Battle of St. Michael (25 May 1809)

The battle of St. Michael (25 May 1809) was a disastrous Austrian defeat that saw an entire division destroyed, dramatically reducing their ability to defend against a French invasion from Italy

Combat near Laybach of 22 May 1809

The combat near Laybach of 22 May 1809 was an almost bloodless victory for the French that ended with the surrender of a large Austrian force near Laybach (modern Ljubljana)

Combat of Tarvisio (18 May 1809)

The combat of Tarvisio (18 May 1809) was minor victory during the French advance after their victory over an Austrian army led by Archduke John on the Piave River on 8 May.

Battle of the Piave (8 May 1809)

The battle of the Piave (8 May 1809) was a French victory that effectively forced the Austrians to retreat from Italy, making up for the earlier French defeat at Sacile

battle of Sacile (16 April 1809)

The battle of Sacile (16 April 1809) was the first major battle during the War of the Fifth Coalition, and was an Austrian victory that might have caused the French serious problems in Italy if events on the Danube had not forced the Austrians to pull their army back.

combat of Ospedaletto (11 April 1809)

The combat of Ospedaletto (11 April 1809) was the first significant fighting during the War of the Fifth Coalition, and saw the Austrians under Archduke John push back part of the French Army of Italy during the early stages of their invasion of Italy

WWII Lost Films (Blu-ray), The History Channel.

WWII Lost Films (Blu-ray), The History Channel.

Ten 45 minute episodes filled with very impressive high quality colour film, and following the wartime experiences of twelve Americans (including an Austrian émigré and the son of Japanese immigrants). Their stories make these documentaries much more interesting than similar films, giving them a sense of purpose that is often lacked. [read full review]

Waterloo: Netherlands Correspondence, ed John Franklin.

Waterloo: Netherlands Correspondence, ed John Franklin.

A valuable collection of previously unprinted documents relating to the Netherlands army during the Waterloo campaign, shedding light on this often neglected part of the Allied army - the second biggest contingent after the British, and effectively a separate army under the command of the Prince of Orange. [read full review]

Hatred is the Key, Graham Sclater.

Hatred is the Key, Graham Sclater.

An atmospheric novel set amongst American prisoners of war on Dartmoor at the end of the War of 1812, looking into a forgotten corner of a generally forgotten war. The main plot builds to a satisfyingly dramatic conclusion, loosely based on real events in the overcrowded Dartmoor depot in the awkward period between the end of the war and the repatriation of the prisoners [read full review]

Operation Iraqi Freedom: US Army Abrams, Bradley & Stryker, Andy Renshaw & Ryan Harden.

Operation Iraqi Freedom: US Army Abrams, Bradley & Stryker, Andy Renshaw & Ryan Harden.

Combines a look at the history and development of each type of vehicle with a detailed illustrated walk-round of real machines and an interesting modelling guide, in each case taking a base kit and at least one or two upgrade or modification kits, and giving useful advice on how to combine the various components to produce an impressive final model. [read full review]

Women in the First World War, Neil R. Storey & Molly Housego

Women in the First World War, Neil R. Storey & Molly Housego.

A look at the pioneering role played by women during the First World War, and the prejudice that the early volunteers had to overcome before they were accepted. Only as the war dragged on into 1916 and conscription was introduced did the government realise how essential their contribution would be, and by 1918 many of the organisations more familiar from the Second World War were already in place. [read full review]

British Postcards of the First World War, Peter Doyle

British Postcards of the First World War, Peter Doyle.

A look at the very wide range of postcards produced in Britain during the First World War, tracing their evolution as the war progressed, from the enthusiastic cards of 1914 to the sombre reflection of 1918. For most soldiers the postcard was the easiest way to communicate with their families back in Britain, so the changing nature of the cards provides a useful insight into the changing mood of the soldiers. [read full review]

Hawker Sea Hawk and related projects

The Hawker Sea Hawk was Hawker's first production jet aircraft, and served as the Fleet Air Arm's main fighter and ground attack aircraft during the second half of the 1950s
The Hawker P.1035 was a design for a jet fighter based on the Hawker Fury and powered by the Rolls-Royce B.41 jet engine.
The Hawker P.1040 was the direct precursor to the Hawker Sea Hawk, and the single aircraft built acted as an unarmed, un-navalised prototype for the later fighter
The Hawker P.1052 was a swept-wing version of the P.1040, the design that evolved into the Sea Hawk
The Hawker P.1072 was the designation given to the single P.1040 Sea Hawk prototype when it was given an auxiliary rocket engine in an attempt to improve its take-off performance
The Hawker P.1081 was a version of the P.1052 swept-wing Sea Hawk modified to use a straight-through jet pipe in place of the bifurcated pipe of the P.1052 and Sea Hawk
The Hawker Sea Hawk F.Mark 1 was the first production version of the Sea Hawk, and was a pure interceptor produced by both Hawkers and Armstrong Whitworth
The Hawker Sea Hawk F.Mark 2 was the second and final version of the aircraft to be produced as a pure interceptor
The Hawker Sea Hawk F.B. Mark 3 saw the aircraft develop from a pure interceptor into a capable fighter-bomber, and was the most widely used version of the aircraft
The Hawker Sea Hawk F.G.A. Mark 4 (Fighter, Ground Attack), was designed to be the definitive ground support version of the aircraft, carrying external stores on four pylons under the wings
The Hawker Sea Hawk F.B. Mark 5 was the designation given to the Sea Hawk Mk.3 when it was given a more powerful Nene Mk.103 engine in an attempt to improve its performance
The Hawker Sea Hawk F.G.A. Mark 6 was the designation given to the F.G.A.4 when it was powered by the Nene Mk.103 engine
The Hawker Sea Hawk Mark 50 was the designation given to twenty-two aircraft ordered by the Dutch in 1956
The Hawker Sea Hawk Mark 100 was a day fighter version of the aircraft produced for West Germany
The Hawker Sea Hawk Mark 101 was a bad-weather reconnaissance-fighter produced for West Germany.
The third and final over-seas customer for the Sea Hawk was the Indian Navy, which ordered a mix of ex-Fleet Air Arm aircraft, new build and former German aircraft over a ten year period

Hawker Sea Hurricane

Although the Hurricane was not designed as a naval aircraft, the Sea Hurricane served the Fleet Air Arm in three separate roles – shore based, catapult launched and carrier based.
The Sea Hurricane Mk IA was produced in response to the dire situation Britain found herself in by the end of 1940, and was designed to be fired from catapults carried on converted merchant ships in an attempt to provide some air cover for vulnerable convoys
The Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk IB was the first version of the aircraft to be designed for use of aircraft carriers, and was equipped with an arrester hook as well as the catapult spools and naval radio of the Mk IA
The Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk IC was similar to the Mk IB, but was armed with four 20mm cannon in place of the eight .303in machine guns of the earlier aircraft
The Sea Hurricane Mk IIC was the final major version of the aircraft to be produced in Britain, and was a conversion of the standard Hurricane Mk II, with the Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engine and armed with four 20mm cannon
The Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk XII was a naval version of the Canadian built and Packard Merlin powered Hurricane Mk XII

Enfield P14 and M1917 bolt action rifles

The Enfield P14 and M1917 family of manually-operated, Mauser-style bolt action rifles originated with the Pattern 1913 Enfield (or P13) that was an experimental rifle developed due to the combat experience of the British Army during the Second Boer War (1899 – 1902)

Sten machine carbine

The Sten machine carbine was a relatively simple piece of kit, being a blowback-operated sub-machinegun, firing from an open bolt with a fixed firing pin on the face of the bolt