Battle near Utica (81 BC)

The battle near Utica (81 BC) was a victory for a Sullan army led by the young Pompey over a Marian army led by Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus.

Siege of Cirta (112 BC)

The siege of Cirta (112 BC) saw Jugurtha win a brief Numidian civil war, but his actions after the fall of the city provoked a Roman intervention, which eventually ended his reign (Jugurthine War)

Battle of Kwajalein (1-4 February 1944)

The battle of Kwajalein (1-4 February 1944) saw the Americans capture the largest island in Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands after only four days of land fighting. 

Occupation of Chauncey Island (31 January-2 February 1944)

The occupation of Chauncey Island (31 January-2 February 1944) began with an accidental landing on the island at the start of the invasion of Kwajalein, and was completed two days later.

42cm kurze Marinekanone 14 L/12 in Räderlafette (Short Naval Cannon 14 L/12), M-Gerät or 'Big Bertha'

The 42cm kurze Marinekanone 14 L/12 in Räderlafette (Short Naval Cannon 14 L/12), M-Gerät or 'Big Bertha' was a massive 420mm howitzer that played a major part in the German victories early in the First World War, but that slowly faded from significance as the war developed.

42cm kurze Marinekanon 12 or Gamma-Gerät

The 42cm kurze Marinekanon 12 or Gamma-Gerät was a very heavy siege howitzer that was potentially very effective, but that took too long to prepare for use, and as a result was less effective than the slightly lighter but more mobile M-Gerät.

USS Elliot (DD-146/ DMS-4/ AG-104)

USS Elliot (DD-146/ DMS-4/ AG-104) was a Wickes class destroyer that served as a minesweeper around Hawaii, and in the Aleutians, then served as a training ship for the rest of the Second World War.

USS Greer (DD-145)

USS Greer (DD-145) was a Wickes class destroyer that became famous as the first US warship to attack an Axis warship, several months before the official American entry into the Second World War.

Combat of Villagarcia (11 April 1812)

The combat of Villagarcia (11 April 1812) was a clash between Drouet's 'corps of observation', watching the third siege of Badajoz, and a British cavalry force.

Third British siege of Badajoz (16 March-6 April 1812)

The third British siege of Badajoz (16 March-6 April 1812) finally saw the city fall to Wellington's troops after two previous attacks had failed. However the final storm of the city was terribly costly, and was followed by a brutal sack that was one of the darkest incidents in the history of the British army.

Siege of Norba (82 BC)

The siege of Norba (82 BC) was a minor incident during Sulla's Second Civil War, and saw the town hold out against Sulla's forces for some time after the anti-Sullan forces had been destroyed at the battle of the Colline Gate.

Siege of Nola (to 80 BC)

The siege of Nola (to 80 BC) was an intermittent Roman attempt to recapture the city after it fell to the Samnites during the Social War, not ended until after Sulla's Second Civil War.

Occupation of Cecil Island (31 January 1944)

The occupation of Cecil Island (31 January 1944) was one of the first steps in the invasion of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, and was achieved only after a false landing on the wrong island (Operation Flintlock).

Occupation of Carter Island (31 January 1944)

The occupation of Carter Island (31 January 1944) was one of the first steps in the invasion of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands (Operation Flintlock).

Bell X-14

The Bell X-14 was a jet powered VTOL aircraft that was used extensively for tests and experiments between 1957 and 1981

Bell X-5

The Bell X-5 was an experimental swept wing aircraft inspired by the wartime Messerschmitt P.1011.

30.5cm schwerer Küstenmörser 09/ Beta-Gerät 09

The 30.5cm schwerer Küstenmörser 09/ Beta-Gerät 09 was the second in a series of very heavy German guns designed to deal with strong French and Belgian fortifications, and was developed alongside the more famous 42cm gamma-gerät.

30.5cm schwere Küstenmörser L/8 or Beta-Gerät

The 30.5cm schwere Küstenmörser L/8 or Beta-Gerät was the first in a series of designs that eventually produced the famous 'Big Bertha' howitzers that played a part in the early German victories in 1914.

