Tuesday, June 30, 2015

USS Oakland (CL-95)

USS Oakland (CL-95) was the first in the second group of Atlanta light cruisers to enter service, and supported carrier raids, fought at the battle of Leyte Gulf, and supported the final attacks on the Japanese Home islands.

USS San Juan (CL-54)

USS San Juan (CL-54) was an Atlanta class light cruiser that fought in the Guadalcanal campaign, the advance up the Solomon Islands, the invasions of the Marshalls, Mariannas, Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, as well as fighting at the battle of the Philippine Sea.

Monday, June 29, 2015

Valentine XI

The Valentine XI was the last production version of the Valentine tank, and was armed with the new British 75mm tank gun. It was similar to the Mk X, which was the first version to be built from new with the 6-pounder anti-tank gun.

Valentine X

The Valentine X was the designation given to tanks that were built from new with the 6-pounder gun.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Battle of Biak Island (27 May- 29 July 1944)

The battle of Biak Island (27 May- 29 July 1944) was one of the most costly of MacArthur's leapfrogging attacks on the north coast of New Guinea and saw a well dug-in Japanese garrison hold out for several months longer than originally expected.

Battle of Wakde Island (18-21 May 1944)

The battle of Wakde Island (18-21 May 1944) was part of a wider American offensive carried out in order to protect the western flanks of their newly captured position at Hollandia, on the north coast of New Guinea.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Yokosho K2Y Navy Type 3 Land-based Primary Trainer

The Yokosho K2Y Navy Type 3 Land-based Primary Trainer was the Japanese Navy's main primary trainer during the 1930s and remained in service at the start of the Pacific War.

Yokosho K1Y Navy Type 13 Trainer

The Yokosho K1Y Navy Type 13 Trainer was produced to replace the existing I-go Ko-gata and Avro 504 seaplane trainers, and was in use from the mid 1920s until the early part of the Pacific War, although in decreased numbers from 1930.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Caribbean Volunteers at War - The Forgotten Story of the RAF's 'Tuskagee Airmen', Mark Johnson .

Caribbean Volunteers at War - The Forgotten Story of the RAF's 'Tuskagee Airmen', Mark Johnson .

An excellent book that looks at the experiences of the black Caribbean volunteers who served in RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War, tracing their steps from their island homes, through the difficult process of volunteering, to their experiences of RAF life, combat and in some cases captivity as a POW.
[read full review]

Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America's Vietnam, Frederick Logevall .

Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America's Vietnam, Frederick Logevall .

A brilliant study of the French war in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh and Giap's political and military campaigns for independence, and the slow increase in American involvement in the country, looking at how the United States got dragged into her own war in Indochina.
[read full review]

Rising Sun, Falling Skies: The Disastrous Java Sea Campaign of World War II, Jeffrey R. Cox.

Rising Sun, Falling Skies: The Disastrous Java Sea Campaign of World War II, Jeffrey R. Cox.

A brilliant account of the doomed desperate attempt by the Allies to defend the Dutch East Indies, focusing on the naval campaign that ended with crushing defeats in the Java Sea and the loss of most Allied warships either in battle or while attempting to escape.
[read full review]

Monday, June 22, 2015

Siege of Potidaea (480-479 BC)

The Siege of Potidaea (480-479 BC) was an unsuccessful Persian attempt to capture the strongly fortified city in the aftermath of Xerxes's retreat from Greece, and is notable for the first historical record of a tsunami.

Siege of Andros (c.480 BC)

The siege of Andros (c.480 BC) is an incident recorded by Herodotus as taking part in the period after the Greek naval victory at Salamis.

Friday, June 19, 2015

Battle of Müchengrätz (28 June 1866)

The battle of Müchengrätz (28 June 1866) was a missed chance for the Prussians to isolate and destroy the western part of the Austrian army on the River Iser (Austro-Prussian War).

