vimy ridge Canada’s greatest victory
MI-24 HINd Inside Russia’s gunship colossus
PLUS:
SAS
Cold War black ops ✪ Retreat from Kabul ✪ Battle of Maiwand ✪
exclusive veteran interview
d-day missions Discover Britain’s secret Guerrilla
Maori vs Rommel
operations in Occupied France
New Zealand’s VC HERO in North Africa
ELIZABETH I’s nemesis irish XXXXXXX
XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXX The emerald isle rebel who XX XXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXX defied the Tudor court Issue 042
Digital Edition GreatDigitalMags.com
tibet in turmoil
Inside the mayhem of asia's superpower showdown
wwi tank killers
The original Afghanistan war
The weaponry designed to Why all the Empire's men met stop the entente in its tracks their match in the desert
Welcome to issue 42
Welcome
Contributors
This issue Tom recalls one of Ireland’s most famous rebels – the Earl of Tyrone. Find out how he defied the powerful Tudor court over on page 46. His VC Hero this month takes us to the brave conduct of the 28th Maori Battalion in North Africa (p. 82)
“This operation proves that… a small specially trained force can achieve results out of all proportion to its numbers”
– Sergeant Major Harry Vickers on Operation Wallace
A
mong the most effective military innovations of the 20th century was Special Forces tactics – small-scale, covert, yet incredibly effective methods to disrupt the enemy. Suddenly, the difference between total victory or utter disaster in the field could be determined by the instincts, training, professionalism, and bravery of a few specialised units. This issue we present two incredible Special Forces accounts: Britain’s guerrilla campaigning in Occupied France, 1944, and the USA’s clandestine ‘Det A’ outfit, operating on the razor’s edge of Cold War Berlin.
Tom Garner
Gavin Mortimer
France-based author and historian Gavin takes us deep into enemy territory with the SAS over on page 26. He presents thrilling first-hand accounts from veterans, who fought to liberate Occupied France from behind enemy lines.
Though by necessity these missions remained secret for decades, their importance, and the stories of the men who fought, can finally be recognised.
Rob Schäfer
Tim Williamson Editor
Email timothy.williamson@futurenet.com
www.historyanswers.co.uk
/HistoryofWarMag
As Britain’s armoured ‘land ships’ threatened to tip the balance on the Western Front, the Germans quickly set about developing weapons and tactics to destroy them – Rob explores these and more over on page 36.
@HistoryofWarMag
Members of Special Forces Berlin, ‘Det A’, train in entry tactics. Turn to page 72 for Part 2 of James Stejskal’s feature
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issue 42
SAS d-day missions Frontline
26 Causing havoc across France, these guerrilla units attacked Nazi forces behind enemy lines, destroying weapons, vehicles, and devastating supply lines
Anglo-Afghan Wars 14
In an effort to extend their control over the Indian Raj, British forces fought three bloody conflicts
16 Flashpoints of the wars
Between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the British Empire kept invading… with mixed success
18 In the Ranks
Soldiers on both sides of the wars differed greatly, both in their equipment and training
20 Heroes and commanders
Both sides of the Anglo-Afghan Wars saw courageous and efficient leaders come to the fore
22 Retreat from Kabul
Tens of thousands perished in this bloody withdrawal from the Afghan capital
24 The disaster at Maiwand
What caused the shock defeat of a highly trained and organised army of the British Empire?
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TANK KILLERS OF WWI 36 The Germans find a way to respond to the new Allied machine on the Western Front
Contents
06 War in Focus
Stunning imagery from throughout history
Special Forces Berlin part ii
Cold War Vigil & an Ever-Changing Mission
72 Always on alert for WWIII, this elite division sought to stop the Soviets… from both sides of the Wall
26 SAS D-Day missions
Behind enemy lines, this elite unit took on the Nazis no matter the situation
36 Tank killers of WWI
The German answer to the new Allied killing machines on the Somme
46 Tyrone: Gaelic rebel
An Earl’s downfall that changed the future of Ireland for hundreds of years
54 Great Battles Vimy Ridge
After years of failed efforts, this tricky position falls to the Canadians
64 Briefing Tibet
How invasion changed the heart of this Buddhist theocracy
72 Special Forces Berlin Part II With the construction of the Wall, Det A faced a whole new challenge
82 VICTORIA CROSS heroes Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa Ngarimu Honouring the first Maori VC recipient
86 Operator’s Handbook Mil Mi-24 Hind
A Cold War icon, this helicopter has served in more than a dozen conflicts
92 Reviews
A look at the latest military history titles awaiting you on the shelves
Vimy Ridge 54 Two years after the Moroccans and Barbot’s 77th failed to capture this key position, the Canadians succeeded
98 Artefact of War Civil War pistol
Used by a cross-dressing Parliamentarian
Briefing: Tibet
64 After a Chinese invasion, is there hope for freedom?
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WAR IN FOCUS
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in
Into the Valley of Tears Taken: c. 1973
Š Shutterstock
A Centurion tank rushes into action during the Yom Kippur War, which saw an Arab coalition attack Israeli forces, mainly in the Sinai Peninsula bordering Egypt and The Golan Heights bordering Syria. One of the critical and most devastating battles during the war occurred in the Golan Heights area, where hundreds of Syrian tanks were destroyed by outnumbered Israeli defenders.
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WAR IN FOCUS
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Special Heir Service Taken: c. March, 1983
Š Shutterstock
Prince Charles and Princess Diana pose with B Squadron, 22 SAS Regiment, after exercises designed to prepare the royal couple for hostage rescue scenarios. During the training, which included live ammunition, the Princess’s hair was reportedly set alight by the stray ember of a detonating flash-bang grenade.
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in
Urgent evac Taken: c.1966
American Marines recover the body of their squad leader, Leland Hammond, during Operation Prairie in the Vietnamese demilitarised zone. To the right of the picture, taken by famous photojournalist Larry Burrows, is Catherine LeRoy, another prolific combat photographer. Between them, LeRoy and Burrows produced some of the most iconic and evocative images of the Vietnam War, while working for Life magazine. LeRoy was later injured in the field and captured by NVA troops, whom she persuaded to pose for her – one of her shots made the cover of Life.
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© Getty
WAR IN FOCUS
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WAR IN FOCUS
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