Wellington’s Headquarters – The Command & Administration of the British Army during the Peninsular War, S.G.P. Ward

A classic history of the administrative side of Wellington’s army in the Peninsular War, looking at the systems involved, the people who made them work and their relationship with the duke of Wellington. Demonstrates that Wellington largely worked within the existing system (even to the extent of not having much control of the staff officers under his command), while moulding it to suit his individual method of command
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Taranto 1940 - The Fleet Air Arm's precursor to Pearl Harbor, Angus Konstam

A useful account of the Fleet Air Arm's most dramatic achievement of the Second World War, sinking three Italian battleships in harbour at Taranto a year before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. A good text that covers the complex series of wider operations that accompanied the raid on Taranto, along with a detailed account of the attack, and supported by some particularly useful 3D maps of the attack itself
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The Frost Weeds, Vietnam: 1964-1965, James Oliveri

The memoirs of a conscripted radio operator who served in Vietnam just before the start of the main American intervention. The period and the nature of his work means that we thus get an account of the attempts to cooperate with the South Vietnamese, as well as tales of life in the isolated bases scattered across remote areas of the country. A useful memoir that covers a less familiar period of the war
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USS Upshur (DD-144)

USS Upshur (DD-144) was a Wickes class destroyer that served as a convoy escort ship in the Atlantic for most of the Second World War, and then as a plane guard and target ship in 1944-45.

USS Yarnall (DD-143)/ HMS Lincoln

USS Yarnall (DD-143)/ HMS Lincoln was a Wickes class destroyer that served with the Neutrality Patrol then joined the Royal Navy for convoy escort duties, before ending up as a source of spare parts for the Soviet Navy.

Johann Joseph Wenzel Graf Radetzky von Radetz (1766-1858)

Johann Joseph Wenzel Graf Radetzky von Radetz (1766-1858) was one of the most significant Austrian generals of the Napoleonic Wars, and went on to extend the Austrian presence in Italy by two decades after his victory at Novara in 1849.

Friedrich Josias, Graf von Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, 1737-1815,

Friedrich Josias, Graf von Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, 1737-1815, was the Austrian commander in the early stages of the Revolutionary Wars, but his early victories are often ignored because the campaign ended with the loss of the Austrian Netherlands.

Battle of the Colline Gate (1 November 82 BC)

The battle of the Colline Gate (1 November 82 BC) saw a largely Samnite army come dangerously close to capturing Rome, taking advantage of the distraction caused by Sulla's Second Civil War.

Second battle of Clusium (82 BC)

The second battle of Clusium (82 BC) saw Pompey defeat the remnants of the army of the consul Carbo, after they had been abandoned by their commander (Sulla's Second Civil War).

Cccupation of Carlos Island (31 January 1944)

The occupation of Carlos Island (31 January 1944) was part of the preliminary operations before the invasion of Kwajalein, and saw the Americans capture an island that they intended to use as a supply dump to support the artillery on nearby Carlson Island.

Occupation of Carlson Island (31 January 1944)

The occupation of Carlson Island (31 January 1944) was part of the preliminary operations before the invasion of Kwajalein, and saw the Americans capture an island that they intended to use as an artillery base during the main battle (Operation Flintlock).

Bell X-2

The Bell X-2 was an experimental swept-wing rocket plane that was designed to explore the effects of flying at very high speeds above Mach 3, but both aircraft were lost before any significant work had been done

Bell X-1

The Bell X-1 was an experimental rocket powered aircraft that was the first to breach the sound barrier in level flight.

U-Boats Beyond Biscay - Dönitz Looks to New Horizons, Bernard Edwards

An account of selected exploits of the U-Boats operating away from the normal North Atlantic battle, looking at 1941-January 1943. Starts and ends at somewhat random points, and lacks much context, but within those limits the accounts of individual U-boat battles are good, with interesting material on the previous experiences of both the U-boats and merchant ships
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With the German Guns - Four Years on the Western Front, Herbert Sulzbach

The First World War diaries of a German war volunteer who went on to serve in the British Army during the Second World War. Sulzbach served in the artillery on the Western Front from 1914-1918, and took part in the great German offensives of 1918 as well as the final retreat. His diaries are thus an invaluable insight into the views of a reasonable, tolerant member of the German arms forces
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Germany Ascendant – The Eastern Front 1915, Prit Buttar

Covers the key year on the Eastern Front of the First World War, a year that saw the Russians briefly threaten to invade Hungary, but ended with them pushed out of Poland, away from East Prussia and out of most of Austrian Galicia, after a series of battles that also established Germany's dominance over Austria. This was also the year in which the Central Powers successfully invaded Serbia, thus achieving Austro-Hungary's original war aim
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30.5cm howitzer L/17 in Räderlafette or Beta i.R.

The 30.5cm howitzer L/17 in Räderlafette or Beta i.R. was the first large calibre siege gun mounted on a wheeled carriage to be developed for the Germany army.

28cm Haubitz L/14 in Räderlafette

The 28cm Haubitz L/14 in Räderlafette was a larger version of the earlier 28cm Haubitz L/12, and was another step in the development of the famous 42cm M-Gerät.

