Friday, July 31, 2015

Yokosuka E14Y Navy Type 0 Submarine-borne Reconnaissance Seaplane 'Glen'

The Yokosuka E14Y Navy Type 0 Submarine-borne Reconnaissance Seaplane 'Glen' was a tiny reconnaissance aircraft that was also the only hostile aircraft to drop bombs on the American mainland during the Second World War.

Experimental Kusho 12-Shi Special Flying-boat H7Y1

The Experimental Kusho 12-Shi Special Flying-boat H7Y1 was a highly secret attempt to produce a long range flying boat that could reach Hawaii from Japan and return safely with its photographs.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

433rd Troop Carrier Group (USSAF)

The 433rd Troop Carrier Group (USSAF) operated in support of the campaigns on New Guinea and the Philippines and moved parts of the Fifth Air Force to Okinawa.

419th Troop Carrier Group (USAAF)

The 419th Troop Carrier Group (USAAF) ran transport terminals that helped to organise the activities of other transport units.

403rd Troop Carrier Group (USAAF)

The 403rd Troop Carrier Group (USAAF) provided cargo and passenger transport services in the south-west Pacific, as well as supporting the campaigns on New Guinea and the Philippines.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Waterloo: The Decisive Victory, ed. Colonel Nick Lipscombe .

Waterloo: The Decisive Victory, ed. Colonel Nick Lipscombe .
Ten excellent articles covering the main aspects of the Waterloo campaign, from the strategic background to the long term impact of the battle, as well as the main elements of the fighting itself. Provides good detailed examinations of the key elements of the battle, in particular the main cavalry charges and the Prussian contribution to the fighting
[read full review]

Darwin Spitfires - The Real Battle for Australia, Anthony Cooper .

Darwin Spitfires - The Real Battle for Australia, Anthony Cooper .
A very detailed fight-by-fight analysis of the efforts by a group of Spitfire squadrons to defend Darwin against Japanese raids, a campaign that saw both sides over-estimate their successes, but that ended with the Japanese withdrawing from the battle as the war went against them elsewhere. A useful addition to the literature both on the Spitfire and on the only major long term attack on Australian soil during the Second World War
[read full review]

Teenage Tommy: Memoirs of a Cavalryman in the First World War, ed. Richard van Emden

Teenage Tommy: Memoirs of a Cavalryman in the First World War, ed. Richard van Emden .
 The memoirs of Benjamin Clouting, a very young cavalryman, who was present when the BEF fired its first shots of the First World War, and who despite some serious wounds was still at the front when the war finally ended. A fascinating account of the experiences of a pre-war Cavalry regular, demonstrating the wide range of roles performed by the cavalry during the Great War.
[read full review]

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Satrap's Revolt (c.370s-350s)

The Satrap's Revolt (c.370s-350s) was a prolonged period of unrest within the Persian Empire, marked by a series of revolts by the satraps, or provincial governors.

Siege of Sestus (Autumn-winter 479-478 BC)

The siege of Sestus (Autumn-winter 479-478 BC) was the last significant fighting during the campaign of 479, and saw an Athenian force besiege and capture the main Persian base in the Chersonese, on the European side of the Hellespont.

Monday, July 27, 2015

Austro-Prussian or Seven Weeks War of 1866

The Austro-Prussian or Seven Weeks War of 1866 was the second of three wars that led to German unification under the leadership of Prussia. The Prussians easily defeated their Austrian and German enemies, and became the dominant power in Northern Germany, while Austrian had to abandon her remaining influence in the rest of Germany.

Friday, July 24, 2015

USS Juneau (CL-119)

USS Juneau (CL-119) was an Atlanta class light cruiser that entered service too late for the Second World War, but saw action during the Korean War. She received five battle stars for Korean War service.

