Friday, June 30, 2017
Battle of the Tolenus or Liris River (11 June 90 BC)
The battle of the Tolenus or Liris River (11 June 90 BC)
was a victory for the Italian rebels in which they killed the consul
Publius Rutilius Lupus, although Marius, who was serving under him,
partly restored the situation.
Siege of Acerrae (90 BC)
The siege of Acerrae (90 BC) saw
the Italian rebels defeat a series of Roman attempts to lift the
siege, but frustratingly we don't actually know how it ended.
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Battle of the Mareth Line (20-26 March 1943)
The battle of the Mareth Line (20-26 March 1943)
was the Eighth Army's last major setpiece battle in North Africa, and
saw Montgomery force the Germans and Italians to retreat from their
last significant defensive position in southern Tunisia.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Consolidated PT-2
The Consolidated PT-2
was a single example of a PT-1 that was powered by the same Wright J-5
engine that was used in the Navy's Consolidated NY family.
Consolidated PT-1 'Trusty'
The Consolidated PT-1 'Trusty' was an excellent training aircraft that laid the foundations for the Consolidated Aircraft Company.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Heavy Assault Tank, A39, Tortoise
The Heavy Assault Tank, A39, Tortoise
was one of the largest armoured vehicles produced in Britain during
the Second World War, and proved to be surprisingly reliable, but at
the same time utterly impractical.
Shelled Area Infantry Tank A20
The Shelled Area Infantry Tank A20
was a heavy tank designed to operate in the muddy no-mans-land that
might have developed between the Maginot and Siegfried Lines, but that
was cancelled due to a combination of its own poor performance and the
German blitzkrieg of 1940.
Monday, June 26, 2017
USS Ludlow (DD-112/ DM-10)
USS Ludlow (DD-112/ DM-10)
was a Wickes class destroyer that served with the Atlantic Fleet in
1919-20 and the Pacific Fleet in 1921-29, after being converted into a
light mine layer in 1920.
USS Ingraham (DD-111/ DM-9)
USS Ingraham (DD-111/ DM-9)
was a Wickes class destroyer that carried out one cruise to Europe and
then operated as a mine layer at Pearl Harbor in 1921-22.
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Canaris - the Life and Death of Hitler's Spymaster, Michael Mueller
A biography of one of the most intriguing and mysterious figures in
the German hierarchy during the Second World War, at the same time head
of Hitler's military intelligence service and an early plotter against
the Fuhrer, a man of uncertain loyalties and motives who had a
distinguished naval career during the First World War, before getting
drawn into the murky world of the far right in post-war Germany. Gives
us a good idea of what Canaris actually did, but as the author admits,
the why will probably remain a mystery
[read full review]
[read full review]
Warfare in Tenth-Century Germany, David S. Bachrach.
A look at warfare under Henry I and Otto I, two of the most successful of the medieval Kings of Germany, and argues convincingly that warfare during their reign was both more professional and carried out on a larger scale than many historians are willing to admit. Makes an excellent use of a wide range of sources to paint a picture of a sophisticated kingdom, capable of maintaining large armies, and carrying out operations across much of central and southern Europe, including a series of expeditions across the Alps.
[read full review]
Air Raids on South-West Essex in the Great War, Alan Simpson
Looks at the impact of German air raids on the north-eastern suburbs
of London, which at the time into south-west Essex, and on the rural
approaches to the city. Despite the sub-title the book covers both the
Zeppelin raids and the later aircraft raids. As well as looking at the
raids themselves, the author also follows the British response, both on
the ground and in the air, to provide a useful snapshot of the 'first
blitz'.
[read full review]
[read full review]
Friday, June 23, 2017
Combat of Geiersberg (10 September 1813)
The combat of Geiersberg (10 September 1813)
saw Napoleon get into a position from where he could attack the
Prussian and Russian contingents of the Army of Bohemia, but then
decide not to risk a descent into Bohemia.
Treaty of Teplitz (9 September 1813)
The treaty of Teplitz (9 September 1813)
saw Austria formally join the Sixth Coalition, although she had been
at war with France since mid-August, and had already fought and lost
the major battle of Dresden.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Siege of Aesernia (90 BC)
The siege of Aesernia (90 BC)
was a success for the Italian allies, and saw them capture the Latin
colony of Aesernia after a lengthy siege (Italian Social War).
