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Ballistic-Missile Defence and Strategic Stability (Adelphi series #334)
by Dean A. WilkeningShould the US deploy ballistic-missile defences? The arguments for and against are becoming increasingly polarised. This paper offers what is currently lacking in the debate: a quantitative analysis of how well defences would have to work to meet specific security objectives, and what level of defence might upset strategic stability.
Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1
by Jon Guttman Harry DempseyTethered balloons reached their zenith as a means of providing a stationary observation platform above the battlefield during World War I. It took a special breed of daredevil to take on such odds deep in enemy lines in order to destroy a balloon, with Balloon specialists such as Willy Coppens, Pierre Bourjade and Michel Coiffard rising to the challenge. This book covers the story of these 'balloon busters' from both sides in World War 1 through a mix of first-hand accounts and expert analysis, which compares tactics, theatres of operation, aircraft types and the overall odds for success.
Balloons Of The Civil War
by L-Cmdr Steven D. CulpepperThis historical study investigates the military effectiveness and combat power of Civil War balloons. The categories inherent to military effectiveness include timeliness, accuracy, usefulness, operational considerations, and logistics. Limited by available material, especially those documenting Confederate efforts, this paper highlights the history of ballooning prior to the Civil War, and focuses on the Union balloon operations during the initial fall and winter of 1861-2, the Peninsular campaign, and Chancellorsville. The analysis of the measures of effectiveness from these three periods indicates the Union balloon corps amply validated its worth. War, however, is more than just a science. In this case, the "art" of warfare better explains the collapse of Thaddeus Lowe's organization after Chancellorsville. The first two modern implications of this case study involve both the unfavorable impact of personality, and the commander's influence on the assimilation of new technology. Are we better today at bringing on line the benefits associated with technology? The final point links to the concept of battle command. With the massive infusion of information available to the modern commander, are we still sending him to the lions without a whip?
Balloons and Airships: A Tale of Lighter Than Air Aviation
by Anthony Burton&“Looks at the brave (and sometimes foolish) men and women who were responsible for . . . the development of manned flight&” (History of War). This book tells the often dramatic and always fascinating story of flight in lighter than air machines. For centuries man had dreamed of flying, but all attempts failed, until in 1782 the Montgolfier brothers constructed the world&’s first hot air balloon. The following year saw the first ascent with aeronauts—not human beings but a sheep, a duck and a cockerel. But it was not long before men and women too took to the air and became ever more adventurous. In the 19th century, balloons found a new role in the military. But their use was always limited by the fact that they were at the mercy of the wind. There were numerous attempts at steering balloons, and various attempts were made to power them but it was the arrival of the internal combustion engine that saw the balloon transformed into the airship. The most famous developer of airships was Graf von Zeppelin, and the book tells the story of the use of his airships in both peacetime and at war. There were epic adventures including flights over the poles and for a time, commercial airships flourished—then came the disaster of the Hindenburg. Airships still fly today and ballooning has become a hugely popular pastime. &“Entertaining and informative . . . a series of interesting snapshots, giving a flavor of these challenging and daring exploits.&” —Flying in Ireland &“Absolutely enthralling.&” —Books Monthly
Baltic Countdown: A Nation Vanishes
by Peggie BentonA firsthand account of Latvia during World War II: &“A British diplomat&’s wife&’s beautifully observed eye-witness account of the Soviet occupation.&” —Condé Nast Traveler With her husband in the British Foreign Service, Peggie Benton had already lived through the Nazi invasion of Austria in 1938 and had settled comfortably into the day-to-day life of Riga, the capital of Latvia. But the country&’s uneasy history with Russia and tensions brewing with Germany just prior to the outbreak of World War II meant their peace was not to last. In this compelling memoir, Benton captures both the small details of life in the city—the markets, the winter customs, the Baltic character—and the terrifying moments during the evacuation of Baltic Germans and the Soviet invasion that left the couple homeless and with an uncertain fate. Their world comes crashing down during the chaos of war, and the Bentons are forced to flee more than twenty-two thousand miles eastward across Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway to Japan, then through Canada to England, crossing both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.Baltic Countdown is a tribute to the people of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—their resilience through the trials of history and their never-ending hope of independence. &“An engaging account in its own right . . . A bittersweet memoir of a city on the edge of disaster. Her compelling depiction of Riga and its inhabitants conjures up a world that is almost unknown in the West.&” —Studies in Intelligence, CIA journal
Baltic Mission: Number 7 in series (Nathaniel Drinkwater #7)
by Richard WoodmanCaptain Nathaniel Drinkwater's frigate, HMS Antigone, is ordered to the Baltic Sea in the spring of 1807 as Napoleon's grip has begun to reach across Europe to the borders of Holy Russia. As country after country falls under the weight of French domination, Captain Drinkwater is faced with the challenges brought about by military disaster and diplomatic intrigue. On board the Antigone, Drinkwater is threatened by the seething discontent of his crew and the instability of his drunken first lieutenant. Drinkwater's task is to cooperate with his country's allies and intelligence agents. When a coded message is intercepted, his mission suddenly becomes one of extreme personal danger. As the fate of Europe is being decided, Drinkwater must carry out his mission in the face of his old enemy. This final confrontation brings him to the brink of death.
