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Explores the controversial 1944 destruction of the Montecassino Abbey, questioning the motives behind such wartime decisions and their enduring impact on military ethics.On 15 February 1944, one of the most iconic buildings in European history was destroyed by allied bombers. Plumes of Smoke is a book about the consequences of war, written as war again comes to Europe. It is also a book about what wars are fought for, and about those that make the fundamental decisions that affect us all. The decision to destroy the Abbey of Montecassino was and remains highly controversial. Why was this building of inestimable cultural value so easily destroyed? Was it to win a battle, or to prove the legitimacy of American bombing theory? It is not a story of individual bravery, although this existed aplenty on both sides in the mud and mountains of 1944 Italy, but a story of a battle that has no winners and no heroes. This is a story from 80 years ago that resonates clearly through the decades. In a time filled with arguments concerning the laws and morality of war, this story from the last major war in Europe may lead the reader to understand that little changes. Military Necessity remains the principal excuse for unnecessary devastation. When nations or generals are faced with difficult decisions, when winning becomes more important than the reasons they fought for in the first place, then legal and moral boundaries are often forgotten in the fog of war. It appears that little has improved over the succeeding decades when political convenience trumps moral courage and the importance of our human heritage.

Since formation in 1957 the Army Air Corps has played a prominent role in almost every British Army operation in modern times. Ops Normal is an unrivaled and comprehensive operational history of the Army Air Corps experience. It is a unique insight into the aircraft deployed, and the experiences of the men and women involved.Volume 1 of Ops Normal is exceptional as it draws generously on the testimony of those who were deployed on the early operations. Aircrew and Groundcrew provided critical aviation support to the full spectrum of flying operations in the most hazardous environments, often under fire. It also captures the pace of change and turbulence as the small embryonic corps of aviators evolved into the fully fledged combat arm of today.Ops Normal covers operations in Malaya, Borneo, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Kuwait, Aden, British Guiana, Belize and in Northern Ireland. It uses previously unpublished material, thought-provoking first-hand accounts coupled with contemporary unit records, and many unpublished images. The result is a fresh and compelling history of a Corps that though diminutive in numbers, rank as one of the most potent in the British Army's order of battle.Ops Normal is the only complete and authorized account of British Army aviation operations undertaken by the Army Air Corps. It is a fitting tribute to all who wore the sky blue beret and especially those that made the ultimate sacrifice. It is also a testimony to those that survive with the physical and mental scars of their service.

A comprehensive history of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) from its inception in 2004 until replacement in 2007 by UNAMID.A comprehensive history of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) from its inception in 2004 until replacement in 2007 by UNAMID.In response to the ongoing civil war in Darfur that began in 2003, the African Union deployed a peacekeeping force to the region in 2004. Initially just 150-strong, this force would grow to some 7,000 by the following year.Peacekeeping in Darfur: The AMIS provides a comprehensive history of AMIS I, II and III, the context to the conflict in Darfur and the various participants. It further describes the support provided by the European Union and the eventual transition of AMIS into UNAMID (African Union - United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur) in 2007. The author brings his personal experience of operations as part of AMIS and the role of the Hungarian Defence Forces to this book.Peacekeeping in Darfur: The AMIS is extensively illustrated by the author's own photographs taken while participating in the mission and includes specially commissioned artworks.

A modern history of the 46th Division and their evolution in combat effectiveness and reexamining historical interpretations of key figures and events.This groundbreaking modern history of the 46th (North Midland) Division draws upon a vast array of largely neglected sources from a variety of archives, and challenges some comfortable assumptions. University historians' increasingly positive views of Haig are challenged by primary evidence of his own blatant willingness to change his mind to protect his promotion prospects. The overall theme is of how the ordinary Tommies of 46th Division learnt to fight more effectively and ultimately stormed the Hindenburg Line. In dealing with the Somme, the book effectively rewrites our understanding of Third Army's experience; the book demonstrates that Middlebrook was mistaken in accepting the claim by Major General Stuart-Wortley that he was sacked for saving his men from further slaughter. That chapter concludes with the evidence of young subalterns, bringing to life moments in history that illuminate a generation's experience of the carnage of war. All previous large-scale studies have focused on elite units, but this book follows this un-fancied, often belittled, division along the learning curve of the British Army. The book therefore develops the view put forward in studies of the Canadian Corps, and reflected in modern biographies of leading commanders, that the British Army gradually developed the system of "bite and hold". The poignant chapter on a "Shot at Dawn" and the concluding chapter on the poor postwar treatment of the many miners make this book more than a purely military history by linking the First World War to its social, political and economic context.

