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Showing 15501 - 15520 of 17943 items
By Charles V. Gruzanski. 1967
This handy martial arts book, Ninja Weapons introduces the exciting and deadly secrets of two ninja arts--the chain and the…
shuriken.The Masaki school of chain fighting was developed in the feudal society of the early eighteenth century by a swordsman-sentry in Edo (Tokyo) Castle. Feeling that the shedding of blood in such a hallowed place would be disgraceful, he devised the combat use of the weighted chain. Even the name he gave to the art proves the trust he placed in its effectiveness--manrikigusari (chain with the power of ten thousand).The equally devastating art of shuriken, the throwing of metal stars and spikes, evolved shortly after manrikigusari. The easily concealed shuriken soon became known as an extremely effective weapon for both ninja and samurai warriors. Included are "The Samurai Creed," various techniques, the history of the arts and over 100 black and white photos and illustrations.By Mark Stacey, John Hill. 2014
This supplement for Across A Deadly Field includes a number of scenarios of differing size and complexity, intended to give…
players a wide variety of options for their American Civil War games. The scenarios cover a number of the most famous battles of the Eastern Theater, including 1st Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station and Gettysburg, and offer both modestly sized and larger battles to the player. The smaller scenarios focus not only on smaller battles, but also on engagements within a larger encounter, while the larger scenarios present a wider view of a battle. For example, Antietam offers the three distinct corps-level actions in the north, center and the south at Burnside's Bridge, as well as the full battle. This offers Across A Deadly Field players a versatility that can accommodate their preferences and collections without sacrificing either playability of historical accuracy.By Dale Clarke. 2014
From the beginning of 'trench warfare' in winter 1914/15, artillery became the absolutely dominant arm in all the major armies…
for the rest of World War I, to a degree never seen before or since. The numbers and capabilities of the guns and ammunition available governed all the generals' battle plans; and the ways in which they were employed, and either succeeded or failed, decided the outcome of battles. The majority of the millions of casualties suffered during the war fell victim to artillery fire.The artillery war fell into three distinct phases along a four-year learning curve (with the necessary equipment and training for the second and third phases always lagging behind the tactical needs). The war began with mostly light, mobile artillery equipped and trained to support fast-moving infantry and cavalry by direct fire, mostly with air-bursting shrapnel shells.The entirely unexpected end of the first campaigns of manoeuvre as the armies bogged down in static trench warfare found both sides ill equipped and ill trained for what was in essence siege warfare on an industrial scale. This demanded more and heavier guns and high-explosive shells, and more complex skills for indirect fire - observation on the ground and in the air, locating targets (including enemy artillery), dropping the right kind of shells on them, the communications needed for co-ordinating the work of hugely increased numbers of guns, and getting many millions of shells up to them for week-long bombardments. These seldom worked as anticipated (classically, by failing to 'cut the wire' or to penetrate deep bunkers); so innovative officers on both sides worked to devise new tactics, with more versatile mixes of ammunition (e.g. gas shells, smoke shells, star shells and so on) and more imaginative ways of using them, such as box barrages and creeping barrages.Finally, in early 1918, the static slogging broke down into a renewed phase of manoeuvre warfare, made possible by sophisticated co-operation between artillery and infantry, plus the newly important air and mechanised forces. The lessons that were finally learned shaped the use of artillery worldwide for the rest of the 20th century.Fully illustrated with period photographs and specially drawn colour artwork and drawing upon the latest research, this engaging study explains the rapid development of artillery tactics and techniques during the conflict in which artillery played a pre-eminent role - World War I.By Daniel Fletcher, Yasuyuki Otsuka. 2011
Japanese Throwing Weapons is a detailed instruction manual for learning authentic shuriken throwing techniques as practiced in Japan. Daniel Fletcher…
studied under Japan's most notable shuriken sensei, Yasuyuki Otsuka, of the Meifu Shinkage Ryu and in this book he reveals the secrets learned in his years of study and training.Fletcher explains the origins and purpose of the shuriken as a weapon and provides information on the various types of shuriken used by the historic samurai and ninjas. Fletcher's expert instructions and the enclosed DVD can help anyone become proficient in throwing these weapons.By Mark Zuehlke. 2012
