I have enjoyed all of Squadron's Warship series, probably because much of what they provide is new to me, for ships are not my main interest. However, like most of us, the ships of the Kriegsmarine have always drawn my interest. This is as much because there were so few of them as anything else. Their exploits have always drawn us in, this being helped by two quality movies 'Sink the Bismark' and 'Battle of the River Platte' from the mid 1950s. These told the stories with quite a bit of accuracy, of the hunt and sinking of the Bismark and the Graf Spee.

Now Squadron has produced an excellent book on the three major large combat ships produced by the Germans during WWII. About the first half of the book covers the Deutchland class of ships: Deutchland (later Lutzow), Scheer, and Graf Spee. These were probably the most successful of the heavy warships. Interestingly, though quite similar, they were each slightly different in size. Next were the two ships of the Scharnhorst class, the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. This is followed by the Bismark class of Bismark and Tirpitz.

These later and larger ships were not as successful as commerce raiders as the smaller and older ships. However, their presence was enough for the British to keep valuable ships in the ready to combat them; ships that could have been put to better use in other areas.

In addition to excellent photographs and the usual fine profiles, there is a combat history of each ship and a chart that gives general German Warship colors as used during WWII.

Overall, a fascinating book that should appeal to all readers, regardless of main interest. Highly recommended.

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