Osprey Fortress Series SC (2003) comic books 2004-2006

Volume 15 - 1st printing. "Germany's West Wall!" Written by Neil Short. Art by Chris Taylor. The West Wall (or the Siegfried Line as the Allies called it) played a crucial role in the bitter fighting of 1944 and 1945 in North-West Europe. Constructed in the period immediately after the remilitarisation of the Rhineland in 1936, the Wall stretched for 300 miles from Cleve in the north to the Swiss Border and consisted of some 14,000 pillboxes. The Wall initially blunted the US attack, and Hitler used it as a foundation from which to launch the Ardennes Offensive. This title takes a detailed look at the development and form of this key fortification, examining the principles of its defence in visual depth, and discussing its fate in the wake of the Allied onslaught. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 16 - 1st printing. "The Fortifications of Malta 1530-1945!" Written by Charles Stephenson. Art by Steve Noon. The Island of Malta occupies a pivotal position in the Mediterranean, forming an outpost between North Africa and the soft underbelly of Europe. Such has been its strategic importance throughout the years that it has become one of the most fortified places in the world. Following the successful defence of the island during the Great Siege of 1565, the Knights Hospitaller built new walls and fortifications. These defences failed when Napoleon occupied Malta in 1798, and the island was retaken by the British in 1800. From this point onwards, Malta's defences were modernised throughout the 19th century and the island's final test came during World War II. This book examines all these different styles of fortification from the 16th to the 20th century. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 17 - 1st printing. "Troy c. 1700–1250 BC!" Written by Nic Fields. Art by Donato Spedaliere. Hisarlik is a small place, a sandy stone strewn hillock cut up into gullies and hummocks. Yet its historical significance is immense, for this is the site of Troy - the legendary city whose story sprawls across cultures, time and geography. The tale of the siege of Troy is the greatest secular story ever told, and has captured the imagination of the Western World for some 3,000 years. Although there are many difficulties in using Greek myths, oral traditions and the Homeric epics to reconstruct the Trojan War, this title uses the latest archaeological evidence to reconstruct in detail the fortifications of Troy as well as making more general observations about the possible historical events behind the epics of Homer. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 18 - 1st printing. "Norman Stone Castles Part 2!" Written by Christopher Gravett. Art by Adam Hook. Following the creation of the Duchy of Normandy, the Normans were soon introduced to the castle and they built them in large numbers. In the mid-11th century, other Norman adventurers began carving out dominions for themselves in Southern Italy: some crossed to Sicily in 1061 and by 1091 had conquered the whole island. As in Normandy, they were keen to assimilate new ideas, including architectural styles, resulting in some striking buildings. This title, a companion to Fortress 13: Norman Stone Castles (1) The British Isles 1066-1216, provides a detailed guide to the castles built in Normandy, Southern Italy and Sicily, covering defensive principles, daily life, the events of siege warfare, and the fate of the castles. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 19 - 1st printing. "Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights Part 2!" Written by Stephen Turnbull. Art by Peter Dennis. The original forced conversion of pagan Livonia, what is now the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia, was carried out by a military order known as the Brethren of the Sword. In 1236 this order was incorporated into the Teutonic Knights following a catastrophic military defeat. The knights had always consolidated their conquests through networks of castles and fortified places, and the Livonian Chapter of the Teutonic Order built castles of stone. This title covers the developmental and operational history of these fortresses over the length of the Middle Ages. It details how the Baltic fortifications of the Teutonic Knights evolved to reflect the changing nature of siege warfare and the increasing dominance of gunpowder in warfare. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 20 - 1st printing. "British Home Defences 1940-45!" Written by Bernard Lowry. Art by Chris Taylor and Vincent Boulanger. In the summer of 1940, Britain asked itself not 'will Hitler invade?' but 'when?' SEALION, the German invasion plan, provoked the construction of pillboxes, coastal defences, heavy-gun emplacements and anti-aircraft batteries, as well as the formation of the Home Guard and covert groups. Later, new dangers replaced SEALION: radar detection systems were expanded during the Blitz years, as were intelligence-gathering systems and listening posts. From 1944, Britain was again faced with a deadly threat, Hitler's 'Vengeance weapons'. This title provides a concise assessment of Britain's defensive systems, and presents a vivid picture of war on the home front. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 21 - 1st printing. "Crusader Castles in the Holy Land 1097-1192!" Written by David Nicolle. Art by Adam Hook. The Crusaders that landed in the Middle East in the late 11th century brought with them their own traditions of military architecture, but it was not long before their defensive construction began to reflect a broad array of local influences. Most early Crusader structures were relatively small, and tended to increase the existing natural and defensive features of a site. The basic forms comprised freestanding towers, castra, and hilltop and spur-castles, but urban centres, religious sites and rural dwellings were also fortified. From the 1160s, bigger, stronger and more expensive castles began to appear, in response to developments in Islamic siege weaponry. This title examines the early fortifications erected by the Crusaders in modern-day Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and south-eastern Turkey. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 22 - 1st printing. "Mycenaean Citadels 1350-1200 B.C!" Written by Nic Fields. Art by Donato Spedaliere. Mycenaean society was constantly geared for battle and invasion. Their ‘cities' were heavy fortresses with unimaginably thick perimeter walls. Legendary sites such as Mycenae, Tiryns, Argos, Krisa, the Athenian Acropolis and Gla are all representative of their fortified citadels that dominated the Greek countryside for some 300 years until their sudden decline and abandonment around 1100 BC. This title describes the golden age of these fortifications; it details how these formidable structures were constructed and extended, as well as revealing the elaborate palace complexes built by the great Mycenaean warlords immortalised in the verses of Homer's Iliad. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 23 - 1st printing. "German Field Fortifications 1939-45!" Written by Gordon L Rottman. Art by Ian Palmer. The German Army of World War II considered itself an offensive, mobile force. The experiences in the trenches in World War I had done much to shape its concept of field fortification, and its mobile warfare ethos was intended to prevent the previous war's stalemate. This book addresses frontline defensive field fortifications, built by infantrymen using local materials, and includes rifle platoon positions, trenches, crew-served weapon positions, bunkers, dugouts, shelters and more. It also covers anti-tank and anti-personnel obstacles, as well as field camouflage methods and construction methods. The integration of these positions into permanent systems and theatre-specific defences are also discussed. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 24 - 1st printing. "Fortifications of the Western Front 1914–18!" Written by Paddy Griffith. Art by Peter Dennis. Following the early battles of 1914 along the Marne and in the Ypres salient, World War I rapidly changed from a war of movement into one of attrition, with the opposing sides entrenching themselves in a line of fortified positions from the Flanders coastline to the Swiss border. This volume details the different styles of fortification used on the Western Front throughout the course of the war, from the early ditches of 1914 to the complicated systems of 1918. It explains the development of the 'defence in depth' German system and the British reaction to it, as well as illustrating the importance of the pre-war forts, particularly around Verdun. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 25 - 1st printing. "The Walls of Constantinople AD 324-1453!" Written by Stephen Turnbull. Art by Peter Dennis. The walls of Constantinople are the greatest surviving example of European medieval military architecture in the world. They withstood numerous sieges until being finally overcome by the artillery of Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453, and exist today as a time capsule of Byzantine and Medieval history. This book examines the main defensive system protecting the landward side of the city, which consisted of three parallel walls about 5 miles long. The walls defended the city against intruders, including Attila the Hun, before finally being breached by European knights during the Fourth Crusade in 1204 and, ultimately, destroyed by Turkish artillery in 1453. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 26 - 1st printing. "Afghanistan Cave Complexes 1979-2004!" Written by Mir Bahmanyar. Art by Ian Palmer. Following the Soviet invasion in 1979, the Mujahideen defenders of Afghanistan developed and reinforced many natural cave systems to use as supply bases and defensive positions. The Taliban and Al Qaeda further strengthened these positions in the 1990s. Following the events of September 11, 2001, these cave systems have once more come to prominence and sites such as Tora Bora and Zhawar Kili have featured in news headlines around the world. This title provides an analysis of these caves and underground systems, and discusses the U.S.