Böcker utgivna av Helion & Company

Explores Early Modern Southeast Asian warfare, blending war elephants, firearms, sieges, and cultural traditions.Elephants and Gunpowder presents for the first time a chronological, detailed and richly illustrated account of the development of warfare in mainland Southeast Asia during the Early Modern Period. It begins by describing the region's medieval military inheritance that was dominated by the use of war elephants. Firearms began to appear during the late fourteenth century and would be used alongside elephants and cavalry in a long series of wars between Burma (Myanmar) and Siam (Thailand). Exciting sieges and dramatic naval combat are also discussed along with much fascinating material about beliefs in omens and divination and the impact of foreign mercenaries. While cannons re around them elephants act as mounts for noble hand-to-hand combat, as living battering rams to use against city gates and, in the form of the precious and much coveted white elephant, as both an excuse and a pretext for war itself. The text is complemented by a large number of carefully selected photographs, maps and specially commissioned artwork that present the arms and armaments of the Southeast Asian warrior and his elephants in a way never seen before.​​

After the Peace of Westphalia, several German states developed a disciplined 'military' that produced outstanding armies. Germany supplied mercenary troops to major and minor powers across Europe, and the military state, usually exemplified by Prussia, became a crucial part of German history.However, 'Germany' appeared weak and was divided into a multitude of states that constantly faced a hostile environment created by belligerent great powers. Additionally, the German 'militaries' were the result of a system of collective security, internal conflict and resolution that allowed a rich variety of political traditions to coexist relatively harmoniously. This system tried to preserve 'Germany' against formidable attacks without making it a threat to the security of its neighbours. In contrast to the political culture of later German states, that of the Reich was inherently defensive, preferring peace to war in both domestic politics and external relations. This study deals with the armies of the Holy Roman Empire for the first time in a single book from extensive research in archives across Germany and using previously unpublished iconography.This third and final volume of Bruno Mugnai's monumental work on the German armies of the late seventeenth century explores how armies recruited troops and further reviews the armed forces of the myriad of states within 'Germany'. The author examines the conflicts that involved the German armies during the second half of the seventeenth century. The book concludes with extensive appendices that contain a wealth of material on orders of battle, regiments, and the specifics of armies hiring troops to foreign states.

Dr. Opiyo Oloya's The Best Army Doesn't Wear Kilts offers a compelling exploration of the professionalization of Uganda's People's Defence Forces (UPDF). Drawing on the extraordinary transformation of the National Resistance Army (NRA) from a rebel group in south-central Uganda in the 1980s into a globally respected military force, this book distills ten universal lessons for organizational success.From the NRA's disciplined approach to resourcefulness and its strategic emphasis on education, adaptability, and community engagement, Oloya unpacks the guiding principles that shaped this army's journey to professionalization. With a keen focus on leadership, organizational culture, and resilience, the book highlights how a shared vision and adherence to core values transformed a fledgling movement into a force recognized for operational excellence across Africa.Rich with historical detail, Oloya contextualizes the NRA's evolution within the broader legacy of Ugandan armed forces and colonial histories, drawing parallels that resonate with modern organizations navigating complexity and change. Whether dissecting the importance of branding, the cultivation of discipline, or the need to embrace innovation and learn from past mistakes, Oloya offers a roadmap for leaders across industries.A must-read for business leaders, strategists, and history enthusiasts, The Best Army Doesn't Wear Kilts demonstrates how the principles underpinning military success can be applied to drive organizational growth and sustain competitive advantage. In a world of rapid change and uncertainty, this book inspires leaders to think boldly, act decisively, and build enduring institutions.

For four days in early 1991, Royal Navy Lynx helicopters buzzed low around the Shatt-al-Arab marshlands of southern Iraq. They were searching for the Iraqi fleet, and whenever discovered their hulls became targets for cutting edge smart munitions. This British-led operation, termed the Battle of Bubiyan, sank the majority of the Iraqi fleet.When Commodore Paul Haddacks led his task force into the Persian Gulf, such successes were far from certain. The sailors of the Royal Navy had been made by the Falklands Conflict and unique among the coalition fleet, they alone had experienced large scale modern naval warfare. The narrow stretch of water the Pentagon tasked Commodore Haddacks with securing bristled with coastal anti-ship batteries, labyrinthine floating minefields and Iraqi fast attack craft, evoked harsh memories of San Carlos Bay. Whilst other fleet commanders were confident, those of the British fleet were concerned. Volume 1 of Between Sand and Sea: Royal Navy Operations from the Gulf War to Qaddafi 1990 - 2011 examines how the Royal Navy exceeded these challenges and came out of them with a new confidence in a remade world.The First Gulf War is the first of three conflicts that will be covered by this series that will also examine 2003's Second Gulf War and 2011's Libyan War. Across three volumes the story of a navy in transition is told. A fleet that in 1991 was neglected, repeatedly downsized and filled with mid-century vessels, became a modern and dynamic force by 2011: a reborn Royal Navy redesigned for expeditionary warfare in the American Age. Each volume is extensively illustrated with contemporary photographs, and specially commissioned maps and colour artworks.

