The new Spearhead series is designed to look at the cutting edge of war, dealing with units capable of operating completely independently in the forefront of battle. Each volume in the series examines a historic unit's origins, history, organization, order of battle, battle history, insignia and markings. The 21st Panzer Division gained greatest fame in North Africa, but also served in Normandy and on the Russian Front. Each Spearhead title includes an evaluation of the units combat effectiveness as seen by the unit, its opponents and subsequent researchers, and a research section including a bibliography and a listing of museums, websites, re-enactment groups and memorials.

Story of the foremost German mountain unit that saw action in Greece, Crete. Russia and Italy. The elite division was formed in autumn 1940 and was commanded by the charismatic Judus Papa Ringel until 1944.

Officially a part of the Luftwaffe, Germany's parachute units were organized into the 7th Flieger Division in July 1938 under General Kurt Student. In the German invasion of France and the Low Countries in 1940 the parachute units stunned the world and laid the basis for an airborne mystique that has endured to the present day. The division also fought in Norway, Greece and Crete before surrendering in Italy in 1945. Each Spearhead title includes an evaluation of the units combat effectiveness as seen by the unit, its opponents and subsequent researchers, and a research section including a bibliography and a listing of museums, websites, re-enactment groups and memorials.

Initially Hitler's personal bodyguard-a 120-man SS guard that formed a cordon around him at the Nuremberg rallies, it became the Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler in 1933 under SS-Obengruppenführer Sepp Dietrich. It took a leading role in internal affairs but also took on a military role during the war, as a motorized regiment during the invasion in Poland, the Low Countries, and France; a brigade during the conquest of the Balkans; a motorized division during Operation "Barbarossa"; and an SS-Panzergrenadier Division during 1942. In 1943 it reformed in Italy becoming 1st SS-Panzerdivision Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, and fought in Italy and Russia before being transferred to Normandy. Destroyed in the Falaise Pocket, a further refit saw it in action again in the Ardennes, before moving to Hungary. What was left of the division finally surrendered to US forces at Linz.

The oldest continuously serving division in the U.S. Army, the 1st Infantry Division, called the "Big Red One" because of the red numeral "1" on the uniform shoulder patch, was the first regular army division organized in June 1917 to fight in France with the Allied armies. More than 28,000 men-including soldiers with very familiar names like George C. Marshall, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. and Lesley J. McNair-served with the division in World War I. The Big Red One was redesignated on 15 May 1942 as an infantry division of nearly 15,000 men. It was selected for participation in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, landing in Algeria on 8 November 1942. It then fought through Sicily, leaving the theatre to train for the invasion. It was part of the forces that landed on D-Day and then fought with distinction through Europe. 1st Infantry Division's battle honors are Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, the Bulge, Germany. Postwar, the division served in Europe, Vietnam, Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Bosnia. It's currently based in Germany.

The 7th U-Boat Flotilla - 'Wegener' - was formed in Kiel in June 1938 with six boats, only one of which survived operationally to the end of the war. Early war action from Kiel changed completely after the fall of France when the flotilla moved to St Nazaire, where it would remain until the Allied advances led its remaining boats to move to Norway.Some 114 boats saw service with the flotilla and most of them served in the North Atlantic where their operations almost brought Britain to its knees. The story of the flotilla starts with the story of the convoy predators; through the grim realities of the convoy system whose escorts benefited from Ultra decrypting of the Kriegsmarine's codes; the massacre of the U-boats attempting to halt the invasion of Europe; to the final coda as 14 boats escaped from St. Nazaire to Norway. Ian Westwell spent five years in the Royal Navy before becoming Curator of Weapons at the Royal Armouries. After a spell as a marine archaeologist he became Chief Curator at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West. He moved back to England to write full time in 2001.

