RIP Robert Duvall aka Colonel Radl. “A wink from a pretty girl at a party results rarely in climax, Karl. But a man is a fool not to push a suggestion as far as it will go.”

‘Heath Ledger knocked my tooth out jousting with a broom’: how we made A Knight’s Tale

16 Feb 1807 // 4-gun schooner HMS Jackdaw was chased and captured off northern Portugal by a Spanish ship. After an exchange of fire the Spaniard took up a raking position. The schooner had suffered damage and now had only two guns capable of firing, so her captain and first mate surrendered. [1/3]

The Martin-Baker MB 5 (1944) was the last in a series of prototype fighter aircraft developed by the company. Though it would ultimately demonstrate excellent performance, program delays, the war’s end and the obvious potential of jets meant that only one aircraft was built. 📷 Silver Cloud 🧵1/10

'Tomorrow is Yesterday' is a great Star Trek episode, and I have to say this artwork of Captain John Christopher's F-104C 'Blue Jay 4' intercepting the Enterprise is fantastic! I believe the artist is jetfreak-7.

New episode of the @holocaustpod.bsky.social And it's a really throught-provoking one!

One from the vaults if anyone is bored and wants something to read: The German bombardment of Lowestoft and Yarmouth in April 1916. #ww1 #navalhistory #history open.substack.com/pub/jerijero...

OTD February 15, 1989 Soviet troops complete their withdrawal from Afghanistan. Although the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan had been made as early as October 1985, how to do so proved very difficult for Gorbachev due to competing interests from military,

And this is how Bismarck’s career ended. American newsreel on the hunt for and sinking of Bismarck in May 1941. #history #ww2 #navalhistory

The Georgios Averof was an Italian Pisa class armored cruiser laid down in 1907. Due to budget constraints, she was placed on sale by the Italian government and the Greeks made an immediate down-payment of 300,000 pounds, the money coming from a bequest of a wealthy benefactor. (1/4) #NavalHistory

There’s a great film from 1937 called Air Outpost about an HP.42 operating an Empire Service to the far east via Sharjah. youtu.be/UiMapEtpnQs?...

A tribute to Water Tender Second Class Elmer Bigelow, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his gallant actions on board the USS Fletcher off Corregidor in February 1945. https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history/2026/february/heros-sacrifice

Pathé footage from 1930 of the Handley Page HP.42 airliner, the largest in the world when it began operating the following year. 4 were built, along with 4 HP.45s which carried more passengers over shorter distances. Impressed into RAF service in 1939/40, all 8 were lost. youtu.be/d4WZUAnOomk?...

Also also if you are a subscriber and you want more Dardanelles naval action… jerijerod14.substack.com/p/at-times-i...

On general release this week, as it is Valentine’s Day… jerijerod14.substack.com/p/outgunned-... #ww2 #navalhistory #history #Bismarck

14 Feb 1807 // 74-gun 3rd-rate HMS Ajax was destroyed by an accidental fire while anchored off the island of Tenedos in the north-eastern Aegean. Approximately 150 people died in the fire or were drowned trying to escape. (Undated image of HMS Ajax: Wikimedia Commons) #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory

The paperback edition of my book is coming out in April! (And 40%off!) 🏆 Finalist, National Jewish Book Award 🏆 Winner, Omeljan Pritsak Book Prize in Ukrainian Studies 🏆 Winner, PIASA Rachel Feldhay Brenner Award 🏆 Honorable Mention, American Association for Ukrainian Studies Book Prize

14 Feb 1942 // Alone and against overwhelming odds, auxiliary patrol vessel HMS Li Wo attacked a Japanese convoy in the Banka Strait. After damaging two transports with fire from her 4-inch gun and machine guns, and exhausting her ammunition, she rammed and sank another before herself sinking. [1/2]

On 14 February 1942 HM/Sub P.38 under Lt. Hemingway D.S.C. sank SS Ariosto, an old Italian steamer carrying over 300 Allied PO from recent operations. She was a legitimate target. 138 POWs died on her.