Bamboo Battleground (Criminal Investigation Detachment #3)
by Don BendellThe Criminal Investigation Detachment returns-to stop a traitor.<P><P> Al-Qaeda has moved its training facilities from the Middle East to the Far East-and is testing American forces for weakness all along the Pacific Rim. But when undercover operatives Major Bobby Samuels and Capt. Bo Devore are sent to investigate, they uncover a secret that leads right back to the halls of power in Washington, D.C.
Bamboo Terror
by William RossEx-U.S. Army intelligence officer, Michael Hazzard, and the only foreign private detective in Japan, is offered $10,000 to deliver a cheap $5.00 string of Buddhist prayer beads to someone in Saigon, who will be identified by the phrase, "There is terror in the bamboo only for the wicked." When he finally agrees, he finds himself the target in a bizarre plot of Oriental intrigue when he is taken hostage and brought to a guerrilla camp in the jungles of North Viet Nam.
Bamboo Terror
by William RossEx-U.S. Army intelligence officer, Michael Hazzard, and the only foreign private detective in Japan, is offered $10,000 to deliver a cheap $5.00 string of Buddhist prayer beads to someone in Saigon, who will be identified by the phrase, "There is terror in the bamboo only for the wicked." When he finally agrees, he finds himself the target in a bizarre plot of Oriental intrigue when he is taken hostage and brought to a guerrilla camp in the jungles of North Viet Nam.
Bamie: Theodore Roosevelt's Remarkable Sister
by Lilian RixeyTheodore Roosevelt’s daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth once remarked that if her “Auntie Bye” had been a man, she would have been the president.Anna Roosevelt Cowles was Theodore Roosevelt’s older sister by almost four years. She was nicknamed Bamie as a child. Her siblings, nieces, and nephews later called her “Auntie Bye” because she was always on the go.After overcoming a childhood disability, Bamie grew into a tower of strength for her immediate family and supported them throughout her life, especially after her father passed away. She also assisted her extended family at every opportunity.Throughout his life, Bamie was Theodore’s close confidante and political advisor, as well as a guiding force to other family members and friends. She was the only family member to encourage Theodore to enter politics. She planned her brother's political campaigns with Cabot Lodge and other Washington luminaries.She used her charm, perceptive judgment, and extensive contacts on both sides of the Atlantic to promote TR and his policies while and after she served as an unofficial ambassador to England.In Washington, Anna hosted regular luncheons and parties to help Theodore meet people and discuss issues with them. In fact, while he was president, Theodore was so often at his sister’s DC home that it was referred to as “the other White House”. He wrote her weekly letters, explaining he needed her help in clarifying his thoughts.Anna was a history-maker in her own right, helping to establish the US Army’s corps of nurses.Author Lillian Rixey was the grand-niece of TR’s White House physician and a journalist who was given access to unpublished material including a memoir that Bamie wrote for her son.This sparkling biography overflows with personal writings from the close-knit Roosevelt family and quotes from journalists and significant historical figures.
Band Of Brothers: The 2d Marine Division And The Tiger Brigade In The Persian Gulf War
by Major Craig A. TuckerThis monograph is an analysis of the impact of organizational culture on tactical joint warfare. The merger of the Tiger Brigade with 2d Marine Division during the Persian Gulf War serves as a laboratory for this analysis. The author researched after action reports, the papers of authors who have written on the Persian Gulf War and interviewed commanders and key staff of both units to determine whether differences in service culture reduced the combat effectiveness of either unit. This research is analyzed using a recently developed organizational theory that postulates that the human element is the most important and least understood factor in determining whether a merger between two organizations with different cultures will succeed or fail.This study concludes that the merger of the Tiger Brigade and 2d Marine Division was very successful. The key elements to that success were the relationship between the commanders, the effectiveness of liaison officers, the willingness of both units to learn from and understand the culture of the other and the amount of time available before actual combat to reduce cultural barriers.
