forces were anything but invincible. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 157 - 1st printing. "Trafalgar 1805!" Written by Gregory Fremont-Barnes. Art by Christa Hook. Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson's decisive victory over the combined fleets of France and Spain on 21 October 1805 remains one of the greatest naval triumphs in history. Off Cape Trafalgar, 27 British and 33 Franco-Spanish ships pounded each other in an epic four-hour struggle on whose outcome rested nothing less than Britain's security against Napoleonic invasion. Nelson's brilliant tactics, inspiring leadership and the superior training and morale of his crews left his opponents shattered in a savage encounter that not only marked the last great battle fought in the age of sail, but ushered in a century of British naval mastery. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 158 - 1st printing. "El Alamein 1942!" Written by Ken Ford. Art by Howard Gerrard. The battle of El Alamein marked the turning point in Britain's fortunes in the Second World War. There were three separate battles between July and November 1942, all of which were fought to halt the advance of Rommel's army towards the Suez Canal. This final battle at El Alamein, fought in October and November, saw the continuous bombardment of the German line that Rommel was instructed to hold at all costs by Hitler himself. The Allies shattered the German defences, and Rommel led a westward retreat in order to salvage what was left of the Afrika Korps. This book provides an in-depth analysis of the battle that turned the tide in favour of the Allies in Africa. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 159 - 1st printing. "Berlin 1945!" Written by Peter Antill. Art by Peter Dennis. Hitler's Third Reich was on the brink of total ruin in mid-April 1945, and the Red Army was poised less than 60 miles to the east and ready to seize the German capital. Peter Antill describes the events in this engaging history, examining the Soviets' march towards Berlin and the Germans' final resistance. This book, supplemented with a host of maps and illustrations, provides a vivid portrayal of the death throes of the Third Reich and the end of the war in Europe, exploring the strategy of both sides and the tactics of impromptu urban warfare. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 160 - 1st printing. "Battle of the Boyne 1690!" Written by Michael McNally. Art by Graham Turner. In April 1685, James II ascended the English throne. An overt Catholic, James proved unpopular with his Protestant subjects, and a group of nobles invited the Dutch prince William of Orange to take the throne in the Glorious Revolution of 1688; James II fled to France. James returned in 1689, a French fleet landing him at Kinsale in Ireland. On 14 June 1690, William led an army to Ireland and came face-to-face with the Jacobites along the banks of the Boyne near Drogheda. This book describes the events that led to the momentous battle on 1 July that would decide the fate of the crown of England. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 161 - 1st printing. "The Third Crusade 1191!" Written by David Nicolle. Art by Christa Hook. The clash between King Richard I 'The Lionheart' of England and Saladin has become legendary. Throughout the ages, military enthusiasts have been fascinated by the strategy of the resolute, heavily armed Anglo-Saxon army versus their more lightly armed opponents. Richard's inability to recapture Jerusalem was disappointing, but it proved to the crusaders that Saladin was not invincible. This book describes the struggle that has evolved into a mythic campaign for the Holy City of Jerusalem, providing an in-depth look at the battle, the personalities involved and the tactics employed by each army. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Volume 162 - 1st printing. "Inch'on 1950!" Written by Gordon L Rottman. Art by Peter Dennis. Inch'on was probably the most significant campaign in the Korean theater, as well as being the last major amphibious assault of division-size conducted in the history of warfare. The odds were stacked against the US troops, with virtually no time for training and many of the divisions unprepared for the conflict. The success of the Inch'on campaign is a testament to the sheer initiative of the officers and NCOs conducted it. This book details the strategy and tactics that led to the operation's success, as well as narrating the experience of the battle in fascinating detail. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 163 - 1st printing. "Leyte Gulf 1944!" Written by Bernard Ireland. Art by Howard Gerrard. Leyte Gulf was a key victory for the United States: its scale dwarfed previous sea conflicts and its outcome created an opportunity for the US forces to invade the Philippines. Four different battles - Leyte, Samar, Cape Engano and the Suriago Strait - occured almost simultaneously as past of a Japanese plan to claim a Trafalgar-style victory over the US forces. Yet they were defeated in the battles on the surface, under the sea, and in the air. This highly accessible book describes the conflict's interweaving battles and the personalities of the commanders involved in what has been called 'the greatest sea battle of all'. