{"title":"Ralph Riccio","description":"\u003cp\u003eDive into gripping tales of crime and suspense with Ralph Riccio. Perfect for fans of hard-boiled detective stories and intricate plots, discover a world of thrilling mysteries and unforgettable characters.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"italian-small-arms-of-the-first-and-second-world-wars-book-ralph-riccio-9780764345838","title":"Italian Small Arms of the First and Second World Wars","description":"This is the first comprehensive work, in either English or Italian, to address Italian small arms used during World War I and World War II. It describes each weapon and covers the developmental history and use of all Italian designed and produced pistols, rifles, submachine guns and machine guns used during both conflicts, as well as prototype weapons and foreign weapons used by the Italians. Other appendices cover bayonets, accoutrements, markings, ammunition, small arms manufacturing facilities, Italian small arms designers, production summaries, and collector's notes. It includes many previously unpublished photographs and background information on small arms producers, ammunition production facilities, and designers. In addition to the new material, it also corrects previously published errors about Italian weapons.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49729605828881,"sku":"NGR9780764345838","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0764345834.jpg?v=1751010882"},{"product_id":"luck-was-lacking-but-valour-was-not-book-ralph-riccio-9781913336165","title":"The Luck Was Lacking, But Valour Was Not","description":"\"...this is an important read for anyone interested in the war in North Africa.\" - The NYMAS Review This book begins by examining a number of factors relating to the Italian army's performance in the desert, including assessments of the Italian soldier, leadership, training, organization and structure, equipment, the supply situation in North Africa, the ability of the Italian air force to support ground operations, and an appreciation of Italo-German relations in North Africa. The book then describes the combat operations of Italian forces in the desert beginning with the early Italian advance from Libya into Egypt in September 1940 and ending with the final Italian surrender to the Allies in Tunisia in May 1943. The extensive appendices focus heavily on organization and equipment, with tables comparing Italian, British and German armor and artillery in the desert. Taken as a whole, this book presents an account of Italian ground operations in North Africa, from the time of their initial trouncing at the hands of the British Western desert Force in early 1941, through the see-saw battles of 1941 and 1942 when the combined Italo-German forces battled with the British, through the decimation of the Italian forces during the El Alamein battles in late 1942, and finally with the retreat to Tunisia and surrender of all Axis forces there in May 1943. This book is the first English-language work to address in a systematic way the contributions of the Italian army to the North African campaign, and challenges the conventional wisdom that the German Afrika Korps was the preeminent Axis force in the desert.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49740758417681,"sku":"NGR9781913336165","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50414070137105,"sku":"CIN1913336166VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":51503710044433,"sku":"CIN1913336166G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1913336166.jpg?v=1751632643"},{"product_id":"luck-was-lacking-but-valour-was-not-book-ralph-riccio-9781804514702","title":"Luck Was Lacking, But Valour Was Not","description":"\"...this is an important read for anyone interested in the war in North Africa.\" - The NYMAS Review Luck Was Lacking, But Valour Was Not begins by examining a number of factors relating to the Italian army's performance in the desert, including assessments of the Italian soldier, leadership, training, organization and structure, equipment, the supply situation in North Africa, the ability of the Italian air force to support ground operations, and an appreciation of Italo-German relations in North Africa. It then describes the combat operations of Italian forces in the desert beginning with the early advance from Libya into Egypt in September 1940 and ending with the final Italian surrender to the Allies in Tunisia in May 1943. The extensive appendices focus on organization and equipment, with tables comparing Italian, British and German armor and artillery in the desert. Taken as a whole, this volume presents an account of Italian ground operations in North Africa, from the time of their initial trouncing at the hands of the British Western desert Force in early 1941, through the see-saw battles of 1941 and 1942 when the combined Italo-German forces battled with the British, through the decimation of the Italian forces during the El Alamein battles in late 1942, and finally with the retreat to Tunisia and surrender of all Axis forces there in May 1943. Luck Was Lacking, But Valour Was Not is the first English-language work to address in a systematic way the contributions of the Italian army to the North African campaign, and challenges the conventional wisdom that the German Afrika Korps was the pre-eminent Axis force in the desert.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49753459917073,"sku":"NGR9781804514702","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52435756482833,"sku":"NIN9781804514702","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53338191397137,"sku":"GOR014858087","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1804514705.jpg?v=1751632476"},{"product_id":"birth-and-fall-of-an-empire-book-ralph-riccio-9781804512357","title":"Birth and Fall of an Empire","description":"\u003cb\u003eAnalyzes the principal Italian military operations in East Africa, with particular focus on the period between 1940 and 1941.