Ride Around Missouri - Shelby's Great Raid 1863

Ken Ford, Howard Gerrard, Alan Gilliland, Mariusz Kozik

В 1942 году англичане планировали воздушно-десантную операцию по захвату нового секретного немецкого радара. Возглавил его майор Джон Фрост. Рота десантников сброшена на французском побережье в Брюневаль, и быстро нейтрализовали небольшой немецкий гарнизон. Затем началась отчаянная борьба за время, пока англичане пытались ликвидировать радар и эвакуироваться. Leer más…

Stephen Prince; Giuseppe Rava(Illustrations)

"On the night of 22-23 April 1918, the Royal Navy carried out a raid on the German held ports of Zeebrugge and Ostend -- Operation Z-O. Under the cover of clouds and smoke, over 70 ships and an assault force of 1,800 Royal Marines embarked on a daring mission which involved a vicious battle of incredible intensity. However, despite the gallant and courageous efforts of the attackers, 11 of whom were later awarded the Victoria Cross, the raid was only partly successful. Discover the successes and failures of this dramatic raid in this in-depth account, complete with specially commissioned battlescene artwork. The author reveals how despite failure, the raid demonstrated to Germany that Britain was still capable of offensive action, even as its armies were being forced back"--Publisher's website Leer más…

Robert Forczyk; Howard Gerrard

The successful rescue of imprisoned Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from atop the Gran Sasso plateau by German glider-borne troops on 12 September 1943 was one of the most dramatic Special Forces operations in military history. Arrested by his own officers in July 1943, Mussolini had been whisked away to an isolated and heavily-guarded mountain-top resort, the Hotel Campo Imperatore at Gran Sasso, which could only be reached by a heavily guarded cable car station. It was clear to the Germans - who wished to rescue Mussolini in order to keep at least the appearance that Italy was still on the Axis side - that any conventional rescue operation would have to fight its way through too much opposition and that Mussolini's captors would have ample time to execute him before he could be rescued. However, the Waffen SS had begun to develop the genesis of a commando-style raiding force that appeared suitable for the mission. Once Mussolini's location at Gran Sasso was confirmed, Hitler ordered the assault force, led by SS Haupsturmführer Otto Skorzeny, to conduct a rescue mission to extract Mussolini alive from the mountaintop. Despite unfavorable terrain for a gliderborne landing - including large boulders and steep cliffs near the landing zone - most of the German gliders succeeded in landing atop the Gran Sasso and the assault force was able to move in before the stunned Italian defenders could organize a response or eliminate Mussolini. Adding to the successful assault,... Leer más…

Will Fowler; Johnny Shumate

"The night before D-Day, light infantry and a detachment of Royal Engineers landed by gliders at Pegasus Bridge, which spanned the Caen Canal. Quickly overwhelming the guards, they managed to hold the bridge and help prevent German reinforcements from reaching the British landing beaches. Will Fowler provides a detailed blow-by-blow account of this classic wartime raid"--Publisher's website Leer más…

Ken Ford; Howard Gerrard(Illustrator); Mariusz Kozik(Illustrator)

by The End Of 1941 Germany Was Desperately In Need Of Essential Raw Materials. Vital Supplies From Japan Were Shipped To Germany By 'blockade Runners' Using The Port Of Bordeaux As Their Main Base. Allied Forces Needed An Undertaking To Interfere With The Work Of These Lone Merchant Ships At The Port, Leading To The Formation Of Plans That Ultimately Became Known As The Cockleshell Heroes Raid, In Which A Unit Of Royal Marine Commandos Mounted A Raid Via Canoes Launched From A Submarine. in This New Addition To Osprey's Raid Series, Author Ken Ford Explores The History Of What Is Perhaps The Bravest And Imaginative Raids Of The Entire War. The Book Details The Original Plans Of The Raid, Along With The Various Complications And Challenges Faced By The Commandos, And Explores The Outcome Of The Raid. Leer más…

Gregory Fremont-Barnes; Mariusz Kozik(Illustrator); Howard Gerrard(Illustrator)

