Elite

ELI038 - The NVA and Viet Cong

In 1940 Japan placed Vietnam under military occupation, restricting the local French administration to a figurehead authority. Seizing the opportunity, the Communists organised a Vietnamese independence league, the Viet Minh, whose armed forces became...

ELI043 - Vietnam Marines 1965–73

Osprey's survey of Marines during the second half of the Vietnam War (1955-1975). The period following World War II (1939-1945) saw a number of associated Marine Corps, three of whom fought together during the war in Vietnam from 1965 to 1973. These...

ELI067 - Pirates 1660–1730

The deeds and personalities of famous pirates have received significant attention in recent years: however, no detailed depiction of their vessels has ever been produced. This title redresses the imbalance, conducting a detailed exploration of the wide...

ELI069 - Buccaneers 1620–1700

Before the era of great pirates in the early 18th century, there was an even more bloodthirsty phase of attacks in the Caribbean known as the 'Buccaneering Era'. For over 50 years, English, French and Dutch buccaneers launched a series of devastating...

ELI087 - US Commanders of World War II (2)

This title, the second of two looking at US commanders of World War II (1939-1945), examines the combat careers, personalities, uniforms, dress and appearance of the key US naval and Marine commanders. These men played a crucial role in the defeat of the...

ELI096 - American Frontier Lawmen 1850–1930

In the 1840s, gold had officially been discovered in California, and many men made their way out West in search of riches. The early mining camps were dangerous places full of violence and crime. Law and order was needed, and the Vigilante Committee...

ELI101 - Austrian Commanders of the Napoleonic Wars 1792–1815

Throughout the Revolutionary (1792-1802) and Napoleonic (1799-1815) Wars, France's most consistent enemy on land was the Austrian Empire. Austria's huge armies played a central part in the several coalitions against France, from the 1790s, to the...

ELI107 - Buffalo Soldiers 1866–91

African-American soldiers played a decisive role in the US Army on the western frontier during the Plains Wars (1850-1891). First authorised by Congress in July 1866, they were organised into two cavalry and four infantry regiments, which were commanded...

ELI122 - World War II Infantry Tactics

Osprey's study of infantry tactics of the squads and platoons of World War II (1939-1945). Despite all technological advances, final mastery of any battlefield depends upon the tight-knit group of footsoldiers trained to manoeuvre, shoot and dig in. This...

ELI132 - German Commanders of World War II (2)

This is the second book in a two-part series about the German Commanders of World War II (1939-1945) and covers distinguished commanders from the Waffen-SS, the Luftwaffe and the Navy. The commanders covered include such famous names as Josef Dietrich,...

ELI136 - World War II Airborne Warfare Tactics

Osprey's study of air battle tactics of World War II (1939-1945). The delivery of entire divisions to battlefields behind enemy lines by parachute and glider played a significant part in the European campaigns of World War II. Despite notable successes,...

ELI139 - Knight's Cross with Diamonds Recipients

Osprey's examination of the recipients of the Knight's Cross with Diamonds award of World War II (1939-1945). On 1 September 1939, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was created by Hitler. It could be distributed to all ranks within any branch of the...

ELI149 - The Scottish Jacobite Army 1745–46

Osprey's examination of the Scottish Jacobite army during the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The heart of this book is the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie's army at Culloden. It strips away the myth and exposes the realities of life in the Jacobite rebel army...

ELI150 - World War I Gas Warfare Tactics and Equipment

Osprey's study of gas warfare tactics that were employed during World War I (1914-1918). Battlefield Gas was first employed in April 1915 at the village of Langemarck near Ypres. At 1700 hours the Germans released a five mile-wide cloud of 168 tons of...

ELI156 - World War II Combat Reconnaissance Tactics

Osprey's study of reconnaisance tactics of World War II (1939-1945). Combat reconnaissance, the practice of sending small groups of soldiers ahead of the main body of forces was employed by all of the major armies in World War II. They would either creep...

ELI164 - British Napoleonic Infantry Tactics 1792–1815

Osprey's study of Britain's infantry tactics used during the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815). The British Army's major campaigns against Napoleon were fought between 1808 and 1813 in the Peninsula (Portugal, Spain, and finally southern France), followed in...

ELI171 - American Civil War Railroad Tactics

Osprey's study of the battles fought on America's railroads during the Civil War 91861-1865). The American Civil War was the world's first full-blown 'railroad war'. The well-developed network in the North was of great importance in serving the Union...

