Tag Archives: military history

With the Byzantine empire in decline and growing Italian influence in the Aegean and Black Seas, the young Ottoman sultan Mehmed II besieged Constantinople in order to secure his position and prevent the city from falling into rival hands. From 6th April 1453 the Byzantine capital faced constant land and sea attacks before the defencesContinue reading “Siege artillery at Constantinople, 1453”

During the surprise ‘Tet offensive’ across South Vietnam, US Marines and ARVN troops fought to retake the old capital of Hue from the two North Vietnamese Army regiments and Viet Cong sapper battalions that had held the city since 31st January. With firepower and mobility constrained by the urban landscape, it was up to MarineContinue reading “Battle for Hue City, February 1968”

As part of the second British attempt to cross the Tugela River and relieve the siege of Ladysmith, Lieutenant-General Warren’s 5th Division was tasked with capturing the steep strongpoint known as Spion Kop (‘Look-out Hill’). Although the summit was quickly seized by a brigade column on the night of 23rd January, heavy mist obscured theContinue reading “Attack on the Twin Peaks, 24th January 1900”

The Battle of Colenso was fought during the Second Boer War (1899-1902) between Britain and the republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State. In an attempt to relieve the siege of Ladysmith in northern Natal, British troops under General Redvers Buller clashed with Boer forces along the south bank of the Tugela River. Buller’sContinue reading “Long’s guns at Colenso, 15th December 1899”

The opening phase of the Second Battle of El Alamein – codenamed Operation Lightfoot – involved three simultaneous attacks along the entire Axis frontline stretching from the coast to the Qattara Depression. The four Allied divisions of Lt Gen Leese’s XXX Corps would form the bulk of the assault through German and Italian positions, whichContinue reading “Night barrage at El Alamein, 23rd October 1942”

The Battle of Quebec was one of the decisive clashes of the Seven Years War (1756-63), with British troops under Major-Gen. James Wolfe defeating a French and Canadian force outside the capital of New France. Wolfe landed his army at Anse du Foulon just before dawn, hoping to take advantage of a steep road thatContinue reading “Scaling the Foulon cliff, 13th September 1759”

Developed in the early-1930s to provide infantry support, the Ha-Go was Japan’s most widely-produced armoured vehicle of WWII. Its light weight and speed were effective in the early stages of the war, but it was eventually outclassed by heavier Allied armour. The Ha-Go formed the basis of several variants, including the Ka-Mi amphibious tank. ExperienceContinue reading “Type 95 Ha-Go light tank”

Originally designed as an anti-aircraft gun, the German ’88’ saw service on all fronts during WWII. Firing 20 high-velocity rounds a minute with an effective horizontal range of over 10km (6 miles), it earned a fearsome reputation as an anti-tank gun. This picture depicts the Flak 37 during the North African campaign, fitted with aContinue reading “88mm Flak 37”

The Boxer Rebellion was a revolt spearheaded by a secret society – ‘Boxers United in Righteousness‘ (Yihequan)- that aimed to remove foreign influence over China after years of military defeats and trade concessions. In June 1900 the Boxers, with support from the Imperial court, laid siege to the Legation Quarter of Beijing (Peking) for 55Continue reading “The ‘International Gun’ at Beijing, July 1900”

A11 tanks and crews from 4th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment in France during the ‘Phoney War’ (Sept 1939 – May 1940). In the foreground, two troopers check over maps and documents. Beyond them, other crewmen inspect their vehicles. All are dressed in black overalls with the regimental beret. Designed as an ‘infantry tank’, the A11Continue reading “Royal Tank Regiment, France, 1939-40”