Osprey- Boots on the Ground: Modern Land Warfare from Iraq to Ukraine

Book Specifics

Author: Leigh Neville

Price: $40

ISBN: 978-1-4728-4684-6

Hardcover, 288 pages filled with color photographs

What's Inside

This latest book from Osprey Publishing uses insights gained from the last 20 years of modern conflict from Iraq through to the current Russo-Ukrainian War to gain perspective and provide inferences into what conflict will look like in the future. Each chapter focuses on one key factor in modern warfare and provides plenty of unpublished photographs featuring action in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Ukraine. They breakdown as follows:

• Introduction: Current and Future Land Warfare
• Chapter One: Main Battle Tanks
• Chapter Two: Armoured Fighting Vehicles
• Chapter Three: Ground-based Air Defence and Close Air Support
• Chapter Four: Indirect Fire
• Chapter Five: Uncrewed Platforms and Electronic War
• Chapter Six: Infantry
• Chapter Seven: Special Operations Forces
• Chapter Eight: Future War

The Introduction considers potential future theaters of conflict including Taiwan and the South China Sea, Western and Northern Europe including the Baltic states,  Nagorno-Karabakh, Islamic State Resurgence, and Iran. The chapter sets the stage for the major theme of the book- the increased use of electronic warfare, as well as drones and other unmanned instruments of warfare that in some cases are taking the place of traditional tactics. Artillery, the 'God of War' still plays a major role in inflicting damage to the other side and gets its own chapter here.

Chapter 1 centers on Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) and their evolution over the course of these last 20 years. While some have been sounding the death knell about the obsolescence of the tank in modern warfare, innovations like ERA and urban armor packages and cages to counter IEDs and air-dropped ordinance all strive to keep the MBT relevant. The author believes armor has an active role still to play for some time but it is not the end all- be all for the battlefield.

Chapter 2 tackles Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) and various aspects of their use in supporting MBTs and infantry forces. Sidebars in the chapter address the V-shaped hulls of some as counters to IEDs and mines, as well as one instance where a Ukrainian M2A3 Bradley took on a Russian T-90. Strykers, Bulldogs, Warriors, BMPs, and Israeli Namers and the newer Eitans also get mentions in the chapter.

Chapter 3 looks at ground-based air defense and close air support including SAM launching and AA gunned vehicles. Assault aircraft are also briefly covered here.

Chapter 4- Indirect Fire features artillery and rocket-based suppression systems. Sidebars speak of thermobaric rounds and ATACMS effectiveness.

Chapter 5- Uncrewed Platforms and Electronic Warfare looks at drones and other unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), as well as robotic combat vehicles and other uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs). The chapter also speaks on jamming technology which counters weapon navigation from GPS and other blockable systems.

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Chapter 6 looks in-depth at Infantry and their body armor and armament. RPG and other handheld rocket and missile launchers are discussed- as well as night vision gear. Chapter 7 looks at the various Special Operations Forces (SOF) for Russian, the US, Europe, Ukraine and other major players. There are sidebars that discuss the role of SOF as well as the various Tiers. Chapter 8 looks at Future War- and the author reiterates how artillery, infantry, and AFV's and MBTs still have their role to play. Swarms of drones will be an ever more likely presence over the modern battlefield whereas the crewed helicopter- as evidenced by their vulnerability over the Ukrainian landscape may be seeing their last days without an umbrella of total air superiority. 

Conclusion

This was a great read into the insights of modern warfare over the last 20 years. The photos inside were crisp and clear and it was difficult to choose just a handful to feature. The rear cover image of the burnt out T-72B had me ordering the Trumpeter kit to try my hand at. The text was easy to read and not overly technical- I read the entire thing in the course of the two day snow and ice storm we had this weekend. If you are interested in modeling modern subjects, this one is worth picking up!

Highly Recommended for Beginner to anyone interest in modern warfare and tactics.

Thanks goes out to Osprey Publishing for this review sample.

Reviewed by Michael Reeves

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