A study of the last 100 years of conflict suggests that air power dominates warfare. Air power was successfully applied in the Spanish Civil War, First and Second World Wars, Vietnam War, Six Day War, Yom Kippur, Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Afghanistan 2003 and Libya. John Warden, asserts 'Those who have air power overwhelm those who do not; those who do not have it spend their energies trying to get it, thwart it or escape it.' Air power will be a decisive factor in the outcome of future wars. As China flexes its muscles an understanding of the challenges facing the PLAAF is crucial for India and the world at large. A study of the operational capabilities of the IAF and the PLAAF has not previously received a systematic and a rigorous assessment.The literature on the operational dynamics of PLAAF and IAF during a war remains sparse and underdeveloped despite a large and growing volume of work on overall Chinese military capabilities. Understanding both the IAF's and the PLAAF's history, organisation, culture and weapons systems and their trajectory into the near future are important for assessing their capabilities for fighting wars.In the context of the escalating Sino-Indian rivalry, this work sets out to examine how the PLAAF and IAF would perform in a conflict; the nature of air power disparity between India and China, and whether the existing numerical disparity between India and China give China a clear and incontestable advantage.Air Power in the Indo-Pacific sets out to understand the interaction between the crucial determinants of modern warfare such as technology, strategic advantage in high altitude warfare, streamlined organisation, leadership, weapons platforms, combat experience, force structures, doctrinal and operational concepts, training, geography, weather and distance to better understand the war fighting capabilities of the IAF and PLAAF.Air Power in the Indo-Pacific: Indian Air Force and People's Liberation Army Air Force Capabilities into the 2030s brings about an understanding of China's past and present approaches to air power and provides a crucial baseline for assessing future challenges. It provides a qualitative assessment of the IAF and PLAAF weapons systems and platforms and battle preparedness. Rare historical anecdotes and insights pertaining to air power and China are examined. The book's comprehensive assessment of the forces that drive the PLAAF is a critical reading for anyone trying to understand air power in the Indo Pacific region and aims to change the way the world looks at the PLAAF.This volume is illustrated throughout with original photographs, and specially commissioned colour artworks and maps.

Renatio et Gloriam is a set of tabletop miniature rules that allows you to fight large-scale battles from the Renaissance. It brings to life the epic battles between the formidable armies of Louis XIV and the resolute forces of the League of Augsburg.Renatio et Gloriam: The Sun King's Wars contains list for European armies from 1640 to 1699, including - Bourbon France, Habsburg Austria & Spain, the Dutch Republic, Palatinate-Zweibrücken Sweden, Brandenburg-Prussia & Orange-Nassau England.Renatio et Gloriam: The Sun King's Wars offers a deep dive into one of the most captivating eras of European warfare. Command legendary generals, outmanoeuvre your opponents, and alter the course of history. Are you ready to uphold the grandeur of Louis XIV or defend the balance of power with the League of Augsburg? The choice is yours!

The medieval English longbow has been the subject of considerable debate. The English Longbow - Investigating a Myth will draw out the arguments concerning it and produce a balanced and convincing summary. The book opens with a detailed description of the weapon system - the bow, arrow, and arrowheads. The origin of the longbow has been much discussed and the Shortbow-Longbow conundrum is examined in depth. The longbow's capabilities and effectiveness are evaluated using recent research allied to contemporary accounts. The part the bow played in the 'Infantry Revolution' and the longbow's relationship with the crossbow are covered.The longbow could only be employed in war if the monarch could mobilise the resources needed to manufacture it and if English society could provide the strong-backed archers able to use it. These issues are investigated, including a consideration of the legal and societal framework needed.The English Longbow - Investigating a Myth is an honest appraisal of the longbow. It is not a book of battles but one that describes how the bow was used, sometimes successfully and sometimes not. It provides a comprehensive and balanced assessment of what was and remains the weapon that made Britain.

