What are you currently reading ?

[kipt]

Finished "Victory Fever on Guadalcanal: Japan's First Land Defeat of WW II", by William Bartsch.

This is a tactical account from both the American and Japanese sides.  It is only about the combat at the Tenaru River (actually Alligator Creek).  And then only Colonel  Ichiki's first 900 man detachment.  the Colonel did not wait for the remainder of his force (Victory Fever mentality).  Out of the 916 men who arrived at Guadalcanal, only about 130 survived and of these 100 did not participate, waiting at the landing beach.

The author interviewed veterans or their families over a 10 year period.  He was also able to get Japanese accounts through a Japanese historian.

Very well written and a compelling narrative.

[KTravlos]

I finished book number  17 in the Aubrey-Maturin series, thus coming closer to the point were this delight will be gone from my life. Ah well, all things end.

I am now reading "The Devil's Lieutenant" by M. Fagyas.

I also finished writing two things for the hobby. A article on the activity of the Garlibaldini during the 1st Balkan War I hope to see published in the Foreign Correspondent, and a longer war-gamers resource and background piece on the Balkan Wars (for a special project).

Konstantinos

[kipt]

Finished issue 56 of the "Gettysburg Magazine".  Published twice a year.

Articles this issue include "the Sunrise Hours at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863" (discusses the decisions and actions of Lee and Meade).
"I Cannot Think What Has Become of Stuart" (the ramifications of the missing cavalry).
"The Hancock - Walker Correspondence" (Walker was a staff officer with Hancock and the letters are after the war discussing who was where and what happened after Hancock's wounding).

[kipt]

Finished "Austro-Hungarian Cruisers and Destroyers 1914-1918" by Ryan Noppen, an Osprey booklet.

Specs, drawings and pictures as per the title.  Typical Osprey naval.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

100& odd pages into latest Neal Asher, ohh its good

[kipt]

Finished another Osprey, "British Light Infantry & Rifle Tactics of the Napoleonic Wars" by Philip Haythornwaite.

Again a typical Osprey with interesting illustrations.  I have all the same information elsewhere, but I buy all the Napoleonic Osprey's.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Finished Infinity Engine.
Ulp!

[KTravlos]

Finished M.Faygas "The Devil's Lieutenant". This was a great book. If you like a good atmospheric mystery, set in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, I greatly recommend it. Depressing though.

Now reading Huseyin Sukru Ilicak "A Radical Rethinking of Empire: The Ottoman State and Society during the Greek War of Independence". Dissertation that provides a great different perspective of the  Greek Revolution. Worth reading.

[Shedman]

Breaking Point of the French Army: The Nivelle Offensive Of 1917 by David Murphy

Quite a high level book covering the politics, the planning, the battles, the mutinies and the aftermath

What is interesting is that the official files on the mutiny will remain closed until 2017

I've just checked the Kindle price - when I bought it on Kindle it was 99p - it is now £15.19!!!!!!

Don't bother

[Leman]

I haven't started any of the above.

[kipt]

Finished another book by Liddell Hart, "Europe In Arms".  Published in 1937 as Europe looks more menacing and is rearming, he discusses the air forces, the various armies and air forces.  The book has 4 parts: Forces, Problems, Measure and Forecasts.

He pushes for mechanization and better training for all, starting with the commanders.  His foresight is about half correct, as he says with antagonists both mechanized there would probably be a deadlock after the initial rush.  Of course he doesn't discuss what would happen if one side was unprepared.

It was interesting to see what discussion was occurring before the war started.  One of the more interesting Hart books to me.

[Ace of Spades]

Just finished James D Hornfischers 'Neptune's Inferno' about the naval battles for guadalcanal and how the USN learnt to fight surface (night) battles at a very hight cost. Excellent book! Really gripping and showing you the blood and gore that are the result of heavy ordnance tearing through layers of steel...

