History of the Hole
Thomo at the Doctor's
The Thompson Names
Model Painting Colours – Reference for My Benefit
World War II Wargaming
Can You Tell Fact From Fiction, Folks? 1939
Lightning War – Easy Play Rules for WWII Land Warfare
Naval Wargame
Russian Japanese War of 1904-1905 – Naval
Naval Wargames and History
General Quarters I & II, Defining Ships
Rules for the Jane Naval Wargame
Ancient Wargaming
Carolingian Frankish 639 AD to 888 AD
The Sumerians
De Bellis Multitudinis
Hordes of the Things
Nazrat, Lord of the Bungle
Dad's Army
Boltor the Bombastic
Pirates …. Ahoy
General Wargames
Wargame Ethics
Wargaming Tasks for 2007
Fire and Fury: Idiots Guide to Painting American Civil War Figures
Shako: Swedish Napoleonic Organisation
Shako: Napoleonic Wargaming the Danes
The Chinese Steam Navy by Richard N J Wright
Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1860-1905, editor Robert Gardiner
Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1906-1921, editor, Randal Gray
Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1922-1946, editor, Roger Chesnau
15mm Chinese WW2
Poltava and Cataluna from WTJ Naval Miniatures
Shikishima and Kearsarge from WTJ Naval Miniatures
Langton Miniatures – Anglo Dutch Starter Pack
American Civil War Naval Starter Set
Wargame Rules Review
Blitzkrieg Commander – Wargame Rules for WWII
Asia — Elsewhere
Khirokitia
St Albans (or Verulamium)
Korea Travel Tales
Korean War Memorial Museum
Ever Been to an Optometrist in a Country Where You Don't Speak The Language?
Korea – Impressions from an Employee
Recollections of the World Cup – 2002
Mongol Tales
Nara! …… I'm bored!
Nara ….. I'm Bored!! Part II
Norwegian Tales
Why Australia is at the top of the World
Norwegian Cuisine
The Difficulty of Sleeping a Complete Night in Norway
Sukhumvit Road – May 2002
Kazakhstan – First Impressions – First Contact
China – First (or rather, early) Impressions
Berkhamsted Castle
Macau – Thomo's Impressions
Cyprus – Thomo's Impressions
the Lebanon – Impressions from an Aussie
Cambodia – First Impressions – First Contact
The Blessing of the Fleet – Ulladulla
The Sad Tale of a Motor Fan by H. A. Field
The Ballad of the 'Calliope' by A B "Banjo" Paterson
Food Tales
Mongolian Meat Soup
Sausages in Tomato Sauce
Sausage Soup
Vegetarian Beef Stew
Cyprus – A Chronology
St Hilarion Castle – Cyprus
Naval Matters
Busk's Navies of the World — 1859
Busk's Navies of the World – 1859 – The French I
Busk's Navies of the World – 1859 – The French II
Busk's Navies of the World – 1859 – Northern Europe
Busk's Navies of the World – 1859 – Southern Europe
Busk's Navies of the World – 1859 – The Americas and Asia
Busk's Navies of the World – 1859 – Britain I
Busk's Navies of the World – 1859 – Britain II
The Scrap Iron Flotilla
HMAS Vendetta is Towed from Singapore
Naval Campaigns and Battles – World War II – to May 1941
Apia, Samoa, March 1889 – The US and Germany Square Up To Each Other In The Pacific
Thomo's most excellent web home – travel, cooking, military & naval history, wargaming, cheeseburgers
The Great Illyrian Revolt by Jason R. Abdale – Review
11 November 2019 11 November 2019 Thomo the Lost2 Comments
Jason R Abade's previous work was Four Days in September: the Battle of Teutoburg (published by Pen and Sword). While researching and writing that, Abade came across references to the Illyrians and the interest that generated led to the writing of his current work, The Great Illyrian Revolt — Rome's Forgotten War in the Balkans, AD 6–9. This has been published by Pen & Sword Military, is 268 pages long (ISBN: 9781526718174) and was published on 25 February 2019.
This book has sat on my desk waiting for me to read it for several months now. I regret not starting it sooner. It is a very interesting work.
The year 9 BCE was not a good year for Rome. Today we mostly remember that year for the efforts of the German warlord Arminius leadings a confederation of German tribes crushing three Roman Legions in the battle (or more correctly, series of battles, skirmishes and ambushes, that we know as Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. The three years leading up to that event, however, had been tough for Rome as well as there was an uprising in the western Balkans, an area known as Illyria. This revolt tied down 15 Roman legions in the area around the Dinaric Mountains, a revolt that was not finally subjugated until 14 BCE.
I'm not sure why that revolt is not well known today, perhaps the events in Teutoburger Wald where the armies of Publius Quinctilius Varus and Marcus Caelius were crushed by the German tribes, leading to the withdrawal of Roman forces and control to the east of the river Rhine overshadows Rome's difficult but ultimately successful controlling of Illyria.
Jason Abdale has produced an excellent study of the Great Illyrian Revolt. As you read the book, apart from the history and culture of the Illyrians being discussed and the lead up to Rome's eventual involvement in this are, you can also feel the author's love for his topic. I do not know of another history specifically covering just the Great Illyrian Revolt and Abdale has done an excellent job of pulling together various primary sources, secondary informatii and archeological evidence to weave a coherent and readable history of the Illyrian Revolt.
The book is commences with a Chronology — from about 6,000 BCE to 37 CE — followed and Introduction. The meat of the work is broken up into the following chapters:
The Illyrians
Rome and the Balkans
The Tide Turns
A Long Hard Slog
The End of the Road
The book is then rounded out with an Epilogue, Endnotes, Bibliography and Index.
