Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Polikarpov I-6

The Polikarpov I-6 was a biplane of wooden construction designed to compete against the metal framed I-5, but that never progressed beyond the prototype stage

Polikarpov I-5

The Polikarpov I-5 was the second of Nikolai Polikarpov's biplane fighters to enter front line service, and was designed while he was working in a prison camp.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Siege of Salonae (49 BC)

The siege of Salonae (49 BC) was an unsuccessful attempt by Pompey's supporters in Illyricum to capture a town that supported Caesar (Great Roman Civil War)

Siege of Curicta (49 BC)

The siege of Curicta (49 BC) was a success for Pompey's supporters against Caesar's governor of Illyria early in the Great Roman Civil War

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Notes of a Russian Sniper, Vassili Zaitsev

Notes of a Russian Sniper, Vassili Zaitsev.

An utterly compelling account of the battle of Stalingrad as seen by Vassili Zaitsev, the sniper whose exploits inspired the film 'Enemy at the Gates'. A very well written memoir that gives the reader a clear idea of the nature of the fighting in the ruins of the city, and of the skills needed by a sniper in that environment

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Wittmann v Ekins: The Death of a Panzer Ace (DVD)

Wittmann v Ekins: The Death of a Panzer Ace (DVD).

A low-key but effective documentary looking at the career and final defeat of the German Panzer Ace Michael Wittman and the experiences of Joe Ekins, a British tank gunner who may have fired the shots that killed him. Nicely presented with much of the filming done on the actual battlefields in Normandy

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Messines 1917: The zenith of siege warfare, Alexander Turner.

Messines 1917: The zenith of siege warfare, Alexander Turner.

A good clear account of one of the most successful British offensives of the First World War, and a classic example of the success possible when formal siege techniques were applied to the deadlock on the Western Front. The battle is best known for the massive mines that were detonated at its start, but also saw a significant improvement in the British use of artillery and the benefits of a well organised plan

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Tracing the Rifle Volunteers, Ray Westlake.

Tracing the Rifle Volunteers, Ray Westlake.

A comprehensive reference work detailing the history of the Volunteer Rifle Corps, the infantry component of the volunteer force that preceded the Territorial Force. Provides details of each of the hundreds of companies formed around England, Wales and Scotland, including location, date of formation and eventual fate

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Chitral Charlie, The Rise and Fall of Major General Charles Townshend, N. S. Nash

Chitral Charlie, The Rise and Fall of Major General Charles Townshend, N. S. Nash.

A biography of the general best known for his part in the disastrous Mesopotamian campaign of 1915-16, which ended with the siege and fall of Kut. Townshend is revealed as an intelligent, ambitious and able officer, with a passionate interest in the conduct of military operations but with flaws in his character that combined with the anger caused by the poor treatment of his men in Turkish captivity to leave his reputation in tatters

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Pacific: Hell on Earth (DVD)

Pacific: Hell on Earth (DVD).

Eight documentaries looking at different battles of the Pacific War, from Pearl Harbor to Okinawa, with a bonus disc containing a biography of Eugene B. Sledge, author of 'With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa'. A good mix of interviews with surviving veterans, contemporary film and a nice use of wartime aerial reconnaissance photos overlaid onto a 3D map of the battlefields

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Casca 34: Devil's Horseman, Tony Roberts

Casca 34: Devil's Horseman, Tony Roberts.

This time Casca accompanies the Mongols as they invade eastern and central Europe, overwhelming Russian, Polish and Hungarian resistance on their way to a dramatic victory on the Saja River. With Ogatai Khan fading fast back in Mongolia the horde is split into rival factions as the princes jostle to become his heir, and Casca is dragged into the middle of the dynastic battle.

