The Fangs of the Lone Wolf - Dodge Billingsley

The information presented was written by Chris Buckham; however, it was published in The Canadian Army Journal. Therefore, the material is reproduced here by the author with the permission of the journal. If you would like to republish this information or refer to excerpts please contact the Editor Canadian Army Journal (ANDREW.GODEFROY@forces.gc.ca). Website for the Journal is: http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/caj/default-eng.asp?view=more

Title: The Fangs of the Lone Wolf

Author: Dodge Billingsley
ISBN: 978-1-909384-77-4
Hardcover
Pages: 181
Photo's/Maps: 11/30
Publisher: Helion Publishing

Between 1994 and 2009 the Russian Federation and the Chechen fighters fought two distinct wars over the question of independence for Chechnya. These wars were interesting in that, while they were both fought between the same adversaries, the nature, doctrine and skill sets evident in each conflict were, in fact, unique and gave each conflict a very individual character. The author, an experienced conflict reporter, was embedded regionally during the fighting and was able to interview a number of Chechen combatants on how they planned and executed operations.

One of the most evident and consistent conclusions drawn by the author was the critical limitations imposed upon the Chechen's by their lack of a coherent or reliable logistics system. Throughout both wars they were utterly unable to hold territory for any length of time due to their inability to resupply and maintain their forces. Thus, during the initial fighting in 1994/1995, while Chechen forces had artillery, tanks and other advanced weapons systems, they quickly became ineffective due to a lack of munitions, spares and recovery capabilities. 

The Chechen’s were also hampered by their ad hoc fighting and command and control structures. Units were formed around individuals from common towns or villages and were loyal only to their elected leaders. Often they would depart a battlefield for personal or clan reasons without notification to their central command. Orders from the centre were extremely general, often only outlining roughly where they were to deploy. Individual unit leaders would then determine tactics and plans without consulting neighbouring sections. This often resulted in fractured responses and a lack of confidence between units in the reliability of others.

Nevertheless, as the author relates, the Chechen’s were not lacking in courage or tactical capability. Employing advanced defensive techniques, they were regularly able to counter Russian offensive doctrine and inflict significant damage upon armour and air assets. They were also able to take advantage of local support for food, shelter and information depending upon the region within which they were operating. This changed as the second war dragged on and fatigue amongst the civilian population for the conflict combined with Russian success at promoting interse conflict between Chechen groups sapped sources of local support.

Another area that strikes the reader, where the Chechen's excelled, was their ability to improvise weapons systems out of everyday parts. Thus, despite the fact that they lacked access to formal weapons systems such as rocket launchers, they were able to maintain stocks by building their own. For example, they would salvage the driveshaft covers from MAZ trucks to serve as the launch tube for 57mm S-5 rockets and similarly, the driveshaft covers from Ural trucks for 80mm S-8 rockets. Sites for these weapons were developed by utilizing half -binoculars or something similar. The rockets themselves were usually salvaged from shot-down helicopters.

Billingsley has drafted his text in a series of vignettes, each accompanied by a colour map, that serve to highlight a different aspect of Chechen techniques in asymmetric warfare. He emphasizes Chechen strengths and weaknesses under different fighting scenarios providing a detailed account of the battles as recounted by individuals present on the field, followed by a commentary that encapsulates the lessons to be drawn for the encounter. His chapters are broken out by operational type such as 'Defense of an Urban Area', 'Raids', 'Ambush and Counterambush' and 'Defense of Lines of Communications' and may thus be read as a collective or individually without breaking the flow of the narrative.

I liked Billingsley's style of writing and the methods he used to summarize the chapters. I found that it provided a quick and accurate synopsis of the lessons to be gleaned from the Chechen experience. While the book is focused exclusively upon the Chechen's themselves, it is evident as one reads of the later battles of the 2000's, that the quality and professionalism of the Russians had also improved dramatically. Included with the book is a good bibliography of books and video's for additional reading. 

Helion has produced another quality book worth, to the reader, the investment of time and money. The authors unique insights, enabled by his close working relationship with the Chechen's, makes for a technical but interesting read. His narrative is blunt, honest and balanced and he does no shy away from critical conclusions of the Chechen efforts where warranted.