With its trademark "you are there" style, Mark Zuehlke's tenth Canadian Battle Series volume tells the story of the 1942…
Dieppe raid. Nicknamed "The Poor Man's Monte Carlo," Dieppe had no strategic importance, but with the Soviet Union thrown on the ropes by German invasion and America having just entered the war, Britain was under intense pressure to launch a major cross-Channel attack against France.Since 1939, Canadian troops had massed in Britain and trained for the inevitable day of the mass invasion of Europe that would finally occur in 1944. But the Canadian public and many politicians were impatient to see Canadian soldiers fight sooner.The first major rehearsal proved such a shambles the raid was pushed back to the end of July only to be cancelled by poor weather. Later, in a decision still shrouded in controversy, the operation was reborn. Dieppe however did not go smoothly. Drawing on rare archival documents and personal interviews, Mark Zuehlke examines how the raid came to be and why it went so tragically wrong. Ultimately, Tragedy at Dieppe honors the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought and died that fateful day on the beaches of Dieppe.By Stanley Weintraub. 2006
In 11 Days In December, master historian and biographer Stanley Weintraub tells the remarkable story of the Battle of the…
Bulge as it has never been told before, from frozen foxholes to barn shelters to boxcars packed with wretched prisoners of war. In late December 1944, as the Battle of the Bulge neared its climax, a German loudspeaker challenge was blared across GI lines in the Ardennes: "How would you like to die for Christmas?" In the inhospitable forest straddling Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, only the dense, snow-laden evergreens recalled the season. Most troops hardly knew the calendar day they were trying to live through, or that it was Hitler's last, desperate effort to alter the war's outcome. Yet the final Christmas season of World War II matched desperation with inspiration. When he was offered an ultimatum to surrender the besieged Belgian town of Bastogne, Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe defied the Germans with the memorable one-word response, "Nuts!" And as General Patton prayed for clear skies to allow vital airborne reinforcements to reach his trapped men, he stood in a medieval chapel in Luxembourg and spoke to God as if to a commanding general: "Sir, whose side are you on?" His prayer was answered. The skies cleared, the tide of battle turned, and Allied victory in World War II was assured. Christmas 1944 proved to be one of the most fateful days in world history. Many men did extraordinary things, and extraordinary things happened to ordinary men. "A clear cold Christmas," Patton told his diary, "lovely weather for killing Germans, which seems a bit queer, seeing whose birthday it is." Peace on earth and good will toward men would have to wait. 11 Days in December is unforgettable.By Ray Wiss. 2010
In 2007-08, Dr. Ray Wiss, a former infantry officer, served with the Canadian Forces at forward operating bases in Khandahar's…
Panjwayi valley, the area experiencing the most intense combat in Afghanistan. He spent more time in the combat area than any other Canadian physician, and his successful first book, FOB Doc, was the diary of his time "outside the wire" during that tour of duty.Captain Wiss's experience in Afghanistan convinced him that this conflict was a rare example of a moral war. When asked to return for an even longer tour of duty in the combat zone, he readily agreed. Once again, he kept a diary, writing with passion about the efforts, sacrifices and achievements of those Canadians who served with such distinction. Illustrated with over 100 colour photographs, A Line in the Sand tells us about virtually every kind of soldier fighting in Afghanistan: the bomb technician, the engineer, the combat medic, the "grunt" as well as about the Afghans, from whom we are seemingly so different yet with whom we share so much. It is an impassioned insider's view of the war in Afghanistan and a convincing testament to why it matters.By Joseph E. Chance. 2006
Both a biography of the titular Mexican reformer and a study of the events that shaped the Mexican-U.S. border, this…
book examines the challenges faced by Carvajal during the turbulent decades of the early to mid-19th century. A key figure in the violent struggle against the conservative factions that controlled Mexico, Carvajal also played significant roles in the fight for Texas's independence and the ill-fated Republic of the Rio Grande. Carvajal's life and exploits have been largely overlooked - here, he is restored to his rightful place among the visionaries who shaped modern Texas.By Mark Galeotti. 2014
Featuring specially drawn full-color mapping and drawing upon a wide range of sources, this succinct account explains the origins, history…
