Friday, April 29, 2016

Medium Tank M1922

The Medium Tank M1922 was a variant of the earlier M1921 adapted to use an experimental cable suspension system.

Medium Tank M1921 (Medium A)

The Medium Tank M1921 (Medium A) was the first new tank design to be built by the US Ordnance department after the First World War, and suffered from a lack of engine power.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Dawn of the Horse Warriors - Chariot and Cavalry Warfare 3000-600BC, Duncan Noble

Dawn of the Horse Warriors - Chariot and Cavalry Warfare 3000-600BC, Duncan Noble
Looks at the history of chariot warfare in the pre-classical world, a period in which chariots were found across a vast area stretching from the edges of the Greek world south to Egypt and all the way to China. Written by an experimental archaeologist who has been involved with reconstructing chariots, and so combines a good use of the ancient sources with an understanding of what was actually possible.
[read full review]

Marching to the Sound of Gunfire - North-West Europe 1944-1945, Patrick Delaforce .

Marching to the Sound of Gunfire - North-West Europe 1944-1945, Patrick Delaforce
Contains hundreds of short first-hands accounts that illustrate aspects of the British Army's battles between D-Day and the end of the Second World War in Europe. Most useful if you are already familiar with the events being described, in which case it helps put the human face on these battles. Also includes a number of passages written by the author himself, who served as a junior officer during the campaign.
 [read full review]

French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861, Rif Winfield & Stephen S. Roberts .

French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861, Rif Winfield & Stephen S. Roberts
 An impressive reference work covering the last major wars of the age of sail, the early years of steam power and the introduction of the Ironclad. Focuses on the design, construction and statistics of the warships, with a brief service history and a look at their fates (often to be captured by the Royal Navy in the earlier part of the book).
[read full review]

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Battle of Olynthus (382 BC)

The battle of Olynthus (382 BC) was a near defeat for a Spartan army that had been sent north to more vigorously conduct the war against Olynthus that had begun earlier in the same year.

Olynthian-Spartan War (382-379 BC)

The Olynthian-Spartan War (382-379 BC) saw the Spartans intervene in northern Greece in an attempt to limit the power of the Chalcidian League.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Ago S.I

The Ago S.I was a single seat ground attack aircraft that was still under development at the end of the First World War.

Ago C.VIII

The Ago C.VIII was a modified version of the unsuccessful Ago C.IV, but with a modified tail and a more powerful 260hp Mercedes D.IVa engine.

Ago C.VII

The Ago C.VII was a modified version of the unsuccessful Ago C.IV reconnaissance aircraft, with a number of structural improvements.

Monday, April 25, 2016

USS Patterson (DD-36)

USS Patterson (DD-36) was a Monaghan class destroyer that took part in the US intervention in Mexico in 1914, was based at Queenstwon for almost a year from June 1917, then operated with a hunter-killed antisubmarine group off the US east coast. After the was she spent several years operating with the US Coast Guard.

USS Ammen (DD-35)

USS Ammen (DD-35) was a Monaghan class destroyer that took part in the US intervention in Mexico in 1914 and was then based at Queenstown, Ireland, during 1917-18. In the 1920s she served with the 'Rum Patrol', before being sold for scrap in 1934.

Friday, April 22, 2016

Engagement of Valjouen (17 February 1814)

The engagement of Valjouen (17 February 1814) was the second of two French victories on the same day that caught Schwarzenberg's Army of Bohemia just as it was preparing to retreat to avoid being caught by Napoleon.

Engagement of Mormant (17 February 1814)

The engagement of Mormant (17 February 1814) saw the French defeat part of the Allied cavalry at the start of Napoleon's most effective attack on Schwarzenberg's Army of Bohemia during the campaign of 1814.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Christie M1931/ Medium Tank T3/ Combat Car T1

The Christie M1931/ Medium Tank T3/ Combat Car T1 was the first of Christie's tanks to be accepted for production by the US Army, and was used in small numbers by the infantry at the Medium Tank T3 and the cavalry as the Combat Car T1.