For 5 days in May 1980, thousands watched around the world as the shadowy figures of the SAS performed a daring and dramatic raid on the Iranian Embassy in London, catapulting a little-known specialist unit into the full glare of the world's media. Hailed by Margaret Thatcher as "a brilliant operation, carried out with courage and confidence," the raid was a huge success for the SAS, who managed to rescue nineteen hostages with near-perfect military execution, although two hostages were killed by terrorists. Despite the acclaim and media attention, details of the siege are still largely unknown and those at the heart of the story, the identities of the SAS troopers themselves, remain a closely guarded secret. This book takes a concise and in-depth look at the dramatic events of the Iranian Embassy Siege, revealing the political background behind it and carefully analyzing the controversial decision by the Prime Minister and Home Secretary to sign over control of the streets of London to the military. Unique bird's eye view artwork illustrates the moment the walls were breached and show how the strict planning of the operation was critical to its success. With input from those involved in the mission, and discussion on the effective training regimes of the SAS, the author strips away some of the mystery behind the best counter-terrorism unit in the world and their most famous raid. Leer más…

Stephen Turnbull; Richard Hook(Illustrator); Donato Spedaliere(Illustrator)

A brilliant but little-known operation, the Shimazu clan raid on the independent kingdom of Rykkyu (modern Okinawa) in 1609 is one of the most extraordinary episodes in samurai history and the culmination of centuries of rivalry between the two powers. The defeat of the Shimazu at Sekigahara in 1600, and their need to win favor with the new ShMgun, led them to hatch an audacious plot to attack the islands on the ShMgun's behalf and bring back the king of Rykkyu as a hostage. Stephen Turnbull gives a blow-by-blow account of the operation, from the daring Shimazu amphibious landing, to their rapid advance overland, and the tactical feigned retreat that saw the Shimazu defeat the Okinawan army and kidnap their king in spectacular fashion. With a detailed background and specially commissioned artwork, the scene is set for a dramatic retelling of this fascinating raid. Leer más…

Douglas C. Dildy, Illustrated By Howard Gerrard, Mariusz Kozik, Brian Delf

In May 1943, a specially established RAF squadron made its permanent imprint on military aviation history by flying a high-risk, low level, nighttime attack against German hydro-electric dams vital to the Nazi armaments industry in the Ruhr Valley. This text looks at the origins, strategy and analysis of the classic raid. In May 1943, a specially established RAF squadron made its permanent imprint on military aviation history by flying a high-risk, low-level, nighttime attack against German hydro-electric dams vital to the Nazi armaments industry in the Ruhr Valley. A comparatively tiny part of Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris' four-month-long "Battle of the Ruhr," this one raid had an impact totally out of proportion to the small number of aircraft involved. It highlights the synergy of science and technology, weapons development and production, mission planning and practice, and the unflinching courage in the execution of a highly dangerous bombing raid. Furthermore, it established a legend that still resonates today Leer más…

Gordon L. Rottman, Mariusz Kozik

in April 1862, The Stage Was Set For One Of The Greatest Locomotive Chases In History. Union Forces Planned To Steal A Train And Travel At High Speed To Chattanooga, Tennessee, Disabling The Line As They Went, In Order To Cut Off Vital Rail Supplies To The Confederate Stronghold Of Atlanta, Georgia, Some 100-plus Miles To The Southwest. What They Hadn't Banked On Was The Dogged Determination Of One Man, Train Conductor William Fuller, Who, After Realizing His Train Had Been Stolen, Began A Frantic Pursuit, First By Handcar, Then By Top-speed Locomotive, Dealing With Derailments By Running Miles On Foot To The Next Station, And Single-handedly Removing Drag Ties From The Track In Front Of His Train. The Raiders Were So Hotly Pursued That They Had No Time To Inflict Serious Damage On The Tracks And Could Not Stop To Gather More Fuel. Just North Of Ringgold, Some Miles South Of Chattanooga, The General Ran Out Of Wood And The Raiders Scattered Into The Forested Appalachian Mountains. All Were Captured Within Days And Sentenced To Death. Discover The History Of One Of The Most Colorful And Dramatic Episodes Of The Civil War As Gordon L. Rottman Expertly Recounts This Incredible Tale Of Sabotage, Robbery And Raiding On The Rail Lines Of The Deep South. Leer más…

