Best Selling Books by Chris McNab

In the absence of high-tech weapons, warfare in the ancient world was dominated by military commanders with innovative strategies. The strategic thinking of leaders led to some of the most stunning upsets the world has ever seen. Today, the Battle of Marathon or the conquests of Alexander still hold their rightful place among the most daring victories. This book describes the battles, leaders, and technology that cinched success, or ensured defeat.

The machine gun story

Highly illustrated, Native American Myths is an exploration of the beliefs and culture of North America’s first inhabitants divided into seven chapters, covering creation myths; people, family and culture; the natural world; ghosts and spirits; gods, demons and heroes; love, morality and death; and warfare.

Get Out Alive! How to Survive Anything, Anywhere is a complete handbook of the urban and wilderness survival skills practiced by elite U.S. and U.K. military units. Dr. Chris McNab has collected expertise from both sides of the Atlantic, and reveals the fundamentals of survival for every environment, from the subzero arctic to the scorching desert—and for every scenario, from being lost in a trackless wilderness to being under attack in a city. Each of more than 500 practical techniques is presented in easy-to-follow steps accompanied by 500 helpful illustrations that show you how to: Find your way in arctic, desert, jungle, or mountain terrain Identify edible plants Hunt, trap, and fish with jury-rigged tools Build fires and improvise cookware Locate underground water Construct shelters Perform first aid and use natural remedies for common diseases Stay safe in a car or on planes or trains, and know what to do in the event of an accident Keep your home safe—select security devices, construct a safe room, survive a house fire Defend yourself—know when to fight and learn realistic unarmed combat techniques Survive terrorist attacks—identify suspect packages, spot potential suicide bombers, take cover from explosions and gunfire And, above all, how to think like a true survivor—even when things are at their worst. Dr. Chris McNab is the author of Endurance Techniques (SAS Training Manual), Elite Forces Survival Guides, Living Off the Land, Martial Arts for Special Forces, and Urban Survival.

The Glock series of handguns represents one of the greatest steps forward in pistol design since the introduction of the Colt M1911. Illustrated with more than 200 artworks and photographs, Glock: The World’s Handgun is an expertly written account of one of the most influential handguns in the world today.

Submarine commanders in WWII dealt with both enormous risk and responsibility; charged with sinking enemy shipping while avoiding detection, they had to correctly locate and identify enemy craft, getting close enough to strike while attempting to safeguard the lives of their crew. It was a deadly game; the Germans lost over 600 U-boats during the war, and one in five submariners in the US Navy was killed, the highest proportion of any of the services. The Submarine Commander Pocket Manual gives a fascinating insight into life beneath the waves, and what was required to operate a submarine, from diving and surfacing to attack strategies and evading detection. From training manuals to combat reports and firsthand accounts, this volume has collated documents, diagrams and photos from American, British and German archives to demonstrate both the fascinating technical and tactical aspects of running a submarine, and the calm nerves needed to outwit your opponent and live to fight another day in the war at sea.

Surveys the training, tools, and strategies of Native American warriors from both large and remote tribes, examining their equipment, disparate combat techniques, and influence on European and American technology.

Learn how Native American tribes across North America waged war during European colonization, and how they adapted with things like horses, firearms, and stealth.

Driven by the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the insecurities it provoked in Saddam Hussein''s Iraqi dictatorship, the Iran–Iraq War would become the largest conventional conflict of the period. Curiously little-known considering its scale and longevity, the struggle between Iran and Iraq was primarily fought along the 1,458km border in a series of battles which, despite both sides being armed with modern small arms, armour and aircraft, often degenerated into attritional struggles reminiscent of World War I. Such a comparison was underlined by frequent periods of deadlock, the extensive use of trenches by both sides, and the deployment of chemical weapons by Iraq. Fully illustrated with specially commissioned artwork, this study investigates the organization, appearance and equipment of the ground forces of both sides in the Iran–Iraq War, including Iraq''s Republican Guards and Iran''s Pasdaran or Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The war resulted in stalemate with some half a million dead and at least as many wounded. The financial costs incurred in waging such a long and debilitating war were one of the spurs that led Saddam Hussein to invade Kuwait barely two years later, setting in motion one of the defining currents of recent Middle-Eastern history.

As explorers, traders, and settlers reached new areas of North America, Native Americans'' way of life came under threat. This volume gives a comprehensive look at the conflicts these tribes faced and the warriors who led them in battle. The book includes maps, full-color photographs, and engaging sidebars that paint a vivid portrait of Native American history.

Perhaps no period of Native American warfare is as familiar as the Powhatan tribe''s fight against British settlers in the early seventeenth century. The stories of Pocahontas, John Rolfe, and Chief Powhatan have been told and retold since that time. However, there are many more key figures from East Coast tribes, including the Cherokee, Seminole, and Creek, who shaped history through battle. This book highlights major conflicts and the warriors who fought to preserve their way of life.

Mental Toughness Training examines what it takes to be as mentally fit as a special forces soldier. The book explains why it is equally important to focus on stress management and mental discipline as it is to concentrate on physical exercises, and is an essential guide to testing and improving mental agility and resilience.

Passchendaele 1917 is the story of one of the most pitiless and iconic battles of the First World War, known today as Third Ypres. Fought over three tortuous months in 1917, the fighting raged through some of the worst physical conditions of the entire war, across battlefields collapsing into endless mud and blood. Eventually, more than 500,000 casualties bought front-line changes measured only in hundreds of yards. If you truly want to understand what happened and why – read Battle Story.

Elite Special Forces units are often assigned to the most difficult missions. They must be prepared for the challenges they will face. This means being skilled and physically fit, but it also means being mentally tough. During most basic-training programs, recruits will be yelled at by instructors, deprived of sleep, and forced to run for miles. Under these difficult conditions, they will be required to make constant decisions. Only the toughest recruits will graduate, and they need certain traits to make it through: • intelligence • self-control • courage • knowledge • resistance to pain and discomfort • team spirit

Discusses frogs, toads, and salamanders from around the world.

Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull are just two of the famous leaders of the plains tribes renowned for their prowess on the battlefield. This book looks at the military accomplishments of tribes living in the Great Plains of the United States and Canada. The book explores the integral role of warriors in Native American culture, describes prominent conflicts and wars, and provides biographical information about the warriors themselves.

"In addition to a detailed historical overview of firearms from the medieval period to the present day, the book also contains 350 entries on individual guns. Each entry explains the history of the firearm, plus a full specification."--Front flap of dustjacket

Fighting Techniques of the Oriental World describes how armies fought in the Far East, from the time of the Mongols to the Anglo-Chinese Opium Wars of the 19th century. Divided into five sections, the book examines the foot soldiers, mounted soldiers, generalship, siege and naval warfare, with maps illustrating key battles of the era.

Examines the features of the Madagascar hissing cockroach, the giant orb spider and the Goliath beetle and explains how they thrive in their envrionment.

The southwest tribes include the Apache, Navajo, and Pueblo. These tribes are known for their art, architecture, and fierceness in battle. This exciting book captures the richness of these tribes'' cultures and provides an in-depth look at the warriors and wars that shaped them.

How the Universe Works examines topics on the wider universe, from the Milky Way Galaxy to dark matter and the composition of the universe. Detailed illustrations and clear charts help explain these complicated topics.

World’s Worst Historical Disasters examines some of the most significant natural and man-made disasters in world history, from plagues, earthquakes, volcanoes, genocides and floods, to train and aeroplane crashes and much more.

In Europe, the early modern period lasted roughly from the fifteenth century to the eighteenth century. During this time, European nations expanded around the world and clashed in the process. This book demonstrates how successful military campaigns determined the European nations that would become superpowers. The book includes timelines, maps, and full-color photographs to create a vivid portrait of some of history''s most decisive battles.

Twice a year, 150 anxious recruits gather at SAS headquarters in the UK, their minds focused on one objective: to become soldiers in one of the world’s most elite regiments after nearly four months of the toughest military selection process in the world. This is an illustrated guide to the process of becoming one of the world’s best soldiers.

Exploring Space examines topics on the space exploration, from the first satellites to modern Martian rovers. Detailed illustrations and clear charts help explain these complicated topics.

An encyclopedic look at firearms.

When the lives of hostages are on the line, the soldiers of elite hostage-rescue units must act quickly and with skill. In a chaotic situation, soldiers must rely on their training, and each other, to save lives in danger. Take a look at how elite hostage-rescue units operate. Find out about the equipment that elite soldiers use and the training they must undergo. Learn about the different skills elite soldiers use, including: • fast-entry tactics through doors and windows using explosives. • building attacks using assault ladders and mountain-climbing techniques. • rescues from inside an aircraft. • negotiation techniques to calm a situation. • clues that tell when a terrorist is lying.

One of the most gruelling physical and mental challenges there is, the SAS selection process is designed to weed out unsuitable candidates and push the successful applicants to the very limits. This book takes a soldier''s view of the process, describing the build-up to the test, the gruelling endurance march and continuation training, during which the candidates surviving selection are taught all the basics they need to become good SAS soldiers.

A history of the AK-47; one of the most famous assault rifles ever produced. The author takes us from its origins as a replacement for the Red Army''s submachine guns through to its mass production and distribution.

With more than 120 black-&-white drawings and with easy-to-follow text, The POW How To Escape Handbook is for anyone who wants to know how to survive in the most stressful of circumstances and emerge a winner. Presented in a handy, pocketsize format, this is a book you could take with you into the field. And it could save your life.

This exciting volume explores the lives of Native Americans living in what is now Alaska and Canada. Many of these tribes lived in weather conditions that were inhospitable to settlers, at first. The book examines what happened when settlers and traders did make their way north, including the Beaver Wars and the French and Indian War.

Illustrated with 160 photographs, paintings, artworks and maps, The Crusades is a fascinating and accessible history from the first ill-fated expedition to the Christian Reconquista of Spain in the 15th century.

"This book describes the fighting techniques of the armies of East Asia, from the age of the Mongol expansion in the thirteenth century to the Anglo-Chinese Opium Wars of the mid-nineteenth century. The book explores the tactics and strategy required to win battles with the technology available, and illustrates how the development of such weapons changed the way battles were fought"--Publishers description.

Almost 300 small arms featured from the twentieth century, each one illustrated by a full-color artwork ...