Byzantine Imperial Guardsman 925-1025: The Tághmata and Imperial Guard, Raffaele d'Amato.

Byzantine Imperial Guardsman 925-1025: The Tághmata and Imperial Guard, Raffaele d'Amato.

Looks at the colourful and very varied units that formed the Byzantine Imperial Guard and the main field army during one of that Empire's most successful periods. Ranges from long established units inherited from the Roman Empire to newer units such as the Varangian Guard and even a powerful fleet based at Constantinople.
[read full review]

1812 - Napoleon in Moscow, Paul Britten Austin.

1812 - Napoleon in Moscow, Paul Britten Austin.

The second in Britten Austin's excellent trilogy on Napoleon's invasion of Russia, based around eyewitness accounts of the time spent in Moscow, from the fire that destroyed large parts of the city to the eventual decision to leave the city. Covers life in the occupied Russian capital, the failure of attempts to get in touch with the Tsar and the clashes between Ney's advance guard and the Russians as well as the slow isolation of the French as their lines of communication west were put under increasing pressure.
[read full review]

1812 - The March on Moscow, Paul Britten Austin.

1812 - The March on Moscow, Paul Britten Austin.

An account of Napoleon's invasion of Russia as seen by members of the French and Allied army. This first volume of three covers the advance on Moscow, including the battle of Borodino. A compelling vivid account of the first part of one of the most disastrous campaigns in history.
[read full review]

Curtiss XS3C-1/ XF10C-1

The Curtiss XS3C-1/ XF10C-1 was the designation given to a single O2C-2 after it was rebuilt to serve as a possible scout or fighter.

Curtiss O2C

The Curtiss O2C was the designation given to the later models of the F8C Helldiver after it was redesignated as a land based observation aircraft.

Curtiss F8C Helldiver

The Curtiss F8C Helldiver was the first purpose-built dive bomber to be produced for the US Navy, and despite originally sharing its designation with the Navy's version of the O-1 Falcon observation biplane was actually an entirely new design.

Curtiss OC Falcon

The Curtiss OC Falcon was the US Navy's version of the O-1 Falcon two-seat observation aircraft, and was originally produced as the F8C attack aircraft.

Curtiss O-39 Falcon

The Curtiss O-39 Falcon was a version of the O-1 Falcon two-seat observation aircraft that was powered by the Curtiss Conqueror engine.

Curtiss O-26

The Curtiss O-26 was the designation given to a single O-1E Falcon when it was used to test a Prestone-cooled geared Curtiss V-1570-11 Conqueror engine.

Curtiss XO-18

The Curtiss XO-18 was the designation given to a single O-1B that was used to test the Curtiss Chieftain engine.

Curtiss XO-16

The Curtiss XO-16 was the designation given to an experimental version of the O-1 Falcon with a modified fuselage

Curtiss O-13 Falcon

The Curtiss O-13 Falcon was the designation given to a small number of O-1 and O-11 Falcon two-seat observation aircraft that were given the Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror engine.

Curtiss XO-12 Falcon

The Curtiss XO-12 Falcon was the designation given to the last O-11 Falcon when it was used to test the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp air cooled radial engine.

Curtiss O-11 Falcon

The Curtiss O-11 Falcon was a version of the O-1 observation aircraft that was produced for the National Guard, and used surplus Liberty engines.

Medieval Warfare Vol II Issue 5: Turmoil in northern Italy: France and the Holy League at War.

Medieval Warfare Vol II Issue 5: Turmoil in northern Italy: France and the Holy League at War.

 A look at the early sixteenth century wars that are often seen as marking the boundary between Medieval and Early Modern warfare, with some of the first successful uses of gunpowder weapons on the battlefield. Also looks at the Anglo-Saxon mead hall, the battle of Evesham and medieval sappers.
[read full review]

Infantry Weapons of World War II, Jan Suermondt.

Infantry Weapons of World War II, Jan Suermondt.

A photographic reference work on the infantry weapons used by the main combatant nations during the Second World War, based around a remarkable collection of photos of the weapons held by the Cobbaton Combat Collection in Devon. Contains 500 high quality pictures of 150 weapons, supported by some useful text.
[read full review]

The Siege of Kustrin 1945: Gateway to Berlin, Tony le Tissier.

The Siege of Kustrin 1945: Gateway to Berlin, Tony le Tissier.

An account of the siege of Kustrin, a town on the Oder that was held against the Soviets for two months early in 1945. Told largely from the German point of view, and as a result gives an impression of what it was like to be trapped inside a besieged town.
 [read full review]

Curtiss XBT-4

The Curtiss XBT-4 was the designation given to a single O-1E Falcon when it was converted to act as a possible basic trainer.

Curtiss O-1 Falcon

The Curtiss O-1 Falcon was a two-seat biplane observation aircraft that remained in service for more than a decade, from the early 1920s until the mid 1930s, and that was the first in a sizable family of similar aircraft.

Curtiss XP-31 Swift

The Curtiss XP-31 Swift was Curtiss’s first monoplane fighter, but despite some advanced features it was a disappointing design and lost out to the Boeing P-26.

Curtiss XP-10

The Curtiss XP-10 was produced in response to a US Army requirement for a high altitude interceptor, but offered little improvement over the standard Hawk biplane and the single prototype was soon scrapped.

Curtiss Hawk IV

The Curtiss Hawk IV was a single example of a much improved version of the Hawk biplane, but only one was ever built.

Curtiss Hawk III

The Curtiss Hawk III was the export version of the US Navy's Curtiss BF2C-1, but without the metal wing structure that caused such problems for the Navy.

Battle of Velletri (19 May 1849)

The battle of Velletri (19 May 1849) was the second of two victories won by the defenders of Rome over a Neapolitan force that was taking part in the siege of the Rome of April-July 1849).