Action of Podol (26-27 June 1866)

The action of Podol (26-27 June 1866) saw the Prussians defeat an Austrian counterattack which was designed to expel the Prussians from their footholds across the River Iser. Instead the battle ended as a Prussian victory which saw them gain control of another major river crossing over the Iser.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

USS San Diego (CL-53)

USS San Diego (CL-53) was an Atlanta class light cruiser that fought off Guadalcanal, during the advance up the Solomon Islands, the invasion of the Gilbert islands and the Marshall Islands, the battle of the Philippines Sea and the invasions of the Philippines and Okinawa.

USS Helena (CL-50)

USS Helena (CL-50) was a Brooklyn class light cruiser that was present during the attack on Pearl Harbor and fought off Guadalcanal before being sunk at the battle of Kula Gulf in July 1943.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Valentine IX

The Valentine IX was the designation given to Mk Vs that were upgunned to carry a 6-pounder anti-tank gun.

Valentine VIII

The Valentine VIII was the designation given to Valentine IIIs that had been upgunned to carry the 6-pounder anti-tank gun.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Covert Radar and Signals Interception - The Secret Career of Eric Ackermann, Peter Jackson & David Haysom .

Covert Radar and Signals Interception - The Secret Career of Eric Ackermann, Peter Jackson & David Haysom .
Looks at the long career of a scientist who served with an honorary commission in the RAF, won the George Medal during the Second World War and went on to have a long career in the first part of the Cold War.
[read full review]
cover

AD69 Emperors, Armies and Anarchy, Nic Fields .

AD69 Emperors, Armies and Anarchy, Nic Fields .
A good account of the brutal Roman Civil War of AD 69, the Year of Four Emperors, somewhat marred by a series of unrelated digressions on modern politics. The main text follows each emperor in turn, an effective layout once you realise what's going on. 
 [read full review]

Images of War Special: M4 Sherman, Pat Ware & Brian Delf.

Images of War Special: M4 Sherman, Pat Ware & Brian Delf.
 Larger than normal entry in the Images of War series looking at the M4 Sherman tank, with a good range of photos, including some unusual pictures of tanks under construction, the interior of the Sherman and individual components, all supported by good captions and useful chapter introductions.
[read full review]

Friday, June 12, 2015

battle of the Driniumor River (10 July -25 August 1944)

The Battle of the Driniumor River (10 July -25 August 1944) was a rare large scale Japanese counterattack on New Guinea and saw troops sent west from Wewak attack the American lines east of Aitape, achieving some early successes before being repulsed with heavy losses.

Battle of Lone Tree Hill or Wakde-Sarmi (17 May-2 September 1944)

The battle of Lone Tree Hill or Wakde-Sarmi (17 May-2 September 1944) was a hard-fought contest for control of a strip of the New Guinea coast near the island of Wakde, and saw the Americans eventually win control of a large enough area for them to use as a staging post on the way to further advances.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Yokosho E5Y Navy Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane

The Yokosho E5Y Navy Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane was one of three designs accepted by the Japanese Navy to replace the earlier Yokosho Type 14 E1Y, but was only produced in tiny numbers.

Yokosho E1Y Type 14 Reconnaissance Seaplane

The Yokosho E1Y Type 14 Reconnaissance Seaplane was based on the earlier Yokosho Type 10 Reconnaissance Seaplane, and was a single-engined biplane that remained in service into the early 1930s.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Battle of Salamis (23 or 24 September 480 BC)

The battle of Salamis (23 or 24 September 480 BC) was the decisive battle of Xerxes's invasion of Greece, and was a major Greek naval victory that left the Persian army dangerously isolated in southern Greece.

Battle of Thermopylae (August 480 BC)

The battle of Thermopylae (August 480 BC) is one of the most famous military defeats in history, and is best known for the fate of the 300 Spartans, killed alongside 700 Thespians on the final day of the battle.

Tuesday, June 09, 2015

Combat of Liebenau (26 June 1866)

The combat of Liebenau (26 June 1866) was the first significant combat during the Austro-Prussia War and saw the Prussians force the Austrians to abandon the village of Liebenau and gain their first foothold across the River Iser.

Combat of Huhnerwasser (26 June 1866)

The combat of Huhnerwasser (26 June 1866) was the first clash between Austrian troops and the Prussian Army of the Elbe at the start of the Prussian invasion of Bohemia (Austro-Prussian War).

