Shores, seas and oceans are home to thousands of animals: from the mightiest sharks to jewel-like reef fish and armored crabs. This book provides a guide to marine creatures, using an entry by entry a
From the P-51 Mustang and Supermarine Spitfire to the Yakovlev Yak-3, Messerschmitt Me 109, and Vought F4U Corsair, this comprehensive encyclopedia presents the most important aircraft flown by all th
An illustrated examination of what was arguably the best infantry weapon during World War II: the German MP40. Of all infantry weapons conceived during the 20th century, few were as important as
From a former pilot and military expert comes a superbly illustrated and technically detailed look at an iconic fighter plane: the B-17 Flying Fortress. Designed in the mid-1930s, the Boeing B-
Take an in-depth look at one of World War II’s most famous battleships, the Bismarck—including a gripping account of its final hours. During World War II, much of the Allied fleet w
This authoritatively written, fully annotated, and illustrated guide tells the story of World War II’s most powerful tank: the Tiger. When it first appeared in 1942, the Tiger was the big
A detailed examination of a key World War II-era tank, featuring 70 photographs, fully annotated cutaway artworks, three- and four-view profile artworks, and tables. In the early years of World
Explore every major tank from World War I to the present day. From the crude, unreliable tanks that first appeared on the Western Front during World War I to today’s high-tech machines, these ar
An accessible and informative guide to 300 minerals and gemstones, from simple sandstones to diamond, jade, and sanidine. Discover the fascinating world of the treasures beneath your feet. Each
An authoritative account of the epic clash between two infamous dictators of the twentieth century, Hitler and Stalin, as they vied for supremacy during World War II. Exploring in detail the G
The war in the Pacific between 1941 and 1945 raged across the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean and the whole of Southeast Asia, Burma and India. Millions of men, thousands of aircraft and hundreds of
With detailed demographics, social and economic data, and other key information, this thorough reference is a unique guide to the Third Reich. Packed with hundreds of easy-to-understand maps, g
One of a series of books on the land campaigns of World War II, The Italian Front is a superbly illustrated history of the original ‘second front’ in Europe, including artworks of key materiel and uni
The history of Pan American Airways is, to a great degree, the story of international air transport and, within that, the flying-boat is one of the airliner’s most recognizable aircraft.The Pan Am Cli
The Luftwaffe – the German Air Force – played a crucial role in the Wehrmacht’s blitzkrieg tactics, providing both air cover and air artillery for Germany’s panzer troops on the ground. Germany’s succ
The man who turned the dream of human flight into a reality, in terms of creating a fully realized airship capable of carrying a worthwhile payload in safety, was a retired German army officer, Ferdin
US Marines made an immense contribution to winning the war in the Pacific in World War II, with 458,000 men serving in the Corps. They made 26 successful invasions in the Pacific theatre, during the c
The Third Reich had the most technologically advanced and innovative weapons industries in World War II, with aircraft, tanks and bombs that could match and beat anything else in the world. What is le
What if Nazi Germany had been victorious in World War II? What would the world have looked like? Between 1933 and 1945, Hitler made many plans about transport, architecture, race, forced labor and Leb
The best political weapon is the weapon of terror. Cruelty commands respect. Men may hate us. But we don't ask for their love; only for their fear.'– HimmlerMost people would associate the SS with Hei
With 30 million soldiers and civilians killed, the Eastern Front proved to be World War II’s bloodiest conflict. Drawing on rare photographs from the Ukrainian State Archive, Eastern Front in World Wa
When Europe went to war in 1939 the expectation was that this war would see a repeat of the scenes of 1914–18. However, the Wehrmacht was to change all that. Learning the lessons of World War I, the G
From their humble beginnings as a small, select band responsible for protecting the leader of the Nazi Party, to its million members and 38 divisions by the end of World War II, the SS achieved some o
Ever since it first appeared on the battlefield in World War I, the tank has had an awe-inspiring effect on the enemy. Tank Combat reveals how the tank has developed as an offensive tool over the cour
How to Survive at Sea confronts the daunting scenario of finding yourself isolated miles from civilization when stranded in one of the world's oceans. The book offers the reader a variety of solutions
How to Sail outlines basic sailing techniques for both the beginner and experienced sailor. Whatever your level of ability, this book is packed with useful hints and essential tips that will make sail
Piracy has been a curse of sea travellers and traders since records began. This wide-ranging book looks at the reality of how pirates lived and operated, from the ancient world right up to the pirates
Russian Tanks of World War II is an authoritative history of Soviet armoured forces before 1945, detailing their development, tactics and equipment from the early days of the tank arm in the 1920s, th
"Once the recorder was the first musical instrument that you learned to play at school, but these days the ukulele is becoming the most popular classroom choice. It’s cheap, light, easily portable, su
Crime has been part of human society for centuries. It has been punished in many ways: from banishment to flogging and the death penalty. The History of Punishment reviews the penalties imposed in dif
Death is universal, but each culture has found a different way of dealing with it. This wide-ranging book examines the compelling subject of death, funeral rites and burial in different cultures and s
The earth’s weather system is capable of almost unimaginable destruction. Hurricanes can engulf entire regions with devastating wind speeds of over 100 mph. Tornadoes have the power to lift vehicles p
The SAS is one of the world's greatest military elite units and its soldiers are renowned for their ability to cope when under great physical and mental stress. With this book readers can acquire the
How to Fight Like a Special Forces Soldier is the most in-depth study yet of how trained soldiers kill and wound, and a complete insight into how human beings can be turned into deadly fighting machin
Twice a year, 150 anxious recruits gather at SAS headquarters in the UK, their minds focused on one objective: to become SAS soldiers in one of the world’s most elite regiments. Yet between arriving a
Mammals include some of the most intriguing creatures on the planet: the big cats of Africa, the monkeys that inhabit the trees of the Amazon basin, the whales and dolphins that roam the world’s ocean
Following the ‘Big Bang’, it took the universe billions of years to evolve into the unique system of stars and planets that we know of today. Scientists have studied the planets of our solar system fo
From the penguins of the Arctic to the flamboyant inhabitants of the Amazon rainforests, The World of Birds includes fascinating examples from all of the world’s major bird families.The entries are gr
Do you know your fibia from your tibia? How does the endocrine system work? Why does the body produce saliva? You may be able to vent your spleen, but what does it actually do?In The Human Body, disco
For 150 million years, dinosaurs were the undisputed rulers of the Earth. Today, these great lizards still fire our imaginations. Dinosaurs profiles the creatures who lived during the great Age of Rep
