Friday, October 30, 2015

Douglas O-31

The Douglas O-31 was the first in a series of monoplane observation aircraft produced to replace the existing Douglas biplane aircraft, and eventually led to production orders for the O-43 and O-46.

Douglas O-5

The Douglas O-5 was an observation aircraft based on the Douglas World Cruiser, the aircraft that made the first successful circumnavigation of the globe.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Antoine Fran François, Count Andréossy (1761-1828)

Antoine Fran François, Count Andréossy (1761-1828) was a French engineer and diplomat who served in Italy and Egypt and as Napoleon's ambassador to Britain, Austria and the Ottoman Empire.

Louis Antoine de Bourbon, Duc d'Angoulême (1778-1844)

Louis Antoine de Bourbon, Duc d'Angoulême (1778-1844) was a member of the French Royal Family who returned to France with the British in 1814, fought against Napoleon's supporters during the 100 Days, and who died in exile after his father Charles X was overthrown.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Peace of Callias (c.448 BC)

The Peace of Callias (c.448 BC) was almost certainly a formal peace treaty between Persia and the Athenian-led Greek alliance that ended half a century of open conflict between the two powers, and established their spheres of influence in the eastern Mediterranean.

Greco-Persian Wars of c.500-448 BC

The Greco-Persian Wars of c.500-448 BC involved a series of clashes between the Persian Empire and the Greeks of Asia Minor and mainland Greece, and ended as something of a draw, with the Persians unable to conquer mainland Greece and the Greeks unable to maintain the independence of the cities of Asia Minor.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Combat of Hundheim (23 July 1866)

The Combat of Hundheim (23 July 1866) was a Prussian victory over German Federal troops that began to disrupt an over-ambitious plan for a counterattack aimed at expelling the Prussians from Frankfurt (Austro-Prussian War of 1866).

battle of Blumenau (22 July 1866)

The Battle of Blumenau (22 July 1866) was the final battle of the Austrian phase of the war and saw the Prussians attack an Austrian position north-west of Pressburg (now Bratislava), continuing the battle even after news arrived that an armistice was due to come into effect later on the same day (Austro-Prussian War of 1866).

Monday, October 26, 2015

USS Hopkins (DD-6)

USS Hopkins (DD-6) was the name ship of the Hopkins class of destroyers and mainly served in US home waters before moving to the Panama Canal Zone after American entered the First World War.

Hopkins class of destroyers

The Hopkins class of destroyers were a sub-group within the larger Bainbridge class, and had a different forward layout and main guns to the standard Bainbridge class ships.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Churchill VII (A22F)

The Churchill VII (A22F) was a heavier version of the Churchill tank, with thicker armour, a redesigned turret and carrying the British 75mm gun.

Churchill Mk VI

The Churchill Mk VI was the designation given to tanks that were armed with the British 75mm tank in the same turret as on the 6-pounder armed Mk IV

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

442nd Troop Carrier Group

The 442nd Troop Carrier Group took part in the D-Day landings, the invasion of the South of France, Operation Market Garden and the crossing of the Rhine.

441st Troop Carrier Group

The 441st Troop Carrier Group took part in the D-Day landings, the invasion of the South of France, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge and the crossing of the Rhine.

440th Troop Carrier Group

The 440th Troop Carrier Group took part in the D-Day landings, the invasion of the south of France, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge and the crossing of the Rhine.

Friday, October 16, 2015

The Last Ironsides - The English Expedition to Portugal, 1662-1668, Jonathon Riley.

The Last Ironsides - The English Expedition to Portugal, 1662-1668, Jonathon Riley.
 Looks at the experiences of a small British force that was sent to help the Portuguese in their war of independence from Spain and that went on to play an important role in the final stage of the war, taking part in several of the rare battles and the more numerous sieges. A fascinating account of an almost forgotten episode in English military history.
[read full review]

Agincourt: Myth and Reality 1415-2015, Stephen Cooper.

Agincourt: Myth and Reality 1415-2015, Stephen Cooper.
 Looks at a series of the most important issues that surround the battle of Agincourt and attempts to unravel the truth behind them. Aimed at reader with prior knowledge of the battle, this focused approach provides some convincing answers to key questions about the battle. A useful addition to the literature on this well-studied battle.
[read full review]

My Escape from Donington Hall, Gunther Plüschow.