Recent research reveals the New Model Army's reliance on a centralized supply system from London, challenging the plunder-focused view.The orthodox view of modern writers that armies of the 17th century relied more upon plunder and free quarter is highly pervasive, yet more recent research suggests that during the British Civil Wars there were increasing changes to this custom. The creation, politics, religious identity, officer corps and military campaigns (especially the Battle of Naseby) of the New Model Army, commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax, have been the focus for various writers, nonetheless, little attention has been paid to the supply and logistics of this force. The result has been a critical gap in the understanding of the recruitment, victualling, ordnance, ammunition, clothing, arming, and logistics employed by the Committee of the Army in both the initial establishment of the New Model and its subsequent campaigns. The methods of sustaining this military force of up to 17,000 men in the field necessarily called for a largely centralised system which operated at an increasingly physical distance from London and the army's headquarters at Reading. Hence, this study challenges the prevailing view that Fairfax's troops increasingly relied upon local sources during 1645 and 1646, rather than an organized system of supply from London manufacturers and other commercial means. Hence, this highly relevant and important topic adds significantly to our knowledge of the supply, strengths and appearance of the New Model, and will appeal to academics, local historians, re-enactors and wargamers.

During the English Civil War, Newark held immense strategic value as a crossing over the River Trent before the Humber estuary. Dubbed the 'Key to the North', it stands at the intersection of two major highways. This new military history, incorporating fresh research, marks the town's first comprehensive account in a century.The Duke of Newcastle sent Sir John Henderson, an experienced soldier, with 4,000 Horse to secure the town for the King in December 1642 and turn the town into a secure royalist garrison. It was to remain under royalist control, in spite of three sieges through until May 1646, when it was ordered by Charles I to surrender on terms.Over the period of the first Civil War it was visited separately by Charles and his Queen, Henrietta Marie with their substantial accompanying armies, tripling the population of the town. During the second siege (1644) Prince Rupert achieved one of his greatest victories of the war by not only breaking the siege, but also inflicting a crushing defeat upon the parliamentarian forces besieging the town.

Explores the official attire, weaponry, and equipment of French colonial troops in North America (1683-1760) through detailed illustrations and rare artifacts.Frontier Soldiers of New France examines the official and regulation dress, weapons and equipment of the regular colonial troops maintained by the French government in North America from 1683 to 1760, including unpublished information with a focus on new illustrations, line drawings, and photos of rare portraits and surviving artefacts from public and private collections.This volume is the first of a series of three that will present all the regular forces that served in New France from 1683, when the first permanent garrisons of royal troops arrived, to September 1760. Many North American military campaigns of that era have been, and continue to be, covered in countless history books. The purpose of this work is, however, to be the first to present in detail the organisation and especially the material culture of all military participants, be they generals or private soldiers. There have been some sections of books, usually brief, and articles devoted to organisation, armament, dress, and equipment previously published. The aim of this work is to present a complete record of these aspects.To achieve this goal, three veteran researchers have consulted primary documents preserved in archives and collections on both sides of the Atlantic during the last half century and have united their efforts to produce a wide-ranging and as accurate as possible record. The result is often intriguing and attractive, both in the regulation uniforms worn by officers and soldiers that might be seen by onlookers at frontier forts as far as the known world (to Europeans) or at fortresses such as Québec and Louisbourg. The weapons and equipment were usually somewhat distinctive. They had weapons, clothing and equipment that became specially adapted to North America's wilderness, thanks to their First Nations allies, be it in the primaeval forests crisscrossed by great rivers and lakes or at the great central plains, which will be covered in volume 2. Volume 3 will be devoted to the battalions detached from the French regular metropolitan army commanded, from 1756, by Montcalm who led an arguably heroic resistance against overwhelming British and American forces. They, too, had surprising aspects of material culture; for instance, the battalions that came in 1755 had different uniforms in Canada than their regulation dress in France.The work is illustrated with period paintings and prints, as well as museum-quality artwork by internationally acclaimed military artists lauded for accuracy combined with fine art. Indeed, some works have already graced academic publications and displays in museums and historic sites.

