{"title":"Leroy Thompson","description":"\u003cp\u003eLeroy Thompson's works delve deeply into the evolution and technical details of military weaponry and equipment. His books provide thorough examinations of iconic firearms and specialised weapon systems, offering insights that appeal to history enthusiasts and military scholars alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCombining meticulous research with clear, accessible writing, his titles explore the development and deployment of weapons from varied eras and nations. Readers can expect authoritative guides that illuminate the intricacies of military hardware within broader historical contexts.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"fairbairn-sykes-commando-dagger-by-leroy-thompson-9781849084314","title":"Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Dagger","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eFairbairn-Sykes Commando Dagger\u003c\/em\u003e has become iconic as the most widely recognised fighting knife in the world. The origins of the dagger can be traced to Shanghai in the 1930s where W. E. Fairbairn and US Marine officers, including Sam Yeaton, carried out experiments to develop what they considered the perfect knife for close combat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Fairbairn and Sykes became instructors for the Commandos, they refined the design which would evolve into the classic Fairbairn-Sykes dagger. The dagger was first used during early Commando raids into occupied Europe but saw action in every theatre of World War II. US Rangers and Marines who had trained with the Commandos took their Fairbairn-Sykes daggers home, and this also influenced the development of American Special Forces daggers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Fairbairn-Sykes remained in use with many units after the war. It has become a symbol of Commando and special forces units throughout the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46849099071724,"sku":"9781849084314","price":49.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9484803482846.jpg?v=1759017332"},{"product_id":"the-beretta-m9-pistol-by-leroy-thompson-9781849085267","title":"The Beretta M9 Pistol","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1990, the Beretta M9 replaced the venerable Colt 1911 as the main pistol of choice for the US Army, and it has seen widespread use in Iraq and Afghanistan. Written by a leading pistol expert who currently trains US Special Forces in the use of this weapon, this book is an honest appraisal of the successes and failings of the 9mm Beretta.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe volume traces the Beretta designs that preceded the M9, as well as its use on the battlefield, including the impact it has had on close combat training due to its larger magazine capacity. It also details the adoption of the Beretta by US law enforcement agencies and the impact this has had.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a fascinating history of a classic pistol and an assessment of its future use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46849995636972,"sku":"9781849085267","price":49.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9494333482846.jpg?v=1759073576"},{"product_id":"russian-machine-guns-since-1945-by-leroy-thompson-9781472867599","title":"Russian Machine Guns since 1945","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRussian Machine Guns since 1945\u003c\/em\u003e, written by noted authority Leroy Thompson, is a fully illustrated study that describes and depicts the machine guns used by Soviet and Russian troops after 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the USSR’s victory in World War II, the Soviet armed forces adopted a series of new or improved machine guns. At the squad level, the 7.62mm RPD and RP-46 light machine guns replaced the DPM, and they were eventually supplanted by the RPK from 1961. Firing the lighter 5.45×39mm cartridge, the RPK-74 was issued in 1974 and remains in use today. The 5.45mm RPK-16 entered Russian service in 2018.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHaving served alongside the 7.62mm PM M1910 Maxim during World War II, the 7.62mm SG-43 medium machine gun was updated as the SGM before being replaced by the 7.62mm PK general-purpose machine gun, first issued in 1961. The improved PKM made its debut in 1969 and continues to equip Russian troops today, complemented by the PKP in 2001 and the AEK-999 in 2008.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFirst issued in 1938, the formidable 12.7mm DShK heavy machine gun remains in Russian service today as the DShkM. It has been joined by the 14.5mm KPV from 1949, the 12.7mm NSV from 1971, and the 12.7mm Kord from 1998.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this illustrated survey, Thompson investigates the origins, development, combat use, and legacy of all these machine guns since 1945, from the start of the Cold War to the 2020s, shedding light on their battlefield effectiveness and tactical influence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47420746989804,"sku":"9781472867599","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/81x1tT4HgBL._SL1500.jpg?v=1774394384"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/leroy-thompson.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}