Francis Crosby – författare

In this new, fully updated edition 2025, expert author Francis Crosby traces the development of fighters from World War I to the present day, and highlights actions in which fighters played a crucial role. The A-Z sections form an illustrated guide to over 170 fighter aircraft. The first covers aircraft from the pioneering days of air fighting in World War I through to the early jets at the end of World War II, and the second focuses on the remarkable advances of post-World War II, mainly jet, aircraft from 1945 to the present day. Specification boxes for each aircraft provide information about the plane's country of origin, first flight, power, armament, size, weight and performance. Also included is a glossary explaining aviation terms. Illustrated with 600 photographs, this is a key reference book for all aircraft enthusiasts.

This impressive, newly-updated encyclopedia is both a fascinating history of aircraft carrier development and a well-documented visual directory of more than 150 of the world’s aviation ships spanning a period of almost 120 years. The book’s coverage follows the definition of an aircraft carrier as “a ship whose primary function is to operate aircraft”, and includes, at one end of the chronological scale, kite balloon ships and airships and, at the other, the many types of modern warships that carry aircraft such as variable-geometry jets, V/STOL aircraft and helicopters. Each directory entry includes a specification panel detailing country of origin, date of commissioning, displacement, dimensions, types of aircraft carried, armament, machinery and performance. All the carriers are accompanied by identification photographs, many of which have never previously been published together in one volume. Illustrated throughout, this book provides both enthusiasts and historians with key information about the world’s aircraft carriers, and is an essential read for anyone interested in naval aviation.An illustrated history of over 150 vessels from Zeppelins and seaplane carriers to V/STOL and nuclear-powered warships, with more than 650 identification photographs. Examines the evolution of the aircraft carrier: the first flights from ships in World War I; developments during the inter-war years and World War II; and the carriers used in Suez, Vietnam, the Falklands, Syria and Iraq. Features the most important vessels in the world, from early ships such as the USS Langley, HMS Furious, the Japanese Navy Hosho and the Italian Navy Giuseppe Miraglia, to the modern carriers of today including USS Gerald R. Ford, HMS Prince of Wales, INS Vikrant, Spanish Navy Juan Carlos I and the PLA Navy Type 001 Liaoning. Specification boxes provide at-a-glance information about each carrier’s country of origin, date of commissioning, displacement, dimensions, types of aircraft carried, armament, machinery and performance. Includes a glossary explaining key military terms and abbreviations.

This meticulously researched and newly updated book charts the complete history of naval aviation, from pioneering days when the first biplanes were catapulted from converted destroyers through to the high-performance jets patrolling the world's seas today. The first part of the book focuses on significant technological advances, including carrier evolution, 21st-century aircraft technology and weaponry, as well as military operations in which naval aviation have played a significant part. There then follows an A to Z listing 130 of the world's most significant naval aircraft. Each plane's description and history is accompanied by a specification box detailing country of origin, first flight, power, armament, size, weight and performance. With its expert information and 670 magnificent photographs, this book provides historians and enthusiasts with key information about the world of naval aircraft.

Updated and extended for the new 2025 edition. Now an impressive 576 pages, this book is an authoritative history and directory of tanks and their immediate derivatives, such as ARVs (armoured recovery vehicles), tank destroyers, command versions, bridgelayers, mine-clearers and other Funnies, and AFVs such as armoured cars, armoured personnel carriers and self-propelled artillery, covering a vast range of wheeled, tracked and semi-tracked vehicles. This unique volume, with over 1200 wartime and museum photographs, brings together the most significant tanks and AFVs in military history. The tank was developed as a means of transporting firepower around the battlefield, while armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) give tactical support to the tank. This book is an authoritative history and directory of tanks and their immediate derivatives, such as armoured recovery vehicles, tank destroyers, command versions, bridgelayers, mine-clearers and other "Funnies". It also explores a wide range of AFVs, such as armoured cars, armoured personnel carriers and self-propelled artillery, covering wheeled, tracked and semi-tracked vehicles. From their first appearance to their present-day roles, the development of each vehicle is discussed in depth. All of the major conflicts around the world are examined, such as the Somme, Blitzkrieg, El Alamein, Kursk, D-Day, Korea, Vietnam, Arab-Israeli conflicts, and the Iran-Iraq and Gulf wars. The book also features substantial A to Z directories of over 400 vehicles, from the world's first tank - the No. 1 Lincoln Machine "Little Willie" - to the contemporary M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank and Varta APC, as well as madcap ideas such as those developed by the British for the Home Guard. This unique volume, illustrated with over 1200 wartime and museum photographs, brings together all the most significant tanks and AFVs that have played important roles in military history.

