Panzer I and variants

The Panzer I was the first German tank to enter mass production. It was originally designed as a light training tank, to give German industry experience in producing tanks while development work on the real combat tanks was underway, and to train the new armoured divisions.
The Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B (Sd Kfz 101) used a longer chassis and more powerful engine than the Ausf A but was otherwise identical.
The Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen I (PzBefw I) was a small armoured command vehicle, based on the Panzer I light tank.
The 4.7cm PaK(t) (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B was the first tracked tank destroyer to be produced in Germany. It was created by removing the turret from an obsolete Panzer I Ausf B light tank and replacing it with a mounting for a 4.7cm Czech anti-tank gun.

Vietnam War, 1968 to 1975

We add an article on the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1975

Birmingham Pub Bombings

On November 21st 1974 the terrorist group the PIRA exploded two bombs in the centre of the city of Birmingham, UK. This was the worst terrorist attack in UK history until the London bombings of July 2005 and killed 19 people, injured 182 and two further victims died later.

German invasion of Norway, Altmark Incident

The German invasion of Norway on 9 April 1940 was the first sign that the “Phoney War” period that had followed the Polish campaign of 1939 was coming to an end.
The Altmark incident of 16 February 1940 saw a British destroyer rescue 299 British prisoners from the German supply ship Altmark in Norwegian water.

Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf A

The Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf A (Armoured Fighting Vehicle I version A, normally shortened to the Panzer I or Pz.Kpfw I Ausf A) was the first German tank to enter mass production.
28 November

Battles of Chateauguay, Crysler’s Farm and Chippawa

The battle of Chateauguay River (26 October 1813) saw the defeat of one of two American armies attempting to invade Lower Canada in the autumn of 1813.
The battle of Crysler’s Farm (11 November 1813) was a British victory in the War of 1812 that ended any hope of success for an American attack on Montreal.
The battle of Chippawa, 5 July 1814, was an American victory on the Niagara front which saw a British force fail to push back an army that had just crossed the Niagara River.

Operation Wilfred, First Battle of Narvik

Operation Wilfred was a British attempt, made on 8 April 1940, to stop Swedish iron ore from reaching Germany from Narvik by laying a minefield in Norwegian waters
The first battle of Narvik (10 April 1940) was a drawn naval battle fought between British and German destroyers during the German invasion of Norway.

Operation Royal Marine

Operation Royal Marine was a British plan developed in 1939-1940 to disrupt the German economy by floating mines down the Rhine.

Invasion of Denmark, 1940

The German invasion of Denmark of April 1940 was part of a wider campaign in Scandinavia designed partly to provide bases for the German navy and partly to secure the German supply of iron ore from Sweden.

Vietnam, 1954-1968

Today we post our first article on the Vietnam War, looking at the years between 1954-1968

Narvik and Oslo, 1940

The attack on Oslo was a key component of the German invasion of Norway of 9 April 1940, and saw the only real setback suffered by the Germans on that day.
The second battle of Narvik (13 April 1940) was a British naval victory during the German invasion of Norway of 1940.
The Narvik campaign of April-June 1940 began with a dramatic German success, saw the first Allied land victory of the Second World War, before coming to an anticlimactic ending when events in France and the Low Countries forced the British and French to evacuate Norway.

Frigate clashes of the War of 1812

The clash between USS Constitution and HMS Guerrière was the first significant American victory of the War of 1812 and caused dismay in Britain.
The clash between USS United States and HMS Macedonian was the second of a series of three clashes between single frigates that all ended in American victories early in the War of 1812.
The class between USS Constitution and HMS Java was the third American frigate victory of the War of 1812 and in many ways the most significant.

Avro Anson and Bristol Bombay

The Avro Anson was designed as a civil passenger plane, entered RAF service as a coastal reconnaissance, but saw most service as a training aircraft.
We also add list of the British and Commonwealth squadrons that used the Avro Anson Mk I
The Bristol Bombay was a combination of a transport aircraft and a bomber that was developed to serve with RAF squadrons in the Middle East. Partly because of its duel purpose and partly because of the time it took to develop, the Bombay was effectively obsolescent by the time it entered service in 1939, but it did perform some useful service in the Middle East.

Battle of the River Plate

The battle of the River Plate is one of the most famous naval battles of the Second World War, despite only involving four ships. Part of its fame came because it took place in the “phoney war” period and part because of the unjustifiably high reputation of the Admiral Graf Spee, the German pocket-battleship involved in the battle.

