Re: Printed works, period kinda long

You wrote: 

>Also GO TELL THE SPARTANS & PRINCE OF SPARTA, colonial civil
>war/insurrection w/ part of Falkenberg's 42nd. (these two are with 
S.M. >Stirling, who's a good combat-SF writer, IMHO)(but his alt-hist 
books are >strange, esp the Draka lot...)

Also by Stirling with others:

The Ship who Fought:  w/ Anne McCaffrey.  Some bits have SGII 
applications, but generally just a good read.

The General series: w/ David Drake.  The books that got me hooked on 
Roman history.	It's Belisarius with an SF twist on a 19th century 
technology world.  Good stuff.

Other good reads:

Defense of Duffer's Drift. E.D. Swinton  Primer for usage of infantry 
platoon in a guerilla warfare environment.  Writen just after the Boer 
War and just as valid today.

The Defense of Hill 781: Colonel James R. McDonough, USA.  Written as a 
"Defense of Duffer's Drift" for the Mechanized Infantry batallion.  
This guy is GOOD--173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam, director of SAMS 
when he wrote the book.  He knows his tactics.

The Final Encyclopedia:  Gordy Dickson.  There's a section where Hal 
joins a guerilla group on Harmony.  Pretty decent.  

Certain Victory:  by BG Robert N. Scales, Jr., USA.  I've got the 
Brassey's edition, was also published by Office of the Chief of Staff, 
United States Army.  A good look at how the US Army (and only US Army) 
functioned in Desert Storm.  You want an idea what the logistics for 
interstellar war will look like?  This is your book.  You want a feel 
for armored combat at the batallion/brigade level?  This is your book. 
Pretty objective, too.

Small Wars: Their Principles and Practice.  Major General Sir Charles 
Edward Callwell, Royal Artillery.  Fought in Afghan War, 1st Boer War, 
volunteered for Greek forces in 1897, servedon staff of Sir Buller 
during 1899 in South Africa, fought at the relief of Ladysmith, and 
commanded a mobile column against the Boers from 1901-2.  Retired in 
1909, recalled in 1914, made MG, and made Director of Military 
Operations at the War Office, where he made himself unpopular by 
arguing loud and long against Churchill's pet project, the Gallipoli 
operation.  Small Wars is a discussion of the various "Low Intensity" 
conflicts of the 19th century.	The lessons are 100% applicable to 
modern warfare, and to the warfare of the future.  He discusses not so 
much technology or politics, but proper tactics, superior discipline, 
and high morale as keys to victory.

The Art of Maneuver:  Robert Leonhard.	I can't find the bio with rank, 
etc, but he does mention in the forward that he was an officer in the 
4/18th Infantry (Mechanized) during Desert Storm.  Bit of an esoterical 
book and sometimes a hard read, but interesting.  I don't buy 
everything he says, but he presents his arguments quite cogently.

Attacks:  Erwin Rommel.  If I have to explain who he was. . . Anyway, 
this book discusses his experiences in the First World War.  Excellent 
book.  A lot of light infantry tactics havn't changed much.  

Spec Ops: William H. McRaven.  Author's bio blurb isn't too 
informative, other than to mention that in 1995, when the book was 
written, he commanded SEAL Team 3.  Analysis of several Special 
Operations ranging from Eben Emael, to the Midget SUbmarine Attack on 
the Tirpitz, to Operation Yonathan.  Finally, a book about Special 
Operations that's not just hooah stories and neat toys.  He takes each 
operation minute by minute and analyses what makes it sucessful or not. 
 His premise is that there is a point at which the attacking force 
gains superiority relative it's opponents.  Sucessful operations attain 
this rapidly, unsucessful ones don't.  Frequently, this occours before 
combat.  

John M.  Atkinson