Now just started 'Somme' by Lynn MacDonald. I like the way she gets the participants to speak to you but miss the solid military history that I believe should be used s a framework. Even so; well worth it!

Cheers,
Rob

[kipt]

Finished "The British Way of Warfare" by Liddell Hart.  This one done in 1932.

In it he says that the British had a distinct practice of war.  Don't get entangled on the continent - mobility and surprise.  But 1914 to 1918 changed that and what came after.

Some of his chapters:
"The Fallacy of French Strategy", "Who Won the Marne?", "The Future of Armament-and its Future Use", "The Weapons of Land Warfare-To-Day and Tomorrow".

At the end he gives his "concentrated essence of war":
1. Do choose the line (or course) of least expectation.
2. Exploit the line of least resistance.
3.Take a line of operation which offers alternative objectives.
4.Ensure that both plan and dispositions are elastic, or adaptable.
5.Don't lunge when your opponent can parry.
Don't renew an attack along the same line (or in the same form) after it has once failed.

Good for wargames also.

[KTravlos]

Ι just finished Sukru Ilicak's (Sukru Ilijak) dissertation "A Radical Rethinking of Empire: Ottoman State and Society during the Greek War of Independence 1821-1826". It a remarkable piece of work based on Ottoman primary sources. It details the ideational and political reaction of the Ottoman state and society to the Greek Revolution, as well as how the revolution triggered the massive political and social transformations that would culminate in the Tanzimat reforms. A must read for those interested in further understanding the Greek Revolution and its impact. It is also a good description of the kind of forces the Ottoman state  was able to mobilized against the Greeks before they gave up and called in Mehmet Ali Pasha of Egypt. A good lay down of the character of the final pre-modern Ottoman armies.

I have uploaded in the 19th Century Warfare and Wargaming Facebook Group, so feel free to grab it, or get it from a friend in the group.

Next up? "The Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885-Combat at Slivnitsa" by Colonel Regenspursky. Reading for the current Theme of the 19th Century Warfare and Wargaming Group.

[Terry37]

After re-reading Washburn's "The great Martian Invasion" I am now starting the new second volume in the trilogy - "The Breakout". Really enjoyed the first one and lots of great gaming possibilities. That's one problem with HOTT, I find myself continuing to add armies to paint that I'll need to live another hundred years to do.....but it's just so much fun creating them!

Terry

[paulr]

Sorry Terry I can't see the problem here

[d_Guy]

Coincidently, Terry, just started reading the first book, "Invasion", this evening. Just put it down actually! As you said, a hundred more years. 

[cameronian]

https://wordery.com/the-battle-of-koniggratz-in-1866-patrick-joseph-shrier-9781519790866?currency=GBP&gtrck=TEJZNm03VGY0ckNXM0ZZcFhkOXc3V1E5YTJRK2Z2c1ZVVGZKeFdtblg3OFo0dG5vc3U0eFdJcGRVOUo5TStBbTRTdG1KRWlCSlQ5b3pWZzJxQ3BzeHc9PQ&gclid=CPvB7bDuvNMCFRIz0wod3akE2A

Anybody read this ?

[fsn]

Just started "The ar of the Gun Boats" by Bryan Cooper.

Lots of derring-do, zipping about at 40 knots!

Good intro to the subject.

Unfortunately, my butterfly is twitching its wings.

[Leman]

https://wordery.com/the-battle-of-koniggratz-in-1866-patrick-joseph-shrier-9781519790866?currency=GBP&gtrck=TEJZNm03VGY0ckNXM0ZZcFhkOXc3V1E5YTJRK2Z2c1ZVVGZKeFdtblg3OFo0dG5vc3U0eFdJcGRVOUo5TStBbTRTdG1KRWlCSlQ5b3pWZzJxQ3BzeHc9PQ&gclid=CPvB7bDuvNMCFRIz0wod3akE2A

Anybody read this ?

No, but at £8.48 I've just ordered a copy.