 

Forgotten Sacrifice: The Arctic Convoys of World War II - Michael G Walling

Title: Forgotten Sacrifice: The Arctic Convoys of World War II

Author: Michael G Walling
ISBN: 978-1-84908-718-6
Hardcover
Pages: 284
Publisher: Osprey Publishing

One of the most under-appreciated facets of the Second World War has to be the valour and sacrifice of the sailors of the merchant marine and the navies of the Soviet, British, American and Allies that struggled against tremendous odds to maintain a supply lifeline through the frigid Arctic waters, to the Soviet Union throughout the particularly bleak years of 1941-1943. Ranged against them, and no less determined and valourous, were the units of the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe who did their utmost to strangle this 'warm line' of support. Relatively speaking, little has been written about these efforts and the voices of these sailors and airmen have remained silent. This is no longer the case as a result of the efforts of Mr Walling.

The impact that the convoys had on the war effort may best be summarized by a quote from Mr Waling's book: "If a submarine sinks two 6000-ton ships and a 3000 ton tanker...(to achieve an equivalent loss) by air bombing, the enemy would have to make three thousand successful bombing sorties: from a 1943 US Navy assessment". This begins to provide strategic perspective on the importance played by these men and women and the merchant/convoy system to the success of the Allied war effort in the East. 

Walling presents his book with a synopsis of the convoy system, the nature of the threat posed by the Germans, the intelligence gathering methods of both sides and the methods available to the Allies to counter the Germans; this is critical as it provides the reader with the background to appreciate the rest of the book. The narrative of the book is both a rendition of the Allied convoy experience and a medium whereby the voices of the participants are heard again through recollections of survivors. 

The author is particularly adept at blending the narratives of the survivors within the larger storyline. This adds depth and appreciation of the sacrifices made by these crews and the incredible hardships to which they were exposed. Walling touches upon the fate of PQ-17 in some detail, representing as it does, the tragedy that results when German tactics coincide with Allied errors. What I found particularly interesting, were the sections relating to German surface and subsurface operations in the Kara Sea to the east of the Ural Mountains. The German cruiser Admiral Hipper and a number of u-boats conducted operations against secluded Russian northern coordination and tracking centres. There is little to no account of these operations in any detail that I have seen before and I was struck by the sheer isolation of these encounters in one of the most hostile environments on earth.

Mr Walling has written a fantastic book; a well-researched, high quality and eminently readable publication. The risks undertaken by those operating in the north were enormous and the bravery exhibited by both the Allies and Axis sailors and airmen in their struggle for supremacy must stand as one of the least appreciated aspects of the Second World War. I strongly encourage those with any interest in the history of this regional conflict to read this book.

Into The Gates of Hell: Stug Command '41 - Bob Carruthers and Sinclair McLay

Title: Into The Gates of Hell: Stug Command '41

Author: Bob Carruthers and Sinclair McLay

ISBN: 978-1-7834-6242-1

Softcover

Pages: 313

Photos: 0

Publisher: Pen and Sword Publishing

This book is the second in a series of books based upon notes and manuscripts drafted by an un-named German officer under the pen-name Ritter von Krauss of his experiences during the First and Second World War. His works, written, it is believed, between 1954 and 1968, were released to the authors with the strict stipulation that his family name never be revealed and that none of the works be published while his immediate children were still alive. The manuscripts themselves have been verified as genuine and, while little is factually known about von Krauss, it is believed that he came from a wealthy aristocratic family reduced to poverty in the 1920's. A firm believer in National Socialism, he is felt not to have harboured any anti-semitic views but rather saw the movement and Hitler as a way to reunify and strengthen Germany. It is also believed that he served as an armoured officer in both world wars. 

