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Articles 1901 à 1920 sur 2619
Tank Battles of World War I
Par Bryan Cooper. 2014
Failure to exploit the potential of an original idea is a recurring phenomenon in our national history. Few failures, however,…
can have been so costly in human life as that of our military commanders early in 1916 to appreciate that the tank was a war winning weapon. The slaughter of the Somme, Passchendaele and Ypres salient had to be endured before accepted 'conventional' methods were abandoned and the tank given a chance. Bryan Cooper describes the early tank actions in vivid detail, with many eye-witness accounts. He tells of the courage and endurance of the crews not just in battle but in the appalling conditions in which they had to drive and fight their primitive vehicles. Scalded, scorched and poisoned with exhaust fumes, constantly threatened with being burned to death, these crews eventually laid the foundation for the Allied Victory in World War I. The book is well illustrated with many original photographs which give the present day reader a glimpse of the infancy of a dominant weapon of modern war.American Expeditionary Force: France, 1917–1918 (Images of War)
Par Jack Holroyd. 2012
When the United States entered the war in April 1917 the belligerents were approaching exhaustion. It had been hoped by…
the Generals in both Britain and France that untold numbers of fresh troops would be assimilated into their respective commands. However, this idea was firmly resisted, America would field its own army alongside the Allies it would have its own section on the front line. Those with concerns that the untried divisions under General Pershing would fair badly against the seasoned German military machine were soon reassured as impressive victories were won by the newcomers. The book is split into eight chapters which deal with different pivotal moments during the First World War from the American perspective, from the reasons behind the American involvement in the war and initial training to the major battles at Cantigny, Chateau Thierry and St. Mihiel. This story is told in pictures gleaned from the official archives which were first published in 1920 and now presented for reexamination and public awareness in the Images of War series.Mr Midshipman VC: The Short Accident-Prone Life of George Drewry, Gallipoli Hero
Par Quentin Falk. 2018
Of the thirty-nine Gallipoli Victoria Crosses arguably none was more deserved than the medal earned by George Leslie Drewry.At just…
20, he was the first officer of the Royal Naval Reserve to get the nations premier award for valour when part of the landing on V Beach at Cape Helles. In so doing he was badly wounded.Accident-prone, he survived falling into a bog as a child; he was knocked over by a car; as a novice merchantman he fell from the mast of his ship and on another occasion was shipwrecked after rounding Cape Horn and stranded on a deserted island.Tragically he died at Scapa Flow shortly before the end of The Great War, while in command of his first ship.Using contemporary sources, the author brings Drewrys life into sharp focus and describes the role of Snotty as midshipmen were then known. The result will appeal to addicts of real-life adventure and military historiansThe Defence of the Dardanelles: From Bombards to Battleships
Par Michael Forrest. 2012
This WWI history examines the Ottoman Army&’s defense of the Dardanelle Strait during Winston Churchill&’s failed Gallipoli Campaign. The Dardanelles…
Strait, separating Europe and Asia Minor, was fortified in the fifteenth century with massive bronze bombards causing any unwelcome ships to run a truly formidable gauntlet. And indeed it was on March 18th, 1915, when a powerful fleet of British and French warships attempted to clear the Strait. The attack failed at the cost of three ships sunk and three more seriously damaged. The Allied failure to take control the Strait led to its disastrous invasion of Gallipoli. Using maps, photographs, and other illustrations, this in-depth study examines the strengths of the Turkish defenses, including the Ottoman Army&’s reliance on German Krupp guns. Historian Michael Forrest also assesses the relative strengths and weaknesses of the Royal and French Navies, as well as the flaws of Winston Churchill's strategy. Damningly, Forrest's research proves that British intelligence sources had previously assessed that a naval attack alone would not succeed. Many of the fortifications on the Gallipoli peninsula and the Asian shore are still accessible. This volume helpfully identifies those that can be visited, many of which still have wrecked guns emplaced.Bayly's War: The Battle for the Western Approaches in the First World War
Par Steve R Dunn. 2018
Baylys War is the story of the Royal Navys Coast of Ireland Command (later named Western Approaches Command) during World…