This record of incredible developments in bomber technology spans over a century of innovation. The book is divided into three sections. The first section deals with the development of bombers and the major conflicts in which bombers have been used, such as the Blitz and Dambusters missions of World War II, and the Libya raids and Gulf Wars of modern times. The second section is a comprehensive A-Z of World War bombers, 1914-45, and the third section focuses on more recent jet bombers and the latest developments in warfare. The use of 'stealth' in bomber technology was also a particularly important development during the Cold War. Each aircraft in the book is listed alphabetically by manufacturer, and is accompanied by a specification box containing information about the country of origin, first flight, powers, armaments, size, weight and performance. This fully updated illustrated reference book, with its easily accessible information, is perfect for enthusiasts in the subject.

From Aristotle's description of a submersible chamber and experiments with an underwater capsule by Alexander the Great, inventors have pursued the dream of undersea travel. This fully illustrated book follows that dream, starting with examples of the earliest attempts to travel beneath the waves through to the very latest vessels at sea today. Beginning with a detailed history of the submarine, the book charts the events of more than 120 years of development, a period that saw global production for two World Wars and the threat posed by the Cold War, where opposing superpowers jostled for supremacy through the awesome capabilities of their armaments. The section concludes with an overview of modern nuclear-powered vessels, which are capable of circumnavigating the world 40 times without having to refuel, and which carry in a single boat more explosive power than all the bombs dropped during World War II combined. The second part of the book is a guide to over 150 submarines from around the world, providing an in-depth look at the sheer inventiveness and genius of the submarine builders. Specification panels for each submarine are included, detailing country of origin, length, displacement, speed, armaments, propulsion and complement. The book is illustrated with over 700 historical and modern photographs, and provides both enthusiasts and academics with key information about the world's submarines. It is an essential guide for anyone interested in naval history and warfare.An illustrated guide to over 150 submarines from around the world, including the Holland boats, Lusitania, Thetis, Torby, Seraph, Truculent, Thresher, Seawolf, Kursk and many more. Charts over a century of submarine development, from the earliest attempts to travel beneath the waves, two World Wars and the Cold War, through to the formidable machines in operation today. Specification boxes provide at-a-glance information about each submarine's country of origin, length, displacement, speed, armament, propulsion and complement. Features more than 700 historical and modern photographs illustrating each type of submarine, plus artworks of selected examples. Includes fascinating quotes from military leaders and a glossary explaining key naval terms and abbreviations.

This is a complete A-Z directory of bombers, from the early attacks of 1914 through to the Blitz, the Dambusters and the atomic bomb raids. It includes over 300 identification photographs from some of the world's greatest aviation libraries. It features the Gotha bombers of World War I, the Ju 87 Stuka dive-bomber of the Spanish Civil War, the Heinkel 111 of the Blitz, and the Boeing B-29 Superfortress that dropped the first atomic bomb in 1945. It includes detailed information about country of origin, first flight, power, armament, size, weights and performance. This outstandingly researched and authoritative book begins with a history of bombers, from the early experimental aircraft that dropped bombs by removing a pin or a piece of string, through to the history-making atomic bomb raids that ended World War II. A substantial A-Z guide covers 65 major aircraft, including the British Handley Page 0/400, the North American B-25 Mitchell, and the Japanese Yokosuka D4Y Suisei.With over 300 identification pictures, including many rarely seen wartime photographs, this brilliantly illustrated book provides enthusiasts and historians with key information about the great bombers of the two World Wars.

