Andrew Knighton

Andrew Knighton is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE

Articles by Andrew Knighton:

The Flying Tank: Why One of the Most Produced Aircraft Just Disappeared After WWII

The Ilyushin Il-2 was one of the most heavily produced aircraft in military history. More than 36,000 of these Soviet planes were built, most of…

Victoria Cross Recipient : Hero of Hell Ted Swales was found dead at the controls

During World War II, men from all over the world fought within the British armed forces. Some had fled countries overrun by the Nazis. A…

On His 21st Birthday He & His Platoon Held Off the Entire 1st SS Panzer Corps

On December 16, 1944, the German army launched Operation Autumn Fog. Hitler’s last great offensive of World War II, Autumn Fog sent Allied troops reeling in…

Great Blunders of WW2 – One Happened Twice

When discussing the outcome of World War II, much is made of Axis mistakes. From Hitler’s launch of Operation Barbarossa to Japan’s failure to destroy…

Clive Dytor’s Battle-Winning Bayonet Charge in the Falklands War

British military history is full of stories of heroism against the odds. From the desperate defense of Rorke’s Drift against the massed Zulus to the…

Cross between a T-34 Tank & MiG-21 Jet. Putting oil well fires out like a boss

What happens when you cross two MiG fighters with the most influential tank of World War Two? The answer isn’t, as you might expect, a…

Banastre Tarleton – The Most Feared & Hated Man in Revolutionary America

The American Revolutionary War saw many bitter fights and acts of cruelty. Of all its actors, none were crueler than the British cavalry commander, Sir…

Lions Roar: 5 British Self-Propelled Guns of WWII

At the start of the Second World War, most artillery was not independently mobile. It had to be dragged into battle by transport vehicles or…

The Embarrassing British Attack on the Port of Dakar: Operation Menace

In September 1940, Britain tried to get an advantage over Nazi Germany by seizing the French colony of Dakar. It was an operation that ended…

Total Surprise! Outnumbered 10 to 1: German Paratroopers Took Down Belgian Fortress Eben-Emael

On the 10th of May 1940, German armed forces invaded Belgium. One of their most challenging targets was Eben-Emael, a modern fort on the Albert…

The Nazi Invasion of Norway – Hitler Tests the West

In 1940, Germany invaded neutral Norway. It was the first real test of the Allied military in Europe, one which would not go well for…

20 Specialist Armored Vehicles of World War Two

The Second World War saw massive numbers of armored vehicles deployed on all sides. While most were tanks, artillery, and transports, there were also lots…