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 164 - 1st printing. "Otterburn 1388!" Written by Peter Armstrong. Art by Stephen Walsh. In his Chronicles, Froissart describes Otterburn as 'the best fought and the most severe' battle of his time. Fought at Redesdale in Northumberland in August 1388, the battle originated from the ongoing war between the Scots and the English following Robert Bruce's victory over the English at Bannockburn in 1314. Using all the contemporary sources, this book details the events that led up to the clash on the borders, examines the opposing armies, their weaponry and their commanders - including the Douglases on the Scots side and the Percys on the English - and gives a full account of the battle and its aftermath. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 165 - 1st printing. "Iraq 1941!" Written by Robert Lyman. Art by Howard Gerrard. The events in Iraq in 1941 had crucial strategic consequences. The country's oil reserves were a highly coveted prize for the Axis powers, and its location provided a corridor in the defence of Palestine and the Suez Canal. Had Iraq fallen to the Axis powers, Britain could have lost its foothold in the Middle East and the Mediterranean and risked losing World War II. This book examines the strategy and tactics of the Iraq campaign, the role of the Indian Army and the Arab Legion, the nature of expeditionary warfare and the complementary roles of air and land power. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 166 - 1st printing. "Assaye 1803!" Written by Simon Miller. Art by Peter Dennis. Wellington said that of all his battles Assaye, fought during the Second Maratha War (1803-05) in central India, was 'the bloodiest for the numbers that I ever saw'. A small British force, under Major-General the Honourable Arthur Wellesley (as Wellington was then known), crossed into Maratha territory in March 1803 to restore the Peshwa to his throne. On September 23, Wellesley encountered what turned out to be the entire Maratha army in a strong position on the banks of the Kailna River. The battle witnessed costly infantry and cavalry assaults, but was won by the steadiness of Wellesley's troops and his inspiring leadership. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Volume 167 - 1st printing. "Moscow 1941!" Written by Robert Forczyk. Art by Howard Gerrard. Suffering a staggering loss of over 2 million troops by September 1941, Soviet forces were faced with the prospect of Hitler victoriously re-directing his powerful German armies toward the heart of Soviet Russia - Moscow. However, the season was late and the Germans found themselves in a race to launch a final decisive attack before the arrival of the dreaded Russian winter. Stalin desperately sought to play for time by mustering all available military resources to save his capital. This book is the story of Operation Typhoon, the largest German operational attack of the war and Hitler's desperate attempt to seize Moscow. With expert knowledge of the subject, author Robert A. Forczyk successfully manages to bring to life the battle which saw the most horrific losses for the Soviet defending forces and marked the first defeat of the Wehrmacht. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 168 - 1st printing. "Flodden 1513!" Written by John Sadler. Art by Stephen Walsh. On 9 September 1513 Flodden field was the site for one of Scotland's most famous battles, often termed their greatest defeat. The Scottish Army led by their courageous king, James IV, was strong in artillery and trained in new tactics from the Swiss doctrine, whereas the English Army they faced still favoured traditional tactics. Despite the strength of the Scots the English men-at-arms fought ferociously and by nightfall the field was strewn with the bodies of the Scottish nobility, and the tragic figure of the dead James IV. This book examines the strategies of the opposing armies and the significant effect of the weapons, including longbow and artillery, which they deployed. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 169 - 1st printing. "Somme 1 July 1916!" Written by Andrew Robertshaw. Art by Peter Dennis. The first day of the battle of the Somme has always been perceived as a day of tragedy for the British Army, with the slaughter of 60,000 men on the battlefield. What seemed to be poor planning on the part of the British command meant that soldiers were sent into no man's land to face the horrors of uncut barbed wire and waves of German machine gun fire. However, there were triumphs amongst the tragedy. This book discusses the successes and failures of the British and the German forces along the frontline. It also offers a detailed account of the battle itself, following the actions of individual units throughout the day. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