USS Tucson (CL-98)

USS Tucson (CL-98) was an Atlanta class light cruiser that joined the fleet just in time to take part in the last sortie against the Japanese Home Islands, and then remained in service until 1949.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Battle of Wewak (December 1944-September 1945)

The battle of Wewak (December 1944-September 1945) was an Australian offensive on New Guinea, aimed at destroying the last major Japanese position in the pre-war area of Australian New Guinea, on the north coast around Wewak.

Battle of Morotai (15 September - 4 October 1944)

The battle of Morotai (15 September - 4 October 1944) was carried out in order to protect the left flank of any American advance from New Guinea to the southern Philippines, and took them into the Molucca Islands.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Yokosuka R2Y Keiun (Beautiful Cloud or Lucky Cloud)

The Yokosuka R2Y Keiun (Beautiful Cloud or Lucky Cloud) was a long-range land-based reconnaissance aircraft powered by two engines mounted within the fuselage and driving a single propeller.

Yokosuka R1Y Seiun (Blue Cloud)

The Yokosuka R1Y Seiun (Blue Cloud) was a design for a long-range reconnaissance aircraft that was abandoned due to poor performance figures.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Siege of Thebes (479 BC)

The Siege of Thebes (479 BC) followed the Greek victory over the invading Persians at Plataea, and ended after the main Persian supporters in Thebes surrendered.

Battle of Mycale (479 BC)

The battle of Mycale (479 BC) was a land battle that resulted in the destruction of the Persian fleet in Asia Minor, and that encouraged the Ionian cities to rebel against Persian authority.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Medieval Warfare Vol V Issue 2: Carolus Magnus: Frankish heir to Ancient Rome.

Medieval Warfare Vol V Issue 2: Carolus Magnus: Frankish heir to Ancient Rome.

Focuses on the military career of Charlemagne, the greatest of the Frankish kings and the first Holy Roman Emperor. Looks at several of his major wars as well as the organisation of his army. Away from the theme looks at the Hussite victory at Aussig, and the English law of treason. .
[read full review]

Medieval Warfare Vol V Issue 1: Treason and Treachery - Betrayal in the Medieval World.

Medieval Warfare Vol V Issue 1: Treason and Treachery - Betrayal in the Medieval World.

Looks at some of the most famous cases of medieval treachery, from the battle of Manzikert to the fall of Richard III. Also looks at the problems involved in moving a museum collection, fragments of an Anglo-Saxon poem and the Swiss Pike..
[read full review]

Medieval Warfare Vol IV Issue 1: Alexander Nevsky Prince of Novgorod.

Medieval Warfare Vol IV Issue 1: Alexander Nevsky Prince of Novgorod.

Focuses on the life of one of Medieval Russia's great national heroes, a leader who fought off attacks from the Catholic west while allying himself with the more powerful Mongols. Also looks at Saladin's attitude to hostages, the battle of Montlhéry and the poem Y Gododdin.
[read full review]

Friday, July 10, 2015

Battle of Skalitz (28 June 1866)

The battle of Skalitz (28 June 1866) was the second of two victories in two days won by the Prussian V Corps, and helped secure the Prussian position in Bohemia (Austria-Prussian War of 1866)

Battle of Nachod (27 June 1866)

The battle of Nachod (27 June 1866) saw the Prussians defeat a series of Austrian attacks aimed at recapturing a key position in the Bohemian mountains that had been abandoned without a fight on the previous day.

Thursday, July 09, 2015

USS Flint (CL-97)

USS Flint (CL-97) was an Atlanta class light cruiser that joined the fleet in time to take part in the Pacific campaigns of 1945, including the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and the raids on the Japanese Home Islands.

USS Reno (CL-96)

USS Reno (CL-96) was part of the second batch of Atlanta class light cruisers, and served with the Carrier Task Force from May 1944 until she was badly damaged during the fighting off Leyte.

Wednesday, July 08, 2015

Landings at Sansapor (30-31 July 1944)

The landings at Sansapor (30-31 July 1944) were the last major American offensive of the long New Guinea campaign, and saw them capture a foothold on the Vogelkop Peninsula, at the western end of New Guinea, where they were able to build a medium bomber base to support operations further west.

