The Sailor and the Dancing Girl by Andy Copestake - Book Review

With a title that sounds like a back-catalogue effort from the Hallmark Channel, or maybe a mid-career musical theatre number by David Essex, The Sailor and the Dancing Girl is instead one of the latest releases in Helion and Co's "From Reason to Revolution" series from the keyboard of Andy Copestake.

Having known Andy a good few years (politeness demands that I state not the actual figure, but a driver of a similar age would have a considerable no claims bonus by now!) and being fellow TWATS (Tantobie Warfare And Tactical Society), I'd known that this tome was coming for a while now. Full disclosure: I paid for this copy with my own money, and neither Andy nor Helion & Co have had any input in to this review. Nor have they had sight of its contents prior to its public posting.

As soon as the title was announced on the Helion website, I signed up for release notification, and on day of publication, ordered it. Even with the vagaries of The Royal Mail these days, the package arrived a few days later, and upon opening it...

"Well, hello there little fella! You're a wee bit dinkier than I recall!"

Presumably for cost and sustainability reasons, the book that arrived was indeed smaller than previous volumes in the series - here's a comparison between Andy's first Helion release and his latest. 

Whilst the text is a bit smaller and thus slightly more testing on these ageing peepers of mine (even with the reading glasses - yes, gentle reader, I'm at that stage of life), the overall result isn't too bad. Indeed, popping the book into my work bag for a couple of commutes to the office made me realise that the new format is certainly better if you want to carry the tome around. And as always with Helion's publications, the actual physical quality cannot be faulted.

Coming in at just over 210 pages, The Sailor and The Dancing Girl's subtitle tells the reader everything they should expect. The campaigns of General George Thomas and the Begum Somru are an intriguing mix of politics, warfare during the decline of the Moghul Empire, and inter-personal drama. Such events require background, and this is supplied by the opening chapters detailing the roles of mercenary's in 18th Century warfare, and the nature of the British involvement in Bengal.

From there we are introduced to the mercenary Walter Reinhardt. His marriage to a dancing girl, Farzana, allows the lady to inherit his brigade of troops, and rule the principality of Sardhana as the Begum Somru.

The narrative then switches to the life and times of George Thomas. Warfare and politics intertwine as battles are fought, alliances made (and betrayed), and the reach of economic colonialism asserts a new order on India.

This is another quality piece of work from Mr Copestake and one that has been a bit of a passion project for him. The narrative has a well-researched depth, and the bibliography contains a wealth of primary and secondary sources. The author isn't afraid to question existing histories on the subject matter, and where he does, the rationale provided is capably supported by references to the relevant sources. 

Battles and machinations are described with clarity, and the imagery provided varies from contemporary illustrations and Victorian artwork, to a handful of modern photographs of the Red Fort. There are maps of general locales as well as for specific battles, and the usual mid-section artwork is nicely done. 

Outside of the core text, there's a useful timeline, a chapter on the uniforms and organisation of the forces commanded by our principal pairing, and finally a list of known Europeans officers who held positions within those commands.

All in all, this is a very readable tome on an intriguing subject. Kudos to Andy and the team at Helion & Co for an excellent addition to the 'From Reason to Revolution" series, suitable for both historians and wargamers who wish to add verisimilitude to their on-table efforts. 

You can pick up a copy of The Sailor and the Dancing Girl from HMV and David Essex's website the Helion & Co website here.

The Spanish Passion by Rob Anderson and Javier G. De Gabiola - Book Review

This is not, as the title may suggest to readers of a certain age, the latest addition to Mills & Boon's 2026 catalogue, but instead the most recent (at the time of writing) in the "Helion Wargames" series, and a timely one too considering that 2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the beginning of the armed conflict it covers.

Full disclosure for this review: I've known Rob via the show scene and a few games with the TWATS (Tantobie Warfare And Tactical Society) for a long time now. That association will not colour this post, I bought this copy with my own funds, and neither the authors nor the publisher have seen this review before it has been posted. 

With that out of the way, let's get down to business.

My knowledge of the Spanish Civil War is best summed up by stating that I've read Antony Beevor's 1999 history of the conflict, and that Orwell's A Homage to Catalonia is on my to read list. Even from such a limited background, I am very much aware that the conflict was not as simple as the general teaching of history likes to put across, and this is especially important when it comes to the concept of "historical wargaming." 