Band of Brothers
by Alexander FullertonDanger and bravery at sea from thriller-master Alexander Fullerton. It is early autumn 1943 and a German U-boat supply ship is sailing under heavy escort from Le Havre to the Atlantic. A mixed force of torpedo boats from Allied Coastal Forces is ordered to intercept and sink her. Navigator Ben Quarry has other worries. His girlfriend, Rosie, is set on returning to occupied France as an SOE agent, and his former mistress, now the wife of his CO, Bob Stack, has embarked on an affair with another officer. Ben&’s got to tell him. But in the heat of battle, survival is everything… A standalone naval thriller from a writer who was there, Band of Brothers will keep you gripped, and is perfect for fans of Max Hennessy and Alan Evans.
Band of Brothers
by Ernest FrankelErnest Frankel’s Band of Brothers is a gripping and deeply human story of courage, camaraderie, and survival set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II. Focusing on the bonds forged in the heat of battle, this powerful novel captures the sacrifices and struggles of a group of soldiers who find strength in their shared mission and unwavering loyalty to one another.The story follows a diverse group of men thrown together in the crucible of war. From their grueling training to the front lines of combat, Frankel vividly portrays the physical and emotional toll of their experiences. As they face the horrors of battle, they also navigate personal conflicts, moments of humor, and the fragile hope of returning home.Through his richly drawn characters, Frankel explores the complexities of wartime relationships—the tensions, the deep friendships, and the unbreakable brotherhood that forms when lives depend on one another. Each soldier’s story adds a layer of depth to the narrative, painting a moving and multifaceted picture of war and its impact on the human spirit.With its unflinching realism and poignant storytelling, Band of Brothers is both a tribute to the resilience of those who served and a meditation on the cost of war. This novel is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, military stories, and anyone seeking to understand the enduring bonds that form in the face of adversity.
Band of Brothers or Dysfunctional Family? A Military Perspective on Coalition Challenges during Stability Operations
by Russell W. GlennDuring stability operations, coalitions must incorporate participation by government agencies other than the military, the indigenous government, and its population more than is expected during conventional combat operations. This book investigates challenges confronting coalitions today and considers potential solutions that include questioning the conception of what constitutes a coalition in today's world.
Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest (American History Ser.)
by Stephen E. Ambrose<p>They fought on Utah Beach, in Arnhem, Bastogne, the Bulge; they spearheaded the Rhine offensive and took possession of Hitler's Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden. Easy Company, 506th Airborne Division, U.S. Army, was as good a rifle company as any in the world. From their rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to D-Day and victory, Ambrose tells the story of this remarkable company, which kept getting the tough assignments. <p>Easy Company was responsible for everything from parachuting into France early D-Day morning to the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden. <i>Band of Brothers</i> is the account of the men of this remarkable unit who fought, went hungry, froze, and died, a company that took 150 percent casualties and considered the Purple Heart a badge of office. Drawing on hours of interviews with survivors as well as the soldiers' journals and letters, Stephen Ambrose tells the stories, often in the men's own words, of these American heroes.</p>
Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest (American History Ser.)
by Stephen E. AmbroseStephen E. Ambrose&’s classic New York Times bestseller and inspiration for the acclaimed HBO series about Easy Company, the ordinary men who became the World War II&’s most extraordinary soldiers at the frontlines of the war's most critical moments. Featuring a foreword from Tom Hanks.They came together, citizen soldiers, in the summer of 1942, drawn to Airborne by the $50 monthly bonus and a desire to be better than the other guy. And at its peak—in Holland and the Ardennes—Easy Company was as good a rifle company as any in the world.From the rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to the disbanding in 1945, Stephen E. Ambrose tells the story of this remarkable company. In combat, the reward for a job well done is the next tough assignment, and as they advanced through Europe, the men of Easy kept getting the tough assignments.They parachuted into France early D-Day morning and knocked out a battery of four 105 mm cannon looking down Utah Beach; they parachuted into Holland during the Arnhem campaign; they were the Battered Bastards of the Bastion of Bastogne, brought in to hold the line, although surrounded, in the Battle of the Bulge; and then they spearheaded the counteroffensive. Finally, they captured Hitler's Bavarian outpost, his Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden.They were rough-and-ready guys, battered by the Depression, mistrustful and suspicious. They drank too much French wine, looted too many German cameras and watches, and fought too often with other GIs. But in training and combat they learned selflessness and found the closest brotherhood they ever knew. They discovered that in war, men who loved life would give their lives for them. This is the story of the men who fought, of the martinet they hated who trained them well, and of the captain they loved who led them. E Company was a company of men who went hungry, froze, and died for each other, a company that took 150 percent casualties, a company where the Purple Heart was not a medal—it was a badge of office.