Reexamines 18th-century warfare, highlighting enlisted soldiers' adaptability, tactical influence, and pivotal battlefield roles.Infantry in Battle rewrites the story of combat in the eighteenth century by placing enlisted infantrymen and their experiences at centre stage. While popular memory and film portray these men as robotic automata they fought in flexible and adaptable ways, and they left their mark on eighteenth-century warfare.In Infantry in Battle, Dr Alexander S. Burns provides a new understanding of combat during the mid-eighteenth century: the pivotal period between 1733 and 1783. Professor Burns arguesthat eighteenth-century soldiers informally negotiated authority with their officers on the battlefield by firing without orders, firing at longer ranges than their officers preferred, and by taking cover on the battlefield. In this process, these enlisted men played an important role by asserting tactical reforms from below.Infantry in Battle is grounded in archival research on the American, British, and Prussian armies. However, it also covers the armies of military Europe more broadly, and includes writings from Austrian, French, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish soldiers. It is also the first English-language book to utilize archival material on battles from the War of Polish Succession in Northern Italy.Infantry in Battle is a scholarly monograph, but one written with a popular audience in mind. Like his mentor, the late Christopher Duffy, Professor Burns has longstanding connections to professional military education as well as wargamers and reenactors. Cutting through myth, we see motivated enlisted men who were capable of adapting their tactics to the needs of the battlefield, rather than terrorized automata firmly controlled by their officers.'The American researcher Alexander Burns is of a new generation, thoroughly at home with European archives and culture.' - Christopher Duffy

King George's Army: British Regiments and the Men who Led Them 1793-1815 will contain five volumes, with coverage given to army administration and cavalry regiments (Volume 1), infantry regiments (Volumes 2, 3 and 4), and ordnance (Volume 5). It is the natural extension to the web series of the same name by the same author which existed on The Napoleon Series from 2009 until 2019, but greatly expanded to include substantially more biographical information as well as biographies of leading political figures concerned with the administration of the army as well as commanders in chief of all major commands.Volume 3 covers in great detail the 31st to 60th Regiments of Foot within the army of King George III for the period of the Great War with France; and the men who commanded them. Regimental data provided includes shortform regimental lineages, service locations and dispositions for the era, battle honours won, tables of authorised establishments, demographics of the field officer cohorts and the men, and even sources of recruits from the militia. But the book is essentially concerned with the field officers, the lieutenant colonels and majors who commanded the regiments, and Volume 3 alone contains over 900 mini-biographies of men who exercised such command, including their dates of birth and death, parentage, education, career (including political), awards and honours, and places of residence. Volumes 4 and 5 will extend the coverage to ultimately record over 4,500 biographies across more than 200 regiments.These biographies will show the regimental system in action, officers routinely transferring between regiments for advancement or opportunity, captains who were also (brevet) colonels, many who retired early, some who stayed the distance to become major generals and beyond. Where it has been possible to accurately ascertain, advancement by purchase, exchange or promotion has also been noted.Readers with military ancestors will no doubt find much of interest within, and the author hopes that the work will allow readers to break down a few 'brick walls'; either through connecting to the officers recorded, or through an understanding of the movements of the regiments around the world, or from the volunteering patterns of the militia regiments into the regular army.Encyclopaedic in scope, and aimed to be a lasting source of reference material for the British army that fought the French Revolution and Napoleon between 1793 and 1815, King George's Army: British Regiments and the Men who Led Them will hopefully be a necessary addition to every military and family history library for years to come.

Napoleon's army was born from the multiple French revolutionary armies. These were a merger of the old royal troops and a mix of volunteer and conscripted units. Raw recruits filled with patriotic enthusiasm marched forward alongside royal veterans and rogue adventurers eager for loot. By 1799, the French armies had been battle-tested and hardened. They provided the human material with which Bonaparte put an end to the revolutionary wars and prepared for his future imperial successes.The bewildering array of uniforms worn by the revolutionary soldiers is much less documented than those of their imperial successors. In 1943, Henry Boisselier produced a series of 56 plates providing a broad coverage of the troops which fought from 1792 to 1799.Citizens to Arms! presents this series with comprehensive comments for each plate as well as a discussion on the artist, the sources he used and the citizens, men and women, who answered the call to arms. It fills a gap for anyone with an interest in the 1792-1815 period and its uniforms.

