498th Bombardment Group

The 498th Bombardment Group was a B-29 group that was based on Saipan and operated against Japan from late in 1944 until the end of the Second World War.

497th Bombardment Group

The 497th Bombardment Group was a B-29 group that was one of the first to operate from Saipan and spent most of the period between October 1944 and the end of the war bombing Japan.

488th Bombardment Group

The 488th Bombardment Group was a home based training unit that was active from October 1943 until May 1944.

Tiger, Thomas Anderson.

Tiger, Thomas Anderson.

A very useful book on the Tiger tank, using contemporary battle reports and other German documents to examine its service record, looking at issues including its reliability, performance in combat, the structure of the units that used the tank and the tactics used with it. The result is a very valuable study of the effectiveness of the Tiger, based on original combat reports and thus reflecting both its virtues and its flaws.
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Unicorns - The History of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry 1794-1899, Jonathan Hunt.

Unicorns - The History of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry 1794-1899, Jonathan Hunt.

An unusual regimental history that examines the early history of the Sherwood Rangers, when they were a volunteer Yeomanry regiment that was only liable for service within the UK, and that hardly ever left Nottinghamshire. Instead it was used as an early police force, countering the Luddites, Chartists, supporters of reform and other rioters, as well as acting as a hub of social life. This is an useful examination of the early existence of a regiment that went on to serve in the wars of the twentieth century.
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British Aircraft Carriers - Design, Development and Service Histories, David Hobbs.

British Aircraft Carriers - Design, Development and Service Histories, David Hobbs.

The definitive history of the British aircraft carrier, written by a former RN officer who served on carriers and was deeply involved in the work of the Invincible class carriers. As a result the author has a much more in-depth knowledge of the technical background to carrier design that most, and we get a much better understanding of the thinking behind each new type of carrier, their abilities and limitations and how that affected their service careers.
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M9 3in Gun Motor Carriage

The M9 3in Gun Motor Carriage was a fully armoured tank destroyer that was based on the M3 medium tank chassis, but that was cancelled soon after being ordered into production.

M7 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage 'Priest'

The M7 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage 'Priest' was a self-propelled gun that entered combat in North Africa late in 1942 and that served with the British and American armies from then until the end of the war, fighting on Sicily, in Italy, in Normandy and north-western Europe and in smaller numbers in the Pacific.

Dmitry Petrovich Neverovsky (1771-1813)

Dmitry Petrovich Neverovsky (1771-1813) was a Russian general who distinguished himself during the 1812 campaign, but who was mortally wounded at the battle of Leipzig in 1813.

Alexander Ostermann-Tolstoy (1771-1857)

Alexander Ostermann-Tolstoy (1771-1857) was a Russian general who served in the Russian army throughout the Napoleonic Wars, but who later agued with the Tsar and spent the last years of his life in exile.

485th Bombardment Group

The 485th Bombardment Group was a B-24 group that fought with the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy from May 1944 to April 1945, mainly taking part in the strategic bombing offensive.

484th Bombardment Group

The 484th Bombardment Group was a B-24 group that fought with the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy from April 1944 to April 1945, mainly taking part in the strategic bombing offensive.

483rd Bombardment Group

The 483rd Bombardment Group was a B-17 group that fought with the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy from April 1944-April 1945, mainly taking part in the strategic bombing offensive.

Disaster at Stalingrad - An Alternate History, Peter Tsouras.

Disaster at Stalingrad - An Alternate History, Peter Tsouras.

A thoroughly entertaining novel of alternative history imagining a very different version of 1942 that ends with a crushing German victory at Stalingrad at the end of a year in which a whole series of decisions and events across the world work out differently to reality. Flawed as a work of counter-factual history by the sheer amount of changes to events, but a very entertaining novel of alternative history.
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USAF and VNAF A-1 Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War, Byron E Hukee.

USAF and VNAF A-1 Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War, Byron E Hukee.

 Looks at the almost fifteen year long career of the A-1 Skyraider in the skies over Vietnam, where it served as a ground attack aircraft as well as supporting search and rescue aircraft. Written by a former USAF pilot who actually flew the Skyraider in Vietnam, and includes a large number of eyewitness accounts by his fellow pilots, both American and Vietnamese.
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Between Giants - The Battle for the Baltics in World War II, Prit Buttar.

Between Giants - The Battle for the Baltics in World War II, Prit Buttar.

