Thursday, January 30, 2020

HMS Usk (1903)

HMS Usk (1903) was a River class destroyer that was on the China station at the outbreak of war and took part in the siege of Tsingtau. Late in the year she moved to the Mediterranean, where she spent the rest of the war. She took part in the Gallipoli campaign, supporting the landings at Anzac cove.

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Aeronca L-16 Champion

The Aeronca L-16 Champion was a post-war development of the L-3 Grasshopper, originally intended for use with the National Guard but forced into front line service during the Korean War.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

USS Aulick (DD-258)/ HMS Burnham

USS Aulick (DD-258)/ HMS Burnham was a Clemson class destroyer that was transferred to the Royal Navy under the terms of the destroyers for bases deal. In British and Canadian service she operated on Atlantic convoy escort duties in 1941-43 and as an Air Target Ship in 1944.

Monday, January 27, 2020

HMS Teviot (1903)

HMS Teviot (1903) was a River class destroyer that was attached to the Grand Fleet in 1914, the Portsmouth Escort Flotilla in 1915-17 (escorting troop ships to France), the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla in the autumn and winter of 1917-18 and the First Destroyer Flotilla at Portsmouth for most of 1918.

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Luftwaffe Training Aircraft – The Training of Germany’s Pilots and Aircrew through rare archive photographs, Chris Goss

A comprehensive photographic study of the many types of aircraft used to train the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Good quality pictures and useful captions, but could have done with brief introductions to each aircraft. A good selection of photographs covering a wide range of aircraft, with useful individual captions
(Read Full Review)

Balloons and Airships – A Tale of Lighter Than Air Aviation, Anthony Burton

A rather fun look at the history of lighter than air aviation, going all the way from the earliest experiments with manned balloons, through the early 20th century heyday of the airship and finishing with today’s leasure ballooning and some of the attempts to revive the airship. A fascinating look at the brave pioneers of air flight, and the impact they had on the world. Also includes a look at the balloon at war – in the Franco-Prussian War and American Civil War and the use of the airship during the First World War
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C-130 Hercules - A History, Martin W. Bowman

A look at the impressive career of the C-130 Hercules, one of the most successful military aircraft of all time, cover its six decades of service with the US military, as well its service with Australian, New Zealand and Great Britain, its use as a straightforward transport, as a gunship and in all sorts of specialist roles. A very readable account of the exploits of this remarkable aircraft and its crews
(Read Full Review)

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Boeing L-15 Scout

The Boeing L-15 Scout was an advanced liaison aircraft that used the same basic layout as the wartime ‘Grasshopper’ liaison aircraft, but in a much more radical form.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

USS Welles (DD-257)/ HMS Cameron

USS Welles (DD-257)/ HMS Cameron was a Clemson class destroyer that served with the neutrality patrols after the outbreak of war in 1939 before going to Britain under the Destroyers for Bases deal.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

HMS Ribble (1904)

HMS Ribble (1904) was a River class destroyer that was on the China station at the outbreak of war, but moved to the Mediterranean late in 1914, taking part in the Gallipoli campaign. She remained in the Mediterranean for the rest of the war as part of the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Foundations of an African Civilisation - Aksum and the Northern Horn 1000 BC-AD 1300, David W. Phillipson

Focuses on the Kingdom of Aksum, a major civilisation that thrived in the northern Horn of Africa, with material on the long period before it emerged and the dynasty that followed. A detailed academic study of the kingdom most famous for introducing Christianity to Ethiopia and the earlier rock cut churches, focusing largely on the archaeological evidence. Aksum emerges as a fascinating civilisation, capable of producing some impressive monuments and supporting a sizable population in the area around its capital
(Read Full Review)

French Armoured Cruisers 1887-1932, John Jordan and Philippe Caresse

Looks at a group of ships that when first built posed a real threat to Britain’s naval lines of communication, but that have been largely forgotten because they were seen as badly outdated by the outbreak of the First World War. Includes a great deal of detail of the often complex design process, and some of the best plans of warships I’ve seen. An excellent study of some of the most powerful warships of their time
(Read Full Review)

Carthage’s Other Wars, Dexter Hoyos

Looks at Carthage’s ‘other’ wars, their repeated conflicts against the Greeks of Sicily, the struggles to maintain their position in Africa and the late conquest of Spain. The nature of the surviving sources mean that most of the material covers the wars against the Greeks of Sicily, whose accounts of the fighting have survived, but there is also good material on the wars in North Africa and Spain. Written by an established expert on Carthage, the military narratives are supported by an excellent understanding of the city’s politics
(Read Full Review)

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Stinson/ Convair L-13

The Stinson/ Convair L-13 was a post-war liaison aircraft that was designed to replace the L-5 Sentinel and that entered service just after the end of the Second World War.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

USS Bancroft (DD-256)/ HMCS St. Francis

USS Bancroft (DD-256)/ HMCS St. Francis was a Clemson class destroyer that went to Britain under the terms of the destroyers for bases deal. In British service she served on escort duties from 1941-1944, although spent much of her time under repair

Monday, January 13, 2020

HMS Rother (1904)

HMS Rother (1904) was a River class destroyer that served with the Ninth Flotilla on the Tyne in 1914, then with the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla in 1915-1917, the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla in 1917-18 and the First Destroyer Flotilla at Portsmouth for most of 1918.