What we have here is a book of two, almost equal, halves - an approach that works very well in delivering the author's intentions. Rob handles the wargaming side, and Mr De Gabiola tackles the history - the events leading up to the War, what happened during it, and the materiel used by the combatants. Both write well, their distinctive voices clearly evident in the text, and this combination gives the reader, knowledgeable in the period or not, a very good grounding in the subject matter.

The are photographs and maps galore, and when we get to the wargaming section, some rather nice artwork by Renato Dallas. Tables are included to cover the naval and air forces, and summaries of the multitude of units each side fielded are succinct but detailed. Scenarios for gaming are suggested, and include diagrams and photography of troops on the table. There is a very handy painting guide, a list of manufacturers who cover the period in a variety of scales, and a bibliography that provides the reader with avenues of further research. 

What The Spanish Passion does, and Rob says this himself in the introduction that follows the useful timeline of the war, is give you the basics you need to deliver a table top game. Rulesets are up to you, but for the background and historical specifics, this book gets you going, and if you're only going to read one tome on the subject for gaming purposes, then this is the one for you. However, and this is a big "however", we are talking about historical wargaming, and Rob rightly says that further reading is recommended - hence the bibliography. For me, the gaming side of hobby is just a social enterprise, a laugh, so to speak. My actual interest comes from the history itself. Learning about the period is a source of enjoyment as well as allowing me to add flavour to the table experience when I'm umpiring. It also prevents that overly game-centric idea that one attendee to a show put into words a few years back - "Just because it wasn't there doesn't mean in can't be on the table."

Frankly, gentle reader, I think that's complete bull hooks. History is rich with detail and experiences, and whilst gaming for the sake of gaming might be the only thing about this hobby that floats your boat, by not diving into the actual history of the game you're playing, you're kinda missing the point of historical wargaming. And when it comes to the Spanish Civil War, this is the best starting point I know of. How far down the history rabbit hole you go is up to you, but the first step of that journey should begin with this extremely fine tome. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to pay my respects to Catalonia

You can pick up a copy of The Spanish Passion from Helion & Co here.

Tailships by John Rodgaard - Book Review

There has always been something about Cold War anti-submarine warfare that has fascinated me. From reading (and watching) The Hunt for Red October to devouring Red Storm Rising, playing 688 Attack Sub and Cold Waters, the subject has always had a depth (no apologies) that intrigues. And it is in the less well documented area of the Mediterranean that Helion and Co's recent release focusses its attention: Tailships - The Hunt for Soviet Submarines in the Mediterranean 1970-73.

You may think that this will be a bit of a dry text considering the topic and the brevity of the period it covers. That cannot be further from the truth. What the author, a 41-year veteran of the US Navy who retired at the rank of Captain, has done is integrate not only the technical and operational aspects of the small fleet of (outdated and obsolete) converted Destroyer Escorts, but also the social aspects of their crews, the process of manning them as well as the effect their deployments had of their families. There is much more to this than just "one ping only, Vasiley." 

The first couple of chapters set the scene - the Cold War and the importance of anti-submarine warfare. From there, we are given a guide to the theatre of operations, and how the Med was a tricky prospect for those in the ASW game due to its physical characteristics. The core details how the staging of the aging Destroyer Escorts was initiated as well as their operational deployments in-theatre. They quickly demonstrated their usefulness and became a valued capability, despite their mechanical weaknesses and rapid platform obsolescence. Would it be waspish of me to compare the situation to the current Type 23 debacle in the RN? Probably, but no less true. Where that particular organisation is at has many reasons, but running ships with 18-year design lifespans well into their fourth decade has come home to roost. I know, a discussion for another time, but the GP's are thirty plus year old and even the newest ASW ship commissioned nearly 22 years ago, and will be 33 when she reaches her planned decommissioning.

Back to the Med, and Tailships finishes off with a "what happened next" chapter, running quickly passed the SURTASS ships and the current much needed requirements for having towed array equipped vessels in service. 

Throughout, there are many contemporary photographs, with diagrams and maps detailing deployments, concepts and locales, and the centre section artwork is, as always, a feast for the eyes.  The author writes clearly and is as good with technical descriptions as he is with the social studies. The more than comprehensive bibliography at the back is certain to be a source of future reading too. For those looking for action packed sonar hunts, this isn't the book for you, but if you wish to learn more about how such an important capability came into being, and remains as critical today as it did then, then Tailships is the book for you. You can pick it up directly from Helion and Co here.

