USS Quincy (CA-71)

USS Quincy (CA-71) was a Baltimore class heavy cruiser that helped support the D-Day landings and Operation Dragoon before moving to the Pacific for the final battles against Japan.

USS Canberra (CA-70)

USS Canberra (CA-70) was a Baltimore class heavy cruiser that was badly damaged by a Japanese torpedo during the battle off Formosa (12-16 October 1944) but that was towed to safety, a remarkable achievement that also helped to convince the Japanese that they had inflicted heavy damage on the American fleet.

Battle of Salamaua (30 June-11 September 1943)

The battle of Salamaua (30 June-11 September 1943) was the first stage in the Allied campaign in north-eastern New Guinea, and saw Australian troops slowly push forwards across difficult terrain, pulling the Japanese away from their major base at Lae, further up the coast.

Salamaua-Lae Campaign (30 June-16 September 1943)

The Salamaua-Lae Campaign (30 June-16 September 1943) was the first part of Operation Postern, a wider offensive aimed at eliminating the Japanese presence on the New Guinea side of the Vitiaz Strait.

Festung Guernsey - Fortress Guernsey: The fortifications of Guernsey - West and South Coasts - Rocquaine to Corbiere.

Festung Guernsey - Fortress Guernsey: The fortifications of Guernsey - West and South Coasts - Rocquaine to Corbiere.

A reproduction of the wartime German handbook to the fortifications of Guernsey, looking at a largely rural part of the west and south coasts. A very valuable historical source, providing detailed info on what defences were present, how they were manned and what each element of the defences was expected to do.
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Festung Guernsey - Fortress Guernsey: The fortifications of Guernsey - East Coast - St Martins Point to St Sampsons.

Festung Guernsey - Fortress Guernsey: The fortifications of Guernsey - East Coast - St Martins Point to St Sampsons.

A reproduction of the wartime German handbook to the fortifications of Guernsey, looking at the urban defensives in St Peter's Port. A very valuable historical source, providing detailed info on what defences were present, how they were manned and what each element of the defences was expected to do.
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Great Military Blunders, Bill Lucas.

Great Military Blunders, Bill Lucas.

An introduction to some of histories most disastrous military defeats, looking at the mistakes that led to defeat (or in one case to a less impressive victory than should have been achieved). Covers quite a lot of ground in 64 pages, so provides more of an overview than a detailed examination of the defeats.
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In the Steps of the Black Prince - The Road to Poitiers, 1355-1356, Peter Hoskins.

In the Steps of the Black Prince - The Road to Poitiers, 1355-1356, Peter Hoskins.

A fascinating attempt to trace the exact route of the Black Prince's raids through France in 1355 and 1356, based on a detailed exploration of the ground and the possible routes, and the linguistic changes in local names. This route evidence is then used to interpret the Prince's motives in both of these raids
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Nieuport 28

The Nieuport 28 was a totally new design that was produced in an attempt to replace the famous sesquiplane fighters that had begin with the Nieuport 10 and Nieuport 11.

Nieuport 27

The Nieuport 27 was the last in the long series of Nieuport sesquiplane fighters that had begun with the Nieuport 10 and Nieuport 11, and was very similar to the previous version, the Nieuport Type 24.

Battle of Pavia (24 February 1525)

The battle of Pavia (24 February 1525) was the decisive battle of the First Hapsburg-Valois War, and was a French defeat that saw Francis I captured and that permanently undermined the French position in Italy

Siege of Pavia (27 October 1524-24 February 1525)

The siege of Pavia (27 October 1524-24 February 1525) saw the defenders of the city hold long enough for Imperial reinforcements to read Italy before inflicting a crushing defeat on Francis I at the Battle of Pavia (24 February 1525).

USS Boston (CA-69/ CAG-1)

USS Boston (CA-69/ CAG-1) was a Baltimore class heavy cruiser that escorted the American fast carriers in the Pacific in 1944-45, took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the last raids on the Japanese Home Islands.

USS Baltimore (CA-68)

USS Baltimore (CA-68) was the name ship of the Baltimore class of heavy cruisers, and saw service at Makin, in the Marshall Islands, supported the fast carriers during 1944 and 1945 and took part in the battle of Okinawa.

The Tigers of Bastogne: Voices of the 10th Armored Division in the Battle of the Bulge, Michael Collins and Martin King.

The Tigers of Bastogne: Voices of the 10th Armored Division in the Battle of the Bulge, Michael Collins and Martin King.