War One.Britain was particularly vulnerable to the disruption of trade in the Western Approaches through which food and munitions (and later soldiers) from North America and the Caribbean and ores and raw materials from the Southern Americas, all passed on their way to Liverpool or the Channel ports and London. After the sinking of the Lusitania in May 1915 and the introduction of unrestricted submarine warfare by the Germans, Britain found herself engaged in a fight for survival as U-boats targeted all incoming trade in an attempt to drive her into submission. Britains naval forces, based in Queenstown on the southern Irish coast, fought a long and arduous battle to keep the seaways open, and it was only one they began to master after American naval forces joined in 1917.Vice-Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly was the man appointed to the Coast of Ireland Command. A fierce disciplinarian with a mania for efficiency, and thought by some of his colleagues to be more than a little mad, Bayly took the fight to the enemy. Utilising any vessel he could muster trawlers, tugs, yachts as well as the few naval craft at his disposal, he set out to hunt down the enemy submarines. The command also swept for mines, escorted merchantmen and fought endlessly against the harsh Atlantic weather. Relief came When America sent destroyers to Queenstown to serve under him, and Bayly, to the surprise of many, integrated the command into a homogenous fighting force.Along the way, the Command had to deal with the ambivalent attitude of the Irish population, the 1916 Easter Rising, the attempt to land arms on Irelands west coast and the resurgence of Irish nationalism in 1917.Baylys War is a vivid account of this vigorous defence of Britains trade and brings to life the U-boat battles, Q-ship actions, merchant ship sinkings and rescues as well as the tireless Bayly, the commander at the centre.Japanese Battleships, 1897-1945: A Photographic Archive
Par R. A. Burt. 2015
Rare images of the Imperial Japanese Navy&’s fleet before it was almost completely destroyed in World War II. This…
photographic archive contains some 125 stunning images of the battleships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, many unfamiliar, some very rare. They constitute an archive that is pretty much without equal in publications in the West. The period covered is from the launch of Japan's first real contemporary battleship, Yashima, built by Armstrong&’s on the Tyne, up to the final destruction of her fleet in the Pacific in 1945. During that time Japan built up the third largest navy in the world and, before the First World War, it was Britain that armed her at sea. All her dreadnoughts saw action in the Second World War, and of all these numerous ships only Nagato survived the conflict. She was to become a target in the Bikini A-bomb tests in 1946. Just as the ships were lost, so were the majority of photographic records, and relatively few images have come down to us. This selection from R.A. Burt's archive represents therefore a remarkable portrayal of these ships. Extended captions and ship specifications enhance its reference value, making it an essential volume for enthusiasts, modelers, and anyone with an interest in the Second World War.Kings of the Air: French Aces and Airmen of the Great War
Par Ian Sumner. 2015
&“Simply superb! . . . easily the best book (in English) available on the French Air Service . . .…
The book is a gem.&”—The Aerodrome In comparison to their British and German counterparts, the French airmen of the Great War are not well known. Yet their aerial exploits were just as remarkable, and their contribution to the war effort on the Western Front was equally important. That is why Ian Sumner&’s vivid history of the men of the French air force during the war is of such value. He tells their story using the words of the pioneering pilots and observers themselves, drawn from memoirs, diaries, letters, and contemporary newspapers, magazines and official documents. The recollections of the airmen give an authentic portrait of their role and their wartime careers. They cover recruitment and training, reconnaissance and artillery spotting, aerial combat, ground strafing and bombing, and squadron life. They also highlight the technical and tactical innovations made during those hectic years, as well as revealing the airmen&’s attitude to the enemy—and their thoughts about the ever-present threat of injury and death. &“No stone unturned, well researched and well written, Kings of the Air should become the &‘go to&’ title for information about the French contribution to the air war of the Great War.&”—The Past in Review &“The narrative provides a complete overview of developments in technology, service organization, naval aviation and the principle missions of the French Air Service, all laced with first-person accounts . . . Kings of the Air should be in the collection of any student of the first air war.&”—Over the FrontVolume III in this definitive WWI naval history presents an in-depth analysis of the Battle of Jutland, with a new…