Simon Dunstan; Mariusz Kozik; Ian Palmer; Peter Dennis

The Israeli Special Forces' operation at Entebbe goes down in history as one of the most audacious counter-terrorist assaults ever conducted. On June 27, 1976, four terrorists (two of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and two of the German Baader-Meinhof terrorist group) highjacked a passenger jet and forced a landing in Entebbe, Uganda. Here they were met by reinforcements, and transferred all the Jewish and Israeli prisoners to the terminal building, with the exception of a few hostage releases. As Idi Amin's assistance to the terrorists became increasingly clear, the Israeli government began preparations for a military assault. The element of surprise was crucial; never before had such a large-scale raid at such a long distance been successfully undertaken. This is the incredible story of how the Israeli Special Forces defied radar for over 2,000 miles, masqueraded as a tyrant in a Mercedes and captured uniforms, and defeated an army in brutal combat, culminating in a triumph of sheer audacity and nerve. A compelling book chronicling an incredible moment in history. Leer más…

Steven J. Zaloga; Howard Gerrard(Illustrator)

in The Early Hours Of D-day, 1944, A Group From The Us Army 2nd Rangers Battalion Were Sent On One Of The Legendary Raids Of World War Ii. Their Mission Was To Scale The Cliffs Overlooking Omaha Beach And Assault The German Coastal Artillery At Pointe-du-hoc, Which Allied Intelligence Had Identified As A Threat To The Impending Invasion. It Was Thought That Only A Raid Could Ensure That The Guns Would Remain Silent During The D-day Landings. But Allied Intelligence Was Wrong. After Climbing The Cliffs Under Aggressive German Fire And Securing The Battery Site, The Rangers Discovered That The Guns Themselves Were No Longer There. The Determination Of Those Heroic Rangers Involved In The Initial Raid Allowed Them To Locate The Guns, Which Had Been Relocated To Firing Positions Facing Utah Beach, And Destroy Them Before They Could Be Used. in The First Of A Brand New Series For Osprey, This Act Of Audacious Daring Is Brought To Life, Complete With Fully Illustrated Artwork, Detailed Maps And Rare German Accounts. Taking A Closer, More Critical Look At A Famous Story, Steven Zaloga Analyzes Every Detail Of The Raid, From The Intelligence Failings Behind The Mission To The Boldness Of The Rangers' Actions In The Face Of Incredible Odds. You'll Never Get So Close To The Action! school Library Journal gr 10 Up—a Comprehensive Presentation On The Rangers' Participation In The Allied Invasion Of The Normandy Coast On D-day. Facts Concerning The Activities At Pointe-du-hoc Prior... Leer más…

Gordon L. Rottman; Mariusz Kozik; Howard Gerrard

on January 27, 1945, The 6th Ranger Battalion And The 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit (the Alamo Scouts) Began The Most Dangerous And Important Mission Of Their Careers To Rescue 500 American, British And Dutch Prisoners-of-war Held At A Camp Near Cabanatuan. This Daring Plan Was Fraught With Difficulties - The Rangers Had To Struggle With Harsh Jungle Terrain, 30 Miles Behind Enemy Lines Against A Far Larger Force, Knowing That If Their Secret Mission Was Leaked, The Pows Would Be Massacred By Their Captors. Yet, With The Help Of A Filipino Guerilla Force, They Managed To Liberate 513 Prisoners And Kill 225 Japanese In 15 Minutes, While Only Suffering Two Losses Themselves. relive The Dramatic Rescue In This Action-packed Account, Complete With Bird's Eye View And Battlescene Artwork. Gordon Rottman Details The Build-up To And Execution Of The Operation, Analyzing The Difficulties Faced And The Contribution Made By The Guerrillas. This Is Not Only A Story Of Extraordinary Military Success But A Compelling Tale Of Courage In The Face Of Overwhelming Odds. Leer más…

David Greentree; Donato Spedaliere(Illustrator); Giuseppe Rava(Illustrator)

В разгар семилетней войны, Великобритания нанесла дерзкий удар в самое сердце испанской колониальной державы в Карибском море. Leer más…

Clayton K. S. Chun, Steve Noon, Alan Gilliland, Mariusz Kozik

On April 30, 1975, the final curtain of America's long involvement in the Vietnam War fell. North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon while thousands of South Vietnamese refugees attempted to flee on foot, boat, and aircraft. The American public believed that the events in Southeast Asia had finally come to a bitter end. Less than two weeks later, President Gerald Ford ordered air, naval, and Marine forces to conduct combat operations in waters off Cambodia. On May 12, communist Cambodian Khmer Rouge elements seized the S.S. Mayaguez, an American merchant ship, and its crew in international waters. This act of piracy created an incident where U.S. Marine Corps elements attempted to rescue the Mayaguez, one of the most controversial raids in recent history. This book will track every development in the mission , an eventual success that demonstrated American resolve to use military forces in foreign policy issues after the Vietnam debacle. Leer más…

