This is the definitive history of the Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik and provides detailed coverage on every aspect of this famous warplane. This is perhaps the most famous aircraft in the history of Russian and Soviet aviation. During World War 2 this rugged ground attack aircraft was arguably the Soviets’ most effective weapon. Protected by its heavy armor; the low-flying aircraft was incredibly difficult to shoot down; and its powerful array of weaponry included a cannon; machine guns; rockets; and special HEAT antitank bombs. It was capable of penetrating the armor of every German tank in the field at the time; including the Panther and Tiger tanks; as well as reaping destruction among the ranks of enemy infantry on the ground. The Il-2 was so successful that the design was produced in greater numbers than any other military aircraft in history; with over 40;000 being built between 1941 and 1955.
#4926042 in Books Arms Armour 1997-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.75 x 6.50 x 1.00l; #File Name: 1854092456256 pagesNapoleonic Wars
Review
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Suffers from a painfully pedantic writing styleBy David ReadThis book tells the story of 10 battles of the Napoleonic wars; four of which deal with the Peninsular campaign. As is usual with British authors; the sample is skewed toward the Peninsular campaign; because with the sole exception of Waterloo; Portugal and Spain is where the British troops fought. And this author; like almost all other British authors; has an anti-Napoleon bias. Of the five battles chosen for inclusion in this book where Napoleon was personally present on the battlefield (Marengo; Eylau; Aspern-Essling; Berezina; Hougoumont (Waterloo); all five place Napoleon in a negative light. And yet few doubt that Napoleon was one of the greatest military minds in world history.This book; subtitled "dramatic actions from the Napoleonic Wars" is obviously geared toward the general reader; not the scholar or specialist. And yet the book is written in the most pedantic style imaginable:"It has been assumed from an early date that the regiment concerned was the Leopold Hussars (as early as 1801 they were described as the "Imperial Corps Leopold Toscano"; but it has been conjectured that; as Otto's report merely described them as "two hussar squadrons"; this identification arose from the fact that Sentkeresky was the regimental colonel; and this identification has been repeated in a number of accounts). Austrian sources indicate that the unit involved was in fact the Archduke Ferdinand Hussars; one of whose members; Rittmeister (Captain) Daniel; Freiherr Meschery de Tsoor; was decorated for the action; yet his presence would seem not to be positive proof of the participation of his regiment; as Otto's account (which spells his name "Mezery") notes that he was serving in the role of ADC rather than in his regimental capacity." (page 23)Who really gives a damn? This sort of nonsense should be reserved for academic journals; or at the very worst; endnotes. Yet this unreadably pedantic garbage infests the book throughout. If you're going to write a book for the lay reader; then do so. If you want to write like Philip Haythornthwaite; confine your audience to academics and Napoleonic-era specialists.