Christie M1928

The Christie M1928 was the first armoured vehicle to use the famous 'Christie suspension', and was thus the origin of a large number of later tanks.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Trail of Hope - The Anders Army, an Odyssey across Three Continents, Norman Davies.

Trail of Hope - The Anders Army, an Odyssey across Three Continents, Norman Davies
Looks at the epic journey of the Poles who formed the 'Anders Army', a journey that began with brutal exile inside the Soviet Union, the formation of Polish military units after the German attack on the Soviet Union, the move out of Russia and into British hands, the eventual commitment to combat in Poland and the crushing disappointment at the end of the war.
[read full review]

Bushmen Soldiers: The History of 31, 201 & 203 Battalions during the Border War 1974-90, Ian Uys.

Bushmen Soldiers: The History of 31, 201 & 203 Battalions during the Border War 1974-90, Ian Uys
Looks at the history of two battalions of Bushmen soldiers who served with the South Africans during the Border War in Namibia/ South West Africa, after fleeing Angola at the end of Portuguese rule. Somewhat uneven in place, and in need of more background material, this is still an interesting account of a fascinating unit and its men.
[read full review]

Ghosts of the ETO - American Tactical Deception Units in the European Theatre, 1944-1945, Jonathan Gawne

Ghosts of the ETO - American Tactical Deception Units in the European Theatre, 1944-1945, Jonathan Gawne
Mainly looks at the tactical deception unit committed to the fighting in north-western Europe in 1944-45, with a brief look at the second unit sent to Greece. Includes detailed accounts of each of their missions, with an analysis of the lessons learned and the possible impact on the Germans.
 [read full review]

Monday, April 18, 2016

Siege of Phlius (381-380/379 BC

The siege of Phlius (381-380/379 BC) saw the Spartans besiege one of their allies in order to restore the rights of a group of exiled oligarchs, one of a series of heavy handed Spartans interventions in the internal affairs of other Greek cities that came in the aftermath of the end of the Corinthian War.

Siege of Mantinea (385 BC)

The siege of Mantinea (385 BC) saw the Spartans take advantage of their dominant position in Greece after the end of the Corinthian War to attack one of their long standing local rivals and a half-hearted ally in the recent war.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Ago C.IV

The Ago C.IV was an armed reconnaissance aircraft with unusual tapered wings that entered production in 1916 but that was unpopular with its crews and was only produced in small numbers.

Ago C.III

The Ago C.III was a smaller version of the Ago C.I twin boom pusher reconnaissance aircraft.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

USS Walke (DD-34)

USS Walke (DD-34) was a Monaghan class destroyer that served during the US interventions in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, from Queenstown during 1917 and off the US East Coast during 1918.

USS Trippe (DD-33)

USS Trippe (DD-33) was a Monaghan class destroyer that took part in the intervention in Mexico in 1914, then operated from Queenstown during 1917-18 before finishing her active career with the Coast Guard in the late 1920s.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Battle of Vauchamps (14 February 1814)

The battle of Vauchamps (14 February 1814) was the last French victory during Napoleon's 'Six Days campaign', and saw the French defeat Blucher's attempt to block their path south towards Schwarzenberg's Army of Bohemia, which was advancing on the Seine front.

battle of Chateau-Thierry (12 February 1814)

The Battle of Chateau-Thierry (12 February 1814) was one of the great missed chances during Napoleon's defence of France in 1814, but was also a French victory that forced Marshal Blucher to retreat east away from Paris.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Christie Medium Tank M1921

The Christie Medium Tank M1921 was a greatly modified version of the earlier Christie Medium Tank M1919, and was a turretless tank designed to be operate with or without its tracks.

