The Rzhev Slaughterhouse: The Red Army's Forgotten 15-Month Campaign Against Army Group Center, 1942-1943 - Svetlana Gerasimova

Title: The Rzhev Slaughterhouse: The Red Army's Forgotten 15-

Month Campaign Against Army Group Center, 1942-1943

Author: Svetlana Gerasimova

ISBN: 9-781-908-91651-8

Pages: 269

Publisher: Helion Publishing

Photos/Maps: 113/ 8 (colour)

Ms Gerasimova represents a relatively new wave of Russian historians that have taken advantage of the loosening of restrictions placed upon Russian military records and archives. Thus we are seeing the publishing of a series of books pertaining to Soviet operations during Operation Barbarossa that are primarily drafted from the Soviet perspective. Up until now, histories of the Russo-German War have predominately been from the German viewpoint with the associated perceptions that have resulted. Additionally, despite the fact that Russia has subsequently tightened up the regulations, Russian historians are now much more free to be critical in their analysis.

Gerasimova's work outlines the Soviet efforts to encircle and destroy the German Army Group Center following the German retreat after the Battle of Moscow (from October, 1941 to January, 1942). While the author provides an outstanding synopsis of the conflict as it raged across a relatively small geographic area, where the real strength of this narrative lies is in her evaluation of the effectiveness of the Soviet command staff. She is blunt and direct in her criticism of the failure of the Soviets to take advantage of opportunities and the glaring failures of the staff across both the spectrum of operations and support as well as planning and execution.

This ongoing battle has been overshadowed for the most part by the German Plan Blau and the Battle of Stalingrad. For that reason, and the reticence of the Soviet Union to release information on the conflict, the scope and violence of Rzhev has never been fully appreciated. As Gerasimova points out, even today German and Russian casualties are only able to be estimated (although the German figures are considered to be much more accurate). Conservatively, she states that approximately 330,000 German's and over 2 million Russian's were casualties in this campaign.

From a strategic perspective the Rzhev saliant presented both the Soviets and Germans with key opportunities that resulted in highly focused attention being given to the area by the respective National leaders. Rzhev was, for the Russians, a continuing threat to Moscow and for the Germans, not only a stepping stone to the Soviet capital (offensively) but also a potential line of advance on Berlin for Russian forces. For these reasons, massive resources were thrown into the fray by each side.

The quality of the translation from its original Russian is very high although there is the odd awkward sentence. This does not, however, take away from the overall flow of the narrative. The production value of the book itself is also extremely high. Gerasimova provides an outstanding bibliography of primary and secondary source material as well as extensive appendices of Stavka (Soviet Supreme HQ) orders and directives. Unfortunately, Russia has still not released key documents from the strategic level Stavka discussions that, as Gerasimova points out, further clarify and enhance any scholarly work on this subject.

Overall, this is an outstanding piece of historical research worthy of any library or collection. It provides valuable insight into the Soviet war leadership and operational execution. Her work is very balanced and insightful. The Rzhev campaign was a slaughter in every sense of the word. Survivors from both sides recalled the fighting years later as the worst they had experienced at any time throughout the war. The Germans may be considered the victors as they were not defeated and withdrew from the salient of their own accord in March, 1943 but the cost was very high. The Soviets, for their part, proved themselves determined and aggressive adversaries that would bode ill for the Germans in the coming years.

Out of the Mountains: The Coming Age of the Urban Guerrilla - David Kilcullen

Title: Out of the Mountains: The Coming Age of the Urban

Guerrilla

Author: David Kilcullen

ISBN: 978-1-849-04324-3

Pages: 342

Publisher: Hurst Publishing

Photos: 0

Rank: 5/5 

This is an outstanding book relating to the future of non-traditional (asymmetric) warfare. Kilcullen draws upon extensive firsthand experience as well as copious amounts of primary source discussion and material to map out his view on the changing nature of war. Focusing upon four main themes: population growth, urbanization, littoralization and connectedness, he concisely and clearly identifies the impact of demographic and technological change on how the future asymmetric threat will manifest itself. A must read for any who have a role in urban and military planning and development.

 

Operation Unthinkable: The Third World War British Plans to Attack the Soviet Empire - Jonathon Walker

Title: Operation Unthinkable: The Third World War British Plans to

Attack the Soviet Empire

Author: Jonathan Walker

ISBN: 9780752487182

Pages: 192

Photos/map: 28/4

Rating: 4/5 

Jonathan Walker has written a gem of a book with his work “Operation Unthinkable”. Drawing upon copious amounts of unpublished and primary source documents, he has traced the political and diplomatic shark tank that was the relationship between the three great powers in the final days of WW2. What is most surprising is the degree of naivety of the United States regarding the intentions of the Soviets. Churchill's efforts to raise awareness of the intentions of the Soviets are met with indifference and mistrust until the 11th hour. Walker has painted an engaging and sobering portrait of a struggle between ‘allies’ and the desperate plan drafted at the direction of Churchill. Very highly recommended.