Over the last decade Yemen has been the scene of warfare involving the employment of advanced air delivered weapons of Western origin by Saudi Arabia, of insurgent warfare conducted by al-Qaeda, of improvised 'technicals', and of ballistic missiles. As a result of this ongoing conflict, Yemen has become the scene of what the United Nations have described as one of the worst ongoing humanitarian disasters of modern times and in which tens of thousands of people have died and millions have been displaced.At the time of writing Yemen has again attracted international attention as tensions in the Red Sea grow following Houthi attacks on international shipping and the consequent responses of the USA and Great Britain.In Unfinished War: A Journey through Yemen's Civil War, Egyptian photojournalist Asmaa Waguih takes us on a remarkable visual tour of Yemen, once thought of as a beautiful and mysterious land that was the realm of the Queen of Sheba, with over 150 full color photographs contrasting scenes of everyday life for the people of this nation with the effects of an ongoing conflict between rival Yemeni factions, regional powers and their proxies.

Presents firsthand accounts from British 1st Airborne Division veterans, RAF aircrew, and XXX Corps during Operation MARKET and the Arnhem evacuation.Airborne to Arnhem Volume 3 is the final volume of reminiscences of the Battle of Arnhem, Operation MARKET, 17th- 26th September 1944 published by Helion and Company. The three volumes contain over 150 personal accounts received from veterans of the 1st Airborne Division alongside those from RAF aircrew and XXX Corps.The study is the culmination of over forty years of research concentrating on the British 1st Airborne Division's role in the capture of the north end of the Arnhem bridge and the subsequent fighting around the Oosterbeek perimeter and the eventual evacuation across the Neder Rijn.Volume 3 completes the accounts from members of the 4th Parachute Brigade with 156 Parachute Battalion and the 4th Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers. In addition there are reminiscences from members of 250 (Airborne) Light Composite Company, Royal Army Service Corps responsible for collecting supplies dropped by the RAF.The Royal Artillery, both 1st Airborne Division and 2nd Army in the form of the 1st Airlanding Light Regiment, RA, the 1st Forward Observation Unit, RA and the 64th Medium Regiment, RA, XXX Corps are covered in detail. Interspersed throughout are additional accounts from Glider Pilots including those that delivered the glider contingent of the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade and an account from the 3rd Polish Parachute Battalion dropped around Driel.Finally the volume covers the major contribution to the entire operation made by the Royal Air Force including 38 and 46 Groups and the fighter aircraft tasked with ground support and resupply cover.After nine days under siege, the evacuation of the survivors of the 1st Airborne Division is first covered with the disastrous diversionary attack by the 4th Battalion, Dorset Regiment and the withdrawal itself with accounts from members of the 553 and 260 Field Companies, Royal Engineers, XXX Corps who were tasked along with their Canadian fellow engineers to evacuate the survivors across the Neder Rijn.Each volume in the series contains extensive chapter introductions to provide the reader with a background to the events described by the participants themselves. The entire series is lavishly illustrated with wartime and post-war photographs, many in color with detailed accompanying maps illustrating the positions of the units involved at various stages of the battle.

The utilization of air power by the Communist regime in Russia during the revolutionary period and civil war to control its territories in Central Asia is an intriguing aspect of military history often overlooked in Western narratives. The region, which bordered Iran, Afghanistan, and China, and included the ancient cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, held strategic significance for both the Russian Empire and the subsequent USSR. Attempts to impose Russian or communist ideologies on the indigenous tribal populations clashed with deeply rooted Islamic traditions, leading to resistance movements such as the Basmachi uprising.The Basmachi insurgency, viewed as defenders of traditional tribal values by the local populace, was perceived as mere banditry by the Russian and Soviet authorities. Policing such vast and challenging terrain, where environmental conditions posed significant hazards alongside armed opposition, necessitated innovative approaches. Consequently, the Soviets turned to air power as a means of controlling these remote regions.Despite inventive tactics, the aircraft employed by the Soviets in Central Asia during the inter-war period were often outdated, worn-out, or repurposed from other theaters of operation. This reliance on obsolete or marginal aircraft highlights the resource constraints faced by the Soviet military during this tumultuous period.Soviet Military Aviation in Central Asia: 1917-41 offers a detailed exploration of the inter-war use of air power in Soviet Central Asia, drawing from Russian-language sources and photographic archives. The book provides insights into the challenges faced by the Soviet military in maintaining control over the region, accompanied by rare photographs and unique color artworks depicting the aircraft utilized during this era. Through this lens, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of military strategy and conflict in Central Asia during the early twentieth century.