Every Hazard and Fatigue by Joshua Provan - Book Review

When it comes to military history, I find it does me good to read a book on a subject I know next to nothing about. A cynic might suggest I should do the same in my professional life but I do know my CCFA's from my SYSTABS, and my KTYPES from my KSPAR6's... Mostly ;-). Anyway, at the Battleground show last November, I picked up a copy of Andy and Jim's book, Khalsa! (reviewed here) from the Helion & Co stand, as well as this little gem by Joshua Provan. Having read and thoroughly enjoyed his 2022 effort, Bullocks, Grain, and Good Madeira (reviewed here), I had an inkling that his treatment of the Siege of Pensacola in 1781 would be worthy of perusal. I was not to be disappointed. 

West Florida wasn't exactly the centre of Britain's struggle in North America but it was of some importance. With Spain joining the conflict on the side of the rebellious Americans and the French, it placed additional strain on British (and their allies) resources. Over some 200 pages, Mr Provan weaves a tale worthy of your time, even if to most it is a fairly forgotten vignette amongst the many more famous events that defined the conflict.

There are twelve chapters in total, along with orders of battle for each side. The opening sections introduce us to the Spanish, British and Allied Nations, with much attention placed on the latter whose importance was both recognised and, at times, unwanted given the difference in cultures. The author takes an even approach to all, supported by numerous contemporary letters and illustrations. 

After discussing the terrain and the locale, as well as the events that preceded the actual siege, we are then given four chapters that provide a day by day account of the struggle. Highly detailed, clearly organised, and with a pleasing narrative style, Mr Provan paints an evocative picture of siege warfare at a time when gentlemanly conduct was seen as a prerogative. It was not an easy fight, yet standards were held high even after the British surrendered, albeit not to everyone's satisfaction.

There are maps and imagery aplenty, and the central section with the colour plates will be of great use to those wishing to re-enact the struggle on a table top, as will the orders of battle. As always with Helion & Co publications, the bibliography included at the end of the book will provide a great deal of follow up reading if you're enamoured with this treatment of the siege. 

With highly readable prose and a narrative structure that builds to a dynamic conclusion, Every Hazard and Fatigue is another great release from Helion and a fantastic effort from Mr Provan, suitable for readers no matter their level of existing knowledge. If the American War of Independence/Revolutionary War is your thing, you'll do yourself a great favour in picking up a copy from Helion & Co here. It is also an essential purchase if you want to bring Pensacola to your wargaming table. The American War of Independence/Revolutionary War is not a period I have read much about (outside of a few more general texts), but having been spurred on by this volume, I dare say some further, more in-depth reading is required. I can give no higher praise. 

Khalsa! by Andrew Copestake and James Main - Book Review

A recent release from Helion & Co's Helion Wargames series, Khalsa! aims to guide the wargamer along the path of enlightenment to putting soldiers on the table for the Anglo-Sikh Wars of 1845-46 and 1848-49. This isn't a ruleset per se, but it does offer more than the usual "this happened here" run through (essential as that is for historical wargaming). Is it any good though?

Before we continue, cards on the table. I have known Andy for more than 25 years, Jim even longer, and I count them both as very good friends. We have laughed (The Breakfast Pasty Business, The Veggie Burger Vignette - trashy detective novels in the making there!), cried (that two day show on the Yorkshire Coast) and gone through other less noteworthy (but no less funny) shenanigans involving wargames, wargames shows and the odd pint or two over the years. Does this colour my review? I hope not. Neither gent has had sight of this piece before posting, nor have they had any input to it. In addition, I purchased my copy via the Helion and Co website using my own funds.

With that in mind, what do you get for your £29.95? Well, the usual high quality Helion publication coming in at just over 180 pages and in full colour. Aside from the introduction, acknowledgements and timeline, there are eight chapters and three appendices, all finished off with a handy glossary. 

Chapter One provides the reader with an introduction to the rise of the Khalsa, their geographical reach, the types of troops they used, and the composition of the forces they fielded, mercenaries and all. There is more than enough helpful guidance on how they could be portrayed on the table. As is only correct, further historical information can be found in the sources quoted in Appendix A, three pages of which cover additional reading. 

