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A history of the Merkava, or Chariot - the first tank designed and built by the Israeli Army. It was heavily armoured and packed a powerful 105mm main gun backed up with a digital fire control system and laser range-finder. The Merkava first saw action during the 1982 invasion of Lebanon.

An illustrated analysis of the heavy artillery of the American Civil War, detailing the development and usage of the guns and including contemporary reports of the guns in action. It features eight pages of colour artwork showing guns such as the famed Parrott Rifle and Columbiad.

The PzKpfw IV, covered in this volume, was as integrated support weapon and was supplied to various allies of Germany during World War II. It last saw active service during the 1965 "Water War" between Israel and Syria. Technical points and two-page annotated cutaways illustrate the book.

One of the most sophisticated armoured fighting vehicles in the world, the M2/M3 Bradley is the United States equivalent of the British Warrior, combining the role of personnel carrier with the formidable armament of a 25mm cannon and TOW anti-tank missiles. With a maximum road speed of 66kmh it also has a degree of manoeuvrability dreamed of by other armoured vehicles. In this book Steven Zaloga examines the different variants of the Bradley in detail and looks at the changing tactical requirements of the US Army for an armoured personnel carrier.

The M1 Abrams was the most radical departure in US tank design since World War II. Until the advent of the M1 in the early 1980s, the US Army had relied on the steady evolution of the M26 Pershing tank, through the M46, M47, M48 and M60. The M1 design came at a time when there were a host of important new tank technologies coming to fruition, in terms of structure and weaponry: these were integrated into it. This book details the design, development and operational use of one of the world''s best main battle tanks.

An account of the activities and capabilities of the US armoured vehicles used in World War Two. The volume is number 30 in the NEW VANGUARD series.

An account of the history and development of German armoured cars and recce vehicles used in World War Two. The volume is number 29 in the NEW VANGUARD series.

The Panther medium tank was produced to counteract the threat of the Soviet T-34/76 which outclassed the Panzer in battle during the invasion of Russia in 1941. Rushed into service at Kursk, it proved to be one of the best all round tanks of World War II.

The M8 light armoured car was the only significant wheeled combat vehicle used by the US Army in World War II. This title describes the design and development of the M8, the many variants that were produced during World War II and afterwards, along with a survey of its operational use.

Provides reference material for the modelling and tank enthusiast, with a computer generated cutaway of the SdKfz 251/1 Ausf. C. The author deals with the development, modifications and variations on the original models and with the tactical training and organisational aspects of the tanks deployment. In the NEW VANGUARD series.

In the NEW VANGUARD series. Information on the Panzer III, the workhorse of the German armoured units throughout the early years of the Blitzkrieg victories. Includes technical interest details and an annotated cutaway as the centrepiece.

The German assault gun was originally designed for infantry support but changing conditions on the battlefield forced it to adapt to other roles, notably as a tank destroyer. This volume details the gun's technical development, illustrated with a two-page annotated cutaway.

At the end of World War I the German Navy came up with the concept of the pocket battleship. This title covers the three sister ships - the "Deutschland", the "Admiral Graf Spee" and the "Admiral Scheer" which formed the core of the Kriegsmarine's fighting power at the start of World War II.

The Covenanter (which never saw active service) and Crusader Cruiser tanks were developed between 1939 and 1940. The Crusader first saw action in the North African desert in June 1941: its speed and sleek design made it a hard target to hit, and the tank was well-respected by the Afrikakorps for its velocity in combat. But its hurried development prior to World War II also made it prone to mechanical failure. This book examines the Covenanter and the many variants of the Crusader tank, detailing the designs, developments and disappointments of these infamous World War II tanks.

The Matilda was the principal British infantry tank in the early years of World War II. It served with the BEF in France and later in North Africa, where it earned the title ''Queen of the Desert''. Outclassed by increasingly powerful German anti-tank weapons, it still remained a power in the South-East Pacific, and was kept in service until the end of the war by Australian forces. In this title, David Fletcher deals with Marks I to V. Development and operational history are discussed, along with service in other countries, including Germany and Russia. Numerous variants are also covered, including the prototype ''Hedgehog'' bunker-busting weapon.

A history of the US M3 halftrack, one of the most successful infantry vehicles in the history of armoured warfare, which came to symbolize the Allied armed forces of World War II, which also saw service in the post-war era. The book describes its development and combat history since the 1960s.

The last of Britain's infantry tanks, the Churchill, fought in every major battlefield from the sands of North Africa, through France and Germany to the rugged hills of Korea. A detailed double page full cutaway shows the internal workings of the tank.

A history of the mainstay of Allied armoured units in World War II, the Sherman tank, whose simplicity, reliability and manoeuverability made it the most widely used tank of the war.

As World War II entered its later stages and Germany was forced increasingly onto the defensive, the need for fast-moving mobile forces lessened and the Wehrmacht required better protected and more powerfully armed tanks. After debacles against the T-34, Hitler and the Panzerwaffe were determined not to be unprepared again. The result of this determination was the production of the heaviest and largest tank to see combat during World War II, the Tiger II or Konigstiger (Kingtiger). This title examines this formidable weapon, covering the problems and controversies surrounding its design and production as well as a detailed listing of every unit that was equipped with the Tiger II.

Describes the T-72, the first high-quality Soviet main battle tank which provided the backbone of the Warsaw Pact armies and also equipped Saddam Hussein's Republican Guards. A detailed double page full cutaway is included.

The Sturmgeschutz was one of the most numerously produced and effectively deployed of the German armoured vehicles. Total production of the Ausf G alone was close to 7000 vehicles. This book reveals how they provided the backbone of Germany's armoured forces in every theatre and on every front.

This work examines the history of the KV series of Soviet tanks. It describes its development and combat history, and includes contemporary photographs and detailed colour plates and cut-aways.

The author of this work has had access to de-classified material on the part the Challenger tank played in the Gulf War. Originally developed for the Iranian army in the mid-1970s, the British were reluctantly forced to accept it themselves after the revolution in 1979.

The Iosef Stalin tanks were the ultimate heavy tanks developed by the Soviet Union and were popularly called 'Victory tanks' due to their close association with the defeat of Germany in 1945. Yet in spite of their reputation, the Stalin tanks emerged from a troubled design, had a brief moment of glory in 1944 and 1945, and disappeared in ignominy after 1960. This title covers the events contributing to the Soviet Union's need to design the new series, with particular reference to the unsuccessful KV series and the advent of a new generation of heavy German tanks including the Tiger. It also covers their development, operational history and myriad variants.

Describes the first of Germany's heavy tanks, the Tiger, which was a devastating combination of armour and firepower. When it entered service its 88mm gun outclassed every other tank it faced. A detailed double page full cutaway of the tank is included.

West Germany began full production of the Leopard 2 tank in 1977. Since that time, like its predecessor, the Leopard 2 has undergone modifications as well as being exported to various European countries. This volume contains declassified reports of the tanks performance in Bosnia.

A detailed technical and operational history of the USA's main post-war tanks throughout the 1950s. The author covers all the internal workings of the vehicle and presents a thorough analysis of their service records with the US and more than 25 other nations.

With points of technical interest on the German Light Panzers this book provides reference material for the modelling enthusiast, with an annotated cutaway. In the NEW VANGUARD series.

An exploration of the British Napoleonic Ship-of-the-Line. It covers some of the most famous individuals and ships of the day, such as Nelson, Cochrane, HMS Victory and HMS Indefatigable. There is also a catalogue of all British Ships-of-the-Line from 1792 to 1815.