F-15C vs MiG-23/25 (Four Stars)

This book in the Osprey Duel series looks at the MiG-23 and MiG-25 in combat against the F-15C during Operation Desert Storm. For a small volume it does an excellent job in discussing the development of all three aircraft and their subsequent fielding by the U.S. Air Force (F-15C) and the Iraqi Air Force MiG-23/25).

At first I thought it was odd to lump the MiGs together as each is a completely different aircraft design, each bearing unique characteristics. I was unaware that there were interceptor tactics which relied upon both aircraft working in tandem in order to defeat (under ideal conditions) the F-15. The writing does a good job of making the reader almost feel as if he's in the cockpit with the pilot and the photos and artwork definitely make it feel real. I was hoping, however, that there might at least be a mention of the MiG-25 recon, or spoofing, flights during Operation Desert Shield since this practice also showed the mettle of the Iraqi pilots who flew the Foxbats. Definitely learned a lot, though.

The Victorian Internet (Five Stars)

The invention of the telegraph, its development and its use in the 19th century as a communication device is discussed in this excellent volume. Real stories of telegraphy, some of them quite surprising, provide background to the story of this technology, a real leap forward in its time. Well-organized with good writing this is an excellent book. Whether you are fascinated by telegraphy or have never really thought about it before, this book will keep you entertained. Recently had to reread a second time!

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.

The Turk: The Life and Times and the Famous Eighteenth-Century Chess-Playing Machine (Five Stars)

In the 18th Century, during a time when automatons were toys to amuse the rich and entertain the public, a mechanical chess player called the Turk was crafted in Austria and became the wonder of its time. Standage unwraps the history and myth of the machine over its 80 years of existence, during which it intrigued Benjamin Franklin, Charles Babbage and Edgar Allen Poe, all of whom the machine had some influence over. Despite much speculation it wasn't until much later in the machine's existence that all its secrets were discovered.

Very well-written, with illustrations. Definitely an excellent book to read even if you're not really interested in automatons.

Ever Your Own, Johnnie: Britain 1938-42 (three stars)

This book looks at the wartime service of John Kemp through the letters he wrote to his girlfriend and later wife. The book is very touching at times as John Kemp write about his service as a gunner in the Territorial Army prior to the outbreak of war, his promotion to sergeant, then later Battery Sergeant Major and then (briefly) Regimental Sergeant Major. The book gives some insight to Britain's desperate situation at the beginning of the war, deploying some batteries with obsolete (or at least inappropriate in the role) Vickers automatic antiaircraft weapons. Later these were replaced by 3.7 Inch Guns. Kemp's role as a non-commissioned officer (and warrant officer) in the battery makes for interesting reading.


I liked this book and I think it has valuable information about the state of air defense in Britain from the beginning of the War to the invasion of Italy in 1943. However, I think the information at the back of the book on the 3.7 Inch Gun, the organization of the Royal Artillery AA batteries, and the travels of Sergeant-Major Kemp would have been better if they were mixed in the narrative, between letters. Or, if they were mostly presented up-front.


Illustrated with personal photos. The book could have used a map as well.

Crashback (Five Stars)

Anyone familiar with the People’s Liberation Army (and its small adjuncts, the PLAF and PLAN) during the 1980s found it hard to take seriously: most of its aircraft and ships belonged in museums. It intended to rely on human-wave attacks in the event of a full-scale war. If it wasn’t equipped with nuclear weapons, it would hardly be of concern at all.

That is not the PLA or the Chinese Navy now.

China has the advantage that Germany initially had during WWII: unburdened by “legacy” warships which were out of date and consumed resources more efficiently spent elsewhere, Germany concentrated instead on warships which would prove to be of more use to her, such as heavy cruisers capable of outrunning enemy task forces sent after them and U-boats of entirely new design. China was unburdened by a legacy fleet when it began building its first real blue water navy. It has built modern warships armed with a variety of anti-ship missiles. The U.S. Navy, on the other hand, has not developed a new anti-ship missile in decades and has, in fact, removed the missile magazines on some older ships, relying on “multipurpose guns” to take on other ships and other missions.

China has been on a collision course with the United States for some time. Claiming its Exclusive Economic Zone as territorial waters, China is bullying Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan into abiding by this “interpretation” of international law. China is also showing more and more of a willingness to take on the United States itself… where will this end?
Reads like a novel while it opens your eyes. Well-illustrated with maps and photographs.

American Coastal Defenses, 1885-1950 (Five Stars)

This volume in the Osprey Fortress series looks at the Coast Artillery installations built throughout the United States and its territories to protect American soil from naval (and later, air) attack. The United States has always believed in defending its shores (the wars with the British made great use of the Royal Navy and taught some singular lessons to Americans) but this book focuses on the equipment, training, organization, fortifications and personnel of the Endicott-Taft System, the modern coast artillery created during the first half of the 20^th century. Army planners spread out the modern forts, with long-range, disappearing guns, very heavy mortars, remote-controlled mines and optical aiming equipment to key harbors along the coasts, predicting that a determined enemy from across the oceans would need to seize one or more in order to sustain an army on American soil. The possibility of airborne invasion or nuclear attack doomed the fortresses into obscurity.

Well-illustrated with photographs, artwork and maps.

GAZ-66 Variants (Four Stars)

If you've ever wanted to drive a GAZ-66 or shoot a ZU-23-2 then this is certainly a good place to start. I was particularly interested in the antiaircraft gun, which is photographed in good detail while particular controls are pointed out. If you are a modeler (and that's what this book is designed for) then you can hardly go wrong with the amount of information available here. I think I personally would have liked more details on the operation of the gun, but that's my own interest.

Technicals (Five Stars)

The last few decades have seen the rise of both the high-tech and the cheap-rent when it comes to weapon systems. On the low end are the "technicals," mobile support weapons created by putting automatic weapons on the back of relatively cheap, nimble pickups and other vehicles, allowing insurgents and militia to support their troops during assaults and provide covering fire. Lacking armor, these vehicles rely a lot on mobility to prevent being plastered. And it's not the occasional antiaircraft machinegun that is pressed into service either: recoilless rifles, grenade launchers, even air-to-air rocket pods all serve to provide backup from Nissans and landrovers.
A well-done book on an obscure topic but relevent to many who have served in the Middle Eastern wars. Excellent illustrations and commentary and great original artwork.

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.