Looks at the crucial contribution made to the defence of Bastogne by the 10th Armored Division, the first US unit to arrive in the city, and solely responsible for holding it until reinforcements arrived to share the burden.
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Unsung Eagles - True Stories of America's Citizen Airmen in the Skies of World War II, Lt. Col (Ret) Jay A. Scout.

Unsung Eagles - True Stories of America's Citizen Airmen in the Skies of World War II, Lt. Col (Ret) Jay A. Scout.

A series of short biographies of twenty two US airmen of the Second World War, largely in their own words, covering a very wide range of topics from US-bases training to operations in China, Europe, North Africa and the Pacific.
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Attack on Pearl Harbor - Strategy, Combat, Myths, Deceptions, Alan D. Zimm.

Attack on Pearl Harbor - Strategy, Combat, Myths, Deceptions, Alan D. Zimm.

A very detailed look at the Japanese plan for the attack on Pearl Harbor and its implementation, challenging the idea that the attack was brilliantly planned and executed, and convincingly arguing that luck played a major part in the Japanese success on the day.
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Battle of Nassau Bay (30 June 1943)

The battle of Nassau Bay (30 June 1943) was an early step in the wider Allied offensive in the Huon Gulf area of New Guinea (Operation Postern), and was carried out in order to capture a staging post for later steps in the campaign and to improve the supply situation for the main Australian force attacking Salamaua from inland bases.

Operation Postern - The Markham Valley/ Huon Peninsula Campaign of 4 September 1943-24 April 1944

Operation Postern - The Markham Valley/ Huon Peninsula Campaign of 4 September 1943-24 April 1944 saw a largely Australian force clear the Japanese from the Huon Gulf and the Huon Peninsula and ended with the fall of the major Japanese base at Madang, to the north-west of the Huon Peninsula.

Nieuport Triplane

The Nieuport Triplane of 1916-17 was a very unusual design, with the middle wing thrust well forward of the upper wing. This arrangement was meant to improve the pilot's view, but the aircraft was unstable and didn't enter production.

Nieuport 19

The Nieuport 19 was a twin-engined aircraft that was ordered by the RNAS, but that was never delivered.

Battle of La Bicocca (27 April 1522)

The battle of La Bicocca (27 April 1522) was the first in a series of French battlefield defeats in Italy during the First Hapsburg-Valois War and saw an army sent to recapture Milan defeated just outside the city.

Treaty of Noyon (13 August 1516)

The Treaty of Noyon (13 August 1516) ended the fighting between Spain and France after Francis I's first invasion of Italy.

Fight for the Sea - Naval Adventures from the Second World War, John Frayn Turner.

Fight for the Sea - Naval Adventures from the Second World War, John Frayn Turner.

A series of interesting snapshots of the war at sea from the British and American point of view, covering many of the major battles of the war as well as a number of less familiar topics.
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The Rise of Imperial Rome AD 14-193, Duncan B. Campbell.

The Rise of Imperial Rome AD 14-193, Duncan B. Campbell.

Looks at the long series of border wars that saw the Roman Empire continue to expand during the two centuries after the death of Augustus. Traditionally seen as the period of the 'Pax Romana', this book demonstrates that this was actually a period of near continuous warfare.
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Looking Down on War - the Normandy Invasion June 1944, Colonel Roy M. Stanley II.

Looking Down on War - the Normandy Invasion June 1944, Colonel Roy M. Stanley II.

A fascinating collection of aerial photographs of the D-Day landings, with commentary by a professional photo interpreter. Pictures you won't have seen before, with an expert interpreter to point out aspect of them that I would have missed.
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69th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF)

The 69th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF) spent most of the Second World War operating as a training unit, but did reach Europe in time to take part in the last few weeks of the war against Germany.

68th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF)

The 68th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF) was originally formed as an Observation Group in the United States in the summer of 1941, before serving in the Mediterranean Theatre as a reconnaissance, ground attack and electronic countermeasures group.

67th Reconnaissance Group

The 67th Reconnaissance Group flew with the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces during the campaign in Europe in 1944-45, taking part in the D-Day campaign, the advance through France, the battle of the Bulge and the final invasion of Germany.

Atlanta class light cruisers

The Atlanta class light cruisers were the lightest and most lightly armed cruisers to see service with the US Navy during the Second World War and were a product of the London Naval Treaty of 1936.

USS Wichita (CA-45)

USS Wichita (CA-45) was the last heavy cruiser to be produced for the US Navy before the outbreak of the Second World War, and the last to be restricted by the interwar naval treaties.