My Escape from Donington Hall, Gunther Plüschow.
memoir of the only German POW to escape home from mainland Britain during either World War. Includes a fascinating section on life in the pre-war German colony of Kiao-Chow, the author's failed attempt to get home from China and his eventual successful escape from Donington Hall. Presents an unusual twist on the POW escape story.
[read full review]

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Evagoras (r.411-374 BC)

Evagoras (r.411-374 BC) was king of Salamis on Cyprus, and an ally of Athens who eventually fell under Persian domination after a failed revolt against the Empire.

Leotychides, king of Sparta (c.545-469, r.491-)

Leotychides, king of Sparta (c.545-469, r.491-) was a successful commander during the Greco-Persian Wars, who commanded the Greek army at the battle of Mycale.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Battle of Tobitschau (16 July 1866)

The battle of Tobitschau (16 July 1866) saw the Prussians attack the Austrians as they attempted to retreat south in the aftermath of their defeat at Königgrätz, forcing the Austrians to abandon their original line of retreat and instead move east across the Carpathian Mountains (Austria-Prussian War of 1866).

battle of Aschaffenburg (14 July 1866)

The Battle of Aschaffenburg (14 July 1866) saw the Prussians gain a foothold on the Main River east of Frankfurt and made it more difficult for the two Federal forces opposing them to join up (Austro-Prussian War of 1866).

Friday, October 09, 2015

USS Decatur (DD-5)

USS Decatur (DD-5) was a Bainbridge class destroyer. She was the first destroyer to be commissioned into the US Navy and served in the Philippines until 1917 then as an escort ship in the Mediterranean theatre.

USS Dale (DD-4)

USS Dale (DD-4) was a Bainbridge class destroyer and was the second destroyer to be commissioned into the US Navy. She served in the Philippines for most of her career, then in the Mediterranean in 1917-1918.

Thursday, October 08, 2015

Churchill Mk V

The Churchill Mk V was the close-support version of the Mk IV, and was armed with a 95mm howitzer.

Churchill Mk IV NA75

The Churchill Mk IV NA75 was produced in North Africa by fitting 75mm guns from Sherman tanks into the cast turrets of the Churchill Mk IV.

Wednesday, October 07, 2015

Douglas XB-31

The Douglas XB-31 was the designation given to a series of Douglas designs produced as part of the same design contest that produced the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, none of which were ever built.

Douglas XB-19 (XVLR-2)

The Douglas XB-19 (XVLR-2) was the largest US military aircraft completed before the US entry into the Second World War and provided valuable data for the development of later heavy bombers such as the Boeing B-29 Superfortress.

Tuesday, October 06, 2015

Roman Soldier vs Germanic Warrior - 1st Century AD, Lindsay Powell.

Roman Soldier vs Germanic Warrior - 1st Century AD, Lindsay Powell.
Focuses on one of the most famous defeats suffered by the Romans, in the Teutoburg Pass, and the Roman attempts to get revenge on the German leader Arminius and his allies. Interesting to see how well the German foot were able to cope with the Roman Legions, even capable of facing them in formal lines of battle for short periods
[read full review]

The Knight who Saved England, Richard Brooks.

The Knight who Saved England, Richard Brooks.
A biography of William Marshal, the most famous English knight of his day and a key figure in the chaos at the end of the reign of King John. Starting as a famous competitor in tournaments, Marshal married a major heiress and moved into the top rank of Medieval society, where he played an important role in securing the throne for the infant Henry III.
[read full review]

Battleship Ramillies: The Final Salvo, ed. Ian Johnston with Mick French .

Battleship Ramillies: The Final Salvo, ed. Ian Johnston with Mick French .
 A series of first-hand accounts of life on the Ramillies, almost all during the Second World War, where she served on convoy escort duty, was badly damaged during the invasion of Madagascar and fired so many 15in shells in support of the D-Day invasions that her main guns had to be replaced. 
[read full review]

Monday, October 05, 2015

Battle of Heilsberg (10 June 1807)

The battle of Heilsberg (10 June 1807) saw the Russians defeat a series of French attacks on their fortified camp at Heilsberg, only to retreat when the French threatened to outflank the position.

Siege of Danzig (18 March-27 May 1807)

The siege of Danzig (18 March-27 May 1807) was the main French activity in the spring of 1807 and saw them capture one of the last strongholds in Prussian hands after the disastrous defeats of Jena and Auerstadt (War of the Fourth Coalition)