Today we're showing three pieces of artwork from our November 2026 series books! Let us know in the comments which books you'd like to see featured in our December 2026 Artwork Reveal!

 

ELI 272 The Royal Marines Commandos 1991–2025

By John Rawlinson

Illustrated by Raffaele Ruggeri

Art showing a sniper team watching from a helicopter as boats approach a ship suspected of being involved in smuggling


MARITIME SECURITY BOARDING, PERSIAN GULF, 2015 

Since 2014, Royal Marines of 42 Cdo RM have deployed on counter-piracy, anti-smuggling and narcotics interdiction tasks, operating with Royal Navy ships and aviation. A Maritime Sniper Team provides overwatch from a Wildcat HMA.2 helicopter while two Pacific 24 rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) close on a dhow suspected of smuggling: one craft manoeuvres to board, boarding ladder ready; the second holds off to cover the approach. On the horizon is HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 frigate, providing command, sensors and the authority to stop and search. 

The sniper carries the 12.7mm/0.5in L121A1 anti-materiel rifle, intended to disable fast craft by targeting their engines or key fittings. An EOTech 512 holographic sight is fitted for rapid target acquisition. He wears specialist MTP clothing with reinforced knees and taped seams, plus a Royal Navy-pattern aircrew helmet with integrated communications and eye protection. RIB crews wear MTP and maritime personal protective equipment suited to high-speed boat work.

 

CAM 438 Madagascar 1942: Operation Ironclad and the Fight against Vichy France

By Angus Konstam

Illustrated by Graham Turner

 

A tank convoy with smoke rising from 3 of the lead tanks

PROBING THE JOFFRE LINE, 5 MAY

After landing to the west of Diego Suarez, the leading elements of the British force advanced towards Antsirane. The first real opposition was encountered at Col de Bonne Nouvelle, a small knoll that overlooked the British line of advance. Resistance there proved stubborn, but shortly after midday, the leading tanks of B Special Service Squadron, Royal Armoured Corps, bypassed this Vichy strongpoint and resumed the drive towards Antsirane. Initially, this small mixed force of British tanks was made up of two Valentine infantry tanks and three lighter Tetrarchs and commanded by Maj. Jocelin Simon. At first, all went well and the tanks shot up a truck. Then, as they neared Antsirane, the leading Valentines came under machine gun fire. Unbeknown to British planners, the tank squadron had blundered into the Joffre Line, which included concrete weapon positions and bunkers, as well as trenches. 

The British advanced, believing the Vichy defenders would not have a weapon capable of penetrating the Valentines’ armour. They were rudely surprised when a French 75mm round knocked out the leading Valentine, then Maj. Simon’s one that was following behind. The remaining British tanks returned fire, but their 2-pdrs and machine guns were no match for the enemy. The Tetrarchs, following behind the leading Valentines, continued to advance down the road, but within a minute, two of them were knocked out and set ablaze. An attempt by the tankers to advance on foot was stopped by the weight of French fire, and Simon ordered his remaining tanks to withdraw. The survivors of his knocked-out tanks sought sanctuary amid the long grass close to the road.

 

ACM 64 Okinawa 1945: The epitome of joint US airpower in the Pacific

By James S. Corum

Illustrated by Gareth Hector

 Art showing a strike force of 36 B-25s

B-25s mission to Kanoya airfield 
The 41st Bomber Group (M) of four B-25 squadrons had seen considerable combat in the Central Pacific and they were the first Army bomber outfit based in Okinawa, arriving June 26. They immediately began bombing key military targets on Kyushu to include airfields, ports, railyards, and factories. One of the priority targets on Kyushu was Kanoya Airfield, headquarters of the Japanese 5th Air Fleet and a major kamikaze base, located at the southern tip of Kyushu. It was a complex of three connected airfields, and the target for the 41st BombGroup on July 28, 1945 was Kanoya East Airfield. 

The morning of July 28, a strike force of 36 B-25s took off from Kadena Airfield on Okinawa to bomb Kanoya East. The mission commander was Capt. Daniel Seiler of the 306th Bomber Squadron, leading 12 aircraft from his squadron followed by 24 bombers of the 48th and 820th Bomber squadrons. Each aircraft carried four 500lb bombs. Two aircraft reported engine trouble and turned back. 

Approaching from the south in formation at 8,000–10,000ft, the B-25s had good visibility. Led by Capt. Seiler and the 306th, each squadron bombed the Japanese aircraft dispersed in revetments around Kanoya East in turn. The mission was a success, with 70 percent of the bombs hitting the target, aircraft and buildings weredestroyed and two large fires were noted. 

No Japanese aircraft flew to oppose them. The Japanese flak was sometimes heavy, but not accurate. Six of the 34 bombers suffered minor damage from flak shrapnel, but there were no casualties and all aircraft returned to base. 

From June to August 1945, hundreds of Army light, medium, and heavy bombers arrived on Okinawa as quickly as airfields could be built and enlarged to accommodate them. Every day there were dozens of missions bombing military targets. The Japanese defense was weak and bomber casualties were low. The last bomber mission from  Okinawa was flown on August 12, 1945.