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The US 2nd Armored Division, nicknamed 'Hell on Wheels', fought with distinction in the ETO and was the first US division to reach the Elbe and to enter Berlin. It was commanded by the charismatic MajorGeneral George S. Patton from January 1941 to February 1942. Elements of 2nd Armored first saw action in North Africa, landing at Casablanca, and later taking part in the fighting at Beja, Tunisia, but the division as a whole did not enter combat until the invasion of Sicily, where it performed well. After the Sicilian campaign, the division trained in England for the invasion of Normandy, landing on D+3, and going into action near Carentan; it would go on to play a significant role in the Falaise Gap battles, subsequently racing across France through Belgium and into Germany at Schimmert on 18 September 1944. The division also played an important role during the Ardennes offensive, blunting the German Fifth Panzer Army's penetration of American lines.

The first British special forces were the Independent Companies sent to Norway to prevent the Germans setting up U-boat bases. Following the loss of Norway and Churchill's 'butcher and bolt' order of summer 1940, the first (army) Commandos were developed. Other raids on the coastlines of occupied Europe would take place - including the disaster of Dieppe and the raid on St. Nazaire. The early amphibious raids by the Commandos between 1940 and 1942 pointed up to the obvious need for better intelligence and control on the beaches. So, specialized 'beach parties' were formed and tried during Operation 'Ironclad' to capture the port of Diego Suarez at the northern tip of Madagascar 5/7 May l942. This proved so successful that the RN Commandos (sometimes known as 'Beachhead Commandos') were formed. They took part in all the main amphibious operations from then on - including Dieppe, Torch, Husky, taking the islands of Monte Cristo, and Pantelleria in June l943, Salerno and Anzio, the capture of the Island of Elba, landings on the Arakan coast, Overlord, the capture of Walcheren and crossing the Rhine at Arnhem, Elsewhere, Commandos performed with great glory in the Desert War and in the Middle East, where Nos. 50, 51 and 52 Commandos fought in the battle of Crete, and in actions in Eritrea and Abyssinia. In the, by now, well established Spearhead format, this latest book is packed with images and data on one of Britain's premier elite units in the Second World War

Ever since the first railways it has been necessary to ensure than two trains do not attempt to occupy the same section of track at the same time. At first, control was rudimentary, but as steam replaced the horse and trains became faster, signalling systems quickly developed. However, it was not until a tragic accident occurred at Armagh in 1889 that legislation regarding train control began to take effect. Today, centralised control and a high degree of automation are used, with some metro lines even running without drivers.First published in 1998 and quickly reprinted, this new and fully revised second edition will be warmly welcomed by all enthusiasts. This brilliant book gives a detailed history of the development of railway signalling, from the earliest days through the introduction of the disc and crossbar signal, to semaphores and colour lights and all the modern communications systems of the 1990s. Compiled by two highly regarded railway authors who have had a life-long interest in signalling and the safe operation of railways, this impressive volume should be in the library of all serious railway enthusiasts. The writers show that Britain's railways, already the safest form of travel, continue to strive for absolute safety but, despite the best part of 200 years of experience, things can still go disastrously wrong! Providing an enormous breadth of coverage, this is the one book you simply must have to accurately chronicle Britain's signalling history.

The Brandenburgers were made up initially from Abwehr volunteers, as a commando force to seize vital objectives such as bridges and tunnels, until the arrival of leading units of the German main force. This book covers organization and actions, including a pre-war action in Poland in August 1939, their assault on the Low Countries in 1940, on the Eastern Front, operations in Iraq and Iran, Afghanistan and India and use in North Africa. The 'Spearhead' series is designed to look at the cutting edge of war, dealing with units capable of operating completely independently in the forefront of battle. Each volume in the series examines the chosen unit's origins and history, its orgainzation and order of battle, it's battle history theater by theater, its insignia and its markings. Also covered are biographies of the most important commanders of each unit. Each title ends with an assessment of unit effectiveness-as seen by the unit itself, by its opponents and the light of more recent historical research.