The Illyrians over the years fought the Romans, Greeks and Macedonians as well as themselves. They were famous pirates in the Adriatic Sea. On land, they may well have started as lightly armed and irregular tribesmen types but slowly acquired some of the fighting style of the Greeks they were exposed to, remembering that much of their terrain was mountainous.
I really enjoyed this book, sort of an everything you wanted to know about the Illyrians but were too afraid to ask. On a personal basis, I am considering the figures needed to build an Illyrian army to face off against my Romans.
As this is probably the only general work that I am aware of dealing exclusively with the Illyrians, and given that it is so well written, clear and easy to understand, I can see this on the bookshelves of anyone interested in the general, political or military history of the period of Augustus Caesar's reign in particular. Recommended!
Booksbook, early imperial rome, greek, Illyrian, pirates, review, rome
Armies of the Late Roman Empire AD 284 to 476 by Gabriele Esposito – Review
17 October 2019 Thomo the LostLeave a comment
The other recent addition to the bookcase at home (memo to self, when moving next year, build bigger book shelves), is Gabriele Esposito's Armies of the Late Roman Empire AD 284 to 476. As with the Armies of the Hellenistic States 323 BC to AD, this covers the history, organization and equipment of the Late Roman Empire. This work was also published by Pen & Sword Military (ISBN: 9781526730374
and published on 12 December 2018) is a little longer than his Hellenistic book, running to 178 pages.
Esposito looks at the Late Roman Army over the period of its decline and fall with 476 being the watershed year that officially notes the end of the Western Roman Empire at least. This period is from the time of the accession of Diocletian in 284 C.E. to emperor through to the final defeat and then deposing Romulus Augustulus on 4 September 476 by Odoacer and his proclamation of being the ruler of Italy.
Throughout that period Rome faced many barbarian invasions, the various Goth tribes being particularly persistent. Throughout this period we invasions from the Sassanians in the east, Goths in the north followed by Visigoths, Vandals, Alans, Huns, Ostrogoths not to mention the all too frequents bouts between various Imperial contenders, seeing Romans plus allies squaring off against Romans plus allies.
Esposito discusses the Roman military machine and contends that it was an effective force until the last few years of the Western Empire. Throughout the book, the equipment and weapons of the troops are described, using various Re-eactors for the photographic illustrations as well as the reconstructed equipment. The groups used are Cohors V Baetica Vexillatio; Cohors Prima Gallica; Contubernium Primum; Fectienses Seniores; Felices Seniores and; Septimani Seniores.
The organization and structure is also covered with charts of the high command as well a covering the different kinds of troops, such as the:
comitatenses (field armies)
limitanei (frontier units)
foederati (allied soldiers)
bucellarii (mercenaries)
scholae palatinae (mounted bodyguards)
protectores (personal guards) and so on
Apart from the photographs of various reenactors in uniform and bearing arms of the period, the book also includes the shield devices from the Notitia Dignitatum.
Apart from the Acknowledgements, Introduction and a fine Chronology, the book contains the following chapters:
The Roman Army of the Principate
The Transformation of the Third Century
The Great Reforms of Diocletian and Constantine
Clothing, Equipment and Weaponry
This is then rounded out with some Appendixes covering the Roman Army of the Notitia Dignitatum; Equipment and Weapons of the Late Roman Army; Bibliography and Index.
As with Gabriele Esposito's other books, I really enjoy the way he has illustrated the arms, armour, dress and organization of the subject, so much so that I am looking forward to his next book, Armies of Celtic Europe 700 BC to AD 106. I highly recommend Armies of the Late Roman Empire AD 284 to 476 to any with an interest in this period.
Booksarms, book, constantine, diocletian, dress, goths, huns, ostrogoths, review, rome. late imperial rome, sassanians, vandals, visigoths
Armies of the Hellenistic States 323 BC to AD 30 by Gabriele Esposito – Review
21 September 2019 Thomo the Lost1 Comment
I have had an interest in the successor states since I first read Alfred Duggan's historical fiction, "He Died Old", which was set in the life and times of Mithradates of Pontus, who fought Rome for around 60 years.
From there it was a short step back to Robin Fox's "Alexander" for some more academic ancient history. This was at the same time as starting to wargame as a hobby so building a Macedonian Army in 25mm size was a natural step given the interest I had in Alexander. Off to university studying Economics but at the same time managing to squeeze in some Ancient History in between lectures covering Malthus, Adam Smith, Galbraith, Solow, Keynes and Friedman, among others.
Pike phalanxes and Alexander's Successors led to reading about the political machinations that exceeded even the best the popular soap operas could manage for skulduggery and I was hooked.
Over the years I referenced many Osprey publications as well as those from the Wargames Research Group when painting the models trying to achieve accuracy when painting them.
Gabriele Esposito, well known already for his articles in Karwansaray Publishers Ancient Warfare magazine has turned his attention to the Hellenistic States in a book published by Pen & Sword Military, titled Armies of the Hellenistic States 323 BC to AD 30, History, Organization and Equipment. The book is 155 pages long, (ISBN: 9781526730299) and was published on 17 July 2019.
Esposito has attempted to cover 350 years of Hellenistic history in a single volume analysing the organization and equipment employed by the armies of the Hellenistic States. Alexander the Great died in 323 BC and this resulted in his empire fragmenting into the various states of the Diadochi. Kingdoms were formed from Asia, to North Africa and the Eastern European areas.
The book covers the complex Hellenistic military forces from the breakdown of Alexander's empire until contact with the simplified Roman military machine obsoleted the pike phalanxes almost over night (OK, well it might have been over several years but in all interactions between the Legions and Phalanxes the Legions won and excuses were made for the failure of the Phalanx).