Dingo Firestorm: The Greatest Battle of the Rhodesian Bush War - Ian Pringle

Title: Dingo Firestorm: The Greatest Battle of the Rhodesian Bush War

Author: Ian Pringle
Publisher: Helion, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-909384-12-5
Pages: 266
Photographs: 25 b/w, 33 colour
Maps: 5 b/w        

                Ian Pringle has written a fast-paced, engaging book about one of the most successful Rhodesian “fireforce” operations in history. Conceived out of a requirement to deal a major blow to the rebel ZANLA forces of Robert Mugabe (operating out of Mozambique), Op Dingo has come to represent the standard from which to measure special force joint operations. An unmitigated success, in Nov, 1977, 184 Rhodesian soldiers and 61 Rhodesian fixed and rotary wing aircraft struck two ZANLA camps deep within Mozambique. Two distinct operations undertaken concurrently within a period of 72 hrs resulted in a total of approximately 3000 ZANLA deaths, many thousands wounded and tons of equipment lost for a price of two Rhodesian dead, a handful wounded and one aircraft lost; a success that sent reverberations throughout the world.

                Pringle sets the stage for the reader by providing throughout the first half of the book a synopsis of the conditions that led up to Op Dingo. Relaying in a manner easily followed by the casual historian (but with more than sufficient detail for the armchair general), he succinctly traces the international situation that led to the Rhodesian isolation, its reluctant reliance upon South Africa and its (mainly successful) efforts to develop and maintain capabilities ensuring freedom of action. Additionally, Pringle sheds light upon the activities of the regional powers surrounding Rhodesia, their support for the rebel faction ZANLA and the impact that this had on the ultimate fate of the Rhodesians. All of this sets an outstanding base from which to segue into the unfolding of Operation Dingo.

                The second half of the book is a detailed rendition of the planning and execution at the tactical level of Op Dingo itself. Drawing upon first person as well as official documentation Pringle provides depth and breadth to his narrative; including not just recollections from the Rhodesian side, but also the ZANLA. His style is such that the reader feels intimately the tension, pressure and speed of the execution.

                Two observations that I would make is that while Pringle explains in detail a number of the Rhodesian technical innovations such as the flechette and golf bombs, he does not describe the alpha bomb. This is a significant oversight as this ordnance was a completely unique Rhodesian design and key to the success of the operation. Additionally, the maps provided could have been improved had the tracks of the different ingress and egress routes of the various airframes been provided. Pringle discusses these routes in detail in the narrative and I feel that the complexity (and, by extension) the professionalism of the operation would have been further enhanced by coloured maps tracing the routing. These are; however, minor comments that are not detrimental to Pringle’s success with this rendition.

                Overall, this is an excellent read and a thoroughly engaging book. I highly recommend it for those interested in a regional conflict that has largely been lost in the shadows of history.

Brown Waters of Africa: Portuguese Riverine Warfare 1961-1974 - John P Cann

The information presented was written by Chris Buckham; however, it was published in The Canadian Naval Review (Vol. 9, No. 3 (Fall 2013)). Therefore, the material is reproduced here by the author with the permission of the Review. If you would like to republish this information or refer to excerpts please contact the Editor CNR (Ann.Griffiths@Dal.Ca). Website for the Review is: http://www.navalreview.ca

Title: Brown Waters of Africa: Portuguese Riverine Warfare 1961-1974

Author: John P Cann
ISBN: 978-1-908916-56-3
Softcover
Pages: 274
Illustrations: 33 B/W
Publisher: Helion Publishing

                Histories relating to ‘colonial style’ insurrection often focus on the land and air aspects of those operations. What makes the Portuguese experience so interesting is that, due to geography and sparse population, riverine operations played a critical role for both the insurgents and the Portuguese trying to contain them. Riverine doctrine and ops were in their infancy when Portugal decided to go against world convention and undertake efforts to retain its three colonies in Africa (Angola, Mozambique and Guinea). Thus the Portuguese military developed and executed their concepts over the course of 13 years of ongoing operations resulting in a comprehensive and effective response to the insurgents. 

                Cann’s book commences with a comprehensive overview of the development of the insurgency movement within Africa and the concurrent responses to it from the West and Soviets. He then addresses the challenges to the Portuguese government and senior military staff as it was pulled between opportunities and responsibilities to NATO (and its blue-water naval requirements) and the ‘ultramar’ (or colonies) and their brown-water focus. The Portuguese senior naval staff’s success, commencing in the mid-1950’s, in meeting both of these necessities, was remarkable both in terms of naval equipment purchase and design and doctrinal development (especially relating to operations within river, lake and littoral regions). While creating their own unique brown-water doctrine, the Portuguese drew heavily on the successes and failures of three main allies: the US, French and Great Britain.

