Friday, August 31, 2012

Aichi AB-3 Experimental Single-Seat Reconnaissance Seaplane

The Aichi AB-3 Experimental Single-Seat Reconnaissance Seaplane was designed for use on a Chinese light cruiser, but despite being a successful design wasn't accepted by the Chinese.

Aichi AB-2 Experimental Catapult-Launched Reconnaissance Seaplane

The Aichi AB-2 Experimental Catapult-Launched Reconnaissance Seaplane was the first aircraft of its type to have been designed in Japan without any foreign assistance, but the aircraft wasn't a success and only two prototypes were built.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Combat of Biezun (23 December 1806)

The combat of Biezun (23 December 1806) saw the defeat of a Prussian attempt to recapture Biezun on the Ukra River, a key position that connected the Prussians to their Russian allies.

Combat of Czarnowo (23 December 1806)

The combat of Czarnowo (23 December 1806) saw the French establish a bridgehead on the east bank of the River Ukra, at the point where it flows into the River Bug (War of the Fourth Coalition).

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

No.94 Squadron, RAAF

No.94 Squadron, RAAF, was a Mosquito fighter-bomber squadron formed in Australian in May 1945 but that never saw action.

No.87 Squadron, RAAF

No.87 Squadron, RAAF, was a photographic reconnaissance squadron that operated over the Dutch East Indies, Timor, Java, Borneo and even the Philippines.

No.33 Squadron (RAAF)

No.33 Squadron (RAAF) was a transport squadron that served in the south-west Pacific from 1942 until the end of the Second World War.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Siege of Trinacie (c.440 BC)

The siege of Trinacie (c.440 BC) was one of the final stages in the Greek conquest of the Sicels, the native inhabitants of eastern Sicily.

Battle of the Himera River (446 BC)

The battle of the Himera River (446 BC) was a clash between the Greek cities of Syracuse and Akragas, triggered by the return to Sicily of the Sicel leader Ducetius

Monday, August 27, 2012

The Great Chevauchée, John of Gaunt's Raid on France, 1373, David Nicolle.

The Great Chevauchée, John of Gaunt's Raid on France, 1373, David Nicolle.

 An account of an unsuccessful English raid that crossed France from Calais to Bordeaux, lost one third of its strength and was probably lucky to survive. This is a good account of an important but often neglected incident that played a part in the decline of the English position in France.
[read full review]

El Alamein, The Battle that Turned the Tide of the Second World War, Bryn Hammond.

El Alamein, The Battle that Turned the Tide of the Second World War, Bryn Hammond.

Looks at the four months the Allies and Axis armies spent fighting over the Alamein position, including Rommel's two attacks on the Allied positions and the eventual Allied victory at the Second Battle of Alamein.
[read full review]

Small Arms 1914-1945, Michael E. Haskew.

Small Arms 1914-1945, Michael E. Haskew.

A largely chronological look at the development of small arms during the two World Wars, organised into chapters based on different parts of the conflict, subdivided by nations or major battles. Makes it easier to compare the weapons in use by the different nations at any one time.
 [read full review]

Friday, August 24, 2012

Mitsubishi Army Type 92 Reconnaissance Aircraft (2MR8)

The Mitsubishi Army Type 92 Reconnaissance Aircraft (2MR8) was a parasol wing aircraft that became the first Japanese military aircraft to use an engine entirely designed and built in Japan.

Mitsubishi Army Type 87 Light Bomber (2MB1)

The Mitsubishi Army Type 87 Light Bomber (2MB1) was a version of the Navy Type 13 Carrier Attack Aircraft that saw service with the Japanese army early in the conflict in Manchuria.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

No.24 (City of Adelaide) Squadron, RAAF

No.24 (City of Adelaide) Squadron, RAAF, took part in the defence of Rabaul in 1941-42, where it suffered heavy losses of aircraft. After escaping to Australia the reinforced squadron took part in the fighting on New Guinea. It was then reformed as a heavy bomber squadron in Australia and taking part in the campaigns on New Guinea, in the Dutch East Indies and on Borneo.

No.5 Squadron, RAAF

No.5 Squadron, RAAF, was an army cooperation squadron that served on Bougainville, New Britain and New Guinea from late in 1944 until the end of the Second World War.

No.4 Squadron, RAAF

No.4 Squadron, RAAF, was an army cooperation squadron that used Commonwealth Wirraway and Boomerang aircraft in support of the troops fighting on New Guinea and Borneo.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Roman Warships, Michael Pitassi.

Roman Warships, Michael Pitassi.

Takes an interesting approach to the problem of reconstructing Roman warships, beginning with artistic and literary sources, moving onto a detailed plan based on the known limits of rowers and ending by constructing accurate models to see if the plan actually works in practise. The results are fascinating and his arguments very convincing.
[read full review]

Norman Naval Operations in the Mediterranean, Charles D. Stanton.

Norman Naval Operations in the Mediterranean, Charles D. Stanton.