The Diadochi fielded armies with thousands of men, chariots, elephants and siege machines. The book covers these armies and analyses the forces of Macedon, the Seleucid Empire, Ptolemaic Egypt, the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, Armenia, Pergamon, Pontus, Cappadocia, Galatia, the Bosporan Kingdom, Epirus, Sicily, the Achaean League and the Aetolian League.
To take such a broad subject and cover it within 155 pages means that the text rips along and Esposito's writing style is very easy to read. The book is well illustrated with colourful maps (taken from Wikimedia under the Wikimedia Commons license). To illustrate the uniforms of the time the author has used the resources of a German based Hellenistic re-enactment group, Hetairoi which are a group covering much of the period. The re-enactors are used to illustrate uniforms, armour and weapons, shields and the like all in colour. Particularly impressive are the photos of the pikes.
The book is organised into 15 chapters, and Acknowledgement, Introduction, Bibliography and Index. There is also an appendix that discusses the re-enactors, Hetairoi e.V. (hetairoi is the Greek for "companion" and a reference to Alexander's companions).
The chapters present are:
The Military Revolution of Philip of Macedon
The Macedonian Army of Alexander the Great
The Succession to Alexander and the Wars of the Diadochi
The Wars of the Hellenistic World
The Armies of the Early Successors
The Antigonid Army
The Ptolemaic Army
The Seleucid Army
The Attalid Army
Hellenistic Anatolia
Pontus, Armenia and the Bosporan Kingdom
The Epirote Army
The Greek Cities
Hellenistic Israel
The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and the Indo-Greek Kingdom
That pretty much covers the entire Hellenistic world post Alexander.
At the end of the book there is a bibliography. Interestingly, after listing some 20 primary sources, Esposito lists the secondary sources he used. These are a mix of academic works such as Bar-Kochva's, The Seleucid Army to popular works such as Peter Connolly's, Greece and Rome but by far the largest number of secondary sources are the publications of the Wargames Research Group, Montvert and Osprey. Esposito then lists his 17 secondary article sources, which are all from various issues of the Ancient Warfare Magazine.
This book will be of interest to ancient wargamers and military modellers in particular, full as it is with uniform and weapon detail. It is a good primer on Hellenistic Warfare. It would also interest those undertaking more serious Ancient History studies, at least enabling them to more clearly see uniforms and equipment from the past. Best of all, it is currently on sale at Pen and Sword. I will admit, now I am looking forward to both reading his older work on the Armies of the Late Roman Empire as well as the imminent release of Armies of Celtic Europe 700 BC to AD 106 at the end of next month. Recommended.
Booksachaean, achaean league, aetolian, aetolian league, ancient history, armenia, book, bosporan, cappadocia, epirot, epirus, equipment, galatia, greco-bactrian, greek, macedon, organisation, pergamon, pontic, pontus, ptolemaic, review, rome, seleucid, sicily, successor, uniform
Battles and Battlefields of Ancient Greece – A Guide to Their History, Topography and Archaeology – Book Review
26 August 2019 Thomo the Lost1 Comment
I received a heavy tome from Pen and Sword books recently and this one is a cracker. It is definitely heavy, weighing in at 1.2kgs and I think the weight is the paper stock used in printing this largely colour work. The basis of this book is a look at ancient battlefields and battles in and around Greece with reference to modern topography. All the battles covered are illustrated with a location map, satellite photographs of the area, many from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), along with any relevant ground based photographs from the authors' collection.
The USGS maps have battlefield deployments superimposed over the them. As Dr Matthew A. Sears and Dr C. Jacob Butera note in the book's preface, "This is a book designed for the traveller to Greece, whether the member of a tour group, the independent adventurer, or the curious scholar." I believe that if one carries this book on tour, your excess baggage charges will increase. However if you have an interest in Ancient Battles and Battlefields or are simply curious to maximise the interesting points from a tour, then this book is worth the effort to lug around.
The book, Battles and Battlefields of Ancient Greece – A Guide to Their History, Topography and Archaeology, by C. Jacob Butera and Matthew A. Sears has been published by Pen & Sword Military. It contains 385 pages, its ISBN is 9781783831869 and it was published on 13 May 2019. It is a cracker of a volume and I have had difficulty putting it down. The writing style of the authors is readable to all and while the subject is wide reaching, the slicing and dicing of their topic has been skilfully performed.
The Introduction discusses the various periods covered by the book with explanations of the Phalanx style and type of warfare, and the armies that used them. It does not restrict itself to simply land battles either but includes some naval warfare – two notable ancient naval battles in particular. The Introduction then discusses briefly Ancient Greek and Roman Warfare, splitting the introduction into:
The Archaic and Classical Periods
The Hoplite Phalanx
Cavalry and Light-Armed Infantry
Greek Naval Warfare
The Hellenistic Period and Roman Middle Republic
The Macedonian Army
The Roman Manipular Legion
Phalanx vs Legion
The End of the Roman Republic
The Roman Army of the Late Republic
Roman Naval Warfare
There are photos from various museums and collections illustrating items through there as well with items such as, for example, the Lenormant Relief from the acropolis Museum depicting a trireme and its rowers. This section is then concluded with a list of Further Reading covering the topics – and unlike many book lists and bibliographies, this comes with comments. So, for example, the following entry:
Kagan, D., and Viggiano, G.F. (eds), Men of Bronze: Hoplite Warfare in Ancient Greece (Princeton, 2013). — The best resource on the debate surrounding the nature of hoplite warfare, with contributions from the leading voices in the debate
Other entries are similarly marked.