In a Raging Inferno is the first English-language book ever to recount the story of the Hitler Youth and its combat role at the end of World War II. During the desperate final months of the Third Reich boys (and girls) as young as ten were thrown into action against the advancing British, American and Soviet armies, frequently fighting with a fanatical and suicidal fury.The author spent many years collecting material and interviewing veterans of the Hitler Youth combat units. The result is a fascinating - and sometimes disturbing - account, packed with eyewitness accounts and rare photographs. In addition, well-known military artist Stephen Andrew has produced 4 superb pages of color uniform plates.

Air Power and the Arab World, 1909-1955 Volume 10 continues the story of the men and machines of the first half-century of military aviation in the Arab world. It tells the story of the first two weeks of the first of the Arab-Israeli Wars - also known as the Palestine War - in May 1948. Whilst part of an ongoing series, this volume stands alone as a history of the period covered.By that time, in Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan, newly-independent Syria, Lebanon, and, to a lesser extent, Saudi Arabia, significant efforts had already been made to strengthen these countries' armed forces. Where Egypt, Iraq and Syria were concerned, these efforts included a determination to improve or, in the case of Syria, to establish their air forces. All three air forces were thrown into the First Phase of the Palestine War and, in the view of most subsequent commentators or historians, they had failed to perform as well as their government and populations had expected. However, closer investigation and the removal of layers of propaganda which have obscured the realities of this first Arab-Israeli War show that the Arab air forces performed better than is generally realized. Arguably, they had their limitations and weaknesses, and these had also become apparent as the fighting intensified and losses began to mount. All this was always clearly pointed out in Arabic sources, both official and unofficial, unpublished, or published only with limited circulation.Volume 10 of Air Power and the Arab World focuses on day-to-day events on the ground, in the air and at sea during this hard-fought phase. It does so in remarkable detail because the authors have accessed previously unpublished Arab official military documents supplemented by translations from Arabic books and articles containing official and personal accounts by those involved. Perhaps the most remarkable such source is the Operational Diary of the Royal Egyptian Air Force's Tactical Air Force based at al-Arish in north-eastern Sinai.Air Power and the Arab World, 1909-1955 Volume 10 is illustrated by abundant photographs from previously unused, or very rarely used, private and official sources, and includes specially commissioned color artworks.

The Caring General is the first published biography of Sir Harold Goodeve Ruggles-Brise. Born to the distinguished family of Spains Hall, Essex, he was an outstanding soldier who saw active service in South Africa and on the Western Front in the Great War. Harold married into one of the most famous aristocratic families in Scotland by taking as his wife Lady Dorothea Stewart Murray, oldest daughter of the 7th Duke of Atholl. Drawing extensively on their previously unpublished letters and diaries, The Caring General paints a vivid picture of army life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the battlefield and the home front.Born in 1864 Harold attended Winchester College and went up to Oxford. He excelled as a sportsman, particularly as a cricketer, playing for MCC, Essex and winning an Oxford Blue. Harold was a Grenadier, being commissioned into 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards and whilst stationed in Bermuda became a friend of Prince George of Wales. Lady Dorothea accompanied her husband on his posting to Gibraltar although he was soon to sail for South Africa as Brigade Major, Guards Brigade. This was Harold's first experience of war and he distinguished himself on and off the battlefield. His letters are detailed and candid, covering some of the most significant characters and actions in the war. With mentions in dispatches and staff appointments with 9th and 11th Divisions behind him, Harold returned home and was awarded the Queen's Medal with seven clasps.At home, Harold was to mastermind the military element of Queen Victoria's funeral before promotion to Colonel, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards. He went on to hold the prestigious position of Commandant at the Hythe School of Musketry where our soldiers received outstanding training in the use of rifle and machine gun. The trumpet of war sounded in 1914 and Harold headed for Belgium in command of 20th Brigade, part of the famous 7th Division. In late 1914 they found themselves near Ypres, heavily outnumbered by German forces. During brutal fighting 20th Brigade suffered appalling losses, the Grenadiers being decimated. Harold was stretchered off the battlefield with near fatal wounds.After a painful recovery Harold commanded and trained 40th (Bantam) Division and headed for France. His letters describe life in the trenches near Lens, trench raids, the ruined Somme landscape and attacks on key German positions. Returning home he commanded 73rd Division Home Forces before returning to France in 1918 as Haig's Military Secretary. It fell to Harold to inform Sir Hubert Gough that he was being relieved of his command. Lady Dorothea served in a Voluntary Aid Detachment and her letters to Harold contain fascinating accounts as varied as her witnessing a fatal air raid on Hythe and having tea with the wife of Napoleon III.In retirement Harold dedicated himself to supporting veterans, becoming General Secretary of The Officers' Association. Harold died in 1927 having lived by both the motto of Winchester College, 'Manners Makyth Man' and Sandhurst, 'Serve to Lead'.

