This new book from Mushroom Models Publications covers one of the lesser known, but more interesting aircraft types of WWII, the Mosquito Mk. XVIII 'tse-tse'. This was one of a multitude of variations on the Mosquito airframe that turned out to be quite effective in its job. In a nutshell, it was the installation of a 57mm Molins anti-tank gun into a standard Mosquito FB.VI airframe.

Initially designed to perform anti-tank work, the aircraft was moved over to Coastal Command for use on enemy shipping in the last years of WWII. It was discovered that ground based anti-tank weapons would work as well as if not better than an airborne gun, so this variation was put to work on German submarines and coastal shipping in the Bay of Biscay and along the Norway coast. It proved to be quite effective in this task and sank or badly damaged a considerable number of U-boats and ships.

Author Alex Crawford has put a lot of effort into tracking down the details of the development and operational employment of this aircraft. Named the 'tse-tse' as it is like a Mosquito but has a bigger sting, only 17 aircraft were converted, operating with just a few squadrons during the war. As much information as can be found has been collected and we now have what is pretty much the definitive reference source, listing all of the unit moves and operational sorties carried out by this most interesting aircraft.

As with other MMP books, this one is full of superb period photographs and a bevy of excellent profiles of not on the Mossie, but some of its victims as well. This makes for an outstanding reference for the historian, enthusiast and modeler alike. A book I know that you will thoroughly enjoy and one that I can highly recommend. .

October 2008

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Many thanks to Mushroom Model Publications for providing the review copy. Your support is appreciated.

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