Band of Sisters: A Novel
by Lauren Willig"A crackling portrayal of everyday American heroines…A triumph." — Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue A group of young women from Smith College risk their lives in France at the height of World War I in this sweeping novel based on a true story—a skillful blend of Call the Midwife and The Alice Network—from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig.A scholarship girl from Brooklyn, Kate Moran thought she found a place among Smith’s Mayflower descendants, only to have her illusions dashed the summer after graduation. When charismatic alumna Betsy Rutherford delivers a rousing speech at the Smith College Club in April of 1917, looking for volunteers to help French civilians decimated by the German war machine, Kate is too busy earning her living to even think of taking up the call. But when her former best friend Emmeline Van Alden reaches out and begs her to take the place of a girl who had to drop out, Kate reluctantly agrees to join the new Smith College Relief Unit.Four months later, Kate and seventeen other Smithies, including two trailblazing female doctors, set sail for France. The volunteers are armed with money, supplies, and good intentions—all of which immediately go astray. The chateau that was to be their headquarters is a half-burnt ruin. The villagers they meet are in desperate straits: women and children huddling in damp cellars, their crops destroyed and their wells poisoned. Despite constant shelling from the Germans, French bureaucracy, and the threat of being ousted by the British army, the Smith volunteers bring welcome aid—and hope—to the region. But can they survive their own differences? As they cope with the hardships and terrors of the war, Kate and her colleagues find themselves navigating old rivalries and new betrayals which threaten the very existence of the Unit.With the Germans threatening to break through the lines, can the Smith Unit pull together and be truly a band of sisters?
Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq
by Kirsten HolmstedtIn Iraq, the front lines are everywhere . . . and everywhere in Iraq, no matter what their job descriptions say, women in the U. S. military are fighting - over 155,000 of them. A critical and commercial success in hardcover, Band of Sisters presents a dozen groundbreaking and often heart-wrenching stories of American women in combat in Iraq, such as the US's first female pilot to be shot down and survive, the military's first black female pilot in combat, a young turret gunner defending convoys, and a nurse struggling to save lives, including her own.
Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq
by Kirsten HolmstedtTwelve American women serving in the military share their gripping personal stories of combat in Iraq. In Iraq, the front lines are everywhere—and everywhere in Iraq, no matter what their job descriptions say, women in the U.S. military are fighting. More than 155,000 of them have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003—four times the number of women sent to Desert Storm in 1991. More than 430 have been wounded and over seventy killed—almost twice the number of American women killed in action in Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm combined. But should women be in combat? Do they have what it takes to be warriors? Compelling questions once, but now empty because, more than ever, American women are in combat, and they are warriors. The real question is: What are their experiences of war? We haven&’t heard their stories—until now. Band of Sisters presents a dozen groundbreaking and often heart-wrenching stories of American women in combat in Iraq, such as the U.S.&’s first female pilot to be shot down and survive, the military&’s first black female pilot in combat, a young turret gunner defending convoys, and a nurse struggling to save lives, including her own. As one female service member said, &“We love our country as much as any man, and we have made the same sacrifices as our brothers in arms.&” Band of Sisters reveals those sacrifices for the first time. Praise for Band of SistersWinner of the 2007 American Authors Association Golden Quill AwardWinner of the 2007 Military Writers Society of America Founder's Award&“An insightful, intimate portrait of America&’s fighting women in Iraq. This is must reading.&” —Charles Jones, author of Red, White, or Yellow?: The Media and the Military at War in Iraq &“Lyrical, visceral, and potent. Kirsten Holmstedt sets a peerless standard as a raconteur with powerful stories of the valor of today&’s women in combat.&” —David J. Danelo, author of Blood Stripes and The Border&“This overdue account . . . reads a swiftly as a thriller, but the thrills here come from the real sacrifices and valor of America&’s fighting women.&” —Ralph Peters, author of Never Quit the Fight and Wars of Blood and Faith&“Inspirational and revealing.&” —Paul Riechkhoff, executive director, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and author of Chasing Ghosts
Bandit Mentality: Hunting Insurgents in the Rhodesian Bush War, A Memoir
by Lindsay O’BrienA former officer of British South Africa&’s anti-terrorist unit recounts his experiences on the frontlines of the Rhodesian Bush war from 1976–1980. A native of New Zealand, Lindsay &‘Kiwi&’ O&’Brien served in the British South Africa Police Support Unit&’s anti-terrorist battalion. He traveled across the country as a section leader and a troop commander before joining the UANC political armies as trainer and advisor. The BSA Support Unit started poorly supplied and equipped, but the caliber of the men, mostly African, was second-to-none. Support Unit specialized in the &“grunt&” work inside Rhodesia with none of the flamboyant helicopter or cross-border raids carried out by the army. O&’Brien&’s war was primarily within selected tribal lands, seeking out and destroying Communist guerilla units in brisk close-range battles with little to no support. O&’Brien moved from the police to working with the initial UANC deployment in the Zambezi Valley where the poorly trained recruits had to learn fast or die. O&’Brien&’s account is a foreign-born perspective from a junior commander uninterested in promotion and the wrangling of upper command. He was decorated and wounded three times.