Chapter Two brings us the forces of the Honourable East India Company (not a Ronseal title if you've read much about the corporate entity itself). Again, units and formations are covered, as are notable personages, and how they too could be applied to a game. 

Chapter Three is where the real wargaming fun begins with the battles of the First Anglo-Sikh War. Each action is given maps, orders of battle, and notes on gaming them. Photography of tabletop battles abound, and there is also the occasional illustration from 19th Century sources too (not contemporaneous but suitably period).

Chapter Four covers the Sieges of Multan and Herbert Edwardes' Campaign, before the fifth settles on Sir Hugh Gough's time in the sun from 1848-49. At this point, the commentary deserves a mention. There is little evidence of bias against either side, and where the British were poorly led, they paid the price accordingly. Some battles were close run things, others more accidental in nature, yet their portrayal here should give fine succour to those without even the flimsiest of prior knowledge. And again, if you'd like to know more, Appendix A is very much your friend. 

The Sixth chapter focuses on the colours and uniforms of the various forces, handy for the seventh chapter where a painting guide details the process of putting soldiers of the period onto the table. Each step is concisely written with accompanying imagery, and even my limited painting skills could follow the clarity provided here. 

The final chapter is where the true wargaming potential of the period is scrutinised. Tactics and what ifs set things off, but there are suggestions for the use of umpires (big fan of that approach personally), scenarios (both historical and fictional) as well as amendments that can be applied to a selection of commonly used rulesets for the period. As a side note, when the period was put on the table as a demo game at the recent Battleground Show in Stockton, the terrain modifications listed here were a very useful addition. 

Of the appendices, we have talked of A (ever so useful, I cannot state that enough - if you're partaking in historical wargaming, reading up on the period is essential). B is a suggested list of figures suppliers, whilst C provides several pages of Army lists, noting types of troops and the percentage each provided to the armies of the period. 

I have mentioned the imagery already but it must be said that between both authors' collections and those photographs supplied by Colin Ashton, there is more than enough lead eye candy for even the most cynical of gamers. 

That's it, and a fine publication it is too. There is the odd issue - mainly imagery placement. The black text over an image containing a black flag on page 37 is probably the most egregious example, and that joke on page 19 is possibly too obvious. OK, I am stretching here, but to be fair to the authors, I'd have been terribly disappointed if it hadn't have been made at some point!

Overall, this is another fine Helion & Co publication and one that deserves your attention if the period appeals. Well written, highly informative and a cracking starting point for those wishing to dive into the subject with little or no knowledge (or maybe just as a refresher), you can pick up a copy direct from the publisher here. As a bonus for me, next time we put this period on the table, I might actually know what's going on!

Defending Rodinu - Volume 2 by Krzysztof Dabrowski - Book Review

Here we are with volume two of Defending Rodinu, this time continuing the story from 1961 to 1991, and this is where things get more interesting as technological and organisation developments both aid and hinder the air defence of the Soviet Union. 

The first chapter gives a run down of the PVO (Soviet Air Defence Force), its organisation and the surveillance, control and early warning systems it employed. Chapter two focuses on the developments in surface to air and anti-ballistic missile technology throughout the period covered - the amount of effort put into fielding highly advanced technology for the time is impressive, despite the obvious effects such spending would have on the wider Soviet economy - but that's a tale for another time. 

Chapter three covers the aircraft pushed into service and the various missile systems they used. As a military aviation enthusiast, I do like the design of early jets, and the range of Soviet machines do, at least for me, have a certain je ne sais quoi. From the svelte Sukhoi Su-11 to the more sedate looking Yakolev Yak-25, there are some striking looking aircraft here. The purposeful Yak-28 gets some love, as does the incomparable (and might fine) Tupolev Tu-128 - now that is how you build a long-range interceptor!

Chapters four and five cover polar and border intercepts, whilst chapter six proves that there is nothing new in this world as the Soviets dealt with many a balloon incursion long before it became fashionable to shoot down the things using an almost priceless F-22 and an expensive AIM-9X. 

Chapter seven is a more sombre read, taking on the subject of airline intercepts and, of course, covering the infamous shoot down of KAL Flight 007 in 1983. There were other intercepts, but none ended in the tragedy that engulfed that Korean Air Lines 747. 

Chapter eight is all about the defections that the service suffered, nine features the successful shoot downs of valid targets, whilst ten highlights possibly the most absurd missed interception of the Cold War, Mathias Rust's jolly boys day out to Moscow. It wasn't the only light aircraft shenanigans, as you'll find out here. The final chapter relates the closing period of the Cold War.

There are a couple of appendices: Commander of the PVO between 1945 and 1991, and a chronological list of the PVO's aerial victories, of which there were many more than I expected. 

As always with a Helion & Co publication, there are numerous photographs, maps and diagrams, all of which are high quality - taking into account the nature of the original imagery and its age, whilst the central artwork section has some lovely profiles of the aircraft featured within. For those who, in the best traditions of the Federal Network infomercials, want to know more, there is a cracking bibliography to investigate too. 

In the same vein as volume one, this is a well written, highly informative and interesting look at how the Soviet Union approached air defence through the Cold War. With plenty to read, look at and follow up on, they're a very worthy pair on the subject, and of much benefit to history fans and those who may wish to put something on the table. You can buy this (and the preceding volume) directly from Helion and Co here, as well as follow the publisher on Twitter here. 

Al-Hussein by Ali Altobchi (with Tom Cooper and Adrien Fontanellaz) - Book Review

AKA Iraq goes full Blue Peter. Not to besmirch the name of that fine show, but just like when Blue Peter fashioned a makeshift Tracy Island back in 1993 using a yogurt pot, toilet roll and a metric f**ktonne of papier-mâché (the clip is on YouTube if you search for it), the Iraqi effort to produce domestic weapons yielded some surprising results - pretty impressive from a technical point of view when you consider the effect of international sanctions and an empty bank account. 

As the talented Ms Andrews once sang, the beginning is a very good place to start and in this tale, it is the creation of the State Organisation for Technical Industries (SOTI) in 1970 that paved the way for the early steps Iraq took to work with arms producers overseas. Add in some international politics and shenanigans, stir, then simmer until war with Iran is declared. Now rename the SOTI into the Military Industrial Commission (MIC). Bring to the boil by adding Scud's, MiG-25's and a soupçon of anti-radar missiles, and thus begins the journey towards a domestic conventional weapons industrial base. A touch of in-flight refuelling may add a certain... je ne sais quoi...

It wasn't just the French (see what I did there) and the Soviets who were supporting the Iraqi regime. There were links to Brazil and Argentina, the latter of whom had a ballistic missile program that I had never heard of before, which certainly gave the impression that Iraq was serious about building up its war fighting capability. 

Of course, if you want to talk about Iraqi conventional weaponry, you need to mention Gerald Bull. When not keep Teesport's custom's officials busy, Bull also had a hand in long range 155mm artillery and was much more successful in that arena than any supergun design associated with him. 

Combined with the events of the Iran-Iraq War, that's about two thirds of this book. The rest concerns itself with the legacies of the principle characters, the 1991 Gulf War and the follow up period to the end of the decade. 

The writing is clear and concise throughout and the 68-page length is about right. What was quite surprising was how adept the Iraqi military were in fielding some rather "funky" designs, and by funky, I mean plain weird. Much like Iran stuck HAWK surface to air missiles on their fighters and Standard SAM's inplace of the HAWK's on their usual launchers, Iraq bolted Exocet missiles to a Dassault Falcon 50 business jet, and older AA-2 Atoll (R-3S and R-3R infra-red guided air to air missiles) were stuck on BMP chassis' because it filled a perceived need (and there was little choice but to improvise). Much like the fictional A-Team or MacGyver, the resultant weapons were, at least, functional, if not entirely practical - I mean, biz-jet with Exocets. What's next? Vulcan's with Sea Dart's as an interceptor? (And yes, gentle reader, there were plans and thoughts about that very thing...).

Check out Vulcan's Hammer by Chris Gibson pages 171-174. I prefer the AIM-54 Phoenix option myself...

And still there is more. Continued ballistic missile developments, ad-hoc Electronic Counter Measures aircraft, Airborne Early Warning aircraft, tankers and drones - the effort expended in being able to demonstrate any capability (no matter how asymmetric to the opponent's) is truly astounding. 

As befits the topic, there is a wealth of contemporary photography on display, as well as many screen grabs from video presentations of the time. Maps are detailed and the included artwork is of the usual high quality. As always, the bibliography is a cracking source of further reading.

