Ryan McLachlan

Ryan McLachlan is a historian and content writer for Hive Media. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History and Classical Studies and his Master of Arts in History from the University of Western Ontario. Ryan’s research focused on military history, and he is particularly interested in the conflicts fought by the United Kingdom from the Napoleonic Wars to the Falklands War.

Ryan’s other historical interests include naval and maritime history, the history of aviation, the British Empire, and the British Monarchy. He is also interested in the lives of Sir Winston Churchill and Admiral Lord Nelson. Ryan enjoys teaching, reading, writing, and sharing history with anyone who will listen.

In his spare time, he enjoys watching period dramas such as Murdoch Mysteries and Ripper Street and also enjoys reading classical literature and Shakespeare. He also plays football and is an afternoon tea connoisseur.

Articles by Ryan McLachlan:

Behind-the-Scenes Facts About ‘Schindler’s List’

Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Liam Neeson and Steven Spielberg on the set of 'Schindler's List'

Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List (1993) is a powerful and profoundly moving historical drama based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who…

Pilots Were Meant to Fly the Gloster Meteor F8 WK935 While Lying Down

Gloster Meteor F8 WK935 on display outside

The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies’ only jet-powered aircraft to engage in combat during World War II. Following the…

Did This U-boat Sink Herself With One of Her Own Torpedoes?

Type VIII U-boat at sea

In the final month of 1943, U-972 went missing at sea. The U-boat had departed for her first patrol in November 1943 and hadn’t run…

M72 LAW: The Vietnam-Era Anti-Tank Weapon That Continues to See Service Today

American soldier firing an M72 LAW

In the Dirty Harry movie, The Enforcer (1976), the filmmakers needed to find a more powerful weapon than Harry Callahan’s Smith & Wesson Model 29.…

The United States Once Came to the Aid of North Korea During a Pirate Attack

MV Dai Hong Dan at sea

The Dai Hong Dan Incident occurred on October 29, 2007 in the Indian Ocean. After Somali pirates attacked the North Korean cargo ship MV Dai…

A B-52H Stratofortress Once Flew for Five Hours – Without a Tail!

Boeing B-52G Stratofortress in flight

In January 1964, a Boeing B-52H Stratofortress embarked on an eight-hour flight load survey to test buffeting turbulence effects at low-levels. When this turbulence became…

Hughes XF-11: The Aircraft That Almost Took Out Its Creator

Hughes XF-11 coming in for a landing

The Hughes XF-11 was a prototype reconnaissance aircraft intended to be operated by the US Army Air Forces (USAAF). It was partially designed by Howard…

The Extreme Measures the Germans Used to Effectively Execute Their Blitzkrieg Tactics

German infantrymen making an advance + Capsule of Pervitin tablets

Blitzkrieg – “lightning war” – was a German military strategy employed during the Second World War. The tactic was refined by the Wehrmacht, and played…

Martin B-26 Marauder: The Accident-Prone Medium Bomber That Went On to Become One of the Most Successful of WWII

Martin B-26 Marauder 'Big Hairy Bird' in flight

The Martin B-26 Marauder was an American twin-engine medium bomber that saw service during World War II. Taking part in action in all theaters of…

Fairey Swordfish: The Outdated Biplane That Helped Sink the German Battleship Bismarck

Fairey Swordfish Mk II in flight

The Fairey Swordfish was a biplane torpedo bomber, nicknamed “Stringbag,” that primarily served with the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the British Royal Navy during…

USS Ticonderoga (CV-14): The Aircraft Carrier That Served In Two Wars and Aided In the Apollo Missions

USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14) at sea

The USS Ticonderoga (CV/CVA/CVS-14) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier built by the US Navy during the Second World War. She was the fourth ship to…

USS Buckley (DE-51): The Destroyer Escort That Took Out a German U-boat With Hand-to-Hand Combat and Grenades

USS Buckley (DE-51) at sea

The USS Buckley (DE-51) was a destroyer escort and lead ship of her class that served with the US Navy between 1943-46. During her wartime…