Bandoola
by Lt.-Col. J. H. Williams O.B.E.Those who have read Elephant Bill will remember the wartime exploits of that magnificent creature Bandoola. Bandoola and his oozie, Po Toke, are the principal characters in this delightful successor to a famous best-seller. But there are many others whom the author met and knew in the course of his work of extracting timber from the teak forests of Burma; Willie, who preferred wine to women; Millie, who could read the droppings of elephants like books; reckless Gerry Dawson and desperate Rasher; and--among the most intriguing--Molly Mia, the dog which Elephant Bill controlled by telepathy and which helped to select a wife for him."Bandoola touches a peak as high as that achieved by Elephant Bill. His latest book of elephant-lore in Burma is enthralling"--Daily Telegraph"If Elephant Bill is as good as Bandoola it must be a very good book indeed"--Howard Spring
Bang Bang, Shoot Shoot! Essays on Guns and Popular Culture (Second Edition)
by Murray Pomerance John SakerisThe essays in this book all relate to movies or television in which guns played a significant role. The director's use of guns is explored and the statement he is trying to make is often analyzed.
Bangor in World War II: From the Homefront to the Embattled Skies (Military)
by David H. BergquistAs the specter of a second world war grew, so did Bangor's strategic importance in eastern Maine. National Draft Day saw 3,157 local men register to serve, and the city built up its Dow Field as the nation braced for war. Nearly 6,000 servicemen and women called Dow their home base throughout World War II. Organizations like the local Soldiers Welfare Council and the USO welcomed the troops even as women stepped into roles vacated by enlisted men and worked tirelessly to keep up the community's patriotic spirit. Bangor and its world-class air base stood strong at home as its native sons fought valiantly on the warfront.
Bankrupting the Enemy
by Edward S. MillerAward-winning author Edward S. Miller contends in this new work that the United States forced Japan into international bankruptcy to deter its aggression. While researching newly declassified records of the Treasury and Federal Reserve, Miller, a retired chief financial executive of a Fortune 500 resources corporation, uncovered just how much money mattered. Washington experts confidently predicted that the war in China would bankrupt Japan, not knowing that the Japanese government had a huge cache of dollars fraudulently hidden in New York. Once discovered, Japan scrambled to extract the money. But, Miller explains, in July 1941 President Roosevelt invoked a long-forgotten clause of the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 to freeze Japan s dollars and forbade it to sell its hoard of gold to the U.S. Treasury, the only open gold market after 1939. Roosevelt s temporary gambit to bring Japan to its senses, not its knees, was thwarted, however, by opportunistic bureaucrats. Dean Acheson, his handpicked administrator, slyly maneuvered to deny Japan the dollars needed to buy oil and other resources for war and for economic survival.Miller's lucid writing and thorough understanding of the complexities of international finance enable readers unfamiliar with financial concepts and terminology to grasp his explanation of the impact of U.S. economic policies on Japan. His review of thirty-seven studies of Japan's resource deficiencies begs the question of why no U.S. agency calculated the impact of the freeze on Japan's overall economy. His analysis of a massive OSS-State Department study of prewar Japan clearly demonstrates that the deprivations facing the Japanese people were the country to remain in financial limbo buttressed its choice of war at Pearl Harbor. Such a well-documented study is certain to be recognized for its significant contributions to the historiography of the origins of the Pacific War.
Banning the Bang or the Bomb?
by Mordechai Melamud Paul Meerts I. William Zartman Mordechai Melamud Paul MeertsThe Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), negotiated between 1994 and 1996, is the latest development in the nuclear arms control regime. It continues to serve a vital role in preserving the privileged status of the nuclear weapons states and barring the way to proliferation. Banning the Bang or the Bomb? brings together a team of leading international experts who together analyse its negotiation as a model of regime creation, examining collective dynamics, the behaviour of individual countries, and the nature of specific issues. The book offers practical guidance and training for members of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization future inspectorate to help negotiate their way during an on-site inspection (OSI) in an inspected state. This is a valuable resource for researchers and professionals alike that turns an analysis of what has happened into a manual for what is about to happen.