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Volume 170 - 1st printing. "Osaka 1615!" Written by Stephen Turnbull. Art by Richard Hook. In 1614-15 Osaka Castle was Japan's greatest fortification, measuring approximately 2 miles in length with walls 100 feet high. It was guarded by 100,000 samurai, determined to defend the last of the once-powerful Toyotomi clan. The castle was seemingly impenetrable; however, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the ruling dynasty, was determined to destroy this remaining threat to the Tokuwaga ruling dynasty. This book explores the bitter struggle of the Summer and Winter campaigns, which eventually saw the last great clash of the samurai and defined the balance of power in Japan for years to come. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 171 - 1st printing. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 172 - 1st printing. "Gibraltar 1779-1783!" Written by René Chartrand. Art by Patrice Courcelle. After Spain declared war on Britain on 21 June 1779, Gibraltar was besieged by land and sea for four years. The centrepiece of the siege was the dramatic assault by supposedly invincible battering ships and the author reveals how these floating phenomena were countered by British engineering ingenuity and sheer resolve. In this detailed account of the siege, Rene Chartrand examines the Franco-Spanish and British forces as well as the personalities and plans that would contribute to a vital British victory at a time when British fortunes elsewhere in the world were on the wane. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 173 - 1st printing. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

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Volume 174 - 1st printing. "Pharsalus 48 BC!" Written by Si Sheppard. Art by Adam Hook. In 48 BC, the stage was set for the final clash of the two titans of the Roman world and the odds were heavily in Pompey's favour, with 45,000 men against Caesar's 22,000. Having the dice loaded against him, however, seems to have stimulated Caesar's genius for battle. In a brilliant display of generalship he routed his rival's larger army. Pompey's army retreated, with Caesar's army in parallel pursuit, until, their general having escaped, Pompey's men finally surrendered. Simon Sheppard expertly charts the events surrounding the Pharsalus campaign, and the seismic implications of the decisive clash between the two greatest generals of their age. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Add to cart Fine $3.80

Volume 175 - 1st printing. "Remagen 1945!" Written by Steven J Zaloga. Art by Peter Dennis. In the aftermath of the Battle of the Bulge in February 1945, the Allies embarked upon the final assault of Germany. The long-delayed US thrust over the Roer River eventually took place in February, leaving the Rhine as the last major geographical barrier to the Allied advance into Germany. This book describes how the US Army, in the face of furious last-ditch German resistance, captured the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen - securing the last surviving major crossing over the Rhine and setting the stage for the defeat of the German Army in the West. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 176 - 1st printing. "Philadelphia 1777!" Written by Justin Clement. Art by Stephen Walsh. A turning point in the War of Independence, the campaign for Philadelphia set in motion a series of events leading to the defeat of the British and eventual independence for the emerging American nation. From the landing of General William Howe's army at the head of the Elk River, to his eventual capture of Philadelphia, the campaign included some fascinating battles. The initial engagement at Brandywine, the Paoli Massacre and the missed opportunity at Germantown are all examined in detail by Justin Clement, with supporting maps, original artwork and photographs. Recently discovered information about the battle of Brandywine and analysis of the major personalities involved completes this comprehensive account. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 177 - 1st printing. "Château Thierry & Belleau Wood 1918!" Written by David Bonk. Art by Peter Dennis. In May and June 1918 the newly arrived American Expeditionary Force fought two actions that helped defeat the last German offensive of World War I. At Château Thierry a combined French and American force stopped the Germans from crossing the Marne River. Building on this success the US 2nd Division stopped the German advance on Paris and were given the task of recapturing Belleau Wood. First-hand accounts, photographs, and detailed maps dramatically bring to life these key battles, America's baptism of fire in World War I. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 178 - 1st printing. "The Rhine Crossings 1945!" Written by Ken Ford. Art by Howard Gerrard. 