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Featured battle : Valcour Island
Part of American War of Independence
Date : 11 October 1776
A makeshift flotilla of ships built and commanded by Benedict Arnold to defend Lake Champlain was attacked by Sir Guy Carletons flotilla of British ships and gunboats and all but destroyed. Although several of the American boats escaped during the night, which was particularly foggy, Carleton caught up with them again by the 13th, and what he didn't destroy, Arnold beached and fired. Although Arnold was decisively beaten, he had successfully delayed Carleton from attacking south from Canada and taking Fort Ticonderoga which General Burgoyne was hoping to use to begin his campaign the following year.
Featured image :
Border Reivers - examples of armour
Two examples of the types of armour and weapons as used by the Reivers - cross Anglo-Scottish border warriors - during the 16th century. The model on the left wears a simple back and breast armour with lower abdomen protection more common in pikemen of the late 16th and 17th century. He wears the distinctive 'combed morion' helmet. The model on the right wears the armour of the wealthy, full three quarters armour and an elaborate burgonet helm.
Gallery updated : 2022-04-04 08:33:43
Featured review :
Taranto and Naval Warfare in the Mediterranean 1940-1945
David Hobbs
This book’s main title is ‘Taranto’ but it is about so much more than that singular action. The whole range of Fleet Air Arm activity in the Mediterranean theatre, 1940-1945, is the real content and a full and fascinating story it is. There are many insights into little known activities especially those where shore based squadrons were supporting the RAF and the troops on the ground in the North African campaign. Readers can expect to have their eyes opened to the real value of the ‘antiquated flying string bag’ the Fairey Swordfish. Although superseded by fast single seater fighters there was always a niche which no other aircraft could fill and consequently they stayed in service for the whole period. An underlying message of the book is that during this period the battleship became obsolete to be replaced by the aircraft carrier. The author draws attention to the political difficulties in the Admiralty, the RAF and the aircraft supply chain which accounted for the necessity of eventually obtaining, by purchase or Lean Lease, American aircraft and American carriers.
Technical detail, personal stories and lots of photographs make this a must have book for readers with many different interests. A jolly good read which we highly recommend.
Seaforth Publishing, 2020
Reviewed : 2021-10-26 10:49:19