The Book is then divided into four main parts with each part covering three to seven battles for that geographic area:
Athens and Attica
The Battle of Marathon, 490 BCE
The Battle of Salamis, 480 BCE
The Battle of Piraeus/Mounichia, 403 BCE
Boeotia and Central Greece
The Battle of Thermopylae, 480 BCE
The Battle of Artemisium, 480 BCE
The Battle of Plataea, 479 BCE
The Battle of Delium, 424 BCE
The Battle of Coronea, 394 BCE
The Battle of Leuctra, 371 BCE
The Battles of Chaeronea, 338 and 86 BCE
The Battle of Amphipolis, 422 BCE
The Battle of Cynoscephalae, 197 BCE
The Battle of Pydna, 168 BCE
The Battle of Pharsalus, 48 BCE
The Battle of Philippi, 42 BCE
The Peloponnese and Western Greece
The Battles of Naupactus, 429 BCE
The Battle of Pylos, 425 BCE
The Battles of Mantinea, 418 and 362 BCE
The Battle of the Nemea River, 394 BCE
The Battle of Actium, 31 BCE
Each of the battle chapters is then divided into:
General Map of the Battle Location on the Chapter facing page
Introduction — brief description of the location and the events around the battle
Directions to the Site — how to get there and landmarks
Historical Outline of the Battle — details of the battle from the primary sources and archeological studies including the USGS maps of the area of the battle with deployments and movements superimposed
The Battle Site Today — what the site looks like today including photographs of items of interest
Further Reading — this section is broken up into two main areas – Historical Sources, and Modern Sources with the Modern Sources including books and articles
Lastly the book contains a useful index.
Each chapter is about 15 to 20 pages long, a perfect length for reading over a cup of coffee or when there is an hour or so spare. With the references added however, the temptation is to read the chapter then read back in the primary sources but with a greater understanding of the topography of the battle.
The authors are both academics, Dr C. Jacob Butera is an assistant professor of Classics at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and Dr Matthew A. Sears is an associate professor of Classics and Ancient History at the University of New Brunswick in Canada.
This is a book is simply great. If you ever wanted a general reference for the battlefields of Ancient Greece, this is the one. It is a bonus that it is clearly written and well illustrated with maps, satellite photographs and photographs of items of interest remaining on the battlefield, and where each chapter identifies the primary sources for the battle as well as modern source material. Well recommended. It is also available in digital form which does lighten the physical load a little.
Books, greeceancient, athens, battlefields, Battles, book, greece, History, macedon, pontus, review, rome, sparta, thebes, thrace
Images of War – M12 Gun Motor Carriage – Book Review
21 August 2019 21 August 2019 Thomo the LostLeave a comment
A few days ago I finished reading Images of War – M7 Priest – Book Review so naturally the next to move onto was the big gun, the 155mm gun propelled in the M12 Gun Motor Carriage. Like the volume on the M7 Priest, this was written by David Doyle and contains 142 pages of photographs and text of the M12, T6 Prototype and the T14 (the ISBN is 9781526743527 and it was published on 12 December 2018 by Pen and Sword Military)
The M12 development started in 1941, despite having met early opposition. The development work was based on using the M3 Medium Tank chassis and the prototype, T6, was mounting a French made M1917 155mm gun. To accommodate the large gun, it needed to be rear mounted which meant the engine had to be moved forward, to a position just behind the driving compartment.
The vehicle also required a hydraulically-operated spade at the rear to stabilise the firing position due to the gun's recoil.
When production commenced, three different war surplus weapons were mounted depending on availability:
the French built M1917
the US built M1918
the M18917A1 which had a French gun tube and a US breech
As with his coverage of the M7, David Doyle has written and provided a great coverage of this vehicle with the book covering the following:
The T6 Prototype
The M12
The T14
The M12 in Combat
The M12 Preserved
This last chapter is quite interesting as well as if contains many close up photographs, in colour, of the restored M12 that is preserved and displayed at the US Army Field Artillery Museum, Fort Sil, Oklahoma. It has been repainted to replicate a wartime vehicle, "Adolf's Assassin", an M12 that was assigned to Alpha Battery, 991st Field Artillery Battalion in North-Western Europe toward the end of the Second World War.
While only 74 of these vehicles were sent to Europe (along with the M30 ammunition carrier – also illustrated), they were very successful in their combat role and really paved the way for the future of 155mm SPGs present in almost all armies during the Cold War.
As with all books in the Images of War series, there are many photographs of the vehicles highlighted. In the case of those volumes looking at one particular type of vehicle, the photographs provide so much detail useful for modellers in particular. In this case there are 61 pages of close up colour photographs making this volume a must for any serious modellers of World War 2 tracked artillery.
The images are not just of the vehicles in static positions but rather include "action shots" taken during the Second World War in particular.
Well recommended, especially for the modeller of fighting vehicles, not only for the images of the M12 but also for many photos that could provide inspiration for diorama building.
Books, History155mm, book, howitzer, m12, review, self propelled gun, spg, t6, USA, World War 2, ww2
Images of War – M7 Priest – Book Review
Recently I looked at the Images of War volume covering the Armour of Rommel's Afrika Korps by Ian Baxter. in the same parcel of books from Pen and Sword Military in the Images of War series, I received a volume on the M7 Priest. This was written by David Doyle and contains 143 mostly of photographs of the M7 (the ISBN is 9781526738851 and it was published on 4 February 2019)
The M7 was the American 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage produced during World War II. This self-propelled artillery was produced in great numbers with over 4,000 of all marks produced. It was used by 16 different countries and was in service during World War II, the Korean War, the 6-day War and Yom Kippur. While most were produced over the period 1942 to 1945, they continued in service in various countries into the late 1960s.
The M7 was named "Priest" as in part it was a replacement for the British 25-pdr self-propelled gun known as the "Bishop".