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Friday, November 26, 2010

Polikarpov DI-2

The Polikarpov DI-2 was a two-seat fighter developed from the single-seat I-3. The only prototype crashed during 1929 ending work on the project

Polikarpov I-3

The Polikarpov I-3 was the first of Nikolai Polikarpov's fighter designs to enter front line service, and was the first of a long line of designs that reached their peak with the I-153.
The Polikarpov 2I-1N (DI-1) was a two seat fighter that was the first in a long line of biplane fighters designed by Nikolai Polikarpov.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Battle of the Bagradas River (24 July 49 BC)

The battle of the Bagradas River (24 July 49 BC) was a major defeat for Caesar's army in North Africa, and firmly established Pompey's control over the area.

Siege of Utica (49 BC)

The siege of Utica (49 BC) was a short-lived attempt by Caesar's lieutenant in North Africa, G. Scribonius Curio, to take advantage of his victory in a battle outside the city (Great Roman Civil War).

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Fiat G.59

The Fiat G.59 was a post-war trainer producing by matching the fuselage of the G.55 Centauro with the Rolls Royce Merlin engine

Fiat G.56

The Fiat G.56 was a fighter aircraft that combined the fuselage of the successful G.55 Centauro with a 1,750hp Daimbler Benz DB 603A to produce the fastest Italian fighter aircraft of the Second World War.

Fiat G.55 Centauro (Centaur)

The Fiat G.55 Centauro (Centaur) was an improved version of the G.50, powered by a licence built DB 605 engine and armed with two machine guns and three 20mm cannon, thus solving most of the problems with the earlier aircraft

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Fiat G.52

The Fiat G.52 was the designation given to a version of the G.50 Freccia that would have been powered by the Daimler Benz DB 601 engine

Fiat G.50 Freccia (Arrow)

The Fiat G.50 Freccia (Arrow) was the first all-metal monoplane fighter to enter service with the Italian Air Force, but it was underpowered and under-armed compared to its British and German contemporaries

Monday, November 22, 2010

Battle of Utica (49 BC)

The battle of Utica (49 BC) was an initial victory won by G. Scribonius, Caesar's commander in North Africa, over Pompey's supporters (Great Roman Civil War)

Naval battles of Massilia (49 BC)

The naval battles of Massilia (49 BC) were two victories won by Caesar's naval commander Decimus Brutus during the siege of the same town.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Siege of Massilia (March-September 49 BC)

The siege of Massilia (March-September 49 BC) was an early victory for Caesar during the Great Roman Civil War, largely won by his subordinates while Caesar himself campaigned in Spain.

Attack on Landguard Fort (2 July 1667)

The Dutch attack on Landguard Fort (2 July 1667) was intended to clear the way for an attack on the anchorage at Harwich, but was repulsed by one of the earliest precursors of the Royal Marines (Second Dutch War)

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Fiat CR.42 Falco

The Fiat CR.42 Falco was probably the best biplane fighter aircraft ever produced, but it didn’t make its maiden flight until 1938, by which time it was already verging on obsolescence

Fiat CR.41

The Fiat CR.41 was a version of the CR.40 that was given a much more powerful Gnome-Rhone Mistral Major 14Ksf engine

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Tanks on the Somme, from Morval to Beaumont Hamel, Trevor Pidgeon

Tanks on the Somme, from Morval to Beaumont Hamel, Trevor Pidgeon.

A very detailed tank-by-tank account of the 'penny packet' operations that followed the initial larger scale introduction of the tank into warfare during the battle of the Somme. Supported by detailed maps and battlefield guides, this is one of the most detailed accounts of armoured warfare you will ever read!

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The African Wars - Warriors and Soldiers of the Colonial Campaigns, Chris Peers

The African Wars - Warriors and Soldiers of the Colonial Campaigns, Chris Peers.

This is an invaluable examination of a number of the most successful African armies and societies of the nineteenth century, examining their organisation, weapons and success or failures against the Colonial powers, in particular Britain, Germany and the independent colony run by the king of Belgium.

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Zacharie Jacques Theodore Allemand (1762-1826)

Zacharie Jacques Theodore Allemand (1762-1826) was one of the more capable French naval commanders of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, gaining his reputation in a series of successful raids against British shipping early in the wars.