This fully up-to-date reference book provides an authoritative overview of the military helicopter. It begins with a detailed history, from the ideas of Leonardo da Vinci through to the tilt-rotor aircraft that have operated with coalition forces in Afghan-istan. The book continues with an A-Z directory covering over 80 helicopters from the most famous manufacturers including Aerospatiale, Agusta, Bell, Boeing-Vertol, Eurocopter, Kamov, Robinson, and Sikorsky. The origins, development and operation of each type are clearly described, and a specification panel gives key performance and dimensional data. This informative book is superbly illustrated with cutaway drawings and over 500 photographs showing helicopters both on the battlefield and in service.

Wars are decided definitively through the occupation of an enemy’s territory. This is a task for military forces, which may have to be transported by sea. This creates the conflicting requirement for ships sufficiently large to undertake lengthy voyages, together with craft small enough to put an army and its equipment on to a beach that may be defended by a determined enemy. In the sailing navy, ships landed military contingents in special “flatboats”, the direct descendants of which were the 1940 landing craft assault vessels (LCAs), carried by an infantry landing ship. In these were typified the two major categories of amphibious warfare vessel: the “ship”, travelling from shore to shore, and the “craft”, moving from ship to shore. This book, in an expanded and updated new edition, details the development of amphibious warfare and, using historical examples, illustrates ts great range of scale, from covert raiding operations to full-scale invasion. It highlights the many coordinated activities necessary for a successful operation, from surveying and minesweeping to fire support, fighter direction and tri-service control. An illustrated directory of landing ships covers the ocean-going vessels that transport personnel, cargo, or vehicles. A second directory then features landing craft, the majority of which, depending upon voyage length, will have been transported aboard specialist ships. World War II saw basic ramped craft joined by tracked amphibious vehicles. The imperatives of the nuclear age have seen the introduction of helicopters and high-speed air-cushion landing crafts. Illustrated throughout, this book is a lively and engaging guide to amphibious warfare and is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the subject.Charts the complete history of amphibious warfare, including operations in Gallipoli, Dieppe, the Pacific, Normandy, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, Vietnam, the Falklands, and the Middle East. Features a directory of landing ships, describing conventional personnel and cargo carriers, well deck “dock ships”, and multi-function ships accommodating helicopters, landing craft, military personnel, their vehicles, and equipment. and amphibious tracked landing vehicles of World War II to present-day, high-speed air-cushion crafts. Also includes a directory of landing vessels, from the ramped beaching crafts and amphibious tracked landing vehicles of World War II to present-day, high-speed air-cushion crafts. Specification boxes accompany each entry detailing displacement, size, armament, machinery, power, fuel, endurance, protection and crew complement. Over 600 historical and modern photographs illustrate each type.

A pictorial record of D-Day using unseen front-line action shots reproduced directly from negatives held by the Imperial War Museum, each one portraying the emotion of that most famous invasion. The book follows the invasion as it develops using lengthy captions to describe the action portrayed in each photo and an introduction puts D-Day into its historical perspective.

World War Two Luftwaffe aircraft and their pilots have been a source of fascination and respect to aviation buffs since 1945. This book looks at all aspects of its operation in many World War II theaters. A great majority of photographs are unlikely to have been seen by the general public and they have been superbly reproduced directly from original negatives held by the Imperial War Museum.Lengthy captions describe the action portrayed in each photo and an introduction puts the Luftwaffe into its historical perspective.

Features a directory of over 120 aircraft with 500 identification photographs.

This title features over 300 aircraft with 1200 wartime and modern identification photographs. It describes all the truly classic aircraft, such as the Spitfire, Messerschmitt Bf109, Heinkel He111, F-14 Tomcat, MiGs, B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. It covers the history of fighters and bombers, their technology and role in major conflicts around the world, including the first fighter aces, early bombing raids, Blitzkrieg, the Battle of Britain, the Dambusters, the Cold War, the Falklands and the Gulf Wars. Specification boxes for each aircraft provide at-a-glance information about their country of origin, first flight, power, armament, size, weights and performance. It includes glossaries of aviation terms and abbreviations. These two superb books trace the development of fighter and bomber aircraft from the early pioneering days through to the sophisticated machines of today. Fighters focuses on aircraft designed to attack and destroy other aircraft, and is brimming with information about planes such as the Bristol Fighter, Spitfire, P-51 Mustang, MiG-15, Hunter, Harrier and F-14 Tomcat.Bombers looks at military aircraft that are designed to drop bombs on enemy targets from the air, and includes the atom bomb-carrying Boeing B-29s and stealth bombers. These splendidly illustrated books provide enthusiasts and historians with key information about the world's greatest military aircraft.