introduction by historian Barry Gough. Arthur Marder's five-volume history From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow is one of the finest contributions to naval history, chronicling the dramatic conflicts of the First World War with an &“unrivalled mastery of sources&” and &“a gift of simple narrative&” (A.J.P. Taylor). The third volume presents an in-depth analysis of the clash between the German High Seas fleet and the British Grand Fleet and Battlecruiser Fleet at Jutland, as well as its immediate aftermath. Marder's intricate charting of this great battle is still recognized as the authoritative statement on these events. A new introduction by Barry Gough, the distinguished Canadian maritime and naval historian, assesses the importance of Marder's work and anchors it firmly amongst the great naval narrative histories of this era.V & W Destroyers: A Developmental History
Par John Henshaw. 2020
&“A very interesting book tracing the development and service of . . . one of the iconic destroyers of the Second World…
War.&” —Australian Naval Institute In this book John Henshaw takes the reader through all the developmental stages of the V & W Class with a detailed history of the step-by-step lessons that were learned, not all of which were fortuitous. In one package the Royal Navy finally acquired a hull that possessed not just good sea-keeping capability but one that was able to carry heavier armament without any adverse effects. Range and speed were commensurate with their size while the superfiring guns, fore and aft, could be deployed in all weathers for a four-gun broadside. The V & W design set the trend for all destroyer design for the next two decades and, indeed, the basic layout of destroyers stayed the same long beyond that. The formula of a raised foredeck and superfiring guns fore and aft continued in the Royal Navy until the Battle Class of 1944 and in the United States Navy until the Fletcher Class of 1943. That the V & Ws served on through World War II in various forms is a testament to the soundness of the basic concept, their adaptability and strength. The V stood for Venerable, because they certainly proved that, and W for Watershed, because they were truly a turning point in destroyer design. This book, which will appeal both to naval historians and modelmakers, brings together under one cover a narrative that is comprehensive in its scope, well researched and elegantly supported with detailed line drawings and selected photographs for the period 1890–1945.Southern Thunder: The Royal Navy and the Scandinavian Trade in World War One
Par Steve R Dunn. 2019
A history and analysis of the battle for the North Sea—and the crucial supplies needed by both Britain and Germany…
to fight the war. During World War I, the Scandinavian countries played a dangerous and sometimes questionable game; they proclaimed their neutrality but at the same time pit the two warring sides against one another to protect their import and export trades. Germany relied on Sweden, Norway, and Denmark for food and raw materials—while Britain needed to restrict the flow of these goods and claim them for herself. And so the battle for the North Sea began. The campaign was ferociously fought, with the Royal Navy forced to develop new tactical thinking, including convoy, to combat the U-boat threat. Many parts of Scandinavia considered that the war had missed the region, and that it was just a distant &“southern thunder.&” Much of that thunder was over the North Sea. This new book tells this little-known, and often ignored, story from both a naval and a political standpoint, revealing how each country, including the USA, tried to balance the needs of diplomacy with the necessities of naval warfare. From the declaration of a British blockade to delicate negotiations, the work of Royal Navy and merchant marine sailors to Admiralty infighting over the development of a new system of convoyed vessels, this book tells the story—including a tense encounter between the US Navy and the German High Sea Fleet—and includes detailed analysis and firsthand accounts of those who were there.V & W Destroyers: A Developmental History
Par John Henshaw. 2020
&“A very interesting book tracing the development and service of . . . one of the iconic destroyers of the Second World…