David Doyle has written and provided a great coverage of this vehicle with the book covering the following:
Baldwin Locomotive Works T32
American Locomotive Works M7
Federal Machine and Welder M7
Pressed Steel Car Company M7B1
Howitzer Motor Carriage M7B2
Field Use
Appendices covering:
Priest Contracts and Deliveries
M2A1 Howitzer Specifications
The Armoured Field Artillery Battalion
As with all books in the Images of War series, there are many photographs of the vehicles highlighted. In the case of those volumes looking at one particular type of vehicle, the photographs provide so much detail useful for modellers in particular.
The images are not just of the vehicles in static positions but rather include "action shots" taken during the Second World War in particular. Due to the M7 lasting in service into the 1960s there are also some terrific colour photographs of theM7 in field use.
Well recommended, especially for the modeller of fighting vehicles, not only for the images of the M7 but also for many photos that cold provide inspiration for diorama building.
Books, History105mm, book, howitzer, review, self propelled gun, spg, USA, World War 2, ww2
Images of War – the Armour of Rommel's Afrika Korps – Book Review
15 August 2019 Thomo the LostLeave a comment
Another volume in the Images of War series landed on my desk a few months back. This one covers the Armour of Rommel's Afrika Korps by Ian Baxter. It is published by Pen & Sword Military in the Images of War series with 128 pages of rare photographs from Wartime Archives (ISBN: 9781526722393, published on 8 January 2019).
The Deutsche Afrikakorps (DAK, known simply as the Afrika Korps) was a Corp that was welded into an effective fighting machine by its general, Erwin Rommel. German troops were sent to North Africa to support, or rather prop-up, the Italian forces present in North Africa, the forces which had been bloodied to the turn of nearly 400 tanks destroyed and 130,000 troops casualties or captured by the British and Commonwealth Forces under General Richard O'Connor.
The Second World War in North Africa was a war of movement, of forces pushing forward and stretching their supply lines to the limits only to be followed by a strong counter-attack and retreat where the counter attackers move forward and stretch their supply lines. The oscillations repeated.
Rommel melded the Italian forces with the German reinforcements into an effective fighting Corps and then applied the blitzkrieg tactics that had worked so well in France to the deserts and wadis of North Africa. This continued until the eventual arrival of American forces pinned the Germans and Italians between two larger armies.
Baxter's book covers the full range of German armoured vehicles that saw action in North Africa over the period 1941 to 1943 covering not just the panzers, and there was the full range from the Panzer I through VI, but also the Sturmartillerie equipment along with half-tracks, armoured cars, motorcycles and so on.
The book's contents are:
Desert Blitzkrieg, 1941
Attack and Retreat, 1942
Destruction in Tunisia, 1943
Appendix I – Order of Battle
Appendix II – Panzers Operational in Africa, 1941-1943
Appendix III – Heavy and Light Armoured Vehicles in North Africa, 1941-43
Appendix IV – Halftracks Operational in North Africa, 1941-43
The illustrations throughout the book commence with photographs of Panzerkampfwagen II (Pz.Kpfw.II) and Pz.Kpfw.III being unloaded from ships on the docks in North Africa. The background of some of these photos is also interesting, sometimes more so than the foreground for the hint of life in the German Army at the time,
The book then goes on to illustrate Pz.Kpfw.I; Pz.Kpfw.II; Pz.Kpfw.III; Pz.Kpfw.IV; Pz.Kpfw.V (Panther); and Pz.Kpfw.VI (Tiger) in service in North Africa, along with photographs of some of the personalities. What is also apparent in many of these photographs is the quantity of extra paraphernalia carried by these vehicles in the desert, strapped to the sides of vehicles. Photographs also shw vehicles that have been knocked out or are being repaired or repainted.
As well as the panzers, there are many photographs of the armoursed card, half-tracks, prime-movers and the like with the Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (Sd.Kfz.231, 232, 233, 234, 234/1, 234/2, 234/3, 263); Leichter Panzerspähwagen (Sd.Kfz.221, 222, 223, 260/261); and the many variants of the halftracks, the ubiquitous Schützenpanzerwagen (Sd.Kfz.251 and 250) being illustrated. Also included are some of the artillery tractors, the Horch, Marders, motorcycles, self-propelled guns and the like.
I will admit finding the way the Order of Battle section was laid out somewhat confusing but this is a small gripe as there are many more authoritative sources of this information available to the researcher, historian, military enthusiast, wargamer or modeller.
This book would certainly be on interest to a wide spectrum of readers interested in the Second World War in North Africa and the Deutsche Afrikakorps in particular. It will certainly remain within easy reach on my bookshelves. Recommended.
Books, Historyafrika korps, book, germany, review, rommel, World War 2, ww2
Allied Coastal Forces of World War II – Volume II – Book Review
24 July 2019 Thomo the LostLeave a comment
Allied Coastal Forces of World War II – Volume II, written by John Lambert and Al Ross deals with Vosper MTBs and US Elcos. It was published on 9 April 2019 by Seaforth Publishing, an imprint of Pen and Sword Books, is 256 pages long and has ISBN: 9781526747556.
Like volume I, this is a reprint of a book first published by Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, in 1994 the picked up by Conway Maritime Press in 2002. It was reprinted again in April 2005 by Conway's. This volume deals with sixteen Vosper MTB designs, and the US 70′, 77′ and 80′ Elco designs.
Also, as with Volume 1, there are copies of volume 2 from 2002 available still, new, for US $72.40 at various outlets.
Vosper was established as a company in 1871. They became famous for the unstepped planing hull-form they developed which was the basis of their Motor Torpedo Boats (MTB) and Motor Gun Boats (MGB) for the Royal Navy in World War II. The original boats had a length of 68 feet and were based upon the prototype MTB 102, which survives to this day as a museum piece.
