Naval History
Baltic Sea Operations – Crimean War
British bombardment of the fortress Bomarsund (Aland Islands) during the Crimean war. Drawing from 1854. HMS Duke of Wellington, Flagship of the Baltic Fleet, which Dundas commanded during the Crimean War Crimean War, 1854–1856: Baltic Sea Operations The British and French operations in the Baltic Sea are a frequently overlooked but indispensable component of the overall allied strategy of the…
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INSHORE SQUADRON I
HMS Scarab fighting in the Mediterranean, 1943. In 1939 HMS Ladybird and HMS Aphis both had their BL 6″ Mk VII guns replaced with the longer BL 6″ Mk XIII guns. By WW2, this armament would receive another update. By the time of Operation Husky, HMS Cockchafer and HMS Scarab…
INSHORE SQUADRON II
Ladybird off Bardia on 31 December 1940 Ladybird’s gunners in action during the bombardment of Bardia, 31 December 1940 Following the Sidi Barrani débâcle, Marshal Graziani had complained bitterly that he was being compelled to wage ‘the war of the flea against the elephant’, recommending that the army should be…
LITTLE SHIPS, BIG WAR I
The Bombardment of Sveborg, 9 August (1855) The Battle of Suomenlinna (also known as the Battle of Viapori or the Bombardment of Sweaborg) was fought on 9–11 August 1855 between Russian defenders and a joint British/French fleet during the Åland War. It was a part of the Crimean War. Gunboat…
LITTLE SHIPS, BIG WAR II
Having been reinforced with several French ships, Lyons took his light squadron into the Sea of Azov the following day. As one contemporary observer, Hamilton Williams, wrote: It was like bursting into a vast treasure house, crammed with wealth of inestimable value. For miles along its shores stretched the countless…
Taranto 1940 Part I
Taranto, an ancient town of something like 150,000 inhabitants, had so far been troubled less by war than by foul weather. During the first days of November heavy storms had damaged or destroyed many of its protective ring of balloons and it had not been possible to repair or replace…
Taranto 1940 Part II
DEBITS AND CREDITS Mr Churchill, in accordance with his nature, expressed a view rather more generous than that of the Admiral. On the day after the Stringbags, less two, had returned to the nest he stood up in Parliament and spoke with feeling. The Prime Minister deserved his opportunity after…