World War II Glider Assault Tactics

World War II Glider Assault Tactics cover

World War II Glider Assault Tactics

Quantity
In stock
£13.49 RRP £14.99 Website price saving £1.50 (10%)

This product is usually dispatched within 10-14 days

Description

Military gliders came of age in World War II, when glider assault infantry were the forerunners of today's helicopter-delivered airmobile troops. From the light pre-war sports and training machines, several nations developed troop-carrying gliders capable of getting a whole squad or more of infantry, with heavy weapons, onto the ground quickly, with the equipment that paratroopers simply could not carry. They made up at least one-third of the strength of US, British, and German airborne divisions in major battles, and they also carried out several daring coup de main raids and spearhead operations. However, the dangers were extreme, the techniques were difficult, the losses were heavy (particularly during night operations), and the day of the glider assault was relatively brief. This book explains the development and organization of glider troops, their mounts, and the air squadrons formed to tow them, the steep and costly learning-curve and the tactics that such troops learned to employ once they arrived on the battlefield.

Table of Contents

Introduction: background/ Gliders, construction and characteristics: the US Waco CG-4A, British Horsa and Hamilcar, German DFS 230, and minor types/ Techniques: take-off, towing, release, landing procedures/ Tug aircraft, types and employment: the US C-47 and German Ju 52. Glider and tug training; the fate of glider pilots after landing/ Strengths and allocation of glider and tug flying units/ Glider-delivered units, their organization, weapons, and equipment: infantry, artillery, engineers, and support units/ Operations: tactical concepts; capabilities and limitations; early difficulties, and lessons learned; key operations examined/ Select bibliography/ Plate commentaries/ Index

Product details

Published 20 Mar 2014
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 64
ISBN 9781782007739
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 1 col
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Elite
Short code ELI 200
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Gordon L. Rottman

Gordon L. Rottman entered the US Army in 1967, vol…

Illustrator

Peter Dennis

Peter Dennis was inspired by contemporary magazine…

Resources

Discover More

Visit our exclusive member's website to see artwork, maps, and more from this book.

Resources

Book Vote

Tell us what titles you would like to see published by Osprey, then vote for your favourites in our monthly book vote!

Related Titles

Paras 1940–84 cover
£13.49 RRP £14.99
Rescuing Mussolini cover
£14.39 RRP £15.99

Sign up for Osprey membership for access to thousands of plane profiles, maps, battle scenes and more. Plus up to 30% off website purchases

Free UK delivery for orders £30 and over