Christie Medium Tank M1919

The Christie Medium Tank M1919 was designed in an attempt to produce a tank that could operate on wheels or tracks, in order to reduce the number of vehicles breaking down before getting into action.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Pelopidas (d.364 BC)

Pelopidas (d.364 BC) was one of the main Theban leaders during his city's brief period of dominance in Greece, after playing a major role in freeing his city from Spartan rule in 379 BC.

Lysander (d.395 BC)

Lysander (d.395 BC) was a Spartan general who was largely responsible for the Athenian defeat in the Great Peloponnesian War, but whose harsh rule helped to trigger a series of revolts against Spartan authority that eventually triggered the Corinthian War and played a part in the decline of Sparta.

Friday, April 08, 2016

RHNS Averoff - Thunder in the Aegean, John Carr.

RHNS Averoff - Thunder in the Aegean, John Carr.
 An unusual ship history in that for most of her existence the Averoff had little military role, but was instead involved in the woeful series of military coups that so blighted Greece. The first half covers the main part of her active military career, and in particular the First Balkan War, the second the period when her officers and crew was more involved in politics than naval matters.
[read full review]

Luftwaffe Mistel Composite Bomber Units, Robert Forsyth .

Luftwaffe Mistel Composite Bomber Units, Robert Forsyth .
Starts with a brief look at the pre-war origins of the idea of guiding one aircraft from another one mounted above it, before moving on to the German development of this into a potentially potent weapon, and finishing with a detailed account of the very limited impact the Mistel weapons actually had in combat (so typical of German wartime weapons programmes).
[read full review]

Aircraft Wrecks The Walker's Guide - Historic Crash Sites on the Moors and Mountains of the British Islands, Nick Wotherspoon, Alan Clark & Mark Sheldon .

Aircraft Wrecks The Walker's Guide - Historic Crash Sites on the Moors and Mountains of the British Islands, Nick Wotherspoon, Alan Clark & Mark Sheldon .
Focuses on sites where there is still something to be found, mainly on areas with public access, spread out across the high ground of Britain and Ireland. Includes accounts of the causes of the crash, the fate of the crew and their passengers, descriptions of the location of the crash sites and what will be found on them.
[read full review]

Wednesday, April 06, 2016

Ago C.II

The Ago C.II was a development of the successful Ago C.I twin-boom pusher, and was produced in several different versions.

Ago C.I

The Ago C.I was a twin-boomed pusher observation aircraft that was the first C-type aircraft to enter service, and that was a moderate success.

Tuesday, April 05, 2016

USS Monaghan (DD-32)

USS Monaghan (DD-32) was the name ship of the Monaghan class of destroyers. She served off the US East Coast and then from Europe during the First World War, and with the Coast Guard in the 1920s.

Monaghan Class Destroyers

The Monaghan Class Destroyers were a virtual repeat of the previous Paulding class, but with Thornycroft boilers in place of the Normand boilers used in the previous class.

Monday, April 04, 2016

365th Fighter Group

The 365th Fighter Group served with the Ninth Air Force, taking part in the D-Day campaign, the advance across France, Operation Market Garden, the battle of the Bulge and the invasion of Germany.

363rd Fighter Group/ 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group (USAAF)

The 363rd Fighter Group/ 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group (USAAF) served with the Ninth Air Force, changing role half way thorough the campaign in north-western Europe.

362nd Fighter Group (USAAF)

The 362nd Fighter Group (USAAF) served with the Ninth Air Force, and took part in the D-Day invasion, the advance across France, the battle of the Bulge and the invasion of Germany.

Friday, April 01, 2016

Battle of Montmirail (11 February 1814)

The battle of Montmirail (11 February 1814) was the second of Napoleon's victories during the Six Days Campaign, and saw him prevent the westernmost part of Marshal Blucher's fighting its way east to rejoin the main army.

Battle of Champaubert (10 February 1814)

The battle of Champaubert (10 February 1814) was the first significant French success during the campaign of 1814, and saw Napoleon defeat an isolated Russian division at the start of his impressive 'Six Day's Campaign'.