Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Nieuport 14

The Nieuport 14 was two-seat observation biplane that was also used as a bomber, but that had a short front line career and was only produced in small numbers.

Nieuport 13

The Nieuport 13 was a two-seat biplane similar to the Nieuport 12, but originally built with a lower powered engine, possibly for use as a trainer.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Battle of Marignano or Melegnano (13-14 September 1515)

The battle of Marignano or Melegnano (13-14 September 1515) was a French victory that restored their rule of the Duchy of Milan after a brief period of Swiss dominance, and that was probably the high point of Francis I's career in Italy (Francis I's First Invasion of Italy).

Battle of Ravenna (11 April 1512)

The battle of Ravenna (11 April 1512) was a French victory over a Spanish army that might have helped secure a French victory over the forces of the Holy League if the young French commander, Gaston de Foix, duke of Nemours, hadn't been killed late in the day.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Ancient Warfare Volume VIII Issue 4. The Ancient World's Fragile Giant - The Seleucid Empire at war.

Ancient Warfare Volume VIII Issue 4. The Ancient World's Fragile Giant - The Seleucid Empire at war.
Looks at the largest of the successor states to the Emperor of Alexander the Great, the impressive empire created by Seleucus and maintained against great pressure for two centuries before eventually falling to Roman pressure.
 [see more]

Ancient Warfare Volume VII Issue 6. The Reluctant Warlord: The Wars of Marcus Aurelius.

Ancient Warfare Volume VII Issue 6. The Reluctant Warlord: The Wars of Marcus Aurelius.
Looks at the career and writings of the famous philosopher emperor, who wrote books of consoling stoic philosophy while fighting a brutal war on the German borders (one of the few later Emperors to make an impact on the modern imagination, as seen in Gladiator).
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Ancient Warfare Volume VII Issue 5 . Trapped Behind Enemy Line - The March of the Ten Thousand .

Ancient Warfare Volume VII Issue 5 . Trapped Behind Enemy Line - The March of the Ten Thousand .
Focuses on the escape of a large force of Greek mercenaries who found themselves trapped in the middle of Persia after supporting the wrong side in a civil war. Famous as the topic of Xenophon's Anabasis, this is a fascinating campaign.
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Friday, December 19, 2014

USS Vincennes (CA-44)

USS Vincennes (CA-44) was a New Orleans class heavy cruiser that took part in the Neutrality Patrol, the Doolittle raid, the battle of Midway and the invasion of Guadalcanal before being sunk at the battle of Savo Island (9 August 1942).

USS Quincy (CA-39)

USS Quincy (CA-39) was a New Orleans class heavy cruiser that served with the Neutrality Patrol in the Atlantic and fought at Guadalcanal, before being sunk during the battle of Savo Island of 9 August 1942.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Christian III of Denmark (1503-1559, r.1533/4-59)

Christian III of Denmark (1503-1559, r.1533/4-59) made Lutheranism the official state church of Denmark and sided against the Emperor Charles V during the Fourth Hapsburg-Valois War (1542-44).

Charles VIII of France (1470-98, reigned 1483-98)

Charles VIII of France (1470-98, reigned 1483-98) began the long series of French invasions of Italy (Italian Wars), paying a great cost for his temporary occupation of Naples.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Nieuport 25

The Nieuport 25 was a version of the standard Nieuport sesquiplane fighter that was powered by a number of more powerful engines, ending up with a 200hp Clerget model, but problems with the new engine combined with the limits of the basic design meant that it didn’t enter production.

Nieuport 24

The Nieuport 24 was a development of the Nieuport 17 single seat fighter that saw the introduction of a new tail, but that was otherwise similar to the older fighter.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

battle of Novara (6 June 1513)

The Battle of Novara (6 June 1513) was one of the last victories won by the famous Swiss infantry, and saw them overwhelm a French army that had temporarily occupied most of the Duchy of Milan.

Siege of Novara (3-6 June 1513)

The siege of Novara (3-6 June 1513) was the highpoint of the French invasion of Milan of 1513, and was ended by the arrival of strong Swiss reinforcements who defeated the French in battle outside Novara (6 June 1513).

Monday, December 15, 2014

25th Bombardment Group (Reconnaissance)

The 25th Bombardment Group (Reconnaissance) was mainly used for meterological flights, but also carried out some more general reconnaissance duties.

11th Photographic Group

The 11th Photographic Group was a mapping unit that produced photographic maps of the US and many of the operational theatres of the Second World War.

