The Grim Reaper; The Machine-Gun and Machine-Gunners
New York: Sarpedon, 1996. Stated First Printing. Hardcover. [6], 314 pages. Illustrations. Sources. Index. No price on the DJ but as stated First Printing this is not considered a book club edition. Roger Ford’s work encompasses both narrative military history and that of military, aviation, and naval technology. He is the author of dozens of books in the field of military technology, including The Grim Reaper, a highly acclaimed account of the development of the machine gun, as well as a two-volume history of the Allied special forces in France during World War II, Fire from the Forest and Steel From the Sky. He lives in southern France. This book recounts some of the most exciting exploits of the machine-gun, and illustrates its tactical importance. The power of the machine-gun was at first underestimated, but then harnessed to aid war-willing strategies, and is now a central component in the training and tactics of all armies.
The development of the machine gun and its effects on world politics, colonialization and warfare are incredibly well reviewed by Ford. This is not a field manual about how to service these weapons, but rather a look at how this machine has changed warfare and politics and the world. It is the story of the machine-gun in war, past, present & future, told with the aid of first-hand accounts by machine-gunners themselves and the men who were on the receiving end and survived. Recounts some of the most exciting exploits of the machine-gun and illustrates its tactical importance. Includes anecdotes from veterans from many armies. Provides easy-to-read information describing how machine-guns work and how they are employed. Contains all the well-known machine-guns of the past 100 years. Illustrates how the machine-gun has been adapted for uses away from the land battlefield, such as in aircraft in both Wars, and how machine-guns have allowed special forces teams to pack a powerful punch. Condition: Very good / Very Good.
Keywords: Armaments, Gatling, WWII, Machine Guns, Korean War, Vietnam, Automatic Weapons, Anti-Aircraft, Ammunition, Browning, Gatling, Hotchkiss, Maxim, Vickers
ISBN: 1885119410
[Book #79648]
Price: $45.00