The creation of a Confederate ironclad fleet was a miracle of ingenuity, improvisation and logistics. Surrounded by a superior enemy fleet, Confederate designers adapted existing vessels or created new ones from the keel up with the sole purpose of breaking the naval stranglehold on the nascent coun[...]
When the British Lord Cornwallis launched his invasion of North Carolina in early 1781, his objective was to destroy General Nathaniel Greene's army. Greene fell back before him into Virginia, yet the American force grew daily as militia flocked to the colours. At Guilford Courthouse on 15 March 178[...]
Although pirates have a fascination which has resulted in the production of numerous books and documentaries in recent years (including titles by Osprey), no detailed depiction of their ships has ever been produced. Following the success of the Elite Series Pirates title, this book will provide a de[...]
This title covers a key area of World War II history, the small but vicious battles for the control of the Channel and the North Sea. It details one of the most prolific and successful vessels used by the British Navy - the motor torpedo boat.[...]
Between AD 161 and 244 the Roman legions were involved in wars and battles on a scale not seen since the late Republic. Legions were destroyed in battle, disbanded for mutiny and rebellion and formed to wage wars of conquest and defence. This volume explores the experience of the imperial legionary,[...]
By 1862 most Americans had realised that the Civil War was failing to be brought to a conclusion. However, General George B. McClellan aimed to avoid this by capturing Richmond, the Confederate capital, and end the war in a single campaign. However, despite catching the Confederates off-guard, McCle[...]
When General Robert E. Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia, the Confederacy was in crisis. Lee changed all that in a brilliant weeklong campaign. On 26 June the Confederates struck, fighting two hard-fought battles in two days; Mechanicsville and Gaine's Mill. Although there were heavy[...]
In most other national contexts, the term 'Renaissance' can be applied to the 16th and 17th centuries, but it cannot be said of Russia. During this time, the centralised state of the new Tsars achieved military unity under the domination of Moscow and started its expansion eastwards across Siberia a[...]
If he's in the right mood, divine Angus might grant you sight of your true love in a dream; you might even fall in love with him, but he'll never love you back. He's too busy making mischief, stealing the palace of the gods from his father, turning his enemies into pigs and more.[...]
Landscapes are frequently seen as fragments of natural habitat surrounded by a 'sea' of agriculture. But recent ecological theory shows that the nature of these fragments is not nearly as important for conservation as is the nature of the matrix of agriculture that surrounds them. Local extinctions [...]
In September 1943, in the first weeks of the Allied campaign to liberate Italy, an Anglo-American invasion force of over 80,000 men was nearly beaten back into the sea by the German defenders in a ferocious ten-day battle at Salerno, south of Naples. This is the story of the tense, bitter struggle a[...]
There are commentaries, and there are books on preaching but very few books that combine elements of both to enable the preacher or Bible teacher to prepare and present a series on specific sections of scripture. This series gives the Bible teacher suitable tools to understand the context of Biblica[...]
Scottish Planning Law is a comprehensive and accessible guide to a constantly changing and complex field. The third edition has been updated throughout to take full account of all significant developments in recent Scottish planning law and a wealth of ne[...]
The Byzantine Army was the closest the middle ages came to producing a military superpower. Built on a strong belief system emphasising stealth, surprise, swift manoeuvre and overwhelming force, the "Byzantine infantryman" was trained in survival, sword, spear and archery techniques and also land an[...]
With the outbreak of World War II, Britain's Royal Navy and her fleet of battleships would be at the forefront of her defence. Yet ten of the twelve battleships were already over twenty years old, having served in World War I, and required extensive modifications to allow them to perform a vital ser[...]
This concise guide actually covers not just Pictish fortifications, but all those in use in early medieval Scotland, including those of Strathclyde and Rheged and of the Dal Riata. Konstam introduces the reader to the principal types of fort, including the re-use of earlier defences, before offering[...]
For armchair admirals, history buffs, and naval enthusiasts everywhere, "A Naval Miscellany" is an indispensible and entertaining collection of fascinating and little-known facts, anecdotes, lists, curiosities and stories from our naval past. Forgotten heroes, amazing blunders, surprising trivia, an[...]
A home burned When past crimes resurface, Sir Alan Dale, loyal lieutenant of the Earl of Locksley - better known as the murderous thief Robin Hood - faces terrible vengeance at the hands of those that he and his master have wronged. A family threatened With his beloved wife on her deathbed, Sir Alan[...]
A box set containing three enlightening, comic-book style Introducing Graphic Guides (Consciousness, Mind & Brain and Psychology) to help unlock the greatest mystery of all time - ourselves. Using comic-book style illustration combined with accessible but authoritative text, the Introducing Graphic [...]
'Angus Konstam's gripping account tells the story of this crucial but under-studied naval battle, and explains why the hopes of the German Kriegsmarine went down with their last great ship; only 37 of the German battlecruiser's 1700 crew were saved.' - The Nautical Magazine'Angus Konstam's book is a[...]
"Yangtze River Gunboats, 1900-47".
"Pirate: The Golden Age".
The light cruiser was a natural development of the sailing frigate - a fast multi-purpose warship that could patrol the sea lanes, protect convoys and scout for enemy battle fleets. By the inter-war period the need for this type of ship was even more important, given the increasing need for protecti[...]
The idea of a heavy cruiser emerged in the aftermath of World War I, and was closely linked to the limits set by the inter-war Washington Naval Treaty. The pre-World War I concept of armoured cruisers had been abandoned, but in their stead the Admiralty saw a place for powerful cruisers, able to pat[...]