Classic Weapons of World War II

The Encyclopedia of Weapons of WWII: The comprehensive guide to over 1,500 weapons systems including tanks, small arms, warplanes, artillery and ships by Chris Bishop (Metrobooks, 2002)
A compendium of military hardware that covers everything that fought in the air, on the ground and on the seas during World War II. More than 600 full-colour artworks accompany entries featuring a detailed history of each weapon's design and development, along with a full specifications table.
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The Second World War by John Keegan (Pimlico, 1997)
Explores both the technical and the human impact of the conflict. The text aims to illuminate the war as a whole by concentrating on five crucial battles: Crete, Midway, Falaise, Berlin and Okinawa.
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British Anti-tank Artillery 1939-45 by Chris Henry (Osprey, 2004)
Explores the British efforts to keep up in a war of development, which saw heavier and more powerful guns eventually replaced by experimental ideas.
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Infantry Weapons of World War II by Jan Suermondt (David and Charles, 2004)
Detailed specifications, service history and actual accounts of 150 weapons used by both Allied and Axis forces between 1940 and 1945.
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The British Enfield Rifles: The SMLE (No1) MKI and MKIII by Charles Stratton (North Cape Publications Inc, 2002)
Complete guide to the World War I rifle, used by British and Commonwealth troops. Explore the differences in makes and marks.
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The Luger Story: The standard history of the world's most famous handgun by
John Walter (Greenhill Books, 2001)
Full story of Germany's most successful handgun, from its creation to the present day.
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Rapid Fire: The development of automatic cannon, heavy machine guns and their ammunition for armies, navies and air forces by A G Williams (Crowood Press, 2000)
Comprehensive account of the development and use of heavy machine guns, automatic cannons and their ammunition developed in every nation throughout the 20th century. It also covers their use by armies, navies and air forces.
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Tigers in Combat: v.1 by Wolfgang Schneider (Stackpole Books, 2004)
Hundreds of photos depict Tigers in all situations and terrain, and a section of painstakingly detailed drawings brings the tanks to life in the metallic greys, snow whites, desert tans, forest greens and browns that coloured them.
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Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles: The complete guide by Leland Ness (Collins, 2002)
A comprehensive encyclopedia of all the combat vehicles of World War II from Somaliland to Japan. Provides an A-Z of each army's tanks and fighting vehicles, including armoured cars, personnel carriers, amphibious craft and mortar carriers.
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Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two by Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1999)
Containing over 1000 photographs and packed with technical data, this book is an indispensable reference book.
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British and American Tanks of World War Two by Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 2000)
With outstanding photographs, drawings and diagrams this book is a comprehensive reference for the AFV enthusiast, the military historian and the military model maker.
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Panzer Commander by Hans von Luck (Cassell Military, 2004)
These are the remarkable memoirs of one of Rommel's commanders, Hans von Luck, whose motorised unit was one of the first to cross the frontier into Poland, marking the start of World War II.
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By Tank into Normandy by Stuart Hills (Cassell Military 2003)
A personal account of the Normandy campaign. Twenty-year-old Stuart Hills loaded his Sherman DD tank on to an LCT at 6.45am on Sunday 4 June 1944 and his story of that journey through hell to victory makes compulsive reading.
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Essential Military Jeep: Willys, Ford and Bantam Models, 1941-45 by Graham Scott (Bay View Books, 1996)
The complete story of the US military Jeep, including prototypes, a detailed description of the production Jeep and its capabilities, production changes and equipment; special purpose Jeeps, driving impressions on and off the road and buying/restoration.
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The Lancaster: RAF heavy bomber by Ron Dick (Howell Press, 2004)
A richly-illustrated book that allows a rare look inside at the famous classic bomber.
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Mustang Ace: Memoirs of a P-51 fighter pilot by Robert J Goebel (Motorbooks International, 2004)
A classic of combat aviation, giving a true sense of what it was like to fly and fight as a US fighter pilot in World War II.
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Wings of the Luftwaffe by Eric Brown (The Crowood Press, 2002)
Captain Eric Brown had the extraordinary experience of testing 55 captured individual German aircraft types. This book puts you in the driver's seat of the Luftwaffe's frontline equipment.
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The Encyclopedia of Aircraft by Robert Jackson (Thunder Bay Press, 2004)
Over 3,000 military and civil aircraft from the Wright Flyer to the Stealth Bomber.
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Battles over Britain by Guy de la Bédoyère (Tempus, 2000)
Whether your interest is archaeology or World War II aircraft this is a refreshing new look at one of the epic periods of British history. It is also a particular tribute to the role played by the Spitfire and the Hurricane and their aircrew.
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Battleships of World War Two by M J Whitley (Weidenfeld & Nicholson military history, 2001)
Compiled with the assistance of naval authorities and experts from around the world, this book includes not only detailed descriptions of the ships' armaments and armour, full technical specifications, dates of construction, service and engagement records, but it also gives accounts of the ultimate fate of the ships.
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Engage the Enemy More Closely: Royal Navy in 2WW by Correlli Barnett (Penguin Books Ltd, 2000)
Topics discussed in this book range from strategic debates in London and Washington to gripping descriptions of the Royal Navy in action, the remorseless struggle against the U-boat in the Atlantic, desperate convoy battles in the Mediterranean and the Arctic, and battles in the Far East.
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Iron Coffins: A U-boat commander's war, 1939-45 by Herbert A Werner (Cassell, 2004)
A first-hand account of German U-boat battles of World War II, by one of the few surviving commanders.
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Aircraft Carriers of the World, 1914 to the Present by Roger Chesneau (Caxton Editions, 2001)
Comprehensive reference work detailing the 360-plus carriers designed or projected by the world's navies. Traces the origin and evolution of the aircraft carrier as a viable fighting unit and contains over 400 photographs and line drawings.
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