Vosper 70′ MTB in Admiralty Light Basic scheme with recognition star used in the Mediterranean
Vosper's designs were copied by many, especially given the speeds they acheived with their planing hulls. Apart from MTBs and MGBs, Vosper also built high speed launches for the the Royal Air Force for the rescue of air crew who ditched into the sea.
Vospers were not only built in the United Kingdom but also in the United States under license.
The illustration here are some of the vessels illustrated with differing camouflage designs are taken from the book. Apologies for the quality, I photographed with my tablet and one hand and it is a heavy tome.
Elco 80′ PT Boat in Measure 33/7P
As with the previous volume, the detail, drawings, plans and photographs in this book are super. Al Ross had a reputation as a very fine draughtsman and it shows in his drawings throughout the volume. Lambert covers the details of the vessels, the equipment that was present on the vessels, selected weapon systems and additional data.
The table of contents, apart from the usual sections of Foreword, Preface, Abbreviations and the like covers:
Vosper Ltd
Elco – a short history
Vosper's private venture (MTB 102) and Bloodhound
Vosper MTB designs 1938-39
The Vosper 45ft MTB Design
Vosper designs 1940
Vosper designs 1943-45
Vosper construction
The Elco 70ft PT
Licence-built Vospers
PT construction
PT camouflage
The Packard 4M-2500 marine engine
Selected weapons systems (0.5in Vickers machine guns; 20mm Oerlikons (single and twin); 9mm Lanchester machine carbine; 18in and 21in torpedo tubes; PT torpedo armament and the Dewandre turret)
Additional data covering US 20mm, 37mm and 40mm mounts and guns; Rocket launchers; Development of bridge and wheelhouse during the Second World War; Notes on operating the Royal Navy Packard engines; Free French Vosper MTBs; The Vosper survivors; and Restored Elco PT 617.
As with the first volume, the writing in the book is clear an easy to both follow and understand. It has been fascinating to read about these vessels, so much so that I am looking for similar works on Axis boats. It is a shame that the third volume mooted back in the 1990s never eventuated as it would have dealt with the British Power Boat 70ft MTBs and MGBs which were also very successful boats.
This also is a must have book for anyone interested in coastal warfare and a great companion to Volume 1. There is nothing I can think of that is really missing from this coverage. Best, along with volume 1, it is on special at the moment (23 July 2019) at Pen and Sword.
Books, Historybook, elco, History, Naval, Naval History, review, vosper, World War 2, ww2
Allied Coastal Forces of World War II – Volume I – Book Review
20 July 2019 21 July 2019 Thomo the Lost1 Comment
Allied Coastal Forces of World War II – Volume I, written by John Lambert and Al Ross deals with Fairmile Designs and the US Submarine Chasers. It was published on 12 December 2018 by Seaforth Publishing, an imprint of Pen and Sword Books, is 256 pages long and has ISBN: 9781526744494*(see below).
I do love naval history and I have a particular interest in small boats (and big ships and all in between truth be told). This volume deals with some of my favourite vessels, the Fairmiles.
Fairmile Marine was a British boat building company founded in 1939 by the car manufacturer Noel Macklin using his garage at Cobham Fairmile in Surrey for manufacturing assembly. His company was run as an agency of the Admiralty, the company carrying out business without turning a profit, the staff being in effect part of the civil service.
Fairmile B – Admiralty Light Modification Scheme
His first design was the Fairmile A Motor Launch (ML) but the most ubiquitous of the Fairmiles was the Fairmile B ML. Over 600 of these were built over the period 1940 to 1945. Originally designed as submarine chasers the Motor Launches were fitted with ASDIC. Later versions of the Fairmiles (the C, D and F versions) were fitted out as gunboats with the Ds also rigged as Motor Torpedo Boats.
Coastal naval warfare in both the North Sea and the Mediterranean were fiercely fought skirmishes between the Allied MLs, MGBs and MTBs and the Axis E-Boats, R-Boats, MAS boats and the like. The Fairmile boats made up a considerable portion of Coastal Command and fought in all theatres.
Fairmile B – Admiralty Dark Modification Scheme – a harbour defence ML
The detail, drawings, plans and photographs in this book are super. The authors cover the details of the vessels, the equipment that was present on the vessels, selected weapon systems and additional data, including the fate of most of the vessels. For example, we can see the builder, when a vessel was completed and its fate. In the case of ML 400, this vessel was built in New Zealand and completed on 18 November 1942. It served in the RNZN where it sailed as HMNZS Kahu, being sold in 1947 and sailing then as the Dolphin.
US Submarine Chaser, SC497, part of a class of 110′ sub chasers in measure 14 camouflage
The US Submarine Chasers are covered as well, although not in as great a detail.
The table of contents, apart from the usual sections of Forewards, Authors Notes, Prefaces, Abbreviations and the like covers:
The Fairmile company
The Fairmile B ML
The Canadian Fairmile B ML
The Fairmile C motor gunboat
The Fairmile D MTB/MGB
The Fairmile F MGB
The Fairmile H Landing Craft
The SC 497 class 110 ft sub chaser
Depth Charges and anti-submarine equipment
British Coastal Forces radar
British Coastal Forces camouflage
Engines and engineering
Weapons systems (depth charge projectors, flares, machine guns, 1- and 2-pounder guns, 4.5in guns and the like
The extensive appendices include:
Schedule of British Builders
Fairmile production analysis Yard analysis Consumption of major materials
Area comparisons
Building times
all in all, 12 appendices.
The writing in the book is clear an easy to both follow and understand. Best, most of the book is in shorter chapters making it easier to read and follow over shorter reading sessions. I have learnt so much from this work that I am really itching to start on their volume 2 which covers perhaps the most famous of the Allied coastal vessels, the Vosper MTBs and US Elcos. There is a third volume being prepared covering the British Power Boat 70ft MTBs and MGBs which were very successful boats.