                He then delves into the creation of specialized marine infantry, the Fuzileiros, to augment the engagement power of the riverine fleet. Having been disbanded as a force in 1890, these marines were reactivated with new operating procedures and tactics in 1959. Operating with new ‘Zodiac’ style small boats, these soldiers augmented the already versatile and formidable fleet of landing craft, patrol boats and frigates that were specifically created to meet the unique requirements of brown-water engagements.

                Once he had established the background and history of the Portuguese involvement and reaction to the colonial insurgencies, Cann focused his attention on operations and activities within each of the colonies themselves. Drawing upon extensive after-action reports and interviews, he sheds light upon the similarities and differences between the Portuguese navy’s responses to the unique requirements of each region. Faced with insurgents of varying capability and competence, the navy, through an ongoing and dynamic process of trial and error, developed extremely effective and responsive methods to interdict and disrupt insurgent logistical support by denying them freedom of movement within the regional waterways. Due to the challenging geography of the region joint operations with the army became the norm and while this was, from an overall perspective, effective, there were significant growing pains as the two traditionally independent elements struggled with command and control as well as operational primacy issues. Nevertheless, the navy’s ability to adapt both its equipment and tactics to meet the challenges of the insurgencies was indeed laudable.

                Cann’s book is excellent and sheds light upon a campaign that was largely overshadowed by the US experiences in Vietnam. That the Portuguese were able, by 1974, to realize military success in all three of their insurgent regions is in and of itself indicative of the critical success of their equipment and tactics. Cann provides an outstanding bibliography and footnote system thereby providing the reader with reams of material to follow up with. His extensive use of maps also ensures clear geographic context for the different theatres of operations. The font is a bit small but this is a minor inconvenience.

 
                Overall an excellent book and one that should be studied for those interested in expanding their knowledge of non-traditional uses of naval assets in an asymmetric environment. Highly recommended.

Concrete Hell - Louis A DiMarco

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: Concrete Hell: Urban Warfare From Stalingrad to Iraq

Author: Louis A DiMarco
ISBN: 978-1-84908-792-6
Hardcover
Pages: 232
Illustrations: 47 B/W, 19 Colour
Publisher: Osprey Publishing

                An element of warfare that rarely receives the degree of attention warranted is fighting in built up areas. Historians tracing the unfolding of a campaign will talk about fighting in Caen, Krakov or Warsaw but don’t delve into the details. Louis DiMarco’s book looks to address this oversight through an analysis of city fighting over the last century. His stated intention with this book is threefold: provide the reader with an overall understanding of the urban battlespace, analyse doctrinal insights – based on case studies – into factors affecting the execution of urban operations, and trace the evolution of urban warfare from the 20^th and early 21^st century. He undertakes this effort through a series of case studies of urban conflicts commencing with World War 2 and running through to Iraq.

                DiMarco’s work is interesting and useful in that it spends a great deal of effort providing a strategic and operational level (‘big hand/small map’) overview of the conflict and the events leading up to it. The challenge with this is that the degree of analysis of the evolution of urban warfare is somewhat limited. I would have anticipated a greater attention and focus on the actual development and execution of urban doctrine. Additionally, DiMarco’s premise (identified in Chapter 1) that ‘warfare’s historically traditional locale’ is the urban battle space is, in my opinion, not accurate. One does not have to look very hard to find innumerable historical examples of field combat, siege warfare and, least of all, fighting in urban settings that underscore the multi-facetted nature of war.
  
              Nevertheless, DiMarco’s work does have some very valuable analysis associated with it. He does identify a number of consistent themes associated with success in urban combat. Intelligence, isolating the environment from reinforcement, specialized weapon systems and joint operating teams as well as working to separate the combatants (both conventional and asymmetric) from their civilian population support base all retain resonance. Additionally, the failure of many nations to remember and learn the lessons from the past (therefore failing to apply them) proved to be both costly and time-consuming.   

                DiMarco has produced a worthy product but it attempts to address too many issues that are secondary to, and have little bearing on, his stated primary focus. A good example of this was his discussion of the use of Republic of South Korean forces in the retaking of Seoul during the Korean War. The author’s outline of their involvement, while interesting, adds nothing to the discussion of how urban warfare was undertaken and developed.

                I enjoyed his work as a general analysis of the battlefields that he reviews but the book left me somewhat underwhelmed. I had anticipated, given his introduction, much more effort to be given to the how’s and why’s of urban conflict itself. Also I think that a number of his premises, while not completely incorrect, are somewhat skewed. The book is worth a read but with a critical eye.