Franco-Austrian War of 1809

The Franco-Austrian War of 1809 was part of the War of the Fifth Coalition, and was Napoleon's last successful military campaign, ending soon after his victory in the massive battle of Wagram in July 1809.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Fiat CR.40

The Fiat CR.40 was developed alongside the better known Fiat CR.32, and differed from that aircraft both in its choice of engine and the design of the upper wing.

Fiat CR.32

The Fiat CR.32 was a refined version of the CR.30 and was the main Italian fighter aircraft during the second half of the 1930s

French Foreign Legion 1872-1914, Martin Windrow

French Foreign Legion 1872-1914, Martin Windrow

This is an excellent little book although only 48 pages long (standard size for osprey men at arms books) it covers a wide ranging period of this legendary military unit. Packed with colour plates of uniforms and equipment as well as line drawings, contemporary photographs and maps it’s a great introduction to both this famous unit and the French colonial wars. The book covers from 1872 up till the start of World War I so covers a wide range of conflicts in South East Asia (including Vietnam which was to be such a graveyard of French forces after World War II) and North and West Africa.

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Army of the Republic of Vietnam 1954-75 , Gordon L. Rottman,

Army of the Republic of Vietnam 1954-75 , Gordon L. Rottman,

This Osprey Men at Arms book covers the Republic of Vietnam's forces which fought alongside the US and Australian forces. They remain a much maligned and little understood force which undertook the bulk of the fighting during the conflict and have an extremely mixed reputation. The author was a US Special Forces veteran of the Vietnam war and this helps give the book authority but at times it feels like he goes out of his way to defend the subject. The book is well illustrated with colour plates of uniforms and equipment and plenty of photographs but is brief at 48 pages and at times doesn’t make organisation that clear as organisational charts would have been helpful.

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Monday, November 15, 2010

Battle of Znaim (10-11 July 1809)

The battle of Znaim (10-11 July 1809) was the last battle on the main front of the Franco-Austrian War of 1809, and was cut short after Napoleon agreed to Austrian offers of an armistice.

Combat of Schöngrabern (10 July 1809)

The combat of Schöngrabern (10 July 1809) was a second successful Austrian rearguard action in two days in the aftermath of their defeat at Wagram, and saw a small force from Reuss's V Corps hold up Massena's troops advancing on the main road towards Znaim

Ancient Warfare Magazine: Volume IV, Issue 5, Fighting for the Gods: Warfare and Religion

Ancient Warfare Magazine: Volume IV, Issue 5, Fighting for the Gods: Warfare and Religion.

All but one of the articles are focused on the central theme, while still covering a very wide range of time and of topics, from the first introduction of religion into warfare in Ancient Persia to the conversion of the Frankish king Clovis almost at the end of antiquity.

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Ancient Warfare Magazine: Volume IV, Issue 4, Darkness descends: End of the Bronze Age Empires.

Focuses on the collapse of the Bronze Age empires of the Eastern Mediterranean, a period that saw the Hittite and Mycenaean civilisations disappear and Egypt come under serious pressure. Also looks at unusual tactics in Greek battles, metal working and the Imperial Roman Fleet.

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Raglan: From the Peninsula to the Crimea, John Sweetman.

Raglan: From the Peninsula to the Crimea, John Sweetman.

A deservedly lengthy biography of Lord Raglan, most famous as the British commander in the Crimea and for his role in the Charge of the Light Brigade, but also a Peninsular War veteran and close associate of the Duke of Wellington, and a rather more successful commander than is generally realised.

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The Black Bull: From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division, Patrick Delaforce.

The Black Bull: From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division, Patrick Delaforce.

A narrative history of the role played by 11th Armoured Division in Normandy, northern France, Belgium, Holland and northern Germany, written by a professional historian and member of the division who took part in the events he describes. Well supported by eyewitness accounts, and with some interesting material on less familiar aspects of the fighting.