Battle of Palestrina (9 May 1849)

The battle of Palestrina (9 May 1849) was the first of two victories won by Garibaldi over a Neapolitan force that was taking part in the siege of Rome (30 April-2 July 1849).
was the first of two victories won by Garibaldi over a Neapolitan force that was taking part in the siege of Rome (30 April-2 July 1849).

Battle of Tre Ponti (15 June 1859)

The battle of Tre Ponti (15 June 1859) was the last battle during Garibaldi’s Alpine Campaign of 1859 and was a drawn battle in which the retreating Austrians were unable to defeat Garibaldi's isolated force of volunteers.

Combat of Laveno (30 May 1859)

The combat of Laveno (30 May 1859) was a rare defeat for Garibaldi during his Alpine Campaign of 1859 and saw him fail to take an Austrian stronghold on Lake Maggiore

Battle of San Fermo (27 May 1859)

The battle of San Fermo (27 May 1859) was Garibaldi’s second victory in two days and forced an Austrian army under General Karl von Urban to abandon Como.

Battle of Varese (26 May 1859)

The battle of Varese (26 May 1859) was Garibaldi’s first success during his Alpine campaign of 1859 and saw his volunteers repulse an Austrian force that attempted to push him out of Varese.

Curtiss Hawk II (or Goshawk)

The Curtiss Hawk II (or Goshawk) was an export version of the Hawk biplane fighter that sold in significant numbers, as well as being the basis for the Navy's F11C Hawk.

Curtiss Hawk I

The Curtiss Hawk I was the designation retrospectively given to a number of early Hawk biplane fighters after the development of the Hawk II.

Ten new pictures

We finish the week with ten new pictures related to the Second World War.

Curtiss AT-5

The Curtiss AT-5 was produced in an attempt to create an advanced trainer by fitting a lower powered engine in the fuselage of a standard pursuit aircraft.

Curtiss AT-4

The Curtiss AT-4 was an unsuccessful attempt to produce an advanced trainer by fitting a less powerful engine in a standard P-1 airframe.

Curtiss BF2C

The Curtiss BF2C was the first service version of the standard Hawk fighter to have a retractable main undercarriage, but suffered from excessive vibration and was withdrawn from service after only a year.

Curtiss BFC

The Curtiss BFC was the designation given to the early versions of the Curtiss F11C with fixed undercarriage in March 1934.

Bf 109 G/K, Nico Brass & Srecko Bradic.

Bf 109 G/K, Nico Brass & Srecko Bradic.

A look at the last versions of the Bf 109, focusing on the numerically important G and the final version to be mass produced, the K, as well as other late versions and post-war derivatives produced outside Germany. Very well illustrated, including some plans from the Messerschmitt archives, and with some interesting material.
[read full review]

Casca 38: The Continental, Tony Roberts.

Casca 38: The Continental, Tony Roberts.

Part two of a story set during the American War of Independence, following Casca as he serves in Washington's Continental Army (from the winter following Washington's victory at Princeton to the end of the war) while attempting to deal with a rogue British officer and his attempts to steel an inheritance to pay off his debts.
[read full review]

Casca 37: Roman Mercenary, Tony Roberts.

Casca 37: Roman Mercenary, Tony Roberts.

 Set just after the Gothic sack of Rome in 410, this entry in the series sees Casca attempt to come to terms with the collapse of his world while taking part in a rescue mission in barbarian occupied Gaul, and dealing with mixed party of mercenaries and a hidden betrayal.
[read full review]

Curtiss F11C Goshawk

The Curtiss F11C Goshawk was the last version of the Hawk biplane fighter to be produced for the US Military, and was similar to the earlier F6C but with a Cyclone engine in place of the Wasp engine used on the older fighter.

Curtiss F6C Hawk

The Curtiss F6C Hawk was the first version of the US Army's P-1/ P-6 Hawk fighter to see service with the US Navy and evolved from a standard land-based fighter into a dedicated Naval aircraft.

General Louis-Vincent-Joseph le Blond, comte de Saint-Hilaire (1766-1809)

General Louis-Vincent-Joseph le Blond, comte de Saint-Hilaire (1766-1809) was one of Napoleon’s best divisional commanders and died just after being promised promotion to Marshal.

General Charles-Antoine-Louse-Alexis, comte Morand (1771-1835)

General Charles-Antoine-Louse-Alexis, comte Morand (1771-1835) was one of Napoleon’s best divisional commanders, commanding the 1st Division in Davout’s corps during the main battles of 1806-1813.

Curtiss P-23

The Curtiss P-23 saw a major change to the design of the Hawk biplane fighter, with a totally new fuselage, tail, nose, engine and landing gear.

Curtiss XP-22

The Curtiss XP-22 was an experimental version of the P-6A Hawk that became the basis for the P-6E.

Curtiss XP-21 Hawk

The Curtiss XP-21 Hawk was the designation given to two P-3 Hawks when they were used to test the Pratt & Whitney Wasp Jr engine.

Curtiss YP-20

The Curtiss YP-20 was a development machine that went through several designation and three engines before emerging as the prototype for the P-6E.

Siege of Arles (507-508)

The siege of Arles (507-508) saw the Visigothic defenders of the city fight off a Frankish and Burgundian army until the Ostrogoths of King Theodoric arrived and lifted the siege.

Clovis I, king of the Franks, (r.481-511)

Clovis I, king of the Franks, (r.481-511) was the founder both of the Merovingian dynasty and of a powerful Frankish kingdom. During his reign he turned his kingdom from a small power in Flanders into a major kingdom that stretched from Aquitaine to the Rhine and English Channel.