Customer Reviews

Nbc: Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare on the Modern Battlefield

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book, following the format and echoing the informational context of former JANES NBC DEFENSE editor Terry Gander's earlier book on this subject (NBC: Buclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare, ISBN 0711017220, Ian Allen Ltd., London, 1987), provides a somewhat updated overview of current developments in military biochemical defensive and offensive warfare. Although the book contains a few small errors (mainly in misidentification of various respirators), it succeeds in giving the interested public a better insight into an area of defensive technology about which little is commonly known. Containing a number of black and white photographic illustrations, the book constitutes a worthwhile addition to the reference library--either for someone directly involved in the field of NBC defense or one who wishes a handy modern source of reference to the terms, nomenclature and hardware which characterise today's modern NBC defense battlefield.

Equipment is covered in more detail than in the comparable books which focus on agents. The historical details are interesting. There are omissions and errors beyond the previously mentioned errors on equipment. For example, the boxed summary of anthrax lists its effect as "blackening of skin with malignant pustules", when the most immediate and dangerous presentation in an WMD (weapons of mass destruction) event will be pulmonary anthrax (e.g. Medical Management of Biological Casualties Handbook, US Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases). At times it is simplistic, at other times incorrect, or sometimes both as in the following description of the effect of VX: "[The victim's] nervous systems and heart, lungs and brain functions shut down, causing the body to cease functioning." Effects on the heart are not noted as important by other sources (e.g. The Medical Management of Chemical Casualties Handbook, Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, or Textbook of Military Medicine: Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare Borden Institute, Walter Reed Army Medical Center). To say that "Brain functions shut down" may be a little simplistic for those interested in detail. The price seems a lot for a 111-page book with black and white photos, scanned-in tables and a number of errors.

It would be a disquieting statement, and not entirely accurate, were I to say that I liked nuclear war. However, I find the subject fascinating. After all, the technology for fighting wars has been increasing since the 1940s, with staggering implications, but many of the new technologies remain unused and poorly understood. While I'm not in a rush to see nuclear, biological and chemical warfare unleashed on our world, I would like to get a better grasp on the past, present, and future state of the technology.

This book did nearly nothing to help me toward that goal.

"NBC: Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare on the Modern Battlefield" is, more than anything, a brief sketch of some of the NBC equipment that has been developed over the years. Even as this, the list is meager and lot particularly useful. The effects of various weapons, germs and chemicals are described in extremely vague and simple terms, and so much is left out that a clear picture can hardly be drawn from the included data. This isn't an issue, though; the book doesn't even try to explain how NBC weaponry might be used on the modern battlefield. It's up to the reader to take in the data and figure out applications for himself. Even doing that is complicated by the fact that the book's organization is loose and confusing.

As other reviewers have said, although this book provides a concise reference, it is vague in many areas, and there are a number of inaccuracies. Given these shortcomings, it would be easy to make the assumption that this book was rushed out after 9/11 to cash in on public fears of NBC attack, and the issue of Iraq's [supposed] WMDs like so much other recently-released material, but the date of publication is 1997. There is a lot of filler - much of which are publicity photos from defence product manufacturers, and some erroneously labeled. However, this book would be useful to the newcomer to the subject looking to grasp the facts in from an accessible source, but there is little here for those with knowledge of this field. A well-edited comprehensive one-volume reference on this subject would be a good idea - in the meanwhile those looking for more information (especially in the protection aspect) - should try to get hold of the Jane's NBC Protection Equipment annuals (don't pay $300 though! contact a defence contractor etc with obsolete copies for disposal).

It would be a disquieting statement, and not entirely accurate, were I to say that I liked nuclear war. However, I find the subject fascinating. After all, the technology for fighting wars has been increasing since the 1940s, with staggering implications, but many of the new technologies remain unused and poorly understood. While I'm not in a rush to see nuclear, biological and chemical warfare unleashed on our world, I would like to get a better grasp on the past, present, and future state of the technology.

This book did nearly nothing to help me toward that goal.

"NBC: Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare on the Modern Battlefield" is, more than anything, a brief sketch of some of the NBC equipment that has been developed over the years. Even as this, the list is meager and lot particularly useful. The effects of various weapons, germs and chemicals are described in extremely vague and simple terms, and so much is left out that a clear picture can hardly be drawn from the included data. This isn't an issue, though; the book doesn't even try to explain how NBC weaponry might be used on the modern battlefield. It's up to the reader to take in the data and figure out applications for himself. Even doing that is complicated by the fact that the book's organization is loose and confusing.

This is the sort of book that I might buy if I saw it in a bargain bin for one dollar. Maybe I'd pay two -- there are some decent photographs. The list price does not reflect the value of this book; if "NBC Warfare" had accurately described in detail scenarios and equipment for modern NBC warfare, it would be at least worth the price. As it stands, however, it is not.

Book is OK, and I'm do not going to comment content of it, all areas are covered, but... some pictures are not correct if we are going to be absolutely scrupulous, I'm talking about Soviet style protective suit. For people especially interested in NBC this book is very nise but easy reading. I wish I had possibility to find more small detales. But othervise for the rest of the people it presents all info which ever could be required.

EXTRAORDINARY BOOK PACKED WITH INFORMATION

I am lived in Hong Kong, and would like to advise that I cannot be know how many picture in the book. (Just on the content or search in computer) Thanks

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