Coming in January. Pre-Order Now! (Credit cards will not be charged until item arrives in stock.)

Features:
- 72 Pages
- 170 Photos
- 16 color plates

Coming in May 2007. Pre-Order Now! (Credit cards will not be charged until item arrives in stock.)

In this splendid new volume, the British Army comes under the camera lens, particularly units of the 1st (UK) Armoured Division based in Germany. The British Army operates in formations known as Battle Groups (BGs), flexible organizations of infantry and armor that can be rearranged according to the mission at hand. This book by the knowledgeable duo of Tim Matzold and Daniel Nowak examines the BG concept, especially armored BGs.

Supported by a superb range of photographs taken over a period of time during a variety of exercises, "The Armoured Battle Group" provides readers with all the information they would ever need to know about a British Army armored BG. It covers the organization of typical and specific BGs, with a high degree of detail on the various sub-units incorporated into the formation. Naturally, there is a vast amount of detail about the vehicles and equipment used by the British Army. There are full-color pictures of the Scimitar, Spartan, Sultan, Samaritan, Striker, Stormer, JCB tractor, Unipower tank bridge transporter, CET, Terrier, Chieftan AVRE, Chieftan AVLB, Challenger ARRV, Titan, Trojan, FV432, Warrior (including the new BGSV), AS90, and Challenger 2. Obviously, a lot of vehicles that receive excellent coverage!

The book also contains four color plates and two 1/35 scale plans by Laurent Lecocq. This book gives very welcome exposure to vehicles of the British Army, and readers will find a tremendous amount to enthuse over between the covers!

This long-anticipated book traces U.S. military involvement in the nation of Panama in the late 1980s through to the invasion of 1989. It discusses the political and historical background to the American intervention, including President Noriega's increasing bullheadedness and his declaration of "a state of war" existing with the U.S.A. Even before the intervention, Panama was already a major base of operations for the U.S. military, with its troops protecting the strategically important Panama Canal.

This book includes a good introductory description of Operation Just Cause, which was launched on 20 December 1989 by around 13,000 American troops. This was against approximately 15,000 troops of the Panama Defense Force (PDF). Amongst many others, Ranger and Airborne troops were used in the attack, many of them being inserted by helicopters. The focus of this volume is on the personnel and weapons that the American troops carried into battle. These elements are presented in carefully chosen photos of this period of combat. The photos represent the various facets of Operation Just Cause, from the pre-invasion days, to the assault, to combat in Panama City, and ongoing operations to stabilize the country. Infantry weapons are very well covered, plus there are numerous photos of vehicles and helicopters involved in the operation. Both the U.S. and the Panamanian combatants are included in the pictures.

The book also features four color plates produced by the talented artist, Dmitriy Zgonnik. These plates portray members of U.S. units, including a SAW gunner, a rifleman of the 82nd Airborne Division, and an operator from the 1st Special Forces Group. This informative book is jam-packed with intriguing and inspirational photographs. For modelers looking for ideas or those wishing to simply learn more about this "intervention" in Panama, Gordon Rottman's book provides a ready solution!

52 pages, 138 photos, 4 color plates

Waffen-SS at War:(1) The Early Years 1939-1942

One of the most memorable and feared symbols of the German war machine of WWII was the Waffen-SS. The name actually means “Armed” (Waffen) Protection Squads” (Schutz Staffeln), and their “SS” initials were portrayed as runic lightning bolts. The “SS” name reflected the force’s origins as a political unit to protect senior party officials, but of course it was to develop into a powerful combat entity. A total of thirty-eight Waffen-SS divisions were raised during the course of the Second World War, although many of the late-war divisions were of poor quality or were poorly equipped.

The book covers the development of the Waffen-SS from its establishment on 6 December 1939, through to the end of 1942. A second companion volume will trace the Waffen-SS from 1943 through to the close of WWII. The book includes a brief description of how this notorious military organization expanded under the tutelage of Reichsführer der SS Heinrich Himmler. There is a list of the eleven SS divisions formed up till 1942, and a useful table that compares German and U.S. Army ranks and formation names. As suggested by the title of this volume, the majority of the black and white photos portray Waffen-SS soldiers at war. This means there are plenty of good shots showing uniforms, equipment and weapons in the field of combat – all excellent material for figure modelers or military historians. Although not the focus of the book, there are incidental pictures of weapon systems and vehicles in use with SS forces. There are also four high-quality color plates expertly produced by Stephen Andrew. These give readers a glimpse of how uniforms and equipment was worn, and their typical coloring.