Carruthers and McLay have created an enjoyable read out of the strawman manuscript that they received. The story centres around the German assault on the Fortress of Brest-Litovsk during the opening days of Operation Barbarossa (the German attack on the Soviet Union in 1941). The plot is not terribly complicated but it does impart a great deal of information regarding the various types of equipment in use, tactics of the day, weapons capabilities and historical context. The characterization is rather two dimensional as the Germans, for the most part, are painted in a civilized yet negative and barbaric light in their actions, while the Russians themselves are portrayed as less sophisticated but determined and sympathetic. I felt that this was rather shallow and perhaps a little too stereotypical. Overall, the storyline felt very dense with, I felt, too many lines of approach; it all felt a mile wide but an inch deep.

Nevertheless, the authors do bring to light individuals who played key roles in the defence and assault of Brest Litovsk whose names have subsequently been lost to all but the most ardent of historians. Without the key intervention and initiative of Commissar Fomin and Captain Zubachyov, the battle for the fortress would have been much shorter and easier for the Germans. As it was, their example served to energize the defence and resulted in a bloody fight lasting for weeks instead of hours; as much as possible, the authors have utilized actual participants within their rendition of the battle.

I would have enjoyed having a map of the fortress and a regional map to cross reference against the narrative. This would have provided a much better appreciation of the nature of the fighting. Also, it would have been helpful if the authors had provided historical footnotes to further enhance the storyline by adding additional actual information in a similar way that Peter Tsouras or George McDonald Fraser do in their works of historical fiction.

This work was an enjoyable read and I did find it to be both entertaining and educational. Certainly, there is room for improvement but I still believe that it is worth perusing. Historical fiction is a very difficult genre within which to work and the authors have written a worthy addition to that body.

Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone - Rajiv Chandrasekararan

Title: Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone

Author: Rajiv Chandrasekararan

ISBN: 978-0-307-27883-8

Softcover

Pages: 365

Photos: 0

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Hubris and naivety, two words that best describe the feeling that one is left with after reading Mr Chandrasekaran' s book. The US invasion of Iraq and the subsequent overthrow of Saddam Hussein were seen by many Americans as the finishing of a job stated in 1990. Flush with a relatively painless victory, the Government of President Bush was ready to welcome the Iraqi people into the 'democratic' club (as perceived by the the leadership of the United States). The author's book relates his experiences and views as he watched the unfolding of this effort to build a new, democratic Iraq from the ashes of the old over a period of one year from 2003 to 2004. 

The author approaches his subject as a reporter would, relating his narrative through discussions with a variety of individuals (both Iraqi and American) charged with developing or affected by the decisions and policies of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) led by the controversial Paul Bremer. He is not interested in passing judgement on the success or failure of the CPA, more to the point he wishes to convey a sense of the environment within which the organization functioned, the challenges it encountered, what it aspired to attain and what it actually achieved culminating in the overall impact that this had on the individuals involved.

As I progressed through the book, I was struck by the sense of initial optimism brought about by a fundamental lack of understanding and appreciation of the nature of environment or the task at hand by the very people charged with transitioning Iraq. The inappropriate criteria used to select individuals and the paternalistic approach to the Iraqis that typified many of the American's attitude towards rebuilding. Compounding this was the seemingly misplaced criteria of political expediency versus acknowledged requirements as the driving force behind the decision making process within the CPA. It is evident from the author's notes that there were those that attempted to fulfil their mandates to the best of their abilities; however, it did not take long for initial idealism and dedication to be suffocated by intransigence, self interest and incompetence. 

As a former Baghdad bureau chief for the Washington Post, the author is uniquely qualified to shed light on the World of Oz that was the US Green Zone in 2003/04. HIs regional knowledge and ability to travel outside the walls of the Zone; thereby being able to ascertain an impression of the impact of the CPA's efforts 'beyond the powerpoint' (which typified their methods of presenting successful statistics), add a level of credibility to his work. He avoids cynicism and sarcasm in his writing although, it is suggested through ironic narrative.

This book is a fast, easy read but also extremely eye-opening and educational. The author has done a commendable job in conveying the atmosphere and attitude of the Green Zone and I recommend this book. The experience of the CPA during their first years in Iraq is not a story of success, rather one of good intentions matched neither by capability, understanding nor effective planning. I was reminded of the commercial where a patient is in cardiac arrest and the medical staff are struggling to save him, when a complete stranger rushes into the room and saves the day. When the staff, in obvious relief ask him if he is a doctor he replies "No, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night". Unfortunately, in the case of the CPA and Iraq, the patient died.

