Simon Dunstan – författare

From 1943 the British began the design of a tank that bore distinct similarities to the German Panther tank.Designed as a Universal Tank, the design emerged in mid-1945 as the Centurion, used in action by the British Army in 1991 during the Gulf War. It has also seen action with the Israeli Defence Forces, the Indian Army in the wars with Pakistan and the Australian Army in Vietnam.This book details all the variants of the Centurion used in these conflicts as well as covering the specialised variants used by the British in the Gulf War.

An insight into the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the British Army's most successfull post-war tank, The Centurion is significant in the history of British armoured fighting vehicles as well as being one of the most important post-war Western tanks. Introduced into British Army service in December 1946, versions of Centurion were still serving with British forces in the Iraq War of 2003, some 58 years later. Centurions have also seen combat in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, in the Middle East wars, and in the Indo-Pakistan War (1965) where it fought against US-supplied M47 and M48 Patton tanks. The Haynes Centurion Tank Manual is published in association with the Tank Museum and has been written with full access to the museum's Centurion collection., Author: Simon Dunstan is an author, filmmaker and photographer who has written more than 50 books on military history to his credit. He is the author of The Centurion (1980) and Centurion vs T-55 (2009). He lives in London.

Beginning in World War I with the introduction of the steel helmet, this book charts the development of protective equipment for soldiers and security forces.Initially body armour was seen as a military luxury that could be ill-afforded. However, the success of ‘flak suits’ as worn by some bomber crews during World War II convinced the armed forces of the need to develop protection for the ground soldier against small arms fire. The scientific development of the modern flak jacket is traced as are the field trials conducted in Korea and later Vietnam.Extensive illustrations and photographs accompany the text.

The Border War saw the biggest armoured battles in Africa since World War II.Starting as a counter-insurgency operation by the South African Defence Force (SADF) against the South West Africa People’s Organisation, South Africa became embroiled in the complex Angolan Civil War, where they came up against enemies well supplied with equipment and armoured vehicles from the Soviet Union.With the aid of stunning illustrations and photographs, this study details the characteristics, capabilities and performance of the wide variety of armoured vehicles deployed by the SADF, from the Eland armoured car to the Ratel infantry combat vehicle and the Olifant tank. Designed for the unique conditions of the region, South Africa’s armour was distinctive and innovative, and has influenced the design of counterinsurgency armoured vehicles around the world.Frequently requested by Osprey readers, and written by two renowned experts on armoured vehicles, this will appeal to all those interested in modern armour and the Cold War proxy wars.

French experience with armour in Indo-China dated back to 1919, when it sent FT-17s to the colony, followed by a variety of armoured cars.After World War II, French troops were equipped with a motley collection of American and cast-off British equipment until the outbreak of war in Korea saw an increase in military aid. This included large numbers of the M24 Chaffee light tank, along with amphibious vehicles such as the M29C Weasel and LVT4 Buffalo, to conduct operations in coastal and inland areas that the Viet Minh had previously thought immune to attack.This book explores France’s armour, a key part of the battle against the Viet Minh right up until the last stand at Dien Bien Phu.

This lavishly illustrated volume details the design, development and operational history of British tanks from the end of World War II through to the present day.This book, the last in a four-part series on British Battle Tanks covering the whole history of British armoured warfare, concentrates on those vehicles that have served following the end of World War II up to the present day.Starting with the Centurion, the title explores those types that equipped the armoured divisions lined up on the German plains to resist any potential Soviet offensive, as well as in Korea and Suez, including the Chieftain and Conqueror, and modern tanks such as the Challenger 2 which are still in service today. Covering the many variants of these and other tanks in British service as well as their deployments around the world, including in Afghanistan and Iraq, this illustrated volume is a comprehensive guide to the development of British tanks since the Second World War.