An excellent look at the impact of the Second World War on the Baltic States, looking at their pre-war histories, the quick German victories of 1941, the Baltic holocaust and the return of the Red Army in 1944-45. Excellent coverage of the holocaust and the more uncomfortable aspects of the period as well as good readable accounts of the military campaigns.
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M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage

The M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage was a self propelled gun based on a modified M4A3 Sherman chassis. It arrived too late to see significant service during the Second World War, but as used in large numbers during the Korean War.

M12 155mm Gun Motor Carriage

The M12 155mm Gun Motor Carriage was one of the heaviest self-propelled guns to see service with the American Army during the Second World War, but its development was delayed by Army Ground Forces, the command responsible for developing the army in the United States.

M5 3in gun motor carriage

The M5 3in gun motor carriage was the first US tank destroyer to carry a heavier gun than the 37mm anti-tank gun, but it was never a popular design and the project was abandoned before production got under way.

M3 75mm Gun Motor Carriage

The M3 75mm Gun Motor Carriage was an interim design for a tank destroyer with a 75mm gun mounted on the back of a M3 half-track personnel carrier.

The Anglo Saxon Age - An Alternative History of Britain, Timothy Venning.

The Anglo Saxon Age - An Alternative History of Britain, Timothy Venning.

Contains a huge number of possible alternative histories, covering the period from the early Anglo-Saxon settlement or conquest period to the dramatic events of 1066, with each chapter starting from a genuine historical point in time and working forward. A fun read and a valuable reminder of how little we really know about the early stages of the Anglo-Saxon period and how big a part chance played in the events of the period.
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Catalina over Arctic Oceans - Anti-Submarine and Rescue Flying in World War II, John French.

Catalina over Arctic Oceans - Anti-Submarine and Rescue Flying in World War II, John French.

The autobiography of an RAF pilot who flew seaplanes over the northern oceans from bases in Shetland, watching the Tirpitz and searching for U-boats, as part of a longer RAF career that saw him serve behind the Iron Curtain in the early years of the Cold War.
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Walking D-Day, Paul Reed.

Walking D-Day, Paul Reed.

 A selection of twelve walks that cover all of the main battlefields of D-Day, including the five invasion beaches, the commando and ranger operations and the airborne operations. Splits each section into a historical introduction followed by the walk itself. A successful format and a book that should act as a good guide to the area around the Normandy beaches.
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USS Houston (CA-30)

USS Houston (CA-30) was a Northampton class heavy cruiser that was lost during the disastrous attempt to defend the Dutch East Indies against Japanese invasion.

USS Augusta (CA-31)

USS Augusta (CA-31) was a Northampton class heavy cruiser that took part Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa, served with the British Home Fleet, took part in the D-Day invasion and the invasion of the South of France.

T51 25pdr Howitzer Motor Carriage

The T51 25pdr Howitzer Motor Carriage was produced in response to a British request for a self-propelled mount for the 25pdr gun, similar to the M7 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage 'Priest'

T44 57mm Gun Motor Carriage

The T44 57mm Gun Motor Carriage was a design for a simple tank destroyer armed with the British 6pdr anti-tank gun.

T30 75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage

The T30 75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage was an interim design produced in an attempt to provide the US Army with some self-propelled guns as quickly as possible.

Battle of Borodino, 7 September 1812

When Napoleon invaded Russia in the summer of 1812 his aim was to bring the Russians to battle, inflict a decisive defeat, and force them to sue for peace. That battle eventually came at Borodino on 7 September 1812, just to the west of Moscow. Although Napoleon could claim to have won the battle it was far from a decisive victory, and even the occupation of Moscow failed to bring the Russians to the negotiating table.

472nd Bombardment Group

The 472nd Bombardment Group was a home-based training unit that trained crews for combat in the B-29 Superfortress.

471st Bombardment Group

The 471st Bombardment Group was a home based training unit that was active from May 1943 to April 1944.

470th Bombardment Group

The 470th Bombardment Group was a home based training group that was active from May 1943 to March 1944.

469th Bombardment Group

The 469th Bombardment Group was a home-based replacement training unit.

Avenging Angel: John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry, 1895, Ron Field.

Avenging Angel: John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry, 1895, Ron Field.

Looks at John Brown's failed raid on the US Armoury at Harper's Ferry, in which an attempt to steal weapons and start a widespread slave uprising collapsed into a short-lived and rather one sided siege. Despite the small scale of this raid, it had massive political implications and played a part in the slide into Civil War.
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Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Lardas.

Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Lardas.

