Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Baron mine-clearing vehicle

The Baron was a mine-clearing vehicle based on the Matilda II infantry tank, but despite entering production it was superseded by more effective vehicles and was only used in training.

Matilda CDL (Canal Defence Light)

The Matilda CDL (Canal Defence Light) was a version of the Matilda Infantry Tank Mk II that carried a powerful searchlight instead of its main gun and that was designed to win control of the night-time battlefield.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Sulla - A Dictator Reconsidered, Lynda Telford.

Sulla - A Dictator Reconsidered, Lynda Telford.
An interesting but very biased biography of the Roman leader Sulla, the first to lead his own army against the city of Rome. Not idea for someone new to the topic, who would come away with a very one sided view of the period, but will be of interest to someone with more background knowledge.
[read full review]

Broke of the Shannon and the War of 1812, ed. Tim Voelcker.

Broke of the Shannon and the War of 1812, ed. Tim Voelcker.
Looks at a wide range of topics related to the battle between the Shannon and the Chesapeake, a naval clash that ended the early string of American victories and restored damaged morale in Britain. Looks at the battle itself, the background to the war, and the long term impact of both the battle and the conflict.
[read full review]

Battleships of the Scharnhorst Class, Gerhard Koop and Klaus-Peter Schmolke.

Battleships of the Scharnhorst Class, Gerhard Koop and Klaus-Peter Schmolke.
 Looks at the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, the first interwar German battleships to ignore most naval treaty restrictions, and the most active of the German battleships of the Second World War. An excellent history of these two ships that pulls no punches about the flaws in their designs.
[read full review]

Friday, March 27, 2015

Battle of Shaggy Ridge (10 October 1943-23 January 1944)

The battle of Shaggy Ridge (10 October 1943-23 January 1944) saw Australians troops slowly force the Japanese off a narrow mountain ridge that dominated a key route across the Finisterre Mountains of New Guinea.

Finisterre Range campaign (17 September 1943-24 April 1944)

The Finisterre Range campaign (17 September 1943-24 April 1944) saw Australian troops successfully push the Japanese out of a series of strong defensive positions on incredibly difficult mountainous terrain in the Finisterre Mountains of New Guinea, preventing them from interfering with operations further east on the Huon Peninsula.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Kawanishi Ki-85

The Kawanishi Ki-85 was a very rare example of a Kawanishi aircraft designed for the Japanese Army. It would have been a four-engined heavy bomber based on the Douglas DC-4E and Nakajima G5N1 Shinzan (Mountain Recess), but the project was cancelled early.

Kawanishi Baika (Plum Blossom)

The Kawanishi Baika (Plum Blossom) was a design for a piloted suicide aircraft based loosely on the V1 flying bomb.

Kawanishi K-11 Experimental Carrier Fighter

The Kawanishi K-11 Experimental Carrier Fighter was a private venture aircraft produced in an attempt to win a contest being held to replace the Mitsubishi Type 10 Carrier Fighter (1MF1 to 1MF5).

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Ionian Revolt (499-493 BC)

The Ionian Revolt (499-493 BC) was a major uprising of the Greek cities of Asia Minor against Persian rule, and is said to have either delayed an inevitable Persian invasion of mainland Greece, or made that invasion more likely.

Persian Conquest of Egypt of 525 BC

The Persian Conquest of Egypt of 525 BC saw Cambyses II of Persia conquer the fourth major power of the ancient near east, completing the series of conquests begun by his father Cyrus II the Great.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Alvaro de Bazan, Marquis of Santa Cruz (1526-1588)

Alvaro de Bazan, Marquis of Santa Cruz (1526-1588) was a Spanish naval commander who planned the Spanish Armada, but died just before the fleet sailed, denying the fleet an able commander.

Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger (c.1519-1554)

Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger (c.1519-1554) was an English soldier who fought in the Italian Wars before returning to England, where he led a dangerous revolt against Mary I.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Aces of the Reich - The Making of a Luftwaffe Fighter-Pilot, Mike Spick.

A half-way house between a history of the Luftwaffe and a convention 'aces' book, starting with an examination of the history, commanders and aircraft of the Luftwaffe before moving on to a combat history that traces the contribution of the experten and finished with a series of potted biographies of a variety of different 'types'.
[read full review]

American Tanks and AFVs of World War II, Michael Green.

American Tanks and AFVs of World War II, Michael Green.

An excellent look at the development of American armoured vehicles in the inter-war period and during the Second World War, linking the individual vehicles to US army doctrine to produce a valuable picture of what was produced and just as importantly why, and how well the equipment that entered service actually performed.
[read full review]

England's Medieval Navy 1066-1509: Ships, Men & Warfare, Susan Rose.

England's Medieval Navy 1066-1509: Ships, Men & Warfare, Susan Rose.

