Lockheed XRO

The Lockheed XRO was the designation given to one Lockheed Altair, which became the first aircraft with a fully retractable undercarriage to be used by the US Navy.

Lockheed JO

The Lockheed JO was the US Navy’s designation for the Lockheed 12 Electra Junior, a small twin engine transport aircraft.

Forgotten Sacrifice - The Arctic Convoys of World War II, Michael G. Walling

A valuable study of the full story of the Arctic Convoys, looking beyond the most famous of the convoy battles to cover the early almost unopposed sailings, the return trips, the clashes between German and Soviet forces along the Arctic coast and the Soviet contribution to the convoys themselves. Includes many harrowing tales of Arctic survival that reminds us of the human cost of these convoys
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The Third Reich Bravery and Merit Decoration for Eastern Peoples, Rolf Michaelis

A short book that looks at an award originally designed for eastern volunteers not qualified to receive standard German awards, with a brief history of the award (including tracing its development into an award available to German troops serving with Eastern units) and a plates selection that includes pictures of the award, soldiers wearing the reward and the paperwork associated with it
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English Electric Lightning, Martin Derry and Neil Robinson

Very much aimed at the modeller, with an emphasis on paint schemes and liveries. Does include a useful mark-by-mark and unit-by-unit history of the Lightning, which will be of interest to the general aviation enthusiast, as well as a large selection of colour plans of the aircraft, reviews of the various kits available, and an impressive selection of colour photos of the aircraft, which will be of great value to the modeller
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21cm Morser L/12

The 21cm Morser L/12 was the standard German army heavy mortar at the start of the First World War.

21cm Versuchs Morser L/15

The 21cm Versuchs Morser L/15 was Rheinmetall's attempt to produce a 21mm with barrel recoil and a range of over 9,000m, but was rejected favour of its Krupp rival.

USS Mackenzie (DD-175)

USS Mackenzie (DD-175) was a Wickes class destroyer that served with the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Annapolis.

USS Rizal (DD-174/ DM-14)

USS Rizal (DD-174/ DM-14) was a Wickes class destroyer that was funded by the Philippine legislature and spent her active career in Philippine or Asiatic waters.

Siege of Cambrai (11 August-7 October 1595)

The siege of Cambrai (11 August-7 October 1595) saw a Spanish army under the count of Fuentes recapture Cambrai, which had been in French hands since 1581.

Battle of Fontaine-Française (6 June 1595)

The battle of Fontaine-Française (6 June 1595) was a minor clash between Henry IV and a Spanish army that was attempting to secure Dijon for the Catholic League.

Combat of Bejar (20 February 1813)

The combat of Bejar (20 February 1813) was the only direct clash between Wellington’s army and the French during the winter of 1813 and saw an attempt to surprise the British 50th Regiment fail.

Siege of Tafalla (to 11 February 1813)

The siege of Tafalla (to 11 February 1813) was a success for the Spanish guerrilla leader Mina, and saw him force the surrender of the French garrison, after defeating a relief effort.

Defence Logistics in Military History (1 of 4)

Defence Logistics in Military History (1 of 4) - An Analysis: placing the development of logistics into its proper historical context

Stemming the Tide: Officers and Leadership in the British Expeditionary Force 1914, ed. Spencer Jones

A generally positive study of the senior and middle ranking officers of the BEF, covering the main characters at GHQ, the three corps commanders, a selection of division and brigade commanders and finishing with a more general study of battalion and company commanders. Focuses on their pre-war careers, how their experiences prepared them for the trials of 1914 and how they actually coped (Read Full Review)

Marine Corps Tank Battles in the Middle East, Oscar E. Gilbert

Covers a range of types of armoured warfare, from the conventional tank battles of the two Gulf Wars to counter insurgency work in Afghanistan. Paints a picture of a flexible, adaptable and competent armoured force that plays a key part in just about every Marine Corps deployment, despite never being at the top of the pile for funding. Also suggests that the tank can be surprising effective in counter-insurgency work, providing a powerful backup to the infantry
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Trial by Gas - the British Army at the Second Battle of Ypres, George H. Cassar