This is another welcome tome from Helion & Co and will be of great benefit to those who have an interest in the period, the theatre or maybe want to put something on the table - there are quite a few "what-ifs" in capability this book offers that could liven up any hypothetical game. And, whilst there were no Blue Peter badges for the boffins who stuck these projects together, Ali Altobchi and company deserve a symbolic one for this fine volume. You can buy Al-Hussein direct from Helion & Co here or from their trade stands at various UK wargames shows - you can find out which ones they attend via their website and social media links. 

From Julietts to Yasens by Alejandro A. Vilches Alarcon - Book Review

From Julietts to Yasens is one of the latest titles from Helion & Co's superlative Europe@War range and covers the design, development and operational history of Soviet cruise missile submarines from 1958 to 2022. This may be considered a somewhat niche topic but as someone who grew up reading the likes of The Hunt For Red October and Red Storm Rising, I've always been fascinated by Cold War submarines and, in particular, those of the Soviet Navy.

Coming in at 88 pages (excluding the covers), From Julietts to Yasens takes the reader through the early days of the Soviet Navy's attempts to get a workable cruise missile submarine into service. The Whiskey-class were a worthy (if of dubious safety) first attempt, and the follow up Juliett-class something entirely more capable - although I do wonder exactly how loud these boats were with all of that flow noise! Function definitely dictated form. As for the nuclear-powered Echo-class, well, improvements abounded, in a technical sense if not in safety.

The follow-up Echo II was again more capable, before there was the slight detour with the Papa-class. I say class, it was just one boat, nicknamed the "Golden Fish" due to its cost. The Charlie-class were a return to common sense (and sensible budgeting) before the behemoths that were (and still are) the Oscar-class became the byword in cruise missile submarine design. Finally, there is a brief note on the current situation with the Yasen-class SSGN's.

For each class, there is a design history coupled with an operational history. Weapons and potential opponents are also discussed. Patrols are detailed as well as upgrades and, more tellingly, accidents. By any standards, the accident rate in the cruise missile sub fleet was disconcertingly high - the list for the Echo-class takes up a whole page. More serious incidents are given greater detail - the K431 incident in 1985 being the most serious Cold War event, but the loss of the Kursk (for entirely different reasons) is also included too. There is balance to the writing and I cannot find fault with the author's point of view.

I think that this is most pertinent takeaway from this book. Yes, the Soviet Union managed to field such vessels and with a variety of technological firsts, but the safety record of the fleet was a major concern. That should not take away the sense of achievement that should be rightly felt at the level of technological progress, but questions should have been asked (and should continue to be asked) about whether it was worth the price in cold hard coin, environmental damage and the effect on people's lives. That being said, the idea of a cruise missile submarine force to deal with enemy carrier fleets was a distinctly Soviet endeavour and thankfully, outside the realms of fiction or war-games, one that has never been tested in reality. 

This comment may seem like a cut and paste job from another Helion & Co review but once again there are plenty of contemporary photographs, as well as maps, diagrams, tables and the ever high quality plate section occupying the centre pages. Given the paucity of imagery in the numerous publications I already have on the subject of Soviet submarines, this book is a worthy addition to the library on that point alone.

As a fan of Cold War submarine warfare, From Julietts to Yasens is a fantastic guide to a uniquely Soviet technological enterprise and one that should be on your shelves if you are interested in Cold War naval history. There is also plenty of detail in here to add any amount of flavour to those who wish to game the use of these vessels. 

You can pick up a copy of From Julietts to Yasens directly from Helion & Co here or from their trade stand at various shows across the UK. Keep an eye on their social media links for future news about attendance. 

The Hunt for the Storozhevoy by Michael Fredholm von Essen - Book Review

The Hunt for Red October remains, over thirty years since its release (anyone feeling old yet?), one of the best submarine films of all time and one of the more intelligent of the genre. A peerless cast (accepting a Scots-accented Lithuanian), great effects, sparkling script and John McTiernan's taut direction combine to make it a must-watch even today. The book that inspired it, Tom Clancy's first novel, epitomised the popular 1980's and 90's genre of the techno-thriller. As with all good fiction, it was based on a grain of truth (one grain only, Vasily). This is where Helion & Co strike again courtesy of Professor Michael Fredholm von Essen. 