This really is a must have book for anyone interested in coastal warfare. There is nothing I can think of that is really missing from this coverage. Best, it is on special at the moment (20 July 2019) at Pen and Sword.
* Please note the following (21 July 2019):
This work was originally published in 1994. in the US it was published by the Naval Institute Press (and I am guessing by Conway's in the UK). In 2005 it was reprinted and published by Conway's in the UK (and I am guessing that the Naval Institute Press may well have republished then too). I have not seen either of those editions so I can't comment on any change in content in this edition. I can, however, note that a new copy of the 1994 version is selling on Amazon for US $225 dollars and the 2005 version new for US $165.60. The £32.00 current version from Pen and Sword therefore looks good value by comparison.
I should also note that unfortunately, the third volume covering the British Power Boat 70ft MTBs and MGBs was never published.
Books, Historybook, History, Naval, Naval History, review, World War 2, ww2
The AMX 13 Light Tank – Images of War – Review
13 May 2019 Thomo the LostLeave a comment
The AMX-13 light tank is a French designed and built light tank with a production run from 1952 to 1987. In the French Army it was referred to as the Char 13t-75 Modèle 51. It was named after its initial weight of 13 tonnes and was a tough and reliable air-portable chassis. It was exported to more than 25 other nations. The AMX-13 was fitted with an oscillating turret built by GIAT Industries with revolver type magazines, which were also used on the Austrian SK-105 Kürassier. There are over a hundred variants including self-propelled guns, anti-aircraft systems, APCs, and ATGM versions.
The turret was to the back of the vehicle, with the engine the full length of the vehicle, driver on the other side. Total crew of three. The gun was aimed by rotating the elevating the turret to the target.
Guy Gibeau, Peter Lau, and M. P. Robinson have out together a complete pictorial history of the AMX-13 which is released as:
The AMX 13 Light Tank – A Complete History
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Series: Images of War
Published: 12th December 2018
The book covers the origins of the AMX-13 and its design and funding then looks at the various builds and marks as well as the export and second hand sales versions of the vehicle (for example, Peter Lau covers the Singapore Army's AMX-13 that were acquired from Switzerland (150); India (150); and Israel (40).
The AMX -13 is currently deployed by:
Argentina: 58 AMX-13/105,24 AMX-VCI, 24 AMX F3 155mm and 2 AMX-13 PDP armoured bridge-layers
Ecuador: 108 AMX-13/105s
Indonesia: From the total of 275 only 120+ AMX-13/105 are still in service as 2018. Scheduled for replacement by the PT Pindad Harimau jointly developed by Indonesia and Turkey.
Morocco: 120 AMX-13/75s and 4 AMX-13 CD armoured recovery vehicles;[2] 5 operational.
Peru: 108 tanks; 30 AMX-13/75s and 78 AMX-13/105s
Venezuela: 67 AMX-13s; 36 AMX-13/75s and 31 AMX-13/90s
AMX-13 former operators:
Algeria: 44 AMX-13/75s
Austria: 72 AMX-13/75s and 3 AMX-13 CD armoured recovery vehicles
Belgium: 555 AMX-13s
Cambodia: 20 AMX-13/75s
Côte d'Ivoire: 5 AMX-13/75s
Djibouti: 60 AMX-13/90s
Dominican Republic: 15 AMX-13/75s
Egypt: 20 AMX-13/75s
France: 4,300 (of all types)
Guatemala: 8 AMX-13/75s
India: 164 AMX-13/75s
Israel: 400 AMX-13/75s
Lebanon: 75 tanks; 42 AMX-13/75s, 13 AMX-13/90s and 22 AMX-13/105s
Nepal: 56 AMX-13/75s
Netherlands: 131 AMX-13/105s, as AMX-13 PRLTTK (Pantserrups Lichte Tank) and 34 AMX-13 PRB (Pantserrups Berging) armoured recovery vehicles
Singapore: 340 second-hand AMX-13/75s
South Vietnam: 4 AMX-13 CD armoured recovery vehicles
Switzerland: 200 AMX-13/75s
Tunisia: 30 AMX-13/75s
The versatility of the tank is apparent from its multiple combat roles, being used as light tank, reconnaissance vehicle, self-propelled artillery platform, ATGM platform among others.
The book contains the following chapters:
Design, Funding and Production
AMX13 Mle 51 Production Series
Rebuilds and Upgrades
The AMX13 Enters Service
The AMX13 FL-11 and AMX-US
The AMX13 Mle 58
Division 1959
The AMX13 SS-11
The AMX13 C90
The Division 1967
Derivatives of the AMX 13
The AMX13 as an Export Success
Modernising the AMX13
The AMX13 Mle 51 as a Combat Vehicle
The vehicle saw combat in the following wars:
Suez Crisis
Algerian War
Sand War
1958 Lebanon crisis
Cambodian Civil War
Dominican Civil War
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Western Sahara War
Lebanese Civil War
Guatemalan Civil War
There were 7,700 vehicles built of which 3,400 were exported.
As we have come to expect with then Images at War series, there are a plethora of photographs of the vehicle at various times and in various roles.
I have always liked the lines of the modern French AFVs, the AMX30; the Leclerc; but the AMX13 is one of my all-time favourite vehicles. This is a recommended work for modern tank modellers and enthusiasts, military historians with an interest in modern AFVs and wargamers wanting background and weapon information on AFVs of the recent past – the last half of the 20th Century.