 Looks at the first use of poisoned gas on the Western Front, and the only major German offensive in the west in 1915, one of the great ‘missed chances’ of the First World War. Very detailed account of the British side of the battle, supported by excellent maps showing the overall progress of the battle. Could do with more on the German point of view, but otherwise excellent(Read Full Review)

Battle of the River Ana (79 BC)

The battle of the River Ana (79 BC) saw Sertorius’s legate L. Hirtuleius defeat and kill M. Domitius Calvinus, the governor of Nearer Spain, somewhere on the River Ana (Sertorian War).

Battle of the Baetis (80 BC)

The battle of the Baetis (80 BC) was one of Sertorius’s first victories in Spain after his return from Africa and marked the start of the long Sertorian War.

Invasion of Sicily (10 July-17 August 1943)

The invasion of Sicily (10 July-17 August 1943) was the first successful Allied invasion of one of the Axis partners, and helped secure Allied control of the Mediterranean as well as helping to trigger the fall of Mussolini.

Lockheed C-40

The Lockheed C-40 was the Army designation for the Lockheed 12 Electra Junior, and covered a mix of aircraft that had been purchased by the Air Corps and aircraft that were impressed during the Second World War.

Lockheed C-37

The Lockheed C-37 was a single example of the Lockheed 10-A Electra that served with the National Guard Bureau.

21cm Versuchs Morser L/12 (Rheinmetall)

The 21cm Versuchs Morser L/12 (Rheinmetall) was an attempt to produce a heavy mortar with barrel recoil, but it was rejected due to a lack of range.

21cm Versuchs Morser L/10 (Krupp)

The 21cm Versuchs Morser L/10 (Krupp) was an early attempt to produce a mortar with barrel recoil, but was rejected because it lacked the required range.

USS Sproston (DD-173/ DM-13)

USS Sproston (DD-173/ DM-13) was a Wickes class destroyer that served as a light minelayer at Hawaii from 1920-22 before being decommissioned.

USS Anthony (DD-172/ DM-12)

USS Anthony (DD-172/ DM-12) was a Wickes class destroyer that served as a light minelayer from 1920 to 1922, before being decommissioned.

Aisne 1918, David Blanchard

Focuses on the first day of the battle, when a series of weakened British divisions in poor defensive positions were overwhelmed and the Allied line was temporarily broken. Based around a series of regimental histories of the fighting on that first day, followed by a shorter overview of the rest of the battle. Helps explain why the Germans were able to achieve such a dramatic breakthrough on the first day of the battle
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The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale: Cold War Angolan Finale, 1987-1988, Leopold Scholtz

Looks at the final major clash between the South Africans and their Angolan and Cuban opponents in southern Angola during the long Border War. Largely written from the South African point of view (mainly due to the available sources), but with an attempt to be fair to the Angolans and Cubans. Mainly focuses on the detailed events of the battle, and supported by detailed maps and an impressive collection of photographs
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Wings over Ogaden: The Ethiopian-Somali War 1978-79, Tom Cooper

Covers one of the more obscure battles of the late 20th Century, where even some of the major units commanders are still unknown. This was an unusual conflict, where both combatants changed their allegiance in the Cold War before or during the conflict, but at the start it was a clash between Western and Soviet aircraft and training methods, with the previously Western backed Ethiopians coming out on top on both counts
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Action of Aumale or of the Bresle (3 February 1592)

The action of Aumale or of the Bresle (3 February 1592) was a minor skirmish during the duke of Parma’s successful attempt to raise the siege of Rouen, notable as the only time Henry IV of France was wounded during his military career.

Siege of Rouen (11 November 1591-20 April 1592)

The siege of Rouen (11 November 1591-20 April 1592) was an unsuccessful attempt by Henry IV to gain control of Normandy and the Seine below Paris.

Combat of San Munoz (17 November 1812)

The combat of San Munoz (17 November 1812) was a rearguard action towards the end of Wellington's retreat from Burgos back to Portugal.

