James is a leading British popular military historian. He is very prolific and many of his, consistent, ideas are prominent in each work. He does...
One of Napoleon's maximsd was A general-in-chief should ask himself several times in the day, 'What if the enemy were to appear now in my front,...
FMS B832 Debriefing with Staudinger I SS Artillery in Normandy
The British preference for artillery to be observed by relatively high ranking officers may go back to WW1. Here is an extract from Field Guns in...
The Germans had real problems in Normandy. Sure they picked potential targets which were often well chosen based on likely enemy (allied)...
You don't need to be an officer to adjust fire onto a target. Indeed when we were fire-planning my Ack (assistant) a Bombardier (corporal) would...
I suspect both were the result of intra service politics and a bit of serendipity. You are right. Like the US Field artillery in WW2, the Royal...
Blackadder is a satire, not military history. None of the people who made the show had a military background It is a lot of fun. The...
This isn't far off the twelve weeks training I received on my Young Officer's course in autumn 1979 and the follow up six weeks Gun Position...
The basic procedures for calling for fire are straight forward and can even be learned by infantrymen and tankies. When I was serving it was an...
These really good questions. I haven't seen much on the medical support for RAF Bomber bases. The USAAC may be better referenced. I dont think...
IRRC he wiped himself out on a lease lend motorcycle. I'd like to think ift was a Harley Davidson but probably not.
Several allied nations handed over medals to be awarded to British troops. Some British soldiers were awarded the Croix de Guerre for actions that...
If you like fictionalised accounts try Paul Carell Paul Carell (Author of Hitler Moves East 1941–1943) and for balance try anything by Vasily...
Radio communications was not something that anyone could just do - although the US PRC 356 was issued down to platoon level. But that was a dumbed...
The main issue may have been the under-rated asset of artillery communications. WW2 era wireless equipment needed loving care and maintaining...
John Ellis Brute Force view of the allies has been overtaken by more nuanced analysis. You could read Stephen Hart Colossal Cracks, or anything by...
A British infantry division with nine infantry battalions would have three artillery Regiments in Direct Support. Each Regiment of 24 x 25 pounder...
I am not sure that either I or the Regimental historian would agree with your very simplified description of British Artillery development....
The British entered WW2 with artillery superficially organised in a similar way to the US Artillery. Batteries, commanded by a major of 12 guns...