This is one of Helion's more slender volumes at 52 pages excluding the covers, but that is not to say its brevity is a negative. The book itself is effectively divided into two sections: the mutiny, and then the connection with the Swedish Intelligence Community, which in the case of this story, is extremely pertinent as they were a key source of information about the events that occurred. As always, there are many excellent photographs, colour plates, maps and tables galore. 

The story itself is quite a tale, worthy of the best of the 1980's techno-thriller writers. After convincing some of the crew of the Storozhevoy that all was not well with the Soviet leadership, Captain Third Rank Valeriy Sablin initiated a mutiny, the aim of which was to spread a new revolution amongst the Soviet Navy. That was, no matter your point of view, quite an ambitious undertaking, which says a great deal about Sablin's personality and state of mind.

Still, once the ship was under his control, he ordered it out into the Baltic, starting a chase that involved several pursuing surface ships, and attacks by Yak-28 tactical bombers and Tu-16 bombers. Add in a couple of friendly fire incidents and this had the making of a tragic foul up of Benny Hill proportions (period joke, geddit?). Except it nearly became one of the worst crises of the Cold War as one flight of Tu-16's were ordered to launch a missile strike that included the use of the special protocol to employ a nuclear weapon. 

Aircraft Nerd Alert! I do like a good old Yak!

You see, if Sablin had been on any old ship of the Baltic Fleet, the response might not have been so heavy handed, but the Storozhevoy was a very new ship - not quite two years had passed since its commissioning. That meant it was equipped with the latest and greatest Soviet kit for its assigned role and there was no way that could make it to the West. That assumption, by the way, very much highlights the paranoid nature that was prevalent in the Soviet Union's higher military and political leadership throughout the Cold War. They neither knew no cared that dissent of the kind that had driven Sablin to act existed.

Fortunately for the wider global population, the missile strike was never launched and the ship returned to port with the obvious consequences for Sablin. The incident was hushed up as much as possible but, thanks to the SIGINT (signals intelligence) and HUMINT (human intelligence) abilities of the Swedes, the incident was picked up and their records have been used for this superlative account.

Despite much enjoyment from reading the likes of Clancy (the early days, not the right wing textbooks his later tomes became - controversial, maybe, but he wore his politics on his sleeve and got more than a little "preachy" shall we say, especially as a counter to the Clinton years), the real world inspiration for his debut novel is much more engaging and fascinating. Mis-guided politics, hubris and desperation all combined to permit a series of events that very nearly altered the nature of the Cold War irrevocably. Some may find this an interesting divergence point for a game, others a detailed and timely reminder of how even "monolithic" entities are in fact no such thing. In either case, The Hunt for the Storozhevoy is an excellent read and one that is definitely worth your time.

You can buy The Hunt for the Storozhevoy directly from the Helion & Co website here or, if you check out their social media links, pick up a copy in person at the various shows they attend. The next one of these will be the Battleground Show in Stockton tomorrow.

The Sino-Soviet Border War of 1969 - Two Book Review

One of the joys of perusing through Helion & Co's @war back catalogue is that you get to find publications on some pretty obscure conflicts. Whilst I knew the 1969 Border War had happened, my knowledge about it was very limited. At the recent Border Reiver show, I managed to turn up and have a chat with the chaps on the stand as well as pick up a few books, including this lovely two-parter by Dmitry Ryabushkin and Harold Orenstein. 

Volume one sets the up necessary background and the first battle of the conflict. You first get a potted history of the region and the political machinations that occurred between the Russian Empire/Soviet Union and China. What then follows is a description of the build up to the initial clashes before the authors take us through the battle of Damansky Island in painstaking detail. This is necessary as both the Soviet Union and the People's republic of China were extremely focussed on propaganda and it has been with some difficulty (and the receipt threats) that the most accurate account the author can convey has been written. Never underestimate the power of the state to try to control its own history, a warning that should be obvious even to the most laissez faire of people today. You can almost hear the (modern day) cry of "fake news" echoing through the "reports" of events. Volume two concludes the account of the conflict with a very detailed description of the confrontation at Lake Zhalanashkol and the general aftermath, where both sides took count of their actions.

