Books published by Periscope Film LLC

The Bailey Bridge is a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. It was developed by the British during World War II and saw extensive use by both British and American military engineering units. It had the advantages of requiring no special tools or heavy equipment to construct. The wood and steel structural elements were small and light enough to be carried in trucks, and lifted without requiring the use of a crane. The bridges were strong enough to carry any military load, including tanks. Stories of Bailey Bridges being built and erected during the Second World War are legendary. By the end of the war, the US Fifth Army and British 8th Army had built over 3,000 in Sicily and Italy alone. Today, they continue to be vastly used in civil engineering construction projects and to provide temporary crossings for people and vehicles. Created in 1943, this technical manual reveals a great deal about the Bailey Bridge's design and capabilities. Intended as a manual for those charged with bridge construction, it also details many aspects of bridge maintenance and traffic control. Originally labeled restricted, this manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS VOLUME 1 OF 2. YOU MUST PURCHASE BOTH BOOKS TO HAVE A COMPLETE SET. Developed as both an air superiority fighter and a long-range naval interceptor, Grumman's F-14 Tomcat was the U.S. Navy's primary fighter from 1974 until 2006. Over 700 were built. The F-14 flew its first combat missions shortly after its initial deployment in late 1974, flying in support of the American withdrawal from Saigon. In 1981 it drew first blood, as two F-14s from VF-41 downed two Libyan Su-22s. The plane compiled a notable combat record for the United States in both Gulf Wars and NATO actions in Bosnia. Planes sold to the Shah of Iran prior to his ouster remain the last F-14s in active service, as the U.S. Navy retired it in October 2006. This F-14 pilot's flight operating handbook was originally produced by the U.S. Navy. It has been slightly reformatted but is reproduced here in its entirety. It provides a fascinating view inside the cockpit of one of history's great planes.

One of the most significant documents of the steam locomotive age, the Locomotive Dictionary is the ultimate reference for the rail fan. In 1905, the American Railway Master mechanics Association adopted a resolution authorizing the creation of "...an illustrated dictionary of each and every part used in the building of locomotives." The result, edited by famed technical writer George Fowler and published by the Railroad Gazette, was nearly 700 pages long, and richly illustrated with photographs, etchings, and blueprints. The Locomotive Dictionary was a triumph, and quickly became one of the definitive engineering references for the railroad industry. This high-quality reprint of a first edition of this wonderful book, represents the first time in decades that it has been available to the public. Softbound for the first time in one complete volume, it is a wonderful reference that no steam fan, model railroader or museum docent should be without.

During WWII, the U.S. Army's ranks of men and its arsenal of equipment grew mightily. From a mere 190,000 soldiers in 1939, the Army would reach 8.4 million in 1945. That was a staggering achievement, and what is even more impressive is to consider how few guns, tanks, artillery and other essentials the military possessed prior to Pearl Harbor. Outfitting America's war machine, and assessing its needs and delivering the goods, was one of the War Department's most challenging tasks. To make it work, some weapons would be pressed into production even though they were obsolete, while others would be adopted as expedients in hopes that better replacements would soon be delivered. The full scope of what was produced in the handful of years between the military build-up that preceded December 7th and V-J Day is hard to comprehend. Fortunately, the War Department left behind this four volume "Catalogue of Standard Ordnance Items". A master catalogue that neatly lists most if not all of the vehicles, weapons, ammunition, and combat equipment that fought history's greatest war, it's an astonishing compendium. Volume 1 of the Catalogue details tanks (including light, medium and heavy tanks), gun and Howitzer motor carriages, armored cars, tank transporters, armored trailers, carriers, snow tractors, half-tracked vehicles, armored utility vehicles, service trucks, and even bicycles and motorcycles pressed into Army service. Companion books include Volume 2 which focuses on artillery, Volume 3 which examines small arms, and Volume 4 which is devoted to ammunition.