A good short biography of Grant, with a clear understanding of his role as General in charge of the US Army and the wide ranging responsibilities that came with it, as well as a good run through his earlier career, victories in the west and around Chattanooga, and his pre- and post- war failings.
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Handbook of Roman Legionary Fortresses, M.C. Bishop.

Handbook of Roman Legionary Fortresses, M.C. Bishop.

An impressive gazetteer of the permanent Legionary Fortress of the Roman Empire, with details of location, layout, plans and a list of documentary sources for each of the locations. Also includes a useful introduction that examines the nature of the fortresses and the evidence for their use and design.
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Battle of Shevardino (5 September 1812)

The battle of Shevardino (5 September 1812) was a preliminary battle fought two days before the battle of Borodino, and was fought over the possession of an isolated Russian redoubt built to protect the left wing of their original front line.

Battle of Valutino (19 August 1812)

The battle of Valutino (19 August 1812) was the last chance for a major French success during Napoleon's manoeuvre of Smolensk, but a combination of inactivity by part of the French army and a stubborn Russian rearguard action meant that the opportunity was missed.

M41 155mm Howitzer Motor Carriage

The M41 155mm Howitzer Motor Carriage was based on the M24 Chaffee light tank. It entered service too late to see combat in the Second World War, but was used in the Korean War.

T64 155mm Howitzer Motor Carriage

The T64 155mm Howitzer Motor Carriage was a self propelled gun that mounted a howitzer on a lengthened M5A1 Light Tank chassis.

468th Bombardment Group

The 468th Bombardment Group was one of the first B-29 groups to enter combat, at first from bases in India before moving to Tinian for the last months of the war.

465th Bombardment Group

The 465th Bombardment Group was a B-24 group that served with the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy in 1944-45, taking part in the strategic bombing offensive.

464th Bombardment Group

The 464th Bombardment Group was a B-24 group that served with the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy from 1944 until the end of the Second World War.

Battle of Smolensk (16-17 August 1812)

The battle of Smolensk (16-17 August 1812) was the disappointing end to one of Napoleon's most impressive manoeuvres, an outflanking move that promised to bring him the decisive battle he desired but ended with a costly and unsuccessful attack on the walls of Smolensk.

First battle of Krasnyi (14 August 1812)

The first battle of Krasnyi (14 August 1812) was a successful Russian rearguard action that gave the Russians time to rush reinforcements to Smolensk thus preventing the French from gaining any advantage from Napoleon's famous Manoeuvre of Smolensk.

T85 20mm Multiple Gun Motor Carriage

The T85 20mm Multiple Gun Motor Carriage combined a quad 20mm mount with the expanded M5 Light Tank chassis originally developed for the T16 4.5in Gun Motor Carriage.

T29 4.2in Mortar Motor Carriage

The T29 4.2in Mortar Motor Carriage was the second attempt to mount a mortar on the fuselage of the M5 Light Tank.

T27 81mm Mortar Motor Carriage

The T27 81mm Mortar Motor Carriage was an attempt to adapt the fuselage of the M5 Light Tank to carry an 81mm mortar.

Into Battle with Napoleon 1812 - The Journal of Jakob Walter, ed. Bob Carruthers.

Into Battle with Napoleon 1812 - The Journal of Jakob Walter, ed. Bob Carruthers.
The memoirs of a German soldier who fought in Napoleon's army during the campaigns of 1806-7, 1809 and 1812, taking part in the invasion of Russia, fighting at Borodino and suffering during the retreat from Moscow. Simply written, this gives us a view of the supporting armies in the earlier campaigns as well as the appalling suffering during the retreat from Moscow.
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Samurai Revolution: The Dawn of Modern Japan seen Through the Eyes of the Shogun's Last Samurai, Romulus Hillsborough.

Samurai Revolution: The Dawn of Modern Japan seen Through the Eyes of the Shogun's Last Samurai, Romulus Hillsborough.
This is a fascinating account of the period from the forced opening of Japan to the outside world in 1853, through the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate and on to the failure of the Satsuma rebellion against the restored Imperial Government and the end of the world of the Samurai.
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Orde Wingate, Jon Diamond.

Orde Wingate, Jon Diamond.
A biography of Wingate that really does focus on his life and avoids the temptation to become a history of the Chindits. Covers his early career in Palestine and Ethiopian in just as much detail as the time in Burma. Provides a good brief biography of this controversial figure, who still divides opinion seventy years after his death.
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