New Guinea campaign (January 1942-September 1945)

The New Guinea campaign (January 1942-September 1945) was one of the longest campaigns of the Second World War. It began with the easy Japanese conquest of most of the north coast of the massive island. The Japanese finally ran out of steam during the Papuan Campaign, and were unable to capture Port Moresby on the south coast of Papua New Guinea. The Allies then went onto the offensive. The Japanese were pushed back across to the north coast of Papua, before the Allies began a series of campaigns that eventually gave them control of almost the entire island.

Nieuport 18

The designation Nieuport 18 appears to have been given to more than one aircraft type, including a single engined fighter and a twin engined three-man bomber.

Nieuport 15

The Nieuport 15 was an attempt to produce a dedicated bomber, but its performance was disappointing and despite an order from the RNAS it never entered service.

Cesare Borgia (c.1475/6-1507)

Cesare Borgia (c.1475/6-1507) was the younger son of Cardinal Roderigo Borgia (later Pope Alexander VI), and after a brief church career became a successful military commander.

Alfonso I Este, duke of Ferrara (1476-1534)

Alfonso I Este, duke of Ferrara (1476-1534) was a pro-French Italian leader who managed to maintain his position in the Po valley despite the hostility of a series of popes.

Medieval Warfare Vol IV Issue 4: Downfall of the Bold: The Burgundian Wars.

Medieval Warfare Vol IV Issue 4: Downfall of the Bold: The Burgundian Wars.
Focuses on the unsuccessful military career of Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, a warlike leader more famous for his willingness to fight rather than for his successes in battle. Instead he became best known for his defeat and death at the hands of the Swiss pikemen, who earned a reputation that lasted into the sixteenth century.
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Medieval Warfare Vol IV Issue 2: Queens and Valkyries Women as warriors.

Medieval Warfare Vol IV Issue 2: Queens and Valkyries Women as warriors.
Focuses on a number of very different examples of female warriors in the Medieval period from the familiar Joan of Arc to almost legendary Viking warriors. Demonstrates that gender roles in the Middle Ages weren't quite a rigidly defined as we sometimes think.
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Medieval Warfare Vol III Issue 6: Myths and Legends in the Medieval World.

Medieval Warfare Vol III Issue 6: Myths and Legends in the Medieval World.
Looks at the figures who gave rise to legends and how those legends differed from reality, covering heroes ranging from Theoderic the Great to the mysterious Prester John. The choice of heroes and how their exploits were altered tells us much about the attitudes of the societies involved.
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66th Reconnaissance Group

The 66th Reconnaissance Group was a home-based unit that served as a reconnaissance and and artillery spotting training unit as well as flying anti-submarine patrols during the first half of 1942.

65th Reconnaissance Group

The 65th Reconnaissance Group went through two incarnations during the Second World War, the first as a home based observation unit and the second as a training unit.

26th Reconnaissance Group

The 26th Reconnaissance Group was a home-based unit that took part in military exercises and helped train ground forces.

Beyond the Reach of Empire, Colonel Mike Snook.

Beyond the Reach of Empire, Colonel Mike Snook.
A very impressive examination of Wolseley's attempt to save Gordon, besieged at Khartoum, one of the most famous British military failures of the Victorian era. Snook pulls no punches in his analysis of the reasons for this failure, but also provides more than enough detail for the reader to make their own mind up about his conclusions.
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Grey Wolves - The U-boat War 1939-1945, Philip Kaplan.

Grey Wolves - The U-boat War 1939-1945, Philip Kaplan.
A thematic approach to the U-boat war, looking at elements such as the crews, captains, protected shelters, individual aspects of the U-boat campaign itself, their weapons and their opponents. Provides some interesting insights into the Battle of the Atlantic, although is best used along a more conventional history of the Battle of the Atlantic.
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Images of War: Armoured Warfare in the North African Campaign, Anthony Tucker-Jones.

Images of War: Armoured Warfare in the North African Campaign, Anthony Tucker-Jones.
Covers the entire period from the early Anglo-Italian clashes through the famous battles with Rommel and on to Operation Torch and the Tunisian campaign. Some unusual pictures, supported by informative captions.
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Baltimore Class Heavy Cruisers

The Baltimore Class Heavy Cruisers were the only American heavy cruisers not limited by the pre-war Naval Treaties to see service with the US Navy during the Second World War, and were developed from the last of the treaty cruisers, USS Wichita.

Brooklyn class cruisers

The Brooklyn class cruisers were the first 6in cruisers to be built for the US Navy after the London Naval Treaty imposed limits on the number of 8in cruisers that could be built.