Operation Martlet (25-27 June 1944)

Operation Martlet (25-27 June 1944) was a preliminary to Operation Epsom, the second in a series of major attacks around Caen, and was launched to capture high ground to the west of the main Epsom battlefield.

The Komnene Dynasty - Byzantium’s Struggle for Survival 1057-1185, John Carr

Looks at the history of the most famous dynasty in Byzantine history (largely because of the work of Anna Comnena and its overlap with the early Crusades), with a focus on the well documented reign of Alexios I. This is a useful examination of a dynasty that started well, saving Byzantium from possible collapse in the aftermath of Manzikert, but that ended with an equally disasterous defeat and dynastic chaos in the last two reigns. Also includes a useful overview of earlier Byzantine history and a brief look at the period after the end of the dynasty, which saw their descendants rule the tiny Empire of Tribizond, while Byzantium was sacked by the Crusaders.
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Ancient Warfare Vol X, Issue 1: Conflict Between Sparta and Athens - The Archidamian War

Focuses on the Archidamian War, the first ten years of the Great Peloponnesian War, which saw both Athens and Sparta win major victories and suffer costly defeats, before ending in a draw and a short-lived peace. Covers the type of troops involved, the roles of Pericles, Brasidas and Socrates, the siege of Plataea, the temple of Athena Nike and the clash between Sparta and Argos. Also looks at letters written by Roman troops in the eastern desert of Egypt, and the evidence for PTSD in the Roman world
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Ancient Warfare Vol XI, Issue 4: Wars of the Twelve Tribe - Conflict in the Old Testament

Focuses on some of the wars mentioned in the Old Testament, including Gideon’s famous selection of an elite force, a coalition battle against the Neo-Assyrians, the defensive policy of Judah, the role of Israelites in the Assyrian army, and the Lachish reliefs. Away from the theme looks at a Roman military diploma in New York, all-source analysis and the mystery of the antisignani, described as fighting in front of the banners in a Roman army.
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HMS Maori (1909)

HMS Maori (1909) was a Tribal class destroyer that served with the Dover Patrol during the First World War, and took part in the early bombardments of the Belgian coast, and helped to sink U-8 before she was sunk by a mine in May 1915.

USS Converse (DD-291)

USS Converse (DD-291) was a Clemson class destroyer that served with the Atlantic Fleet for most of the 1920s, apart from a visit to European waters in 1924-25.

Curtiss Model J

The Curtiss Model J was the company’s first successful tractor land plane, and became the basis of the famous Curtiss JN ‘Jenny’, the main American training aircraft of the First World War.

Battle of Villers-Bocage (13 June 1944)

The battle of Villers-Bocage (13 June 1944) was one of the more infamous incidents of the Normandy campaign, and saw an advanced force of British armour almost destroyed by Michael Wittmann’s Tiger tanks, before a larger German counterattack forced the British to retreat.

Spoils of War – The Fate of Enemy Fleets after the Two World Wars, Aiden Dodson & Serena Cant

Looks at the fate of the defeated nation’s fleets after the two World Wars, when the surviving ships were split between the victorious nations, but not after a great deal of debate about who got what, and what should happen to the remaining ships (as well as to those that might have been salvageable). Includes a clear narrative of events, and a very useful reference section, tracing the fate of each surviving ship
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The Modern Cruiser – The evolution of the ships that fought the Second World War – Robert C. Stern

Looks at the most varied class of major warship, covering everything from tiny scout cruisers not much bigger than the largest destroyers up to the massive battle cruisers of the First World War. A well structured book, with each chapter looking at a particular period and the cruisers produced in response to the naval treaties in place at the time combined with reports of what each power’s rivals were building. An interesting look at a series of warships that wouldn’t have existed in the form they did without the London and Washington naval treaties
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Hitler’s Panzers – the Complete History 1933-1945, Anthony Tucker-Jones

A well structured book that gives a useful overview of the development and deployment of Germany’s armoured vehicles during the Second World War, although that would have benifited from some further editing to avoid repetition and some inconsistency. Its main strong point come in the chapters on combat deployment, which acknowledge that the varied types of tanks fought as part of a larger war machine, and not in individual tank-vs-tank battles
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HMS Crusader (1909)

HMS Crusader (1909) was a Tribal class destroyer that served with the Dover Patrol during the First World War, and was used by Admiral Hood during the early bombardments of the Belgian coast.