Major-General Sir Roger Sheaffe

Major-General Sir Roger Sheaffe was an American born British officer who briefly came to prominence during the War of 1812.
24 November

Battles of York, Fort George and Stoney Creek, 1813

The battle of York (27 April 1813) was one of the first American victories on land during the War of 1812.
The battle of Fort George (25-27 May 1813) was the first American victory on the Niagara front during the War of 1812.
The Battle of Stoney Creek (6 June 1813) saw the defeat of an American army that was invading Upper Canada in the aftermath of the American victory at Fort George at the end of May.

Battle of Queenston Heights and skirmish at Frenchman’s Creek, 1812

The battle of Queenston Heights was a British victory early in the War of 1812 that turned back the first American attack on the Niagara front.
The skirmishes of Frenchman’s Creek and Red House saw the only fighting during the second American attempt to invade Canada on the Niagara front during 1812.

Blackburn Skua and Westland Welkin

The Blackburn Skua was the first monoplane aircraft to enter service with the Fleet Air Arm and the first plane to sink a major operational warship although it was already obsolescent at the start of the Second World War.
The Westland Welkin was a British high-altitude fighter developed in response to a perceived threat from very high altitude German aircraft, most notably the Junkers Ju 86P.

Westland Wapiti and Westland Wallace

The Westland Wapiti was a general purpose aircraft that served with the RAF during the 1930s.
The Westland Wallace was an improved version of the Wapiti that served as a target tug during the Second World War.

War of 1812: Battle of Frenchtown and Siege of Fort Meigs

The battle of Frenchtown, 22 January 1813, was a crushing British victory during the War of 1812 over part of an American army preparing to attack Detroit
The siege of Fort Meigs (1-9 May 1813) saw a British force under Brigadier-General Henry Procter fail to capture Fort Meigs, on the Maumee River, but win a victory over an American relief force.

Derfflinger and Mackensen class battlecruisers

The two Derfflinger class battlecruisers were amongst the most powerful warships to see service in the First World War.
SMS Derfflinger was the nameship of the Derfflinger class of battlecruisers, widely considered to be the best battlecruisers of the First World War. She fought at Dogger Bank and at Jutland, where she was badly damaged but survived.
SMS Lützow was a Derfflinger class battlecruiser that became the only German dreadnought of any type to be lost during the First World War.
The four ships of the Mackensen class were almost the last battlecruisers to be laid down in Germany during the First World War and contained the last such ships to come close to being completed

German armoured cruisers

SMS Prinz Heinrich was the oldest German armoured cruiser to see service during the First World War.
The two Prinz Adalbert class heavy cruisers were more heavily armed versions of the SMS Prinz Heinrich, herself the oldest German armoured cruiser to see service in the First World War.
The two Roon class heavy cruisers were virtual repeats of the previous Prinz Adalbert, with a slight increase in displacement, 1,500ihp more power and two extra 88mm guns.
The two ships of the Scharnhorst class were the best known German armoured cruisers of the First World War.
SMS Blücher was the first German armoured cruiser built after HMS Dreadnought had revolutionised naval construction. She was a dramatic improvement on previous German armoured cruisers, and closely resembled a stretched version of the first German dreadnoughts (the Nassau class).

British aircraft carriers of the First World War

The First World War saw the appearance of an entirely new type of warship, the aircraft carrier. Here we look at the British aircraft carriers as they developed from the seaplane carriers of 1914 to the modern aircraft carrier.

Vonn der Tann, Moltke, Goeben, Seydlitz

SMS von der Tann was the first German battlecruiser, and is widely accepted to have been a much more successful design than her British equivalents.
The Moltke class of battlecruisers were a significant improvement on the already impressive von der Tann, the first such ship produced for the German navy.
SMS Moltke was the nameship of the Moltke class of battlecruisers, the second general of battlecruisers built for the German navy.
SMS Goeben was a Moltke class battlecruiser that spent the First World War operating with the Turkish navy, mostly in the Black Sea.
SMS Seydlitz was the fourth German battlecruiser, and was essentially an enlarged version of the previous Moltke class ships.

Colt weapon company

The Colt weapon company was created by one of the most famous military inventors of history, Samuel Colt. The company has sold over 30 million firearms since Sam Colt, then in his early twenties, patented his revolver design in 1836.

Fairbairn-Sykes knife

One of the most famous military fighting knives, the Fairbairn-Sykes knife (also know as the commando knife and still popular among British royal marine commandoes today) is a double edged bladed weapon with distinctive vase grip.