Confrontation of Kings presents, for the first time in English, the largest battle of the war of the Swedish Deluge (1655-1660). During three days of fighting, the Swedish-Brandenburg Alliance faced the combined Polish, Lithuanian, and Tatar armies. It was a clash between Western and Eastern styles of warfare, but it was also a clash between the irreconcilable Polish and Swedish monarchs, John II Casimir and Charles X Gustavus, over hegemony in the Baltic region. This is an in-depth study of the battle based on contemporary sources, including previously unpublished archival materials, many of which were written by soldiers who took part in the struggle. In addition, Confrontation of Kings provides full details on the dissimilar military systems of Sweden, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Brandenburg-Prussia, and the Tatar Khanate of the Crimea, with detailed reconstructions of the organisation and strength of the armies that confronted each other at Warsaw. The book will equally appeal to enthusiasts of military history and professional historians. The authors present new research on a war previously seldom described in English, describing the battle from the perspective of both sides. As well as examining the wider picture of the previous campaigns in Poland and the events that led up to the battle itself.

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 4 covers in great detail the 61st to 104th Regiments of Foot within the army of King George the Third 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 of the men, 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 4 alone contains around 1,000 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. Volume 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.

For the first time, the detailed course of events has been reconstructed and the reasons for the defeat of the Russian army are analysed. This account is based on the author's own observations and first-hand interviews with hundreds of Ukrainian participants in the battle as he found himself cut off and surrounded in the city of Chernihiv during the crucial first months of the war.War in Ukraine Volume 10: The Battle of Chernihiv, February-March 2022 is extensively illustrated with the author's own photographs of these pivotal events, along with specially commissioned colour artworks and maps.

Soviet military doctrine long placed great emphasis upon the use of massed artillery and its use was honed to a fine art during the Great Patriotic War. In the early part of the Cold War this arm was allowed to atrophy in an era where it was expected that nuclear weapons would dominate the battlefield from the outset. During the 1960s, 70s and 80s however the Soviet artillery arm underwent a renaissance and large numbers of the resulting generation of weapons systems were passed on to the inheritor states of the USSR in the 1990s.While Russia was able to maintain its Soviet-legacy artillery systems, and introduce some new developments, Ukraine was much less able to do so and in particular lacked the levels of ammunition reserves and manufacturing capability of Russia. Inevitably, Ukraine turned to the West and began to receive weapons and ammunition from NATO and allied nations.Despite the critical role gun artillery plays in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, the technical aspects and histories of the individual artillery systems used by both sides have received relatively little attention in English, where they are often lumped together as generic 'artillery'. This book aims to rectify this deficiency in the accessible literature and examine the major tube artillery systems and mortars employed by both sides in this conflict.War in Ukraine Volume 9: Artillery 2022-2024 is illustrated throughout with original colour photographs and the @War series signature colour artworks.

Military aviation in Spain in 1936 consisted of a small number of outdated and obsolete aircraft. With the outbreak of war countries such as Italy, Germany and the Soviet Union saw an opportunity to test and develop different types of aircraft that were supplied to the two sides. The aid provided to the warring sides was not limited to aircraft however and included pilots such as the Germans who fought with the Condor Legion for the Nationalists.Experience of the air war in Spain would also be carried forward and used to develop the tactics and doctrines that would be successfully employed in the early years of the Second World War, including the use of air bridges, close air support coordinated with ground troops and large-scale aerial bombing of industrial and civilian targets.This volume describes the main actions of the early phases of the war and the personalities and aces involved in those actions. The Spanish Civil War in the Air: Volume 1, 1936-1937 is extensively illustrated throughout with original photographs, illustrations of the badges and insignia of the participants, and includes the @War series signature colour artworks.

This work is one of the first published histories to examine this battle in its entirety, from the dramatic heliborne assault on Hostomel to the mauling of Russian units fleeing encirclement during Ukraine's counteroffensive. Drawing from a synthesis of newly available Ukrainian and Russian accounts and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) gathering, Volume 8 builds upon the work conducted in Volumes 2, 5, and 6 to provide a richer and more comprehensive picture of the Russian axes of advance on Kyiv and their eventual defeats.The opening events of the operation are recast in the light of contemporary evidence, revealing new aspects of the controversial Ukrainian counterattack against Hostomel Airport late on 24 February 2022 for instance, whilst many previously unsung engagements of the subsequent fighting are detailed herein for the first time.This volume, extensively illustrated with full colour photography, maps, and original artworks of the soldiers, vehicles, and aircraft involved, will be enjoyed by any individual interested in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

The events of the 1798 Rebellion are still very much all around us. In many ways, the Rebellion, its campaign and aftermath, set the tone for political relations on the island of Ireland for centuries to come. It has been seen as a formative event in the creation of the Irish Republic and has been used as a 'rallying cry' within nationalism - and a 'cautionary tale' within unionism - ever since.Yet, it was so much more than this. It was a seemingly localised insurrection, but it came at a perilous time when Britain seemed almost alone in combating the ideals and war aims of Revolutionary France. The danger of an independent republican Ireland on its doorstep, spreading radicalism across the British landscape, became obviously apparent as similar organisations (such as the United Englishmen and United Scotsmen) appeared. Consequently, the 1798 Rebellion is a vitally important campaign, not only in an Irish national context but from a pluralistic British perspective as well.Whilst the actual rebellion was brutal and short, it had long-lasting repercussions. For some involved, their campaign ended in transportation to the colonies or on scaffolds, whilst others found themselves in redcoats, fighting alongside their former enemies - or in other nation's armies continuing their own personal war.Using exciting and gripping primary sources and accounts, combined with existing archaeological and topographical evidence, With Deadly Slaughter hopes to place a fresh perspective on, as Thomas Paine called it, the '...times that try men's souls'.

