Monday, February 29, 2016

Battle of Munychia (403 BC)

The battle of Munychia (403 BC) was a significant victory for Democratic rebels against the Spartan imposed rule of the Thirty at Athens, and played a significant part in the reestablishment of Democracy at Athens in the aftermath of the Great Peloponnesian War.

Battle of Phyle (403 BC)

The battle of Phyle (403 BC) was the first of three battles that saw the Athenian democrats led by Thrasybulus overthrow a Spartan-supported oligarchy that was then ruling in Athens.

Friday, February 26, 2016

A.E.G. G.I

The A.E.G. G.I was the first in the successful series of A.E.G twin engined bombers, but was underpowered itself and only a single example was produced.

A.E.G. DJ.I

The A.E.G. DJ.I was a single seat armoured ground attack biplane that was still under development at the end of the First World War.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

USS Terry (DD-25)

USS Terry (DD-25) was a Paulding class destroyer that took part in the US intervention in Mexico in 1914, the invention in Santo Domingo in 1916, served from Queenstown during 1918 and was used by the Coast Guard during the 1920s.

USS Roe (DD-24)

USS Roe (DD-24) was a Paulding class destroyer that operated off the US East Coast during 1917 and from Brest during 1918, then served with the Coast Guard during the 1920s.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Marshal Emmanuel, marquis de Grouchy (1766-1847)

Marshal Emmanuel, marquis de Grouchy (1766-1847) was a very able French cavalry commander, unfairly remembered for his failures at the battle of Waterloo. Before Waterloo he had an impressive career, and he became the last of Napoleon's marshals

General Anne-Charles Lebrun (1775-1859)

General Anne-Charles Lebrun (1775-1859) was a French general who served on Napoleon's staff during most of his campaigns from 1805 until the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Char Léger Hotchkiss H39

The Char Léger Hotchkiss H39 was an improved version of the Hotchkiss H35 light tank, with a more powerful engine and slightly improved main gun.

Char Léger Hotchkiss H35

The Char Léger Hotchkiss H35 was a light tank designed in the early 1930s, but that was underpowered and was replaced by the Hotchkiss H39.

Monday, February 22, 2016

D-Day and the Normandy Invasion, Adam Powley

D-Day and the Normandy Invasion, Adam Powley
Covers the pre-invasion planning, the D-Day landings, the battle of Normandy, the break-out and the fighting in the Falaise pocket. A good narrative, broken up by chapters on special topics, and supported by some excellent photos. A good overview of the D-Day and Normandy campaigns, packing plenty of information into its 64 pages.
[read full review]

German Heavy Artillery Guns 1933-1945, Alexander Lüdeke.

German Heavy Artillery Guns 1933-1945, Alexander Lüdeke
 Despite the title actually covers light, medium and heavy artillery as well as mortars and anti-tank guns (excludes railway guns, flak and rocket launchers). Each gets a useful write-up, supported by stats and at least one photo. Covers German-built guns and the many types captured and used by the Wehrmacht.
[read full review]

Images of War: RAF Fighter Pilots over Burma, Norman Franks

Images of War: RAF Fighter Pilots over Burma, Norman Franks
Focuses very much on the pilots, with most pictures showing pilots on the ground, in their cockpits or even in the bath. Supported by excellent captions that trace the careers of the pilots and useful chapter introductions that set the scene. Also includes useful pictures of RAF airfields and a good selection of aircraft on the ground, but will be of most value for the collection of pictures of pilots.
[read full review]

Friday, February 19, 2016

Thrasybulus (d.388 BC)

Thrasybulus (d.388 BC) was a supporter of Athenian democracy who rose to prominence late in the Great Peloponnesian War and then helped revive Athenian power in the aftermath of that war.

Teleutias (d.381 BC)

Teleutias (d.381 BC) was a half-brother of Agesilaus II of Sparta and a successful admiral and general who was killed in battle against the Olynthians.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

A.E.G. Dr.I

The A.E.G. Dr.I was an unsuccessful design for a triplane, based on the equally unsuccessful A.E.G. D.I.

A.E.G. D.I

The A.E.G. D.I was the first single seat fighter to be produced by A.E.G., and wasn't a great success with a small production contract being cancelled after two prototypes had crashed.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

355th Fighter Group (USAAF)

The 355th Fighter Group (USAAF) operated with the Eighth Air Force, flying bomber escort, fighter sweeps and ground attack missions.

354th Fighter Group (USAAF)

The 354th Fighter Group (USAAF) served with the Ninth Air Force from 1943 to the end of the Second World War, taking part in the D-Day campaign, the campaign in north-west Europe, Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.

353rd Fighter Group (USAAF)

The 353rd Fighter Group (USAAF) served with the Eighth Air Force, providing bomber escorts, flying ground attack missions and protecting troop transports.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

USS Drayton (DD-23)

USS Drayton (DD-23) was a Paulding class destroyer that took part in the US intervention in Mexico, and then served from Queenstown and Brest during the First World War.

USS Paulding (DD-22)

USS Paulding (DD-22) was the name class of the Paulding class of destroyers. She took part in the US intervention in Mexico, served from Queenstown after American entered the First World War then served with the Coast Guard 'Rum Patrol'.