Battle near Grumentum (90 BC)
The battle near Grumentum (90 BC) was an setback suffered by the Romans in Lucania early in the Social War.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Battle of Medenine (6 March 1943)
The battle of Medenine (6 March 1943)
was Rommel's last offensive in Africa, and was an unsuccessful attempt
to disrupt the Eighth Army's preparations for their upcoming attack on
the Mareth Line, the main Axis defensive position in southern Tunisia.
Operation Ochenskopf (Oxhead) (26 February-19 March 1943)
Operation Ochenskopf (Oxhead) (26 February-19 March 1943)
was a minor German offensive in northern Tunisia, carried out at the
expense of Rommel's more promising assault on the Kasserine Pass.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Boulton Paul P.123
The Boulton Paul P.123
was a design for a radio guided surface-to-surface missile, produced
to fill a gap between the entry into service of the post-war 'V'
bombers.
Boulton Paul P.122
The Boulton Paul P.122 was a design for a rocket powered interceptor, designed in response to Specification F.124T.
Monday, June 19, 2017
Infantry Tank, Valiant, A38
The Infantry Tank, Valiant, A38,
was an improved version of the Valentine infantry tank, but by the
time the prototypes were ready there was no longer any need to it, and
work stopped in 1945.
Heavy Assault Tank A33 (Excelsior)
The Heavy Assault Tank A33 (Excelsior)
was a design for a heavier version of the Cromwell A27M and was
produced when the Churchill infantry tank appeared to be a failure.
Sunday, June 18, 2017
In the Name of Lykourgos – The Rise and Fall of the Spartan Revolutionary Movement 243-146BC, Miltiadis Michalopoulos.
Looks at the last desperate attempts to restore the power of Sparta, nearly a century and a half after her defeat at Leuctra was followed by a collapse of Spartan power. Three Spartan rulers, Agis IV, Cleomenes III and Nabis, made revolutionary attempts to increase the power of the Spartan army and to return Spartan society to a perceived golden age, but these efforts ended in military defeat, occupation and eventually permanent conquest by the Romans.
[read full review]
Menus, Munitions & Keeping the Peace – The Home Front Diaries of Gabrielle West, 1914-1917, ed. Avalon Weston.
The wartime diaries of Gabrielle West, following her as she worked in (and set up) various canteens scattered around military hospitals the vast wartime armaments industry, before a chance of career saw her become a paid wartime Woman Police Office, serving in munitions factories. Provides a fascinating view of the munitions industry, and a very different view of the Home Front to any other I've read
[read full review]
The Seleukid Empire of Antiochus III 223-187 BC, John D. Grainger
Looks at the life and achievements of Antiochus III, one of the most
successful of the Seleukid Emperors, but now best remembered for his
defeats at the hands of the Romans. During a long reign he regained
control of most areas that had been claimed by his predecessors,
defeated the Ptolomies, secured most of Asia Minor, but overstretched
himself with an invasion of Thrace and his activities in mainland
Greece, which helped trigger the clash with Rome.
[read full review]
[read full review]
Friday, June 16, 2017
USS Hart (DD-110/ DM-8)
USS Hart (DD-110/ DM-8) was a Wickes class destroyer that operated in the Far East during the 1920s.
USS Crane (DD-109)
USS Crane (DD-109)
was a Wickes class destroyer that entered service too late for the
First World War, but that served with the Neutrality Patrol and off the
US West Coast during the Second World War.
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Combat of Dohna (8 September 1813)
The combat of Dohna (8 September 1813) was a minor French victory over the troops of Barclay de Tolly, then advancing up the left bank of the Elbe towards Dresden.
Combat of Dahme (7 September 1813)
The combat of Dahme (7 September 1813) saw Allied troops capture 3,200 French prisoners in the aftermath of the battle of Dennewitz.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Italian Social war (91-88 BC)
The Italian Social war (91-88 BC)
was a conflict between Rome and her Italian allies, triggered by the
refusal of the Romans to give their allies Roman citizenship, and with
it a say in the government of the empire that the allies had helped
create and defend.
