Cannae 216 BC: Hannibal smashes Rome's Army

Osprey's study of the Battle of Canae (216 BC), which is regarded as one of the greatest battles of military history. Hannibal's stratagem has become a model of the perfectly fought battle and is studied in detail at military academies around the world. At Cannae the Romans confronted Hannibal with an army of 80,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry. Hannibal faced them with 40,000 foot and 10,000 horse. The engagement that followed was a masterpiece of battlefield control. By the end of the conflict the Romans had lost 47,500 infantry and 2,700 cavalry killed and a further 19,300 captured.

Mark Healy is the author of several military history titles on World War II and on ancient military history, including Panzerwaffe: The Campaigns in the West 1940, Midway 1942, Cannae 216 BC, and The Warriors of the Old Testament. He was responsible for the best-selling video series for Chronos films released in the 1990s on German armour called 'Die Deutschen Panzer' and the follow-up series on the Luftwaffe and the U-Boat arm. He is a keen military modeller.

Richard Hook was born in 1938 and trained at Reigate College of Art. After national service with 1st Bn, Queen's Royal Regiment he became art editor of the much-praised magazine Finding Out during the 1960s. He earned an international reputation particularly for his deep knowledge of Native American material culture; and illustrated more than 30 Osprey titles. Richard's three children Adam, Jason, and Christa are all professionally active in various artistic disciplines. He died in 2010.

Angus McBride was one of the world's most respected historical illustrators, and contributed to over 100 Osprey titles over several decades.