Classic books has been producing quality Luftwaffe publications for many years and this edition on the Luftwaffe Anti-Shipping units continues that tradition. This volume covers 1942-1945. 1942 was a good year for these unit. Not only were they getting more and more adept at the task, but the number of units dedicated to anti-shipping was growing. Success with the Murmansk convoys and those headed for Malta had spirits high and crews giddy with success.

However, 1943 was a turning point in all aspects of the war and the same for anti-shipping strikes. The increase in Allied air power escorting convoys made bombing and torpedo attacks quite dangerous, and while there were successes, there were also greater losses.

New equipment like the He-177 was often more of a detriment than a help as the aircraft was not reliable. The FW-200 was becoming somewhat obsolescent and structural failure was more and more commonplace. The Ju-88 and Do-217 squadrons were still doing fairly well as these were relatively fast aircraft and in the Mediterranean, they had great success, especially early uses of the HS-293 and Fritz X against the surrendering Italian fleet and against ships involved in the Anzio landings.

With the worsening war situation, the successes became fewer and fewer with many units forced into regular bombing missions or having to park their bombers and transition into fighters in the last desperate months.

Author Chris Goss tells a great story of these crews and has found a goodly number of period photos to help illustrate things. Most of these were new to me and that is always a delight. There are the usual 'I was there' stories and the superb profile work of Tim Brown is a great assistance, especially as the profiles are taken from photos in the book. Modelers will get a goodly number of ideas from both the photos and the profiles, especially if working with the Ju-88.

A superb addition to the Luftwaffe Colors series and a book that I can highly recommend to you for both modeling inspiration and a jolly good read.

September 2006

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