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Showdown in Western Sahara Volume 1

Air Warfare over the Last African Colony, 1945-1975

Series : Africa@War #33

Author : Tom Cooper, Albert Grandolini

Showdown in Western Sahara Volume 1 : Air Warfare over the Last African Colony, 1945-1975

Digital Editions

eBook (pdf)  26.74MB

£9.99 Available for immediate download

Details

General - Pages : 72 | Images : 111 b/w photos, 15 colour profiles, 12 colour photos, 3 maps, 5 tables

Paperback - Date of Publication : 15th November 2018 | Size : 297mm x 210mm | ISBN : 9781912390359 | Helion Book Code : HEL0927

eBook - ISBN : 9781915113115

The former colony of Spanish Sahara saw frequent outbursts of tribal and ethnic rebellions already while ruled by colonial authorities, in the late 19th and through early 20th Century. Its vastness and distances de-facto dictated the application of air power in response. While most of these attracted next to no attention in English-language media, at least the large-scale operations of the Spanish colonial authorities of the late 1950s became notable for the final combat deployment of the famous Messerschmitt Bf.109.

Narby, their common history as former French colonies resulted in a short war between Algeria and Morocco, which in turn prompted an arms race that lasted well into the 1980s. Following much more action than was ever reported in the media, and amid growing resistance from natives and increasing international pressure, Spain withdrew from Spanish Sahara in 1975, indirectly opening a new chapter of this part of the world, which is going to be covered in Volume 2.

Warfare in Western Sahara has in many ways become exemplary for modern-day counter-insurgency efforts in Africa and elsewhere. This is so in regards of this conflict being mis-declared as a part of some larger, external conflict – like the Cold War – in regards of the concept of an insurgency applying motorized forces to deliver often spectacular ‘hit-and-run’ attacks; and in regards of a conventional military reacting with a combination of earth berms and air power.

Illustrated by over 100 photographs, dozen of maps and 15 colour profiles, Showdown in Western Sahara, Volume 1 offers a fascinating study of the military aspects of this conflict, warfare strategies, tactics and experiences with different weapons systems.

 

"I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in lesser known military aviation history or anyone who would like to develop this interest.  And finally it is equally at home in any educational institution in particular those associated with military aviation."
Aviation Enthusiast Book Club

 

"This is a very nicely illustrated coffee-table sixed monograph filled with an abundance of photographs that should appeal especially to aircraft buffs." Air Power History

 

"The two volumes can be considered a gap-filling work because very few publications have been made in English about military events in the region. Moreover, in relation to air warfare, it has been the only very detailed work published so far in which the reader can get relevant information about the socio-economic and geo-political background of the region in addition to learning about military events. It is also useful that the authors presented not only air but also land fighting and their means.  A special positive of the books is that the authors did not take a position on any of the parties involved in the conflict, but maintained their neutrality and made purely professional statements on the research topic."  Dr. Janos Besenyo, Terrorism and Political Violence Vol 33 No 1

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