'The last great heave of war,' according to Churchill, took place with the crossing of the Rhine in 1945. No invading army had crossed this great river since Napoleon's in 1805 and the task fell to Field Marshal Montgomery's 21st Army Group. Opposing them were the forces of a failing fascist regime, including battalions of old men and boys, strengthened by several formations of crack troops including paratroopers and Panzer Grenadiers. With an elaborate description of the combined Allied attack, second in magnitude only to the Normandy invasion, this book charts the history of the last great set-piece battle of the war that ultimately brought the defeat of Hitler's Nazi regime one step closer. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 179 - 1st printing. "Sherman's March to the Sea 1864!" Written by David Smith. Art by Richard Hook. Riding on the wave of his victory at Atlanta, Union General W. T. Sherman abandoned his supply lines in an attempt to push his forces into Confederate territory and take Savannah. During their 285-mile 'March to the Sea' the army lived off the land and destroyed all war-making capabilities of the enemy en route. Despite the controversy surrounding it, the march was a success. Supported by photographs, detailed maps, and artwork, this title explores the key personalities and engagements of the march and provides a detailed analysis of the campaign that marked the 'beginning of the end' of the Civil War. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Volume 180 - 1st printing. "Easter Rising 1916!" Written by Michael McNally. Art by Peter Dennis. When the outbreak of World War I delayed home rule for Ireland, a faction of Irish nationalists decided to take direct action. On Easter Monday 1916, a rebellion was launched from the steps of the Dublin General Post Office and the existence of an Irish Republic proclaimed. The British response was a military one and they drove the rebels back in violent street fighting until they surrendered on 29 April. The leaders of the rising were tried by court martial: 15 of them were summarily executed and a further 3,500 'sympathizers' imprisoned. This book covers this important milestone in Anglo-Irish history in detail, thoroughly examining the politics behind the Easter Rising and the tactics employed to counter it. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

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Volume 181 - 1st printing. "Siegfried Line 1944-45!" Written by Steven J Zaloga. Art by Steve Noon. The campaign on the German frontier in late 1944 was one of the most frustrating and costly efforts by the US Army in the ETO. The Allies first encountered the Siegfried Line (Westwall) fortifications in September 1944, having pursued the retreating Wehrmacht through Belgium and the Netherlands. The border area around Aachen had been fortified with a double line of bunkers, and both the terrain and the weather made things difficult for the Allies. This book focuses on the involvement of the US First and Ninth armies in the six-month fighting, including the hellish fighting for the Hürtgen forest. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Volume 182 - 1st printing. "Granicus 334 BC!" Written by Michael Thompson. Art by Richard Hook. Granicus River was Alexander's first great victory over the Persians, where he demonstrated the heroic style of active and decisive leadership that was the hallmark of his career. In the initial engagement, Alexander's 5,000 cavalry, supported by archers and javelin men, routed a force of 20,000 Persian cavalry This convincing victory was the springboard for the subjugation of the coastal cities, the neutralisation of the Persian navy and ultimately the conquest of the Persian Empire. Exploring the courageous leadership of one of the world's most inspirational yet ruthless leaders, this book provides a detailed analysis of the battle, strategy and tactics of the forces engaged. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 183 - 1st printing. "Denmark and Norway 1940!" Written by Doug Dildy. Art by John White. On 9 April 1940, German forces invaded Denmark, and then Norway, in an attempt to guarantee security of Scandinavia's vital mineral resources for their war industry. This assault, Operation Weserübung, represented the first joint air-land-and-sea campaign in the history of warfare, and was the only such campaign planned by the Wehrmacht high command, including all three services of the Wehrmacht. This book describes the events of this tumultuous campaign that not only led to Winston Churchill's appointment as British Prime Minister, but also saw the crippling of the German Kriegsmarine as a fighting force. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 184 - 1st printing. "Stalingrad 1942!" Written by Peter Antill. Art by Peter Dennis. One of the most monumental and widely discussed battles in the history of World War II, Stalingrad was Hitler's first major defeat on the Eastern Front, and acted as a catalyst for his eventual downfall. Providing a detailed breakdown of the armies on both sides and discussing the merits of the commanders and the ways in which these influenced the battle, Peter Antill questions why the Germans allowed themselves to be diverted from their main objective and concentrate such large resources on a secondary target. The bird's-eye view illustrations and maps that feature in this book help to unravel the detail of unit directions, priorities and deployments, and the tactical failures that led to the day-by-day war of attrition that lasted for nearly five months. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 185 - 1st printing. "Naseby 1645!" Written by Martin Marix Evans. Art by Graham Turner. On the pivotal day of 14 June 1645 Charles I's Royalist Army and Parliament's New Model Army made battle at Naseby. Using first-hand accounts, Martin Marix Evans introduces the origins of the campaign, explores the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing armies, and vividly describes the engagement. The traditional condemnation of Prince Rupert's military strategy is undermined, and the significance of Okey's Dragoons in precipitating the action explained. He imparts his intimate knowledge of the terrain so crucial to the New Model Army's frontage, and uses archaeological and documentary evidence to piece together a remarkable blow-by-blow account of this devastating battle. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 186 - 1st printing. "Operation Barbarossa 1941 Part 3!" Written by Robert Kirchubel. Art by Peter Dennis. The final volume in the Barbarossa trilogy, this title complete the account of the strategic intricacies of the German campaign against Russia. Robert Kirchubel examines the causes behind the German failure, including the inability to resupply troops or provide reserves, as well as the lack of decent German winter uniforms and transport with dramatic contemporary photographs detailing the unforgiving battlefield conditions. Full-colour artwork, maps and bird's-eye-views illustrate the campaign in detail, revealing how, despite lapses and flaws in Soviet defences, the Red Army was able to capitalize on every German weakness. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Volume 187 - 1st printing. "Cambrai 1917!" Written by Alexander Turner. Art by Peter Dennis. This crucial new study on one of the seminal events in military history dispells many of the myths surrounding Cambrai 1917. Common perception classifies it as the 'world's first tank battle' but Alexander Turner shows us that the true importance of Cambrai was that it saw the first use of armour as an operational shock tactic. With this, the conduct of war was irrevocably changed. The battle also heralded the combined use of aircraft, armour and artillery, marking the birth of modern combined-arms techniques. Written by a military historian and serving soldier, this is a fascinating analysis of a battle which ended a stalemate, yet spawned a host of war-winning tactics. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 188 - 1st printing. "Thermopylae 480 BC!" Written by Nic Fields. Art by Steve Noon. An authoritative re-telling of one of the greatest tales of heroism of all time and a decisive moment for the history of the world, Leonidas and the 300 Spartans' fight to the death against overwhelming Persian forces preserved the future of Greece and the golden age of classical civilization. Nic Fields vividly describes the battle for the pass of Thermopylae as the combined Greek forces held off the army of Xerxes, buying time for a retreat which would save Greece. Lavishly illustrated and with full-colour artwork, detailed maps and dramatic battle scenes, this is an in-depth analysis of one of the most famous acts of resolute defence in the face of overwhelming odds. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Volume 189 - 1st printing. "Sevastopol 1942!" Written by Robert Forczyk. Art by Howard Gerrard. In late July 1941, Hitler ordered Army Group South to seize the Crimea as part of its operations to secure the Ukraine and the Donets Basin, in order to protect the vital Romanian oil refineries at Ploesti from Soviet air attack. After weeks of heavy fighting, the Germans breached the Soviet defences and overran most of the Crimea. By November 1941 the only remaining Soviet foothold in the area was the heavily fortified naval base at Sevastopol. Operation Sturgeon Haul, the final assault on Sevastopol, was one of the very few joint service German operations of World War II, with two German corps and a Romanian corps supported by a huge artillery siege train, the Luftwaffe's crack VIII Flieger Korps and a flotilla of S-Boats provided by the Kriegsmarine. This volume closely examines the impact of logistics, weather and joint operational planning upon the last major German victory of World War II. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 190 - 1st printing. "Poitiers AD 732!" Written by David Nicolle. Art by Graham Turner. In the early decades of the 8th century AD, Islamic forces were flooding into Europe through the Iberian peninsula, threatening Frankish and Burgundian territory and raiding it with ever-increasing ferocity. At the battle of Poitiers, also known as Tours, Christian forces under the Frankish leader Charles Martel 'The Hammer' (grandfather of Charlemagne) confronted a massive invading Islamic army. The Franks were victorious, effectively halting the northward advance of Islam and preserving Christianity as the dominant faith in Europe. Expert medievalist David Nicolle draws on contemporary sources to reconstruct this turning-point battle, placing it in its historical context and reviewing its background and the subsequent historical consequences. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 191 - 1st printing. "Vienna 1683!" Written by Simon Millar. Art by Peter Dennis. The capture of the Hapsburg city of Vienna was a major strategic aspiration for the Islamic Ottoman Empire, desperate for the control that the city exercized over the Danube and the overland trade routes between southern and northern Europe. In July 1683 Sultan Mehmet IV proclaimed a jihad and the Turkish grand vizier, Kara Mustafa Pasha, laid siege to the city with an army of 150,000 men. In September a relieving force arrived under Polish command and joined up with the defenders to drive the Turks away. The main focus of this book is the final 15-hour battle for Vienna, which peaked with a massive charge by three divisions of Polish winged hussars. This hard-won victory marked the beginning of the decline of the Islamic Ottoman Empire, which was never to threaten central Europe again. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 192 - 1st printing. "New York 1776!" Written by David Smith. Art by Graham Turner. General Sir William Howe's New York campaign gave the British their best chance of destroying the Continental Army and George Washington's resistance to colonial power. Howe succeeded in dividing the Continentals, defeated them on Long Island and forced Washington to retreat to Brooklyn Heights. Under siege there, Washington successfully crossed the East River to Manhattan but soon had to fall back on Harlem Heights. After a few weeks Howe forced the Continentals north to White Plains and defeated them again. However, he allowed Washington to withdraw and preserve his army when a more aggressive pursuit could have ended the war. Instead, with the British army rapidly weakening and facing huge manpower shortages, Washington emerged from a succession of defeats to produce what was ultimately a war-winning strategy. The author provides fascinating insights into a unique campaign in which a string of British victories ultimately led to failure and defeat. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 193 - 1st printing. "London 1914-17!" Written by Ian Castle. Art by Christa Hook. The first Zeppelin attack on London came in May 1915 - and with it came the birth of a new arena of warfare, the 'home front'. German airships attempted to raid London on 26 separate occasions between May 1915 and October 1917. This book tells the story of Germany's strategic Zeppelin offensive against Britain, and how it came to be neutralized. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

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Volume 194 - 1st printing. "Liberation of Paris 1944!" Written by Steven J Zaloga. Art by Howard Gerrard. In July 1944, Operation Cobra broke the stalemate in Normandy and sent the Allies racing across France. The Allied commanders had ignored Paris in their planning for this campaign, considering that the risk of intense street fighting and heavy casualties outweighed the city's strategic importance. However, Charles de Gaulle persuaded the Allied commanders to take direct action to liberate his nation's capital. Steven J Zaloga first describes the operations of Patton's Third Army as it advanced towards Paris before focussing on the actions of the Resistance forces inside the city and of the Free French armoured division that fought its way in and joined up with them to liberate it on the 24th August. On the back of this morale-boosting victory, De Gaulle could finally proclaim Paris to be liberated, as one of the world's loveliest cities survived Hitler's strident command that it should be held at all costs or razed to the ground. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 195 - 1st printing. "Syracuse 415-413 BC!" Written by Nic Fields. Art by Peter Dennis. In the midsummer of 415 BC Athens launched a pre-emptive attack on Syracuse, urged on by the brilliant but reckless Athenian general Alcibiades, who claimed the Syracusans were providing the hostile Peloponnesian League with supplies. Moreover, if Athens could establish itself in Sicily then it would be in a commanding position for future aggression against Carthage. Possession of Syracuse would also allow the Athenians to dominate the Mediterranean. Nic Fields examines the foolhardy campaign in which Athens ignored the strategic implications of attacking a nation that was over 1,100 km away as two enormous armadas and 60,000 Athenians and their allies fought for two years against the only other democracy in the Greek world. Rare illustrations and breath-taking full-colour artwork complete the account of a disastrous campaign from which very few Athenians returned. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 196 - 1st printing. "Gazala 1942!" Written by Ken Ford. Art by John White. Following a lull in the desert war which saw the Germans and British reinforce their armies, Rommel suddenly attacked British fortifications with an assault on the northern sector of the British line near Gazala. Pinning down the British in the north and outflanking the 1st Free French Brigade, Rommel succeeded in encircling the main British positions, trapping them in what became known as 'The Cauldron'. With thousands of British soldiers killed or taken prisoner, this was a devastating defeat for the Allies. Accompanied by contemporary photographs and maps depicting the movement of both armies, Ken Ford provides a masterful study of Rommel, the 'Desert Fox', at the height of his powers as he swept the British army back to the site of their final stand at El Alamein. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 197 - 1st printing. "Amiens 1918!" Written by Alistair McCluskey. Art by Peter Dennis. The battle of Amiens was the turning point of World War I, confirming to all that the strategic initiative had decisively returned to the Allies. The battle heralded the arrival of new strategic, tactical and operational methods of attack for the Allies. Most importantly, by the time the battle ended on 11 August the desire of the German leadership to continue the war had been shattered. In this book Alistair McCluskey describes the course of the battle and the commanders involved. He details troop movements that illustrate the rapid advance of Allied forces, all of which are analysed using both traditional and bird's-eye-view maps. Released to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the battle, this book is illustrated with some amazingly poignant rare photographs and full-colour artwork, providing a detailed analysis of the battle that heralded the beginning of the end of World War I. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 198 - 1st printing. "The Samurai Invasion of Korea 1592-98!" Written by Stephen Turnbull. Art by Peter Dennis. Stephen Turnbull, a renowned expert on the history of Japan, examines the samurai invasion of Korea, the first step in an ambitious Japanese plan to conquer China. Examining the various stages of the war, from the pitched battles of the early war years, to the great naval encounters, the dramatic sieges and the bitter trench warfare that characterized the end of the war, Turnbull provides a concise analysis of the conflict. Highly illustrated with contemporary photographs, full colour battlescene artwork, detailed maps and bird's-eye views, this is a concise history of a unique and exciting campaign, which not only involved huge numbers of men, differing terrain and tactics but was also the only time that the legendary samurai were pitched against a foreign nation. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 199 - 1st printing. "Philippi 42 BC!" Written by Si Sheppard. Art by Steve Noon. Immortalised by Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, the battle of Philippi was the final meeting between the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian against the armies of Caesar's assassins Brutus and Longinus. In this book Si Sheppard takes a detailed look at the campaign that was waged around the Macedonian city of Philippi. In the bloody and close combat, legionary fought legionary amid great slaughter, until Brutus' forces were defeated. Brutus fled and committed suicide the following day. The Republican cause crushed, Rome now rested in the hands of the Second Triumvirate. Packed with photographs, breathtaking battlescene artwork and detailed maps illustrating the course of the battles on land and on sea, this is the history of the campaign which sounded the final death knell for the Republican movement. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.

Volume 200 - 1st printing. "Japan 1945!" Written by Clayton Chun. Art by John White. In this 200th Campaign series title Clayton Chun examines the final stages of World War II as the Allies debated how to bring about the surrender of Japan. He details Operation Downfall (the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands).Chun explains why these plans were never implemented, before examining the horrific alternative to military invasion - the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki with nuclear weapons. With a series of illustrations, including detailed diagrams of the atomic bombs, a depiction of the different stages of the explosions and maps of the original invasion plans, this book provides a unique perspective of a key event in world history. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $19.95.