War.&” —Australian Naval Institute In this book John Henshaw takes the reader through all the developmental stages of the V & W Class with a detailed history of the step-by-step lessons that were learned, not all of which were fortuitous. In one package the Royal Navy finally acquired a hull that possessed not just good sea-keeping capability but one that was able to carry heavier armament without any adverse effects. Range and speed were commensurate with their size while the superfiring guns, fore and aft, could be deployed in all weathers for a four-gun broadside. The V & W design set the trend for all destroyer design for the next two decades and, indeed, the basic layout of destroyers stayed the same long beyond that. The formula of a raised foredeck and superfiring guns fore and aft continued in the Royal Navy until the Battle Class of 1944 and in the United States Navy until the Fletcher Class of 1943. That the V & Ws served on through World War II in various forms is a testament to the soundness of the basic concept, their adaptability and strength. The V stood for Venerable, because they certainly proved that, and W for Watershed, because they were truly a turning point in destroyer design. This book, which will appeal both to naval historians and modelmakers, brings together under one cover a narrative that is comprehensive in its scope, well researched and elegantly supported with detailed line drawings and selected photographs for the period 1890–1945.The Royal Navy's Air Service in the Great War
Par David Hobbs. 2017
In a few short years after 1914 the Royal Navy practically invented naval air warfare, not only producing the first…
effective aircraft carriers, but also pioneering most of the techniques and tactics that made naval air power a reality. By 1918 the RN was so far ahead of other navies that a US Navy observer sent to study the British use of aircraft at sea concluded that any discussion of the subject must first consider their methods. Indeed, by the time the war ended the RN was training for a carrier-borne attack by torpedo-bombers on the German fleet in its bases over two decades before the first successful employment of this tactic, against the Italians at Taranto.Following two previously well-received histories of British naval aviation, David Hobbs here turns his attention to the operational and technical achievements of the Royal Naval Air Service, both at sea and ashore, from 1914 to 1918. Detailed explanations of operations, the technology that underpinned them and the people who carried them out bring into sharp focus a revolutionary period of development that changed naval warfare forever. Controversially, the RNAS was subsumed into the newly created Royal Air Force in 1918, so as the centenary of its extinction approaches, this book is a timely reminder of its true significance.Big Gun Monitors: Design, Construction, and Operations 1914-1945
Par Ian Buxton. 1978
&“Extremely well researched . . . a total account of the design, building, service, refits, and fates of the big gun monitors…
built for WW1 and WW2.&” —Malcolm Wright, author of British and Commonwealth Warship Camouflage of WWII In the history of naval warfare probably no type of ship has provided more firepower per ton than the monitor—indeed they were little more than a huge gun mounting fitted on a simple, self-propelled raft. Designed and built rapidly to fulfil an urgent need for heavy shore-bombardment during World War I, they were top secret in conception, and largely forgotten when the short-lived requirement was over. Nevertheless, they were important ships, which played a significant role in many Great War campaigns and drove many of the advances in long-range gunnery later applied to the battle fleet. Indeed, their value was rediscovered during the Second World War when a final class was built. Monitors were largely ignored by naval historians until Ian Buxton produced the first edition of this book in 1978. Although published privately, this became an established classic and copies of the first edition are now almost unobtainable, so this new edition will be welcomed by many. It has been completely revised, extended and redesigned to a generous large format which allows material deleted from the original edition for lack of space to be restored.&“This book looks in detail at the technical and economic aspects of the 42 monitors built, and is, without a doubt, the definitive work on the subject.&” —Ships Monthly&“Ian Buxton&’s work has set the standard in celebrating these big gun ships . . . It makes an invaluable contribution to the study of naval and land operations.&” —Warships InternationalKings of the Air: French Aces and Airmen of the Great War
Par Ian Sumner. 2015
&“Simply superb! . . . easily the best book (in English) available on the French Air Service . . .…