The Daring Dozen - Gavin Mortimer

The information presented was written by Chris Buckham; however, it was published in Sabretache 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: Paul.Skrebels@unisa.edu.au  Website for the Journal is: http://www.mhsa.org.au/journal.html

Title: The Daring Dozen

Author: Gavin Mortimer
ISBN: 978-1-84908-842-8
Pages: 303
Hardcover
Photographs: 14 b/w

It has been commonly said that necessity is the mother of invention, certainly in the case of warfare many obstacles are removed as the operational need outweighs tradition and convention. Mortimer's book The Daring Dozen, tells the story about twelve unconventional warriors and the impact that they made on the outcome of the Second World War. His approach is to provide an overall introduction to the nature of and what contitutes special operations followed by twelve chapters each dedicated to an individual and their exploits. He focuses upon the UK, Italy, US and Germany and it is interesting (and somewhat telling) that the USSR and Japan do not have any additions.

What is fascinating about the book is the similarity of challenges faced by Special Forces' advocates in each of the countries and also the common personality threads that each of the national advocates shared. In almost every case, the individuals behind the creation of these organizations were considered to be poor traditional soldiers (not in terms of ability but in terms of acceptance of status quo) and faced significant resistance to their “out of the box thinking”. They also tended to have a short fuse when it came to dealing with conventional chains of command.

Mortimer has not provided a conclusion with his work. This is not a significant issue in my opinion as his focus is upon the individual leaders not the concept of special forces themselves. What is noteworthy to be gleaned from the studies is insight into why some countries were more successful than others regarding the development of special operations. For example, the question relating to why the Germans never developed an equivalent force to the UK’s Long Range Desert Patrol is interesting. After all, they both operated in the same environment and the Germans had shown a marked ability to think non-traditionally (note the airborne glider attack on Eben Emael). It would appear that the appetite for the development of operations outside of the conventional envelope was much more limited within Germany than in the UK.

The author approaches his subjects as unique chapters. Therefore the book may be read in individual chunks without losing any of the flow or content. This is beneficial if you have an interest in the subject but little time to read. The approach and layout is similar for each; topics are traced from their pre-spec ops period and followed as they developed into the driving force behind their nations’ operational development. Through this, challenges, operations and successes are identified and discussed. Additionally, the difficulty many had in the post war period is also discussed in some detail. One can imagine the shock of trying to transition from a semi-autonomous fighting commander involved in high risk, high adrenaline activities to suddenly finding oneself once again under the scrutiny of conventional forces in a peace time environment; many, understandably, had significant difficulty transitioning. Also of interest was the change in attitude of the Governments towards the post war maintenance of special ops forces. In many cases units were summarily disbanded (such as the SAS) as Governments and conventional militaries could not appreciate a continued requirement for their skill sets.

Overall, this was an informative and well researched book. It was not a difficult read and serves as a good introduction to the major players of the early special operations communities. What we take for granted today regarding the use of special forces in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan owes its conception to those pioneers reviewed in this book. Naturally, the degree of detail for each individual is limited due to the amount of space allotted to them; nevertheless, I would recommend this book as a solid general history of the inception of Special Forces.

The Other Side of the Wire Vol 1 - Ralph J. Whitehead

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 Other Side of the Wire Vol 1

Author: Ralph J. Whitehead

ISBN: 978-1-908916-89-1

Pages: 615

Softcover

Photographs: 100's b/w

The author, Ralph Whitehead has produced a work of remarkable detail and readability. Much has been written about the events of the First World War; however, a preponderance of these works have focused on the leadership and experiences of the Western Allies. Very little has been produced that looks at the conflict from the German perspective.

This is not a strategic review of the conflict; nor is it, for the most part, an operational view. Whitehead has focused his attentions at the tactical level where he is able to provide the reader a glimpse into the daily lives of the German soldier of WW1. He is able, through his effective and compelling writing, to provide the reader with a detailed picture of the operating environment of the German soldier. He then adds further depth by incorporating anecdotal stories that run the gambit from the shocking to the ridiculous from the soldiers and the units themselves. This shift is done flawlessly and, when combined with the numerous photographs that correspond to the individuals in the narrative, provides a degree of intimacy rarely found in historical works.

The degree of detail in this work is quite extraordinary. The author includes at the end of the book a number of appendices where he details the XIV Corps Order of Battle, casualty lists by Regiment of the XIV Corps for the first two years of the war and an interesting article on the 2003 discovery and subsequent identification of the remains of two German soldiers. Based on information gleaned at the discovery site, the author actually reconstructs the events surrounding their deaths.

Another aspect of this book that I enjoyed was the attention paid to relating the day to day activities of the front line combatants. Developments in trench construction, methods of mining, training, rotations in and out of the line and feeding (plus a great deal more) are all explained and, in many cases, accompanied with photographs and drawings to assist in the comprehension of what is being discussed.

Additionally, due to the static nature of the conflict, mining (tunneling) under the opposing army's trench lines and the detonation of massive amounts of explosives became a specialty practiced by each side. One can appreciate the stress placed on the soldiers through their testimonies in the book. Whitehead, however, does not only dwell upon the horrors of war, he also relates numerous stories of great compassion, humour and humanity practiced or witnessed by the German soldiery.