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Friday, November 12, 2010

Combat of Hollabrunn (9 July 1809)

The combat of Hollabrunn (9 July 1809) was a successful Austrian rearguard action during their retreat after defeat at Wagram (5-6 July 1809) and saw Klenau's VI Corps hold up the French troops sent to find the retreating Austrian army

Battle of Linz (17 May 1809)

The battle of Linz (17 May 1809) was an unsuccessful Austrian attempt to threaten Napoleon's long lines of communication back from Vienna along the Danube, and to prevent French reinforcements from moving west to join Napoleon's main army

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Fiat CR.33

The Fiat CR.33 was a modified version of the CR.32 biplane fighter, with a more powerful engine and an increased top speed.

Fiat CR.30

The Fiat CR.30 was the first entry in the series of biplane fighters that included the CR.32 and CR.42 Falco, and marked a clean break with the line of aircraft that included the CR.1 and CR.20

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Battle of Wagram (5-6 July 1809)

The battle of Wagram (5-6 July 1809) was the decisive (if not the final) battle of the Franco-Austrian War of 1809 and was a costly French victory that saw Napoleon command a larger army than at any previous battle.

Combat of Laa (9 July 1809)

The combat of Laa (9 July 1809) was one of a number of minor clashes between the French and the retreating Austrians in the aftermath of the battle of Wagram, and helped the French identify the main Austrian line of retreat.

Historical Dreadnoughts - Arthur Marder, Stephen Roskill and Battles for Naval History, Barry Gough

Historical Dreadnoughts - Arthur Marder, Stephen Roskill and Battles for Naval History, Barry Gough.

An unexpectedly absorbing look at the careers of two of the twentieth century's greatest naval histories and the rivalry that developed between them when they were at the height of their fame. Should be of value to anyone interested in the writing of history, or in British naval history during the world wars

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Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Karl Philipp Freiherr von Wrede (1767-1838)

Karl Philipp Freiherr von Wrede (1767-1838) was a Bavarian general who fought both for and against Napoleon, fighting at Wagram in 1809 and taking part in both Napoleon's campaign in Russia in 1812 and the Allied invasion of France in 1813-14.

Johann, Freiherr von Hiller (1748-1819)

Johann, Freiherr von Hiller (1748-1819) was one of the more capable Austrian generals during the Franco-Austrian War of 1809, but his obvious ambition made him unpopular amongst his fellow generals and he missed the decisive battle of Wagram after asking to be relieved from command on grounds of sickness on the day before the battle

Monday, November 08, 2010

Churchill's Spearhead: The Development of Britain's Airborne Forces during World War II, John Greenacre

Churchill's Spearhead: The Development of Britain's Airborne Forces during World War II, John Greenacre.

This is an analytic study of the development of Britain's parachute and glider borne forces during the Second World War, looking at the reasons they were created, the way they were equipped and led, and the way in which a doctrine for the deployment developed over time.

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Kommando, Hitler's Special Forces in the Second World War, Charles Whiting

Kommando, Hitler's Special Forces in the Second World War, Charles Whiting.

An account of some of the main missions carried out by the Brandenburgers and later SS Commandos, supported by valuable eye witness accounts from some of the participants. Dominated by the very different figures of Canaris and Skorzeny this is an interesting look at the varied activities of some notorious units and individuals.

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The Rise of Militant Islam, Anthony Tucker-Jones,

The Rise of Militant Islam, Anthony Tucker-Jones,

Despite the rather sensationalist cover this is a highly detailed and thought provoking book which chronicles the Western powers campaigns against the threat of militant Islam. It looks at the countries involved in turn covering far more than the traditional look at the Middle East and Afghanistan, detailing conflicts from the Russian Republics and Bosnia to North Africa and Sudan. It helps the reader understand the wider context of Islamic terrorism and the complex international interactions where the misguided policies of West then had an impact across several countries and in many ways helped grow the problem. It is very up to date and detailed but at times the level of detail can be hard to follow across several countries with a wide range of names; it does end on a hopeful if cynical note about how effective Western efforts have been.