The book is a gem.&”—The Aerodrome In comparison to their British and German counterparts, the French airmen of the Great War are not well known. Yet their aerial exploits were just as remarkable, and their contribution to the war effort on the Western Front was equally important. That is why Ian Sumner&’s vivid history of the men of the French air force during the war is of such value. He tells their story using the words of the pioneering pilots and observers themselves, drawn from memoirs, diaries, letters, and contemporary newspapers, magazines and official documents. The recollections of the airmen give an authentic portrait of their role and their wartime careers. They cover recruitment and training, reconnaissance and artillery spotting, aerial combat, ground strafing and bombing, and squadron life. They also highlight the technical and tactical innovations made during those hectic years, as well as revealing the airmen&’s attitude to the enemy—and their thoughts about the ever-present threat of injury and death. &“No stone unturned, well researched and well written, Kings of the Air should become the &‘go to&’ title for information about the French contribution to the air war of the Great War.&”—The Past in Review &“The narrative provides a complete overview of developments in technology, service organization, naval aviation and the principle missions of the French Air Service, all laced with first-person accounts . . . Kings of the Air should be in the collection of any student of the first air war.&”—Over the FrontDe Havilland Enterprises: A History
Par Graham M. Simons. 2017
This fully illustrated biography examines the life, achievements, and brilliant aircraft designs of one of the great pioneers of powered…
flight. From his groundbreaking designs during The Great War to the illustrious company that bore his name, Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland was one of the most important engineers in the history of aeronautics. Here, Graham Simons charts the course of de Havilland&’s life from his humble beginnings to the influences and milestones of his early years, his versatile warplanes, and the post-war formation of The De Havilland Aircraft Company Limited. Amongst the momentous machines that de Havilland helped develop were the Gipsy Moth and Tiger Moth, two iconic aircraft types destined to set a variety of aviation records while being piloted by de Havilland himself. His high-performance designs and monocoque wooden construction methods passed through the supremely elegant DH.91 Albatross into the Mosquito. Next came the high-performing Hornet fighter, which pioneered the use of metal-wood and metal-metal bonding techniques, eventually resulting in the world&’s first jet airliner, the fabulous Comet. Every one of De Havilland&’s products are recorded here in detail, along with the many designs that never left the drawing board and the products of De Havilland&’s companies in Australia and Canada.The Defeat of the Zeppelins: Zeppelin Raids and Anti-Airship Operations 1916-18
Par Mick Powis. 2017
Mick Powis describes the novel threat posed to the British war effort by the raids of German airships, or Zeppelins,…
and the struggle to develop effective defenses against them. Despite their size and relatively slow speed, the Zeppelins were hard to locate and destroy at first. They could fly higher than existing fighters and the early raids benefited from a lack of coordination between British services. The development of radio, better aircraft, incendiary ammunition, and, above all, a more coordinated defensive policy, gradually allowed the British to inflict heavy losses on the Zeppelins. The innovative use of seaplanes and planes launched from aircraft carriers allowed the Zeppelins to be intercepted before they reached Britain and to strike back with raids on the Zeppelin sheds. July 1918 saw the RAF and Royal Navy cooperate to destroy two Zeppelins in their base at Tondern (the first attack by aircraft launched from a carrier deck). The last Zeppelin raid on England came in August 1918 and resulted in the destruction of Zeppelin L70 and the death of Peter Strasser, Commander of the Imperial German Navys Zeppelin force.Dambuster-in-Chief: The Life of Air Chief Marshal Sir Ralph Cochrane
Par Richard Mead. 2020
“A fascinating biography of one of the most important figures in Bomber Command during the Second World War.” —History of…
WarRalph Cochrane was born in 1895 into a distinguished naval family. After joining the Royal Navy, he volunteered in 1915 to serve with the RNAS in airships and was an early winner of the Air Force Cross. In 1918 he transferred to the fledgling RAF and learned to fly, serving in Iraq as a flight commander under “Bomber” Harris. His inter-war career saw him as a squadron commander in Aden before he became the first Chief of Air Staff of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. During the Second World War he served mainly in Bomber Command and commanded 5 Group from early 1943. He formed 617 Squadron and was instrumental in planning the legendary Dambuster Raid, the most spectacular of the War, as well as the sinking of the battleship Tirpitz. An inspirational leader, he trained 5 Group in low level target marking skills.Post war, Cochrane held a string of senior appointments commanding Transport Command, Flying Training Command and finally as Vice Chief of Air Staff, retiring in 1952. He died in 1977.“A brilliantly researched biography of a fascinating fighter . . . adds a new name to rank alongside Great Britain’s most heroic warriors.” —Argunners “The Dambusters is one of my absolute favourite stories from WWII . . . and this bio of Cochrane tells the story of an extraordinary man. Brilliant.” —Books Monthly&“The memoir of . . . an American pilot flying with the famous French Flying Corps&’ American Layfayette Escadrille and…
