Christer Jörgensen

Fighting Techinques of the Orienal World describes the gighting teachnique of the armies of East Asia, from the age of the Mongol expansion in the thirteenth century to the Anglo-Chinese Opium Wars of the mid-nineteenth century, The book expplores the tactics and strategy required to win battles with the technology available, and illustrates how the development of such weapons changed the way battles were fought.

In the first chapter, the book considers the key role of infantry at the battles of Tumu (1449), Maymyo (1767), Kawanakajima (1561), and Nagashino (1575). The uses and merits of spearmen and archers are explored, and the revolutionary impact of gunpowder weapons examined. The second chapter looks at the creation of the cavalry army by the Mongols and the crucial development of the horse archer as a key battlefield element at encounters such as Vochan (1277). Using examples such as Kalka River (1223) and Hansando (1592), the third chapter discusses the command structures and development of new technologies and tactics to defeat seemingy more numerous foes. In an era of fortifications, the fourth chapter examines the employment and development of siege weapons, from the 'Crouching Tiger' catapult to advanced mortars, at sieges such as Xiangyang (1267), Chinju (1592), and Osaka (1615). the final chapter analyzes the development of naval warfare, examining key encounters at Lake Poyang (1363), Sacheon (1592), and Wusung River (1842).

Tactics, fighting techinques, weapons, and equipment of Oriental armies explained by means of color tactical maps and black-and-white artworks.

Contains 20 full-color maps and acconts of key battles, such as Kalka River (1223), the siege of Xiangyang (1267), the Mongol invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281, Kawanakajima (1561), Nagashino (1575), the seige of Chinju (1592), Hansando (1592), the seige of Osaka (1615), Ulan Butung (1690), the capture of the dagu forts (1860) and many more.

Provides a detaied, highly-illustrated guide to Oriental warfare.

Michael E. Haskew has been writing and researching military history subjects for over 20 years. He is the editor of World War II History Magazine. He lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has previoiusly contributed to Battles of the Bible and Battles that Changed Warfare.

Christer Jorgensen graduated with a Ph.D. from University College, London. An expert on military history, Christer has published various books on the history of warfare. He has previously contributed to Fighting Techniques of the Early Modern World and Battles that Changed Warfare.

Chirs McNab is an editor and writer on military topics who has published over 60 titles in the last twelve years. He has written extensively on military history, weapons technology, and the practices and history of special forces.

Eric Niderost teaches history at Chabot College in California. He has written numerous articles on military history but China and Korea hold a special interest for him. He has appeared in many British and American publications, including Military Heritage, Military History, and Osprey Military Journal.

Rob S. Rice is a professor at the American Miitary University, teaching courses on Ancient and Modern Naval Warfare. He has published articles in the Oxford Companion to American Military History and contributed to Battles of the Ancient World, Fighting Techniques of the Ancient World, and Battles of the Bible.

Contents

Chapter 1 The role of infantry
Chapter 2 Mounted warfare
Cahpter 3 Command and control
Chapter 4 Siege warfare
Cahpter 5 Naval warfare
Select bibliography
Index… (altro)

I was fortunate to receive five military books just prior to Christmas, and spent the festive period reading them all. Of these five, this was for me by far the most interesting and informative. I admit to having a particular interest in the Norwegian Campaign of 1940, even more so having visited many of the locations involved.

This book was first published in 2002 and had passed me by, so I was pleased to see it reprinted by Pen & Sword Military. Of the two authors, Dr. Chris MANN was a lecturer in European history, and later at the R.M.A. Sandhurst. He held a Doctorate from King’s College, London, with one of his specialisations Scandinavian military history. His colleague Dr. Christer JORGENSEN gained his Ph.D. from University College, London, and lived in Sweden where he wrote on military subjects.

With the standard of the authors, it is of no surprise that the book is well scripted, based on extensive and thorough research, and is comprehensive. There are seven chapters covering Germany, Finland and the Winter War; the Invasion of Norway; Operation Barbarossa (the German invasion of the U.S.S.R.); Stalemate on the Frozen Front; The Arctic Convoys; The U.S.S.R’s counter invasion and victory; and the Price of Occupation. Each covers the subject from a strategic and operational level, on land, sea and in the air, as well as giving some insight into the day-to-day tactical issues and effects. There is a conclusion which is balanced and credible analysis of the subject area.

There are several photographs included that illustrate some of the nature of the campaigns, but although their clarity is very good, they are not excellent and sometime of a general view. Likewise, the maps used support the text are good, but could be better. For me, the clear and overriding merit of this book is the text. It is, in my humble opinion, superb. I like books that challenge and extend my current understanding of a subject, and this book achieved that by the bucket load.… (altro)

A coffee table book that is dull and in need of an editor. The book states that its purpose is to give the reader a set of battles that changed how wars were fought. The problem is that this is usually summed up in a little paragraph that hardly leaves you with an impression that the battle mentioned really changed warfare. Add to this very dull and generic overviews of the battle makes this one tedious read. However as dull as the main text is it is essentially accurate yet the the text that explain the images is not. For example in the section on the battle Cynoscephalae on one page the image and text insert says that the Hastati was a spear welding infantry man who fought in the third line of battle in the roman army (which is untrue this was actually the Triarii) only to have main text and another insert contradict this a few pages later correctly stating that the Hastati fought in the first line of battle. Another example is in the chapter on the Battle of Sadowa (Koniggrarz) where the image text insert says that Emperor Frederick I (aka the medieval king Frederick Barbarossa) was the big winner of Sadowa which is funny as Barbarossa had been dead for 676 years so unless he built a time machine to warp to the 1860's I don't think that Barbarossa was the big winner at the battle. Who they actually meant and whose image they used was Crown Prince Frederick later Frederick III which the main text states on the very next page! I know that history books get things wrong sometimes but usually this is obscure facts or based on a particular interpretation of data or events but these are basic facts that you could easily check in even the most out of date encyclopaedia.
What I think happens is that the authors who are actually historians wrote and submitted the main text for each chapter to the publisher and then the images and insert text was organized by someone else who ether did not have access to the text or was in a rush and didn't care if facts were wrong. The one think that was nice about the book and saved it from a one start rating was that even with the basic historical mistake there were and abundance of very nice images ranging from contemporary pieces to modern line drawings. Also i liked the colored battle maps in each chapter. I know i shouldn't expect much from coffee table books but I at least think they should get the facts right and be entertaining, which is the main purpose for these kinds of books… (altro)