Britain carried out many amphibious operations during the long-eighteenth century, ranging from raids to the landing of whole armies. British Amphibious Warfare 1739-1815 provides case-studies of some of these operations, and explores why their outcomes ranged from great successes to major disasters, with no obvious long-term learning curve. Many of the mistakes at Cartagena in 1741 were replicated at Walcheren in 1809, condemning soldiers in both campaigns to lingering deaths from fever. Between the two we find successes including Louisbourg (twice), Quebec, Belleisle, and Charleston, and the textbook landings at Aboukir Bay in 1801 that delivered Abercromby's army to Egypt, but also failures at Lorient, St Cast, Ostend, New Orleans and elsewhere. What factors ensured that some expeditions succeeded where others failed? What lessons were learned along the way, and why were they not consistently applied thereafter?British Amphibious Warfare 1739-1815, built on papers presented at the 2023 From Reason to Revolution conference but also bringing in additional contributors and material, provides an overview of Britain's amphibious operations from the early part of the eighteenth century to the close of the Napoleonic era, an examination of the earliest attempts to develop amphibious doctrine by Thomas More Molyneux, and a series of case-studies that examine both successes and failures. Case studies include: Cartegena 1741, Louisbourg 1745, Lorient 1746, Belleisle 1761, the Delaware River 1777, Charleston 1780, Ceylon 1795-1796, Aboukir Bay 1801, Walcheren 1809, and amphibious raiding in the Adriatic during the Napoleonic Wars.

The strong survived. Nearly 800 men followed the famous 'fighting parson, ' Colonel Peter Muhlenberg, into the Continental Army in 1776. Few of them remained at the end of the war. Meticulously researched and accurately told, this is the story of the Last Men Standing.In colonial times, thousands of German and Irish immigrants settled in Virginia's western reaches. The 8th Virginia Regiment was conceived as a way to recruit them. Men from Pittsburgh to Tennessee were collected into ten rifle companies and sent into some of the hardest service of the war. Only a few remained for the final victory at Yorktown.Historians once said The Last Men Standing could not be written. Neville was challenged by a librarian at the David Library of the American Revolution to uncover the story. 'It's out there, ' the librarian said. 'You just have to find it.' The Last Men Standing is the result of many years of research in distant archives, small museums, private collections, and other sources. Neville likens the project to a jigsaw puzzle or a treasure hunt. The Last Men Standing traces the lives of immigrant children from the terrors of the French and Indian War, through the Revolution, to the settlement of the American frontier. Historians will appreciate Neville's use of little-known sources, attention to neglected incidents, and reinterpretation of major events at Sullivan's Island, Germantown, and Monmouth. Every reader will enjoy the story.

Generals Auchinleck, Slim and Savory and their role in the campaigns in Northeast India and Burma (Myanmar) have been largely forgotten in the historiography of the Second World War. Prime Minister Winston Churchill sacked General Claude Auchinleck as Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) in the Mediterranean and Middle East theatre after the First Battle of Alamein. However, Auchinleck became C-in-C India for the remainder of the Second World War. In this role, he was essential in making sure the Indian Army was geared towards jungle warfare, but also improved the lot of both Indian officers and men not least by improving pay and conditions.General William Slim is perhaps better known as the successful commander of the 14th Army who also wrote one of the best books on the war: Defeat into Victory, an apt description of the campaign in Burma. He was a popular commander and referred to as General 'Bill' Slim by the British and Indian soldiers who served under him. Auchinleck and Slim both became Field Marshals after the war. Major General Reginald Savory played an essential role as the Director of Infantry from 1943 until the end of the war. He made sure that all infantry battalions and training establishments across India were trained for jungle warfare. His was a forgotten role that until now has not been documented. He retired as a Lieutenant General having been Adjutant General until the Independence of India and Pakistan in 1947.The appointments of Auchinleck, Slim and Savory in 1943 were an important factor in the eventual defeat of the Imperial Japanese Army in Burma. It helped that the key figures in Indian military affairs were, for the first time in the war, all drawn from the Indian Army and thus understood the traditions and ways of the Indian Army.