Active class of scout cruisers

HMS Active was the nameship of the Active class of scout cruisers. For the first half of the First World War she was the leader of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, based at Rosyth, taking part in the battle of Jutland
The Active class were the final Scout cruisers built for the Royal Navy. They were very similar to the previous Blonde class scout cruisers, carrying the same armament of ten 4in guns, and with a similar speed and level of armour protection.
HMS Amphion was an Active class scout cruiser that became the first British warship to be lost during the First World War.
HMS Fearless was an Active class scout cruiser that led the 1st Destroyer Flotilla from 1914 until 1916, taking part in the battles of Heligoland Bight (28 August 1914) and of Jutland (31 May-1 June 1914)

Lion class battlecruisers

The Lion class battlecruisers were a significant improvement on the two previous classes of British battlecruisers with bigger guns and better armour
HMS Lion was the nameship of the Lion class of battlecruisers and served as Admiral Beatty’s flagships at the three main North Sea naval battles of the First World War.
HMS Princess Royal was a Lion class battlecruiser that fought at the three main naval battles in the North Sea.

Invincible and Indefatigable class battlecruisers

The three Invincible class battlecruisers were the armoured cruiser equivalents of HMS Dreadnought, fast and armed with 12in guns.
The Indefatigable class battlecruisers were very similar to the earlier Invincible class battlecruisers.
HMS Indefatigable was the nameship of the Indefatigable class of battlecruisers. She took part in the hunt for the German battlecruiser Goeben in August 1914 and the first bombardment of the Dardanelles, before being lost at Jutland.
HMAS Australia was an Indefatigable class battlecruiser funded by the dominion of Australia to serve as the flagship of the new Royal Australian Navy.
HMS New Zealand was an Indefatigable class battlecruiser that had been paid for by the dominion of New Zealand, but then presented to the Royal Navy on completion.

Pearl, Pelorus and Gem class cruisers

HMS Philomel was the only Pearl class third class cruiser to see active service during the First World War
The Pelorus class third class cruisers were more heavily armed versions of the previous Pearl class of third class cruisers, themselves a more lightly armed version of the Medea class of second class cruisers.
HMS Pegasus was the only Pelorus class third class cruiser to be lost during the First World War, being sunk by the German cruiser Konigsberg on 20 September 1914
HMS Pelorus was the nameship of the Pelorus class of third class cruisers. At the start of the First World War she was on patrol in the Bristol Channel, but before the end of 1914 she had been sent to the Mediterraean, where she formed part of the Gibraltar Patrol
HMAS Pioneer was a Pelorus class light cruiser that was part of the Australian Fleet at the start of the First World War, serving off the west coast of Australia before taking part in the operations against the German cruiser Königsberg.
HMS Proserpine was a Pelorus class third class cruiser that served in the Channel, at Gibraltar, in the Suez Canal and in support of the British intervention in Mesopotamia during the First World War.
HMS Psyche was a Pelorus third class cruiser that spent the entire First World War serving in the Pacific.
HMS Pyramus was a Pelorus class third class cruiser that served in the Pacific, off the east coast of Africa, in the Persian Gulf and in the East Indies during the First World War, taking part in the operations that destroyed the German cruiser Königsberg in July 1915.
The four Gem class third class cruisers were the biggest, best and last third class cruisers built for the Royal Navy.
HMS Amethyst was a Gem class third class cruiser that began the First World War as the flagship of Commodore Tyrwhitt at Harwich before serving off the Dardanelles and on the east coast of South America
HMS Diamond was a Gem class third class cruiser that spent most of the First World War attached to the Grand Fleet.
HMS Sapphire was a Gem class third class cruiser that served with the Dover Patrol in 1914, at the Dardanelles in 1915 and on the East Indies station from 1916 to the end of the war.
HMS Topaze was a Gem class third class cruiser that served with the 5th Battle Squadron of the Channel Fleet in 1914-15, with the Italians in the Mediterranean in 1915-1917 and in the Red Sea from 1917 until the end of the war.

Challenger and Highflyer class cruisers

The two ships of the Challenger class of second class cruisers were virtual repeats of the previous Highflyer class, but equipped with engines that were 25% more powerful
HMS Challenger was the nameship of the Challenger class of second class cruisers. She spent most of the First World War on the African stations, taking part in the invasion of the Cameroons and the East Africa campaign.
HMAS Encounter was a Challenger class second class cruiser that spent most of the First World War on the Australian station.
The Highflyer class of second class cruisers were virtual repeats of the Eclipse class, but carried eleven 6in guns instead of the mix of 6in and 4.7in guns used on the earlier ships.
HMS Hermes was a Highflyer class second class cruiser that was converted to act as a seaplane carrier in 1913.
HMS Highflyer was the nameship of the Highflyer class of second class cruisers. During the First World War she sank the German commerce raider Kaiser Wilhelm de Grosse, and in 1917 escorted the first transatlantic convoy from Canada.
HMS Hyacinth was a Highflyer second class cruiser that served on the Cape and East Africa station during the First World War.