The author has added very pertinent and helpful captions to the many photos contained in this book. For those wishing to take a close look at Waffen-SS personnel in action, whether in summer or winter, then this fine new volume will serve readers well. While the emphasis remains on troops serving on the Eastern Front, readers will not fail to find inspiration and enlightenment on various aspects of this important Germany military force of WWII!

52 pages, 131 photos, 4 color plates

Waffen-SS at War:(2) The Late Years 1943-1944

The Waffen-SS grew from a fledgling and untried fighting force in 1939, through to a powerful combat-tested force. The twin “SS” runic lightning bolts were emblazoned on the collar lapels of nearly 247,000 soldiers at the end of 1943, but by 1945 this number had grown to 800,000 men. In all, thirty-eight SS divisions were established, though there was a huge diversity in terms of their equipment, training and combat effectiveness. This volume follows on from the earlier Part 1, which examined the Waffen-SS from 1939 to 1942. Here, the following two years are examined.

The introduction gives a helpful background to this notorious military organization. It also highlights the fact that one reason for its huge expansion was the inclusion of “foreigners” from the large pool of European countries beyond Germany’s borders. “Volksdeutsche” (ethnic Germans) from places like Poland and Hungary were conscripted into the SS, while Germanic and non-Germanic volunteers opted to join the ranks of the Waffen-SS. Whole SS units were formed from volunteers from the Baltic states, Russia, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, even India! In fact the only occupied countries not to provide ethnic troops for the SS were Poland and Greece. As WWII progressed, and as the tide turned in 1943, Waffen-SS troops usually found themselves in the thick of the action. This is reflected in this book’s tremendous assortment of black and white photos that show soldiers operating on both the Western and Eastern Fronts. A wide variety of uniforms and units are presented, all ably backed up by incisive and informative captions.

The book also offers four color plates that allow readers to see the typical coloring and equipment usage of Waffen-SS soldiers serving in such theaters as Italy, France and the defense of the Fatherland. This artwork has been beautifully produced by Stephen Andrew. This second volume is a rich source of ideas and information for anyone interested in this important combat formation. Since the remit of the book covers 1943 and 1944, important battles such as those against the Allies in France and the slow withdrawal across Russia are all vividly portrayed. For a general introduction to the numerous divisions of the Waffen-SS that fought in WWII, then this book is an ideal choice!

Axis Forces in North Africa 1940-43

The Italian campaign in North Africa during WWII is an oft-neglected topic, and is not generally well covered in books. However, this latest volume in the popular Warriors series from Concord goes a long way to remedy the situation. Written by an Italian author, Claudio Antonucci, this book is filled with useful information about Italy's war in North Africa. Not only are Italian forces covered, but German subjects also receive good exposure too.

This volume is unique - it makes a departure from the usual format of Warriors books in that it features a much larger number of color plates. In fact, there are no less than 44 color plates contained between the covers! This makes "Axis Forces in North Africa 1940-43" an indispensable reference for modelers and military enthusiasts wanting a comprehensive understanding of Italian and German uniforms in the North African theater. Each plate is beautifully rendered in full color and sharp detail, with the accompanying text providing a high degree of detail about uniforms and personal equipment on display.

The book does not just include color illustrations, for there is a wide assortment of black and white photos too. Many of these photos will be completely new to readers, and they show off personnel, their uniforms, and weapons to full advantage. Both Italian and German subjects are covered in these photographic sections. The book also begins with a helpful 5-page summary and chronology of the Italian and Panzerarmee Africa campaign in North Africa.

This book covers a topic that is not well known. The author expertly deals with the subject of Axis Forces in North Africa, ensuring that this book is a veritable treasure trove of information about Italian troops.

