World War II Encyclopedia of Aircraft, Tanks & Warships : Over 1200 Illustrations

From the beginning of the panzer-led German blitzkrieg in September 1939 to the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki in August 1945, World War II Encyclopedia of Aircraft, Tanks & Warships is an accessible reference guide to the most important aircraft, armoured fighting vehicles, artillery and ships deployed by all armies during the world's most destructive war. Each weapon is illustrated with one or two accurate artworks – some of them cutaways – an authentic photograph, an authoritative history on its development, production and service history and a box panel of essential specifications. The book ranges from the mighty Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress which led the strategic bombing of Nazi-occupied Europe to the ever-adaptable Supermarine Spitfire and the Me 262 jet fighter, the first jet aircraft to see combat; from classic battleships such as the German Bismarck to the great aircraft carriers of the Pacific Fleet, such as the USS Enterprise; from the Red Army’s T-34 tank – perhaps the war’s most effective fighting vehicle – to the King Tiger, the conflict’s most powerful tank. Featuring more than 400 entries, World War II Encyclopedia of Aircraft, Tanks & Warships is a fascinating reference work on the most important aircraft, tanks, guns, and warships from 1939 to 1945.