This book relates the history of one German Corps of soldiers in the two years leading up to the Battle of the Somme. The narrative very rarely rises above the level of Leutnant (Leftenant) so the reader is provided an incredibly detailed tactical level view of the XIV Corps in action. Whitehead's research has shed light on individual soldiers' stories that have long been lost. He is to be commended for an outstanding book and I recommend The Other Side of the Wire Vol 1 as an excellent addition to any historian's library.

Into The Jaws of Death - Robert Lyman

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: Into the Jaws of Death

Author: Robert Lyman

Publisher: Quercus

ISBN: 9781782064442

Pages: 344

Hardcover

Rating: 4/5

Robert Lyman has drafted an excellent history of an audacious and far-reaching ‘commando’ raid against the Port of Saint-Nazaire that was phenomenally successful but painfully costly in terms of men. Lyman’s writing style is such that one feels that you are reading a historical novel vice a study. He provides a comprehensive history, replete with firsthand accounts, of the creation and development of the ‘commando’s’ as a fighting force; this serves as a lead in to the actual attack on Saint-Nazaire. The attack itself is rendered in a tight, breathtaking manner that draws the reader in and drives him on. Lyman is to be commended for a great book and the soldiers who took part, for unbelievable bravery and fortitude.

A Splendid Little War - Derek Robinson

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: A Splendid Little War 

Author: Derek Robinson

Publisher: Quercus Publishing

ISBN: 9780857052322

Date: 2013

Pages: 316

Rating: 5/5

Mr Robinson has once again exceeded (already high) expectations and has produced another novel replete with tragi-comedy, education, cynical humour and action. Set in the midst of the Russian civil war, the book follows the experiences of Merlin Squadron, the RAF fighters sent to support the White Russian army in the southern steppe. Robinson is master of character development and he is able to capture the essence of the post war British Officer sent on yet another international escapade. A tight storyline woven into a historically accurate rendition of the conditions and folly under which the British airmen operated; this book cannot be recommended highly enough.

The Armored Bears Vol 2 - Veterans of the 3rd Panzer Division

Title: The Armored Bears Vol 2

Author: Veterans of the 3^rd Panzer Division

ISBN: 978-0-8117-1171-5

Pages: 330

Hardcover

Photographs//Maps: 109 b/w//15

This book is the second of a two volume set translated from its original German on the history of the 3^rd Panzer Division. Organized and originally published in 1967 by the veterans association of the unit, it was initially intended for members of the unit itself and their families as a testimony of their history and experiences. It covers the period from March, 1942 until August, 1945.

Continuing on from its first volume, Stackpole publishing has again reproduced another high quality English version of this book. The translation is, for the most part, very good. The maps are again mostly hand-drawn in their original German (which work well with the narrative). They have improved upon the utility of these maps quite noticeably in this second volume. The photographs are numerous and of a very high quality with many that I have not previously seen. This is where the benefit of drawing upon a veterans association really paid dividends. There are numerous fascinating anecdotes relating to the use of Cossack forces and camels by 3^rd panzer forces in support of operations. The operational environment and breadth of employment history of the 3^rd is really quite astounding and it is worth reviewing just to read about the adaptability of the personnel of this unit.

This work is an operational and tactical history of the unit so there is a great deal of detail regarding small engagements and individual achievements. I enjoyed this portion of the work because it provides the reader with a much more intimate view of the goings on and experiences of the soldiers. The narrative is replete with personal anecdotes from the rank and file that adds a fantastic degree of intimacy to the account. The appendices at the back of the book provide detailed synopsis of a rank table. Additionally, they provide lists of commanders, Knight’s Cross winners and recipients of the Army cross in Gold and Silver.

One of the unique and very positive aspects of the narrative translation are the numerous footnotes provided that serve to ensure accuracy and additional information to the reader. This is of particular benefit due to the fact that there are many references and comments that would be understood by a veteran of the unit but not necessarily by a casual reader. These footnotes serve to bridge that knowledge gap and they do so very effectively.

Overall, I think that this book is an outstanding compliment to volume 1 and would be a positive addition to any historian’s library or collection; having said that, it is again, very detailed and tactical in nature and therefore may not be for the more casual arm chair general. Regardless, Stackpole may be proud of this production as it is of a very high quality and is very readable. One can certainly appreciate the pride that this unit’s veterans had in their accomplishments and the role that they played in the Second World War. Strongly recommended.

