Hatamoto Samurai Horse and Foot Guards: 1540-1724, Stephen Turnbull.
An excellent Osprey from the leading authority of this period of warfare in Japan Stephen Turnbull. Lavishly illustrated to Osprey's high standard, it covers the samurai guards who served under the flag protecting their lord in battle and serving as officers and emissaries in peace time for nearly 200 years. A fascinating book with many examples of duty, honour and loyalty. [read full review]
Sunday, April 25, 2010
SAS Operation Bulbasket, Behind the Lines in Occupied France 1944, Paul McCue.
SAS Operation Bulbasket, Behind the Lines in Occupied France 1944, Paul McCue.
A detailed examination of one of the SAS's missions in occupied France after D-Day, an attempt to cut railway lines, delay German reinforcements and co-operate with the Maquis. A German raid on the SAS camp was followed by war-crimes and some of the most accurate Mosquito pin-point raids of the war, carried out in revenge for the murder of an SAS officer. [read full review]
A detailed examination of one of the SAS's missions in occupied France after D-Day, an attempt to cut railway lines, delay German reinforcements and co-operate with the Maquis. A German raid on the SAS camp was followed by war-crimes and some of the most accurate Mosquito pin-point raids of the war, carried out in revenge for the murder of an SAS officer. [read full review]
Edward IV and the War of the Roses, David Santiuste.
Edward IV and the War of the Roses, David Santiuste.
A look at the military career of Edward IV, the often overlooked winner of the main part of the War of the Roses, and a king who ruled peacefully for nearly twelve years before dying a natural death. [read full review]
A look at the military career of Edward IV, the often overlooked winner of the main part of the War of the Roses, and a king who ruled peacefully for nearly twelve years before dying a natural death. [read full review]
Minor Hawker aircraft
The Hawker Hawfinch was one of a number of fighter aircraft designed to replace the Armstrong Whitworth Siskin and Gloster Gamecock, but it lost out to the Bristol Bulldog and never entered production
The Hawker Harrier was one of a number of aircraft designed to replace the Hawker Horsley bomber, but after an expansion of the specification to include a role as a torpedo bomber it proved to be badly underpowered and never entered production.
The Hawker Tomtit was an elementary trainer designed as a possible replacement for the aging Avro 504N but that was only produced in small numbers
The Hawker F.20/27 was a single-seat fighter aircraft that was the direct precursor of the very successful Hawker Fury, and that differed mainly from the latter aircraft by using a radial engine.
The Hawker Hornet was the prototype for the Hawker Fury, one of the best biplane fighters to see service with the RAF.
The Hawker Hoopee was a radial powered naval fighter that despite undergoing a prolonged series of trials never entered service, being superseded by the inline-powered Hawker Nimrod
The Hawker P.V.3 was a fighter aircraft designed to satisfy Air Ministry specification F.7/30, but that was made obsolete by the 1933 issuing of the specifications that led to the Hurricane and that never entered production.
The Hawker P.V.4 was a general purpose aircraft and level bomber designed in response to an Air Ministry specification of 1931, but that didn't make its maiden flight until 1934, by which time interest in the entire specification had faded.
The Hawker Hotspur was a turret fighter similar to the Boulton Paul Defiant. Although it reached the prototype stage, Hawker's factories were all fully committed to other aircraft, most famously the Hurricane, and the Hotspur never entered production.
The Hawker Harrier was one of a number of aircraft designed to replace the Hawker Horsley bomber, but after an expansion of the specification to include a role as a torpedo bomber it proved to be badly underpowered and never entered production.
The Hawker Tomtit was an elementary trainer designed as a possible replacement for the aging Avro 504N but that was only produced in small numbers
The Hawker F.20/27 was a single-seat fighter aircraft that was the direct precursor of the very successful Hawker Fury, and that differed mainly from the latter aircraft by using a radial engine.
The Hawker Hornet was the prototype for the Hawker Fury, one of the best biplane fighters to see service with the RAF.
The Hawker Hoopee was a radial powered naval fighter that despite undergoing a prolonged series of trials never entered service, being superseded by the inline-powered Hawker Nimrod
The Hawker P.V.3 was a fighter aircraft designed to satisfy Air Ministry specification F.7/30, but that was made obsolete by the 1933 issuing of the specifications that led to the Hurricane and that never entered production.
The Hawker P.V.4 was a general purpose aircraft and level bomber designed in response to an Air Ministry specification of 1931, but that didn't make its maiden flight until 1934, by which time interest in the entire specification had faded.
The Hawker Hotspur was a turret fighter similar to the Boulton Paul Defiant. Although it reached the prototype stage, Hawker's factories were all fully committed to other aircraft, most famously the Hurricane, and the Hotspur never entered production.