Arrogant Class second class cruisers

The Arrogant class second class cruisers were designed to act as rams to act in support of the battle fleet.
HMS Vindictive was an Arrogant class second class cruiser famous for the role she played in the attempts to block Zeebrugge and Ostend in 1918.

Eclipse class second class cruisers

The Eclipse class second class cruisers were built after the previous Astraea class ships were criticized for their light armament and were armed with a higher proportion of 6in guns
HMS Diana was an Eclipse class second class cruiser that served in Home Waters at the start of the First World War, before moving to the China station and then the Red Sea and India stations later in the war.
HMS Dido was the only Eclipse class cruiser not to see active service during the First World War.
HMS Doris was an Eclipse class second class cruiser that served in Home Waters, off the coast of Syria, at the Dardanelles and on the East Indies station during the First World War.
HMS Eclipse was the name ship for the Eclipse class of second class cruisers.
HMS Isis was an Eclipse class second class cruiser that spent much of the First World War on the North American and West Indies Station.
HMS Juno was a Eclipse class second class cruiser that served in home waters, in the Persian Gulf and in the East Indies during the First World War.
HMS Minerva was an Eclipse class second class cruiser that served in the Red Sea, at Gallipoli and on the East Africa station during the First World War.
HMS Talbot was a Eclipse class second class cruiser that served in Home Waters, at Gallipoli and off the coast of East Africa during the First World War.
HMS Venus was an Eclipse class second class cruiser that served in Home Waters, in Egyptian Waters, on the China Station, and in the East Indies during the First World War.10 November

HMSs Canada, Erin, Agincourt and Royal Oak

HMS Canada was one of three battleships under construction for foreign powers in Britain in 1914 that were taken over by the Royal Navy.
HMS Erin was one of two Turkish battleships under construction in Britain that were seized for the Royal Navy at the start of the First World War.
HMS Agincourt was one of two Turkish battleships that had been completed in Britain just before the start of the First World War.
HMS Royal Oak was a Revenge class battleship, most famous for her destruction by U-47 while at anchor in Scapa Flow in 1939.

Astraea class cruisers

Despite their age, the seven surviving members of the Astraea class of light cruisers performed valuable service during the First World War.

Queen Elizabeth class battleships

The Queen Elizabeth class ships were probably the best battleships to be built for the Royal Navy. Laid down before the First World War, they survived to perform valuable service during the Second World War.
HMS Barham was a Queen Elizabeth class battleship that fought at the battle of Jutland during the First World War and in the Mediterranean during the Second World War.
HMS Malaya was a Queen Elizabeth class battleship that fought at the battle of Jutland during the First World War and in the Mediterranean during the Second World War.
HMS Queen Elizabeth was the name ship of the Queen Elizabeth class of battleships. She was the most powerful battleship in the British fleet when completed, and continued to provide valuable service with the Royal Navy during the Second World War, where she served as the flagship of Admiral Andrew Cunningham in the Mediterranean.
HMS Valiant was a Queen Elizabeth class battleship that fought at the battle of Jutland during the First World War, and at Oran, Matapan, Crete, Sicily and Salerno during the Second World War.
HMS Warspite was a Queen Elizabeth class battleship that served in both world wars, taking part in the battle of Jutland in 1916 and the battle of Matapan in 1941.

HMS Neptune, Colossus, Orion, King George V and Iron Duke class battleships

The two Colossus class dreadnoughts were built as a result of a public panic caused by false reports about German plans to build a dozen dreadnoughts.
HMS Neptune was the first British dreadnought to deviate significantly from the original layout of HMS Dreadnought.
The Orion class battleships were the first British dreadnoughts to carry all of their guns on the centre line, allowing them to fire a full ten-gun broadside without putting excessive stress on the ship’s hull.
The King George V class battleships were slightly improved versions of the previous Orion class ships with the same arrangement of guns
The Iron Duke class battleships saw the return of the 6in gun, last seen on pre-dreadnought battleships. They were built as part of the 1911 Naval Programme, designed the year after Lord Fisher retired as First Sea Lord.

