I have to confess that I rarely think about missiles until it comes time to either build one or look for them to install on a model. Since the beginning of the missile age in the 1940s, starting with the V-1 and V-2, there has been a rapid proliferation of these weapons, both big and small.

These are either battlefield weapons, strategic missiles, air to air or air to ground, cruise missiles or drones. Many of the latter are used for targets, though some have been developed into recce platforms. The designations of these weapons has been rather confused as the Army, Navy, and Air Force all had their own designation systems and frequently the same weapon would be called something different depending on who was deploying it. Fortunately, this was all rationalized into a single system and even systems that were no longer around were given new designations. This has been a real plus in helping to provided this book.

The author, Bill Yenne has taken this newish system and provided, for the first time, a dedicated book on all of the various systems, that have been designated over the years. There are missiles that we all know like the Sidewinder, Trident, Snark, Hellfire, Stinger, and Titan, along with those that few even knew existed such as the Overseer, Peregrine and Cardinal. There are also foreign missiles that have been used by the US such as the Penguin anti-ship missile. A goodly number of these platforms are drones of various types and most of us are aware of the Firebee, which gave sterling service in Vietnam  as a recce platform and also as a target drone. Even early RPVs are included as they were initially given the 'M' classification as a missile. 

The book includes every type ever given a designation from the MGM-1 Matador to the MQM-175. Each entry is provided with a short history of the type including a stats block. If available, photos are also provided. Some systems reached operational status, some were cancelled after production got underway, some never left the prototype stage and others never got beyond the design phase. All of these are includes as well as several interesting appendicies on some of the more famous systems and others that were never given a designation.

In all, it makes for not only an interesting read, but also an excellent reference book for the enthusiast. A book that, like everything from Specialty Press, is superbly researched and one that I can most highly recommend to you. You will not be disappointed.

January 2013

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