The Post WWII Royal Australian Navy has been a major force in the southern hemisphere and has been involved in many operations. It now consists of over 45 commisioned vessels, including submarines, and more than 16,000 staff. To increase the RAN capability a number of projects are in progress including new helicopters, landing vehicles, better support vessels and more efficient weapons and ...
When Churchill heard of Italy’s use of human torpedoes against Royal Navy Ships in the Mediterranean he ordered that the British produce a similar device. The capital ships of the German fleet were a constant threat to North Atlantic convoys and strenuous attempts were made to sink ships such as the Tirpitz including Operation ‘Title’ Two British copies of the Human Torpedo, called 'chariots', ...
Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, began on 22 June 1941. The ambition to expand territory and ultimately take over the Russian oil and gas fields, whilst dismantling the communist party rule, was first envisaged in Hitler's autobiography, Mein Kampf. Despite cordial relations between Germany and Russia during the 20s and 30s, and the signing of a Non-Aggression pact in ...
In August 1990 Iraq, under the leadership of Saddam Hussain, took the world by surprise when it invaded Kuwait. Kuwait forces put up a brave defence and inflicted heavy casualties, but they were not prepared for invasion and running low on supplies and ammunition the defenders were forced to withdraw. The United States was quick to respond and soon led a coalition force of 34 countries in ...
The Indonesian War of independence lasted from 1945 to 1949 and followed on directly from the Japanese surrender at the end of WW2. Towards the end of 1944 many Dutch civilians, living in what was then called the Dutch East Indies, were interred by the Japanese who had invaded, and many Dutch troops in the area were held in POW camps. The Japanese had supported, and even begun to provide formal training ...