Barbarians by Newark and MacBride uses battle descriptions, full-color plates and historical accounts to show us the fighting styles, armor and weapons of each Barbarian group - the Saxons, Scythians, Franks and Lombards, to name a few. It is a great source for diorama ideas and is a must-have reference for the historical hobbyist.

Excerpt from the introduction:

"... This book is essentially a military review of the barbarian invasions from the 5th century BC to the 10th century AD in Europe.  In it we see successive waves of barbarian peoples from the Celts and the Scythians to the Vikings and the Magyars.  All these were considered barbaric by their victims who also understood the way they fought as something diferent from their own organised and more formal attitudes to battle.  The barbarian was a hit-and-run warrior. He was not paid to fight, but lived off his loot.  Thus, raiding against soft targets suited his sense of survival more than a clash of hoplites or legionaries. ..."

Concord Publications veterans Newark and McBride take us back to the very beginnings of military history Ancient Armies.  In its pages you will find campaigns, tactics and arms of the earliest organized armies, from the Sumerians and Egyptians through early Rome. You will also find diagrams of ancient helmets and color plates of ancient battle scenes.

Excerpt from the Text:

"... Sumeria stands at the very beginning of military history.  Two ancient Sumerian relics are the oldest evidence of organised warfare.  The Standard of Ur in the British Museum in London and the Stele of Vultures in the Louvre in Paris show soldiers similarly clad in sheepskins or leather cloaks holding long spears and large rectangular shields, fighting together in a phalanx.  These formations were preceded by skirmishers armed with slings and bows and were supported by solid chariots pulled by asses.

It is a way of war that would remain almost unchanged in its essentials-- phalanx, skirmishers, cavalry-- for four thousand years. ..."

March of the Death's Head Division

Author Paul Thomas, a renowned WWII historian, has many books on the German Army to his credit. This book contains many previously unpublished photos, including rare photos taken at the Demyansk pocket during the winter months of 1942. The four color plates by Stephen Andrew are a useful modeler's reference for the uniforms, equipment and weaponry of the Totenkopf soldiers from France 1940, Russia 1941, Poland 1944 and Hungary 1945.

More about the Death's Head Division:
After the Poland campaign, Theodor Eicke transformed the Totenkopfverbande into the Totenkopf Division. The Death's Head Division's first combat experience came in France in May 1940.

The Division was part of the reserve in Operation Barbarossa, but at the Luga Line the Totenkopf fought against fierce Russian resistance. In 1942 the Division suffered heavy casualties in the Demyansk pocket battles. After a re-fit the Totenkopf Division joined other elite Waffen SS units in the battles of Kharkov and Zitadelle in 1943.

The Totenkopf Division would never regain its strength after the fierce battle of Kursk. With the general retreat of German forces in 1944, the Totenkopf fought rearguard actions at Grodno and Warsaw. The Division defended Budapest against the allied advance and finally surrendered to the Americans near Vienna in 1945.

About this title:
This book offers a deeply informative insight into the development of gunpowder weapons and the armies that wielded them with ever-increasing competency. In all there are no less than 22 splendid illustrations. Topics such as uniforms, weapons, tactics and historical details are all there in a readily digestible form, making this an indispensable addition to any military enthusiast’s bookshelf.

The artwork is produced by a variety of artists like Angus McBride, Richard Hook, and features some of the finest military artists in the world today. Major conflicts such as the Baffle of Culloden, the French-Indian War in North America, the American Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and the American Civil War are all included, amongst others.

The popular format adopted in this book provides a full-page colour plate accompanied by a detailed and informative description of the illustration exploring the development of gunpowder weapons.

The history of Gunpowder:
Gunpowder was first discovered and used by the Chinese, but it wasn’t until the 15th century that gunpowder was of a sufficient quality to be used effectively on European battlefields. This new volume examines the use of gunpowder by military forces, and the period of coverage ranges from the mid-16th century to the late 19th century. Included in its compass are both European and colonial conflicts. As gunpowder production became more consistent, the effectiveness of weapons increased, developing from the muskets of the 16th and 17th centuries, to matchlocks and then flintlocks. These again were superseded by rifled barrels.