and consequences of Russia's wars in Chechnya, thereby shedding new light on the history - and prospects - of that troubled region.Mark Galeotti, an expert on the conflict, traces the progress of the wars, from the initial Russian advance through to urban battles such as Grozny, and the prolonged guerrilla warfare based in the mountainous regions that is common to both wars. He assesses how the wars have torn apart the fabric of Chechen society and their impact on Russia itself, where they have influenced presidential elections and widened the gulf between the military and the rest of society. These were savage conflicts which combined at different times the characteristics of an imperial war, a civil war and a terrorist campaign. The rich tradition of banditry in Chechnya, exemplified by the disproportionately large numbers of Chechens in the Spetsnaz special forces, gave the conflict its particular character, as did the steady shift from the initial nationalism to being inspired by a wider Islamic jihad.By Henry Morshead, David Fletcher. 2014
This is a definitive study of key British tanks from the early part of the Second World War. These types…
saw active service with the British Expeditionary Force in France, with British Forces in the Western Desert and in India. They also took part in the campaigns in Norway, Persia and Sumatra as well as serving with the Garrison of Malta. The German Army modified a lot of these tanks for their own use, tanks that they had captured in France while others were adapted as anti-air craft tanks or fitted with special flotation devices. Some Mark VI series light tanks were also issued to Australia and Canada while a slightly modified version was supplied in large numbers to India where they were used on the North West Frontier. The book also examines the Marks that led up to the VI and chronicles various experiments carried out on these tanks, with text and illustrations. It ends with coverage of the final model, the MarkVIC and details of the experimental Lloyd airborne Light tank of 1942 which has a number of features in common with the better-known Vickers-Armstrongs designs.By Joseph E. Chance. 2006
Both a biography of the titular Mexican reformer and a study of the events that shaped the Mexican-U.S. border, this…
book examines the challenges faced by Carvajal during the turbulent decades of the early to mid-19th century. A key figure in the violent struggle against the conservative factions that controlled Mexico, Carvajal also played significant roles in the fight for Texas's independence and the ill-fated Republic of the Rio Grande. Carvajal's life and exploits have been largely overlooked - here, he is restored to his rightful place among the visionaries who shaped modern Texas.By Charles V. Gruzanski. 1967
This handy volume introduces the exciting and deadly secrets of two ninja arts- the chain and the shuriken. The Masaki…
school of chain fighting was developed in the feudal society of the early eighteenth century by a swordsman-sentry in Edo (Tokyo) Castle. Feeling that the shedding of blood in such a hallowed place would be disgraceful, he devised the combat use of the weighted chain . Even the name he gave to the art proves the trust he placed in its effectiveness- manrikigusari (chain with the power of ten thousand). The equally devastating art of shuriken, the throwing of metal stars and spikes, evolved shortly after manrikigusari. The easily concealed shuriken soon became known as an extremely effectiveweapon for both ninja and samurai warriors.By Ben Hughes. 2010
In 1815, just after the battle of Waterloo, over 6,000 British volunteers sailed across the Atlantic to aid Simon Bolivar…
in his liberation of Gran Columbia from her Spanish oppressors. The expeditions were plagued with disaster from the start, when one ship sank shortly after leaving Portsmouth with the loss of almost 200 lives. Those who reached the New World faced disease, wild animals, mutiny and desertion. Conditions on campaign were appalling, massacres were commonplace, rations crude, pay infrequent and supplies insufficient. Nevertheless, those who endured made key contributions to Bolivar's success. This book tells the fast-paced and entertaining story of the British volunteers from the raising of the regiments in Britain to the perils of campaigning to their defiant stand at the battle of Carabobo. Drawing on the volunteers' memoirs, letters and journals, supported by unpublished documents and newspaper reports, Conquer or Die! is the result of research across two continents. It is the first narrative on the subject for over eighty years.From the Hardcover edition.By Martina Sprague. 2011
War is a human activity, not one that is limited by geographic location. And the principles of war are the…
same, regardless of place or number of participants. An army of ten thousand engaged in battle uses the same basic strategies that two people in single combat will utilize.In Lessons in the Art of War, author Martina Sprague explores the writings of both Sun Tzu, the famous Chinese military strategist, and Carl von Clausewitz, the European military genius. Despite the differences in time period, geographic location and culture, both Sun Tzu and von Clausewitz had achieved extraordinary understanding of human nature and how that relates to combat. Sprague takes the similarities and differences in their respective strategies and distills them down to their essence for martial artists to understand and incorporate into their personal practices.By Thomas Cleary, Oscar Ratti. 1999
Code of the Samurai is a four-hundred-year-old explication of the rules and expectations embodied in Bushido, the Japanese way of…
the warrior. Bushido has played a major role in shaping the behavior of modern Japanese government, corporations, society, and individuals, as well as in shaping the modern martial arts within Japan and internationally. The Japanese original of this book has been one of the primary sources on the tenets of Bushido, a way of thought that remains fascinating to modern world, East and West.By Yoshindo Yoshihara, Hiroko Kapp, Leon Kapp. 1945
In The Art of the Japanese Sword, master swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara offers a comprehensive view on the making, finishing and…
appreciation of Japanese blades.The Japanese sword, a unique work of art in steel, can be appreciated from a number of viewpoints. Its functionality as a weapon, the sophisticated metallurgy and scientific thinking utilized by the swordsmith, the shape of the blade itself, and the different crystalline forms in the steel all contribute to the beauty of these remarkable weapons. The Art of the Japanese Sword conveys to the reader a basic background regarding the Japanese sword, as well as an explanation of how to view and appreciate a blade. It also illustrates the details of how a sword is made and finished today.Modern craftsmen use completely traditional methods from the past to prepare their steel, forge the sword and create the unique hardened edge. By gaining a good understanding of how a sword is actually made, the reader will be able to appreciate the Japanese sword more fully.By A. D. Rosenberg, Catherine Huang. 2011
Women and The Art of War helps women find the peaceful path to success through strategies made famous in the…
ancient Chinese text, The Art of War. Female wisdom, or common sense, is about avoiding needless confrontation, conserving energy for the things that matter, and seeking an outcome in which everyone wins. And for women, as for Sun Tzu, success doesn't come simply from knowing what to do, but from knowing who you are.Women and the Art of War will help you discover how to use your natural abilities to find your path. It will help you consider what you want to achieve and why you want to achieve it. Covering Sun Tzu's timeless principles point by point in a conversational and friendly tone, Women and the Art of War shows you how you can find your strengths, meet your weaknesses head-on, deal with obstacles and forge your own unique identity through your career and personal life. Whatever your path, this book will give you strategies, tactics, and practical examples you need to increase your probability of success--and enjoy the process.By Thomas Cleary. 2009
One of the best known translators of the wisdom of Asia, Thomas Cleary now adds a new book to his…
samurai canon with Samurai Wisdom, new translations of five classic works on bushido. His previous works, Code of the Samurai and Soul of the Samurai, focused on the practical aspects and the more spiritual, Zen side of the samurai, respectively. Samurai Wisdom, authored by the scholar Yamaga Soko or his disciples, provides the core ideals and lessons that taught the samurai how to lead a proper life under the martial philosophy of bushido.Yamaga's writings inspired the transformation of the samurai from a feudal warrior class to a group with great intellectual, political and ethical leadership and influence. The classic works translated in Samurai Wisdom, despite being over 400 years old, are as timeless and applicable today as Sun Tzu's famous work, The Art of War.By Joseph E. Chance. 2006
Both a biography of the titular Mexican reformer and a study of the events that shaped the Mexican-U.S. border, this…
book examines the challenges faced by Carvajal during the turbulent decades of the early to mid-19th century. A key figure in the violent struggle against the conservative factions that controlled Mexico, Carvajal also played significant roles in the fight for Texas's independence and the ill-fated Republic of the Rio Grande. Carvajal's life and exploits have been largely overlooked - here, he is restored to his rightful place among the visionaries who shaped modern Texas.By Charles V. Gruzanski. 1967
This handy volume introduces the exciting and deadly secrets of two ninja arts- the chain and the shuriken. The Masaki…
school of chain fighting was developed in the feudal society of the early eighteenth century by a swordsman-sentry in Edo (Tokyo) Castle. Feeling that the shedding of blood in such a hallowed place would be disgraceful, he devised the combat use of the weighted chain . Even the name he gave to the art proves the trust he placed in its effectiveness- manrikigusari (chain with the power of ten thousand). The equally devastating art of shuriken, the throwing of metal stars and spikes, evolved shortly after manrikigusari. The easily concealed shuriken soon became known as an extremely effectiveweapon for both ninja and samurai warriors.