Battle of Kasserine Pass (19-22 February 1943)
The battle of Kasserine Pass (19-22 February 1943)
was Rommel's final success in North Africa, and saw the inexperienced
Americans suffer a heavy defeat at the hands of the Germans.
Operation Morgenluft (16-18 February 1943)
Operation Morgenluft (16-18 February 1943)
was Rommel's contribution to a joint operation with von Arnim's Fifth
Panzer Army, and saw his forces expel the Americans from Gafsa and then
advance north to Kasserine.
Monday, June 12, 2017
Boulton Paul P.121
The Boulton Paul P.121 was a design for a supersonic fighter that was produced with fixed or variable sweep wings.
Boulton Paul P.120
The Boulton Paul P.120
was a modified version of the delta winged P.111, briefly used to test
an all-moving horizontal tail, before being lost in a crash.
Friday, June 09, 2017
TOG II Heavy Tank
The TOG II Heavy Tank
was the second design produced by a group of First World War tank
experts in 1940-41, and was a more modern looking vehicle than the TOG
I, carrying its main gun in a large turret.
TOG I Heavy Tank
The TOG I Heavy Tank
was a design for a massive tank that was developed by a group of tank
experts from the First World War. Despite several years of effort and
tests on the sole prototype very little came of their efforts.
Thursday, June 08, 2017
USS Williams (DD-108)
USS Williams (DD-108)
was a Wickes class destroyer that was completed too late for service
in the First World War, but that saw extensive use as a convoy escort
as HMCS St. Clair during the Second World War.
USS Hazelwood (DD-107)
USS Hazelwood (DD-107)
was a Wickes class destroyer that served in the Mediterranean just
after the First World War, off the US West Coast in the early 1920s, and
as a training ship in the second half of the 1920s.
Wednesday, June 07, 2017
Battle of Dennewitz (6 September 1813)
The battle of Dennewitz (6 September 1813) was a French defeat that ended Napoleon's second attempt to take Berlin during the autumn campaign of 1813.
Combat of Zahna (5 September 1813)
The combat of Zahna (5 September 1813)
was a French success during Marshal Ney's attempt to capture Berlin,
but on the following day Ney suffered a defeat at Dennewitz and was
forced to abandon the attempt.
Tuesday, June 06, 2017
Sunday, June 04, 2017
'Allies are a Tiresome Lot' - The British Army in Italy in the First World War, John Dillon.
Looks at the experience of the British Italian Expeditionary Force, sent to support the Italian war effort in the aftermath of their defeat at Caporetto. Organised by theme, covering topics such as morale, discipline, relations with the Italians and how these all impacted on the two main British battles in Italy, one defensive battle and their participation in the battle of Vittorio Veneto. An interesting study of a less familiar part of the British war effort
[read full review]
1 Group Bomber Command - An Operational Record, Chris Ward with Greg Harrison and Grzegorz Korcz
Split into two halves – a narrative account of the Group's activities within Bomber Command and a reference section covering each squadron and its aircraft. The narrative takes us day-by-day through the Group's main raids, including losses and a look at the success or failure of the raids. A useful reference work, and also a sobering reminder of the scale of losses suffered by Bomber Command throughout the war.
[read full review]
The Vikings and their Enemies: Warfare in Northern Europe 750-1100, Philip Line.
Looks at who the Vikings were, how and why their fought and how they compared to their neighbours and victims. Does a good job of dealing with the limited sources, which were either written by the Viking's victims, or produced in Scandinavia centuries after the events they portray. Makes good use of contemporary accounts of warfare elsewhere in Europe, and the limited reliable sources for the Vikings, to produce a detailed picture of their military world
[read full review]
Friday, June 02, 2017
Supermarine Type 545
The Supermarine Type 545 was a design for a jet fighter to replace the Supermarine Swift.
Supermarine Swift
The Supermarine Swift
was the first British swept wing jet to enter service, the first RAF
aircraft to use power-operated ailerons and the first to be armed with
guided missiles, it served for a fighter for about a year then became a
low level reconnaissance aircraft
Thursday, June 01, 2017
Black Prince Infantry Tank (A43)
The Black Prince Infantry Tank (A43)
was produced in an attempt to mount the 17-pounder anti-tank gun on a
tank that used as many components from the Churchill as possible.
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