“The End of Man’s Valor”: The History of Artillery From Ancient Rome To World War Two
Around 379 BC, King Archidamus of Sparta summed up the impact of artillery on infantry. When shown a huge bow capable of flinging giant arrows…
The Longbow: Its Rise and Dominance – It Totally Changed Medieval Warfare
The growing effectiveness of metal armor created a challenge for medieval soldiers. While the elite of knights and men-at-arms were now well protected, the majority…
The Greatest Raid of World War II: The St Nazaire Raid
On 28 March 1942, British forces launched one of the most daring operations of the Second World War. Now known as “The Greatest Raid of…
The Blockade Camp: How and Why the Romans Penned Their Enemies In
One of the most important tools of the Roman army, the blockade camp, was classic Roman engineering under fire. What Was a Blockade Camp? On…
The Battle of the Coral Sea in World War Two – Making Military History In the Pacific
From the 4th to 8th May 1942, the Japanese and American fleets in the Pacific made history. For the first time ever, a naval battle…
From Ancient Times To World War Two – Massive Retreats of Military History
Can a retreat ever be considered a success? Most are a sign of failure, as armies pull back from the objectives they seek to take…
The Roman Army Is Not Mysterious – Here Are Some of the Ways Modern Historians Gain Their Knowledge
Given the circumstances, we know an amazing amount about the ancient Roman army. Over 1500 years after the fall of the Roman Empire fell, we…
Marlborough’s March To The Danube And Battle Of Blenheim
The Duke of Marlborough is widely regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in British history. Though he is famed for his battlefield successes,…
The Ancient Roman Army’s Siege Technique Was Methodical And Terrifyingly Efficient
When the Roman army laid siege to a city, there were no half measures. Great effort went into preparing such an operation, the construction skills…
Who Dares Wins – When Overly Timid Generals Brought Disaster To Their Troops
Recklessness can be a bad thing in a commander, getting the people beneath them killed by an excess of innovation and risk taking. But so…
Underestimating the Enemy – The French Military Disaster At Dien Bien Phu
Arrogance. Ignorance. Poor planning. These were the weapons with which French commanders fought the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, and with which they ensured their…
Fire In Warfare: Seven Devastating Incendiary Weapons From Military History
Fire has played a devastating part in the history of war. Even when not weaponized, it could be unleashed during pillaging of towns, leading to…