This is the first of two volumes dealing with the anti-shipping units of the Luftwaffe and it covers the period from 1939 (including pre-war) until the end of 1941.

This book is a part of the "Luftwaffe Colours" series and like the others in the series it contains a large number of high quality photos (both previously published and new ones), mainly in b/w but some in colour, as well as colour illustrations of a number of aircraft:
Heinkel He 60 C, D-IVKA, Berg am Rügen, ca 1936
Heinkel He 60 C if 1,/Kü.Fl.Gr 506
Heinkel He 111 H, W.Nr.2323, coded 1H-FM of 4./KG 26
Junkers Ju 88 A-1 of 1./KG 30, France, 1940
Heinkel He 111 H-6 of 8./KG 40, April 1941
Heinkel He 59 B-2, M2+RL, of 3./Kü.Fl.Gr 406
Heinkel He 115 C-1, M2+MH, of 1./Kü.Fl.Gr 106
Arado Ar 95 A-1, W.Nr. 952350, 7R+ML of 3./SAGr.125, Baltic coast, 1941
Heinkel He 111 H-6, 1H+BB, of Stab I./KG 26, late 1941
Heinkel He 115 C-1, 8L+IH, of 1./Kü.Fl.Gr 906, Finland, 1942
Focke-Wulf Fw 200 C-2 of I,/KG 40, France 1941
Focke-Wulf Fw 200, W.Nr.0043, F8+AB, C-3/U2 of Stab I,/KG 40

The book covers the development in both tactics (from normal aerial bombing toward torpedo attacks) and equipment from the beginning of the war with outdated equipment when both the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine tried to control these at the time defensive units.
Included in the text is also a large number of first hand accounts from the men who took part in these missions.

I would have liked to see more details on for example the tactics and training of these units, but considering that this volume is only 96 pages space is probably to limited for detailed studies on the many smaller aspects.
This is a very good book on an obscure topic and I recommend it to anyone interested in the this so often overlooked aspect of the war in the air.


Another book by Chris Goss has also been reviewed here: "Luftwaffe Seaplanes 1939-1945: An Illustrated History".

(Reviewed by Marcus Wendel)
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.