The Encyclopedia of Weapons of WWII: The Comprehensive Guide to over 1,500 Weapons Systems, Including Tanks, Small Arms, Warplanes, Artillery, Ships, and Submarines [Hardcover]

Chris Bishop (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 23, 2002

A lavishly illustrated compendium of military hardware covers everything that fought in the air, on the ground, and on the seas during World War II. There are more than 500 separate items of equipment used between 1939 and 1945, from combat handguns to massive aircraft carriers. More than 600 full-color artworks accompany entries that feature a detailed history of each weapon's design and development, along with a full specifications table that includes performance, dimensions, armament, and crew details. A must-have for military buffs.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 540 pages
• Publisher: Metrobooks; First Edition edition (August 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586637622
• ISBN-13: 978-1586637620
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,289,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars General purpose average book at best!, March 3, 2004

By 

Christopher Dean (Orlando, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Weapons of WWII: The Comprehensive Guide to over 1,500 Weapons Systems, Including Tanks, Small Arms, Warplanes, Artillery, Ships, and Submarines (Hardcover)

Thie repeat is to add a little more and to correct one part of my previous review. I tried to edit my last review 4 times but it never showed up: [Correction - The 40mm Bofors is included but has no artwork or pictures and the information on the most lethal medium range AA gun of the war is barely adequate.] This book is a mixed bag. Its well organized and easy to follow and read with above average numbers of very nice color plates and pictures. However, dont expect *every* weapon that played a part in the war, or very well could have, to be included yet some weapons were included that didnt even take part. On the naval side it lacks a lot! Missing ship classes: BC Dunkerques, BB Queen Elizebath (which includes the BB Warspite which had a very active career), BC Hood, BC Andrea Doria, BC Caio Duilio, CA Baltimore, SS Salmon/Sargo, CL Atlanta, BC Kongo, BB Nagato, BB Ise, BB Tennessee, BB New Mexico, BB Nevada, etc..etc.. Dont expect much in the naval sections at all except some repetitive entries of the same class of ship and skimpy numbers of entries for the rest. On the land weapons side its not bad but not spectacular. Some entries are included that are very interesting and not often seen in other books but other critical entries left out and another part that was missing that I feel should have been included are naval anti-aircraft guns which, like usual in many books, are ignored even though they were VERY critical in the war. The details are not bad for what IS included but it is DEFINITELY not (as shown on the cover fold) "the most detailed" of its class of military book... not even close. This book is very much like slapping together a bunch of general purpose military weapons books covering single topics that are NOT comprehensive and putting them in one book. The details are about the same as in any other general purpose weapons book.. no better. It is also not the most comprehensive. In the end this is a book that is worth about $20 as a general purpose book for a WW2 weapons enthusiast. On a scale of A-F its a C+ at best. Note: I have been researching military weapons for over 20 years and own a wide range of books of varying detail level levels and quality. Thanks for your time in reading this review.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It contains EVERYTHING. From rifles to rocket fighters, November 18, 2002

By 

Uri Noy - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Weapons of WWII: The Comprehensive Guide to over 1,500 Weapons Systems, Including Tanks, Small Arms, Warplanes, Artillery, Ships, and Submarines (Hardcover)

It simply contains EVERYTHING. And very well organized by categories, so that you have all the weapons of the same category and origin grouped together.

In additon to all the 'common' weapons you'd expect to find (tanks, aircraft, guns, etc), there are also detailed entries for everything else. From flamethrowers and anti-tank weapons to german radio-guided missiles and even a photo of a german heavy jet bomber with a forward-swept wing during a test flight. From patrol boats to battleships, and from mortars to anti-aircraft guns. It's simply ALL there.

There are well-written detailed historical/technical texts and specs for each entry. Almost each entry has a color drawing, and most have one wartime photo or more.

The quality of each entry's text is not compromised by the wide scope of the book. It's simply a BIG book. I have learned something new and interesting from almost every entry I read.

A real all-in-one major reference.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An almost perfect reference book., June 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Weapons of WWII: The Comprehensive Guide to over 1,500 Weapons Systems, Including Tanks, Small Arms, Warplanes, Artillery, Ships, and Submarines (Hardcover)

Overall this book is very good for the novice or advanced World War 2 history buff alike. The entries are arranged by country of origin for the particular weapon and type of weapon. All catagories are covered, from heavy tanks and self-propelled guns to rifles and even flamethrowers. I have found obscure weapons in this book that I have not seen in other, less concise reference books. The entries themselves are well-written, with few errors to be found. Detailed information about the history and the models, along with a brief summary of the war career of the weapon is given.
There are some ommisions that are rather unexpected though. I have looked through the book thoroughly and I have not been able to find the Fletcher class destroyer, the B-25 medium bomber, the Bf-109, or, incredibly enough, the Jeep! One would think that if the book had the Horton Ho IX (a prototype, flying-wing, jet bomber), it would have the most famous Nazi fighter plane, or the symbol of American strength, the Jeep. The glossary leaves much to be desired as well, it has the name of virtually every piece of equipment in the war and yet gives no page number. While this book has some faults, it is an excellent all in one book for World War 2 weapons and equipment. Buy it today, it's worth it.