Monday, June 08, 2015

Challenge of Battle - The Real Story of the British Army in 1914, Adrian Gilbert .

Challenge of Battle - The Real Story of the British Army in 1914, Adrian Gilbert .
 Looks at the early campaigns of the BEF, from its first battle at Mons to the costly fighting at Ypres, where the pre-war British army was almost destroyed. A good up-to-date campaign history covering this pivotal period of mobile warfare and the start of the stalemate of the Western Front.
 [read full review]

The Decisive Campaigns of the Desert Air Force 1942-1945, Bryn Evans. .

The Decisive Campaigns of the Desert Air Force 1942-1945, Bryn Evans. .
Looks at the activities of the RAF's tactical air force in the North Africa and Italian Theatres, where it developed many of the close support techniques used with greater fame by 2nd Tactical Air Force in Normandy. This is a valuable account of the services of a key, but often overlooked, part of the wartime RAF.
[read full review]

Two Fronts, One War, Charles W. Sasser..

Two Fronts, One War, Charles W. Sasser..
Contains some unusual eyewitness accounts of the fighting during the Second World War, including life in an all-black armoured unit in Patton's army, combat in the cold in the Aleutians, the attitude of Japanese prisoners after the end of the fighting and an unusual view of the Nuremburg trials.
[read full review]

Friday, June 05, 2015

USS St Louis (CL-49)

USS St Louis (CL-49) was a Brooklyn class cruiser that was at Pearl Habor, and fought in the Aleutians, at Gualdalcanal, New Georgia, Bougainville, Saipan, the battle of the Philippine Sea, Leyte Gulf, the carrier raids on Japan and the invasion of Okinawa.

USS Honolulu (CL-48)

USS Honolulu (CL-48) was a Brooklyn class light cruiser that was damaged at Pearl Harbor before fighting in the Aleutian and Guadalcanal campaigns and the invasions of Saipan, Guam and Leyte.

Thursday, June 04, 2015

Valentine VII, Infantry Tank Mk III***

The Valentine VII, Infantry Tank Mk III***, was an improved version of the Mk VI, and like that tank was produced in Canada.

Valentine VI, Infantry Tank Mk III***

The Valentine VI, Infantry Tank Mk III***, was a version of the Valentine IV that was built in Canada. The Mk IV was powered by a GMC diesel engine and had the original two-man turret, with 2-pounder gun and 7.92mm Besa machine gun.

Wednesday, June 03, 2015

Battle of Aitape (22-24 April 1944)

The battle of Aitape (22-24 April 1944) was carried out in support of the larger landings at Hollandia, and was designed to provide a shield against any possible intervention by Japanese forces further to the west at Wewak.

Battle of Hollandia (22-27 April 1944)

The battle of Hollandia (22-27 April 1944) was part of Operation Reckless and saw the Americans leapfrog past a series of Japanese bases to capture a key position on the northern coast of New Guinea, catching the Japanese almost entirely by surprise and winning an unexpectedly easy victory.

Tuesday, June 02, 2015

Yokosuka D4Y Suisei (Comet) 'Judy'

The Yokosuka D4Y Suisei (Comet) 'Judy' was designed as a dive bomber, but entered service as a reconnaissance aircraft. It eventually served in that role, and as a bomber and suicide attack aircraft.

Yokosuka D3Y Myojo (Venus)

The Yokosuka D3Y Myojo (Venus) was originally intended to be a wooden version of the Aichi D3A2-K bomber trainer, but the design was modified while the aircraft was under development. A suicide attack version was also developed, but the prototype of this version was unfinished at the end of the Second World War.

Monday, June 01, 2015

Battle of Artemisium (August 480 BC)

The battle of Artemisium (August 480 BC) was an inconclusive naval battle that was fought on the same three days as the battle of Thermopylae, and that ended when the Greek fleet retreated after learning of the Persian victory at Thermopylae.

Siege of Paros (489 BC)

The siege of Paros (489 BC) was the final campaign of Miltiades, the most important Athenian leader during the battle of Marathon of 490 BC.