Scorpion FV101 Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) in British service 1972-2020, The CVRT (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance Tracked) family of reconnaissance vehicles has been highly successful since its introduction by the British Army in 1972 and it has seen extensive combat from the Falklands War to Afghanistan. Its variants include the lead vehicle, Scorpion, armed with a 76mm gun and the 30mm-armed Scimitar that were both employed in the reconnaissance role with Spartan as an armoured personnel carrier., The combat history of CVRT is one of the most powerful aspects of the Haynes CVRT Scorpion Manual and includes accounts of its first operational deployment during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974; the Falklands War in 1982; the Gulf War in 1991; Somalia in 1993 and the Fourth Anglo-Afghan War, including the testimony of the most highly decorated soldier in the British Army, Mick Flynn, who fought in CVRT from the Falklands to Afghanistan, as well as the recollections of Prince Harry during his service with the Blues and Royals in Afghanistan., Supported by more than 250 photographs and illustrations, Simon Dunstan tells the story of CVRT's development, its anatomy, combat record and how it is operated and maintained by the armies of 16 nations worldwide. The full range of Scorpion variants including Scimitar, Spartan, Striker, Sultan, Samaritan and Stormer are covered, as well several other specialised versions and export models to over a dozen nations., Author: Simon Dunstan tells the story of CVRT's development, its anatomy, combat record with the British Army from the Falklands to Afghanistan, and how it is operated and maintained by the armies of 16 nations worldwide.

A compact, illustrated account of the first phase of the Yom Kippur, or Ramadan, War.At 1345hrs on 6 October 1973, Israeli spotters in the observation post atop Mount Hermon saw Syrian gunners below them removing the camouflage nets from their guns. Ten minutes later shells began to rain down on Israeli positions all along the Golan Heights – The Yom Kippur War had begun. The shock Syrian attack caught the Israelis by surprise and by the afternoon of 7 October a Syrian brigade was less than 10km from the Sea of Galilee.Simon Dunstan describes in detail how amid desperate and bitter fighting the Israeli forces managed to turn the tide on the Golan Heights.

The second instalment of Simon Dunstan's Yom Kippur War 1973, this book charts how Israel’s victory in the 1967 ‘Six Day War’ sowed the seeds of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.At 1400hrs on 6 October 1973 the Egyptian army launched an assault crossing of the Suez Canal. The carefully co-ordinated attack achieved complete tactical surprise. The sand embankments of the Israeli Bar-Lev Line were breached and an Israeli counterattack thrown back with heavy losses.In the second of his two-volume analysis of the Yom Kippur War, Simon Dunstan details the fighting in the Sinai, culminating in Operation Gazelle, the Israeli counterattack across the Suez Canal. Although defeated militarily Egypt did ultimately succeed in forcing the Israelis back to the negotiating table.

The concept of the Main Battle Tank emerged from the Centurion Universal tank that was developed at the end of World War II.Development of its successor began as early as 1951. The Chieftain incorporated significant innovations including a reclining driver position and two-piece ammunition for greater survivability. The tank entered service in 1967 and was the heaviest armed and armoured MBT within the NATO alliance. The Chieftain saw combat during the Iran-Iraq War, with the Kuwaitis during the 1990 Iraqi invasion and with the British Army during the Gulf War of 1990–91 as special-purpose variants.This book explores the design, development and operation of one of the most influential vehicles used in modern warfare.

The Challenger 2 is the current Main Battle Tank of the British Army and represents the culmination of 80 years of tank design.In 1987, its design was presented to the Ministry of Defence in response to a requirement to replace the Chieftain MBT that had been partially superseded by the Challenger 1 MBT. Production began in 1993, and the tank finally entered service in 2002. The tank recently appeared in Iraq, where it proved indispensable during the battle of Basra.This book covers the evolution of the Challenger 2, from its origins and testing to its involvement in the Middle East and Iraq.

At the outbreak of World War II, Fort Eben Emael in Belgium was the strongest fortress in the world, and it lay exactly across the German invasion route of Belgium and France.The fort’s elimination was essential for the success of Hitler’s invasion of the West. Deemed impregnable to conventional attack, Hitler himself suggested the means for its capture with the first glider-borne assault in military history. On 10 May 1940, ten gliders carrying just 77 paratroopers landed on top of the fort.Simon Dunstan explores how the assault pioneers of Sturmgruppe Granit subdued Fort Eben Emael within just 30 minutes, using top-secret hollow-charge weapons for the first time in warfare. The fortress surrendered within 30 hours. This is a compelling, illustrated guide to the fort and one of the greatest raids in the annals of Special Forces.

