Philip Kaplan

From monster to master, discover the history of the tank in this heavily illustrated book.When the first tank weapon appeared on the killing fields of World War I, it was as if ancient superstitions were reborn in the modern industrial world. Soldiers on both sides of the war had never seen such monstrous, rolling machines that could withstand the bullets hurled at them.While the tank may have lost some of the mystical aura it first carried onto the battlefield, it is still one of the most fearsome tools of warfare. Modern tanks have evolved significantly from their ponderous forefathers of the Great War; they now race across the battlefield at forty miles per hour wielding massive main guns and are specifically designed to withstand even the most savage attacks.Explore the history of this great war-machine in Philip Kaplans Tank, a lavishly illustrated book that tracks the tanks development and action over the decades since they first appeared on the Somme in 1916 through the Gulf War of 1991. From the earliest armored chariots to the most high-tech monsters of today, discover what makes these machines the masters of the battlefield.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Beginning in 1942, the Eighth Air Force began a precision bombing raid offensive deep into Nazi Germany, embarking from bases in rural England. Nearly 350,000 Americans were transplanted to English soil, joining their British colleagues for this joint Allied offensive. For many it was a period of great risk, and arguably the greatest adventure of their lives.With Wings As Eagles celebrates the heroics of these pilots and their missions. A lavishly illustrated, full-color, hardcover original, the narrative is the result of the authors exclusive interviews with many of the pilots and crew, as well as research from contemporary diaries, journals, and scrapbooks. Readers relive the nostalgia and vivid reminiscences of days of seemingly endless boredom and fatigue, the loneliness of soaring in an aluminum cocoon four miles over an intended target, and a surprising account of parachuting onto German soil and being captured by women and children.With Wings As Eagles relives the drama and history of an heroic era.

Discover the wartime experiences of the bomber boys in World War II.Flying bombers during World War II was a harrowing ordeal. Unlike the fighter jocks, who pit their skill and wits against each other in agile aerial combat, the bomber boys had to endure the fear and savagery of the air war with grim acceptancetheir only option to sit and take it. Manning lumbering machines that could not maneuver or defend themselves effectively, the aircrews had to rely on tight aircraft formations and their own bravery to survive the onslaught of enemy fighters and anti-aircraft artillery. Within these great planes, they developed bonds like no other; young men thrust together in a shared fate, risking their lives in slow-moving yet beautiful and powerful aircraft over the skies of numerous war zones, thousands of feet above the battlegrounds but no further away from the horrors.Fully illustrated with hundreds of color and black-and-white photographs, as well as dozens of interviews, Philip Kaplans The Bomber Aircrew Experience offers an intimate glimpse into the life and times of these wartime airmen. The bomber boys recount their harrowing missions over Germanys industrial heartland, paving the way for Allied victory in the Second World Wars European Theatre. Discover what it was like to man such planes as the great Flying Fortress and the Liberator, and what it was like for the British and Commonwealth boys flying night missions in the Lancasters, Halifaxes, and Stirlings. And then finally, learn about the development of the modern stealth bombers: the F-117 Nighthawk and the B-2 Spirit.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

There were two kinds of pilots involved in the action during the Second World War: those who took the lead, and the others who went along for the ride. The elite group of fighter and bomber pilots led the way in combat missions, racking up kills and destroying the enemys ability to fight. Experience was a big factor; the fliers who had been around the longest (and survived) learned all the tricks and made the most of that knowledge. They created expressions to help them stay alive and succeed in the unique arena of air combat and ways to win and succeed in situations when many of their colleagues did not. Reminders such as "Beware of the Hun in the Sun" and "Check Six" were meaningful warnings in air fighting and still are. "Situational awareness" about the flying and fighting environment was ingrained in the great air fighters.One of the greatest of the high-achieving fighter pilots of WWII was Adolph "Sailor" Malan, the legendary ace who set the standard for Allied pilots. He developed what he called Ten of My Rules for Air Fighting, which included points like "Always turn and face the attack," "Never fly straight and level for more than thirty seconds in the combat area," and "Go in quickly, punch hard, Get out!"High Fliers recounts the wartime careers of the pilots who used determination, intelligence, guts, and skill to find victory in the air.

See the excitement and danger of life on an aircraft carrier like never before.How does it feel to sit aboard a thirty-ton jet and be hurled over a ships bow at 140 miles per hour? And how does a deck crew coordinate its efforts to achieve such a feat every thirty seconds?Offering a rare glimpse of life aboard an aircraft carrier, The Bird Farm paints a vivid and often hair-raising portrait of military aircraft carriers and carrier crews, and of the planes and pilots who depend on them. Based on archival research and interviews with veterans and contemporary carrier personnel, this stunning volume tells the story of the aircraft carrierfrom the first ramshackle seaplane carriers to todays nuclear-powered supercarriersand celebrates their undeniable impact on modern warfare.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

The legendary Douglas DC-3 airliner was a technological breakthrough that changed the course of both civilian and military aviation. In the 1930s, passenger air travel was expensive, uncomfortable, and frequently unreliable. That began to change with the appearance of the handsome, thoroughly modern DC-3, the twenty-one-passenger twin-engine propeller-driven creation of Donald Douglas and his young California company. The first production models were sold to airlines for $90,000. The price climbed to $115,000 just before the United States entered the Second World War in December 1941. The new plane quickly became a favorite of passengers the world over, and it became the first truly profitable plane for the industry.The threat posed by the coming war made the US Army realize that a military version could handle the vital troop and cargo transport capability soon to be needed. The C-47 Skytrain was born and evolved into specialized versions with many nicknames: Gooney Bird, Dakota, and Puff the Magic Dragon. In WWII, General Dwight Eisenhower was so impressed he referenced it in his famous comment: ?The four pieces of equipment the most vital to Allied success in Africa and Europe were the bulldozer, the jeep, the two-and-a-half-ton truck, and the Douglas C-47.?Skytrain celebrates the long and distinguished career of this great plane.