The Reconstruction of Warriors: Archibald McIndoe, The Royal Air Force and the Guinea Pig Club - Dr E.W.Mayhew

The information presented was written by Chris Buckham; however, it was published in Airforce magazine. Therefore, the material is proprietary to the Air Force Association of Canada and is reproduced here by the author with the permission of the association. If you would like to republish this information or refer to excerpts please contact the Editor Airforce magazine (editor@airforce.ca ). I support the Air Force Association’s important mission to inform new generations of Canadians about the value and importance of their country’s air force. A link to the AirForce Magazine website is: http://airforce.ca/magazine/

Title: The Reconstruction of Warriors: Archibald McIndoe, The Royal Air Force and the Guinea Pig Club

Author: E.R. Mayhew
ISBN: 9781848325845
Softcover
Pages: 239
Illustrations: 37 B/W
Publisher: Pen and Sword Publishing 2010

​This book speaks to two of the most diametrically opposed yet mutually supportive aspects of war: the ability to inflict horrific injury and the ability to heal. Mayhew has examined a secondary effect of warfare that had benefits far beyond the battlefield, that being the advances in the overall treatment of burns. Archibald McIndoe, a plastic surgeon assigned to the RAF in early 1939, and his staff, achieved almost legendary status amongst burned aircrew (the so called Guinea Pig club) for his successes. Through his force of personality he not only created a center of excellence for burn reconstruction but expanded his original mandate to meet the unanticipated flood of burn victims resulting from World War 2 aerial combat.

​During the interwar years there was very little need for burn reconstruction as the vast majority of patients died. Therefore, McInhoe had to develop his methodology from essentially ground zero. Based on his observations and a remarkable insight into the human condition, he initiated reforms ranging from patient care, ward placement and bed construction to post care engagement with the community. Mayhew’s narrative traces these innovations in such a way that the reader is able to both follow the changes and understand the reasoning behind the actions.

There is a distinct Canadian aspect to the story as Mayhew discusses the RCAF wing of McIndoe's hospital. Given the fact that the RCAF constituted the second largest group after the RAF, it was decided by the Canadian Government to fund a hospital to augment the RAF burn unit. The staff and organization were trained and outfitted in a manner identical to the RAF parent unit; of note was the fact that surgical and ward teams were made up exclusively of Canadian staff to a level of professionalism equal to that of McIndoe's. Such was its success and seamless integration within the RAF unit, that the head Canadian plastic surgeon, Group Captain Tilley, was appointed acting head of the entire organization when McIndoe went on convalescence leave in 1943.

Mayhew also expounds upon the unique dual approach that McIndoe initiated with the care and recovery of his patients; he recognized very early on the importance of reintegration and acceptance of his burn patients back into the society at large. To that end, he proactively engaged with the local town of East Grinstead as a means of his patients and civilians overcoming their fear of the unknown and each other. His holistic approach was very original and a smashing success. Such was its acceptance that the template was extended beyond England to Canada and its RCAF Guinea Pig Club members. McIndoe tirelessly engaged with Government at all levels, military staff and the medical community, knocking down preconceived notions of patient care and reintegration with great success. His actions went far beyond his primary role as a surgeon and set the standard for the modern health care provider.

McIndoe’s success was also a result of having likeminded individuals engaging in concert with him. The RAF, in a manner completely unique from the Army or RN, took and maintained complete responsibility for the burned crewmen. Thus they did not become wards of the Government but were maintained as part of the RAF family. The RAF leadership agreed with and completely supported the program recommendations of McIndoe. The influence and role of the Guinea Pigs carried on well past the Second World War and continues to this day. Those that benefited from it passed on their support to victims of the Falkland’s war and the Iraq conflicts.

Mayhew includes in her narrative an in depth bibliography and a reading/video list of timely and pertinent information on the success of the Guinea Pigs and their continued activities. Her writing style is very engaging and lucid. This book sheds light on an aspect of the war that populations don’t like to think about or be exposed to. Modern day techniques of treatment may be traced directly to the success and ground-breaking efforts of the original Guinea Pig Club and its members. Additionally, misrepresentations of the Guinea Pig membership are also rectified (such as the Club being made up almost exclusively of fighter pilots, as 80% of the patients were from bomber command).

 

Mayhew is to be complimented on an outstanding addition to expanding our knowledge of an area rarely discussed by historians. Her book should be mandatory reading for all defence members (both civilian and military) and on everyone’s history shelf. This book is most highly recommended.

The Armored Bears Vol 1 - Veterans of the 3rd Armored Division

Title: The Armored Bears Vol 1

Author: Veterans of the 3^rd Panzer Division

ISBN: 978-0-8117-1170-8

Pages: 327

Hardcover

Photographs//Maps: 146 b/w//21

This book is the first of a two volume set translated from its original German on the history of the 3^rd Panzer Division. Organized and originally published in 1967 by the veterans association of the unit, it was initially intended for members of the unit itself and their families as a testimony of their history and experiences. It covers the period from unit activation in 1935 until March, 1942.

Stackpole publishing has reproduced a high quality English version of this book. The translation is, for the most part, good; however, there are a number of instances where the sentences are awkward or run-on (suggesting perhaps a direct translation between German and English). This does not diminish the overall quality of the book but does give the reader pause. The maps are divided between those hand-drawn in their original German (which work well with the narrative) and those that are reproductions of original operations maps which are of little value as they are very busy, hard to follow and overly detailed. The photographs are excellent with many that I have not previously seen. This is where the benefit of drawing upon a veterans association really paid dividends. The book also contains graphs of the organization charts of the Division at different periods in its history. These are very beneficial and are accompanied by a very easy to follow template identifying what the symbols represent.

