Thursday, June 30, 2016

Siege and battle of Corcyra (373-2 BC)

The siege and battle of Corcyra (373-2 BC) saw the defeat of a Spartan attempt to seize control of the Ionian Sea, and triggered a resumption of warfare in the Theban-Spartan or Boeotian War (379-381 BC).

Battle of Tegyra (Spring 375 BC)

The battle of Tegyra (Spring 375 BC) saw an outnumbered Theben defeat a force of Spartan hoplites twice its own size, an early sign that the Thebans were no longer intimidated by the impressive reputation of the Spartans (Theban-Spartan War, 379-371 BC).

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Boulton & Paul P.11/ Type XXI

The Boulton & Paul P.11/ Type XXI was a design for a two-seat amphibian aircraft, produced in response to RAF Specification XXI.

Boulton & Paul P.10

The Boulton & Paul P.10 was the first practical all-metal aircraft to be produced in Britain.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

USS Aylwin (DD-47)

USS Aylwin (DD-47) was a Cassin class destroyer that was used in experimental work in 1917 then operated from Queenstown, Portsmouth and Devonport during the First World War. She inspected German ports after the end of the war, then returned to the US for a brief post-war career.

USS Duncan (DD-46)

USS Duncan (DD-46) was a Cassin class destroyer that served from Queenstown during the First World War.

Monday, June 27, 2016

French campaign of 1814

The French campaign of 1814 saw Napoleon's last great military achievements. Although the campaign ended with an Allied victory and Napoleon's first abdication, he had managed to inflict a series of defeats on the Allied armies invading France in a campaign that recalled his great achievements in Italy at the start of his career, and demonstrated that Napoleon was still very adept at leading small armies.

Friday, June 24, 2016

Medium Tank M3A3

The Medium Tank M3A3 was the main production version of the M3 to use a welded hull in place of the original riveted hull.

Medium Tank M3A2

The Medium Tank M3A2 was the first version of the tank to use a welded hull, but only a handful were built before production moved onto the M3A3.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Medieval Warfare Vol VI, Issue 2: Two Kings Duelling - The War of the Sicilian Vespers .

Medieval Warfare Vol VI, Issue 2: Two Kings Duelling - The War of the Sicilian Vespers .  
Focuses on one of the most important wars in the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages, a clash that helped undermine the political authority of the Holy Roman Emperors, and the moral authority of the Papacy, while also causing devastation in the formerly prosperous areas of southern Italy and Sicily. This was a very varied war, with naval battles, political crusades and even a potential duel between the two original claimants to Sicily. Also looks at the Anarchy, the battle of Shrewsbury and the Anglo-Scottish conflict..
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Medieval Warfare Vol IV Issue 6: The Lombard Invasions: The Loss of Byzantine Italy .

Medieval Warfare Vol IV Issue 6: The Lombard Invasions: The Loss of Byzantine Italy .  
Focuses on the Lombard invasion of Italy and the various failed Byzantine attempts to regain control of the country. Although earlier waves of invaders had been responsible for the collapse of the Western Empire, it was the Lombards who made that loss permanent, defeating a series of Byzantine expeditions to Italy and slowly capturing most of the remaining Byzantine positions across northern Italy..
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Medieval Warfare Vol IV Issue 5: Richard the Lionheart - Mediterranean adventures .

Medieval Warfare Vol IV Issue 5: Richard the Lionheart - Mediterranean adventures .  
Focuses on the adventures of Richard the Lionheart in the Mediterranean, where he campaigned on Sicily and Cyprus before even reaching the Holy Land, then won long lasting fame during his struggle with Saladin. Also looks at arm armour, castles on Cyprus and the evidence for post traumatic stress in the medieval world.
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Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Battle of Alyzeia (June or July 375 BC)

The battle of Alyzeia (June or July 375 BC) saw the Athenians defeat a Spartan fleet that was supporting an attempt to move troops across the Corinthian Gulf into Boeotia (Theban-Spartan or Boeotian War, 379-371 BC).

Battle of Naxos (September 376 BC)

The battle of Naxos (September 376 BC) was the first naval victory won by an official Athenian fleet since the end of the Great Peloponnesian War, and saw a fleet besieging Naxos defeat a Spartan fleet sent to lift the siege.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Boulton & Paul P.7 Bourges

The Boulton & Paul P.7 Bourges was a promising design for a fighter-bomber that was produced in 1918, and disappeared after the end of the First World War.

Boulton & Paul P.3 Bobolink

The Boulton & Paul P.3 Bobolink was the company's first internally designed aircraft, and was produced in response to a competition to replace the Sopwith Camel.

Monday, June 20, 2016

USS Downes (DD-45)

USS Downes (DD-45) was a Cassin class destroyer that was based at Queenstown during the period of American involvement in the First World War and later served with the Coast Guard.

USS Cummings (DD-44)

USS Cummings (DD-44) was a Cassin class destroyer that took part in the US intervention in Mexico in 1914, operated from Queenstown in 1917-1918 and with the Coast Guard in the 1920s.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Marshal Jean Lannes (1769-1809)

Marshal Jean Lannes (1769-1809) was one of Napoleon's most able generals, and probably his closest friend amongst his marshals. His death at Aspern-Essling meant that Napoleon had to fight his later campaigns without one of his most capable subordinates.

General Jean, comte Rapp (1771-1821)

General Jean, comte Rapp (1771-1821) was one of Napoleon's aides and was famous for being wounded repeatedly during a successful military career.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Medium Tank M3A1

The Medium Tank M3A1 was the only version of the Medium Tank M3/ Grant/ Lee to use a cast upper hull.

