Perhaps no military establishment in the world has focused more heavily on operating interceptors, ground-based radars, and surface to air missile systems than Russia. The two-volume set recently published by Krzysztof Dabrowski explains the long gestational process that has produced a modern Russian surface to air missile based defense force that is one of the world's best. You can read my review here.
Blog
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Steve Mercatante
on: Jun 12 2023 - 5:46pm
Review Type: Defending Rodinu, Krzysztof Dabrowski, MiG-25, PVO, S-300, Soviet Union, Steve Mercatante, SU-15, U-2, Ukraine, VVS
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Steve Mercatante
on: May 23 2023 - 7:59pm
The largest armored battles of the Second World War's Normandy campaign took place on the eastern side of the Allied bridgehead. These battles, fought by the Germans in defense against the British and Canadian attacker's seeking to liberate France, were the key to understanding the outcome of this crucial campaign. Bloody Verrieres Volumes I and II offers unprecedented insight into how the Germans ultimately prevailed against the major Allied Operations Goodwood, Atlantic, and Spring.
Review Type: Atlantic, Bourguebus, D-Day, Goodwood, Gullachsen, I. SS Panzerkorps, Normandy, Spring, Steve Mercatante, Verriers, World War II
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Steve Mercatante
on: Feb 26 2023 - 12:50am
The Long Range Desert Group is a small book, but packed with good detail and adventure. Check out my review today!
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Steve Mercatante
on: Jan 12 2023 - 4:05pm
I last commented on the Russian-Ukrainian war about eight months ago. In that article I speculated on whether or not a breakthrough of the first Ukrainian defensive line in the Donbas would lead to a Russian breakout.
Review Type: AFU, Donetsk, Gerasimov, Luhansk, Russia, Soledar, Special Military Operation, Steve Mercatante, Surovikin, Ukraine, War in the Ukraine
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Steve Mercatante
on: Jan 4 2023 - 6:26pm
This month we take a look at the Korean War. More specifically, the struggle for survival the U.S.1st Marine Division engaged in at the Chosin Reservoir during the winter of 1950. The full review can be found here.
Review Type: 1950, 1st Marine Division, 7th Army Division, China, Chosin, Eric Hammel, Korean War, North Korea, Steve Mercatante
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Steve Mercatante
on: Dec 18 2022 - 8:31pm
In Battlegroup professor and former British Infantry Officer Jim Storr takes his considerable, training, knowledge, and experience and condenses it down toward assessing the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the NATO and Warsaw Pact armies that faced off across the East/West German border during the 1980s. I enjoyed this book and think you will too. Check out my review here.
Review Type: Abrams, Armor, British Army of the Rhine, Bundeswehr, Cold War, French Army, Fulda Gap, Jim Storr, M60, Marder, Mechanized Warfare, NATO, Red Army, Steve Mercatante, T-72, US Army, Warsaw Pact
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Steve Mercatante
on: Nov 7 2022 - 7:10pm
The Desert Air Force In World War II offers readers an interesting first-person perspective on what it was like to fight with the Allies in the skies of the Mediterranean theater of operations during 1940-1942. For my review please see here.
Review Type: Axis, Egypt, Hurricane, Ken Delve, Libya, Luftwaffe, Malta, Me-109, North Africa, RAAF, RAF, Spitfire, Steve Mercatante, The Desert Air Force, World War II
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Steve Mercatante
on: May 24 2022 - 3:51pm
One month ago, I wrote of the Battle for the Donbas becoming the focal point of the Russian invasion of the Ukraine. I speculated as to Russian capabilties, intentions, and what might occur. It appears that the Ukrainian position in the Donbas is in big trouble. The question is when will that position collapse, and the answer there is as much a product of Russian decision-making as to how it conducts its war as much as it might be a result of any other factors.
Review Type: Artillery, Attrition, Bakhmut, BTG, Deep Operations, Donbas, Izyum, Luhansk, MLRS, OMG, Popansa, Russian Armed Forces, Severodonetsk, Steve Mercatante, Ukrainian Army, War in the Ukraine
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Steve Mercatante
on: May 9 2022 - 2:56pm
Lend-Lease is certainly in the news given the ongoing shipment of weapons from NATO countries into the Ukraine. This isn't the first time this was done. Author Vladimir Kotelnikov's Lend-Lease And Soviet Aviation In The Second World War offers a superb look into the delivering, modifying, and employing in combat of the various Allied aircraft shipped to the Soviet Union.
Given current events it is hard to find a more timely look at how much effort is involved in arming another country with
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Steve Mercatante
on: Apr 19 2022 - 6:52pm
Russian artillery fire and air attacks have intensified in the Donbas region. It appears the next phase of the war has begun. This will be the most important battle of the war.
By all accounts, the bulk of the Ukrainian army's best troops are located in the east (at least 40,000 men if not more of the most experienced, best equipped, and best led soldiers). If the Russians can encircle these forces, then most of the Ukraine east of the Dniepr will be open for the taking.