The Scapegoat: The life and tragedy of a fighting admiral and Churchill's role in his death - Steve R Dunn

The information presented was written by Chris Buckham; however, it was published in Soldier Magazine. Therefore, the material is reproduced here by the author with the permission of the magazine. If you would like to republish this information or refer to excerpts please contact the Assistant Editor Soldier Magazine (rclark@soldiermagazine.co.uk). Website for the Magazine is: http://www.army.mod.uk/soldier-magazine/soldier-magazine.aspx

Title: The Scapegoat: The life and tragedy of a fighting admiral and Churchill's role in his death

Author: Steve R Dunn
ISBN: 978-1-84624-971-6
Hardcover
Pages: 252
Publisher: Book Guild Publishing
Photo's: 4 b/w
Rating: 4/5

The Battle of Coronel in WW1 has, for the most part, faded into the annals of history; the author has shed new light on this engagement. Drawing upon a myriad of primary sources, Dunn highlights the politics, jealousies, tragedy and farce that undermined the ultimately futile efforts of Admiral Cradock to stop the German Far East fleet from escaping back to Germany at the beginning of the war. Well-written, balanced and critical, the author presents the reader with a macro level canvas encompassing issues of political interference, ship building technology and service environments of both adversaries before focusing on the personalities of Cradock, Churchill and the battle that cost him (Cradock) his life. An engaging read of a noble yet tragic figure.       

United States vs German Equipment 1945 - Uwe Feist

The information presented was written by Chris Buckham; however, it was published in Soldier Magazine. Therefore, the material is reproduced here by the author with the permission of the magazine. If you would like to republish this information or refer to excerpts please contact the Assistant Editor Soldier Magazine (rclark@soldiermagazine.co.uk). Website for the Magazine is: http://www.army.mod.uk/soldier-magazine/soldier-magazine.aspx

Title: United States vs German Equipment 1945

Author: Uwe Feist
ISBN: 978-0-8117-1314-6
Hardcover
Pages: 312
Publisher: Stackpole Books
Photo's: multiple b/w and colour
Rating: 4.5/5

 

Following awareness of ongoing complaints from US soldiers regarding the quality of their equipment when compared with that of the Germans, Gen Eisenhower ordered that a comprehensive investigation of said claims be made and the results reported back to him. This book is a verbatim reproduction of that report from March,1945. Replete with numerous accompanying photos, it covers everything from tank vs panzer to shelter halves, rations, personnel weapons and helmets. This is an excellent source document for both the casual and professional historian who is interested whether or not the Germans had consistently better equipment in terms of quality, but were beaten by quantity. I particularly enjoyed this high quality publication.

The Encyclopedia of Warfare - Multiple Authors, Foreword by Dennis Showalter

The information presented was written by Chris Buckham; however, it was published in Soldier Magazine. Therefore, the material is reproduced here by the author with the permission of the magazine. If you would like to republish this information or refer to excerpts please contact the Assistant Editor Soldier Magazine (rclark@soldiermagazine.co.uk). Website for the Magazine is: http://www.army.mod.uk/soldier-magazine/soldier-magazine.aspx

Title: The Encyclopedia of Warfare

Author: Multiple Authors, Foreword by Dennis Showalter

ISBN: 978-1-78274-023-0

Hardcover

Pages: 1024

Publisher: Amber Books

Photos: 100’s maps

Rating: 4/5

 

As a reference guide to international conflict, this book has few equals. Drawing upon the collective knowledge of multiple historians, it summarizes over five thousand different battles ranging from the earliest recorded fights of the ancient world up to engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan. The book is written in chronological order by period with each subsection broken out by consecutive year. This makes for very easy reading and research. Additionally, for the more significant engagements, coloured maps are included. Each battle may be taken in context with others or read in isolation with equal effect; an excellent reference text encompassing a daunting period.