Osprey Men-at-Arms Series SC (1973-2011 OSPREY) comic books 2006-2008

Volume 406 - 1st printing. "The British Army in World War I (3) !" Written by Mike Chappell. Art by Mike Chappell. Although Britain's greatest commitment of land forces was on the Western Front, British, Empire and Dominion troops also fought in other theatres of operations – and in some cases continued to fight there after the Armistice had ended hostilities in the West. This last of our series of three titles describes these far-flung campaigns, in Italy, the Balkans, the Middle East, several parts of Africa, Russia, China, and even the North-West Frontier of India. The text is illustrated with contemporary photographs, and with meticulous colour plates of British, African, Indian and Australian troops, in the uniforms and equipment used on battle fronts from the desert sands to the snows of north Russia. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 427 - 1st printing. "Armies of Ivan the Terrible!" Written by Viacheslav Shpakovsky and David Nicolle. Art by Angus McBride. It is generally assumed that the military reforms which propelled Russia into the modern world were due solely to the genius of Peter the Great. In fact, his reforms were built upon changes that had taken place during the previous 200 years, since the creation in 1550 of Russia's first full-time military force – the streltsi – by Ivan IV the Terrible. This account traces Russia's armies from that beginning, through the creation of paid regular regiments from1630, up to the reign of Peter the Great. It is illustrated with rare early drawings, photos of surviving artifacts, and dazzling colour reconstructions of exotic military costumes. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 428 - 1st printing. "Indian Tribes of the New England Frontier!" Written by Michael G Johnson. Art by Jonathan Smith. This book offers a detailed introduction to the tribes of the New England region – the first native American peoples affected by contact with the French and English colonists. By 1700 several tribes had already been virtually destroyed, and many others were soon reduced and driven from their lands by disease, war or treachery. The tribes were also drawn into the savage frontier wars between the French and the British. The final defeat of French Canada and the subsequent unchecked expansion of the British colonies resulted in the virtual extinction of the region's Indian culture, which is only now being revived by small descendant communities. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 429- 1st printing. "Napoleon's Mamelukes!" Written by Ronald Pawly. Art by Patrice Courcelle. The most exotic of all the troops of Napoleon's Imperial Guard were undoubtedly the Mamelukes – the bodyguard of Oriental cavalry which followed him home after the Egyptian expedition of 1798-1801, and remained with his Mounted Chasseurs regiment throughout the First Empire. For the first time in English, this book tells the Mamelukes' story, from Austerlitz to Waterloo. Quoting from the original nominal rolls and battle casualty returns, the author brings individual members of this extraordinary unit to life. His text is illustrated with rare early engravings and paintings, and the full-colour plates show the development of the unit's romantic Turkish uniforms. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 430- 1st printing. "The Confederate Army 1861–65 (3)!" Written by Ron Field. Art by Richard Hook. The common image of the Confederate Army during the Civil War is dominated by a limited number of early photogaphs of troops wearing the gray and butternut of the CS regulations and quartermaster issues. By contrast, this book examines the uniforms of the Louisiana and Texas militia and volunteer companies originally brought together in the Confederate field armies; and the continuing efforts to clothe them as wear-and-tear gradually reduced this wide range ofuniforms. A mass of information from contemporary documents is illustraed with rare photographs and meticulous color reconstructions. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 431- 1st printing. "Britain's Secret War!" Written by Will Fowler. Art by Kevin Lyles. The 'Confrontation' between Malaysia and Indonesia in Borneo - the war against Indonesian raids across a 900-mile border - eventually involved nearly 20,000 British and Commonwealth troops, with air and naval support; and yet, by mutual consent, astonishingly little was reported at the time. This 'secret war' saw the perfection of SAS jungle tactics and audacious secret missions deep inside enemy territory, including the award to a Gurkha soldier of the British Army's only 'living VC' for 40 years. This book will reveal the experiences of the soldiers who survived and succeeded amidst some of the world's worst jungle terrain. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 432- 1st printing. "Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces!" Written by Gary Nila and Robert. A Rolfe. Art by Christa Hook. The Imperial Japanese Navy's Special Landing Force units enjoyed a reputation out of proportion to their small size. Often wrongly termed "Imperial Marines", they were in fact sailors led by Naval officers, and traced their origins directly to landing parties from warships. Their true combat debut was at Shanghai in 1932; thereafter the SNLF expanded and fought in the assaults that followed Pearl Habor in 1941, and were dispersed as island garrisons during the Pacific campaigns. This book describes their uniforms and equipment in unprecedented detail, including color photos of original items from private collections. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 433- 1st printing. "Napoleon's Scouts of the Imperial Guard!" Written by Ronald Pawly. Art by Patrice Courcelle. Driven out of Germany after his defeat at Leipzig in 1813, Napoleon seemed to face disaster. Some 345,000 Allied troops were converging on France from the east; and Napoleon had only about 80,000 men. Most of his veterans had been killed in Russia and Germany, and he was short of cavalry to counter the swarms of Cossacks. For his last and possibly most brilliant campaign, Napoleon raised three regiments of mounted Scouts for his Imperial Guard. Through the story of these units the reader can follow Napoleon's dazzling manoeuvres in the campaign of 1814; and their widely varied uniforms are reconstructed in meticulously researched colour plates. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 434- 1st printing. "World War II German Police Units!" Written by Gordon Williamson. Art by Gerry Embleton. The German Police were an essential arm of the Nazi regime; as soon as Hitler achieved power the previous decentralized provincial system was unified into a single state apparatus, integrated at the command levels with the SS. While it may have been centrally controlled, it was still separated into a bewildering range of different departments and functions, many with their own uniform distinctions. This book offers a concise introduction to the organization, responsibilities, uniforms and insignia of the various branches of this machinery of repression, from Police generals to rural constables, transport policemen and factory watchmen. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

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Volume 435- 1st printing. "The Confederate Army 1861-65 (4)!" Written by Ron Field. Art by Richard Hook. The common image of the Confederate Army during the Civil War is dominated by a limited number of early photographs of troops wearing the gray and butternut of the CS regulations and quartermaster issues. By contrast, this book examines the variety of uniforms worn by the Virginia and Arkansas militia and volunteers brought together in the Confederate field armies, and the continuing efforts to clothe them as wear-and-tear gradually reduced this wide range of uniforms. A mass of information from contemporary documents is illustrated with rare early photographs and meticulous color reconstructions. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 436- 1st printing. "The Scandinavian Baltic Crusades 1100-1500!" Written by David Lindholm and David Nicolle. Art by Angus McBride. This book describes and illustrates the armour, weapons, fortifications and ships of one of the least-known phases of the Medieval Crusades - the expeditions by Scandinavian Catholics against the pagan peoples to the east of the Baltic Sea, and their subsequent clashes with the Eastern Orthodox Russian princes of Novgorod and Muscovy. From isolated castles built in this bleak wilderness of forests, lakes and bogs, the small garrisons struggled equally against the enemy and the harsh terrain and climate. The text is illustrated with photographs of rare museum relics and of castles, and spirited colour plates by Angus McBride. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 437- 1st printing. "The Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection!" Written by Alejandro de Quesada. Art by Stephen Walsh. This book details the uniforms and weapons of the American, Spanish, Cuban and Filipino forces involved in the United States Army's first overseas war. In 1898 the USA took the decision to intervene in the Cuban war of independence against Spain, and to expel the last vestige of European colonial rule from the Americas. This also led to the US acquiring rule over the Philippine Islands; and there, US troops were sent into the jungle to fight a "colonial" war of their own, against Filipino insurgents unwilling to exchange one master for another. The text is illustrated with rare early photographs and color plates. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