Baber's civil wars in Fergana
The battle of Marghinan of 1499 was a minor conflict that helped to secure Babur's come-back after his disastrous occupation of Samarkand in 1497
The Battle of the Ailaish River (1499) was a defeat suffered by Babur's supporters soon after he had regained control of his original kingdom of Fergana after a year spent in exile.
The siege of Andijan of 1499 was an unsuccessful attack on Babur's recently regained capital made his chief rival Tambal in the aftermath of a revolt amongst Babur's Mongol mercenaries.
The siege of Madu (1499) was a minor victory for Babur in the civil war that followed his return to power in Fergana in 1499.
The battle of Khuban (1499) was Babur's first battle as a commander, and was a victory that should have helped secure his position as ruler of Fergana.
The siege of Kasan, (late 1499 or early 1500) saw Sultan Mahmud Khan of Tashkent intervene in the civil war between Babur and his brother's supporter Sultan Ahmad Tambal.
The Battle of the Ailaish River (1499) was a defeat suffered by Babur's supporters soon after he had regained control of his original kingdom of Fergana after a year spent in exile.
The siege of Andijan of 1499 was an unsuccessful attack on Babur's recently regained capital made his chief rival Tambal in the aftermath of a revolt amongst Babur's Mongol mercenaries.
The siege of Madu (1499) was a minor victory for Babur in the civil war that followed his return to power in Fergana in 1499.
The battle of Khuban (1499) was Babur's first battle as a commander, and was a victory that should have helped secure his position as ruler of Fergana.
The siege of Kasan, (late 1499 or early 1500) saw Sultan Mahmud Khan of Tashkent intervene in the civil war between Babur and his brother's supporter Sultan Ahmad Tambal.
Baber's first conquest of Samarkand
The battle of Kan-Bai (1495) was an early battle in the series of struggles that followed the death of Sultan Mahmud Mirza of Samarkand in January 1495
The siege of Asfara (May-June 1495) was an early success for Babur, then the recently installed king of Fergana, and saw him defeat a rebellion raised in the name of Sultan Baisanghar Mirza of Samarkand
The siege of Hisor in the late winter and spring of 1496 was the main event in a brief war between the Timurid sultans of Samarkand and Khorasan, and the successful defence of the city effectively ended the war.
The siege of Samarkand of July-October/ November 1496 was the first of a series of attempts made by Babur to seize the city
The siege of Samarkand of (May/June to November 1497) saw Babur and Sultan Ali Mirza resume their unsuccessful siege of 1496, this time capturing the city after a siege that lasted for much of 1497.
The siege of Andijan (to February 1498) was the end result of a conspiracy in his original kingdom of Fergana that forced Babur to abandon Samarkand only 100 days after it fell into his hands after a siege that ended in November 1497.
The siege of Asfara (May-June 1495) was an early success for Babur, then the recently installed king of Fergana, and saw him defeat a rebellion raised in the name of Sultan Baisanghar Mirza of Samarkand
The siege of Hisor in the late winter and spring of 1496 was the main event in a brief war between the Timurid sultans of Samarkand and Khorasan, and the successful defence of the city effectively ended the war.
The siege of Samarkand of July-October/ November 1496 was the first of a series of attempts made by Babur to seize the city
The siege of Samarkand of (May/June to November 1497) saw Babur and Sultan Ali Mirza resume their unsuccessful siege of 1496, this time capturing the city after a siege that lasted for much of 1497.
The siege of Andijan (to February 1498) was the end result of a conspiracy in his original kingdom of Fergana that forced Babur to abandon Samarkand only 100 days after it fell into his hands after a siege that ended in November 1497.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Periscope View, George Simpson.
Periscope View, George Simpson.
Autobiography written by the commander of the 10th Submarine Flotilla from 1941-43, focusing on his time in command of a unit that sank or damaged over one millions tons of Axis shipping in the Mediterranean but at a very heavy cost, losing half of its submarines [read full review]
Autobiography written by the commander of the 10th Submarine Flotilla from 1941-43, focusing on his time in command of a unit that sank or damaged over one millions tons of Axis shipping in the Mediterranean but at a very heavy cost, losing half of its submarines [read full review]
Mons: The Retreat to Victory, John Terraine.
Mons: The Retreat to Victory, John Terraine.