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Fiat CR.20

The Fiat CR.20 was the second Fiat fighter designed by Celestino Rosatelli to enter service with the Italian Air Force, following on from the CR.1

Fiat CR.10

The Fiat CR.10 was a version of the successful CR.1 biplane fighter that was powered by the Fiat A.20 engine

Friday, November 05, 2010

Battle of Aspern-Essling (21-22 May 1809)

The battle of Aspern-Essling (21-22 May 1809) was the first serious battlefield defeat suffered by Napoleon, and saw the Austrians repel a hasty French attempt to cross the Danube close to Vienna.

Siege of Vienna of 10-13 May 1809

The siege of Vienna of 10-13 May 1809 saw the Austrian capital fall to Napoleon for the second time in four years after a very short attempt to defend the city.

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Battle of Ebelsberg (3 May 1809)

The battle of Ebelsberg (3 May 1809) was a costly French victory that saw them fight their way across the River Thaun during Napoleon's advance into Austria after his victories in Bavaria

Combat of Riedau (1 May 1809)

The combat of Riedau (1 May 1809) was a minor rearguard action fought during the retreat of the left wing of the main Austrian army after the failure of their invasion of Bavaria

Wellington's Peninsular War Generals & Their Battles, A Biographical and Historical Dictionary, T. A. Heathcote.

Wellington's Peninsular War Generals & Their Battles, A Biographical and Historical Dictionary, T. A. Heathcote.

A useful reference work with biographies of forty one of Wellington's subordinates, mostly his divisional commanders, but also including staff officers and men from the support services. The biographies are supported by thirty-five articles looking at every campaign or battle that involved at least five of the men covered in the biographies.

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Guthrie's War: A surgeon of the Peninsula and Waterloo, Michael Crumplin

Guthrie's War: A surgeon of the Peninsula and Waterloo, Michael Crumplin.

A biography of George Guthrie, one of the most distinguished British military surgeons of the Napoleonic Wars, looking at both the outline of his career and the details of many of his surgical cases during the Peninsular War, complete with extracts from his own post-war publications.

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The Battle of Norway: April-June 1940, Geirr H. Haarr.

The Battle of Norway: April-June 1940, Geirr H. Haarr.

Following on from the same authors German Invasion of Norway, this volume looks at the battles that followed, with an emphasis of the naval aspects of the fighting, and on the cooperation between Norwegian, British and French forces. Brilliantly researched and very detailed, this will become the definitive work on this subject.

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Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Dominique Vandamme (1770-1830)

Dominique Vandamme (1770-1830) was one of Napoleon's more capable generals, rising to command corps from 1809 until the final end of the wars in 1815.

Karl Peter Ott Freiherr von Bartokez (1738-1809)

Karl Peter Ott Freiherr von Bartokez (1738-1809) was an experienced Hungarian cavalry commander who proved to be a capable general during the fighting in Belgium and Italy during the Wars of the First and Second Coalitions

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Fiat CR.5

The Fiat CR.5 was a version of the CR.1 biplane that was powered by a licence-built Jupiter radial engine

Fiat CR.2

The Fiat CR.2 was a version of the CR.1 biplane fighter that was powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Lynx radial engine

Fiat CR.1

The Fiat CR.1 was the first in a long series of biplane fighters designed for Fiat by Celestino Rosatelli, and was an unusual sesquiplane aircraft, with larger lower and smaller upper wings

Monday, November 01, 2010

Macchi M.C.207

The Macchi M.C.207 was a more heavily armed version of the M.C.206

Macchi M.C.206

The Macchi M.C.206 was a further development of the M.C.205N, with the same long fuselage and licence-built DB605 engine as that aircraft, but with a wider wing span

Macchi M.C.205N Orione (Orion)

The Macchi M.C.205N Orione (Orion) was a major redesign of the M.C.205V, based on the same licence-built DB605 engine, but with a new longer fuselage

Killing the Bismarck - Destroying the Pride of Hitler's Fleet, Ian Ballantyne

Killing the Bismarck - Destroying the Pride of Hitler's Fleet, Ian Ballantyne.

A compelling account of the hunt for the Bismarck, told almost entirely from the British point of view, until the final battle between the crippled Bismarck and the British home fleet, when we are taken onboard the doomed German battleship for a graphic account of her fate.

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