"These volumes provide a detailed and nuanced account of the April 1974 coup, with a surprising emphasis on the multifaceted role of airpower in its success. Extensive bibliographies and notes make them useful to serious historians. There are copious photographs throughout, as well as large sections of full-color drawings." - The Journal of the Air Force Historical FoundationIn March 1974, a climate of conspiracy reigned in Portugal. Premier Marcello Caetano, insisted on the continuation of the Portuguese presence in Africa and the wars being waged against the liberation movements in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea. Costa Gomes and Spínola, Portugal's two most senior generals, did not share this view. Spínola, with Costa Gomes's permission, had published Portugal e o Futuro (Portugal and the Future), a book that questioned the policy that had been followed until then, and caused a major political earthquake throughout Portugal and its colonies.At the same time, a movement of young captains prepared the overthrow of the regime. Tired of the war in Africa and the government's inability to solve the overseas problem, the conspirators drew up plans to end the dictatorship and establish a democratic regime in Portugal. A first coup attempt on 16 March 1974 was neutralized by government forces, but the second attempt on 25 April was an overwhelming success. In under 24 hours, the insurgents controlled the streets of the capital and Marcello Caetano was surrounded by rebel forces. With no options remaining, Caetano would hand power to General Spínola, who would become the new leader of the emerging regime. The people took to the streets of Lisbon to give red flowers to the soldiers, earning these events the name of 'The Carnation Revolution.'Carnation Revolution Volume 2: Coup in Portugal, April 1974 offers a detailed account of the intertwining political and military events of March and April 1974 in and around Lisbon as power swung irretrievably from a dictatorial government to a military intent on ending the colonial wars in Africa and restoring democracy to Portugal. This volume is illustrated throughout with original photographs and includes specially commissioned color artworks.

The importance of land transport vehicles within an armed force is often underestimated by the average reader, attracted by more 'martial' subjects such as tanks and artillery. Nevertheless, it was thanks to motorcycles, cars, trucks and tractors that - since the early years of the twentieth century - men, weapons, ammunition, provisions, fuel, equipment and orders were transported, all elements without which AFVs, guns and infantry are unable to fight.This first volume opens with a historical and technical introduction to the civil and military motorization in Italy from the 1920s to the end of the Second World War. This is followed by chapters dedicated to motorcycles, cars and light trucks. Each subject is described through its history, technical evolution and specifications, all supported by numerous contemporary photographs.The second volume includes the remaining chapters dealing with medium and heavy trucks, artillery tractors, special-purpose vehicles and trailers. The main text is complemented with appendices on vehicle coloring and markings, manufacturers, production facts and further details.It is common opinion that the Italian Army was beaten above all because of the poor quality of its combat vehicles. Actually, impartial and in-depth studies, made since the end of the war, have revealed that the main problem was the shortage of vehicles, as well as an entirely insufficient logistics chain. The tank crews were able to compensate with bravery and experience for the fact that their tanks were, from a certain point on, inferior to those of their enemies, but the inadequate number of AFVs and other material was impossible to remedy. The same problem plagued the entire sector of military soft-skinned vehicles, a sign of Italy's limited industrial capacity (and of procurement of raw materials and components) compared, for example, to its ally Germany. There were too few factories, too few skilled workers, and poor management skills within the armed forces.However, if quantity was lacking, the same cannot be said for quality. Many models of efficient, robust and resistant vehicles were produced, especially in the sector of the so-called 'standardized' motor vehicles, such as those mentioned above and others that we will see. These vehicles allowed the Italian troops to move and fight in the large and difficult territories of North Africa, the Balkans and the Soviet Union and which brought home what was left of the defeated soldiers.This is the first English-language study describing the soft-skinned vehicles of the Italian Armed Forces, starting from the 1930s, when Mussolini's Italy faced some colonial conflicts and participated - albeit unofficially - in the Spanish Civil War, and throughout the Second World War. For each vehicle there is a file describing its evolution and the main technical aspects, accompanied by one or more photographs and, for the most significant examples, line drawings. The work is enriched by a historical introduction, various appendices and color profiles.