The narrative is clear except as indicated above. This work is an operational and tactical history of the unit so there is a great deal of detail regarding small engagements and individual achievements. I enjoyed this portion of the work because it provides the reader with a much more intimate view of the goings on and experiences of the soldiers. The narrative is replete with personal anecdotes from the rank and file that adds a fantastic degree of intimacy to the account. The appendices at the back of the book provide detailed synopsis’ of the equivalent ranks between American, Waffen-SS, English and German Armies. Additionally, they provide tables of commanders, Knight’s Cross winners and Army Honour Role recipients.

One of the unique and very positive aspects of the narrative translation are the numerous footnotes provided that serve to ensure accuracy and additional information to the reader. This is of particular benefit due to the fact that there are many references and comments that would be understood by a veteran of the unit but not necessarily by a casual reader. These footnotes serve to bridge that knowledge gap and they do so very effectively.

Overall, I think that this book would be a positive addition to any historian’s library or collection; having said that, it is very detailed and tactical in nature and therefore may not be for the more casual arm chair general. Regardless, Stackpole may be proud of this production as it is of a very high quality and is very readable. One can certainly appreciate the pride that this unit’s veterans had in their accomplishments and the role that they played in the Second World War. Recommended.

Cobra II - Gordon and Trainor

Title: Cobra II

Authors: Michael R. Gordon and Gen (Ret’d) Bernard E. Trainor

Publisher: Vintage

Date: 2007

Pages: 727

Photos/Maps: 35 b/w//18 

There have been many books written about the Iraq War from a myriad of angles. Cobra II is one of those that successfully peels back the layers from the macro to the micro, encompassing both the preplanning, invasion and immediate aftermath of the conflict. It is a balanced and critical evaluation of what the Americans did right and wrong in their planning and prosecution of this intervention. With commendable insight, the authors analyze the circumstances behind some of the more controversial decisions made by the participants including: what were the key influencers of Saddam Hussein’s decision making before the invasion and how were these actions interpreted in the West, what was the motivation of the US to re-engage in the Iraqi theatre,  how did the various key US agencies cooperate in setting policy and decision making, what impacted war-planning and how did the US military adjust and what were the key aspects of planning for post-war Iraq and were they successful? 

There is no question that the war has polarized US society and world opinion and has become the defining aspect of the Bush presidency. Many critics and supporters, with the benefit of hindsight, have offered up their interpretations of what was done correctly and incorrectly and whether or not the price was worth the investment. While every book is going to have elements of subjectivity, this narrative, in my opinion, provides information in such a way as to allow the reader to form their own opinions with the facts and events presented in an evenhanded manner. 

Following an in depth rendition of the timeline and key events of the lead up to and execution of the war, the authors provide an interesting and insightful analysis of some of the key lessons learned that they have gleaned from their research: 

1. A notable failure of the intelligence community to provide clear and accurate information and to not work together, both before and during the operation itself; specifically referring to agencies such as the CIA; 

2. A marked failure of key decision makers to work together  during the run-up to the war. Specifically, DoD, CIA, NSA and SecState did not cooperate and exercised (especially DoD) very compartmentalized information management;

3. A failure of the US Government, specifically DoD, to both appreciate and adequately prepare for the post war environment and to ignore indicators that ran contrary to their perceived ideas of how things would unfold; 

4. A marked lack of comprehension of the type of adversary that they would be facing (ie the asymmetric warfare of the jihadists and the Fedayeen) and a failure to adapt once they were engaged, and 

5. A diametrically opposite approach to the conflict between the civilian and military leaders within the DoD; Rumsfeld micromanaged the planning process with a view towards minimizing personnel and cost and relying upon technology. This was in direct contrast to the planning staffs of the US military and ignored the inputs of commanders who had significant experience in the region. This difference of opinion was never satisfactorily reconciled. 

The authors include as appendices a synopsis of acronyms very helpful to the narrative, reproductions of actual documents outlining attack orders, dissolving Iraqi military and paramilitary organizations at the direction of Paul Brenner and timelines/briefings provided to the President. All add significant breadth to the understanding of the actions of the book.

Another very interesting fact that is repeatedly identified is the impact of technology upon the unfolding battlespace. Much has been said regarding the overwhelming technical advantage that the Coalition forces had over the Iraqi's and indeed they did; however, the downside of said technology has rarely been mentioned. Such downsides included micromanagement from senior levels as they were able to watch in real time individual units and vehicles moving via "blue force tracker", an inability for US elements to speak to each other due to incompatible communication systems and an assumption that Iraqi forces would not be able to effectively counter US strategies (which proved to be false in the case of anti-air combat against US helicopters for example). 