Medium Tank M3

The Medium Tank M3 was the main production version of the Medium Tank M3/ Grant/ Lee, and used a riveted hull and a Wright air-cooled radial engine. It was used in North Africa in 1942, but was then largely replaced by the M4 Sherman.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Despatches from the Front: The Boer War 1899-1902, John Grehan and Martin Mace.

Despatches from the Front: The Boer War 1899-1902, John Grehan and Martin Mace
A selection of official reports written during the Boer War, giving us a view of the war as seen by the senior British commanders. Most of these accounts are fairly factual, although few of the commanders are willing to accept the blame for their setbacks early in the war. Focuses on the major battles of the war, so is strongest on the first year or so, and less so on the period of guerilla warfare that came after the occupation of the Boer republics.
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The Civil War: The Story of the War with Maps, M. David Detweiler.

The Civil War: The Story of the War with Maps, M. David Detweiler
A useful historical atlas of the American Civil War, focusing on the overview across the entire campaign area, so we see Grant advancing while the fighting is bogged down in the east, or Sherman making progress while Grant is bogged down in the east. Also includes good clear battle maps, all accompanied by an engaging text.
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Apache Warrior 1860-86, Robert N. Watt.

Apache Warrior 1860-86, Robert N. Watt
An interesting look at the Chiricahua Apaches and their twenty five year long struggle against encroaching Americans and Mexicans, ending with the final surrender of Geronimo and Mangus in 1886. Looks at how the Apache trained for conflict, the distinction between war and raiding, and the risk avoidance that dominated Apache planning, supported by a good mix of successful and unsuccessful raids.
[read full review]

Monday, June 13, 2016

Battle of Cithaeron (376 BC)

The battle of Cithaeron (376 BC) was a minor Spartan defeat that prevented them from conducting a fourth invasion of Boeotia in four years (Theban-Spartan War).

Theban campaign of 377 BC

The Theban campaign of 377 BC was the second attempt by King Agesilaus II of Sparta to force Thebes to accept Spartan control, but like his first attempt in the previous year the campaign ended in failure.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Watanabe K8W1 Experimental 12-Shi Primary Seaplane Trainer

The Watanabe K8W1 Experimental 12-Shi Primary Seaplane Trainer was designed to replace the Yokosuka K4Y1 Type 90 Seaplane Trainer, but lost out to a Kawanishi design.

Boeing C-75

The Boeing C-75 was the military designation given to five Model 307 Stratoliners that were commandeered by the USAAF in 1942.

Thursday, June 09, 2016

USS Cassin (DD-43)

USS Cassin (DD-43) was the name ship of the Cassin class of destroyers. She took part in the US intervention in Mexico in 1914, operated from Queenstown during the First World War and then served with the Coast Guard in the 1920s.

Cassin Class Destroyers

The Cassin Class Destroyers were the first of four classes of '1,000 ton' destroyers that weren't popular with the Destroyer community when they first appeared, but that proved their worth during the First World War.

Wednesday, June 08, 2016

The Battle of Marengo, 1800, Olivier Lapray.

The Battle of Marengo, 1800, Olivier Lapray
An account of the battle of Marango told largely from the French point of view, starting with northern Italy back in Austrian hands and tracing Napoleon's successful efforts to restore his earlier conquests. The main strength of this book is the excellent selection of pictures, covering Napoleon's dramatic crossing of the Alps, the advance into Italy, the two armies and the battle itself.
[read full review]

The Normandy Battlefields D-Day and the Bridgehead, Leo Marriott & Simon Forty.

The Normandy Battlefields D-Day and the Bridgehead, Leo Marriott & Simon Forty
A good photographic history of the Normandy invasion, with a good mix of well chosen contemporary and modern photographs of the battlefields. Focuses on the five D-Day beaches and the areas immediately behind them, so each area is covered in some detail. Includes a good set of modern aerial photographs with useful annotations showing key areas of the battlefield and war memorials.
[read full review]

Objectif Cherbourg 22-30 Juin 1944, Georges Bernage.

Objectif Cherbourg 22-30 Juin 1944, Georges Bernage
A heavily illustrated but French language account of the battle for Cherbourg of late June 1944, the one of the first major US victories during the Normandy campaign. Well over half of the book is devoted to an excellent selection of photos and supporting maps, each with useful captions (at least as far as my limited French allows me to tell!).
[read full review]

Tuesday, June 07, 2016

Battle of St. Dizier (26 March 1814)

The battle of St. Dizier (26 March 1814) was Napoleon's last battle during the campaign of 1814, and was a meaningless French victory fought while the main Allied armies were heading for Paris.

Battle of La-Fere-Champenoise (25 March 1814)

The battle of La-Fere-Champenoise (25 March 1814) was a French defeat that signalled the failure of Napoleon's last gamble during the campaign of 1814 and saw Schwarzenberg defeat Marmont and Mortier on the road to Paris.

Monday, June 06, 2016

Medium Tank M3/ Grant/ Lee

The Medium Tank M3/ Grant/ Lee was the first American medium tank to carry a 75mm gun, and played a significant part in the fighting in North Africa in 1942, but it was always seen as a interim design as its main gun was carried in the right of the hull, and it had been rushed into production to fill a gap before the arrival of the Medium Tank M4 Sherman.

Medium Tank M2

The Medium Tank M2 was the first US medium tank to be produced in reasonable numbers, but was already obsolete by the time it entered production in 1939, and was soon replaced by the M3, itself seen as an interim design while work was completed on the M4 Sherman.