Between now and Jan 2012 Osprey publishing are releasing five books about the US Marine Corps. While these books are not aimed at the modeller a large number of us enjoy learning about the men and women behind the military hardware we build, and the stories and facts about their use by the armed forced. Despite the World Wide Web where you can find just about anything there is something about the ability of a book over anything else to drag you in and get you hooked.

Always Faithful
US Marines in World War II Combat
£30
About this book
Author Eric Hammel presents a unique pictorial history of the US Marines who fought during World War II. Hammel selects the top 100 images from his private archives to share with readers—100 images that capture what Semper Fidelis meant to the fighting men during the war. With a mixture of iconic and unique photographs, readers will find themselves faced with the graphic images of Marines during wartime, from the thick of combat to every day survival. Here, in silent, stirring, unwavering testimony, is a display of what the very best combat Marines of any era can do to remain always faithful to their long history, their homeland, their proud heritage, the cornerstone of their honour, and their humanity.

Hardback; October 2011; 208 pages; ISBN: 9781849085380

LAV-25
The Marine Corps’ Light Armored Vehicle
£7.49
New Vanguard 185
Author: James D’Angina
Illustrator: Henry Morshead
About this book
The Light Armored Vehicle 25 (LAV-25) has played a significant role in transforming United States Marine Corps doctrine since its introduction in the early 1980s. The Marine Corps’ Light Armored Vehicle program was based on the proven Swiss MOWAG Piranha series of 4x4, 6x6, and 8x8 wheeled vehicles. However, developing organizational units, tactics, and employment of the weapon system within the force structure of the Marine Corps proved to be more of a challenge than fielding the weapon system. This resulted in multiple re-designations for LAV units within the Corps. The LAV first saw combat in Panama during Operation Just Cause and LAV-25s have fought in every major conflict since, including Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. This book covers the design, development, and deployment of this continuingly successful vehicle.

Paperback; November 2011; 48 pages; ISBN: 9781849086110

The road to victory: From Pearl Harbor to Okinawa
£20.00
Authors: Robert O'Neill Dale Dye
About this book
On December 7, 1941, as the Japanese dived out of the clouds above Pearl Harbor, America’s future was fundamentally altered. Ever since the first world conflict, the United States had resisted the temptation to be drawn into wars outside of its borders. But with this one surprise attack America was inevitably thrown into the fray as the Second World War erupted. This new history by military specialists, Osprey Publishing, reveals each of the battles America would fight against Imperial Japan from the naval clashes at Midway and Coral Sea to the desperate, bloody fighting on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Each chapter reveals the horrors of battle and the grim determination to wrest victory from certain defeat. Using an astonishing collection of wartime imagery and complete with dozen of full-colour maps, this is an invaluable visual guide to the road to victory.
Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Pearl Harbor
• Coral Sea
• Midway
• Guadalcanal
• Tarawa
• Peleliu
• Marshall Islands
• Leyte Gulf
• Iwo Jima
• Okinawa
• Conclusions
• Further Reading
Hardback; November 2011; 272 pages; ISBN: 9781849087162

Backbone
History, Traditions, and Leadership Lessons of Marine Corps NCOs
£17.99
Author: Julia Dye
About this book
Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) are the backbone of the US Marine Corps. They execute orders and lead their fellow Marines into battle. NCOs are an important part of America’s military heritage and history, and their traditions are deeply entwined with the history of the United States. Marine NCOs are heroes and leaders who, despite their varied leadership styles, share a number of important attributes. Part history, part biography, part leadership guide, this unique book takes a close look at the U.S. Marine Corps, at the NCOs who serve as the bedrock of the service. This book provides a unique insight into the history of the culture Marine NCOs as well as important leadership lessons that readers can apply to their own lives.
Contents
• Introduction: The NCO—Backbone of the U.S. Marine Corps
• 1. BEARING
• 2. COURAGE
• 3. DECISIVENESS
• 4. DEPENDABILITY
• 5. ENDURANCE
• 6. ENTHUSIASM
• 7. INITIATIVE
• 8. INTEGRITY
• 9. JUDGMENT
• 10. JUSTICE
• 11. KNOWLEDGE
• 12. LOYALTY
• 13. TACT
• 14. UNSELFISHNESS
• Conclusion: The NCO—Leadership Model
• Index
Hardback; November 2011; 264 pages; ISBN: 9781849085489

US Marine Corps Tanks of World War II
£7.49
New Vanguard 186
Author: Steven J Zaloga
Illustrator: Richard Chasemore
About this book
During World War II, the US Marine Corps formed six tank battalions that battled through the harsh conditions of the Pacific Theatre. Using the same basic tanks as the US Army, notably the M3 and M5A1 light tanks and the M4 Sherman medium tank, the marines made both technical and tactical innovations to make them more effective in the fight against the Japanese. Deep wading equipment, flamethrower tanks, and even wooden armor all became part of the Marine arsenal. This book examines the tactics and technology that made the US Marine Corps tank service unique in the annals of warfare.

Paperback; January 2012; 48 pages; ISBN: 9781849085601