It must be said that the sheer volume of contemporary imagery that has been included here is much to the author's credit, and whilst reader discretion is advised (war is never clean and you will see the consequences of combat), these merely emphasise the brutality of the fighting. It is also important to note that wherever possible, the authors have included the names of those killed, providing recognition of the men who died in the service of their respective countries.

As is the usual for Helion&Co publications, there are plenty of maps and artwork, all to the usual high standards, and combined, these two volumes form an in-depth introduction to one of the less well known conflicts of the Cold War period. Detailed bibliographies are included, as are prodigious notes to details in the text, and it is plain to see that a lot of effort has been put into these works. Aside from the historical angle, these two volumes will also give you everything you need to know if you wish to re-enact the conflict on the table. 

You can buy these rather superb volumes directly from the publisher here or keep an eye on their social media channels (at the bottom right of the page displayed by that link) to see which shows they're attending. 

Like A Brazen Wall by Ewan Carmichael - Book Review

Those of you of a certain vintage and from the UK may recall an advert for milk from the late 1980's where two young whippersnappers talk about the benefits of the juice of the moo-cow. By drinking milk, you could be worthy of playing for Liverpool, and if you didn't then you'd only be good enough for Accrington Stanley. Indeed, who are they? (Thanks to Wikipedia, this is who they are in case you were interested...)

Anyway, the reason for the diversion is that, prior to reading Ewan Carmichael's excellent tome on the Battle of Minden, my appreciation of the British Army's involvement in that fight was pretty similar to those lad's opinion of two football clubs. The infantry were obviously Liverpool and the cavalry were Accrington Stanley. As noted above, after the battle was over, the rest of the combatants may have asked a similar question (although maybe/maybe not in a Scouse accent): "The British Cavalry? Who are they?" This book, gentle reader, will answer that question.

The Battle of Minden occupies a key part of the British narrative of the Seven Years War (aka French-Indian War, 3rd Carnatic War). Here was a battle that involved British troops in mainland Europe, which in turn was one of many theatres Britain found itself fighting in. Reputations were forged and legacies destroyed, and the author has written a clear and balanced account of not only the battle itself, but where it fits within the history of the wider conflict. 

The book begins with scene setting and providing that strategic context. This is important as Britain, whilst dealing with two other major theatres (as well as the naval struggle), also had to maintain a presence in Europe, and that wasn't easy. We then get an appreciation of the French and Allied armies of the period, as well as the personalities of the battle itself. Theatre context comes next, then a description of the locale around Minden. Once the set up is out of the way, we get to manoeuvres and fighting.

The Battle of Gohfield is presented first, as it is very much connected to the events of Minden. Minden itself is described with great clarity and uses numerous first hand accounts. The immediate aftermath and the butchers bill are then detailed, before we get to the courtroom proceedings of Sackville's court martial. The main section of the book ends with the strategic effects of the battle, a retrospective of the battle within the context of the Seven Years War and a modern day guide to visiting the battlefield.

The appendices are a sight to behold, giving a timeline of events (which is very handy), the orders of battle for both Minden and Gohfield, details of the combatants uniforms, the (very long) orders given by Contades, and finally the account of the Comte de Lusace. A very comprehensive bibliography tops the whole lot off. 

There are numerous images and maps, as well as a colour section for some uniform plates. The present day photography, although lacking in colour, is well done and ties in fittingly with the description of the historical action. 

Having read a couple of other accounts of this battle since buying this book, I will say that in my humble opinion, this is the best so far. Every action and counter action is described with detail and lucidity, and at no point do you feel lost as to who is where and what they were (or were not) doing. For the historian and warmer alike, this makes Like A Brazen Wall an essential purchase no matter whether your interest lies in Minden itself or the wider conflict. Also apparent is the author's background, focusing where appropriate, on the topic of medical support, a necessary and important subject that can be forgotten or glossed over. 

It was also interesting for the coverage on Sackville, who although he had his faults, was treat harshly (I feel) due to the politics of the day. Alas, there are few, if any, perfect commanders, and as readers will be well aware, the history of conflict is littered with poor taken or missed chances.

Like A Brazen Wall is another superb release from Helion & Co and joins my growing collection of books of the subject of 18th Century warfare. Fans of history will enjoy the detail and the depiction of the battle, whilst wargamers can enjoy the same as well as the orders of battle that will help you in putting troops on the table. You can purchase Like A Brazen Wall directly from the publisher or from the usual online retailers.