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
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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.

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.

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.

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
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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threat to Britain’s naval lines of communication, but that have been largely forgotten because they were seen as badly outdated by the outbreak of the First World War.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
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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
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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.

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

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.