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Italy's colonial adventure in East Africa, which had begun in the previous century and which ended abruptly with the disastrous defeat at Adua in 1896, regained impetus with the advent of Fascism which subsequently opened a campaign to expand Italian holdings in the so-called 'Horn of Africa'. With the Italo-Ethiopian War of 1935-1936, Italy invaded the Empire of Ethiopia and its territory and, along with Eritrea and Italian Somaliland, formed the Italian East African Empire. Between 1936 and 1940, numerous operations were conducted against Ethiopian resistance which erupted throughout the country. With the start of the Second World War, Italian East Africa was cut off and had to operate independently without aid and supplies from the mother country. Nevertheless, during the early phases of the conflict, a series of offensive operations were carried out which led to the conquest of Kassala and of British Somaliland. The inevitable and massive British counteroffensive followed which in the space of a few months completely overwhelmed Italian forces in East Africa which, nonetheless, fought valiantly, especially at Keren. Following the fall of Addis Ababa, Italian resistance continued first at Amba Alagi and then in the Gimma region and finally at Gondar, where Italian soldiers fought gloriously despite the odds.In \u003ci\u003eBirth of an Empire: The Italian Army in East Africa 1935-1941\u003c\/i\u003e authors Ralph Riccio and Massimiliano Afiero ably analyse principal Italian military operations with a particular focus on the period between 1940-1941.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49778060165393,"sku":"NGR9781804512357","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ LIKE_NEW \/ SBYB","offer_id":52888725979409,"sku":"CIN1804512354LN","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1804512354.jpg?v=1751630102"},{"product_id":"italian-soft-skinned-vehicles-of-the-second-world-war-book-ralph-riccio-9781804514917","title":"Italian Soft-Skinned Vehicles of the Second World War","description":"\"This two volume set will be THE definitive reference work on Italian WWII soft-skinned vehicles for a very long time to come, it's that good.\" - AMPS The importance of land transport vehicles within an armed force is often underestimated by the average reader, attracted by more 'martial' subjects such as tanks and artillery. Nevertheless, it was thanks to motorcycles, cars, trucks and tractors that - since the early years of the twentieth century - men, weapons, ammunition, provisions, fuel, equipment and orders were transported, all elements without which AFVs, guns and infantry are unable to fight. Volume 2 examines medium and heavy trucks, artillery tractors, special purpose vehicles and trailers. The main text is complemented with appendices on vehicle coloring and markings, manufacturers, production facts and further details. It is a common opinion that the Italian Army was beaten above all because of the poor quality of its combat vehicles. Impartial and in-depth studies, made since the end of the war, have revealed that the main problem was the shortage of vehicles, as well as an entirely insufficient logistics chain. The tank crews were able to compensate with bravery and experience for the fact that their tanks were, from a certain point on, inferior to those of their enemies, but the inadequate number of AFVs and other materiel was impossible to remedy. The same problem plagued the entire sector of military soft-skinned vehicles, a sign of Italy's limited industrial capacity (and of procurement of raw materials and components) compared, for example, to its ally Germany. There were too few factories, too few skilled workers, and poor management skills within the armed forces. models of efficient, robust and resistant vehicles were produced, especially in the sector of the so-called 'standardized' motor vehicles. These vehicles allowed the Italian troops to move and fight in the large and difficult territories of North Africa, the Balkans and the Soviet Union and brought home what was left of the defeated soldiers. This is the first English-language study describing the soft-skinned vehicles of the Italian Armed Forces, starting from the 1930s, when Mussolini's Italy faced some colonial conflicts and participated - albeit unofficially - in the Spanish Civil War, and throughout the Second World War. For each vehicle there is a file describing its evolution and the main technical aspects, accompanied by one or more photographs and, for the most significant examples, line drawings. 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It describes each major component of the weapon, as well as addressing the development of each variant in detail.         A section of the book is devoted to all markings that have been identified, including those on the receiver, barrel, sights, magazine, and stock.        Profusely illustrated, extensive appendices list serial numbers, production totals, inspection procedures, ammunition types, ammunition clips, ammunition boxes and packaging, ballistics data, accoutrements, and the Model 1891 as used by Italy's national marksmanship association.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":50161685233937,"sku":"NGR9780764350818","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0764350811.jpg?v=1750913961"},{"product_id":"italian-truck-mounted-artillery-op-book-ralph-riccio-9780897476010","title":"Italian Truck-Mounted Artillery-Op","description":"Italian military planners saw the need for highly mobile artillery early in the 20th Century. Accordingly, Italy began mounting anti-aircraft weapons on truck chassis prior to WI, giving birth to the autocannone, a weapon concept that soldiered through WI and WI. Inspired by the German half-tracks equipped with 88mm guns, the Italians reprised the autocannone with their 90\/53 guns on a heavy truck chassis. 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