10th Reconnaissance Group

The 10th Reconnaissance Group served with the Ninth Air Force in Europe from May 1944 until the end of the fighting, helping to support the D-Day landings, the advance across France and the invasion of Germany.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Operation Cartwheel (30 June 1943- January 1944)

Operation Cartwheel (30 June 1943- January 1944) was the name given to a series of interlocked invasions in New Guinea, New Britain and the Solomn islands originally designed as preparation for the conquest of the Japanese base at Rabaul, but that eventually led to the isolation of that base.

Elkton III Plan

The Elkton III Plan was the Allied plan for the reduction of the major Japanese base at Rabaul on New Ireland. It involved a two-pronged advance, with General MacArthur's forces operating on New Guinea and Admiral Halsey's in the Solomon Islands, and would be implemented as Operation Cartwheel.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

USS San Francisco (CA-38)

USS San Francisco (CA-38) was a New Orleans class heavy cruiser that was present when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and that fought in the Solomon Islands, at the battle of Cape Esperance, the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, in the Aleutians, during the invasions of Makin, the Marshall Islands, the invasions of Saipan and Tinian, the battle of the Philippine Sea and the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37)

USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37) was a New Orleans class heavy cruiser that served alongside the British Home Fleet on the Russian convoys, took part in Operation Torch, the D-Day landings and Operation Dragoon then swapped to the Pacific for the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Soviet Spyplanes of the Cold War, Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov.

Soviet Spyplanes of the Cold War, Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov.

Looks at two Soviet spyplanes - the high flying Yak-25RV and the high speed reconnaissance versions of the MiG-25. Covers the development and service records of the real aircraft as well as reviews of the limited number of available models.
[read full review]

Blood Stained Fields - The Battlefields of East Lothian, Arran Paul Johnston.

Blood Stained Fields - The Battlefields of East Lothian, Arran Paul Johnston.

Looks at a thousand years of battles to be fought in East Lothian, from the clashes between Briton and Angle to the Jacobite revolts, covering the wars of Independence, the Tutor 'rough wooing' and the battles of the Civil War. Provides good accounts of the battles, supported by explanations of the wide wider campaigns, and with equal space given to Scottish defeats and victories.
[read full review]

The Luftwaffe: A History, John Killen.

The Luftwaffe: A History, John Killen.

A good readable account of the rise and fall of the Luftwaffe that covers all of the main fronts on which it fought, and examines the reasons for the eventual failure as well as providing a readable narrative. Although it was originally published in 1967 the overall picture still holds up.
[read full review]

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Treaty of Blois of October 1505

The Treaty of Blois of October 1505 was the second of two treaties of Blois that restored peace after the Second Italian War of 1499-1503.

Treaty of Blois (September 1504)

The Treaty of Blois (September 1504) ended fighting between Louis XII of France and the Emperor Maximilian, and was followed by a series of other treaties that between them ended the Second Italian War (1499-1503).

Monday, December 08, 2014

Nieuport 23

The Nieuport 23 was a slightly modified version of the successful Nieuport 17 single seat fighter, and was used alongside the earlier aircraft.

Nieuport 21

The Nieuport 21 was a variant of the successful Nieuport Type 17 fighter, but with a less powerful engine and enlarged ailerons.

Friday, December 05, 2014

Georg von Frundsberg (1473-1528)

Georg von Frundsberg (1473-1528) was a German mercenary leader who fought for the Hapsburg emperors Maximilian I and Charles V during a career that lasted for thirty years and saw him take part in the great Imperial victory at Pavia.

Maurice, Duke and Elector of Saxony (1521-53)

Maurice, Duke and Elector of Saxony (1521-53) was a German prince best known for betraying the Protestant cause in the 1540s before turning on Charles V at the start of the 1550s and forming an alliance with the French.

Monday, December 01, 2014

USS Minneapolis (CA-36)

USS Minneapolis (CA-36) was a New Orleans class cruiser that fought at the Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal and Tassafaronga, the invasions of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, the battle of the Philippine Sea, the invasions of the Mariana Islands, the Palau Islands and the Philippines, the battle of Leyte Gulf and the early part of the invasion of Okinawa.

USS Astoria (CA-34)

USS Astoria (CA-34) was a New Orleans class heavy cruiser that fought at the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, before becoming one of three members of the class to be lost at the Battle of Savo Island in August 1942.