USS Dale (DD-290)

USS Dale (DD-290) was a Clemson class destroyer that served with the Atlantic Fleet for most of the 1920s, making one visit to European waters in 1924-25, when she was commanded by the future Admiral William Halsey.

Curtiss SNC Falcon/ Model CW-22

The Curtiss SNC Falcon/ Model CW-22 was a basic trainer and light attack aircraft that saw combat against the Japanese with the Dutch, but that was only used as a trainer by the US Navy.

Operation Aubrey (7-8 June 1944)

Operation Aubrey (7-8 June 1944) saw a small force of Royal Marine Commandos capture Port-en-Bessin, a key port between the British and American sectors in Normandy.

HMS Saracen (1908)

HMS Saracen (1908) was a Tribal class destroyer that served with the Dover Patrol during the First World War, taking part in the early bombardments of the Belgian coast, and was close by twice during German raids without encountering the enemy.

USS Worden (DD-288)

USS Worden (DD-288) was a Clemson class destroyer that served with the Atlantic and Scouting Fleets during the 1920s, visited European waters in 1924-25 before being decommissioned in 1930. She was then turned into a banana boat, but was lost in 1933.

Curtiss-Wright CW-21

The Curtiss-Wright CW-21 was a lightweight export fighter that was purchased in small numbers by the Chinese and Dutch, and that saw limited combat during the defence of the Dutch East Indies in 1942.

Operation Perch (9-14 June 1944)

Operation Perch (9-14 June 1944) was a British attempt to capture Caen with a pincers attack, launched after the city remained in German hands on D-Day.

Modern Africa Wars (5) - The Nigerian-Biafran War 1967-70, Philip S. Jowett

Looks at the armies of the Biafran War, a civil war that broke out fairly soon after Nigeria gained independence, and saw the eastern part of the country fail to break away. A studious neutral account of the war, largely ignoring the accusations of war crimes levelled against both sides
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The Battle of Waterloo, A Near Observer

One of the earliest books published on the battle of Waterloo, made up of a series of letters written by eyewitnesses to the campaign, official reports from all sides (including some from countries not actually involved in the battle!) and finishing with casualties. First published in 1815, this is the seventh edition, which came out in the same year! You will find better collections of sources, but you won’t find one with quite the same immediacy as this. Also includes three foldouts, two with maps of the battle and one with an impressive panoramic sketch
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An Archaeological Study of the Bayeux Tapestry – the Landscapes, Buildings and Places, Trevor Rowley

Takes a different approach to the Bayeux Tapestry, looking at what the locations it portrayed would actually have looked like in 1066, and comparing that to what we see on the tapestry. The result is a useful guide to the world of the Norman Conquest, using a mix of archaeological and landscape evidence, supported by a look at similar buildings that have survived from the time period, all supported by a campaign history to put the landscape history into context. Also benefits from focusing equally on each part of the tapestry rather than just on the invasion and battle scenes
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HMS Amazon (1907)

HMS Amazon (1907) was a Tribal class destroyer that served with the Dover Patrol during the First World War, and was used as Admiral Hood’s flagship during the early bombardments of the Belgian coast, and was at sea during three of the German destroyer raids into the Dover Straits, but only encountered the enemy once, during the battle of the Dover Straits.

USS Putnam (DD-287)

USS Putnam (DD-287) was a Clemson class destroyer that served with the Atlantic Fleet and Scouting Fleet in the 1920s before being decommissioned in 1929.

Curtiss-Wright CW-19

The Curtiss-Wright CW-19 began life as a civilian cabin cruiser but soon became a light military aircraft , and the basis of the CW-21 Demon fighter and CW-22 / SNC-1 Falcon light attack and trainer.