The Design and Development of Weapons

History of the Second World War: United Kingdom Civil Series

by M.M. Postan, D. Hay, J.D. Scott

Fascinating book describing the research and development processes of all the major weapon systems used by the British in World War 2. There is nothing else quite like it. The success of the pre-war fighter programme is evident, the failure of the wartime fighter programme explained. It is easy to see the failures - the Crusader tank, the the Whirlwind fighter, and overlook the major successess, the Bailey Bridge and the Spitfire.. . . . this book covers EVERYTHING. . . . a must have if you are interested in WWII weapons systems

765 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Sir Michael Moissey Postan FBA was an economic historian specialising in the economic history of medieval Europe.

He was born to a Jewish family in Bendery, Bessarabia, in the Russian Empire, and studied at the St Vladimir University in Kiev, leaving the USSR after the October Revolution and settling in the UK. He had positions at University College London and at the London School of Economics, before being appointed Professor of Economic History at the University of Cambridge, from 1937. He was known worldwide as an economic historian of medieval Europe.

He was married first to historian Eileen Power, then after her death he remarried to Lady Cynthia Rosalie Keppel.