-led Coalition's tactical approach to dislodging the enemy from these fortified positions. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 27 - 1st printing. "French Fortresses in North America 1535-1763!" Written by René Chartrand. Art by Donato Spedaliere. Following the discovery of America by Columbus in 1492, European colonists brought their system of fortification to the New World in an attempt to ensure their safety and consolidate their conquests. French and British explorers came later to North America, and thus the establishment of their sizeable settlements only got under way during the 17th century. The inhabitants of New France built elaborate fortifications to protect their towns and cities. This book provides a detailed examination of the defenses of four of them: Québec, Montréal and Louisbourg in Canada, and New Orleans in Louisiana. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 28 - 1st printing. "Forts of the American Frontier 1820-91!" Written by Ron Field. Art by Adam Hook. A major period of westward expansion took place in the United States during the first half of the 19th century. Fur trading, the coast-to-coast railroad, the California gold rush and the removal of Native American tribes both facilitated and encouraged America's manifest destiny to become a transcontinental nation. The task of protecting the settlers from the tribes that inhabited the Great Plains fell to the US Army, and to do this an extensive network of permanent forts was created via construction and acquisition. This title examines why the forts were built, as well as their design, defensive features and the role they played in the settlement of the American West. The daily lives of the garrison soldiers and fort inhabitants are also covered, together with the fighting witnessed at key sites. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 29 - 1st printing. "Forts of the American Frontier 1820-91!" Written by Gordon L Rottman. Art by Ian Palmer. The US Army and Marine Corps in World War II considered themselves highly mobile, offensive forces. Their mobile-warfare doctrine envisioned field fortifications and obstacles as temporary in nature. As a result, their design was simple and made use of local materials, and they could be constructed comparatively quickly, whilst still providing adequate protection. By the time of the Korean War, only minor changes had been made to field fortification construction and layout, and to small-unit organization, weapons, and tactics. This title addresses field fortifications built by US infantrymen during World War II and in Korea, and covers rifle-platoon positions, trenches, crew-served weapon positions, bunkers, dugouts, shelters, observation posts and anti-tank obstacles. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 30 - 1st printing. "Fort Eben Emael!" Written by Simon Dunstan. Art by Hugh Johnson. 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. Using top-secret hollow-charge weapons for the first time in warfare, the assault pioneers of Sturmgruppe Granit subdued Fort Eben Emael within just 30 minutes, and the fortress surrendered within 30 hours. It remains one of the greatest raids in the annals of Special Forces. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 31 - 1st printing. "Rome's Northern Frontier AD 70–235!" Written by Nic Fields. Art by Donato Spedaliere. When the Romans first fought against Caledonii during the reign of Agricola (AD 77-84), Agricola established a frontier along the Gask Ridge. He also consolidated the Forth-Clyde isthmus, the location at which the Romans would later build the Antonine Wall from AD 138 to 143. The following 100 years saw a cycle of advance into and retreat from Scotland, until the Romans abandoned the Antonine Wall completely. This book examines the Flavian, Antonine and Severan conquests of Scotland and the fortifications along Rome's northern frontier, and it explores the archaeological remains and places them in historical context. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 32 - 1st printing. "Crusader Castles in the Holy Land 1192-1302!" Written by David Nicolle. Art by Adam Hook. The debacle of the Second Crusade in 1148 caused the Crusader States to realise the necessity of developing a more cautious strategy. The original expansionist spirit largely disappeared, and the Crusader States made priorities of strengthening their existing fortifications and towns and building new castles. These structures encompassed core aspects of Western European military architecture with the integration of rapidly developing Arab and Islamic traditions. Following Fortress 21: 'Crusader Castles in the Holy Land 1097–1192', this book examines the design, development and defensive principles of some of the best-known Crusader fortifications and castles, including Crac des Chevaliers, Castel Blanc, Arsuf, Margat, Atlit, Montfort and Acre. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 33 - 1st printing. "Special Forces Camps in Vietnam 1961–70!" Written by Gordon L Rottman. Art by Chris Taylor. In 1961 US Special Forces units began entering remote areas of Vietnam dominated by the Viet Cong. Their task was to organize local defense and strike forces aimed at stopping the enemy from gaining further control of such areas. The Green Berets set up fortified camps from which indigenous troops defended local villages and attacked and harassed the enemy. How these camps were constructed, developed, and defended is documented here for the first time. This book also covers the weapons, barriers, and obstacles used in these camps, providing specific examples of camp design, and details how they withstood the test of battle against a determined and resourceful enemy. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 34 - 1st printing. "Japanese Fortified Temples and Monasteries AD 710-1602" Written by Stephen Turnbull. Art by Peter Dennis. From the 10th century onwards the great Japanese monastic foundations of Nara and Mount Hiei maintained large armies of warlike monks. The tempestuous political rivalries that developed between the different orders of monks and religiously inspired laymen ensured that their temples and monasteries had to be securely sited and robustly defended. This books recreates these enormous fortified monasteries and temples, tracing their development from the 10th century through to the Sengoku Jidai period and the rise of the power of the shogunate under Tokugawa Ieyasu. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 35 - 1st printing. "British Fortifications in Zululand 1879" Written by Ian Knight. Art by Adam Hook. On 11 January 1879 the British Empire went to war with the independent kingdom of Zululand. The British anticipated a swift and decisive victory, placing great faith in modern firepower; no plans were made for suppressing the Zulu over a protracted period, or for providing defensive positions from which to occupy Zulu territory. However, the losses suffered at Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift quickly altered the British approach; throughout the rest of the war, the British fortified almost every position they occupied in Zululand, from permanent column depots to temporary halts. This title explores British defensive techniques employed during the war, and how these related to contemporary engineering theory. Among the sites covered are Eshowe Mission Station, forts Pearson and Tenedos, and Rorke's Drift. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 36 - 1st printing. "US Strategic and Defensive Missile Systems 1950–2004!" Written by Mark Berhow. Art by Chris Taylor. For 40 years following the end of World War II, the Western democratic governments and the Eastern Bloc Communist powers were locked in the ideological, political, and economic struggle of the Cold War. The United States and the Soviet Union developed missile systems capable of delivering conventional and nuclear explosives against enemy massed bomber formations in the air, and of delivering retaliatory nuclear payloads against ground targets located on distant continents. The missile systems played both a defensive role, and a potential offensive role, which was parlayed to the public as deterrence against attack by the rival bloc. This title provides a detailed overview of the fixed-launch-site strategic missile systems of the United States. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 37 - 1st printing. "D-Day Fortifications in Normandy!" Written by Stephen J. Zalonga. Art by Hugh Johnson. German defenses along the Normandy beaches were part of the larger Atlantic Wall fortifications designed to defend Fortress Europe. When Field Marshal Erwin Rommel took command of the invasion front in late 1943, he began a program to enhance fortifications along the Normandy coast as he believed that any Allied assault had to be stopped on the invasion beaches themselves. His most important contribution to the defenses was an extensive program of improvised beach obstructions to complicate any landing attempt. This book analyses these fortifications and describes how the Allied forces overcame them on the morning of June 6, 1944. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 38 - 1st printing. "American Civil War Fortifications Part 2!" Written by Ron Field. Art by Peter Dennis. GThe American Civil War saw a massive development in the use of field fortifications, the result of the practical application of antebellum West-Point teaching, and the deadly impact of rifled infantry weapons and artillery. Both the Federal and Confederate armies began to develop far more sophisticated systems of field fortification, and the larger field works and fortifications surrounding Washington, DC and Richmond, VA were redesigned and rebuilt several times. This volume explores the role of land and field fortifications in the eastern and overland campaigns of the Civil War between 1861 and 1865. Particular attention is devoted to the nine-month siege of Petersburg, where daily life within the redoubts, lunettes, redans, bomb-proofs, trenches and rifle pits is vividly described. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 39 - 1st printing. "Russian Fortresses 1480–1682!" Written by Konstantin Nossov. Art by Peter Dennis. In 1462 the throne of the Principality of Moscow passed to Ivan III (1462–1505), who succeeded in throwing off the Tatar yoke. For the next 200 years this new state struggled to maintain her borders against a series of attacks from the Lithuanians, Swedes and Poles to the west, as well as the Tatars to the south. They achieved this through the development of a network of fortified sites and a series of linear defensive systems. This book examine how these fortifications were developed to respond to ever changing situations under the command of such charismatic rulers as Ivan the Terrible, right through to the military reforms of Peter the Great. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 40 - 1st printing. "Ancient Greek Fortifications 500–300 BC!" Written by Nic Fields. Art by Brian Delf. The development of the city-state in the Classical period of Greek history ensured a shift in the nature of fortifications in the region. No longer were fortresses designed to defend a ruler and his entourage, rather the whole of the citizen body had to be protected against any outside threats. The enceintes of these Greek city-states did not have to be very high or strong as city-state conflict was still decided by spear and shield, though some thought was still given to the science of fortification. This book details the construction and ongoing development of the defences that protected some of the most illustrious sites in Greece during the most famous period of her history. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 41 - 1st printing. "The Channel Islands 1941–45!" Written by Charles Stephenson. Art by Chris Taylor. Following the fall of France and the surrender of Paris on 14 June 1940, the British Government announced that the Channel Islands had no strategic importance and would not be defended. The Germans occupied the islands from the end of June onwards and remained in control until the end of the war. On 10 October 1941 Hitler announced his intention to 'convert them into an impregnable fortress', and the islands formed the most heavily fortified and defended section of the entire Atlantic Wall. This book describes the design, construction and manning of these defensive positions, as well as considering more widely the occupation of the Channel Islands by the Germans. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 42 - 1st printing. "The Vauban Fortifications of France!" Written by Paddy Griffith. Art by Peter Dennis. Vauban was the foremost military engineer of France, not only during his lifetime, but also throughout the 18th century when his legacy and methods remained in place almost unchanged. Indeed, his expertise and experience in the construction, defence, and attack of fortresses is unrivalled by any of his contemporaries, of any nationality. In all three of those fields he was a significant innovator and prolific exponent, having planned approximately 160 major defensive projects and directed over 50 sieges. This book provides not only a modern listing of his varied interventions and their fates, but also a wide-ranging discussion of just how and why they pushed forward the international boundaries of the arts of fortification.Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 43 - 1st printing. "Roman Legionary Fortresses 27 BC–AD 378!" Written by Duncan B Campbell. Art by Brian Delf. From the reign of Augustus (27 BC–AD 14) onwards the Roman Army became a standing force with permanent fortresses distributed throughout the empire. These fortresses developed from the temporary fortifications of the legions on campaign into temporary wooden structures, before finally becoming more elaborate stone fortifications designed to stand the test of time. This book describes the development, design and construction of these fortresses throughout the length and breadth of the Empire. It also deals extensively with the experience of life within a typical fortress and covers the operational history of these fortifications throughout the whole of the imperial period. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 44 - 1st printing. "American Coastal Defenses 1885–1950!" Written by Terrance McGovern and Bolling Smith. Art by Peter Bull. In the late-19th century, with the advances in technology and the increase in America's economic stature, a new round of fortification building began in the United States and its overseas territories. Locations such as Portland, Boston, New York, Baltimore, Charlestown, Savannah, Key West, Los Angeles and San Francisco were all extensively fortified. This book provides a concise introduction to the design, development and purpose of American coastal defenses in the modern era (1885–1950), a period defined by the use of concrete, steel, and powerful breech-loading rifles. It covers the emplacements, weaponry, equipment, and people that defended their country in times of great change and uncertainty. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 45 - 1st printing. "German Defences in Italy in World War II!" Written by Neil Short. Art by Chris Taylor. In 1943, Hitler ordered his forces to occupy the Italian mainland to protect the Third Reich's 'soft underbelly'. After the successful Allied landings in Salerno, the Germans fought a series of hard, rearguard actions as the Allies slowly pushed north up the peninsula towards the Alps. These actions were based around the construction of a series of defensive lines, including: the Gustav Line, anchored on Monte Cassino, the Hitler Line, the Caesar Line, and the Gothic Line. This book explores the development and form of these defensive systems, examining the key fortifications in visual depth and discussing their fate in the wake of the Allied onslaught. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 46 - 1st printing. "Castles and Tower Houses of the Scottish Clans 1450–1650!" Written by Stuart Reid. Art by Graham Turner. With the exception of the key royal sites, such as Stirling and Edinburgh, few Scottish castles were located at strategic points, or were intended to house garrisons required to defend or subjugate towns. Instead they were primarily fortified dwelling houses, erected in an environment of weak Royal authority and endemic feuding between rival clans and groups, in both Highland and Lowland areas. Although some enceinte castles were developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, most defensive construction focused on the tower house, a distinctive vernacular style of Scottish fortification. This book examines the design, development, and purpose of these quintessentially Scottish buildings, and also covers larger sites such as Urquhart and Blackness. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 47 - 1st printing. "Fortifications of the Incas!" Written by H. W. Kaufmann, and J.E. Kaufmann. Art by Adam Hook. The greatest period of Inca expansion occured during the reigns of Pachacuti (1438–71), Tupa Inca (1471–93), and Huayna Capac (1493–1527). From the mountain stronghold of Cuzco, they subjugated the surrounding kingdoms and territories, absorbing their civilizations and their peoples. By 1525, they dominated much of the west of the continent, relying on fortified strongholds, an extensive system of roads and bridges, and obligatory military service to control local populations. This title takes a detailed look at the development of Incan fortification techniques, and examines how they came to be overrun by the Spanish conquistadors. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 48 - 1st printing. "Viet Cong and NVA Tunnels and Fortifications of the Vietnam War!" Written by Gordon L Rottman. Art by Chris Taylor, Lee Ray, and Alex Mallinson. During the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong (VC) main forces and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) were forced to hide weapons and supplies underground and to dig protective shelters to counter massive US firepower. Their field works defended villages, hidden base camps, and fortified complexes, and took the form of trench systems, individual fighting positions, crew-served weapon positions, bunkers, caches, and extensive tunnel complexes. Camouflage and deceptive measures, and the employment of obstacles and booby traps, went hand-in-hand with such works. This title takes a detailed look at the VC/NVA tunnel systems, field fortifications, base camps. and camouflage and concealment measures employed during the Vietnam conflict. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 49 - 1st printing. "The Spanish Main 1492-1800!" Written by Rene Chartrand. Art by Donato Spedaliere. Following Columbus's arrival in the Bahamas in 1492, the lands of the 'new world' were divided between Spain and Portugal. The riches gained by the Spaniards soon aroused the interest of the French and the English, eager to exploit the area they called the 'Spanish Main' (an area broadly encompassing the West Indies and the Central American and Mexican coast). In response, the Spanish fortified their new territories. The earliest examples were very much based on medieval styles of fortification, but over the following three centuries the fortifications were updated, modernized and improved according the latest European principles. This book describes the evolution of the fortifications and their fate. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 50 - 1st printing. "The Forts of Celtic Britain!" Written by Angus Konstam. Art by Peter Bull. Half a millennium before the Romans first arrived in Britain, an even more ferocious people, the Celts, arrived in what is now south-eastern England. The Celts remained in Britain long after the Romans departed, and although driven into the remoter corners of the island by English invaders the people who remained clung onto their Celtic heritage, and defended their remaining lands against all-comers. In order to defend their lands from other tribes or outside invaders these people established powerful fortified sites that served as places of refuge in wartime and as administrative and trading centres in times of peace. This book examines these fascinating forts, which varied considerably from the mysterious brochs and duns found in northern Britain, to the hill-top forts ranging in size, to the promontory forts that formed powerful coastal strongholds all around the island's shores. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 51 - 1st printing. "Indian Castles 1206-1526!" Written by Konstantin Nossov. Art by Brian Delf. From the beginning of the 2nd millennium AD northern India began to fall under the sway of a number of Muslim-Turkic rulers who, at the start of the 13th century, founded the series of dynasties known to history as the Delhi Sultanate. For three centuries these sultans expanded their territory, which led to a dramatic rise in the number of fortifications throughout the subcontinent. This period is the defining age of the Indian castle and the combined influence of the Islamic and Hindu architectural tradition lends these fortifications a unique style. This book covers all the major sites of the period - including the fabled seven medieval cities on the site of the present-day city of Delhi. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 52 - 1st printing. "The Fortifications of Gibraltar 1068–1945!" Written by Darren Fa and Clive Finlayson. Art by Adam Hook. Gibraltar, located at the meeting points of Europe and Africa, preserves within its fortifications a rich testament to human conflict spanning 600 years. In 1068 the ruling Spanish Muslims built a large fort there. Between 1309 and 1374 Gibraltar underwent a period of intensive building and fortification, and following the Spanish reconquest of 1462 the inhabitants carried out further works. In 1704 the latest, uninterrupted period of British rule began. The 18th century saw three sieges including the most severe, known as the Great Siege, which lasted from 1779 to 1783. During World War II the 'Rock' served as a vital stop for supply convoys and naval staging base, complete with a veritable warren of secret tunnels. This book documents Gibraltar's rich history, and charts the development of these fascinating fortifications. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 53 - 1st printing. "Defending Space!" Written by Clayton Chun. Art by Chris Taylor. The United States has been developing space for many years, and satellites provide the US Military with an unparaleled advantage over its adversaries. Constellations of both military and civilian satellites provide protection and support for military operations; deliver ballistic missile early warning; supply reliable, secure and jam-proof communications; gather audio-visual intelligence; predict weather patterns; guide navigation; and deliver guided-weapons targeting, as well as a host of other missions. This book explores the design, development and usage of US military space systems, as well past and future threats to the systems. The current relevance of this topic to the international community as a whole is key, as space becomes the next, if only virtual, theater of warfare. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 54 - 1st printing. "Forts of the American Frontier 1820-91!" Written by Ron Field. Art by Adam Hook. During the 1840s, the rarely visited "Great American Desert" of the Southern Plains and Southwest became part of the inexorable westward expansion, as European traders and settlers headed overland from the eastern seaboard. The traditional lands of the Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole Indians were quickly absorbed, and the rapid advance of the frontier soon brought the white man into conflict with the Kiowa, Comanche, Apache and Navajo tribes. Numerous posts and forts were built to protect trading posts and settlers, and to police the Indian reservations. This title explores the design and development of these sites, the life of the garrisons that manned them, and the clashes with Native American warriors such as Geronimo, Manuelito and Quanah Parker. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 55 - 1st printing. "Cathar Castles!" Written by Marcus Cowper. Art by Peter Dennis. During the early 13th century the north of what is now France went to war with the south in a bloody crusade aimed at destroying the heretical sect known as the Cathars. The conflict was characterized by vicious guerrilla actions and the besieging of the innumerable fortified sites that dotted the landscape of the south. Illustrated with full colour artwork and stunning photographs, this book describes the castles and fortifications of the Cathar period, examining their design, construction and the role that they played during the Albigensian Crusade. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 56 - 1st printing. "Rome's Saxon Shore!" Written by Nic Fields. Art by Donato Spedaliere. Constructed to protect the coastline of southern and eastern Britain, the forts of the 'Saxon Shore' are among the most impressive surviving monuments of the Roman occupation of the British Isles, although much about them remains a mystery. In an impressive outlay of money, manpower and materials the frontier system stretched from the Wash to the Solent and included the heavy fortification of the major harbours and estuaries of the east and south-east coast. This book explores the history of this frontier system the ruins of which define the British landscape to this day. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.