USS Tarbell (DD-142)

USS Tarbell (DD-142) was a Wickes class destroyer that served with the Neutrality Patrol and then on convoy escort duties in the Atlantic for most of the Second World War.

USS Hamilton (DD-141/ DMS-18/ AG-111)

USS Hamilton (DD-141/ DMS-18/ AG-111) was a Wickes class destroyer that served with the Neutrality Patrol, took part in Operation Torch, and then carried out dangerous pre-invasion minesweeping operations during many of the key invasions of the Pacific War.

Johannes Joseph, Fürst zu Lichtenstein (1760-1836)

Johannes Joseph, Fürst zu Lichtenstein (1760-1836) was an Austrian cavalry commander who performed well in most of Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, before retiring after the defeat at Wagram.

Maximilian, Graf Baillet von Latour (1737-1806)

Maximilian, Graf Baillet von Latour (1737-1806) was an Austrian commander who served under the Archduke Charles on the Rhine front in 1796.

Battle of Placentia (82 BC)

The battle of Placentia (82 BC) saw the Sullan commander Marcus Lucullus defeat a Marian army in the Po Valley, helping to end their command of Cisalpine Gaul.

Battle of Faventia (82 BC)

The battle of Faventia (82 BC) saw the total failure of an attempt by Carbo to launch a surprise attack on Sulla's commander in the north of Italy, Metellus Pius. Soon afterwards Carbo gave up the fight and fled to Africa, leaving the Marian cause almost leaderless in Italy (Sulla's Second Civil War).

Operation Flintlock (31 January-4 February 1944)

Operation Flintlock (31 January-4 February 1944) was the first part of the American invasion of the Marshalls, and saw them conquer Kwajalein Atoll and Majuro, giving them a foothold in the central part of the islands.

Marshall Islands Campaign (31 January-22 February 1944)

The Marshall Islands Campaign (31 January-22 February 1944) was the first time that the Americans captured pre-war Japanese territory, and was made up of two main parts - Operation Flintlock, the conquest of Kwajalein and Operation Catchpole, the conquest of Eniwetok.

Hitler's Forgotten Flotillas - Kriegsmarine Security Forces, Lawrence Paterson

Looks at the role played by smaller warships in the German war effort, covering minesweepers, patrol ships, mine layers, submarine hunters and fleet escort ships - the ships that fell between the fast 'E-boats' and larger destroyers and above.  Combines good background information with a clear narrative framework of their activities and a good selection of accounts of individual engagements
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US Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45, Mark Stille

Covers the five classes of US Navy light cruisers that saw service during the Second World War, with sections on their design, weaponry, radar, combat experience. Nicely organised, with the wartime service records separated out from the main text, so that the design history of the light cruisers flows nicely. Interesting to see how new roles had to be found for them, after other technology replaced them as reconnaissance aircraft
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Samurai Assassins - 'Dark Murder' and the Meiji restoration, 1853-1868, Romulus Hillsborough

A fascinating study of one of the darker elements of the crisis that eventually led to the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate and the official restoration of Imperial rule, the use of assassination to eliminate the political supporters of the Shogunate, and later by supporters of the Shogun attempting to defend the status-quo. Somewhat ironically the opponents of the Shogunate got their way, only for the newly restored Imperial government to destroy the feudal world and with it the Samurai class
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Convair X-6

The Convair X-6 was a design for a version of the massive B-36 that would have been powered by nuclear turbojet engines. It was abandoned at an early stage.

Bell L-39

The Bell L-39 was the designation given to two P-63 Kingcobras when they were given experimental swept wings.

10.5cm leFH 18/40

The 10.5cm leFH 18/40 was a wartime version of the leFH 18, produced in an attempt to lighten the otherwise satisfactory light field howitzer.

28cm Haubitz L/12 in Räderlafette

The 28cm Haubitz L/12 in Räderlafette was Krupp's first attempt to produce a mobile siege howitzer, and was an early stage in the development of the 42cm M-Gerät.

USS Claxton (DD-140)/ HMS Salisbury

USS Claxton (DD-140)/ HMS Salisbury was a Wickes class destroyer that briefly served with the Neutrality Patrol in 1940 before joining the Royal Navy, where she was used for a variety of escort duties.

USS Ward (DD-139/ APD-16)

USS Ward (DD-139/ APD-16) was a Wickes class destroyer that fired the first shots of the Pacific War, and served as a fast transport before being sunk by a Kamikaze in 1944.