Based around a narrative history of the Norman's maritime empire in the central Mediterranean, this interesting book looks at the naval operations involved in the Norman conquest of a kingdom in southern Italy and Sicily, in the maintenance of that kingdom and during increasingly grandiose campaigns in the eastern Mediterranean.
[read full review]

Home before the Leaves Fall, Ian Senior.

Home before the Leaves Fall, Ian Senior.

Looks at the fighting in France in 1914 from the outbreak of war to the defeat of the German invasion at the battle of the Marne. Focuses mainly on the role of the German and French armies in the fighting, the two side's plans, the way in which they unfolded and unravelled after the fighting began and the reactions of Joffre and Moltke.
[read full review]

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Siege of Magdeburg (20 October-11 November 1806)

The siege of Magdeburg (20 October-11 November 1806) came in the aftermath of the twin French victories at Jena and Auerstädt, and the surrender of the city marked the end of significant Prussian resistance in 1806.

Battle of Halle (17 October 1806)

The battle of Halle (17 October 1806) was a French victory over the intact Prussian reserve army in the aftermath of the battles of Jena and Auerstädt.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Battle of Motyum (451 BC)

The battle of Motyum (451 BC) was the most important battlefield victory won by the Sicel leader Ducetius, but he was defeated at Nomae in the following year and forced into exile.

Siege of Motyum (451 BC)

The siege of Motyum (451 BC) was the first known attempt by the Sicel leader Ducetius to conquer an area held by one of the major Greek powers of Sicily, and led to his greatest victory over the Greeks at the battle of Motyum.

Friday, August 17, 2012

No.452 Squadron, RAAF

No.452 Squadron, RAAF, was formed in the United Kingdom where it served as a fighter squadron during 1941 and the first part of 1942. It then moved to Australia to face the Japanese, before taking part in the re-conquest of the Dutch East Indies and Borneo.

No.451 Squadron, RAAF

No.451 Squadron, RAAF, was a fighter squadron that provided air cover over Syria, Cyprus and the Nile Delta in 1942-43, and took part in the invasion of Southern France before moving to the UK where it spent 1945 flying a mix of bomber-escort and fighter-bomber missions.

No.450 Squadron, RAAF

No.450 Squadron, RAAF, was a fighter squadron during the fighting in Syria in 1941 and in North Africa before becoming a fighter-bomber squadron for the campaigns in Sicily and Italy.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Battle of Jena (14 October 1806)

The battle of Jena (14 October 1806) was one of two simultaneous battles won by the French on the same day and saw Napoleon with most of the Grand Armée defeat the Prussian flank guard at Jena while Marshal Davout defeated the main Prussian force further north at Auerstädt.

Battle of Saalfeld (10 October 1806)

The battle of Saalfeld (10 October 1806) was the first major clash during the War of the Fourth Coalition and saw a French column defeat a smaller Prussian force under Prince Louis Ferdinand

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Battle for Tinian, Nathan N. Prefer.

The Battle for Tinian, Nathan N. Prefer.

 A study of an opposed landing on a Pacific island where the American worked nearly perfectly, Japanese opposition ended comparatively quickly and with a lower cost than on most of the island invasions. Prefer looks at the reasons for the American success, the course of the battle and the lessons that could have been learnt from the success on Tinian.
[read full review]

1781: The Decisive Year of the Revolutionary War, Robert L. Tonsetic.

1781: The Decisive Year of the Revolutionary War, Robert L. Tonsetic.

Starts with the American cause at a low ebb over the winter of 1780-1 and traces its revival and triumph during 1781, the year that saw the failure of the British southern strategy and the dramatic surrender of Cornwallis's army at Yorktown, the defeat that effectively ended any chance of British success.
[read full review]

Fromelles 1916: No Finer Courage, the Loss of an English Village, Michael Senior.

Fromelles 1916: No Finer Courage, the Loss of an English Village, Michael Senior.

A look the impact of the First World War on the Buckinghamshire village of The Lee, and the tragic losses suffered by that village during the disastrous attack on Fromelles in July 1916.
read full review

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

No.3 Squadron (RAAF)

No.3 Squadron (RAAF) was originally a reconnaissance unit, but in 1941 it became a fighter squadron and served in that role in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, ending the war as a ground attack unit.

No.2 Squadron (RAAF)

No.2 Squadron (RAAF) fought against the Japanese from 1941 until the end of the war, taking part in the desperate fighting on Timor in late 1941 and early 1942. It then took part in the defence of northern Australia, before going onto the offensive and carrying out a mix of reconnaissance missions and attack missions across the Dutch East Indies

No.1 Squadron (RAAF)

No.1 Squadron (RAAF) first saw action during the Second World War as a Lockheed Hudson squadron that was destroyed during the fighting in Malaya, Sumatra and Java. It was then reformed in Australia, and attacked Japanese targets first from Northern Austrian and then from Borneo.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Battle of Auerstädt (14 October 1806)

The battle of Auerstädt (14 October 1806) was the most important of two simultaneous French victories over the Prussians and saw Marshal Davoût with a single corps defeat the main body of the Prussian army while further south Napoleon with most of the Grand Armée defeated the smaller Prussian flank guard at Jena.