ELI172 - Roman Battle Tactics 390–110 BC

By 390 BC, the organization of the Roman army was in need of change. Fighting in the Greek-style with a heavy infantry was proving increasingly outdated and inflexible, resulting in the Roman's defeat at the hands of the Gauls at the battle of Allia...

ELI183 - U-boat Tactics in World War II

Osprey's elite title on Germany's U-Boat tactics during World War II (1939-1945). At the start of the war, German U-boat technology vastly out performed that possessed by the Allies, and under the pressure of the war continual development helped keep...

ELI186 - Vietnam Infantry Tactics

Osprey's study of the evolving US, Viet Cong and NVA tactics at battalion level and below throughout the Vietnam War (1955-1975). Beginning with a description of the terrain, climate and the unique nature of operations in this theater of war, author...

ELI193 - World War II Winter and Mountain Warfare Tactics

Although prolonged warfare in subzero temperatures and/or at high altitude had occurred from time to time before 1900, the twentieth century saw an unprecedented emphasis on fighting in all terrains, seasons and weather conditions. Such conditions made...

ELI196 - Napoleonic Light Cavalry Tactics

During the Napoleonic Wars, all the major combatants fielded large numbers of light cavalry as Hussars, Dragoons, Chasseurs, Lancers, or even Cossacks. Ridley Scott's 1977 feature film debut The Duelists portrayed French Hussars. Light cavalry provided...

ELI203 - World War II US Navy Special Warfare Units

When the United States entered World War II, it was apparent that the war would only be won by taking the fight to the Axis, in the shape of large-scale amphibious landings. Accordingly, the US Navy developed several types of specialized unit to...

ELI204 - Sea Peoples of the Bronze Age Mediterranean c.1400 BC–1000 BC

Sea Peoples of the Bronze Age and Mediterranean features the latest historical and archaeological research into the mysterious and powerful confederations of raiders who troubled the Eastern Mediterranean in the last half of the Bronze Age. Research into...

ELI206 - Spetsnaz: Russia’s "Special" Forces

When the shadowy, notorious Spetsnaz were first formed, they drew on a long Soviet tradition of elite, behind-the-lines commando forces from World War II and even earlier. Throughout the 1960s-70s they were instrumental both in projecting Soviet power in...

ELI209 - Victory 1945: Western Allied Troops in Northwest Europe

Even when Western Allied troops gained a foothold in Normandy, World War II in Europe was far from over. The route to Germany's interior and the Nazis final surrender was long, arduous and blood-stained. The Wehrmacht's stubborn resistance and the...

ELI214 - World War II Infantry Fire Support Tactics

As infantry units advanced across Europe the only support they could rely on from day to day was that provided by the heavy weapons of their own units. While thundering tanks struck fear into the hearts of their enemies, it was the machine guns, mortars,...

ELI216 - Vietnam War US & Allied Combat Equipments

During the years of the Vietnam War, U.S. forces used three major types of equipment sets, with numerous modifications for particular circumstances. Different equipment was also used by Special Forces, the South Vietnamese, and other allied ground troops...

ELI220 - European Counter-Terrorist Units 1972–2017

The Munich Olympics massacre in 1972 was a shock awakening to the public. In the decades since, European countries have faced a wide range of threats from Palestinian and home-grown terrorists, to the more recent world-wide jihadists. The threats they...

ELI221 - Roman Standards & Standard-Bearers (1)

Roman unit standards played a important role, both ceremonially and on the battlefield. With the armies of the late Roman Republic and early Empire continually engaged on the frontiers, the soldiers selected for the dangerous honor of carrying them were...

ELI231 - Soviet Airborne Forces 1930–91

This title explores the history of the airborne troops, the elite striking arm of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, from their inception in 1930 until the fall of the USSR.Established in 1932, the Vozdushno-desantnye voyska (“air-landing forces," or...

ELI244 - Soldiers of Fortune: Mercenaries and Military Adventurers, 1960-2020

This highly illustrated title traces the development of mercenary soldiering, from individuals and small units in the African wars of the 1960s-90s to today's state-employed corporate military contractors. The phenomenon of mercenary soldiering has...

ELI245 - The Dutch Resistance 1940-45

Describes and illustrates the full range of Dutch resistance groups and German and collaborationist counter-resistance groups during the Nazi occupation in 1940-45. The Nazi occupation of the Netherlands was a complex, varied and bloody affair. Well-...

ELI246 - Gladiators 4th - 1st Centuries BC

This new study lifts the veil on the high-profile but often misunderstood gladiators of ancient Rome, from their origins to the dawn of the Principate. Originating in funeral rites during the Punic Wars of the 3rd century BC, the Roman gladiator games...