Special and elite forces

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.

This study takes the reader through the distinct stages of training and acceptance, including the Ranger Indoctrination Program and Ranger Battalion training, and details the developments in weaponry, equipment and clothing since the early 1980s.

This title follows one recruit through commando, raiding and amphibious training in Scotland, and into action.

The Great Patriotic War began on 22 June 1941, when the Germans invaded the Soviet Union.

On the night of December 7, 1942, five canoes were launched off the mouth of the Gironde river, each containing a pair of British commandoes tasked with slipping into the port of Bordeaux and destroying as many of the merchant ships as possible.

This study takes the reader through the distinct stages of training and acceptance, including the Ranger Indoctrination Program and Ranger Battalion training, and details the developments in weaponry, equipment and clothing since the early 1980s.

When the Great Patriotic War began many women volunteered for the armed forces, but most of them were rejected.

This title follows one recruit through commando, raiding and amphibious training in Scotland, and into action.

The Great Patriotic War began on 22 June 1941, when the Germans invaded the Soviet Union.

The Imperial Japanese Navy's Special Landing Force units enjoyed a reputation out of proportion to their small size.

A brilliant but little-known operation, the Shimazu clan raid on the independent kingdom of Ryukyu (modern Okinawa) in 1609 is one of the most extraordinary episodes in samurai history - the culmination of centuries of rivalry between the two powers.

The Imperial Japanese Navy's Special Landing Force units enjoyed a reputation out of proportion to their small size.

Italian military historian Pier Paolo Battistelli examines the elite and special-forces units of the Italian Army during World War II.

Filled with recently declassified material, first hand accounts, and unique photographs, this book offers a rare look at the largest mobilisation of Special Forces in recent history.

In September 2000 the notorious militia gang, 'West Side Boys' kidnapped eleven British soldiers in Sierra Leone and Operation Barras was launched as the rescue operation.

Italian military historian Pier Paolo Battistelli examines the elite and special-forces units of the Italian Army during World War II.

In the darkest days of World War II, the British planned a daring airborne operation to capture the secret of the new German radar.

On the night of December 7, 1942, five canoes were launched off the mouth of the Gironde river, each containing a pair of British commandoes tasked with slipping into the port of Bordeaux and destroying as many of the merchant ships as possible.

A detailed, step-by-step account of one of the greatest war-time raids that helped to ensure the Allied success on D-Day.

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.

A brilliant but little-known operation, the Shimazu clan raid on the independent kingdom of Ryukyu (modern Okinawa) in 1609 is one of the most extraordinary episodes in samurai history - the culmination of centuries of rivalry between the two powers.

On 27 January 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.

The Israeli Special Forces' operation at Entebbe goes down in history as one of the most audacious counter-terrorist assaults ever conducted.

For 5 days in May 1980, the world watched as the SAS performed a daring raid on the Iranian Embassy in London.

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.

World War II is often seen as a confrontation of technology tanks and aircraft, artillery and engineering.

Despite all technological advances, final mastery of any battlefield depends upon the tight-knit group of footsoldiers trained to manoeuvre, shoot and dig in.

This second of two selections of Germany's World War II field commanders summarizes the careers, and illustrates the appearance, of 26 men who rose to prominence in the Waffen-SS, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe.

This second of two selections of Germany's World War II field commanders summarizes the careers, and illustrates the appearance, of 26 men who rose to prominence in the Waffen-SS, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe.

World War II is often seen as a confrontation of technology tanks and aircraft, artillery and engineering.

Despite all technological advances, final mastery of any battlefield depends upon the tight-knit group of footsoldiers trained to manoeuvre, shoot and dig in.

The Late Roman Empire was a period of significant change in the designs of standards and in the costumes of standard-bearers.

The Late Roman Empire was a period of significant change in the designs of standards and in the costumes of standard-bearers.

In the age of modern warfare the changing landscape of the 21st century battlefield has demanded a transformation within the US Marine Corps Special Operations.

In the age of modern warfare the changing landscape of the 21st century battlefield has demanded a transformation within the US Marine Corps Special Operations.

The German Army of World War II was the first to fully realise the benefits of using airborne troops alongside armoured formations.

A detailed, step-by-step account of one of the greatest war-time raids that helped to ensure the Allied success on D-Day.

The German Army of World War II was the first to fully realise the benefits of using airborne troops alongside armoured formations.

From the earliest planning stages of the German counter-offensive in the Ardennes, Hitler was convinced of the importance of taking the Meuse bridges.

From the earliest planning stages of the German counter-offensive in the Ardennes, Hitler was convinced of the importance of taking the Meuse bridges.

Intrigue, espionage, and deception.

Intrigue, espionage, and deception.

A TLS and a Prospect Book of the YearA revelatory, explosive new analysis of the British military today.

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.

The Ninja were the secret agents and assassins of feudal Japan and they remain a subject of enduring fascination.

The origins of what would become the German General Staff of the late 19th and 20th centuries - probably the most professional military machine in the world - can be traced to the Prussian Army of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

The first book to address the subject of German paratroopers for the figure modeller, this detailed guide covers painting, superdetailing, and conversion techniques from simple to advanced.

The Ninja were the secret agents and assassins of feudal Japan and they remain a subject of enduring fascination.

On 27 January 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.

The Marine Corps began World War II with less than 66,000 officers and men.