Animals In Combat

Animals in Combat' explores a brief history of military animalsthroughout the ages, their different roles within this period, whatanimal warriors are used for today and what future animals havein modern warfare. Supported by many color images, the respectiveservice each animals provides in times of war is beautifullycovered by author Nigel Allsopp. During thousands of years of global wars animals have servedalongside man, so what makes animals useful in war? A dog'squalities of loyalty, intelligence and devotion are highly valued intheir role as pets, and these traits are also attractive to the armedforces. Equines such as horses, mules and donkeys, have literallycarried man on their backs and all his military supplies to boot. They have carried ammunition, medical equipment and even ourwounded. Pigeons performed messenger missions in World War Iand II. Some 200,000 pigeons served the colors at this time andthey suffered huge losses. Coalition forces in Iraq used pigeonstoo, as chemical warfare detectors. Today Military Working dogs are the predominate animal stillused in combat, but marine mammals and equines still hold a position,with the latter having a resurgence in Afghanistan. CoalitionSpecial Forces, including the US, British and Australian SpecialAir Services.