Battle of Schleiz (9 October 1806)

The battle of Schleiz (9 October 1806) was a minor clash early in the War of the Fourth Coalition and saw the French defeat an isolated detachment on the left of the Prussian army.

Thursday, August 09, 2012

No.15 Squadron, RAAF

No.15 Squadron, RAAF, was a Beaufort squadron that served as an anti-submarine and convoy escort unit from its formation in 1944 as well as sending a detachment to support the fighting on New Guinea.

No.10 Squadron, RAAF

No.10 Squadron, RAAF, flew with RAF Coastal Command for the entire duration of the Second World War, sinking six U-boats during that period.

No.9 Squadron (RAAF)

No.9 Squadron (RAAF) was responsible for the amphibious aircraft carried on the cruisers of the Royal Australian Navy. It was formed in January 1939 and was equipped with the Walrus.

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Scottish Lion on Patrol: 15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regiment, W. Kemsley, M.R. Riesco and T. Chamberlain.

Scottish Lion on Patrol: 15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regiment, W. Kemsley, M.R. Riesco and T. Chamberlain.

 Originally written in 1950 and updated in 2010 this book tells the tale of a wartime reconnaissance regiment from its formation, through the D-Day landings and on to the end of the war.
[read full review]

Who Goes Where?, Stella Rutter

Who Goes Where?, Stella Rutter.

A family history of the Broughton and Towler families combined with the autobiography of Stella Rutter, a member of the Supermarine drawing staff during the Second World War. Finishes with a collection of wartime memories from friends and colleagues.
[read full review]

Albuera 1811, The Bloodiest Battle of the Peninsular War, Guy Dempsey.

Albuera 1811, The Bloodiest Battle of the Peninsular War, Guy Dempsey.

A detailed account of the battle itself, supported by useful material on the wider campaign, the treatment of the wounded and dead and the arguments wages long after the battle by many of the main figures involved in the fighting.
[read full review]

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

General Honoré-Théodore-Maxime Gazan, comte de la Peyrière (1765-1845)

General Honoré-Théodore-Maxime Gazan, comte de la Peyrière (1765-1845) was a French general who fought in Austria in 1805, Prussia in 1806 and Poland in 1806-7, before being sent to Spain where he remained to the end of the Peninsula War.

General Charles Etienne Gudin de la Sablonniere (1768-1812)

General Charles Etienne Gudin de la Sablonniere (1768-1812) was a French general who played a major part in the French victory at Auerstädt, fought at Eylau, Eckmühl and Wagram and was killed during the French invasion of Russia in 1812.

Monday, August 06, 2012

Aichi Experimental Type-H Carrier Fighter (HD-23)

The Aichi Experimental Type-H Carrier Fighter (HD-23) was the first single-seat fighter designed by Heinkel, and was a generally unsuccessful design that failed to win a production contract in Japan.

Aichi E3A1 Navy Type 90-1 Reconnaissance Seaplane (HD 56)

The Aichi E3A1 Navy Type 90-1 Reconnaissance Seaplane (HD 56) was a Heinkel-designed single engined ship-borne reconnaissance aircraft that was produced in small numbers in Japan by Aichi.

Friday, August 03, 2012

Forts of the American Frontier 1776-1891: California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, Ron Field.

Forts of the American Frontier 1776-1891: California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, Ron Field.

Covering a wide range of topics, including Native American forts, Russian and Spanish forts in the far reaches of their empires and US fortifications, and buildings that range from log forts all the way up to multi-storey casements armed with the latest 19th century artillery.
[read full review]

Images of War: Battle of Kursk 1943, Hans Seidler.

Images of War: Battle of Kursk 1943, Hans Seidler.

 A collection of photographs showing the German Army during the Battle of Kursk, the great Soviet victory of 1943 that ended the last major German offensive in the east. Focuses largely on the German weapons and vehicles that took part in the battle, with some pictures of the wider battlefield.
[read full review]

The Armed Forces of the European Union 2012-2013, Charles Heyman.

The Armed Forces of the European Union 2012-2013, Charles Heyman.

 A pocket guide to the forces available to the 27 countries within the European Union. Very much a book of facts and figures with virtually no commentary but if you need to know man power , equipment or exactly how ships and aircraft a country has then this is the book for you. Simple command structures are included and basic lists of current deployments overseas such as in Afghanistan. Every weapon system , vehicle ship , aircraft is listed as well as numbers of personal plus defence budgets and a comparison of EU with the other major world powers such as the USA and China. A reasonable reference book full review
[Read Full Review]

Thursday, August 02, 2012

Freidrich Tauenzein, Graf von Wittenburg (1760-1824)

Freidrich Tauenzein, Graf von Wittenburg (1760-1824) was a Prussian general who served through the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, fighting at Jena, Grossbeeren and Dennewitz.

Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia (1773-1808)

Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia (1773-1808) was a promising Prussian general who was killed at the battle of Saalfeld in 1806.

General Paul Freiherr Kray von Krajova (1735-1804)

General Paul Freiherr Kray von Krajova (1735-1804) was a relatively successful Austrian general who fought in Germany and Italy, but who was removed from command after suffering a series of defeats in Germany in 1800