This is a complete reference guide to over 65 years of military helicopters, from the first types deployed in World War II to the specialized aircraft in service today. It includes all the famous manufacturers such as Bristol, Saunders-Roe and Westland from the UK; Bell, Boeing-Vertol, Hiller, Hughes, Kaman, Piasecki, Robinson and Sikorsky from the USA; Kamov and Mil from Russia; and manufacturers from around the world, such as Aerospatiale, Agusta, Denel, Eurocopter, HAL and PZL. It features cutaway drawings, an A-Z directory and over 500 photographs, including rare images from archives, museums and private collections. Specification panels provide information detailing each helicopter's name, country of origin, date first flown, power, armament, size, weight and performance. This substantial reference book provides an authoritative and highly illustrated overview of the military helicopter. It begins with a detailed history, from the ideas of Leonardo da Vinci through to the tilt-rotor aircraft that have operated with coalition forces in Afghanistan. The book contains an A-Z directory covering over 80 production military helicopters in detail.The origins, development and operation of each type are clearly described, and a specification panel gives key performance and dimensional data. This informative book is superbly illustrated with cutaway drawings and over 500 photographs showing helicopters both on the battlefield and in service.

This title covers the history, origins and evolution of bomber aircraft, from the first planes to the powerful jet bombers of today. It features the Avro Lancaster, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortess, Heinkel He111 and many others from World Wars I and II. It features sophisticated and powerful jet bombers of the modern age, including the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Panavia Tornado and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. Specification boxes for each aircraft provide at-a-glance information about the planes' country of origin, first flight, powers, armaments, size, weight and performance. It features facts and anecdotes about major battles throughout the century, and a glossary explaining key aviation terms and abbreviations. It contains over 750 photographs from some of the world's best aviation and military photolibraries. This record of incredible developments in bomber technology spans over a century of innovation. The book is divided into three sections. The first deals with the development of bombers and the major conflicts in which bombers have been used, such as the Blitz and Dambusters missions of World War II and the Libya raids and Gulf War of modern times.The second section is a comprehensive A-Z of World War bombers, 1914-45, and the third section focuses on modern jet bombers and the latest developments in warfare. This fully illustrated reference book with its easily accessible information is perfect for every enthusiast or war historian.

This is an A-Z directory of all the major naval aircraft since 1945, including jet-engined fighters and strike aircraft, carrier-borne AEW aircraft, V/STOL aircraft, and helicopters. This title examines the history and evolution of naval aircraft from the immediate post-World War II period to the present, with special reference to Korea, Vietnam, the Falklands War, Libya, Top Gun, and future developments in modern naval combat. It features all the best-known modern planes and helicopters, such as the F/A-18, Fairey Gannet, Grumman A-6 Intruder, Super Etendard, Buccaneer, Westland (Sikorsky) Sea King, and many more. It includes specification boxes which provide at-a-glance information about each aircraft's name, country of origin, first flight, power, armament, size, weight and performance Naval aircraft - aircraft that are able to launch from and land on ships - have played an ever-increasing role in conflict. By the end of World War II, the aircraft carrier had become a mighty warship, and naval aircraft were designed specifically for carrier operations. This illustrated reference book charts the history of naval aviation from the end of World War II to the present day, focusing on the conflicts in which naval aviation played a significant part, such as Korea, Vietnam and the Falklands War. It also discusses 21st-century developments and improvements. An A-Z directory of 55 aircraft, each listed alphabetically by manufacturer, describes the main characteristics of each plane. A useful glossary containing definitions of key aviation terms is included. With its lively narrative and 330 photographs, this authoritative volume provides historians and enthusiasts with key information about the naval aircraft of this key period in history.