A classic account of the first phase of the fighting on the Western Front as it affected the B.E.F., from their arrival in France, to the battle of Mons itself and on to the long retreat and the battle of the Marne, supported by a good account of the experience of the French and German armies and their commanders [read full review]
A classic account of the first phase of the fighting on the Western Front as it affected the B.E.F., from their arrival in France, to the battle of Mons itself and on to the long retreat and the battle of the Marne, supported by a good account of the experience of the French and German armies and their commanders [read full review]
Stalingrad: How the Red Army triumphed, Michael J. Jones.
Stalingrad: How the Red Army triumphed, Michael J. Jones.
Focusing on the first phase of the battle - the German assault on the city - this book attempts to discover how the outnumbered defenders of Stalingrad managed to hold on until the Soviet counter-attack turned the tables on the Germans. A valuable attempt to uncover the true events of a battle often hidden behind a layer of Soviet propaganda [read full review]
Focusing on the first phase of the battle - the German assault on the city - this book attempts to discover how the outnumbered defenders of Stalingrad managed to hold on until the Soviet counter-attack turned the tables on the Germans. A valuable attempt to uncover the true events of a battle often hidden behind a layer of Soviet propaganda [read full review]
The Man who ran London during the Great War, Richard Morris
The Man who ran London during the Great War, Richard Morris.
A biography of General Sir Francis Lloyd, General Officer Commanding London District for most of the First World War. Covers Lloyd's service in the Sudan, where he fought at Omdurman, during the Boer War, and his peace-time military and political career as well as his time in charge of London, its military hospitals, crucial rail networks and anti-invasion defences. [read full review]
A biography of General Sir Francis Lloyd, General Officer Commanding London District for most of the First World War. Covers Lloyd's service in the Sudan, where he fought at Omdurman, during the Boer War, and his peace-time military and political career as well as his time in charge of London, its military hospitals, crucial rail networks and anti-invasion defences. [read full review]
Saladin - Hero of Islam, Geoffrey Hindley
Saladin - Hero of Islam, Geoffrey Hindley. An invaluable, evenly-paced, full length biography of Saladin that spends as much time looking at his activities within the Islamic world as at his better known campaigns against the Crusader Kingdoms and the conquest of Jerusalem. A valuable look at the life of a leader who was respected on both sides of the religious divide in the Holy Land [read full review]
Battle of Sar-i-Pul and siege of Samarkand, 1501
The battle of Sar-i-Pul (April-May 1501) was an early defeat suffered by Babur after he had captured the city of Samarkand for a second time
The siege of Samarkand during the summer of 1501 saw the city fall to the Uzbek leader Muhammad Shaibani Khan after being defended during the summer of 1501 by Babur.
The siege of Samarkand during the summer of 1501 saw the city fall to the Uzbek leader Muhammad Shaibani Khan after being defended during the summer of 1501 by Babur.
Battle of Ankara and siege of Smyrna, 1402
The battle of Ankara or Angora (28 July 1402) was a major victory won by Tamerlane over the Ottoman Army of Sultan Bayezid that nearly destroyed the Ottoman Empire, and as a side-effect gave the Byzantine Empire another fifty years of life.
The siege of Smyrna (December 1402) saw the armies of Tamerlane capture the last Christian stronghold on the mainland of Anatolia
The siege of Smyrna (December 1402) saw the armies of Tamerlane capture the last Christian stronghold on the mainland of Anatolia
Battle of Shiraz and 1401 siege of Baghdad
The battle of Shiraz (1393) was the final clash between Tamerlane and the Muzaffarid Dynasty of southern Persia, and was a victory for Tamerlane that was followed by the total destruction of the dynasty.
The siege of Baghdad (May-9 July 1401) was one of Tamerlane's most destructive victories, and saw the city virtually destroyed after it was taken by storm at the end of a forty day long siege
The siege of Baghdad (May-9 July 1401) was one of Tamerlane's most destructive victories, and saw the city virtually destroyed after it was taken by storm at the end of a forty day long siege
Hawker Hedgehog, Hornbill, Horsley and Dantorp
The Hawker Hedgehog was a design for a reconnaissance aircraft produced in 1924 but that was never put into production
The Hawker Hornbill was a fighter aircraft designed in 1925-26 that combined impressive performance figures with an awkward cockpit design that contributed to its failure to enter production
The Hawker Horsley was a rare example of a bomber produced by Hawker, and was the last wooden aircraft to be produced by them before the introduction of their famous metal construction system.
The Hawker Dantorp was a version of the Hawker Horsley developed for Denmark
The Hawker Hornbill was a fighter aircraft designed in 1925-26 that combined impressive performance figures with an awkward cockpit design that contributed to its failure to enter production
The Hawker Horsley was a rare example of a bomber produced by Hawker, and was the last wooden aircraft to be produced by them before the introduction of their famous metal construction system.
