The Encyclopedia of Combat Techniques

Today’s soldiers are set apart by the knowledge they bring to life-and-death environments. Their training and experience teaches them what will work in real combat conditions – and what should never be attempted. Thus they know how to choose between semi-automatic and full-automatic fire in a firefight. When they see terrain in front of them, they understand the principles of fields-of-fire and points of potential ambush. Assaulting a tank, they are aware of the ‘dead zones’ by which it can be approached, and the explosive tools needed to take it out. When sniping, they know how wind will affect the flight of the bullet over 1000m of distance. And when fighting hand-to-hand, they take in all their opponent’s weak points and apply lethal force to them.

All this knowledge and more comes together in a fearsome package of fighting skills, and it is these that are revealed in The Encyclopedia of Combat Techniques. This book explores what separates the combat expert from the raw recruit. It falls into six main sections: Close Quarter Combat; Firearms & Explosives; Support Weapons; Extreme Terrain Combat; Unit Tactics; and Specialist Skills. In close detail, and with many examples from real actions, each section explains an exhaustive range of techniques, each technique described with detailed text and copious illustrations.

The Encyclopedia of Combat Techniques is heavily illustrated throughout with both line artworks and photographs, all of which are chosen to give the technique described impact and clarity. The text is authoritative but always accessible, and taken as a whole The Encyclopedia of Combat Techniques forms one of the most complete examinations available of how the modern combat soldier fights and wins.