Today is publication day for our June releases, and we thought today on the blog we'd take a look at some of our upcoming books. This month's artwork reveal features British ironclads of the 1800s, pistols used throughout World War I, and the shooting down of B-52s during the Vietnam War.

Take a sneak peek below and remember to let us know which is your favourite plate in the comments below!  

Air Campaign 6: Operation Linebacker II 1972 by Marshal III

Illustrated by Jim Laurier

The first B-52 shoot-down

This first plate is taken from the newest addition to our Air Campaign series, Operation Linebacker II 1972, and depicts the first B-52 shoot-down. A missile site of the 93rd Battalion, 261st Regiment fires its SA-2s at the first wave of B-52s. The first to be shot down, Charcoal 01 has just been hit. Here the North Vietnamese have all six of their launchers with missiles mounted, as well as six ZIL trucks, each with a new missile, waiting in a holding area to come to the launcher as soon as the missile was fired. 

Weapon 64: The Luger by Neil Grant
Illustrated by Johnny Shumate

Cavalry mêlée on the Eastern Front, August 1914

This second plate, from The Luger, depicts a cavalry mêlée between Russian and German cavalrymen on the Eastern Front in August 1914. Here, the benefit of the pistol can be seen, as it is used with one hand while the other controls the horse. As a pistol bullet could not be parried, it meant that an opponent could be shot down before he is able to come within sword reach. 

New Vanguard 262: British Ironclads 1860–75 by Angus Konstam
Illustrated by Paul Wright

HMS CAPTAIN IN THE BAY OF BISCAY, 1870

Our final plate from British Ironclad 1860–75 shows HMS Captain in the Bay of Biscay, 1870. The ship resembled the Monarch, but had key differences, such as the placement of her two twin-gun turrets on a deck lower than in the earlier ironclad. She was also twin-screwed, giving her an impressive top speed of more than 15 knots. However, her sailing qualities were less favourable, and just eight months after she entered service she encountered a gale in the Bay of Biscay and began heeling alarmingly. Shortly after midnight on 7 September she foundered, taking Coles and 472 men down with her. There were only 18 survivors. 

These three titles are now available to pre-order, click here to browse more of our exciting upcoming titles.