The new 'Spearhead' series is designed to look at the cutting edge of war, dealing with units capable of operating completely independently in the forefront of battle. Each volume in the series examines the chosen unit's origins and history, its organization and order of battle, its battle history theater by theatrer, its insignia and its markings. Also covered are biographies of the most important commanders of each unit. Each title ends with an assessment of unit effectiveness - as seen by the unit itself, by its opponents and the light of more recent historical research. The books also include a detailed reference section with a critical bibliography, a listing of relevant museums and web sites, information about reenactment groups and memorials. The British 7th Armoured Division will be remembered best by its small red shoulder flash that depicted Jaculus Orientalis-the Greater Egyptian Jerboa. Hardy, highly mobile and most at home in the desert, the human Desert Rats proved masters of desert fighting- as have their modern day descendants, the 7th Armoured Brigade, now operating in Iraq. As part of O'Connor's Western Desert Force, the Desert Rats helped to destroy the Italian forces that had started the war in the Western Desert-the Italian Tenth Army being completely defeated at Beda Fomm 5-7 February 1941; then they fought toe-to-toe with Rommel's feared Deutsches Afrika Korps in a seesaw campaign that ended in May 1943 with the surrender of Axis forces in North Africa. Next they were involved in one of the major amphibious landings of the war in Europe as part of the US Fifth Army at Salerno, fighting on northwards through Italy, until withdrawn back to UK, to take part in the Second Front as a vital component of the spearhead of British forces in Normandy, landing at Arromanches on 7 June 1944. They had to learn new skills in the close French bocage countryside, so different to the limitless space of the desert. And they did so the hard way with heavy losses at Villers-Bocage. From then on the division was hardly ever out of advancing across Europe from Lisieux in France through Belgium where it relieved Ghent and, finally, on to northern Germany where it took the surrender of Hamburg. These tough troops were then honored by being chosen to go to Berlin to take part in the great Victory Parade of 1945. For all those interested in military history, the new 'Spearhead' series is an excellent account of each of the individual units. Written by acknowledged experts in the subject, each volume is a detailed account of the development and operational record of some of the most famous military units in history.

The new ‘Spearhead’ series is designed to look at the cutting edge of war, dealing with units capable of operating completely independently in the forefront of battle. Each volume in the series examines the chosen unit’s origins and history, its organisation and order of battle, its battle history theatre by theatre, its insignia and its markings. Also covered are biographies of the most important commanders of each unit. Each title ends with an assessment of unit effectiveness—as seen by the unit itself, by its opponents and the light of more recent historical research. The books also include a detailed reference section with a critical bibliography, a listing of relevant museums and web sites, information about re-enactment groups and memorials. On 27 July 1936, Adolf Hitler sent the Nationalists 26 German fighter aircraft. He also sent 30 Junkers 52s from Berlin and Stuttgart to Morocco. Over the next couple of weeks the aircraft transported over 15,000 troops to Spain. In September 1936, Lieutenant Colonel Walther Warlimont of the German General Staff arrived as the German commander and military adviser to General Francisco Franco. The following month Warlimont suggested that a German Condor Legion should be formed to fight in the Spanish Civil War. Hitler gave permission and the initial force consisted a Bomber Group of three squadrons of Ju52 bombers; a Fighter Group with three squadrons of He51 fighters; a Reconnaissance Group with two squadrons of He99 and He70 reconnaissance bombers; and a Seaplane Squadron of He59 and He60 floatplanes. Under the command of General Hugo Sperrle, the legion was an autonomous unit responsible only to Franco. Initially equipped with around 100 aircraft and 5,136 men, the legion would eventually total nearly 12,000 men and include ground forces. Naval units (especially Deutschland) took part, too. Sperrle demanded higher performance aircraft from Germany and he eventually received the Heinkel He111, Junkers Stuka and the Messerschmitt Bf109—Spain being the perfect testing ground for this new equipment. The Condor Legion participated in all the major engagements including Brunete, Teruel, Aragon and Ebro. During the war it threw up a number of important names—such as Werner Moelders, credited with fourteen kills, more than any other German pilot and Adolf Galland. It also allowed the Germans to practise the tactics that Blitzkrieg would make famous, such as close-air support. In the Asturias campaign in September 1937, Galland experimented with new bombing tactics. This became known as carpet bombing. German aircraft dropped 16,953,700 kilos of bombs during the war and air units expended 4,327,949 rounds of machine-gun ammunition—the most obvious casualty was the market town of Guernica whose obliteration has been immortalised by Picasso. A total of 19,000 Germans served in the Spanish Civil War. Of these, 298 were lost, with 173 being killed by the enemy. This included 102 aircrew, 27 fighter pilots and 21 anti-aircraft crew. A large number were killed in accidents and others died of illness. The Condor Legion lost 72 aircraft to enemy action. Another 160 were lost in flying accidents. The Condor Legion returned home in 1938 and there was a big parade through Berlin to commemorate its success. For all those interested in military history, the new ‘Spearhead’ series is an excellent account of each of the individual units. Written by acknowledged experts in the subject, each volume is a detailed account of the development and operational record of some of the most famous military units in history