Overall, Gordon and Trainor have produced a superb narrative and analysis of the initial years of the Iraq war. Future leaders would do well to read and learn the lessons identified in this book. That the West would win the war in Iraq was of little doubt; however, the planning fell far short of producing an effective strategy to deal with the dramatic changes that unfolded within the conflict zone as the war progressed. This book is very highly recommended.

Nimrod Rise and Fall - Tony Blackman

The information presented was written by Chris Buckham; however, it was published in Airforce magazine. Therefore, the material is proprietary to the Air Force Association of Canada and is reproduced here by the author with the permission of the association. If you would like to republish this information or refer to excerpts please contact the Editor Airforce magazine (editor@airforce.ca ). I support the Air Force Association’s important mission to inform new generations of Canadians about the value and importance of their country’s air force. A link to the AirForce Magazine website is: http://airforce.ca/magazine/
 

Title: Nimrod: Rise and Fall

Author: Tony Blackman
ISBN: 978-1-909166-02-8
Softcover
Pages: 223
Illustrations: multiple colour photos
Publisher: Grub Street Publishing

                The Nimrod Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft was a mainstay workhorse of the RAF for over 40 years before coming to a sudden and rather inglorious end in March, 2010. Blackman’s book traces the development and evolution of this aircraft as well as providing the reader with an in-depth review of the technical, doctrinal and operational details that were of a more delicate nature during its operational lifetime.

                The initial chapters deal with the history and development of the ASW program within the RAF, identifying the various unique aspects and technologies associated with sub-hunting. This includes the development of acoustics, passive and active sonobuoys and radar systems. He follows this with a detailed discussion of the Nimrod MR2 which was the primary configuration of the Nimrod for a majority of its operational life. His detailed description of the roles of the different flight stations, weapons systems, acoustical equipment and aircraft layout, all replete with photographs, are quite in depth and technical. ASW is a very complicated skill and the language is often steeped with acronyms and data that is completely foreign to the casual reader; Blackman assumes this and goes to great lengths to compensate for this.

                The follow-on chapters deal with the operational use of the Nimrod as an ASW platform, search and rescue (SAR) platform, long range patrol aircraft and intelligence gathering tool. The author takes full advantage of the plethora of experience available through past crew members and provides numerous first-hand accounts of missions; some harrowing, some humorous and all adding depth and scope for the reader. The versatility of the aircraft is clearly exemplified by renditions of the tracking and photographing of the Soviet carrier Kuznetsov and Flanker aircraft launching from it. Additionally, the Nimrod, with its vast range was ideally suited to be a SAR/patrol aircraft. This dovetailed very nicely with the fact that the Soviets had numerous intelligence gathering assets disguised as trawlers. The Nimrod would easily be able to transition roles from fisheries patrols to SAR to maritime security all within the same mission. Its excessive suite of communications and monitoring equipment made it an ideal command and control platform for a variety of circumstances.

                Blackman discusses in detail the events surrounding the Piper Alpha disaster from 1988 when an oil rig in the North Sea caught fire and became the focus of a major rescue operation involving a myriad of civilian air and sea units. Utilizing extensive firsthand accounts as well as general narrative, Blackman provides a comprehensive example of the versatility of the Nimrod as it coordinated the rescue operation on scene between the various onsite assets and the Rescue Coordination Centres. He follows this with a fascinating look at the involvement of the Nimrod in the Falkland’s war emphasizing the flexibility and utility of both the airframe (ie the ability to engage in air to air refueling) as well as the technology within it.

                The final two chapters deal in depth with major blows to the Nimrod and the resultant economic storm that ultimately caused the government to cancel the entire program. The first involved the attempted transition of the Nimrod from an ASW platform to an AEW (Airborne Early Warning) platform. Initiated in 1977 as a home-grown answer to a command and control platform deficiency; it witnessed the spending of hundreds of millions of pounds over a period of ten years before ultimately being declared a failure by the government and cancelled. Eleven aircraft were destroyed as a result. The final chapter brings to a close the story of the Nimrod. Faced with a significant domestic economic shortfall and an aircraft upgrade program (to the MR4 variant) that was heavily over budget and behind schedule; the British government made the decision in 2010, despite having crews trained, infrastructure in place and operational/upgraded aircraft being delivered, to not just cancel the program outright but to destroy the fleet itself. Blackman, a strong Nimrod supporter, is very critical of both the decision making process and how it was implemented.

                 Overall, this book is an interesting read relating the history of a storied aircraft. The narrative is quite dry and stilted in places, especially within the ‘Nimrod 101’ chapters where he relates the details of equipment, capabilities and crewing of the different variants of the Nimrod. Significant portions of these sections feel like it they are a reiteration of a basic technical manual. He does much better when relating the operational history and usage of the Nimrod within the Cold War and the Falkland Islands conflict. Production value of the book is high and the numerous photographs are a plus. This book is aimed more towards the aviation enthusiast as opposed to the casual reader of aviation history and will be quite enjoyed by that target audience.