The Sten submachine gun – officially the 'Carbine, Machine, Sten' – was developed to fulfill the pressing British need for large quantities of cheaply produced weapons after Dunkirk, when German invasion was a very real possibility. Over four million were built during World War II, and the Sten was widely used by airborne troops, tankers, and others who needed a compact weapon with substantial firepower. It proved especially popular with Resistance fighters as it was easy to conceal, deadly at close range, and could fire captured German ammunition – with a design so simple that Resistance fighters were able to produce them in bicycle shops. Featuring vivid first-hand accounts, specially commissioned full-colour artwork and close-up photographs, this is the fascinating story of the mass-produced submachine gun that provided Allied soldiers and Resistance fighters with devastating close-range firepower.
The M1 Garand gave the US infantryman a marked edge during World War II. It shot faster and further than enemy infantry rifles and hit harder. No less an authority on killing the enemy than General George S. Patton called the Garand, “The greatest battle implement ever devised.” At a time when opposing forces were armed with bolt-action rifles, US troops had a highly reliable self-loader. The eight-round clips which were used to load the M1 Garand were, however, viewed with mixed emotions by the troops on the ground. Some Army and Marine Corps troops allegedly felt that the distinctive “twang” as the Garand's clip was ejected when empty alerted the enemy that the soldiers were reloading and resulted in an attack. But the Garand became the defining mankiller of the war, despite its weight and magazine problems, and many US combat veterans consider it one of the key reasons they survived the war.
A fascinating and lively history of four bows that changed warfare – the composite bow, the longbow, the crossbow and the Japanese bow, the yumi – by a world-renowned expert. War bows dominated battlefields across the world for centuries. In their various forms, they allowed trained archers to take down even well-armoured targets from great distances, and played a key role in some of the most famous battles in human history. The composite bow was a versatile and devastatingly effective weapon, on foot, from chariots and on horseback for over a thousand years, used by cultures as diverse as the Hittites, the Romans, the Mongols and the Ottoman Turks. The Middle Ages saw a clash between the iconic longbow and the more technologically sophisticated crossbow, most famously during the Hundred Years War, while in Japan, the samurai used the yumi to deadly effect, unleashing bursts of arrows from their galloping steeds. Historical weapons expert Mike Loades reveals the full history of these four iconic weapons that changed the nature of warfare. Complete with modern ballistics testing, action recreations of what it is like to fire each bow and a critical analysis of the technology and tactics associated with each bow, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in ancient arms.
Highly praised for its clarity and great examples, Weiers' INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS STATISTICS, 6E introduces fundamental statistical concepts in a conversational language that connects with today's students. Even those intimidated by statistics quickly discover success with the book's proven learning aids, outstanding illustrations, non-technical terminology, and hundreds of current examples drawn from real-life experiences familiar to students. A continuing case and contemporary applications combine with more than 100 new or revised exercises and problems that reflect the latest changes in business today with an accuracy you can trust. You can easily introduce today's leading statistical software and teach not only how to complete calculations by hand and using Excel, but also how to determine which method is best for a particular task. The book's student-oriented approach is supported with a wealth of resources, including the innovative new CengageNOW online course management and learning system that saves you time while helping students master the statistical skills most important for business success.
From 1980 to 2000, Camel Trophy took more than 500 amateur competitors from 35 countries on extraordinary and challenging adventures. On most of these events, teams drove specially prepared Land Rovers to the limit and beyond in locations as varied as Borneo, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea and Tanzania. Camel Trophy charts the history of the event and tells the incredible stories resulting from the constant challenge to both man and machine.. As one of the official photographers on the last four events, author Nick Dimbleby’s first-hand account, the shared experiences of competitors, along with contemporary reports and extensive new interviews of key event leaders, all combine to make Camel Trophy a gripping tale of adventure, adversity, technological change and logistical challenge. Illustrated with a stunning collection of photographs including never-before-published, behind-the-scenes shots, this meticulously researched publication can legitimately claim to be the definitive history of the Camel Trophy.
Explore the wonders of history, space, the natural world and more with Picturepedia. Packed with over 10,000 stunning photographs and illustrations, it's a mini-encyclopedia for kids on every page! From astonishing insects and outer-space to musical instruments and fascinating animals, Picturepedia explains every topic under (and including) the sun. Uncover the secrets of prehistoric life using photographs, explore the human body through graphics and discover galleries of musical instruments in Picturepedia. Ideal for homework, projects or young curious minds, Picturepedia is a must-have encyclopedia for kids.
An ancient design, emerging from Central Asia in the second millennium BC, the composite bow was adopted by a staggering variety of cultures, from nomadic tribal peoples such as the Huns, Turks and Mongols, to mighty empires such as the Romans, Byzantines, Persians, Arabs and Chinese. Offering high power and portability, the composite bow was an ideal cavalry weapon, though it was also used by infantry in open battle and as a siege weapon. In this important study, an expert on Eastern military technology tells the story of this extraordinary piece of military hardware; how it was made and how various cultures developed differing tactics for using it. He explains why the composite bow achieved such stunning successes and how it endured as a weapon of choice for thousands of years.