Today we're showing three pieces of artwork from our January 2026 series books! Let us know in the comments which books you'd like to see featured in our February 2026 Artwork Reveal!

Okinawa 1945: The Royal Navy's biggest carrier campaign

By Angus Konstam

Illustrated by Gareth Hector

Japanese kamikazes, Yonakuni Island, 12 April, 1945

Due to a build-up of Japanese kamikaze aircraft on Formosa, on 10 April, Adm. Spruance requested that for two days TF 57 attack airfields there, rather than ones in the Sakishimas. Rain delayed the start of this, but the air attacks finally began at dawn on 12 April, with the British carriers operating from a new flying-off point 100 miles to the east of Formosa. While these strikes were being carried out, a US Navy air-sea-rescue (ASR) float plane was stationed 30 miles to the north of the British Task Force, in case any damaged British aircraft had to ditch in the sea there as they headed home. Their patrol area was near Yonakuni Island, midway between Formosa and Iriomote Jima in the Sakishima chain. Two Fairy Fireflies of 1770 NAS were launched from HMS Indefatigable to protect the ASR aircraft, and at 1355hrs they began their patrol over the island.

Some 25 minutes later, five Japanese fighters were detected on radar heading towards them from the east. The Fireflies intercepted them, and they turned out to be Ki-51 Sonia dive-bombers, equipped as kamikazes. It seems these were heading east to attack the US Fleet off Okinawa. The two Fireflies managed to approach them without being seen, and both aircraft shot down a Sonia in their first pass. Within a few minutes three of the dive bombers had been shot down, while the fourth was damaged. However, it managed to crash-land on Yonakuni. It was a fairly easy victory – the Sonias were laden with 250kg bombs, heavier than their normal payload – for this one-way mission. They also lacked a rear-gunner, which made them easy prey for the two Fireflies.

Italian Adriatic Fleet 1915–18: The fierce naval war with Austria-Hungary

By Enrico Cernuschi

Illustrated by Edouard A. Groult

CORTELLAZZO, 16 NOVEMBER 1917

The Cortellazzo Action was an Italian naval affair. Both the front line along the sea and the shore batteries were manned by RM personnel, while the Navy’s flying boats, fighters and bombers dominated the air.

The two Austro–Hungarian pre-dreadnought battleships Budapest (the first ship ahead in the centre of the illustration) and Wien had been bombarding a coastal battery commanding the mouth of the Piave River when the RM ambushed the squadron. This illustration shows the two coastal battleships having already been hit: Budapest, hit by one shell under the waterline is listing to starboard, while Wien has sustained seven direct hits. The Italian destroyers are charging, crossing the ‘T’ of the Austro–Hungarian squadron, and covering a sneak attack by two MAS boats (MAS 13 and 15) off the squadron’s starboard beam, less than 1,000yds from their targets. The third boat, MAS 9 has lost one engine but limps on with the others to help draw fire.

Budapest and Wien have concentrated their fire on the Italian destroyers. They are surrounded by eight Austro–Hungarian destroyers and torpedo boats while five further torpedo boats, in a rake formation, are minesweeping in front of the battleships. In the background the Italian coastal battery of four 6in guns (under Lt Bruno Bordigioni) is also firing at the squadron.

Gulf War 1990–91: Saddam's Iraq Faces Operation Desert Storm

By Steven J. Zaloga

Illustrated by Robert McSweeney

THE BATTLE OF KHAFJI, JANUARY 31, 1991

In response to the Iraqi capture of Ras al-Khafji on the night of January 29/30, Lt. Col. Matar, commander of the 7th Combined Arms Battalion of the Saudi Arabian National Guard’s 2nd King Abdulaziz Brigade, was ordered to advance on the city. The original message at 1600hrs instructed Matar to screen the southern side of the city. By the time the battalion arrived south of Khafji, the instructions had been expanded to include the capture of the city. Riyadh provided no information on the size of the Iraqi force, and the Saudis presumed it was only a reinforced company or understrength battalion when in fact it was two brigades. Lt. Col. Matar organized the attack with two mounted companies forward and a third in reserve. The attack was supported by two companies of AMX-30 tanks of the Qatari Brigade. The Saudi attack began an hour before midnight and was met by intense Iraqi fire that an accompanying US adviser described as “flabbergasting.” The two sides exchanged fire for two hours and, at 0320hrs, the 7th Battalion withdrew to a neighboring Saudi National Guard barracks nearby. The brigade subsequently ordered the 6th and 8th Battalions to attach one company each to the 7th Battalion and the attack resumed at 0830hrs on February 1. Seen here are two different types of V-150 armored vehicle, the one at the left armed with a 90mm Cockerill gun and the one at the right with a 20mm Oerlikon autocannon as they passed the gateway arch on the southwestern side of the city. The reinforced 7th Battalion made good progress, and at 1000hrs, the remainder of the 8th Battalion joined the fight while the 5th Battalion staged an attack to the north of Khafji to cut the road to the Kuwait border. Khafji was finally recaptured on February 1. The SANG attacks were supported by US Marine attack helicopters

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