Take someone with superior intelligence, unusual strength, perfect vision, catlike reflexes, exceptional marksmanship, and nerves of steel and you just might have what it takes. The fighter pilot had total control of an airborne vehicle traveling hundreds of miles an hour, and was capable of leaving a devastating path of destruction in his wake. Navigating with brains and stamina, making life-or-death decisions in the blink of an eye, these unique heroes succeeded or failed by their skill and wit. And although their planes have changed over the years from World War Is precarious contraptions made of wood, wire, and cloth; to the metal monsters of the second World War, and finally to sleek, computerized birds able to cruise at speeds that exceed Mach 1 fighter pilots still must out-think and out-fly opponents in a one-on-one contest where everything is at stake.Profusely illustrated throughout with action photos, paintings, memorabilia and mementoes, Lone Eagle is a vivid volume recalling the thrill of flying Spitfires, Phantoms, Zeroes, and other fighter planes throughout aviation history. Through engaging personal stories and remembrances, this book examines the combat missions and evolution of tactics gathered over the last 70 years, where every hour of every day was an unforgettable and marvelous experience.

See the secret and dangerous world of submarine life and warfare like never before.From the ingenious but impractical designs of seventeenth-century inventors through the nuclear-powered submarines of today, this heavily illustrated volume traces the history of the silent force and the elite corps of men who fought and often died beneath the waves. Though fully describing the development of the submarine, this books main focus is on the men who served from World War I through the Cold War. Drawing upon journals, memoirs, and interviews with submariners of the past and present, Philip Kaplan paints a vivid portrait of their lives and experiences. He describes the terrors of waiting for depth charges to explode and the triumph of a torpedo striking its target, as well as the fascinating world of day-to-day life on the sleek, modern boats.With nearly 250 photographs and dozens of interviewsand comprising part of an eight-book series exploring the history of tanks, bombers, and fighter planesthis oversized keepsake volume will appeal to anyone who has served in submarines or been fascinated by this unique service within a service.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Based on historic events, and frighteningly relevant to todays headlines -- a taut thriller about one American diplomats year of living dangerously in Tehran in the days leading up to the Iranian Revolution In the style of Alan Furst, this suspenseful thriller -- based on real events -- places an idealistic American diplomat in a turbulent, US-hating Tehran in the days leading up to the Iranian Revolution. Backed by the CIA, and trailed by a beautiful and engaging French journalist he suspects is a spy, David Weisemans mission is to ease the Shah of Iran out of power and find the best alternative between the military, religious extremists, and the political ruling class -- many of whom are simultaneously trying to kill him.

Spitfire, Mustang, Lightning, Thunderbolt in the darkest days of World War II, these legendary fighters escorted lumbering heavy bombers over enemy territory, providing protection, drawing cover, and taking on everything Germanys Luftwaffe could throw at them.Escort Pilot is the lavishly-illustrated celebration of these unique heroes, painstakingly researched and beautifully designed. It conjures up the lost world of these daring US, British, and other Allied pilots. Readers witness gripping, first-hand accounts of deadly dogfights over Germany, accompanied by warm, humorous personal reminiscences of life on the ground, accompanied throughout by hundreds of period photos and reproductions of vintage artifacts and keepsakes - many in full color.Filled with engaging anecdotes, little-known fighter lore, and a wealth of fascinating and colorful details youd expect from favorite, long-forgotten local pubs to personalized flight jacket artwork Escort Pilot is a richly evocative reminiscence of a heroic era and the larger-than-life personalities that inhabited it.

Este libro analiza la realidad que se esconde tras los mitos de los legendarios ases alemanes de la aviación de caza de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. El autor explica por qué solo unos pocos pilotos —aq

La historia de los mejores pilotos de la LuftwaffeEste libro analiza la realidad que se esconde tras los mitos de los legendarios ases alemanes de la aviación de caza de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. El autor explica por que solo unos pocos pilotos -aquellos para quienes el deseo de combatir se anteponia a todo- acumularon tal cantidad de victorias. Tambien analiza las habilidades que debe tener un buen piloto -una aptitud natural para el vuelo, punteria, agudeza visual- y el modo en que se desarrollaron las tacticas de caza. El libro recorre la historia de famosos y reputados modelos como el Messerschmitt Bf-109 y el Focke-Wulf Fw 190, y examina todas las caracteristicas, ventajas y desventajas de cada uno de ellos en el combate aereo.Philip Kaplan reune magistralmente una valiosa documentacion sobre las experiencias de pilotos como Werner Molders, Gunther Rall, Adolf Galland, Erich Hartmann, Hans-Joachim Marseille o Johannes Steinhoff, basadas en investigaciones de archivo, diarios, cartas, memorias publicadas e ineditas y entrevistas personales a los veteranos. Este es uno de los grandes libros sobre el arma aerea alemana durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial.