Best Selling Books by Chris McNab

A fascinating insight into the world of World War II bomber operations through contemporary doctrine and training manuals.

This Pitkin Guide explores the reality, and unpacks the myths, of ‘Tommy’, the British soldier on the Western Front in the First World War. It looks at every aspect of his personal experience – uniform, kit, trench cuisine, health and hygiene, pay, training and weaponry. It conveys the horrors of the early days of industrial warfare, from machine guns and artillery barrages to close-quarters combat within the enemy trenches and bunkers, and much much more.As well as the most visible aspects of the Tommy’s experience, it also delves into more hidden worlds, and answers key questions. What did the Tommy do on his rest periods behind the frontlines? What caused him to suffer from shell shock, and how was he treated? How was he punished for disciplinary offences? These questions and many more are answered through a factual narrative.

What would Europe have looked like if Nazi Germany had been victorious in World War II? Between 1933 and 1945, Hitler developed a vision for an infrastructure, architecture, race, labour force and Lebensraum - the acquiring of 'living space' - among many other plans. Some of these were implemented during his leadership as the German Wehrmacht expanded the Nazi sphere of influence, but what were the unrealized plans for a Europe dominated by the Third Reich? A racially based order would have been established across European Russia, with former German soldiers running farms worked on by slave labour. Germany and Japan were to carve up the Soviet Union and Asia between them. Berlin was to be rebuilt as Germania, a world capital city designed on grandiose, neo-classical lines. Arranged in chapters covering topics such as leadership, war, physical infrastructure, empire building, race, culture and weaponry, Germany's Secret Masterplan in World War II reveals the true scale of Hitler's vision for a Greater Germany and a world dominated by the Nazi ideology. Packed with easy-to-understand maps, diagrams, graphs and illustrations, Germany's Secret Masterplan in World War II is an essential reference guide for anyone interested in modern European history.

Launched in 1947, the AK-47 quickly became the standard Soviet Army rifle and has featured in almost every post-WWII conflict. AK-47 offers a complete, close up, and illustrated account of this incredible weapon. It includes the techniques of maintaining and firing the rifle, and a country-by-country account of the variants and copies produced. Most importantly, the book assesses the impact of the AK-47 on the battlefield, evaluating its performance, ammunition, and tactical usage.

The brilliant physicist who discovered quantum theory. This biography follows Max Planck from his childhood among a family of scholars through his first years as a professor and his search for answers to the fierce battles over quantum theory as he sort to get his revolutionary ideas accepted by his colleagues. Eventually, Planck was given recognition for his immense contributions and received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1918. While Planck's scientific career was filled with success after success, his private life was beset with tragedy, losing a wife, son and two daughters in middle age. In his later years, the Nazis came to power and he and his family suffered as he sought to protect Jewish scientists in Germany and resist Hitler in what ways he could. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Sirius Biographies series brings together entertaining biographies of leading figures within scientific world and beyond, tracing their lives, legacy and the pioneering ideas that made them world-famous.

Designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen, the Type 82 Kübelwagen and amphibious cousin 128/166 Schwimmwagen were kind to the Germans that the Jeep was the Allies and were widely used during World War II, the depths of winter the eastern front in the searing heat of the Libyan desert. Reliability and simplicity were key to their success. This legendary reputation forged during the war persisted thereafter: prized by collectors of military vehicles around the world, it is searched and restored. The author, Chris McNab, describes the development and detailed design and functionality, including mechanical level. A feedback on driving and operational maintenance describes the behavior of Kübelwagen and Schwimmwagen in combat. The book is illustrated with over 250 period photographs, technical drawings and detailed views restored copies.

Arranged by geographical region, Mountains features the greatest, most spectacular, and legendary mountains from every part of the world. Read about Mount Aconcagua, with an elevation of 2,831 ft, and the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere; Half Dome, the semi-spherical mountain that towers over the valley floor in Yosemite National Park; and Mount Olympus, reputed home of the Ancient Greek gods. Illustrated with outstanding color photographs, Mountains is a visual feast for those who want to gaze down from the roof of the world.

Germany's air force, the Luftwaffe, played a critical role in the Third Reich's victories in the early part of World War II, providing the airborne component of the German forces' irresistible Blitzkrieg ("lightning war") tactics that swept all armies before it from 1939 to 1942. Broken down by campaign and key battles within each theater of war, Order of Battle: German Luftwaffe in World War II illustrates the strengths and organizational structures of the Third Reich's air force, building into a detailed compendium of information. Full-color order of battle tree diagrams at Luftflotten, Gruppe, Fliegerkorps and squadron level help the reader quickly understand how and where bomber (Kampfgeschwader), fighter (Jagdgeschwader), dive-bomber (Stukageschwader), and reconnaissance (Aufklarungsgruppe) units were employed. Quick reference tables provide unit strengths, aircraft types, and base locations, while profile diagrams show typical numbers of aircraft at squadron level.

With the aid of superb line artworks, 'Special Forces Wilderness Survival Guide' demonstrates the core skills that the world's elite forces practice to survive in a wilderness environment.

A detailed study of one of the greatest tank battles since World War II, as some 950 Egyptian tanks confronted about 800 tanks of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the Sinai Peninsula. This momentous clash came to be known as the Six-Day War, and was a critical laboratory for two competing and contrasting systems of armored warfare. The Six-Day War in 1967 was a lightning Israeli campaign that changed the face of the Middle East. Israel's armored brigades, despite being heavily outnumbered on paper by Arab AFVs, managed to dominate the Arab forces tactically and technologically, through excellent gunnery and decentralized battlefield leadership. The fighting took place on three different fronts: the Sinai Front, the Jordanian Front and the Golan Heights. Each presented its own unique set of tactical and terrain challenges, from the long-range battles between massed Egyptian and Israeli armor in the scorching flatlands of the Sinai Desert, to relatively close-quarters engagements across steep and narrow terrain in the Golan Heights. Not only did the Six-Day War see the direct clash of opposing Cold War tactical approaches, but also the direct confrontation of Western and Soviet MBTs. On the Israeli side, the IDF had the British Centurion, the American M48 Patton, the M51 Super Sherman, and the French AMX-13, although they focused their armored spearheads on the Centurions and Pattons. The Arabs' armored power was expressed through T-34/85s, T-54/55s, PT-76s and JS-3s (IS-3s). Each vehicle brought its own set of advantages and disadvantages, although ultimately it was the long-range tank-killing gunnery of the Centurion that often took the day. Drawing on compelling first-hand accounts from both unit commanders and individual crews, this Duel title explains the tactical and mechanical dynamics of one of history's greatest post-war armored engagements.

"For most people, the art of survival is all about how to cope when deprived of the comforts of home finding food and building shelter in the wilderness, for instance but there is quite a different set of survival skills required for city living. With danger seeming to lurk around every street corner, coping with the potential threats of a busy and unfamiliar city can pose a real challenge to the uninitiated. How to Survive in the City is an informative guide to overcoming the challenges of urban living, offering the reader a variety of tips and advice on how to be streetwise and overcome everyday problems including how to prevent muggings and avoid confrontations, how to unlock your house and car without keys, how to escape a burning building, how to negotiate public transport, road safety measures, and being alert to terrorist activities. Complete with more than 120 black-and-white illustrations that complement the text, this book is the perfect companion to surviving city life, whether you are a seasoned urban dweller or merely a day visitor."--Amazon.com.

Profiles several legendary creatures from myth and lore.

From volcanoes and lava flows to geysers and geothermal pools, from bird life to whale-watching, from national parks, verdant valleys to inland tundra, and from how waterfalls are used for hydro-electric power to Reykjavik’s city life, Iceland is packed with 200 spectacular colour photographs.

This book introduces readers to the best-equipped, most elite air force in the world and its unflagging mission to protect the citizens and interests of the United States. The U.S. Air Force (USAF) was only established in 1947 44 years after the Wright Brothers first flight; yet its aircraft, equipment, and power are unrivalled. Air National Guard squadrons monitor the skies over the United States. The USAF Space Command puts surveillance satellites into orbit around the Earth. And USAF Pacific Air Forces patrol 44 countries and over 100 million square miles of territory. Such roles demand elite personnel, and the USAF training programs for pilots and ground crew alike are among the most advanced in the world. Defending the Skies explores the USAF s origin, roles, and operations. See some of the USAF s most technologically advanced aircraft, and surveillance technology. Learn how USAF pilots train for combat and defense what it takes to join the Air Force. PUBLISHER S NOTE: Each title in this series contains a foreword from a noted security and antiterrorism expert who has served in the FBI, Marines, and police force, color photos throughout, and back matter that includes an index, chronology, and further resource lists of books and Internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series, encouraging library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content-rich nonfiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers can reference back to the definitions building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader s comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. Educational Videos provide links via QR codes to online video content that gives a multimedia dimension to the topics. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader s knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.

The brilliant initiator of a host of companies in tech, aerospace, and articifical intelligence among a range of business interests, Elon Musk is one of the world's most successful entrepreneurs and the world's richest individual. He is the founder of Zip2, X.com, SpaceX, and was an early investor in electric vehicles via Tesla Inc, as well as companies as diverse as SolarCity, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. This book examines Musk's background, his career, and how he created his business empire. This cogent but detailed study is an illuminating read for aspiring entrepreneurs or anyone looking to build a successful business.