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Author
Neil Grant studied archaeology at Reading University, and now works for English Heritage. His interests include firearms, medieval edged weapons and classical and medieval horsemanship.
Illustrators
Peter Dennis was born in 1950. Inspired by contemporary magazines such as Look and Learn he studied illustration at Liverpool Art College. Peter has since contributed to hundreds of books, predominantly on historical subjects, including many Osprey titles. A keen wargamer and modelmaker, he is based in Nottinghamshire, UK. Peter completed the battlescene illustrations in this book.
Born in Malaya in 1949, Alan Gilliland spent 18 years as the graphics editor of The Daily Telegraph, winning 19 awards in that time. He now writes, illustrates and publishes fiction (www.ravensquill.com), as well as illustrating for a variety of publishers (www.alangilliland.com). Alan completed the cutaway illustration for this book.
Acknowledgements
The author and editor would like to thank the staff and trustees of the Small Arms School Corps weapons collection for their invaluable assistance in the preparation of this book.
Editor’s note
Metric measurements are used in this book. For ease of comparison please refer to the following conversion table:
1km = 0.62 miles
1m = 1.09yd / 3.28ft / 39.37in
1cm = 0.39in
1mm = 0.04in
1kg = 2.20lb
1g = 0.04oz / 15.43 grains
Imperial War Museums Collections
Many of the photos in this book come from the huge collections of IWM (Imperial War Museums) which cover all aspects of conflict involving Britain and the Commonwealth since the start of the twentieth century. These rich resources are available online to search, browse and buy at www.iwmcollections.org.uk. In addition to Collections Online, you can visit the Visitor Rooms where you can explore over 8 million photographs, thousands of hours of moving images, the largest sound archive of its kind in the world, thousands of diaries and letters written by people in wartime, and a huge reference library. To make an appointment, call (020) 7416 5320, or e-mail mail@iwm.org.uk Imperial War Museums www.iwm.org.uk
Front cover, above: An L85A1 Individual Weapon with an L3A1 Bayonet fitted. (Author’s Collection)
Front cover, below: British troops armed with L85A1 Individual Weapons, wearing respirators and protective NBC suits during chemical warfare training just prior to the 1991 Gulf War.
(© IWM GLF 400)
Title page: A soldier from 23 Engineer Regiment keeps watch with an L85A2 in Afghanistan in 2011. The Magpul polymer magazines are stored upside down in his webbing, with loops fitted to the bases for quick extraction. (MOD © Crown copyright 2011)
Artist’s note
Readers may care to note that the original paintings from which the artwork plates in this book were prepared are available for private sale. All reproduction copyright whatsoever is retained by the Publishers. All enquiries should be addressed to:
Peter Dennis, ‘Fieldhead’, The Park, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG18 2AT, UK, or email magie.h@ntlworld.com
The publishers regret that they can enter into no correspondence upon this matter.
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