Lord Nelson, Bellerophon and St. Vincent class battleships

The Lord Nelson class battleships were the last pre-dreadnought battleships built in Britain.
The three Bellerophon class ships were the first British battleships built after HMS Dreadnought made all earlier battleships obsolete.
The three ships of the St. Vincent class were very similar to the previous Bellerophon class dreadnoughts, designed with speed of construction in mind in the period after HMS Dreadnought had made all older battleships obsolete.

Max Hoffman and August von Mackensen

Max Hoffman was a German staff officer who helped devise the plan that resulting in the German victory at Tannenberg in 1914, and who spent the entire First World War serving on the eastern front.August von Mackensen was one of the most capable German generals of the First World War, commanding at the breakthrough battle of Gorlice-Tarnow, one of the most decisive battles of the war, as well as during the invasions of Serbia and Romania.

Duncan class of battleships

The Duncan class of battleships were the last of a series of battleship designs that can be traced back to the Royal Sovereign class ships of 1891-1892.
HMS Albemarle was a Duncan class ship that saw little real action during the First World War, missing a posting to the Dardanelles after her bridge was swept away during a storm.
HMS Cornwallis was a Duncan class pre-dreadnought battleship that fired the first shells of the Dardanelles campaign on 19 February 1915.
HMS Duncan was the name ship of the Duncan class of pre-dreadnought battleships. She spent most of the First World War in the Mediterranean, becoming involved in the Allied intervention in Greece.
HMS Exmouth was a Duncan class pre-dreadnought class battleship that served at the Dardanelles and in the Mediterranean during the First World War.
HMS Russell was a Duncan class pre-dreadnought battleship that took part in the final evacuation from Gallipoli before being sunk by a mine early in 1916.

Marwitz, Bothmer, Eichhorn and Rothmaler

Georg von der Marwitz was a German general of the First World War who played a prominent part in the first major tank battle in history, at Cambrai in 1916 and in the first major German offensive of 1918 on the Somme.
Felix Graf von Bothmer was a German general who helped to slow the momentum of the Brusilov offensive in the summer of 1916.
Hermann von Eichhorn was a German general who had the misfortune to become the most senior German killed during the First World War.
Karl Einem von Rothmaler was a German general who defended the Champagne sector of the western front from September 1914 until the end of the First World War.

Fokker M.3

The Fokker M.3 saw another advance in the design of Fokker aircraft, featuring the welded steel tube construction of the M.2 but without its wooden outer casing.

Fokker D.VI, D.VII, M.1, M.2 and V.21

The Fokker D.VI was one of two Fokker aircraft to enter production after the first German fighter contest of January-February 1918.
The Fokker D.VII was the best German fighter aircraft in service at the end of the First World War.
The Fokker M.1 was the first aircraft designed by Fokker for the German Army.
The Fokker M.2, while not a success itself, did see Fokker’s first use of welded steel-tube construction.
The designation Fokker V.21 refers to two Fokker aircraft, the production D.VII and a prototype with swept wings.

London class battleships

The London class pre-dreadnought battleships were slightly modified versions of the previous Formidable class, with an improved distribution of armour.
HMS Bulwark was a London class battleship that was destroyed by an accidental explosion in November 1914.
HMS London was the name ship of the London class of battleships. During the First World War she served at the Dardanelles, before forming part of the British squadron in the Adriatic.
HMS Prince of Wales was a London class pre-dreadnought battleship that served in the channel, at the Dardanelles and in the Aegean during the First World War.
HMS Queen was a London class pre-dreadnought battleship that like most of her class served in the channel, at the Dardanelles and in the Adriatic during the First World War.
HMS Venerable was a London class battleship that was heavily involved in the fighting on the Belgian coast in 1914-15 before serving off the Dardanelles and in the Aegean.

Admiral Maximilian von Spee

Admiral Maximilian von Spee was one of the most famous German sailors of the First World War, winning his fame at the battle of Coronel, the first British naval defeat for a century.

Formidable class of pre-dreadnought battleships

The Formidable class of pre-dreadnought battleships were enlarged versions of the previous Majestic and Canopus class ships, this time using the advantages of Krupp steel and water-tube boilers to improve the protection of the ships rather than their speed.
HMS Formidable was the name ship of the Formidable class of pre-dreadnought battleships. On 1 January 1915 she was sunk by U 24 while on a practice exercise in the English Channel.
HMS Implacable was the only Formidable class battleship to survive the First World War.
HMS Irresistible was a Formidable class pre-dreadnought battleship sunk during the Allied attempt to force the Dardanelles on 18 March 1915.