The Bazooka

The Bazooka
Author: Gordon L. Rottman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 82
Release: 2012-06-20
Genre: History
ISBN: 1849088020

Most belligerents entering World War II armed their infantry with bulky and ineffectual anti-tank rifles as their primary means of combating tanks. US planners realized that what infantrymen needed was a relatively lightweight, man-portable anti-tank weapon that was simple to operate, accurate, and capable of knocking out the average tank at a reasonable range, while also being effective against fortified buildings, pillboxes, and personnel in the open. The bazooka combined a revolutionary new anti-tank rifle-grenade warhead, a much-modified British anti-aircraft rocket motor, and a cobbled-together launcher tube and electrical firing system; its first test-firing astounded observers, and it was immediately adopted by the US armed forces. Featuring specially drawn colour artwork, this engaging study tells the story of the bazooka, which set the standard for future light anti-tank weapons and their ammunition, and was a key influence on anti-tank tactics and techniques in the post-war era.

US Special Ops

US Special Ops
Author: Fred Pushies
Publisher: Zenith Press
Total Pages: 323
Release: 2016-07
Genre: History
ISBN: 076034986X

Military author and spec ops expert, Fred Pushes, profiles weapons, missions, vehicles, and iconic commandos from the eighteenth-century to now.

The Gun

The Gun
Author: C. J. Chivers
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 496
Release: 2011-09-06
Genre: History
ISBN: 0743271734

The author, a New York Times reporter, traces the invention and mass distribution of the AK-47 assault rifle, and its effects on war. He traces the invention of the assault rifle, following the miniaturization of rapid-fire arms from the American Civil War, through World War I and Vietnam, to present-day Afghanistan, where Kalashnikovs and their knockoffs number as many as 100 million, one for every seventy persons on earth. It is the weapon of state repression, as well as revolution, civil war, genocide, drug wars, and religious wars; and it is the arms of terrorists, guerrillas, boy soldiers, and thugs. From its inception to its use by more than fifty national armies around the world, to its role in modern-day Afghanistan, he discusses how the deadly weapon has helped alter world history.

US Marine Infantry Combat Uniforms and Equipment 2000–12

US Marine Infantry Combat Uniforms and Equipment 2000–12
Author: J. Kenneth Eward
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 153
Release: 2012-09-20
Genre: History
ISBN: 178096899X

The US Marine Corps has been a key part of the US presence in a host of combat zones. While sharing some weapons systems with the other US Forces, the Marine Corps has developed its own distinctive approach to matters of dress, personal equipment and armament. The most important trends are a new generation of camouflage clothing, body armor, and night-vision equipment, which have transformed the appearance and capability of the individual rifleman. The men and women of the USMC have been at the forefront of these developments, utilizing innovative items of dress and equipment during their extensive service in a range of challenging environments across the world. Featuring specially commissioned full-color artwork and detailed photographs, this book explores the USMC's key contribution to the development of the combat infantry soldier's clothing and personal equipment in the 21st century.

Day of the Rangers

Day of the Rangers
Author: Leigh Neville
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 379
Release: 2018-09-20
Genre: History
ISBN: 1472824261

A story of equipment failures, bad luck, poor planning and unbelievable courage written 25 years after the battle, this new book by Leigh Neville reveals the hard-hitting truth of what happened minute by minute in the dusty streets of Mogadishu. On October 3, 1993, Task Force Ranger was dispatched to seize two high-profile lieutenants of a Somali warlord. Special Forces troops were transported by ground vehicles and helicopters, and the mission was meant to be over within the hour. They quickly found themselves under heavy fire, and two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. With a hastily organized relief column many hours away, the American troops faced a desperate battle for survival. Focusing on the stories of the soldiers on the ground, and in the air, Day of the Rangers reveals the experiences and recollections of the Special Forces units, including the Rangers, Delta operators and Nightstalker crews who fought in the battle of Mogadishu. Published to mark the battle's 25th anniversary and using recently declassified documents and new interviews with many of the participants, Day of the Rangers is a fascinating and revealing new history of a battle that would influence American Special Forces for decades to come.

Guns of Special Forces 2001 - 2015

Guns of Special Forces 2001 - 2015
Author: Leigh Neville
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2016-03
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781473821064

In the years since 9/11 Special Forces of many nations have been in almost constant action in covert, high risk operations around the globe. These include the two long conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, fighting nationalist insurgents and jihadist terrorists, as well as other lesser known operations. The weapons used by SF are a constant source of interest and speculation, as are SF training, methods and vehicles. The armories of these elite units have developed rapidly to meet their demands and the ever more sophisticated threat. They include for example suppressed piston-driven carbines, programmable grenade launchers that airburst behind hidden enemy and sniper rifles of extreme accuracy and range. This highly researched book gives the reader a privileged insight into this secret world exploring the custom-built weapons that operators carry on capture/kill missions in the 21st Century.

The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad (FM 3-21. 8 / 7-8)

The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad (FM 3-21. 8 / 7-8)
Author: Department of the Army
Publisher: Echo Point Books & Media
Total Pages: 602
Release: 2015-12-31
Genre:
ISBN: 9781626544277

This field manual provides doctrinal framework for how infantry rifle platoons and squads fight. It also addresses rifle platoon and squad non-combat operations across the spectrum of conflict. Content discussions include principles, tactics, techniques, procedures, terms, and symbols that apply to small unit operations in the current operational environment.