Following the Israel Defence Forces' success in the Six Day War of 1967, the IDF Chief of Staff, General Haim Bar-Lev, ordered the construction of a series of fortified positions named the Bar Lev Line.Each position was surrounded by barbed wire and minefields and virtually immune to strikes by artillery shells and even 500kg bombs. On 6 October 1973, Yom Kippur, the positions were manned by just 436 reservists when the Egyptian Second and Third Armies launched a massive offensive along the Suez Canal. The positions were quickly cut off from the supporting elements, and the Israeli defenders paid a high price with a casualty rate of almost 50 per cent.In this thorough, illustrated study, Simon Dunstan argues that despite these losses, it was not the Bar Lev Line that failed but Israel's military and political establishment, which realised Arab intentions too late. Featuring first-hand accounts and detailed coverage of the Line's operational history, this is a compact guide to an important moment in the Middle Eastern conflict that continues today.

A fully illustrated account of Israel's campaign against Egypt that began the Six Day War.In May 1967, Egypt expelled the United Nations peacekeeping forces stationed in the Sinai desert and deployed its army along its border with Israel, its moves coordinated with those of Jordan and Syria. By June, Israel realized that the international community would not act, and so it launched a pre-emptive strike against the combined Arab forces. The ensuing Six Day War was a crushing defeat for the Arab world, one that tripled the area controlled by Israel and which sowed the seeds for the Yom Kippur War of 1973 and the continuing strife in the region.Written by the author of Osprey's Yom Kippur War, this volume covers the background to the war and the campaign against the Egyptians in the Sinai Peninsula, including the initial devastating air assault that showed the world how vital air supremacy was in modern combat.

A concise explanation of the campaigns in which Israel took over the West Bank and the Golan Heights.Following the lightening destruction of the Egyptian forces at the outbreak of the Six Day War, Israel turned to the forces of Jordan and Syria, with whom Egypt had signed a mutual-defence pact, and which had now entered the war. Jordan's army moved against West Jerusalem and central Israel, while Syria began shelling Israeli towns from the seemingly impregnable Golan Heights. The IDF's invasion of the Golan was as risky and successful as its more famous Egyptian victory, but its success in Jordan – taking the West Bank – sowed the seeds of its future troubles.Comprehensively illustrated with artwork, maps and battlefield views, this new history brings one of the most important of 20th century campaigns to life.

A tightly focused illustrated study comparing the design, development, and combat performance of two of the Cold War's first main battle tanks.Conceived at the height of World War II, the British Centurion and the Soviet T-55 were initially expected to counter the formidable Panther and Tiger tanks of Germany. But as the Cold War unfolded, these machines prepared instead for the coming struggle between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Though they never fought in Europe, these two tanks became the mainstay of the Cold War's proxy forces around the world. From Korea to the Middle East and on to Angola, these two armored combatants clashed repeatedly, reaching their crescendo on the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War where 177 Centurions of the IDF took on a vastly superior Arab force.Presented with highly detailed digital artwork and photographs, this is a tightly focused study of the development and operational history two of the Cold War's first main battle tanks.

The Israeli Special Forces' operation at Entebbe goes down in history as one of the most audacious counter-terrorist assaults ever conducted.On 27 June 1976, four terrorists – two of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and two of the German Baader-Meinhof terrorist group – highjacked a passenger jet and forced a landing in Entebbe, Uganda. Here they were met by reinforcements, and – although releasing a few hostages – transferred all the Jewish and Israeli prisoners to the terminal building. As Idi Amin's assistance to the terrorists became increasingly clear, the Israeli government began preparations for a military assault. The element of surprise was crucial; never before had such a large-scale raid at such a long distance been successfully undertaken.This is the incredible story of how the Israeli Special Forces defied radar for over 2,000 miles, masqueraded as a tyrant in a Mercedes and captured uniforms, and defeated an army in brutal combat, in a triumph of sheer audacity and nerve. A compelling book chronicling an incredible moment in history.

The successor to the Chieftain from the 1960's, work began in 1976 on development of a new MBT specifically for the Iranian army, who needed a more capable tank than the Chieftain to suit their climatic and geographical conditions.However, once the revolution occurred in 1979 the British army was reluctantly forced to accept this new design themselves. Once in service there were technical problems resulting in various modifications. However, the Challenger would go on to great success in the Gulf War, playing crucial roles in both Desert Storm and Desert Sabre operations.In this book, Simon Dunstan examines this tank in detail, evaluating its performance both on the test range and in the field of battle.