Battle of Noemfoor (2 July-30 August 1944)

The battle of Noemfoor (2 July-30 August 1944) was a US amphibious landing carried out in order to make up for slow progress on Biak and the resulting shortage of airfields in western New Guinea.

Tuesday, July 07, 2015

Yokosuka K5Y 'Willow' Type 93 Intermediate Trainer

The Yokosuka K5Y 'Willow' Type 93 Intermediate Trainer was the most widely produced training aircraft produced in Japan, and remained in production from 1933 to 1945.

Yokosuka K4Y1 Type 90 Seaplane Trainer

The Yokosuka K4Y1 Type 90 Seaplane Trainer was produced to replace the Yokosho K1Y Type 13 Seaplane Trainer, and was the first Japanese production aircraft to use a welded steel tube fuselage.

Monday, July 06, 2015

Battle of Plataea (27 August 479 BC)

The battle of Plataea (27 August 479 BC) was the decisive land battle during the Persian invasion of Greece (480-479) and saw the Persian land army left behind after the failure of the 480 campaign defeated by a coalition of Greek powers.

Siege of Olynthus (early 479 BC)

The siege of Olynthus (early 479 BC) was a success for the Persian forces that had escorted Xerxes back to the Hellespont after the battle of Salamis and saw the city fall to assault and a large part of its population massacred.

Friday, July 03, 2015

British Warship in the Age of Sail 1817-1863, Rif Winfield.

British Warship in the Age of Sail 1817-1863, Rif Winfield.
 Splendid reference work looking at the complete service histories of every warship to serve in the Royal Navy between 1817 and 1863, including the periods before and after those dates. Covers the period that saw the introduction of steam power into the Navy, and the appearance of the first ironclads, a period of increasingly rapid change.
[read full review]

Gettysburg: The Last Invasion, Allen C. Guelzo .

Gettysburg: The Last Invasion, Allen C. Guelzo .
An excellent account of the Gettysburg campaign, illustrated by a splendid selection of eyewitness accounts. Focuses on the actions of individual commanders, from Meade and Lee down to regimental commanders, with a focus on the corps commanders and their activities and attitudes. Supported by plenty of accounts from further down the command chain and from civilians caught up in the fighting.
[read full review]

The Road to Königgrätz: Helmuth von Moltke and the Austro-Prussian War 1866, Quintin Barry .

The Road to Königgrätz: Helmuth von Moltke and the Austro-Prussian War 1866, Quintin Barry .
Looks at the events of the war that saw Prussia become the dominant power in northern Germany, a key step on the road to German unification. Focuses on the military campaigns, the role of von Moltke in the war, the Austrian reaction and the clashes between the Prussian military and political establishments.
 [read full review]

Thursday, July 02, 2015

375th Troop Carrier Group (USAAF)

The 375th Troop Carrier Group (USAAF) took part in the long campaign in New Guinea, then supported the liberation of the Philippines and the campaign on Okinawa.

374th Troop Carrier Group

The 374th Troop Carrier Group took part in the long campaign in New Guinea, performing an especially valuable role early in the campaign, when Allied resources were very limited.

349th Troop Carrier Group

The 349th Troop Carrier Group reached the European theatre too late to take part in any of the major set-piece airborne assault of the Second World War.

Wednesday, July 01, 2015

Battle of Trautenau, 27 June 1866

The battle of Trautenau, 27 June 1866, was the only serious Prussian setback during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, and saw the right-hand column of the eastern wing of the advancing Prussian armies suffer a defeat at the hands of the Austrian 10th Corps.

Battle of Langensalza (27 June 1866)

The battle of Langensalza (27 June 1866) was the only significant Prussian setback during the campaign against their German enemies during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, but despite their victories the Hanoverians were forced to surrender two days later.