The Hawker Dantorp was a version of the Hawker Horsley developed for Denmark
Friday, April 09, 2010
Underground Warfare, 1914-1918, Simon Jones
Underground Warfare, 1914-1918, Simon Jones. Looks at the British, French. Turkish and German efforts at underground warfare on the Western Front and at Gallipoli, examining major and minor attacks, defence warfare and the changing technology used to dig ever more elaborate tunnels and galleries in this largely hidden form of warfare that still produced some of the most dramatic images of the Great War [read full review]
Wellington's Highland Warriors, From the Black Watch Mutiny to the Battle of Waterloo, Stuart Reid.
Wellington's Highland Warriors, From the Black Watch Mutiny to the Battle of Waterloo, Stuart Reid. Starts with a detailed examination of the raising of the Highland regiments which sheds a valuable light on the changing status of the Highland aristocrats after the '45, before moving on to look at the role the regiments playing in India, Spain and at Waterloo [read full review]
Back Bearing: A Navigator's Tale, 1942 to 1974, Group Captain Eric Cropper
Back Bearing: A Navigator's Tale, 1942 to 1974, Group Captain Eric Cropper. A useful account of a period of rapid navigation in the science of navigation, seen from the point of view of an RAF Officer who served as a navigator with Bomber Command during the Second World War then remained in the RAF for thirty years, becoming a senior figure in navigation training [read full review]
Hawker Duiker, Woodcock, Danecock and Heron
The Hawker Duiker was an unsuccessful design for a reconnaissance aircraft that was noteworthy mainly for being one of the first two types of aircraft to carry the Hawker name.
The Hawker Woodcock was the first aircraft carrying the Hawker name to enter service with the RAF, and was a short-lived fighter aircraft that was one of the first generation of aircraft designed after the First World War.
The Hawker Danecock was a version of the Woodcock II fighter designed for Denmark, and produced under license there as the L.B.II Dankok
The Hawker Heron was an experimental metal version of the wooden Woodcock II fighter, designed by Sydney Camm early in his career with Hawker.
The Hawker Woodcock was the first aircraft carrying the Hawker name to enter service with the RAF, and was a short-lived fighter aircraft that was one of the first generation of aircraft designed after the First World War.
The Hawker Danecock was a version of the Woodcock II fighter designed for Denmark, and produced under license there as the L.B.II Dankok
The Hawker Heron was an experimental metal version of the wooden Woodcock II fighter, designed by Sydney Camm early in his career with Hawker.
Mongol Battles in India
The battle of the Indus, 24 November 1221, marked the first appearance of the Mongols in India, but the battle was the final stage of Genghis Khan's war against Khwarazm, and after his victory Genghis left India alone.
The siege of Lahore (to 22 December 1241) was an early Mongol success against the Delhi Sultanate, and took advantage of a state of political confusion in the Sultanate.
The battle of Jalandhar (modern Jullundu) of 5 February 1298 was the first of a series of four major battles that dramatically reduced the Mongol threat to the Delhi sultanate.
The battle of Kili of 1299 ended a Mongol siege of Delhi, and was the second of four major battles that reduced the Mongol threat to the Delhi Sultanate.
The battle of Amroha (20 December 1305) was a major victory for the Delhi Sultanate over a Mongol army, and was the third of four Mongol defeats that greatly reduced the threat they posed to India.
The battle of Ravi (1306) was the fourth and last of a series of defeats suffered by Mongol armies in the Delhi Sultanate that greatly reduced the Mongol threat to northern India.
The siege of Lahore (to 22 December 1241) was an early Mongol success against the Delhi Sultanate, and took advantage of a state of political confusion in the Sultanate.
The battle of Jalandhar (modern Jullundu) of 5 February 1298 was the first of a series of four major battles that dramatically reduced the Mongol threat to the Delhi sultanate.
The battle of Kili of 1299 ended a Mongol siege of Delhi, and was the second of four major battles that reduced the Mongol threat to the Delhi Sultanate.
The battle of Amroha (20 December 1305) was a major victory for the Delhi Sultanate over a Mongol army, and was the third of four Mongol defeats that greatly reduced the threat they posed to India.
The battle of Ravi (1306) was the fourth and last of a series of defeats suffered by Mongol armies in the Delhi Sultanate that greatly reduced the Mongol threat to northern India.
Fieseler Fi 156 Storch and related aircraft
The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch (Stork) is widely considered to have been the best army cooperation aircraft to see large-scale service during the Second World War, serving with the German Army on just about every front, and possessing a very impressive short take-off and landing capability.