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Volume 438- 1st printing. "US Infantry in the Indian Wars 1865-91!" Written by Ron Field. Art by Ron Field. Contrary to the image portrayed by Hollywood, the infantry played as great a part in the Indian Wars of the 1860s-80s, and were more consistently successful than their more famous counterparts in the Cavalry. The great Paiute War of 1866, where the infantry of the most renowned Indian-fighting general, George Cook, excelled in battle, together with the role of other infantry units in the final subjugation of Geronimo's Apaches in 1886, are but two instances of their achievements. Featuring their involvement in the legendary battles of Wounded Knee and Wolf Mountains, this narrative presents an illustrated history of these critical but overlooked soldiers of the Indian Wars, culminating in the eventual closing of the American Frontier in 1890 and the final conquest of the indigenous inhabitants of North America. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Add to cart Near Mint $8.00

Volume 439 - 1st printing. "The Canadian Corps in World War I!" Written by René Chartrand. Art by Gerry Embleton. This book describes the organization, lists the units and illustrates the uniforms and equipment of the four Canadian divisions which earned an elite reputation on the Western Front in 1915-18. Canada's 600,000 troops - of whom more than 66,000 died and nearly 150,000 were wounded - representedan extraordinary contribution to the British Empire's struggle. On grim battlefields from the Ypres-Salient to the Somme, and from their stunning victory at Vimy Ridge to the final triumphant 'Hundred Days' advance of autumn 1918, Canada's soldiers proved themselves to be a remarkable army in their own right, founding a national tradition. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 440 - 1st printing. "Napoleon's Polish Lancers of the Imperial Guard!" Written by Ronald Pawly. Art by Patrice Courcelle. This book draws on original regimental records to give by far the most detailed account ever published in English of the organization and personalities of the most renowned of the foreign units that served in the Emperor's armies. Unlike most of his foreign troops, these Polish horsemen were true volunteers, who owed their honoured place in his Imperial Guard to their proven courage and dash on battlefields from Spain to Russia. The text is illustrated with rare portraits and photographs, and with detailed colour plates of the Lancers' magnificent uniforms. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 441 - 1st printing. "The Confederate Army 1861-65 (5) !" Written by Ron Field. Art by Richard Hook. The common image of the Confederate Army during the Civil War is dominated by a limited number of early photographs of troops wearing the gray and butternut of the CS regulations and quartermaster issues. By contrast, this book examines the variety of uniforms worn by the Tennessee and North Carolina militia and volunteers brought together in the Confederate field armies, and the continuing efforts to clothe them as wear-and-tear gradually reduced this wide range of uniforms. A mass of information from contemporary documents is illustrated with rare early photographs and meticulous color reconstructions. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 442 - 1st printing. "Queen Victoria's Highlanders!" Written by Stuart Reid. Art by Gerry Embleton. In 2006 the title 'Highlanders' finally disappeared from the British Army's list of infantry regiments after nearly 270 years. Throughout this period Scottish Highland units distinguished themselves in battle, but it was in the 19th-century heyday of the British Empire that they acquired an elite reputation and their colourful uniforms evolved to their full complexity. This book traces and explains the identity and appearance of the individual regiments throughout Queen Victoria's reign, illustrating a wide variety of their home service uniforms with engravings, paintings, photographs, and full colour plates specially researched and prepared for this tribute to a unique military tradition. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 444 - 1st printing. "Napoleon's Mounted Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard!" Written by Ronald Pawly. Art by Patrice Courcelle. A concise history of the hand-picked elite cavalry guard that served as Napoleon's close personal escort and were committed to the most dangerous areas of combat on the battlefield. Formed from his original escort of 'Guides' and the 'Consular Guard' in 1799, the Mounted Chasseurs were a personal favourite of the Emperor, who wore their uniform on campaign. Ronald Pawly's unique research into regimental archives has uncovered unprecedented detail about this exceptional unit and its soldiers and officers. With their colourful uniforms recreated in full-colour artwork and accounts of their actions in the most critical Napoleonic battles, this book provides a comprehensive description of these legendary elite soldiers. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 445 - 1st printing. "Medieval Polish Armies 966-1500!" Written by Witold Sarnecki and David Nicolle. Art by Gerry Embleton and Sam Embleton. The history of Poland is a fascinating story of a people struggling to achieve nationhood in the face of internal and external conflict. Poland became a unified Christian state in AD 966 and by the 12th century a knightly class had emerged - a force that was integral to the defence of Poland against increasingly frequent foreign invasions. Intent on crushing rival Christian states, the Templars, Hospitallers and Teutonic Knights all mounted attacks but were beaten back by the Poles, as were invading Mongols and Turks. This book reveals the organisation, equipment and battle histories of the medieval Polish armies as they developed and modernised to emerge as one of the dominant powers of Eastern Europe. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 446 - 1st printing. "The Confederate Army 1861-65 (6)!" Written by Ron Field. Art by Richard Hook. The Southern states which formed the Confederacy in 1861 fielded many units of volunteer troops wearing a remarkably wide variety of uniforms, often reflecting foreign influences. In a spirit of independence many states also issued their own uniform regulations on the outbreak of the American Civil War; and these non-standard uniforms were often retained until well into the course of the war. The regulation patterns centrally prescribed by the Confederate Army were only ever followed unevenly, and state quartermasters continued to issue uniforms showing regional and state differences. This last in a series of six titles studies the archival and pictorial evidence for the infantry, cavalry and artillery of the final states to secede from the Union - Missouri, Kentucky and Maryland - and is illustrated with fascinating early photographic portraits. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 448 - 1st printing. "Irish-American Units in the Civil War !" Written by Thomas G. Rodgers. Art by Richard Hook. Some 150,000 Irish-American immigrants served in the Union Army, most of them from Boston, New York and Chicago, and about 40,000 fought in the Confederate Army. Out of the array of Irish-American units involved in the conflict, perhaps the best known was the Irish Brigade of the Union Army of the Potomac, which distinguished itself at both Antietam and, particularly, at Fredericksburg, where its sacrificial bravery astonished friend and foe alike. Other famous regiments were New York's 'Fighting 69th', the 9th Massachusetts, 116th Pennsylvania, 23rd Illinois and 35th Indiana whilst several other Irish companies made a name for themselves at Shiloh, Chickamauga and other key battles. This book provides a brief overview of the history of the units on each side of the conflict and a comprehensive survey of all Irish-American units in both Union and Confederate armies, from brigade down to company size. Rare early photographs are a poignant addition to the story of the immigrants caught up in a vicious civil war, and detailed colour plates illustrate unit distinctions and flags in a book that is essential reading for any Civil War enthusiast. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 449 - 1st printing. "The Royal Hungarian Army in World War II!" Written by Nigel Thomas and Laszlo Szabo. Art by Darko Pavlovic. The Royal Hungarian Army was Germany's largest ally on the Eastern Front, but information about the Hungarian Army in English is rare. Deployed in Ukraine at the beginning of the war, the Hungarian Army was involved in a number of brutal encounters with the Red Army, including stubborn resistance in Transylvania in the summer of 1944, and the brave defense of Budapest in the face of overwhelming odds. The Hungarian Army was a varied and colourful force, ranging from mountain troops and tank units to horse cavalry and specialist infantry. All of these are illustrated in full-colour artwork, with full details about the Hungarian Army's own, quite distinct uniforms and insignia as well as many of its own weapons and tanks. This is an essential starter resource for wargamers, modelers, re-enactors and military historians. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 450 - 1st printing. "American Loyalist Troops 1775-84!" Written by René Chartrand. Art by Gerry Embleton and Sam Embleton. To celebrate the 450th titlein the Men-at-Arms series,this book examines in muchmore depth than previouslythe units and the uniforms of a still-controversialarmy: the many thousandsof American colonists who chose to fight for King George during the Revolution. As well as the better-known corps from the Atlantic seaboard, the author covers the units raised for service against the Spanish in the Floridas, the Caribbean islands and Central America. The text is illustrated with portraits, photographs of rare surviving artefacts, and with color reconstructions by Gerry Embleton, the respected expert on 18th century American forces whose work was recently exhibited in the Smithsonian Institute. Softcover, PC/PB&W.