Kurdish Armour Against ISIS

Ed Nash fought for the YPG in 2015/16, participating in a number of offensives against the so-called Islamic State. He has recounted his experiences in a memoir entitled Desert Sniper (Little, Brown, 2018). He holds a degree in History; and, he has published a number of articles on counter-insurgency, weapons technology and military affairs.Alaric Searle is Professor of History at University of Potsdam, Germany, and Academic Director, Head of Research and Deputy Commander at the Bundeswehr Centre for Military History and Social Sciences, Potsdam, Germany.Irene Cano Rodríguez (known as Araire) is a freelance artist working and living in Spain. Since 2014, she has worked as a specialized historical illustrator, recreating historical scenes for museums, studios, editorials and magazines.

• INTRODUCTIONTHE ROLE OF ARMOURED FORCES IN SYRIAARMED GROUPS IN THE SYRIAN CIVIL WARThe YPG/YPJThe Islamic State in Iraq and Syria The Syrian Democratic Forces IMPROVISED ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLESImprovised tanksImprovised armoured carsImprovised armoured support vehiclesImprovised armoured personnel carriersAFV SOURCES: SYRIAN ARMY, ISIS AND COALITION SUPPLIEDSoviet armourBRDM-2 scout vehiclesArmoured personnel carriers M1117 armoured security vehicleThe US Army HumveeOther US-supplied wheeled vehicles'TECHNICALS'12.7mm heavy machine guns14.5mm KPV23mm cannon57mm recoilless rifles and multiple rocket launchersUNIT STRUCTURE AND TACTICSTHE YPG/SDF WAR AGAINST ISISInitial ISIS attacks (2013–14)The battle of Kobanê (15 September 2014–26 January 2015)The al-Hasakah offensives (21 February–17 March 2015 and 6 May–31 May 2015)The Tell Abyad offensive (31 May–10 July 2015)The battle of Sarrin (18 June–27 July 2015)The battle of al-Hasakah (23 June–1 August 2015)The al-Hawl offensive (31 October–30 November 2015)Tishrin Dam (23–30 December 2015)The al-Shaddadi offensive (16–24 February 2016)The Manbij offensive (31 May–21 August 2016)The Raqqa campaign (6 November 2016–20 October 2017)Setbacks and victory over ISIS (2017–19)CONCLUSIONBIBLIOGRAPHYINDEX

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