The Fieseler Fi 156A was the first production version of the Storch and was a general utility and liaison aircraft that was produced in small numbers
The Fieseler Fi 156B was to have been a civil version of the Storch, equipped with automatic moveable slots on the wing leading edge
The Fieseler Fr 156C was the main production version of the Storch, and initially differed from the A series in having the ability to carry a single aft-firing 7.9mm MG15 machine gun.
The Fieseler Fi 156D was a dedicated air-ambulance version of the Storch, modified to make it easier to load patients on stretchers into the aircraft.
The Fieseler Fi 156E was produced in attempt to solve the problems caused by the small main wheels of the standard Storch
The Fieseler Fi 156F or P (for Police) was a version of the Storch designed for internal security and anti-partisan activities.
The Fieseler Fi 156U was the designation given to an experimental version of the Storch used to test out a number of different payloads
The Siebel Si 201 was a very unconventional aircraft designed as a competitor to the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
The OKA-38 Aist (Stork) was a Soviet version of the Fieseler Storch, designed by Oleg K. Antonov using a German example as a template
The Kokusai Ki-76 'Stella' was a artillery spotting and liaison aircraft inspired by the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch, but that was designed independently in Japan.
The Mraz K.65 Cap was the designation given to Fieseler Fi 156 Storch aircraft produced in Czechoslovakia after the end of the Second World War
The Morane Saulnier M.S. 500 was the name given to examples of the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch built at Puteaux in France after the end of the Second World War
The Morane Saulnier M.S. 501 was the designation given to post-war Fieseler Storch aircraft built in France and powered by an inline Renault engine
The Morane Saulnier M.S. 502 'Criquet' was the version of the Fieseler Fi 156 produced in largest numbers after the end of the Second World War
The Fieseler Fi 156A was the first production version of the Storch and was a general utility and liaison aircraft that was produced in small numbers
The Fieseler Fi 156B was to have been a civil version of the Storch, equipped with automatic moveable slots on the wing leading edge
The Fieseler Fr 156C was the main production version of the Storch, and initially differed from the A series in having the ability to carry a single aft-firing 7.9mm MG15 machine gun.
The Fieseler Fi 156D was a dedicated air-ambulance version of the Storch, modified to make it easier to load patients on stretchers into the aircraft.
The Fieseler Fi 156E was produced in attempt to solve the problems caused by the small main wheels of the standard Storch
The Fieseler Fi 156F or P (for Police) was a version of the Storch designed for internal security and anti-partisan activities.
The Fieseler Fi 156U was the designation given to an experimental version of the Storch used to test out a number of different payloads
The Siebel Si 201 was a very unconventional aircraft designed as a competitor to the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
The OKA-38 Aist (Stork) was a Soviet version of the Fieseler Storch, designed by Oleg K. Antonov using a German example as a template
The Kokusai Ki-76 'Stella' was a artillery spotting and liaison aircraft inspired by the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch, but that was designed independently in Japan.
The Mraz K.65 Cap was the designation given to Fieseler Fi 156 Storch aircraft produced in Czechoslovakia after the end of the Second World War
The Morane Saulnier M.S. 500 was the name given to examples of the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch built at Puteaux in France after the end of the Second World War
The Morane Saulnier M.S. 501 was the designation given to post-war Fieseler Storch aircraft built in France and powered by an inline Renault engine
The Morane Saulnier M.S. 502 'Criquet' was the version of the Fieseler Fi 156 produced in largest numbers after the end of the Second World War
Fieseler Fi 98, Fi 167, Fi 256 and Fi 333
The Fieseler Fi 98 was a dive-bomber designed in response to the same RLM specification as the Henschel Hs 123, but that never progressed beyond the prototype stage.
The Fieseler Fi 167 was a ship-born two-seat torpedo bomber and reconnaissance aircraft designed to serve on the German aircraft carrier Graf Spee
The Fieseler Fi 256 was a five-seat version of the Fi 156 Storch, built in prototype form by Morane Saulnier in France
The Fieseler Fi 333 was a design for a transport aircraft that would have carried its cargo in detachable pods, allowing for a very rapid turn-around on the ground, and for the use of a number of different purpose-built pods to carry cargo, passenger, paratroops or fuel
The Fieseler Fi 167 was a ship-born two-seat torpedo bomber and reconnaissance aircraft designed to serve on the German aircraft carrier Graf Spee
The Fieseler Fi 256 was a five-seat version of the Fi 156 Storch, built in prototype form by Morane Saulnier in France
The Fieseler Fi 333 was a design for a transport aircraft that would have carried its cargo in detachable pods, allowing for a very rapid turn-around on the ground, and for the use of a number of different purpose-built pods to carry cargo, passenger, paratroops or fuel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