An excellent detailed examination of the early days of English naval power, the period before the establishment of a permanent Royal Navy, when most warships were impressed merchant ships taken over for the duration of a campaign.  Excellent material on the men, their ships, skills, weapons and the battles they fought.
[read full review]

Thursday, March 19, 2015

USS Northampton (CA-125/ CLC-1/ CC-1)

USS Northampton (CA-125/ CLC-1/ CC-1) was laid down as a Baltimore class heavy cruiser, but was completed as a command and control ship and ended up as a Presidential Command Post to be used in case of a nuclear war.

USS Rochester (CA-124)

USS Rochester (CA-124) was a member of the Oregon City sub-class of the Baltimore class of heavy cruisers and served three tours of duty during the Korean War. Rochester received six battle stars for Korean War service.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Siege of Amathus (c.498/7)

The siege of Amathus (c.498/7) saw an attempt by Greek rebels to capture the pro-Persian Phoenician city of Amathus on Cyprus.

Battle of Ephesus (498 BC)

The battle of Ephesus (498 BC) was a victory won by the Persians over a rebellious Greek army that was retreating from an attack on the city of Sardis (Ionian Revolt).

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

The Bofors Gun, Terry Gander.

The Bofors Gun, Terry Gander.

 Looks at the long history of the Bofors guns, most famous as a naval anti-aircraft gun of the Second World War, but that is still be produced in new version today, eighty years after it was first designed. Looks at all of the producers and users of the gun and the many versions that have been developed. A very useful reference work.
[read full review]

In the Mind's Eye - The Blinded Veterans of St Dunstan's, David Castleton.

In the Mind's Eye - The Blinded Veterans of St Dunstan's, David Castleton.

A history of a charity formed to help the blinded servicemen of the First World War and that went on to help develop a much more positive attitude to the blind across society by developing ways to allow the veterans to live increasingly independent lives.
[read full review]

Images of War: The Central Powers on the Russian Front 1914-1918, David Bilton.

Images of War: The Central Powers on the Russian Front 1914-1918, David Bilton.

A year by year look at the experience of German and Austro-Hungarian troops fighting on the Eastern Front, a more fluid environment than the Western Front and a campaign that ended with a German victory and the exhaustion of the Austro-Hungarians
[read full review]

Monday, March 09, 2015

USS Albany (CA-123/ CG-10)

USS Albany (CA-123/ CG-10) was a member of the Oregon City sub-class of the Baltimore class of heavy cruisers, and served with the 5th Fleet in the Mediterranean before being converted into a guided missile cruiser.

USS Oregon City (CA-122)

USS Oregon City (CA-122) was the name-ship of the Oregon City sub-class of the Baltimore class of heavy cruisers and has a short active carrier that lasted for under two years.

Friday, March 06, 2015

Matilda Mk III Infantry Tank Mk IIA*

The Matilda Mk III Infantry Tank Mk IIA* saw the introduction of more powerful Leyland diesel engines in place of the AEC engines used in the original Matilda II.

Matilda Mk II, Infantry Tank Mk IIA (A12)

The Matilda Mk II, Infantry Tank Mk IIA (A12) saw the Vickers machine gun of the original tank replaced with the Besa machine gun that had been adopted as standard for British tanks.

Thursday, March 05, 2015

Battle of Wareo (26 November-10 December 1943)

The battle of Wareo (26 November-10 December 1943) saw the Australians capture the last major Japanese stronghold in the vicinity of Finschhafen, at the eastern tip of the Huon Peninsula, firmly securing their beachhead and clearing the way for an advance further north around the coast.

Battle of Sattelberg (29 October-25 November 1943)

The battle of Sattelberg (29 October-25 November 1943) saw Australian troops capture a strongly defended Japanese position in the hills to the north-west of Finschhafen, and helped secure their position on the eastern tip of the Huon Peninsula.

Tuesday, March 03, 2015

77th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF)

The 77th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF) was a home based unit that mainly operated alongside army units undergoing training, but that also provided detachments for active service around the borders of the United States and in India.

76th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF)

The 76th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF) was a home based unit that operated alongside army units that were training in the United States.

75th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF)

The 75th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF) was a home based unit that supported army training unit in 1942 and was a replacement training unit from 1943 until 1944.

74th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF)

The 74th Reconnaissance Group (USAAF) was a home based training group that both trained air crews and operated in support of army units that were training in the United States.

Monday, March 02, 2015

Battle of Sardis (498 BC)

The battle of Sardis (498 BC) was a minor success for the Greeks during the Ionian Revolt, and despite being followed by a retreat and a defeat at Ephesus, helped to spread the revolt to Byzantium, the Hellespont and Caria.

Siege of Naxos (499 BC)

The siege of Naxos (499 BC) was an unsuccessful Persian backed attempt to restore a part of exiled Naxian aristocrats. The failure of the attack played a part in the outbreak of the Ionian Revolt (499-494 BC), an attempt to overthrow Persian control of the Greek cities of Ionian.