Available from Pen and Sword Books – the link is:
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-AMX-13-Light-Tank-Paperback/p/13645
Books, History, Modellingair-portable, algeria, amx13, armour, austria, belgium, book, cambodia, cote d'ivoire, djibouti'dominican republic, Egypt, France, guatmala, infia, israel, ivory coast, lebanon, nepal, Netherlands, review, Singapore, south vietnam, switzerland, Tanks, tunisia, vietnam
Follow Thomo's Hole on WordPress.com
Pete S/ SP on I Hate You Little Wars TV…
Thomo the Lost on I Hate You Little Wars TV…
anthony on I Hate You Little Wars TV…
battleoftheatlantic1… on Allied Coastal Forces of World…
I Hate You Little Wars TV – 1st Manassas (Bull Run)
Preparing the Soviet I-16s and SB-2s
Foul Evil Infamy and Mind Control … I weakened
Curse You Bob Flywheel
Old Books … Just in a New Way
Obligatory Tag Cloud
1/72 1/285 1/300 1/300th 1/1200th 1/2400 1/3000 1/3000th 1/6000th 2mm 6mm 15mm aeronefs ancient Australia baccus blog book Books Britain Canberra cancon Cancon 2013 cheeseburger China competition countryside DBA DBMM driving Food General ghq heroics and ros History hungary Japan Koguryo Korea Land Ironclads local issues magazine modelling modern Mongolia Muttawah Napoleonic Naval Naval History Naval Wargaming navwar Painting Peshawar philippines pre-Dreadnoughts review Reviews rome Russia Saudi Arabia SciFi Ships Singapore Technology Thomo travel Ulaanbaatar Victorian Science Fiction VSF Wargames Wargaming World War 1 World War 2 ww1 ww2
Archives Select Month January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004
Categories Select Category Africa (1) Americas (12) Canada (1) USA (12) Asia Pacific (355) Australia (87) Brisbane (1) Canberra (6) Melbourne (2) South Australia (1) Sydney (5) Cambodia (1) China (23) Hawaii (1) Hong Kong (5) India (2) Indonesia (3) Japan (9) Kazakhstan (5) Korea (33) Malaysia (5) Mongolia (154) New Zealand (5) Philippines (20) Singapore (46) Taiwan (1) Thailand (8) Vietnam (2) Bank (1) Books (82) Cinema (9) electronics (3) Europe (32) Austria (1) Bavaria (1) Belgium (2) Denmark (2) England (11) France (5) Germany (4) greece (1) Netherlands (1) Norway (3) Prussia (1) Russia (5) Scotland (4) Sweden (1) Folk Tales (3) Morocco (1) Food (37) Cheeseburgers (15) Meals of Note (3) Odd Notes (3) Recipes (2) General (289) History (116) Light Tales (23) Middle East (84) Abu Dhabi (2) Dubai (6) Saudi Arabia (76) Yemen (3) Modelling (18) Naval (137) Oddities (15) On the workbench (8) Sale (4) scams (3) Technology (89) Thomo (103) travel (192) TV (2) Wargaming (588) 18th Century (5) 19th Century (30) Chincha (1) Pacific War (9) American Civil War (10) Ancient (161) Andalusian (3) Burma (6) Byzantine (2) Carthaginian (6) DBA (22) Franks (6) Gauls (7) german (1) Greek (11) Hungary (16) Illyrian (1) Italian (4) Khmer (7) Khurasanian (1) Korea (2) Korea – Koguryo (13) Mongol (4) Norman (6) Nubian (1) Numidian (13) Parthia (6) Parthian (5) Rajput (9) Rome (18) sarmatian (2) Saxons (7) skythian (2) Spanish (4) Sparta (3) Syracusan (4) Viking (5) BKC (5) Board Games (3) Dark Ages (4) Fantasy (3) Medieval (3) WotR English (1) Modern Naval (29) Napoleonic (25) Naval (22) Osprey (2) Painting (61) Peshawar (25) Polemos (2) samurai (1) SciFi (11) Singapore Wargames Project (5) Steampunk (7) SYW (2) Terrain (1) Victorian Science Fiction (2) aeronefs (2) Imperial skies (2) Warmaster (3) ww1 (20) WW2 (70)
Blog Stats since 26 September 2013
269,800 hits. Note that I had 258,644 hits on the Hole before moving here.
Ancient & Medieval Wargaming
Tracks and Threads
Modern Spearhead
The Players' Aid
Wetherhorn
Ikazuchi
Seeking to Balance
Brigade Models
Third Point of Singularity
Adventures in painting miniatures
20mm...ish
Lead Odyssey
Lurkio Blog
amateur airplanes
The model warrior
ofdiceandtinymen
A Lead Odyssey 0
Big Red Bat Cave 0
Col Campbell's Shipyard 0
Crac des Chevaliers 0
Harwood Hobbies 0
Luke: hoti to kratistos 0
Miniatures of Wrath 0
Of Dice and Tiny Men 0
Olicanalad's Games 0
Roll a One 0
Tiny Metal Men 0
Toy Soldiers Studio – Painting and Wargaming with Miniatures. 0
Wargaming for Grown-Ups 0
Using De Bellis Antiquitatis, with the odd diversion...
My Wargaming Blog
Modern wargaming using the Modern Spearhead rules system & 6mm miniatures
Wargaming blog - covering real and imaginary adventures in many scales.
Board Game Reviews, Reports, and Reflections.
A Portal to Historical Miniature Wargaming in "The Wargames Room"...
War Machines of Imperial Japan for Games
Previews, new releases, interesting stuff ... and cakes !
The Third Incarnation of the Point of Singularity
Recording adventures in miniature painting by an semi-talented painter whose skills are not as good as he would like them to be...
1/72 - or close enough to it.
More Doings with Excess Lead
Lurkio's Blog
Let's build.