On 13 February 1942 the #royalnavy lost a submarine, HM/Sub Tempest, in an encounter with Italian Spica-class torpedo boat RTp Circe. Circe had been modernised with German ASW gear and had a German sonar crew embarked. @rjhammond215.bsky.social

13 Feb 1942 // Submarine HMS Tempest was forced to the surface with heavy damage after being detected by Italian torpedo boat Circe in the Gulf of Taranto, and subjected to several hours of depth charge attacks starting at 3.32am. Amid very heavy seas, all the crew abandoned the submarine. [1/3]

13 Feb 1943 // Auxiliary AA ship HMS Pozarica (ex MacAndrews MV Pozarica, requisitioned and converted 1940) capsized and became a total loss off Bougie as a result of damage received in an Italian air attack on 29 January, in which 20 men died. (Image IWM A 12716) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory

13 Feb 1945 // Corvette HMS Denbigh Castle was torpedoed in the Kola Inlet by German submarine U.992 while on Arctic convoy escort duty. 11 seamen were killed in the attack. She was taken in tow but ran aground and then capsized and sank. (Imperial War Museum FL 6032) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory

OTD February 13, 1960: France joins the Nuclear Club with the Gerboise Bleue detonation near Reggane, in the Algerian desert. Designed and planned as a 60kt to 70kt detonation, the explosion has a yield of 70kt, making it the most powerful first detonation of a nuclear weapon.

Thoughts on #FridayReads. A paired ‘then & now’ bio set on well-known, highly regarded British pilots: Bob Stanford Tuck & Eric Brown. In both cases, modern bios explode multiple myths. Join us, & author Dr Helen Doe at @avculturesconf.bsky.social to discuss! aviationcultures.org/spotlights/p...

If you want to see some of the pictures we talked about in this episode go here island-fortress.com/2026/02/09/i...

🚨 SPECIAL: In this week's #NewsoftheWar, it's the George Cross. Never before, was so much bravery and heroism packed into six columns wide. Grab your hankies ... the King awaits ... @andyaitch.bsky.social @merrynwalters.uk linktr.ee/NewsOfTheWar

Came across this gem whilst browsing the Pathé archive. I think the ‘assailant’ is wishing they’d invested in a softer surface! youtu.be/-GJsld9IVjU?...

Pathé newsreel footage describing a leaflet raid by Armstrong-Whitworth Whitleys deep into Germany in 1940. These aircraft were often used for ‘Nickel’ operations, which could be very dangerous for crews due to the prevailing poor weather during the winter of 1939/40. youtu.be/5Sa-Hcb367Q?...

12 Feb 1938 // Destroyer HMS Walrus was being towed from Rosyth to Sheerness for refit when she broke free in a gale off the Yorkshire coast. She drifted for 16 hours before coming ashore at Scarborough. No lives were lost: all four members of the caretaking crew on board escaped safely. [1/2]

12 Feb 1942 // Destroyer HMS Maori was set ablaze by German bombing while anchored in Grand Harbour, Malta, and sank when a magazine exploded. One of her crew was killed. Maori was raised in 1945 and scuttled outside the harbour. (Imperial War Museum FL 15085 & A 9512) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory

The first episode of Bagpuss was originally broadcast on this day in 1974. Created by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate, the series ran for just 13 episodes (with voices provided by Postgate, Sandra Kerr and John Faulkner).

The Royal Navy’s ‘Fleet Shadower’ concept, developed prior to the SWW, envisioned a high-endurance, low-speed and low-noise carrier aircraft to monitor enemy naval forces at sea by night. Two companies were chosen to submit prototypes and the AS.39 (L) and G.A.L. 38 (R) were the result. 🧵1/7

OTD February 12 1988 US Navy cruiser USS Yorktown, accompanied by the destroyer USS Caron, exercising the right of innocent passage through Soviet territorial waters is bumped by the Soviet Frigate Bezzavetny which itself was accompanied by the frigate SKR-6. The Bezzavetny was

