What are you currently reading ?

[kipt]

Finished volume 12 of Morison's History Of United States Naval Operations In World War II, "Leyte: June 1944-January 1945".  Start of the Kamikaze's and the Liberation of the Philippines.  A section of US submarine operations also.

Great set of books.

[kipt]

And finished volume 13 of Morison, "The Liberation of the Philippines:Luzon, Mindanao, The Visayas, 1944-1945".  This part of the liberation is not often discussed by other authors.

He also discusses Borneo as well as submarine operations and the US Naval Group, China.  Essentially a "Rice Paddy Navy".  The navy established weather stations in China to help operations to the east.

[kipt]

And now finished volume 14 of Morison, "Victory in the Pacific, 1945".  This is the last book in this set, although originally there was a volume 15 which discussed OB's, ship types and an overall index i believe.

Was great reading and I have been painting more WWII ships.  Need to do a game with GQIII with our group.

[kipt]

Finished "Devil Dogs: Fighting Marines Of World War I" by George B. Clark.

The Marines were part of the US Second Division in WWI.  They were the 4th Brigade, made up of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments, 3 battalions each, and the 6th Machine Gun Battalion.  Interestingly, Marine companies kept there numerical numbers rather than being referred to as A,B, C and D for the first Battalion.  For example, the first battalion of the 5th Marines was made up of the 17th, 49th, 66th and 67th Marine companies.

Good descriptions of the battles they were in; Belleau Wood, Soissons, Blanc Mont and Meuse-Argonne, for the major actions.  Horrendous casualties as they went in without much support or intelligent planning.  In the Conclusion the author gives his opinion of the division and brigade leadership.  Army officers also commanded Marines as did Marine officers command army units. 

Higher leadership could have been better, but everyone was learning.  Many, many decorations to officers and men, up to 3 silver stars for an individual for one action as well as a DSC.  Obviously several of the younger officers were in higher command for WWII.

Good book, with maps (so-so).

[mollinary]

The Shadow King by Harry Sidebottom.  Gripping novel about Alexander of Lyncestis, friend but  potential rival of Alexander the Great. Fabulous period atmosphere, supported by the author's in depth knowledge of the period and characters. Currently reserved for my bedtime reading, or I would have finished days ago! 

[fsn]

Just received this. Typical Helion fare with lots of pretty pictures.

I bought it because it was half price, and the Neapolitans have interested me for a while, and I am weak.

[pierre the shy]

Helion cover some pretty obscure subjects don't they fsn 

Luckily for me they also offer PDF copies of some of their books, which saves a small fortune in postage (and reduces my gaming carbon footprint accordingly  ) and they have a black friday sale.... 

There's definitely a scenario or two for me in this one:



 

[fsn]

Helion cover some pretty obscure subjects don't they fsn 

They do. Quite a few interesting ranges that I try and steer well clear of.I do have my eye on the volume on Oxford in the ... middle of the C17. Just wish they'd show a contents list or a few sample pages.

Luckily for me they also offer PDF copies of some of their books, which saves a small fortune in postage

I feel guilty now.  In what may losely be called my defence, I only buy hard copy books that are a) not available as pdf or b) laden with pictures and maps that are easier to flick around in hard copy or c) I really, really want them for my hoard library

[fsn]

*update*
Got the Oxford book as a pdf.

[kipt]

Finished "The Republic Fights Back: The Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871, Volume 2: Uniforms, Organization And Weapons Of The Armies Of The Republican Phase Of The War" by Ralph Weaver.

This was better than I originally thought it would be (which means I will need to get volume 1 of the Imperial phase).  As the title says it delves into all of those subjects and more for both sides.  News reporters, artists, medical services, Prussian etappen troops, POW's, women and the rest of the world are also subjects.  There is a section on the naval troops and ships and of a combat off Havana by the French Bouvet and the Prussian Meteor.

Good book by Helion.

[kipt]

Finished "The Waterloo Archive: volume IV: British Sources" edited by Gareth Glover.  Got back to reading these lately.  These are letters or reports written by the participants before and after the battle.  The book has sections on the Staff, Cavalry, Artillery, Infantry, Reserve forces, Support Services (the medical is particularly gruesome) and those not at Waterloo.

I currently have 12 volumes but see that now 13 and 14 are available.  Will have to get...

[Chris Pringle]

The book has sections on the Staff, Cavalry, Artillery, Infantry, Reserve forces, Support Services (the medical is particularly gruesome)

I believe I have a whole book about the medical side of the Napoleonic Wars. Could dig it out if you're interested!