provides a unique personal insight.&”—Firetrench In 1915 James Roger McConnell enlisted as a US volunteer in the French Flying Corps. He was part of a remarkable band of American volunteers which were formed into the famous Lafayette Escadrille, which was then based at Verdun. This book brings his personal account of the war, Flying for France, to a new generation of readers. His memoirs produce an amazing insight into the early aerial battles and trace the evolution of aerial warfare as the rickety aircraft of 1915 rapidly evolved into the purpose-built fighters of 1917. Casualties among the American Escadrille were very high and McConnell&’s own luck finally ran out when he was ambushed by two German fighters and was killed in action in March 1917. His gripping and detailed memoir of the war is his lasting memorial; his honest account of the everyday life of a pilot in the Great War is matched only by Sagittarius Rising. However, his dramatic description of the battlefield of Verdun viewed from above is one of the classic descriptions of any wartime memoir and is unmatched by any other Great War writer. &“Resurrects an important part of the first-person literature of the Lafayette Escadrille. A long-lost gem.&”—Over the Front &“The memoir and letters give a surprising amount of detail about the pilot&’s life and tactics employed. McConnell&’s story is certainly an interesting one and this is a short and easily digestible introduction to the life of a First World War pilot.&”—WW1 GeekFighting in the Sky: The Story in Art
Par John Fairley. 2020
&“The thoughtful text and assortment of paintings illustrate just over a century of military aviation, from those early biplanes . . .…
to modern drones.&” —Military Model Scene Barely a decade passed from the Wright Brothers&’ first powered flight to aircraft becoming lethal instruments of war. The Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service took off in the very early days of The Great War and captured the public&’s imagination and admiration. Sydney and Richard Carline happened to be both pilots and artists as was Frenchman Henri Farre. Their works inspired celebrated painters like Sir John Lavery who took to the skies in an airship in the First World War. Feeding on the demand for works depicting this new dimension of warfighting, a new genre of art was born which has remained popular ever since. During the Second World War, the paintings of Paul Nash stood out as did Eric Ravilious who, ironically, died in an air crash. War artist Albert Richards dropped with British paratroopers on D-Day. Post-war, paintings by leading British and international artists graphically illustrate conflicts such as the Falklands, Bosnia and the Gulf War. John Fairley has brought together a dazzling collection of art works covering over 100 years of air warfare, enhanced by lively and informative text. The result is a book that is visually and historically satisfying.&“This book is highly recommended based upon the outstanding prose, spectacular artwork, and coverage of the histories of the conflicts covered.&” —IPMS/USA&“Taken together, the paintings and descriptions present a compelling tableau of the first century of military operations in the third dimension.&” —Aviation History MagazineScapa: Britain's Famous Wartime Naval Base
Par James Mark Miller. 2012
This vivid history chronicles the legendary Royal Navy base through WWI and WWII with eyewitness accounts and photos—&“a fascinating book&”…
(Scots Magazine). Scapa Flow was one of the greatest naval bases in history. Located in the Orkney Islands, it played a vital role in the two great wars of the twentieth century. It was from there that the Royal Navy&’s Grand Fleet sailed to Jutland in 1916. It was also the site of The Great Scuttle of the German High Seas Fleet after the First World War. Lord Kitchener disembarked from Scapa aboard the HMS Hampshire, headed for talks with the Tsar of Russia, before the ship was tragically sunk by a mine off Marwick Head. In the water of Scapa lie the wrecks of the HMS Vanguard, blown apart by an explosion in 1917, and the HMS Royal Oak, sunk by Gunther Prien of U-47 in a spectacular raid at the beginning of World War Two. It is also where Italian POWs built both the spectacular Churchill causeways and the exquisite Italian chapel at Lamb Holm crafted from Nissan huts. In Scapa, historian James Miller tells the story of this beautiful, bleak anchorage, weaving eyewitness accounts and personal experience into the larger narrative. Illustrated with archival photographs throughout, this volume captures the spirit and activity of Scapa Flow when it was the home of thousands of service personnel.