Friday, February 12, 2016

General Jean-Etienne Championnet (1762-1800)

General Jean-Etienne Championnet (1762-1800) was a French general who fought on the Rhine in 1795-7, conquered the mainland part of the Kingdom of Naples but who fell foul of political intrigue and died while attempting to save the Italian position in Italy in 1799-1800.

General Jacques-Antoine, baron de Chambarlhac de Laubespin (1754-1826)

General Jacques-Antoine, baron de Chambarlhac de Laubespin (1754-1826) was a French general best known for his performance in Italy under Napoleon.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

The Norman Campaigns in the Balkans 1081-1108, Georgios Theotokis .

The Norman Campaigns in the Balkans 1081-1108, Georgios Theotokis
Having established themselves in the south of Italy and on Sicily, the Normans then turned east and began a series of attacks on the Byzantine Empire. This book traces their land campaigns in the Balkans, where they came up against Alexius I Comnenus. Over several campaigns both sides showed an impressive ability to adapt to circumstances and their opponents.
[read full review]

Japanese Battleships 1897-1945 - A Photographic Archive, R A Burt .

Japanese Battleships 1897-1945 - A Photographic Archive, R A Burt
Looks at the battleships, battlecruisers and some of the heavy armoured cruisers that served with the Japanese navy between the purchase of the two Fuji class ships from Britain in the 1890s to its destruction in 1945. A splendid selection of photographs that trace the evolution of these warships, both from ship-to-ship and after the major reconstructions carried out on many First World War era Japanese ships.
[read full review]

Despatches from the Front: The War at Sea in the Mediterranean 1940-1944, compiled John Greham & Martin Mace.

Despatches from the Front: The War at Sea in the Mediterranean 1940-1944, compiled John Greham & Martin Mace
A selection of official dispatches describing a series of Royal Navy engagements in the Mediterranean, covering famous successes such at the attack on Taranto, the costly convoy battles and the less familiar defeat in the Dodecanese in 1943. A valuable source that tells us what the Navy thought of its own actions at the time, including interesting suggestions for improvements.
[read full review]

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Char Léger FCM-36

The Char Léger FCM-36 was the first diesel powered tank produced in France, but only 100 were built due to the high cost of production.

Char Léger Renault R35

The Char Léger Renault R35 was the most numerous French infantry tank in 1940, but it was outclassed by most German tanks and was mainly used in infantry support units scattered along the entire front line.

Tuesday, February 09, 2016

Deryclidas (fl.411-394 BC)

Deryclidas (fl.411-394 BC) was a Spartan general best known for his campaigns against the Persians during the Spartan-Persian War (400-387 BC).

Demaratus (fl.510-480 BC)

Demaratus (fl.510-480 BC) was a king of Sparta best known for serving as an advisor to Xerxes I of Persia during his invasion of Greece in 480 BC. His co-ruler, Cleomenes I, was firmly anti-Persian, and this resulted in tension between the two men.

Monday, February 08, 2016

A.E.G. C.VIII

The A.E.G. C.VIII was an experimental entry in the A.E.G. C series and was produced with two different wing configurations, one biplane and one triplane.

A.E.G. C.VII

The A.E.G. C.VII was an experimental entry in the A.E.G. C series and was produced with two different wing configurations.

Friday, February 05, 2016

Paulding class destroyers

The Paulding class destroyers were the first US destroyers to be powered by oil instead of coal, and were thus the oldest not to be scrapped at the end of the First World War.

USS Reid (DD-21)

USS Reid (DD-21) was a Smith class destroyer that served from the Azores in 1917 and then from Brest from October 1917 until the end of the First World War.

Wednesday, February 03, 2016

Tuesday, February 02, 2016

Warships after Washington - The Development of the Five Major Fleets 1922-1930, John Jordan.

Warships after Washington - The Development of the Five Major Fleets 1922-1930, John Jordan
Looks at the impact of the Washington Naval Treaty on the development of the British, American, Japanese, French and Italian fleets and the types of ships designed and built during the 1920s. Fills a gap in the literature on warship development, and helps explain the 'why' of interwar ship design, as well as looking at the successes and failures of the treaty.
 [read full review]

The Funny Side of War for the Sick and Demented, Mat Vance.

The Funny Side of War for the Sick and Demented, Mat Vance
 An unvarnished account of the experiences of a US Army Scout who served during the war in Iraq, but focusing on the more light-hearted (for a certain definition of light-hearted) aspects of his service career. The stories ring true, although it is unusual to find an author willing to put himself at the centre of quite so many escapades. Provides a different point of view of life in the modern US military, and thus a valuable work.
[read full review]

Images of War: The Few - Preparation for the Battle of Britain, Philip Kaplan.

Images of War: The Few - Preparation for the Battle of Britain, Philip Kaplan
Covers a wider period that the title might make you expect, from the pre-war period to the point where the Luftwaffe switched from attacks on airfields to the attack on London. Has a different feel to other books on the topic, including poetry and a focus on the terrible strain suffered at the airfields subjected to heaviest attack and by the pilots themselves.
[read full review]

Monday, February 01, 2016

AMX R 40

The AMX R 40 was an improved version of the Renault R35, the most numerous French tank in 1940.

AMX 38

The AMX 38 was a medium tank produced by the recently nationalised tank production branch of Renault, but that didn't see combat in 1940.