This week’s free to read may upset a few people but… As Saturday is the anniversary of the Bismarck being launched I decided to give my opinion on the ship - jerijerod14.substack.com/p/bismarck-i... #ww2 #history #navalhistory

What is in a name? When it comes to the North American A-36 dive-bomber, quite a lot! This week, we tackle the thorny subject of the A-36's moniker and get into the story of one of the lesser-known members of the Mustang family with @navalairhistory.com. 📺️: youtu.be/QJwpgWUuFFI 🎧️: pod.fo/e/38e474

The Royal Navy’s ‘Fleet Shadower’ concept, developed prior to the SWW, envisioned a high-endurance, low-speed and low-noise carrier aircraft to monitor enemy naval forces at sea by night. Two companies were chosen to submit prototypes and the AS.39 (L) and G.A.L. 38 (R) were the result. 🧵1/7

11 Feb 1916 // Light cruiser HMS Arethusa was damaged by a German mine off Felixstowe, then ran aground and was wrecked while under tow. 14 of her crew were killed in the mine explosion or died later of injuries received. (Imperial War Museum images SP 1161 and SP 1179) #RoyalNavy #WW1 #NavalHistory

11 Feb 1941 // Submarine HMS Snapper was lost with all hands (41 men) in the Bay of Biscay for unconfirmed reasons on or around this date. She may have struck a mine or been sunk by German minesweepers in a reported attack off Finisterre. (Imperial War Museum FL 3629) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory

11 Feb 1945 // Destroyer HMS Pathfinder was heavily damaged by Japanese aerial bombing at Akyab (Sittwe) in western Burma. After repairs she reached Colombo but was declared a total loss. She returned to England where she was scrapped. (Imperial War Museum ADNO 8722) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory

The Antikamnia Chemical Company marketed an analgesic powder to pharmacists using these darkly illustrated limited edition calendars from 1897 to 1901. The name of the company means “opposed to pain.” Ironically, the product could be fatal as it contained acetanilide, which impairs red blood cells.

This week’s podcast is out - A thrilling tail of pirates, organised crime, smugglers, militia and duck poo… podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...

Plus... You get me back!* Listen here: *Hopefully that's a good thing for you...

10 Feb 1964 // During sea trials off Jervis Bay, destroyer HMAS Voyager was rammed and sunk by aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne when she inexplicably turned towards the carrier's bows. 82 of 314 men in HMAS Voyager died in this tragic and controversial incident. (Image: Australian War Memorial) [1/4]

9 Feb 1921 // Destroyer HMS Hydra sank after colliding with Royal Navy torpedo boat Z3 in the Wielingen Channel between Antwerp and the North Sea. All her 72 crew were rescued by the torpedo boat. Hydra's wreck was sold for scrap in May 1921. (Imperial War Museum: Q 75101) #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory

Tomorrow, Soviet civil defence Ep 1: the trouble with vegetables. Many shelters were used to store veg. Can they get the veg out fast enough if the siren goes? And how do you find the shelter when secrecy means they're not signposted? Subscribe here: podfollow.com/the-atomic-h...

#OTD in 1969, the Boeing 747 prototype, 747-121 RA001/N7470, made its maiden flight from Paine Field. The Jumbo Jet would revolutionise air travel and become one of the most iconic aircraft ever built. What was your flight on a 747 like? #avgeek #aviation #history #aviationlovers #aviationlove

482 aircraft from 1,5, & 8 Groups bombed the oil refinery at Pölitz #OTD 8/9 Feb 1945. Two target photographs and a reconnaissance photograph showing the cumulation of damage from the @ibccdigitalarchive.bsky.social. #History #WW2

#OTD in 1939, future Supermarine Spitfire test pilot Alex Henshaw landed his Percival Mew Gull G-AEXF, in which he'd won the 1938 King's Cup, at Gravesend, setting a new UK-South Africa-UK record of 4 days, 10 hours and 16 minutes. G-AEXF is now in the Shuttleworth Collection. #avgeek #aviation