The new ‘Spearhead’ series is designed to look at the cutting edge of war, dealing with units capable of operating completely independently in the forefront of battle. Each volume in the series examines the chosen unit’s origins and history, its organisation and order of battle, its battle history theatre by theatre, its insignia and its markings. Also covered are biographies of the most important commanders of each unit. Each title ends with an assessment of unit effectiveness—as seen by the unit itself, by its opponents and the light of more recent historical research. The books also include a detailed reference section with a critical bibliography, a listing of relevant museums and web sites, information about re-enactment groups and memorials. On 1 July 1965 the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was officially activated and was ordered to Vietnam beginning 28 July 1965. In a matter of three and half weeks the newly formed division, with 16,000 men and 434 helicopters—Chinooks (CH-47s), Flying Cranes (CH-54s), Mohawks (OV-1s), UH-1s and OH-13s—was prepared to enter combat. Within 90 days of becoming the Army's first airmobile division, the ‘First Team’ was in combat as the first fully committed division of the Vietnam War. On 10 October 1965, in Operation ‘Shiny Bayonet’, the First Team initiated its first brigade-size airmobile action against the enemy. The troopers had but a short wait before they faced a tougher test of their fighting skills—the 35-day Pleiku Campaign, an air assault mission to pursue and fight the enemy across 2,500 square miles of jungle. Troopers swooped down on the NVA 33rd Regiment before it could get away, scattering and quickly smashing it. Five days later, on 14 November, the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry air-assaulted into the Ia Drang where the division’s first medal of honor in the Vietnam War was awarded. When the Pleiku Campaign ended on 25 November, troopers of the ‘First Team’ had paid a heavy price for its success, having lost some 300 killed in action, half of them in one disastrous ambush. Bloody but unbowed, the division would go on to take part in many more air assaults and play a leading role in defence against the Tet offensive, driving out the NVA and Viet Cong invaders from Hue and, in Operation ‘Pegasus’, relieving the 3,500 U.S. Marines and 2,100 ARVN soldiers besieged by nearly 20,000 enemy at Khe Sanh. On 1 May 1970, the ‘First Team’ was ‘First into Cambodia’ hitting what was previously a Communist sanctuary but the campaign had severe political repercussions for the Nixon Administration. Pressure was mounting to withdraw US forces from the war. Although there would be further assault operations, the war was beginning to wind down and 26 March 1971 officially marked the end of duties in Vietnam for the 1st Cavalry Division, although it was only on 5 May 1971 that the colours moved from Vietnam to Fort Hood, Texas. For all those interested in military history, the new ‘Spearhead’ series is an excellent account of each of the individual units. Written by acknowledged experts in the subject, each volume is a detailed account of the development and operational record of some of the most famous military units in history

The story of this elite German division which was for most of its life commanded by the charismatic Julius ‘Papa’ Ringel. It saw action in many theaters including the Balkans, Crete, the Eastern Front and finally Italy where it distinguished itself during the battles for the Gustav and Gothic defense lines

This title covers the many types and variants of PT-boats used by the US Navy in a variety of roles; originally conceived as anti-ship weapons, they were also used effectively to lay mines and smoke screens, the rescue downed aviators and to carry out intelligence or raider operations.

After the end of World War 2, the 101st remained in Germany on occupation duty before being shipped home, where the division was activated and deactivated three times as a training unit, before becoming heavily involved in action in Vietnam. Taking part in most of the bloodiest campaigns of the conflict, the 101st Airborne was the longest serving unit of the war, serving almost seven years in combat