Machine Guns-Rifles-Military Aircraft (An Illustrated History)

1. Machine Guns: An Illustrated History of Their Impact - by James Willbanks 2004

This is a look at the history of the machine gun and how it revolutionized modern ground combat. It provides technical details on all significant models of machine guns from their introduction in the late 1800s to the present and includes a list of machine guns in chronological order.

2. Rifles: An Illustrated History of Their Impact - by David Westwood 2005

From the musket to the M-16, rifles have played a major role in battle - sometimes tilting the scales in a pivotal moment of war. Yet all too often, poor decisions and ill-conceived "innovations" resulted in putting inappropriate weapons into ill-trained hands, with disastrous consequences. From the earliest muskets to the present-day assault rifles, combat rifles have been developed to offer ever-increasing range, accuracy, effectiveness, and ease of use. But the story of the deployment of the infantry rifle is not one of continuous progress. How is it that the weapons on the front lines have too often been neither what the soldiers wanted nor needed? Ranging primarily from the late 18th century to the present, this richly illustrated volume tells the fascinating, sometimes problematic, history of rifled weapons and ammunition for military use. Battle to battle, readers will see how faster-loading, more accurate rifles changed the battlefield. Readers will also encounter many instances where decision makers chose to issue rifles ill suited for the task at hand when better options were available. Author David Westwood has handled every weapon he describes, from muskets to breech loaders, from repeaters and bolt-action rifles to semi-automatic and self-loaders, His exhaustive research reveals new insights into both the successes and failures of rifled weapons. The result is a fresh look at a common weapon's most uncommon story.

3. Military Aircraft, Origins to 1918: An Illustrated History of Their Impact - by Justin Murphy 2005

An exper: examination of the evolution of military aviation and its profound impact on warfare-from the employment of balloons during the French Revolutionary wars to the use of aircraft in World War I. Humanity's aeronautical ambitions assumed an entirely new scope when aircraft were introduced to military warfare, taking battles into the third dimension and forever changing the way wars were fought. As a result, aviation technology underwent a dramatic transformation-one so powerful that during World War I, aircraft production exploded and aircraft speed, distance, and load capacity more than doubled. Military Aircraft, Origins to 1918: An Illustrated History of Their Impact is a detailed, authoritative exploration of the role and development of military aviation, from its beginnings to the conclusion of World War I. Military history scholar Justin Murphy carefully illustrates the impact of aircraft on military warfare, examines the different types of aircraft, and includes a wealth of photographs and descriptions. Organized thematically, the work covers everything from the origins of military aviation and the impact of aircraft on World War I to the role of reconnaissance missions, auxiliary aircraft, fighters, and bombers. Each chapter highlights key individuals, advancements in aviation technology, industrial organization and aircraft production, and the influence of aircraft on military tactics and strategy. Murphy also demonstrates how aircraft contributed to the development of total war and blurred the lines that had traditionally separated combatants and noncombatants.