Mark Lardas & Steve Noon, Donato Spedaliere, Mariusz Kozik (Illustrators)

Hortatio Nelson, himself one of naval history's boldest actors, called the burning of the frigate Philadelphia by the United States Navy in 1804 "the most bold and daring act of the age." It is one of the classic examples of a naval raid, a cutting-out action intended to deprive the enemy of a ship. It made Stephen Decatur a household name, both in Europe and the United States. This Raid title describes the mission to retake the Philadelphia, providing the necessary background to understand the raid and following Decatur and his party on a minute-by-minute account as he approached, took, and burned the Philadelphia. It is a worthy supplement to Osprey's other books about the Federal Navy, making it of interest to both serious collectors and new readers. Leer más…

Angus Konstam; Peter Dennis(Illustrator)

In 1585, war between Spain and Elizabethan England was all but inevitable. Consequently, Queen Elizabeth's spymaster proposed a pre-emptive strike designed to paralyse Spain's economy by striking at the Spanish Main - the heart of her overseas empire. The Elizabethan "Sea Dog" Sir Francis Drake was selected to lead this all-important raid. During the summer of 1585 an expedition was gathered in Plymouth - an impressive force of 21 ships and 1,800 soldiers and sailors. When word reached Plymouth that the Queen was having second thoughts and might call off the raid, Drake hurriedly put to sea, before his expedition could be recalled. After first attacking the Canary Islands, he finally made landfall in the Caribbean just before Christmas 1585, and he headed straight for Santo Domingo, the oldest Spanish city in the New World, and the capital of the island of Hispaniola. Drake was soon master of the city, which he held to ransom before sailing off towards his new destination - the treasure port of Cartagena. Cartagena was where emeralds and gold were gathered for shipment to Spain, and so Drake hoped for rich pickings. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Drake landed his soldiers, who stormed the city and won a spectacular victory. Cartagena was plundered, then held to ransom before Drake set sail again, the holds of his ships filled with Spanish treasure. Unable to raid the heavily defended city of Havana he instead raided the little Spanish colony on the coast of Florida... Leer más…

Stephen Turnbull & Mariusz Kozik, Alan Gilliland, Johnny Shumate (Illustrators)

From 1600 till 1866 civil strife in public was virtually unknown in Japan; however, personal loyalty and self-sacrifice could at times rise above the samurai hierarchy to redefine Japanese culture. In 1703 former samurai avenged their lord in the most legendary raid in Japanese history. The story of the 47 ronin is a tale rich in emotion, precise planning, and flawless martial execution. This was the raid that turned Japan upside down. Lord Kira had brought about the death of Lord Asano, thus making Asano's loyal samurai into ronin (unemployed 'men of the waves'). In complete secrecy they plotted their revenge, and one snowy winter's night launched a raid against his mansion in Edo (Tokyo). The gates were broken down, and after the fiercest sword battle seen in Japan for over a century Kira was captured and beheaded. His head was washed and placed on Asano's tomb. The Shogun had now been placed in a dilemma. Should he reward the 47 Ronin for behaving more like true samurai than anyone since the time of civil wars, or should they be punished for breaking the strict laws about taking revenge? In the end the law prevailed, and the surviving 46 ronin committed a mass act of hara-kiri, turning them overnight into national heroes as the 'gods of bushido'.. The dramatic revenge raid of the Forty-Seven Ronin is the ideal subject for a Raids title. There is a very strong narrative and a wealth of illustrative material. As the raid occurred during the peaceful Edo Period there is... Leer más…

René Chartrand; Peter Dennis(Illustrations)

In 1758, at the height of the French and Indian War, British Brigadier General John Forbes led his army on a methodical advance against Fort Duquesene, French headquarters in the Ohio valley. As his army closed in upon the fort, he sent Major Grant of the 77th Highlanders and 850 men on a reconnaissance in force against the fort. The French, alerted to this move, launched their own counter-raid. 500 French and Canadians, backed by 500 Indian allies, ambushed the highlanders and sent them fleeing back to the main army. With the success of that operation, the French planned their own raid against the English encampment at Fort Ligonier less than fifty miles away. With only 600 men, against an enemy strength of 4,000, the French & Amerindians launched a daring night attack on the heart of the enemy encampment. This book tells the complete story of these ambitious raids and counter-raids, giving in-depth detail on the forces, terrain, and tactics. Leer más…