[kipt]

I have a book about Larrey. Quite enough thank you.

But thanks.

[kipt]

Finished "The Waterloo Archive: Volume V: German Sources" edited by Gareth Glover.  Interesting to read the comments from all the "foreign" troops with Wellington.  There is a particularly good note on the Brunswick troops; organization, uniforms in detail, commanders names and the colors of the commanders horses!

[kipt]

And finished "The Waterloo Archive: Volume VI: British Sources" edited by Gareth Glover.  The last of the Frontline Books as publishers.  Glover thought he had found pretty much all of the documents out there.  However, he found more but Frontline declined to publish more.  So the next will be by others.

[kipt]

Finished "Orde Wingate" by Christopher Sykes. This is a very dense book about a very different man. Wingate was a man with very strong convictions and religious to his core. He often upset people through his unconventional habits but did not care as he was sure he was correct.

His military career took him to Palestine in the 1930's where he became a rabid Zionist but not Jewish. His big ambition was to lead a Jewish army and this never really left him.  During his time in Palestine he organized night squads to fight the Mosley's who were attacking Jewish settlements.

When WWII started he went to Ethiopia in order to help drive out the Italians. He organized long range patrols, using his experience from Palestine, calling them Gideon Force. After the Italians were driven out (regular British troops did most of the work) he became discouraged with the lack of personal and organizational recognition. He tried to commit suicide by driving a knife into his neck.

Obviously he survived but had to prove his mental stability as well as physical healing to get reimployed. He was a prolific writer on his thoughts and did have connections with certain British politicians.  This lead to interviews with Churchill who became a supporter. Wingate at this time was a brigadier and was taken by Churchill to the Quebec conference where he related his experiences with essentially guerilla warfare. He was able to get support for his way of fighting and went to India with a premise of support for his long range patrols against the Japanese in Burma. There was much conservative military reaction against him but Wavwll and Mountbatten did support him.

He organized and lead the group called the Chindits. They did two excursions; the first did alarm the Japanese but was only so successful. The second, of 6 brigades (he having the local rank of Major General) was really in support of Slim's 14th Army. As the second expedition was in process he was killed in the crash of the Mitchell bomber he used to visit his troops.

A very complicated individual with his own personal demons. Recognized by many as gifted and able to do great things but by others as a pain in the ass. The author does not agree with Slim's description of Wingate in several instances by the way.

[Rhys]

Just re-reading "Street without Joy" by Bernard Fall. A history of the French war (as oppossed to the American war) in Vietnam. It is a huge pity that he didn't survive the last one (and he was terminally ill at the time of his death) as his disection of the American war would have been truely facinating to read.
I'm also dipping into Lovecrafts collective tales on and off as I might have signed up to a Call of Chthulhu roleplaying group.

[pierre the shy]

Santa Cruz 1942 - Mark Stille - Osprey Campaign #247 - a pretty well written account of the two carrier battles fought north of "the 'canal" in August and October 1942. My local library has a copy of this which greatly surprised me.

The only negative thing to me was the author's insistance on referring to the Japanese carrier aircraft in the text as "carrier attack planes" (B5N "Kates") and "carrier bombers" (D3A "Val"), while USN aircraft are clearly identified as Dauntless/Avenger/Wildcats. He does state this is because those terms were the official IJN terminology, but I found myself having to go back several times in the narrative as its unclear immediately exactly what types he is referring to. Overall a very good treatment of the subject.     

Using it to outline another solo scripted campaign following the fate of my Zero shotai (flight) that has previously participated in the Indian Ocean raid aboard Akagi and the Aleutian diversion on Junyo. Santa Cruz is the next logical step as Junyo was present at the battle.



         

[kipt]

Finished "The Waterloo Archive Volume VII: British Sources" edited by Gareth Glover.  This and any following are published by Ken Trotman and called The Ken Trotman Waterloo Archive Book 1.

Interesting how many new sourced Glover keeps finding.

[kipt]

Finished the "Personal Memoirs Of U.S. Grant".

Grant began writing in 1884 as he learned he had cancer.  He was worried about taking care of his family after he was gone.  He finished writing a year later and the correction of the proofs was finished July 14, 1885.  He died 9 days later.

Needing money he accepted the Century magazines offer to write a book on his life.  However Mark Twain stepped in when Twain felt Grant was being cheated and offered to publish it himself.  This he did.

The book is a good history and plain spoken.  It has been called one of the best narratives by a commanding general and I agree.