Combat of Alba de Tormes (10-11 November 1812)

The combat of Alba de Tormes (10-11 November 1812) saw the British repel an attempt by Soult to capture the bridge over the Tormes at Alba de Tormes, and forced the French to cross the Tormes further from Wellington's position north of Salamanca.

Sertorian War (80-72 BC)

The Sertorian War (80-72 BC) was the last stand of the Marian faction after their defeat in Italy during Sulla’s Second Civil War and saw Quintus Sertorius hold out in Spain for over a decade before finally being defeated by Pompey and Metellus Pius.

Operation Ladbroke (9-10 July 1943)

Operation Ladbroke (9-10 July 1943) was a British airborne operation which captured the Ponte Grande bridge on the southern approach to Syracuse, despite a rather scattered landing.

Operation Husky No.1 (9 July 1943)

Operation Husky No.1 (9 July 1943) was an American airborne operation designed to occupy key areas of high ground inland from the American beaches on Sicily.

Lockheed C-36

The Lockheed C-36 was the military designation for the Lockheed 10 Electra, and covered three aircraft ordered by the Army Air Corps and more aircraft impressed by the USAAF during the Second World War.

Lockheed XC-35 'Electra'

The Lockheed XC-35 'Electra' was an experimental aircraft used for tests with pressurized cabins.

Britain Goes to War - How the First World War Began to Reshape the Nation, ed. Peter Liddle

Covers a very wide range of topics, starting with a focus on the early months of the war, moving on to a series of topics that cover the entire period and ending with a look at some of the sources available for the study of the war. Made up of articles produced for a conference at Weetwood Halls, Leeds, so produced by a wide range of experts, thus explaining the wide range of articles and the unusual topics
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Green Leader, Ian Pringle

Looks at the destruction of two civilian airliners by ZIPRA and the Rhodesian military reaction, in particular to the first of those attacks. Perhaps overplays the significance of these events in helping Robert Mugabe into power, given that the ZIPRA leader Nkomo still gained 80% of the vote in the heartland of his support, but does provide an interesting narrative of the Rhodesian attacks
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The Battle of Britain, Kate Moore

Differs from most books on the topic by dedicating half of its length to the background to the battle - the nature of the two air forces, the aircraft they used, their organisation at the start of the battle, and the German victories of 1939-40 and the role of air power in them. Then moves on to a good but fairly standard account of the battle, supported by eyewitness accounts and pictures from the Imperial War Museum archives
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21cm Morser (M1899)

The 21cm Morser (M1899) was the first modern steel mortar to see service with the German Army and was still in use at the outbreak of the First World War.

9cm Feldkanone C/73/91

The 9cm Feldkanone C/73/91 was an obsolete field gun that saw use with replacement and reserve field artillery battalions during the First World War.

USS Burns (DD-171/ DM-11)

USS Burns (DD-171/ DM-11) was a Wickes class destroyer that was converted into a light minelayer and was based at Pearl Harbor during her ten year long service career.

USS Kalk (DD-170)

USS Kalk (DD-170) was a Wickes class destroyer that served with the Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy as HMS Hamilton.

Siege of Paris (7 May-30 August 1590)

The siege of Paris (7 May-30 August 1590) was Henry IV’s most serious attempt to capture his capital, but had to be lifted after a Spanish relief army approached under the duke of Parma (Ninth War of Religion).

Battle of Ivry (14 March 1590)

The battle of Ivry (14 March 1590) was Henry IV’s second battlefield victory over the forces of the Catholic League, and allowed Henry to launch his second and longest siege of Paris (Ninth War of Religion).

Combat of Puente Larga (30 October 1812)

The combat of Puente Larga (30 October 1812) was a rearguard action during Hill's retreat from Madrid, and helped win time for the Allies to evacuate Madrid and escape across the mountains to the north-west without difficulty.

Combat of Villa Muriel (25 October 1812)

The combat of Villa Muriel (25 October 1812) saw the French cross the Carrion River at Villa Muriel and Palencia, ending Wellington's attempt to hold the river and forcing him to resume the retreat from Burgos.